Bob, I think most of it has been covered, but key are:

• Getting a profile FULLY set up so that when someone leaves a comment we know WHERE they're from.  Building a referral possibility starts with associated geography with names
• How to format a blog.  White space, where to find free/low cost graphics.  How to use the editor, spacing around a picture, etc.  Point out the blogging templates that exist to provide a head start.
• Basic DO and DO NOT of AR:  copyright/plagiarism/self advertising in other posts, how to play nice in the sandbox, etc.
• The different categories of members:  Staff, Ambassadors, Rainmakers, Rainers, etc. 
• How to have blogging MAKE money for you in the shortest amount of time  (blogging isn't a quick fix, double your business in a week silver bullet)

Those are definitely good ideas.  I would say videos to address all of those, plus common tasks.

• Liking and following someone
• Posting product reviews
• General "how to use the blog section" and "Q&A" section - ask question, filter to speficic topic categories, etc.
• How to write a blog using the editor basics - lists formatting, images, links.  Advanced - tables, sharing the blog, etc.
• How to modify your profile and include a blog signature (gets asked every once in a while on here).
• A video covering the basic types of blog posts (market reports, listings, community events, fun stuff, the different templates and how to use them...).

That's all I can come up with off the top of my head.  Hope it helps!

Bob,
First, thanks for being there. Many of us have renewed our participation because of your return as a key figure in AR management.

For me, six areas:

# 1 How to do the various nuts and bolts things in AR.

# 2 How to maximize our use of AR. There are a number of people like Craig Daniels, Tammy Emineth and many others who could help us get more out of our efforts. Pay them a little to help.

# 3 Spotlight people who are using AR well in some way. Explain how they are using the platform well and how we can do the same.

# 4 How to integrate AR with our external web sites (especially WordPress) or other social media.

# 5 Help us find ways to invite new agents. I know agents to invite but it isn’t worth the time as almost all don’t start or quit very quickly. They want me to help them learn to blog and use AR for free.

# 6 AR should be the national hub for paid content. Allow members to post content that would be available for members to watch for pay.

Broker Mary is great at getting new listings. She creates a video and posts it. AR members can view it for a reasonable amount, $5 to $20. There is a review feature. If we watch Mary’s video and find it helps she gets a positive review and more agents will pay to watch it.

The AR platform is being WAY underutilized.

I would begin with one titled 'Why Active Rain?'

In this video the intended purpose such as education, community and network should be expounded. That by itself would be boring.

Which means there exists a need for some 'off the farm' ways ones of genius has found to leverage AR in sustaining or growing their business. Big picture stuff. One may even suggest unconventional or plain old whacky or what's soon to be in your future mixed media presentations..  Be aware, it is highly possible those who know of these practices are unlikely to volunteer what they know because it is a secret. Make every effort to stay away from same old type and same old content. 

When new users are properly equipped and oriented with the potential one can harness through AR participation, then you do the practical training of how to organize the image portfolio and tag a member, etc, etc.

You don't want folks spending two months here then asking "Now What?" 

I believe, the video of greatest need at this very moment is  showing how to get AR blogs onto the other SM platforms.

Consider placing this library of helpful and instructional videos on links where the user can access them within the context of their activity, without going mining.  (can be accomplished with 'text search' function in header)

Although somewhat dangerous, some would find accessing the 'source code' function an increadible shortcut to creating dynamic content.

These clearly go way beyond inserting and text wrapping an image and may not even make it to the new projects board.

The first three would work for me.

Thanks

Im unsure adding personal videos, do we have to start w. youtube or not  ?? I want to start doing local tours via video for my blog. 

I'm a tad confused...is it AR training or training on videos?  Maybe there's a typo.  I'll check in later.

Lots of it please

Referral alert would be great, I did not even know that is possible and would help a lot! I would say mostly just more about SEO friendly writing.

I think it's great we are going to have video training. A lot of the topics that people have mentioned have already been covered over the years, but I'm sure not all members were around then and had the advantage of listening to those training sessions.

1) I think a review of what makes a good post and how to get it to rank high would be a good start and a nice refresher for some of us that have been around for a while.  

2) How to insert a photo would be good as well. I'm seeing a lot of posts without any pictures. 

I would like to see " The do's and Don'ts" of blogging and commenting. Perhaps some examples of those breaking this lately? On a positove note, I love the examples you propose

Everyone's got it covered I think for basics. Somethings mentioned go to the next level which you can do after you figure out HTML etc.

I liked the other series & thought you guys did a great job. I was just an idiot banging my head against the kitchen table - that's how I learned 

Any of the above, Bob.  I think that a lot of people get the writing part of blogging, but need help with the formatting to make things reader-friendly.  Any video series helping with that would probably go well.

Hi Bob Stewart, 

I would like to see a video on the effective use of Groups.  Groups used to be an important, and lively, part of ActiveRain.  However many of them are just rusting away in the rain today.

I don't know if this is video material, but I'd like to see some form of legal advice on Active Rain as to any possible liability regarding what we post. That might include annotating images properly, referencing sources and so on. Do we have access to any AR legal counsel? One of my platforms is to minimize risk for me, my clients and associates.

PS All the suggestions re AR training videos are great!

I would like to see a series for new members on the basics of writing blogs and the set up on ActiveRain. It seems that many new members never get a good start. 

Videos have become essential elements of the business and a series on producing videos and using them in blogs would be helpful for many.

Bob Stewart , more video posts in general.   The more the better for me. I am an visual leaner.  So I have a much better chance of getting it it I can see it and hear it.

Bob ~ How about video on how to do video? Not just for AR how to's but also for members to introduce themselves, community videos, etc. etc.

Bob, the key items for me are some already listed below, but I find it VERY important to know ASAP such items as writing the blog and using the basics such as list formatting, images, links. Advanced tables, sharing the blog, etc. 

How to use the blog section and Q & A for a specific topic without extensive research. Good blog templates and how to use them.

How to maximize the use of ActiveRain and intergrating ActiveRain with our external websites and other social media.

Thanks, Steve Houck

How to or IF we should add a video to our blog post and if so, after we do it, how best to also get it out to other media?

I'm excited about a new platform. More things to come? 

ActiveRain for Beginners/Newbies:

  Show how to surf the ActiveRain website, benefits of Rainmaker, the Points System, where and how to get help, etc.

I would like to see some nuts and bolts courses regarding making video's.  Are cell phone video's adequate?  Should I use the big camera?  how do I edit, overlay a sound track, possibly brand it is a watermark? 

How to do a video and upload and make changes to it on youtube.

Hi Bob: 

Maybe in addition to the tactical "how to's" wouldn't it be wonderful to show what makes a blog magical, thought provoking, controversial, or heart-rending? Talk to people about how to color outside the lines? 

But back to AR University..I still have your templates for market reports and other formats. Those were (are) great. 

Hope things are going well. Merry Christmas. 

All great suggestions, I can't think of anymore.

I am looking forward to viewing the videos. I would like to see where we can get free photos and how to wrapt text around it.

How to upload photos and videos using iPad.  Please, please

Bob,

I like all your choices.  Ease in posting a blog makes it easier for people to engage with others. A

Bob - I would say the more the merrier. Many of the agents have provided some great suggestions, and I would have to agree with David Gibson on his suggestions.

Best way to incorporate AR blog posts into your own blog, or vice versa.

How to blog for business (prospects).

Videos spotlighting people who are getting business through their posts, and blogging the right way.

I would like them to be more about the business of real estate, and not so much about the technical side, like how to insert a photo, etc. I want to know what to write about, and how to best utilize a title, keywords, content, etc. to find new clients.

I actually find all four of those appealing Bob Stewart 

Best practices such as post on outside blog first? ActiveRain first? How to make sure Google knows it's MY content?

I love the referral alert idea.  That would be a cool feature. 

I also agree with Liz and Bill Spear  that more folks need to take advantage of their profiles.  It is so crazy how they don't have their location visible.  I comment on some post and can never find out where the person is from.  It's like they are in witness protection or something.  Silliness.

The other things is inserting photos.  I'm sure there is a lot of information posted about this everywhere on the site, but many continue to struggle with this process. 

The examples you share are good.  I suggest keeping the videos focused and short.  

Is there a place we can see what already exists so we can identify any "gaps"?

I would like to see a reminder that when you accept a referral that is an AGREEMENT TO PAY.

 Good morning Bob. 1, 3 & 4.

None of the ones you listed interest me. I'd love a training on techniques to create very polished layouts for blogs. I find the AR platform difficult compared to others I use.

Bob Stewart there are a some topics under 'Ask The Ambassador'.

Uploading the pictures, creating the link, tagging a member are common questions in Q&A, even now - just to name a few.

Setting up the profile and benefits of Rainmaker account are frequently asked questions, too.

(There are many good suggestions in other answers - perhaps I am not adding anything new, it seems.)

I think you have covered all the essentials in the past, but you may want to check them over and update them so as to cover new procedures.

As far as the top three, check the number of hits they all have on them.

Anything about improving SEO for blogs

Get Debb Janes in on the act.  Her stuff is fabulous.

I would like to see more templates that can be used and widgets.

I would like to see videos about setting up the right side bar and creating signatures for blog posts.

I thought it was going to be about video?

I would like editing help, like how to stop the motion.

I would watch all of the above.

I know the most important webinars were how to do a blog to rank.   I think that would help so many newer bloggers.  

I would like to see what should be included with a listing post, what to include so others get a feel for the area we represent & how long the signature line should and what it should include and last but not least choosing groups to post to and  tag lines.

Have feature to search dated blogs with advanced search capability