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BREAKING NEWS: AR Threaded Conversations

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Education & Training with Tech Training for You!

BREAKING NEWS:
Threaded Conversations in ActiveRain finally work as they should!

Way back in time (Sept 2015), ActiveRain team introduced the ability to do threaded conversations. In other words, when you wanted to reply to someone's comment, you didn't need to start a separate comment way down further (and very much disconnected). You could click the "reply" link under the comment and keep it linked together on the page, also known as a comment thread. This allows you (and everyone else) to see both sides of the conversation and it is so much easier to follow the two sides of the conversation.

Well, for best intentions, even if you tagged the person to notify them, the system did not actually send them a notification. So it was quite likely that the person never would go back to see what you wrote in reply. Therefore, most ActiveRainers chose to keep on doing replies to comments the OLD way, because at least you could notify them. The tradeoff is that the reply was often way down the page (scroll/scroll/scroll) and disconnected.

So the news from our current dev team is that reply notifications is now FIXED.
(thank you dev team!!! do you know how huge a fix this is for us???)
You can reply to someone directly underneath their comment, when you tag them in the reply they WILL get a notification. (Reminder: to tag someone, you'll need to type @ followed by the first few letters of their name, when the list pops up, click on their name. You can tag anyone that you are subscribed to and/or anyone that has commented on the post.)

So to recap visually...
This is the workaround that people have been using until now. You'll see the reply to a comment in a new separate comment (so the notification would send). But there is usually a big separation between the two parts.

So, now that notifications work in replies to comments, notice how much more clean the conversations become! The reply is connected to the original comment and when you @tag the person, they will get notification!

activerain threaded conversations

Also, I understand that when you tag somebody in the body of your blog post, those notifications are now again working (they had stopped working for a while... you thought they got a notification when you tagged them, but they never did).
Let's test a few people to see if this notification works now...
(please let me know in a comment)
Kathy StreibLiz and Bill Spear  -  Aura Alex  -  Debe Maxwell, CRS 

Finally, here's a pro tip for you. When you are making a comment on a blog post, you do NOT need to tag the author of the post. The system automatically notifies the blogger that their post has a new comment. It is cleaner in your comment to not do the tagging. This may fall on many deaf ears, but at least maybe a few will adjust accordingly.

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Craig Daniels
This blog is all about technology and helping you to use it smarter! Your digital footprint is your chance to attract new clients. What kind of impression are you making via your website, blog, and social media? We’ll be talking about that! Are you as productive as you can be? What apps might help you out? Do you know how to use all the best tools inside the apps? I enjoy photography and videography, you can expect to see those topics also on this blog.
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PS - get ready for some homework… :) 

Comments(43)

Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

We are all really making those connections, I’m not surprised to find the stuff to be thought about in this way

Sep 29, 2022 09:48 PM
Craig Daniels

Laura Cerrano connections happen (and now more easily)

Sep 30, 2022 04:05 AM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

Another step forward another bug squashed! I like this for the conversation aspect it is easier to follow! Thank you

Sep 29, 2022 11:47 PM
Craig Daniels

Debra Leisek this bug was a cockroach I think, goodbye

Sep 30, 2022 04:06 AM
Debra Leisek

Another good reason to live in Alaska Craig Daniels .... no cockroaches! 

Oct 01, 2022 12:40 AM
Craig Daniels

Debra Leisek no roaches only grizzly bears 😬

Oct 01, 2022 06:12 AM
Debra Leisek

Well, there is that Craig Daniels  and our friends the moose

moose in the yard

Oct 02, 2022 02:14 AM
Diana Dahlberg

Debra Leisek - Ewe!  I never liked bugs.  Glad this one has been fixed!

Oct 03, 2022 09:58 AM
Barbara Michaluk
Weichert Realtors | Phone Direct 240-506-2434 | 301-681-0550 office - Silver Spring, MD
Leisure World Specialist / Full Service REALTOR

Thanks Craig for calling this improvement to our attention. This seems to make it much easier to follow and comments.

Sep 30, 2022 03:28 AM
Craig Daniels

Barbara Michaluk - yes mini celebration on this one... seems like a small thing but has a big impact

Sep 30, 2022 04:07 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Thanks for the update, Craig, and for the explanation. While I knew what you were talking about, I know there are probably quite a few people in the Rain who did not. 

Sep 30, 2022 04:31 AM
Craig Daniels

Nina Hollander, Broker - It's nice to see the comments on our posts now going into this newer thread format. People are picking up on it quickly and we can help remind others we see that didn't get the news yet :)

Sep 30, 2022 08:01 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I had noticed this recently and was happy that it was now functioning properly.  I really appreciate that you wrote another amazing tutorial for us!  What I don't really understand though is what the purpose of it is though, how does it differ from just making a comment?

Sep 30, 2022 05:46 AM
Craig Daniels

Brian England - Nothing has changed when we make comments on other people's posts. What is changed is when we make a reply to a comment someone made on our post (like this one with you). Now we can thread the reply (link it) to the comment made instead of making a disconnected comment/reply further down the page (not good).

Sep 30, 2022 08:03 AM
Brian England

I guess this would be good for having a side conversation, rather than just replying to a comment made, right?

Sep 30, 2022 08:57 AM
Craig Daniels

Brian England conversations happen like this :)

Oct 01, 2022 06:11 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Craig,
As you well know, this is an improvement that so many of us have had high on our wish list for a long. It's Christmas in September. Doing a Happy Dance here! 💃

Sep 30, 2022 06:24 AM
Craig Daniels

This has been, without a doubt, the top thing on my list Carol Williams. Now that it is checked off, reading comments on posts is going to be a whole new experience.

Sep 30, 2022 08:06 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS

Time for a happy dance for sure, Carol Williams  Hope lots of Rainers will see Craig's post.

Sep 30, 2022 04:09 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

As always, Craig, great information for all of us. Thank you so much.

Sep 30, 2022 10:35 AM
Craig Daniels

Dr. Paula McDonald - glad to share the news. good to see you

Oct 01, 2022 06:12 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Phew - so good to hear this.

 I really didn't like the original poster writing so many separate comments that were, in essence, replies. It was difficult to follow which means readers turn away.

Sep 30, 2022 12:18 PM
Craig Daniels

Margaret Goss you had to be very dedicated to scroll up/down constantly to try and follow the two sides. awful but history now!

Oct 01, 2022 06:13 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

That's a great update, Craig, and something long awaited. The key is to remember to tag the writer in your reply, not just reply! Bet we will see a big jump in Rainers doing this now.

And thanks to the Dev team once again for another improvement!

Enjoy your weekend.

Jeff

Sep 30, 2022 04:04 PM
Craig Daniels

Jeff Dowler, CRS - yes have to tag them but at least everybody is already used to that. We'll watch and see how fast we can get everyone back into threads instead of splits 😂

Oct 01, 2022 06:14 AM
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

This is always good to know when thinks get fixed and are up and running. Thank you for sharing Craig Daniels 

Sep 30, 2022 08:20 PM
Craig Daniels

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS - It is good news that we have an active dev team working on our side. These updates are appreciated!

Oct 01, 2022 06:16 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I’m cool with having a bigger conversation thread in just the regard of a more in-depth conversations and things that matter

Sep 30, 2022 08:54 PM
Craig Daniels

Laura Cerrano - now the threaded conversations keep the two voices together. This will be a big help.

Oct 01, 2022 06:18 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Is this what we call two steps forward one step backwards? Glad they fixed it on a side note some of us doubters for the past 10+ years will probably stick to the old trusted and reliable way, just sayin, Endre

Sep 30, 2022 10:49 PM
Craig Daniels

Endre Barath, Jr. - I see it as a glass half full. We are making advancement again (maybe not the rate imagined, but forward moving again). I highly recommend everyone switch to the threaded conversations. This reply is a case in point. I could reply the OLD way, but that would require you and everyone to scroll back and forth to see your comment and my comment to tie them together. Plus it is better for the authors. What a pain to have to scroll back and forth to read and write as you make your replies. Try the fixed way, it is much better!!

Oct 01, 2022 06:21 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Craig  - thank you for pointing this out.  I did just read the updates in the developers' blog.

Oct 01, 2022 03:29 AM
Craig Daniels

thanks Grant Schneider - I wanted to double emphasize what they said in their bullet points... this is a huge improvement that could have been easily missed

Oct 01, 2022 06:22 AM
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Thanks for sharing this change,  it is welcome.  I am not sure if i noticed a problem before but i will play with this new enhancement.

Oct 01, 2022 03:47 AM
Craig Daniels

Peter Mohylsky - It would have been easy to not realize that the system did not notify on replies before. However, it is fixed now so we get to move forward!

Oct 01, 2022 06:23 AM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

Baby steps to getting it back to what we once knew. Now if only they would take SEO seriously

Oct 01, 2022 04:52 AM
Craig Daniels

Ed Silva - Yes it does seem like baby steps sometimes. But at least we are moving in the forward direction again! 🙂

Oct 01, 2022 06:24 AM
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Moving forward is a good thing!  thanks for the update Craig Daniels and a big shout out to the development team ActiveRain Dev 😎

Oct 01, 2022 09:05 AM
Craig Daniels

Eileen Burns - yes ditto that, thanks ActiveRain Dev !

Oct 02, 2022 07:18 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

This is interesting. I haven't been notified of a comment on one of my posts for a long, long time. I'll be glad if that comes back.

Oct 01, 2022 09:19 AM
Craig Daniels

Marte Cliff - just to clarify, notifications are available on your page called the "my home" page. The system is no longer sending out email notifications. You also will see the notifications under the bell icon (flag icon) at the top right of the page.

Oct 02, 2022 07:20 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

So glad to see we are moving forward!  One step at a time ... even baby steps are a good thing!

Oct 03, 2022 10:18 AM
Craig Daniels

agree totally Diana Dahlberg - thanks for adding your comment

Oct 04, 2022 09:18 AM
Diana Dahlberg

Craig Daniels You are very welcome!  Have an awesome week!

Oct 04, 2022 03:24 PM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Great news that something is getting updated, thanks Craig.

Oct 10, 2022 10:24 AM
Craig Daniels

Lyn Sims some forward movement is better than nothing. trying to be patient :) This was a significant repair!

Oct 13, 2022 05:38 AM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Craig Daniels you are a godsend here!

Oct 13, 2022 05:03 AM
Craig Daniels

something unique about this place Ginny Gorman that keeps us hanging out here. great to see you :)

Oct 13, 2022 05:39 AM