Yes, it really is...assuming you blog. That way customers can see your content.  Blogging has brought me a lot of business and the profit from that is huge vs. the small investment here. 

When I started, it costs $39/month and I believe now it's lower $19/month and less if you buy for the year.  And, eventually you get more points and can earn free membership.

If you mean to Rainmaker that would be a definite YES.

Good morning Ed. It sure was for me. I did members only for the first four months and became a rainmaker, was delighted with the results.

If you are going to be committed to updating your blog every day( or at least, few times per week). Going public does require some commitment and good content to keep your readers coming~  and hopefully business from that.

absolutely. it feeds clients to my site weekly and I find it worth every penny. And there is the added bonus that when you reach half a million points it's free.

Most defiantly, I am hooked.

Yes.  Absolutely. 

Ed...there is no point in participating on ActiveRain unless you are a rainmaker....no Google juice.... no visibility online.... no business directed to you via blogging.... bite the bullet and join.... shooting the s_ _ t with other agents on this platform get you nothing....

If you want to reach more people, get more potential new clients and boost your business, than yes. 

I have been a member for so long that my membership is free too, but I have been posting frequently for the last 6 months and I see a big upturn in my on line presence which has resulted in referrals and clients finding me.  No one says I saw you on active rain, but I am getting found by a lot more people. I think AR is a big part of getting my name out there. 

yes A rainmaker account is worth it.

Ed Macias It absolutely is worth the upgrade. Until you are a Rainmaker, your posts never get visibility beyond this site.

While I managed to accumulate enough points at the right time so I only paid for a membership for a relatively short period of time, I can attribute more than enough business directly to AR - as in, leads that emailed me directly from my AR contact page - to pay for membership (if I were paying, that is) for many years.  The first direct contact I had from AR has had me sell 3 of his investment properties and I just put two of his children under contract for new homes.  So far, that alone has been worth $67,500 in GCI. And he is not the only lead - the most lucrative, but not the only one. 

There's an upgrade?

I really would not know. i have had a free account since I started almost 8 years ago. Some say it is.

It is if you put in the time and effort to make the most of it.

It depends on whether you are here to read and learn from others or if you want to write posts which will pull in from the public. Without the Rainmaker account, nothing you post in your blogs will be public, they will only be read by members....and I have not heard of a consumer joining AR. 

Yes, you want to be seen by the public and the world for that matter!  Members only posts are nice but they are only getting attention internally.

It will be worth it if you regularly post blogs that will generate prospects.

ED: That is a personal decision that only you can make.