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

ActiveRain Domains and Blogs - The AR Staff "LIVE" and Uncensored

ActiveRain ActiveBlogs

Will they compete?  Will they compare?  What is the difference between a WordPress Blog by Yahoo, a Blogspot or Blogger Blog by Google, and an ActiveRain Outside Blog?  Is there an advantage to either one? Which is the best for me?  Why would I even care?  A Blog is a Blog is a Blog... right?  Here's one way to find out.

Come join the ActiveRain Staff tomorrow to find out more about the hottest topic spreading around the web right now.  Jon, Bob, Rich and myself are hosting the RAIN Radio show (back from it's dormant state of hibernation) and will be unleashing the fury, tips, secrets, and vision of the NEW ActiveBlogs offered by our very own ActiveRain.

Watch out WordPress, step aside Blogger, new kids are in town.

(WordPress and Blogger have refused to comment...)

Call in to the show, join our chat session live with Elizabeth Nieves, follow along live from your computer, or just miss the show and go on having questions and confusion about Individual and Group Blogs. (just kidding) We'll also record the program and place it in this post later for those who can't make it.

Do us a favor and yourself one too, come find out what it's really all about and ask your questions, share your thoughts, vent your concerns, get answers from those who have them.  You can also leave any comments here that you'd like us to address.  This will be very educational and informative, I sincerely hope you can join us.

This Friday, Jan. 30 - 11:00am PST - 2:00pm EST. 

"RAIN" RADIO LINK                 THE "THUNDER" CHAT ROOM                  THE "LIGHTNING" RSS FEED

                                                                                                        

Listen To The Full Recorded Podcast

 

 

          

 

Tutorials | Training | Mobile | Widgets


"May this blog be just one more planted seed of wisdom that helps you or your business blossom today!"


ActiveRain HELP Browser Toolbar


79 commentsBrad Andersohn • January 29 2009 09:29PM

Comments

Rain, Thunder AND Lightning all in one day???  This ought to be good!

Posted by Bruce Brockmeier - Coached By Crouch (Internet Marketing Consultant to REALTORS®) over 3 years ago

The Weather actually calls for a "FLOOD" of information tomorrow, bring your umbrella to hold upside down and catch all the rain.  It will be a tropical downpour!!  :-))

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Brad my next article is going to be how the members can increase their readingship and SEO of their outside blog. Should be a great show.

Posted by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty) over 3 years ago

Brad  - I always wanted to know the difference between  the blogs sites. I" have to tune in tomorrow it sounds interesting.

Posted by Robert Schwabe - Orange Park Real Estate (Keller Williams- First Coast Realty) over 3 years ago

Brad,

I intend to tune in.  I still have loads to learn.

Posted by Anonymous over 3 years ago

Brad, this is a question I tried to ask you when we had lunch at NAR but couldn't quite articulate it. You mentioned something about not posting to your outside blogs too often and i didn't quite understand what you meant by that. My question to you was whether posting the same blog to an outside blog would be considered spam by Google to have it in two places. Justin Smith suggests posting part of it with a link back to the original blog.

This has been confusing to me so I would love an explanation of whether posting duplicate content on different blogs matters or not... Thanks in advance. Look forward to the show.

Posted by Frank & Sharon Alters, CDPE-Short Sales Jacksonville-Orange Park-Fleming Island (Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - Clay, Duval, St. Johns ) over 3 years ago

Not all BLOGS are created equal..... I know that for a fact. You bet I'll be tuning in.

Posted by Loreena Yeo, Realtor®| Frisco TX Community Advocate (214)783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Frisco TX Real Estate Co.) over 3 years ago

Brad. Is AR open sourced? One thing about WP is that they have millions of people making tools for it. Can the same be done with AR? Or an AR API? I am not a programmer but I see the benefit of this and I am a huge open source guy.

 

Thanks

Posted by Shane O'Gorman Eau Claire Wisconsin Real Estate Agent & Realtor- Buy or Sell (Eau Claire Realty, Inc.) over 3 years ago

I sure hope I'm able to join in. I've tried them all (other than AR upgraded blogs) and have so far settled on Wordpress. I have some very specific questions and reasons why I chose Wordpress (of course AR upgraded blogs weren't available at the time). I'm sure whether I make it or not, you'll have a spirited conversation!

Posted by Seattle Real Estate|Colleen Fischesser| |Short Sale Specialist|So King County (RE/MAX Select R.E | Designated Broker/Owner) over 3 years ago

This is good stuff.  Glad to hear it'll be recorded as I have an appointment at 11.

Posted by Christine Donovan Costa Mesa CA Homes Broker/Attorney 800-610-7253 DRE01267479 (Donovan Blatt Team - Donovan Group Realty) over 3 years ago

I won't be able to listen live...I'll be out showing property! But I will catch the broadcast later, I have been wondering about this, I'm glad your covering the topic.

Posted by Cait O'Donnell Donohue (Keller Williams Realty) over 3 years ago

Frank - great question, I'll cover it on the air.  This will help clear up some confusion, we will also be adding the capability for members to post directly to their outside blogs.  Justin's suggestion is a good one as well. We will cover the duplicate content issue, you can also check out the post Bob Stewart did on duplicate content a while back.  Thanks. :-)

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Shane - another great question, but if I answer it here, you won't listen in on the show and I really want you to join us!!  lol~  Seriously though, I think you'll be really interested in what will be shared about this tomorrow.  Try to make it if you can.  :-)

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

I'll be tuning in to pick up some much needed tips.

Posted by Jim Albano / North Jersey Real Estate Team - Jean-Marie Vantuno / Realtors® (Prudential Damiano Realty ) over 3 years ago

If I don't make it, I will listen later - I want the scoop!

Posted by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV MLS - Sun City Mesquite - 55+ Buyer Representative (ERA - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale) over 3 years ago

Glad I found this post; haven't had the chance to call you Brad. We've had snow {gasp} and some ice. The kids have been home from school all week. I look forward to having some questions answered.

Posted by Debbie DiFonzo - United Country VIP Realty, SW Missouri over 3 years ago

Hi Brad,

Looking forward to this!  I have it on the calendar and rescheduled conferenc calls.

Posted by Kim Hughes over 3 years ago

so what is the answer? what is the "better" blog to have?

 

how about linking to my site thebeachpeach.com

Posted by Stone Real Estate Group, LLC over 3 years ago

Brad: Looks and sounds very intersting.. Looking forward to the updates and see the difference

Posted by Roland Woodworth,SFR - Clarksville Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (Keller Williams Realty) over 3 years ago

looking forward for tomorrow

Posted by Ben Bahrami over 3 years ago

Brad - I won't be able to listen "live", but I will try to make a point to catch the archive recording afterwards!

Posted by Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC) over 3 years ago

I am truly looking forward to this show. As much fun as we always have...this show is also going to give our listeners some solid and economically rewarding information and advice...and it's FUN!! How great is that? ~GBU~

Posted by Elizabeth Nieves - Bilingual Raleigh - Durham North Carolina Real Estate Team (The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group) over 3 years ago

Brad, sounds like everyone should be scared...AR strikes again with all the new great stuff!

Posted by Gena Riede, Real Estate Broker Sacramento CA Real Estate (916) 417-2699 (Riede Real Estate, Lic. 01310792) over 3 years ago

Good Jason - cause guess what,  I'm returning the favor, we'll be talkin about ya since I know you won't be there! lol~

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Brad, I will tune in with both ears anxiously awaiting some clarifications on the outside AR blogs and a whole host of other questions I still have about blogging in general.  Take care and looking forward to the show!

Posted by Jason Neumann Realtor® www.KelownaRealEstateNews.com (Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd.) over 3 years ago

Brad,

I would love to be writing an offer at that time, but short of that, I'll tune in.

Posted by Fran Gatti - Realtor®, CDPE®, RDCPro®, Crescent City CA Real Estate (RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods) over 3 years ago

Thanks for news flash! I'll be there.

Posted by George Bennett, Principal Broker, GRI (Neath The Wind Realty) over 3 years ago

Brad- Can't wait... it should be great!

Posted by JB Brookman- Photographer & Writer JB Brookman Photography/Hollywood Icon M (JB Brookman Photography/Hollywood Icon Magazine) over 3 years ago

Duplicate content??  Absolutely and should be avoided by all Maryland and Northern Virginia agents with the exception of Homefinders.com

 

Posted by Lenn Harley, Real Estate Broker, Virginia & Maryland (Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Hi Brad, I am unable to miss this radio show but will definitely listen to the archive.

Posted by Michelle Finnamore (Advantage Staging - Home Staging in Vaughan and Woodbridge) over 3 years ago

Brad, Grabbing my umbrella!  Looking forward to it :P)

Posted by Elizabeth Cooper-Golden Huntsville AL MLS - (Huntsville Alabama Real Estate, (@ Homes Realty Group)) over 3 years ago

Good information...  Thanks Brad!

Posted by Doug Leugers (APEX Realty Group) over 3 years ago

Brad, I have been anticipating an event like this because I am ready to sign up! Thanks!

Posted by Russell Lewis, Broker,CLHMS,GRI (Realty Austin, Austin Texas Real Estate) over 3 years ago

Brad,

I am thinking that this is a radio show that I need to at least listen to.  I just hope that I will be back in time to listen.

Posted by Don Rogers REALTOR®, CDPE, GRI O'Fallon MO & St Charles County MO homes (RE/MAX Gold) over 3 years ago

Hi Brad, I won't be home but want very much to hear this--I have always believed in AR (and have tried all the rest :).  I'll catch it later tonight when I'm home, is it in one of the links above?  Thank you, I wish I would be here to get it "live."

Posted by Laura Cerrano and Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City/Feng Shui Manhattan ) over 3 years ago

Nice Brad ! - I'm in !!! ... see  hear you at 2pm my time :o)

Cheers !

Sheldon

Posted by Sheldon Neal ~ That British Agent ~ Bergen County NJ (Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited) over 3 years ago

Brad - I am looking forward to this. I am sure it will be filled with great content. Thanks for your continued progress. I am so thankful for AR and all who support it.

Posted by Gwenn Tanvas-Mortgage Pros of Wisconsin - FHA Loans - VA Loans - USDA Rural - (Peoples Home Equity, Inc. NMLS-274839) over 3 years ago

Brad,

Here is a question for you.  The domain name for the blog associated with my website is CarolinasRealEstateTalk.com.  I gave the AR outside blog the domain name CarolinasRealEstateTalk.info.  After three or four months of posting duplicate content on different days to these two blogs, every search I do on Google for either of these domain names brings up the AR outside blog.  I guess that shows the power of AR.

The question:  If I want to have two separate blogs showing up on Google, do I need to stop posting the duplicate content, change one of the domain names to something different, or what?

Your advice would be very helpful.  Thanks.

Posted by Carol Fox, Charlotte Neighborhoods, Union County NC Real Estate Broker (Allen Tate Company 704-905-3935) over 3 years ago

Brad,

I would like to tune in but I'll be in a meeting. Will the conversation be posted here to review later?

Brian Madigan

Posted by Brian Madigan LL.B. (RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto)) over 3 years ago

Aargh!  This is just the info I need, but I have an appointment at that time.  I'll have to check out the print version.  Looking forward to it, though.

Posted by Heather Goodwin Nest Realty (Licensed in Louisiana, USA) over 3 years ago

Sounds great I will tune in at the beginning as I have a MobileMe class at 3:00. I'm interested to hear the AR vs WordPress debate.  It will be lovely for the rain to melt the snow, haven't seen the ground in months. :)

Posted by Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor-Realtor® Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams-Ann Arbor) over 3 years ago

Yes this should be good but dang 11 am ? Guess to get everyone across the country it was a good time just not for us east Coast folks. I hope to catch it later maybe get my wife to listen in live Thanks Brad!

Posted by Gary Ward (Advantage Chatuge) over 3 years ago

Ouch, 2pm East Coast I cant make it, I will listen this evening to the recording!

Posted by Morgan Evans-New York City Real Estate Expert (Prudential Douglas Elliman) over 3 years ago

Brad, I'm looking forward to what all of you have to say! The time fits perfect for a change!!!

Posted by Connie Harvey Realtor Nashville TN Real Estate (Pilkerton Realtors) over 3 years ago

Hopefully,  it will be on later so that I can hear it after my open houses.  It is always good information for me to labsorb.  Thanks

Posted by Jane Heiss-Armitage Associate Broker Homes in the Great Lakes Bay Region (Ayre/Rhinehart Realtors (Midland, Bay,Saginaw, Mi.)) over 3 years ago

Rock on !!!  Will definitely come back to listen to the recording.  We have 3 settlements today being the end of the month.  So please definitey post the archive !  Also, thanks for checking up on us regarding our outside blog.

Posted by Christopher and Stephanie Somers - Realtors - Philadelphia Real Estate (Realtor / Owner - RE/MAX Access) over 3 years ago

Oh it helps to read .... it's 2 pm eastern standard time... still not good for us working folks. I was going to try and hang around for it but time to sell sell seel. have to catch it on the rebound!

Posted by Gary Ward (Advantage Chatuge) over 3 years ago

Consider me there...it's on my schedule FOR SURE! Thanks Brad.

Posted by Kim Daugherty, d + b real estate McKinney, TX REALTOR Broker/Owner (www.RealFamilyRealEstate.com) over 3 years ago

Brad,

Looks like it will be a info packed session. I will do my best to take it all in.

Posted by Shuki Haiminis (Lofts.com) over 3 years ago

I'm so dumb, not able to ask all of the question I have, but will be listening

Posted by Ann Hayman, GRI,CDPE,IRES, Jacksonville FL. Gated Communities , Real Estate (REMAX Specialists ) over 3 years ago

We'll be going live in about 20 minutes:

Call-in Number: (347) 677-1643

RainRadio Site:

Chat Room "LIVE" open

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

The show was awesome. Listening to the recorded version now.

Posted by Loreena Yeo, Realtor®| Frisco TX Community Advocate (214)783-2210 (3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Frisco TX Real Estate Co.) over 3 years ago

That was a Fabulous show fellas !!!

.... and GREAT information given out to us listeners !

Thanks Brad & Co !

Cheers !

Sheldon

Posted by Sheldon Neal ~ That British Agent ~ Bergen County NJ (Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited) over 3 years ago

Darn, I logged in 20 minutes late and then received a call from a new contact and had to sign off - I am off to listen to the recording.

Posted by Jo Soss | Designated Broker West and South Puget Sound (HomeFront Realty) over 3 years ago

I just listened to the recording, as usual, lots of great information.  Thanks, Brad.

Posted by Joanne O'Donnell (Chic Home Interiors - Stager, Trainer & EcoProfessional) over 3 years ago

Brad, I wish to thank you and Active Rain for helping so many of us with our blogging and helping us get found online for our businesses.   My Active Rain post are indexed in Google better than my own individual blog site.  That's because Active Rain is an "Authority Site" and AR's providing us with this indexing help is totally awesome!   Can't wait to listen in to your show.   Bill Cobb

Posted by Bill Cobb Appraiser (Accurate Valuations Group) over 3 years ago

I dont know how I  will ever keep up with AR if the industry picks up and gets busy. 

Posted by Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton (Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC) over 3 years ago

You obviously have been reading my mind.  I have been wondering which way to go.

Posted by Joan Whitebook Southern New Hampshire (BHG The Masiello Group) over 3 years ago

Great show, Brad - I heard you guys talking about me.  :)  You should have mentioned all of the help you give me!

I especially appreciated Bob's point - your new outside blog may not show up the first hour or day for now - but keep at it - it will show up and when it does - it is there for a very long time.  You may get a consumer call next year from a post you write today.

Don't you think that the Raindexing will help Google to find our posts?

Dumb question - the link that I am hearing about to direct Google to the original post - on the bottom of the post, what text do you use for the link?  Or do you just put the title on the bottom and link it?

Posted by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV MLS - Sun City Mesquite - 55+ Buyer Representative (ERA - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale) over 3 years ago

Awwwww, I missed the radio show.  I had promised the kids to take them to Chuck E Cheese and so I got to play games and eat pizza all day today.  It was a blast, but I feel like I missed work.

Posted by Robert May - Lethbridge REALTOR ® and Mortgage Broker (Verico Canada First Mortgage/ Rainbow Realty) over 3 years ago

Brad, loved the show, you, Elizabeth and NotBrad are great.  Still needed help and you called afterhours and provided above and beyond the call of duty, two snaps & a twist plus kudos Man, Thanks for getting an old dog into a new trick so quick!

Posted by Steve Mattison over 3 years ago

Carol Fox - the domain name you're using for your Point2 blog - CarolinasRealEstateTalk.com - is redirected (and masked) to the domain that blog is actually on (http://www.carolinasmalltownliving.com). Because of that redirect, CarolinasRealEstateTalk.com will never show up in the search engines as Google doesn't index redirected / masked domain names. That CRET.info shows up in searches and not CRET.com has nothing to do with "the Power of AR", it has to do with how your domain names are set up.

Also, because one is .com and one is .info, they are different domain names.... but since one is masked (the .com) it will nver show up.

Posted by Jay Thompson (Thompson's Realty) over 3 years ago

sad to hear i missed it live! But will definitely catch the recorded shows. Thanks for the help with my html issues! All the best Brad.

Posted by Dom Naidoo | Santa Monica real estate expert (Westside Properties) over 3 years ago

Jay - thanks for pointing that out, you're a good man!  :-)

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Virginia - raindexing will definitely help google find your posts, topics will too, but they're going to find them anyway! :-)

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

If anyone is near Redwood City tonight, stop by and say Hi to us.  Debra (my wife) and I will be there as she is perfoming with Skynnyn Lynyrd, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute Band.  It's a really BIG show and her first with them.  Gotta run now and catch the tour bus, here's some info if you can make it....

Live at the FOX Theatre

Meet The Band

My Sweetheart

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Brad - I checked out the band website - very cool - I suppose Mesquite is too small of a venue for them to ever come here - congrats to Debra and her beautiful voice.

Posted by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV MLS - Sun City Mesquite - 55+ Buyer Representative (ERA - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale) over 3 years ago

Virginia - we're gettin on the tour bus in an hour, I'll ask them if we can stop by and do a show there for ya while we're out.  :-)))  You know, if you leave now, you could still make it to San Francisco in time.  :-O

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

I am going to Walmart, if the produce is not good today, I will just keep on going and see you tonite.  :)

BTW - back to business:

Remember that when you helped me upgrade my outside blog - we discovered that I had accidently created several outside blogs?  You and Bob got rid of them.

Well!  I noticed yesterday that several of my AR posts didn't go to the upgraded outside blog.  I went in and edited, the individual blog was checked, but they weren't there.  I must have previously checked the box for the outside blogs that we deleted.

So I unchecked the Individual Blog box, re checked it and then they went to the outside blog.  Some of these contain my special keywords.  That would explain why I am not getting the juice to my Outside Blog for those keywords.

I am going to manually check each post that I want on the outside blog, check and uncheck the box.

So you might want to let Bob know, in case others messed up as bad as I did and had multiple outside blogs set up with no active url as I did.

He may not know that you have to fix each post manually to correct this specific error to get posts to the outside blog.

Posted by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV MLS - Sun City Mesquite - 55+ Buyer Representative (ERA - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale) over 3 years ago

Virginia - we are hoping to add an element whereas you could go in and select multiple or all posts you want to show on your outside Blog.  When you create a new Blog regardless if you delete the others, you still have to add the posts individually.  We are trying to correct that in the near future.  Call me if you need any further assistance with this of if I'm not making sense here.  :-)) 

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Hi Brad,

Thanks for the great information.  I haven't been doing this very long and stll trying to get my head around all of the details.  You mentioned in the broadcast that if we're posting the same blog article in multiple places, we should indicate the original post in a link at the bottom of the page.  What exactly are we suppose to put in this link?  Can you provide an example from someone's blog?  Thanks.

Posted by Tonda & Steve Hoagland Greenwood Indiana Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty) over 3 years ago

Yes, Brad, you are making sense, but DITTO Tonda's question above.

Posted by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV MLS - Sun City Mesquite - 55+ Buyer Representative (ERA - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale) over 3 years ago

Hi Brad,

Sorry I missed it!, Could have learned a great deal.

Posted by Emmaniece Gordon, PSC, CDPE, Realtors® Local Real Estate Expert, Maryland Metro (Keller Williams Realty Flagship ) over 3 years ago

Emmaniece - why not just listen to the recording? Click on the arrow in teh BlogTalkRadio button in the post....

Posted by Jay Thompson (Thompson's Realty) over 3 years ago

Tonda and Steve - this Blog is an example.  The links at the bottom go to where the original post was hosted for this Radio Show.  The difference would only be that it goes to the Radio show and not to a duplicate or original post.  It's just a hyperlink on your post and would look just like the hyper-links in this post.

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Jay - LOL~  I was just about to say the same thing when I saw your comment.  Thanks.  :-)))

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) over 3 years ago

Thanks for the explanation.  It's just a link back to the original post and nothing more.  I was trying to make it more complicated.

Posted by Tonda & Steve Hoagland Greenwood Indiana Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty) over 3 years ago

I missed that one... I hope you do something similiar again...

Posted by Kevin Vitali- Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers (EXIT Realty- Massachusetts Short Sales & Residential Sale) almost 3 years ago

Kevin - sorry you missed it, there's a full recorded version of what you missed at the bottom of the post, I hope you'll take a few minutes and take a listen, it'll be worth it, I promise.  :-))

Posted by Brad Andersohn (Zillow - Outreach Manager) almost 3 years ago

This blog does not allow anonymous comments