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Kate Steven, Best Real Estate agent (5homestyle)

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Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Blog girlfriend blog!
Answer questions in here.

They'll generate points and you'll barely have to lift a finger.

Members and consumers want to know you're a great agent that we can refer business to. Demonstrate how that is true! You'll get where you want to go a lot faster that way.

I don't want to scare you, but I've been on this site for 13 years. I started with it. I hit 500K in 2017. It would have been sooner but in 2009 I pulled about 150 blogs all at once .

Still, it never mattered when I got there. Granted I was grandfathered in & never had to pay. But did the points bring business? NO.

Did people reading my blogs and referring business to me and contacting me because I was knowledgeable? YES

You'll pay for much less valuable real estate tools in your career, I know I have.

Intent is everything. If your only intent is to gather points, you'll gather points but you won't gather business. Points won't pay your bills.

Feb 08, 2019 07:06 AM
Ambassador
2,178,603
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 Kate,
In my humble opinion, you're focusing on the wrong thing.  You need to focus on what will help YOUR business grow.  POINTS here will do nothing for increasing your income.  Writing valuable content and getting it out to the public... and learning from others here will help YOUR business grow. You seem to be focusing on a FREE account which is a pittance compared to what you could earn focusing on growing your business through blogging.  Before I retired, blogging resulted in 75% of my business income.  The points here in the Rain paid me exactly Zero.

And, by the way, if all you want is a FREE blog there are free options out there.  I started on Blogger in 2005.  You won't get the comraderie support on a free blog that you get here but you can blog for no cost.

Feb 08, 2019 05:59 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

if you are fortunate enough to invite a potential member who loves to write and has the time to participate, you'll be receiving 10% of that member's points... plus points when they join with your invitation...

your best bet is to write blog posts and reblog others' blog posts.... participate in everything that's offered including contests....

Feb 08, 2019 05:00 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

You should invite NO ONE until you figure a few things out yourself.

Start by adding MEANINGFUL content.

Then encourage your friends to read and comment on your stuff.

At that point you can share the benefits from your experience; they can see your model; and then choose to join because you have been a great role model. Yeah, I know, that takes work.

 

Feb 08, 2019 04:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Don't be driven by points. The idea of AR is to provide useful information, networking and developing relationships. The points will take care of themselves.

One way to increase your points is to participate in contests

Feb 08, 2019 07:29 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I use LINKS to my invitation page. I put them in my signature in my email and Social Media. Copy and paste your link into various places to reach others

Feb 08, 2019 04:50 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I have no clue. I've never invited anyone and have no plans to do so. Points on Active Rain don't add to my bottom line. 

Feb 08, 2019 03:42 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Kate,

I agree with both Candice A. Donofrio and Carol Williams .  Focus on making friends instead of points...I have been here active since Jan 2009.  I don't sweat the points or getting something for free.  I am here to learn, hopefully to share some of our experience and point of view... We have become friends with so many wonderful individuals, met them and broke bread with them.  It has been one of the many highlights in our lives.  A

Feb 08, 2019 07:30 AM
Rainmaker
2,220,323
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Kate, welcome to AR....

Feb 08, 2019 07:23 AM
Rainmaker
931,002
Chuck Willman
Chuck Willman - Alpine, UT
NewHouseUtah.com

I don't know if I would spend much time on it. There are other ways to earn points that may be a much better use of your time. Although I have invited people in the past, they rarely contribute enough to make much difference to my points and... I don't know if they may find the same value here that I do.

So, I would rather people find out about this platform on their own. Let them consider if it is worth their energy.

I don't want them to feel they've spent money on my endorsement for my points benefit. I'd rather they make their own value judgement.

Feb 08, 2019 05:48 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Youy might want to think about enhancing your presence here irst.

Feb 08, 2019 05:41 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD
Feb 08, 2019 05:37 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Write a Blog Post
My Blog
My Questions
My Profile ( Edit )
Invite Others
Traffic (Stats)
Referral Network

The link is right under your photograph on your home page. If you don't let people know beforehand, little chance they will respond! Good luck!

Feb 08, 2019 04:08 AM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

https://activerain.com/action/agents_secure/invitation

Send an invitation, then give them a call to tell them why it can be of value to them.

Feb 08, 2019 01:34 AM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

As Barbara Todaro tells you, inviting others only works if those you invite actually contribute content.    It's rare to find an agent willing to put in the time to writing consistent blog content.  I've invited 50 or so members over the years and most only ever set a profile.  A few blogged two or three times.  And I even taught a social media class locally to help agents "get it!"  

Do your own thing and get your message out there.  You will get results.

Feb 08, 2019 08:13 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Good luck with it Kate Steven . I never found a formula that worked for me. I've had about a dozen folks join because of me but not a one has reached 2,000 points.

Feb 08, 2019 08:09 AM
Ambassador
5,229,951
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

99% of the time, inviting others is a waste of time! Very few people enjoy writing and blogging. In the grand scheme of things, the reason that we blog is not only because we enjoy it but, because it brings us business. 

I would focus my time on blogging for business, not pondering about points.

I understand that 500K points gets you a free account but, the commission earned from ONE sale from your blogging efforts will pay your AR fees until you hit that 500K mark...and the blogging will add to your points goal also.

Feb 08, 2019 08:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have tried to inform some agents but no one joined. 

Feb 08, 2019 05:32 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I wish we knew

Feb 08, 2019 05:04 AM
Rainmaker
628,764
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Make sure you discuss before sending invite, otherwise the invite will most likely be disregarded as spam

Feb 08, 2019 03:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,197,097
Peter Mohylsky, Beach Expert
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

Invite others in your office.

Feb 08, 2019 02:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

You use the AR platform to invite new members.

Your best way to gain points is to blog regularly.

Feb 08, 2019 08:09 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Did I answer this one already ?

Feb 08, 2019 10:29 AM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

There is an "invite" button on your home page. You get points for inviting and when invitees participate.

Feb 08, 2019 08:59 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

You only get 10% of the invitee's points.  So unless they're hell bent to get to 500k like you, you won't get many points.  Even then, you'll only get 50k for the entire year if they get 500k.  It's not really worth it unless you're Agent Professor Utah and have your students sign up and ask questions.

Feb 08, 2019 08:37 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Hey .... isn't this all said in a newbie section? How to get started?

 

Feb 08, 2019 08:29 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

I'm not sure how well the invite system is working currently.

Feb 08, 2019 07:41 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,538
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Have not had many stay with blogging, but you can try.

Feb 13, 2019 06:54 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Listed to Candice A. Donofrio on her suggestions!

 

Feb 11, 2019 09:12 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Define "senior members".  Are you wanting the 55+ crowd to respond? 

Feb 08, 2019 05:54 PM