The ActiveRain Stuff You Won't Find Anywhere Else on the Web

We have a new feature which I'm sure many of you have already noticed on your "MY HOME" pages. 

Since we released the new "SUGGEST" for feature button, we've been getting a really good response from members helping us to find and report suggested content for the ActiveRain Feature Board.  You'll notice today that we've placed a new metric "CALLED SHOTS" counter in the status area of each members "my home" page. This little tracker tool will tally a total of how many posts you suggest that actually get featured.

Calling a shot simply means you've selected a post by another member that you feel should be featured. 

To do this, you would have to have clicked on the "SUGGEST" button in the upper right corner of their blog post.  If you suggest a members Blog post to be featured, and it is selected, then you will have "Called The Shot" and get the kudos.  When a member accumulates enough "Called Shots" they'll earn a new badge.

In order to prevent gaming, members may only suggest a maximum of 5 posts per day, so be careful calling your shots, don't waste them, we may have some additional surprises and rewards for those members "calling the most shots" around here. 

Thank you for helping us keep the network growing and for keeping the community fun!  Your support in suggesting features has been awesome, and is making a huge difference for our moderators and for the variety and quality of content that our visitors and traffic are being exposed to while visiting ActiveRain.

When I was seven years old, I was inspired by a movie to wanna grow up one day and be a race car driver.  My parents took me to a Century theater for my very first "Big Screen" experience to watch James Garner and Brian Bedford in the movie Grand Prix.  Mom used to tell me that during the movie, I sat there in the seat holding the tips of my shoes as if they were a steering wheel, and believed I was racing down that track with the other drivers in the movie.  I don't really remember that, but I do remember that childhood dream of one day wanting to be on the race track to feel that thrill and to experience the excitement of the "race!"

Last week, my good friends Diana Turnbloom and her husband Steve invited me to join them at Infineon Raceway, (formerly Sears Point) to watch Steve and his boys (Brian and Brad) race.  I've never actually been to this race track even though I have passed by it many times in my travels to Santa Rosa, Napa, Sonoma etc.  I decided to take them up on the offer since this may be as close as I'd ever get to achieving that one small and almost forgotten childhood dream.  Getting to go down in the pit's and be part of the behind the scenes action sounded exciting not to mention that getting to see some old friends would be awesome, so I went.

Diana and Steve are very good friends I met in this business many years ago, and are also active here on ActiveRain.  When they invited me out, I don't think they knew or realized the significance this day would have on me.  It was like a conection with an inner child's dream that had been couped up inside me all these years.  Racing down a long straight-away, sliding into those tire protected corners, and crossing that line to a waving checkered flag!  I could only imagine (in my dreams) what that would really feel like. The thrill, the excitement, the fear, the danger, and the challenge of it all.  Then there's the potential of a victory lap!?!  Oh what I wouldn't give.....

Never let go of a dream folks, the wait is worth it, and the Race can be better than a Victory.

This past Sunday, the stars and planets must have aligned perfectly because this was the day that one of my dreams would become a reality.  When I arrived at the track, Steve and Diana's son Brad, escorted me over to the area where passes are given to the guests and racers.  I signed a form releasing liability in the case of my accidental death, and the next thing I know, I'm putting on a helmet, climbing into the passenger seat of a Spec Miata race-car, fastening down a 5-point seat belt restraint, and realizing that I am about to head out onto a "live" race track where speed, thrills, risk, danger, and dreams become reality! OMG!!

Brad and Steve banking the High Speed Turns at Infineon Raceway

I can't put into words what this experience was like.  I'm still speechless and in shock that this even happened yesterday.  More importantly, I am forever grateful to my dearest friends Steve and Diana and their family for inviting me out and making one of my life dreams come true.  Thanks you guys so much.  Being out on that track, literally flying around those corners at top speeds and feeling those g-forces, was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life and it was just as I had dreamed it would be as a young child. AWESOME!!!!

Watching that checkered flag wave after 20 minutes of heart throbbing intensity was INCREDIBLE!  The race really was as good or better than a victory, and I learned a couple very valuable life lessons:  Never Let Go of your dreams, and remember that the relationships you establish in life are so valuable, in fact priceless.  It was these friends that helped make one of my dreams come true.

Diana and Steve, you guys are the BEST!  Thank you again, and next time......I'll be driving!  :-)

Never Let Go of A Dream - This Race WAS A Victory!!

Now before you watch this video, (and I know it's longer than most would prefer) take special note of the message at the very end. Although very subtle, it will make you really think about how "any point system" ties into business and our personal lives. The message received here may vary from viewer to viewer, but the "Points" should still be the same.

Today we launched a new button on ActiveRain.  The "Suggest Feature" button.  

With the volume of great content and fantastic Blog posts being submitted daily from our RainMakers, we have created a new and powerful tool that allows members of the community to make suggestions for posts and articles they feel should be featured on our home page. This is a very powerful new tool, and with great power, comes great responsibility.  :-)  It is similar to the new Facebook "LIKE" button that we recently added.

As long as I can remember, the controversy of what does, and does not get featured has seemed a mystery or at best, a guess.  ActiveRain's moderators have done a fabulous job in my opinion of sifting through the thousands of daily posts that go up on our network.  It is a very difficult and time consuming task, and it's no longer humanly possible for us to review every post submitted by members for a potential feature.

The ActiveRain Community has been built and established based partly on our members "ideas and suggestions" and we're not changing our culture now!  We are looking to our members, and the thousands of eyes (instead of just the few of our own)  to suggest and submit to us, any posts you feel are worthy and have good content for our Feature Board.  Now YOU (our community) can help us moderate and play a significant huge role in what our community stands for and represents. 

By clicking on the new button, you'll be endorsing that member's Blog post, and sending us a link to consider for the coveted and infamous golden star.  When you click on it, nothing will happen except the button will turn Grey.  Behind the scenes, it will send the link to our staff for their review and possible selection.  So here's your chance to help run the ActiveRain Feature Board.  There is no limit to the amount of posts you can suggest to be featured, but you can only select the same post one time.

You may also notice that the "Flag" this post icon is no longer available at the bottom of each Blog post, we're currently working on a replacement option for reporting members concerns and flagging posts.

Our hope is that before members suggest a post, they'll keep in mind the culture, "The ActiveRain Weltanschauung" and the "Community Guidelines" upon which this network and vibrant community were created and built.  What "BEST" represents not only ActiveRain and our community, but what Best represents us as an Industry.  I truly believe that giving more of this decision to our members via this new option will benefit us all as a whole. 

YOU have been "The Voice" of AR since its inception, and now YOU can be the "Eyes and Ears" as well.  As we start relying more heavily on member suggestions, you may notice a change in the type of posts that make up the feature board. We're looking forward to your responses and responsiveness, and we're also excited about witnessing where this will take us in the future with the ActiveRain Feature Board. :-)

How To Create and Maximize Your ActiveRain Blog Post

The AR community has grown and evolved with thousands of new members, millions of posts, some really cool features, and great SEO and consumer traffic.  Many of the members who sign up and join ActiveRain start off very excited and ready to Blog, but then find themselves stuck.  We have many members who ask What Should I do Next?

Having a profile setup and then just lurking around the community, not knowing where or what to do next, seems to be an age old trend.  "What should I Blog about?"  "I don't have the time!"  "I'm not a writer or blogger!?" and "Why Should I Blog?" are just some of the common questions and concerns I hear time and time again.

It's time to get some answers.  It's time to get your "Blog" game on!

ActiveRain members have created a very powerful on-line resource for both members and consumers that is second to none.  There is ton of information here covering a wide variety of topics and discussions.  So where do you find out what makes the ActiveRain Blog Post different than any other Network or Blogging platform out there? 

What tools and options are available and how do you use them?  How is Blogging on ActiveRain different than blogging on Wordpress or Blogger?  Do you have questions like these and are you trying to make cents sense of it all?  In just one hour, we're not just going to tell you, we're going to show you.  If content really is King, then knowledge about content and "How To" must be Queen!

What's taken years to learn (through trial and error) will be shared with you in a "flash" of time, if you want it.

Click Here To Learn How To Create and Maximize Your AR Blog Post

* The Blog Cycle and Purpose - Connecting All The Dots
* What's The Difference Between a Website and A Blog
* Finding "Your" Blogging Voice and Transparency
* The Keys to Building Your Blog Resourse Library
* Where to Find Unlimited Content for Blogging
* What To Write and Blog About and Why
* How to Create Powerful and Inviting Blog Titles
* What Makes Bad Content vs Great Content
* How to Generate MORE Traffic and Leads
* How to Track Statistics and Use Analytics
* Strategy on Using Keywords and Tags Effectively
* Why Achor Text and Back Linking Are Crucial
* Using Channels, Groups, and Topics as Tools
* What is The Truth and Power of the ReBlog
* The Evolution of Posting Listings - What's Changed
* When, Why, and How Often To Create New Posts
* Using Syndication to Get Maximum Exposure
* Understanding SEO on ActiveRain and Outside Blogs

The purpose of ActiveRain and this vibrant network is to provide a community atmosphere where Industry Professionals can network, have fun, learn from each other, share their knowledge and experiences, and grow their business via referrals, SEO, and Blogging.  If you're new to ActiveRain, or you've been lurking around for months now, or you've left AR and now you're back, or maybe attended a RainCamp and you're just not sure what to do next, I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity and join us.  It all starts with YOUR Blog!

Important Note: This training is open to any and all members. Some tools and information we'll be sharing will only apply to RainMaker memberships. We'll explain the differences, and also provide you the opportunity to explore the "RainMaker" membership with no risk or obligation if you're interested.

EDIT 6/1/10 10:00pm 
"Try This Link To See If You Can Watch The Recorded Session"

The ActiveRain University, ActiveRain's BEST KEPT SECRET.  But Why?  Why would anyone not want to attend some or ALL of the FREE classes being offerred?  Your business and personal schedule is the only reason I can see that some might not be able to take advantage of these sessions. The other thought that has crossed my mind, maybe some folks just don't know these are available, especially new members, and those outside ActiveRain?

Please help us get the word out!  With an average of 300+ people joining AR again daily, you can help us spread the word a couple of ways.  Reblog the original post and calendar, use the "Like" button to share on Facebook, use the email envelope option to send to a new or associate member, or just tell someone about activerain.com/university.  There's even a link to this calendar on the ActiveRain Main HomePage.

Just look at some of these classes coming up and who's presenting them.  These are some of the Top Producing and most Influential people in Real Estate and Social Media.  ActiveRain University is also currently working on the "Professor Roster" which will feature ALL the guest speakers and presenters along with their credentials, bios, and contact information.  I hope you'll pay it forward and let others know.  Friends don't let other friends drive on the Internet unless they're educated and informed, here's a great way to do that!  :-)