ActiveRain - The Official ActiveBlog

As I have shared over the past few weeks, I have been extremely busy with Webinars for our new members teaching them how to write posts effectively for search engines & also to be appealing to consumers.  In the classes I share how to write posts to rank well in the search engines as well as making your posts appealing to a consumer who comes to read what you have written. 

During the webinars, one of the questions that normally comes up is Why do I need to be a Rainmaker?  While there are thousands of reasons why everyone should be a rainmaker, I decided to just share 6 of the most important ones.

• Google Dominance-  This is a no-brainer.  If you write it properly, it will rank well in Google.  It doesn't take months and years to start ranking well in Google.  If you don't believe me, read about one of the members who became a Rainmaker in less than 10 hours of sending two posts public was #1 & #2 on Google!  If you take the training that ActiveRain offers our Rainmakers and put it to use for you, the same results can be yours. 

• Blog views get a steroid injection.  If you are trying to figure out how to get more traffic to your blog, then a Rainmaker is a great option.  Did you know that our Rainmakers Average 500 views per post?  Here are some really interesting stats from a member who recently became a rainmaker.

                   Before                                                                         After

These stats were taken immediately after becoming a Rainmaker and you can see the results.  In an instant their blog traffic increased 4 times what it was on posts before being a Rainmaker.  This happens instantly because when you become a Rainmaker you get to have your posts show up in the search engines and also be read by consumers. 

• Increase of Income- This is probably my favorite reason for becoming a Rainmaker.  Once you become a rainmaker, you can really increase your revenue.  I don't need to prove that a Rainmaker Membership can increase your income, many of our members already have:

Over the past week or two, I had two referrals from my friends here at ActiveRain, AND one of the biggest closings we've had in months.  The closing came from a consumer who found my blog months ago and became a "fan". -Jason Crouch

While almost 60% of the members who joined Active Rain at the same time I did, have not used  this amazing marketing tool, I have garnered close to sixty (YES, sixty!!!) new clients through my blogging on AR.  I literally credit ActiveRain with saving my business during these trying times. -Mirela Monte

• Posts show up on Localism.  "The World's Most Complete Neighborpedia"  When you are writing content about your local area this gives you a great secondary avenue to share your information & increase your Internet exposure by double instantly.
  

• ActiveBlogs- Think of the endless marketing opportunities by having your blog show up on it's own domain name.  For example, which would you prefer seeing on a business card? http://activerain.com/blogs/jeremy or http://activejeremy.com?  Just how Localism gives you another avenue to share your content exponentially, your ActiveBlog does the same thing by offering a third place to syndicate your content to.
  

• Top Notch Training- The training & knowledge you can obtain on ActiveRain is alone enough reason to become a Rainmaker.  Between the webinars offered by ActiveRain and also the great information shared by members you can learn enough to revolutionize your business and take it to the next level.

So if you are not yet a Rainmaker, what have you been waiting for?  Get started today for only $5.00 for the first month. Or, if you would some training on how a rainmaker can increase your business, feel free to sign up for my Blogging Basics 101 Webinar where I will teach you personally how to get the most out of your membership. 

What are you waiting for?  Let's take your blogging career to the next level today!

I  read a post earlier this morning from fellow staff member Joel Kruse on how within a three hour period he helped a new member, achieve page one results with her new ActiveRain Blog on Google.  If you missed the article, go read it here: New Rainmaker on the first page of Google in 3 hours the post is rather astonishing!

As I began reading the comments, one of the comments I saw by a few over & over was: "Lets be real, who cares if you are #1 for Manhattan Beach Events & Activities?  You need to be on page 1 for real estate terms in your area."   I wanted to take a few minutes to explain why writing about anything in addition to real estate can be an asset to your Real Estate business.

Adopting the Walmart Mentality to Your Blog

I don't know about anyone else, but I know that whenever my wife & I visit walmart we end up being there for a minimum of 30 minutes & spending close to $100.00 no matter what.  We go in to purchase a bag of potatoes & diapers & while inside realize that we needed paper towels, see an adorable outfit for Isabelle we can't pass up & need more shaving cream.  The reason that this happens is because Walmart has everything you could ever possibly need!  They are a smorgasbord of products. Also, you know that their prices are always going to either be better than the competition or very close.

This same principle is true to your writing on your blog.  While writing about community events & activities, or restaurants may not have anything to do with real estate, writing these posts bring consumers to your blog.  While they are there reading about a local restaurant, or an upcoming Marathon, they also notice you work in real estate & as they become comfortable with you as a local expert, they are also going to be telling others about your blog.  Also, they will check back regularly for more information & also connect with you.  Also, you never know who they may be telling about your site & the great info you shared about the local parade that is ready to buy a home now.

Here is an example to bring this into perspective:  A few years ago, I wrote about baseball & a major local tournament that was taking place here.  Shortly after writing that post, a gentleman contacted me one day.  He said, "Hi Jeremy, I read what you wrote about the upcoming baseball tournament.  My son is playing in it this year & I was wondering if you could help us find a place to rent for 10 days."  While I never ventured into the rental market & stuck strictly to real estate sales, I was kinda bummed he was looking to rent instead of purchasing.

I gave the man a the name of a nice condo development that did rentals & didn't think much of it anymore.  As the next year of the tournament rolled around, I received a call one day from this gentleman.  He said: "Hey Jeremy I have been following your blog for the past few months & it seems that the market in Myrtle Beach is really prime for us to purchase. When we come back down in a few weeks can we get together & look at property?"  I said most definitely!  So, we met up while they were here.  They ended up purchasing two properties from me as well as referred another 3 people to me.

That one small thing written about a baseball tournament resulted in over $30,000 in commissions because I wrote an article that appealed to this gentleman's needs, & also took a step beyond the call of duty to help him find a rental.  Also, he was able to relate to me because he knew I loved baseball enough to take time & write about it.  We had a common connection.  He didn't first come to me because buying a place here was on his mind. Just like when I visit Walmart I am not going in to purchase Isabelle a new dress, or my wife a new pair of shoes.   I am there for bag of potatoes.  But because the rest is available, I get that as well. 

If nothing else, write the post for the Juice!

Ok, so maybe you think this principle above is crazy & completely ridiculous.  If you do, that is perfectly fine and you don't need to believe it.  But, what about the SEO side of writing local content?  As you write these local content posts you are working on building a larger online presence.    Every time you write a post & submit it for the public to view, you are giving Google another page to index on your blog & increasing SEO. One of the things that Google loves is fresh new content.  The more content you can provide, the more it will love you. 

So, Have You Adopted the Walmart Mentality to Your Blog?