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1,685,353
Bob Stewart
ActiveRain - Mesa, AZ
ActiveRain

The easy answer would be that we were started in Seattle......

The more accurate answer goes something like this. Jonathan Washburn, one of the original founders always used the moniker rainmaker in his early online user names. And at one point he purchased a ton of domain names relative to that moniker. A rainmaker of course is someone that creates business opportunities for those around them. In the very beginning ActiveRain was actually a lead management system for our real estate brokerage and then became a lead management platform for a number of brokerages in the PNW. In those days it was ActiveRain.net. When we launched this site, it made sense to use ActiveRain, with the idea that we could actively help people become Rainmakers in their own businesses. The idea of blogging to reach the search engines quickly evolved after the site launched. In the beginning our aim was to get agents and others in the industry sharing ideas with each other and create a community out of the idea of sharing what works. We though if people were active, they would be able to make it rain in their own business.



And it also happened to be a domain name we owned. And we are all from Seattle. So it all made sense.....at least in our heads :-)

Oct 01, 2015 12:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

Excellent question and Bob Stewart thanks for the answer.

Oct 01, 2015 12:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Actively making droplets of effort to make things happen in real estate. The idea could be born out of a rainy day....

PS:

I sold a coffee house where SunMicro developer launched a software product.  They decided to name after the tasty Java coffee. 

Oct 01, 2015 12:03 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I have heard the story and it is a good one.

Mar 20, 2017 07:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

Well--we want to be active and it rains in Seattle--ACTIVERAIN BAM

Oct 21, 2016 02:11 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I learned something new from your question. Thank yoy Bob Stewart for the answer.

Oct 02, 2015 09:36 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Since Bob Stewart has already answered and he was involved at founding time, I will adopt his answer.

Oct 01, 2015 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
2,817,671
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Thanks Bob for the great insight.  I always loved the concept of "rainmaker"...and the movie.  It's a great business term.

Oct 01, 2015 08:04 PM
Rainmaker
2,759,812
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

 Good Friday morning Kathleen. I guess now we know the rest of the story – via. Bob Stewart.

Oct 01, 2015 06:09 PM
Rainer
145,403
Andrzej Niemyjski
Realty One Group - Sun City West, AZ

It just shows that people in charge pay very close attention and read most of the entries.  Thank you Bob Stewart 

Oct 01, 2015 04:35 PM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

I always though it had to do with all the rain in Seattle, combined with it being an Active community.

Oct 01, 2015 01:24 PM
Rainmaker
4,160,362
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Kethleen, this is very good question.

Oct 01, 2015 01:12 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

I believe it has something to do with the company being in Seattle. 

 

Oct 01, 2015 12:56 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,948
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Like the other answerers - i don't know this either - Can't wait to hear! 

Oct 01, 2015 12:13 PM
Rainmaker
564,720
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

LOL maybe because it was founded in Seattle.  - Debbie

Oct 01, 2015 11:34 AM
Rainmaker
443,220
Cindy Davis
SD Home Source Realty - San Diego, CA

Who out there knows?  I'd love to hear the answer myself!

Oct 01, 2015 10:58 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

You know, I don't think I know the answer to this question, Bob Stewart can you fill us in?

Oct 01, 2015 10:56 AM
Rainmaker
784,786
The Woodland Team of Texas
The Woodland Companies - Austin, TX
Land Specialists

Seatle does have a lot of rain.  And Rainmakers.

Mar 27, 2019 03:54 PM