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Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

Being a newbie I haven't expected referrals, but I have learned so very much here.  It is wonderful to ask experienced agents questions, especially on technology.  I know the advise I have been given will help my hotel website SEO and conversion.  Next I will work on my real estate website.  Thank you Barbara Todaro.

Feb 17, 2016 09:23 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

From a bottom line standpoint, NOT! Do I learn something new every day in the Rain which helps me as a professional? YES! Have I made great friends in the Rain who help suppport me and are great sounding boards when I need them? YES. 

Feb 17, 2016 07:56 PM
Ambassador
6,392,929
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

information, inspiration, and a few small clients.

Feb 18, 2016 02:29 AM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

Some referrals from AR members, leads from my blogs, loads of valuable education from posts here.

Feb 18, 2016 01:43 AM
Rainer
45,957
Andy Madrid
Hawaii Coast Realty, LLC - Kailua-Kona, HI
Expertise, Professionalism, and Service

I got a referral from Cindy Davis through AR and I am in a transaction with those buyers right now.

Feb 18, 2016 01:22 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

there are too many ways to list all of them, but the bottom line is the experience of "learning, marketing and networking" that it's afforded me... and in return, I share as much as I know....often, that's not very much, but we share what we know!! 

Feb 18, 2016 12:46 AM
Rainmaker
400,356
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

I thought this would be a safe place to start blogging and see if my blogs were well received.  This has also been a space where the exchange of ideas and information has been very useful.

I've been here for a little over a year and recently received a seller referral from an out of state brokerage.  They said they liked what I wrote and selected me.  I thought that was super neat!

I am unaware if my blogs have been the source of any other business. 

Feb 18, 2016 12:39 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

One third of my pre-license students find us online. Often a student will say, "I feel like I know you," from reading my blog posts

Feb 18, 2016 12:18 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

Just starting here.  I'm hoping to polish my writing technique and learn how to do a better blog.

Feb 17, 2016 10:26 PM
Rainmaker
5,005,580
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

My market area reads my blog after training them for years!

Feb 17, 2016 08:41 PM
Rainmaker
564,720
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Yes, it taught me how to blog and now my site accounts for 1/3 of my business.  I have also met several local agents here that have referred business to me.

Feb 17, 2016 08:29 PM
Ambassador
3,169,477
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Michael, We're close to half our business that is under contract for 2016 coming from AR or our related Wordpress site.  2015 was a bit under half but some of our niche work is picking up steam and the bulk of our current buyers we're working with are Internet leads from our blog or custom IDX pages.  And that doesn't even touch on what we learn here or the friends we've made.

Feb 17, 2016 08:25 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

$$$$$$$ It allowed me to end all Print Media involved in Marketing Listings  $$$$$$$

Feb 17, 2016 07:59 PM
Rainmaker
979,496
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Michael - Well it has made me a much more knowledgeable agent for sure, and I may also have some new marketing techniques to generate leads and sell homes, but I'm not sure the site itself has actually provided me with any business.

 

Feb 19, 2016 02:04 PM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Michael,
I have made a lot of money.

Learned a ton.

And the best thing AR has done for me is:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/4797718/the-best-thing-activerain-has-done-for-me-

Feb 19, 2016 01:31 PM
Rainmaker
2,538,633
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Michael. Two things immediately come to mind. AR gives me a vast group of folks to refer clients to and the friendships that have been created in the last few years.

Feb 18, 2016 05:14 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

I think I can write a whole book about it, Michael.....

Feb 18, 2016 03:29 PM
Ambassador
3,164,119
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

well I learned how to blog here, I met some of the smartest people I know in the business here, I've had friends here, I have both given and received referrals here.  so in a lot of ways.

Feb 18, 2016 01:23 PM
Rainer
23,400
Desmond Neoh
Weichert, Realtors - North Bethesda, MD
Your Area Specialist, Multilingual

Just started less than a year in business. I've learned alot from ActiveRain. Agents are busy in the office and it's hard to find time talk to them. People here are helpful and I have gotten many great feedback. So far, it doesn't give me new business here, but it does help me to build my knowledge with the experts here.

Feb 18, 2016 12:09 PM
Rainmaker
2,224,473
Debbie Laity
Cedaredge Land Company - Cedaredge, CO
Your Real Estate Resource for Delta County, CO

There are many ways it has helped my business. Last year I did several referrals and finding the right agent was easy because of AR. 

Feb 18, 2016 11:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I have had client tell me they read my market reports.

Feb 18, 2016 11:44 AM
Rainer
182,915
Harjeet Bhatti
FITH THIRD BANK - Chicago, IL
Home Mortgage Consultant 25 States

ActiveRain  is place to learn and meet like-minded professionals.  That’s great help to grow your business. 

Feb 18, 2016 11:23 AM
Rainer
223,831
LUXURYSOCALREALTY COMPASS La Jolla
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network

I'm too new to access but so far I enjoy it

Feb 18, 2016 11:05 AM
Ambassador
3,043,162
Katerina Gasset
The Gasset Group & Get It Done For Me Virtual Services - Provo, UT
Amplify Your Real Estate & Life Dreams!

I suppose I should answer this question as we are most likely among the agents for whom ActiveRain had totally changed our life and business. When I was the ActiveRain keynote speaker in Atlantic City some years back, at that time we were getting about 4 istings a week just from our ActiveRain blog and buyers for our buyer agents, referrals in and out.. which ended up in nice checks in the mail. You can ask Bob Stewart about how it changed our life. I joined AR in June of 2007 when the real estate market plummeted here in Florida. Overnight houses were worth only half of what people had just paid for them a week before. It was a nightmare. Agents gave up their licenses in droves. Over 10,000 realtors quit in less than a few months. NAR must have really felt that punch!  I started blogging about short sales because we did not want to be REO agents. The phone started ringing. This was before anyone knew what a short sale was. I ignored all those pointing their fingers and laughing at me for using keywords they said were not even showing up in google keyword planner. However, when I asked sellers what they typed in, they told me Wellington Short sale agents or Florida short sale agents ....etc...  within 2 months of blogging JUST on activerain , no wordpress, no website to speak of, just blogging on AR.. we were in the top 2% of closed sales in our MLS, the next year we were in the top 4% ... Then came the referrals from those sellers and so on and so forth... it just escalated from there. ActiveRain was like the  answer to our prayers as to which way to turn in a super bad awful real estate bust. The part we loved the best was these were mostly all listings. Yes, in a time when everyone was saying that you can not get listings from blogging, that only buyers you could get. You can ask Bob about what I taught at my keynote address in Atlantic City. They had scheduled me to speak for one hour and after one hour, everyone wanted me to keep speaking so I spoke for another 2 or so hours... I think it was like a total of 4 hours with no one even leaving to take a break. It works! 

Feb 18, 2016 08:02 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It has kept me on the first page of the search engines

Feb 18, 2016 07:52 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Michael,

One does not get biz over night from Social Media.  The best part has been learning from the folks here and meeting many of them.  A

Feb 18, 2016 05:57 AM
Rainmaker
900,118
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Blogging platform; good source of advice/info from professionals; interesting community.

Feb 18, 2016 04:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

yes . I have learned a lot.

Feb 18, 2016 03:46 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

It has kept me better informed and has forced me to be very market aware.

Feb 18, 2016 03:34 AM
Rainer
42,670
Fred Hafdelin
Weichert Realtors - Mountain Lakes, NJ

Im hear to learn. There are lots of very experienced people on Active Rain and I learn a lot from them.

Feb 18, 2016 02:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Not one little bit, but I sure have fun meeting others here.

Feb 18, 2016 02:40 AM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

I learn something new daily. 

Feb 18, 2016 01:56 AM
Rainmaker
4,272,548
Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, CRS
Fathom Realty Washington LLC - Tacoma, WA
South Puget Sound Washington Agent/Broker!

I have received referrals and ideas that have been beneficial

Feb 18, 2016 12:40 AM
Rainmaker
7,835,329
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

The knowledge gained has been the most important aspect.

Feb 17, 2016 11:54 PM
Ambassador
5,048,758
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

learning/knowledge, referral network with several referrals in and out, marketing ideas

Feb 17, 2016 11:30 PM
Rainer
43,981
Stephanie & John Webb
Latte Stone Realty LLC - Albuquerque, NM
Stephanie Webb Co-Owner, Latte Stone Realty, LLC

Active Rain helps me by sharing experiences and learning from other associates. Its beneficial to me for knowledge.

Feb 17, 2016 11:21 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

parked and reading

Feb 17, 2016 09:40 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

It has given me an outlet to market myself and what i can do on a daily basis. It has also introduce me to some wonderful people who have taught me so much, provided tips and support that sure has helped me grow and thrive.

Feb 17, 2016 09:39 PM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

I was sent a referral that I am still working.

Feb 17, 2016 09:27 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,359
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

A wealth of knowledge out there that is free for the taking!

Feb 17, 2016 08:49 PM
Rainmaker
1,325,299
Donald Urschalitz
Lubeck Realty Group - Jupiter, FL
P.A. Realtor ABR RSPS North Palm Beach County

Both education and referral business.

Feb 17, 2016 08:41 PM