Everyone that knows me knows I'm basically honest, and wouldn't endorse anything I didn't believe in. I believe we should never blindly follow anyone, I don't care how important everyone else thinks they are. Personally I want to make sure that my choice fits my own needs, and those of my clients. Well, today I am very happy with Active Rain, and especially a couple people that showed me the right way to use this great resource.
This morning I sent out a Group email to the members of SO CAL Pass Area Communities and other Interests thanking them for their participation and asking if they knew of anyone else that wanted to join. I personally have done business with 3 of the Group Members, and have talked to almost all of them.
This Group was started at the suggestion of Laurie Manny a longtime Active Rain member and former Moderator. Months ago I had called Laurie to ask her opinion on how I could better utilize Active Rain's resources. Her suggestion was to start a Group, a Local One. We all know we have several Groups for Franchises, States, and about 5,000 other things, but there wasn't a hyper local one for me :)
Anyway, after Laurie's tutelage (that's a word for you Jason ) I tried to get members that were in my area. Not just my small area, but everything in this part of Riverside or San Bernardino County. I truly admire Laurie Manny, and her opinion so I made the group, but expanded it to include people we could refer to, or do business with...like Sally Cheeseman for Military or other Relocation's to Hawaii.
Our local Active Rain Group now includes:
- 2 stagers from the City of Temecula
- 2 RE Companies in Banning
- 1 RE Company in Temecula
- 1 RE Agent in Temecula
- 1 REALTOR in Hawaii-a great referral for Military Relocation's
- 1 Palm Springs REALTOR
- 1 Home Inspector in Rancho Cucamonga
- and someone in Texas that keeps us on our toes (Linda Scanlan)
These are the people that have been active, that have added value to all of us that work in the Real Estate Profession in California. We all have our specialties, and our areas that we like to work, but the common thread is that we all saw the value of Active Rain and working together through our Group.
And if you don't believe in the Power of the Rain, I actually felt validated in my choice, and my decisions when I opened up my California Association of Realtors Magazine and it mentions Active Rain under technologies to help CA REALTORS, and about webinars to teach you how to use this resource. How good is that :)
It felt good to know that I was on the right track, and for the right reasons : Networking, and Tools for my Real Estate Business.
So, my suggestion would be not to worry about who has more points, who has the biggest Subscriber List, Who knows more about Widgets, or SEO.....concentrate on what will help YOU help your clients. Use all the tools that Active Rain has and find a group of local members and work together.
After all it is only by working together that we will all benefit.
