ActiveRain Success Stories

William Ryan (Ryan and Son Chimneys Contractors LLC): Home Inspector in Landing, NJ William Ryan (Ryan and Son Chimneys Contractors LLC) said almost 14 years ago,
"In my first week as a rainmaker, I have received 3 calls leading to inspections and 4 emails that may become inspections!! Great Site!!"
Emmalyn Anderson (EMA Mobile Notary Services): Services for Real Estate Pros in Glendora, CA Emmalyn Anderson (EMA Mobile Notary Services) said almost 14 years ago,
"I've been to many sites but ActiveRain is by far the best and my favorite. The positive energy that is shared here is awesome, I'm glad I joined!"
Wayne Short (The Wichita Home Team with KW Signature Partners): Real Estate Agent in Wichita, KS Wayne Short (The Wichita Home Team with KW Signature Partners) said almost 14 years ago,
"ActiveRain has allowed me to connect with other like minded Realtors in the state and nationally. Clients like this page and data too."
Cynthia Blais (MidPacific Real Estate): Real Estate Agent in Carlsbad, CA Cynthia Blais (MidPacific Real Estate) said almost 14 years ago,
"I am currently working with a qualified buyer who found me a few weeks ago through ActiveRain! She contacted me because she is a fellow UVA alumni and said she was impressed reading the client testimonials I posted. Thanks ActiveRain!"
Shelia Hoger (Remax 100): Real Estate Agent in Granger, IN Shelia Hoger (Remax 100) said almost 14 years ago,
"I've had many people contact me through Active Rain. You can contact me through Active Rain too. Thank you to all of my clients and customers."
Joshua Buckingham: Real Estate Agent in Fort Lauderdale, FL Joshua Buckingham said almost 14 years ago,
"Been working with Voyager International for quite some time. His virtual tours are great -- best I've ever seen. Our office used to use RealTourVision but not anymore. The high definition equipment and training and VPIX360.com stuff is helping me move a lot of my homes to discriminating buyers. Bart finally convinced me to sign up here on ActiveRain and I am glad I finally did. Thanks, Bart!"
Greg Hunt (SANDSTONE REAL ESTATE GROUP): Real Estate Agent in Conway, AR Greg Hunt (SANDSTONE REAL ESTATE GROUP) said almost 14 years ago,
"I just recently re-connected with an old college friend who is considering getting into real estate. I also received a buyer lead from a family friend within 24hrs of updating my profile and submitting a new profile picutre. Thanks AR!!"
Lisa Stafford, Broken Arrow OK Homes For Sale (Broken Arrow, Tulsa, McGraw Realtors): Real Estate Agent in Broken Arrow, OK Lisa Stafford, Broken Arrow OK Homes For Sale (Broken Arrow, Tulsa, McGraw Realtors) said almost 14 years ago,
"I joined AR 1 week ago. Bob Haywood shared AR with me and encouraged me to blog. My first blog was the first day I joined and it was featured. WOW! So many doors have opened with new listings because of sharing my blog and blogging about my listings. Everyone wants to see their home on the web. They also like the fact that I'm a member of such a large network. And the wealth of knowledge I have at my fingertips is unbelievable. Active Rain....YOU ROCK!!"
Brian Anderson, SEO and Social Media Marketin (Peachtree SEO): Mortgage and Lending in Peachtree City, GA Brian Anderson, SEO and Social Media Marketin (Peachtree SEO) said almost 14 years ago,
"ActiveRain has helped me expand my professional network, and help introduce me to lots of great real estate and mortgage professionals. I've been able to refer clients moving to other areas of the country to quality people I've met through ActiveRain.

Thanks!"
Yvette Sloan, "Clients First" (Yvette Sloan, Broker): Real Estate Broker/Owner in Hidden Valley Lake, CA Yvette Sloan, "Clients First" (Yvette Sloan, Broker) said almost 14 years ago,
"Have found this my number #1 resource to marketing information and research. In this day and age you have to be on top of everything. I am on Active rain 2-3 times a week to get education with what I am doing. I have found valuable information on short sales, foreclosures and internet marketing. Have also received phone calls from other agents with referrals. Love this site and all it has to offer.
Yvette Sloan"
Matthew H Hodges (EXIT Realty Paramount): Real Estate Sales Representative in Traverse City, MI Matthew H Hodges (EXIT Realty Paramount) said almost 14 years ago,
"I get so many call from agents that have found my blog helpful to their businesses. I am so happy to help in any way that I can!"
Ronda Allen (RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs: Prosper, Texas): Real Estate Agent in Prosper, TX Ronda Allen (RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs: Prosper, Texas) said almost 14 years ago,
"I was 24-hours on ActiveRain.com before I got my first referral. The buyers had been looking on their own in Fort Worth. They expressed concern at how big the task seemed to a relative, who happened to be an agent in another state. She put out a referral on ActiveRain.com. I requested the referral and interviewed the buyers thoroughly. I had them pre-approved for their loan and in my car touring homes the next Saturday. On Sunday, they wrote an offer. The terms were fair. The seller issued a counter-offer, but we stood firm to the comps and the original offer. They got the house. YEAH! ActiveRain has me ranked as #2 in Prosper. I would venture to say I'm really #1 (sorry - but there isn't an agent out there who isn't their own biggest fan!). Thanks, ActiveRain.com and all the agents who go out of their way to produce helpful content for the sale, purchase, or lease of residential properties."
Tampa FL Real Estate Brokerage Floridanulls Beautiful Homes, Realtors: Real Estate Broker/Owner in Tampa, FL Tampa FL Real Estate Brokerage Floridanulls Beautiful Homes, Realtors said almost 14 years ago,
"ActiveRain has been an integral part of Florida's Beautiful Homes over all marketing strategy. It became increasingly important when over a year ago I wrote a blog about bank foreclosures in the Tampa Florida area. That same day I received a call from a buyer who had just read my blog and recognized me as a local area expert with whom he wanted to do business. I received several other inquiries that week and still receive calls and e-mails from prospective clients over a year later from that blog. That sounds like success to me. Thanks ActiveRain for providing me with the knowledge and the opportunity.

Dave Tipton, Broker- Florida's Beautiful Homes- Realtors"
Adam Strictland (Strictland Properties): Real Estate Agent in Clovis, CA Adam Strictland (Strictland Properties) said almost 14 years ago,
"I am so diggin AR right now... I've been flying under the radar and someone still called me from my profile to refer a client over from Sacramento. That's what I'm talkin about."
Cathy Russell (Cathy Russell Team Real Estate): Real Estate Agent in Lafayette, IN Cathy Russell (Cathy Russell Team Real Estate) said almost 14 years ago,
"Active Rain is wonderful! It is a great community of people and a fantastic way to generate leads!"
Debra and Scott Brooks, Lake Conroe Real Estate and Luxury Home Specialists! (Brooks Prime Properties, Lake Conroe): Real Estate Agent in Conroe, TX Debra and Scott Brooks, Lake Conroe Real Estate and Luxury Home Specialists! (Brooks Prime Properties, Lake Conroe) said almost 14 years ago,
"We all want to say to GOOGLE, "Pick me, Choose me, Love me."

WHEN I began selling Real Estate back in 2002 I was feeling very discouraged. Oh, not for lack of sales. In fact I was top producer at the firm the very year I began. I just wasn't thrilled with what I had to sell! I learned quickly that selling an $8,000 piece of land was as complicated or even more work than selling a $200,000 home! And, the problem was that my potential clients would walk in the door right off the street and demand so much of my time that by the end of the day I simply didn't get to do what I had set out to do!

Mental note to self #1. To become truly successful in my business I needed to be pro-active and not reactive.

SO, being the pro-active type A personality that I am I changed firms. The new firm sent all inquires straight to the listing agent! This seemed profitable at the time but there was still something not right. I wanted the ability to sell EVERY ONES listings! I began to feel "boxed in" almost immediately. At that point I left firms all together!

Mental note to self #2. We are all INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS with free will and the ability to fly if we choose.

I SO wanted to fly! As luck would have it the whole rage going on at that time was the Internet and Google. If you walked me up to a broken down truck with the hood up and asked me to fix it I would have to respond the same about Search Engine Placement and SEO! NOT GONNA HAPPEN.

Mental note to self #3, Must learn, must study, must discover a way and make it happen!

I did it and YOU CAN TOO! There was a time not long ago that I didn't know what software and hardware were! I thought software meant comfy undergarments and that hardware meant those things that ride up your...well. Anyway, I started from square one. By studying the competition and how they were placing I began my quest to own Google!

Mental note to self #4. I believe I can and if I take the proper steps then I WILL... and, so can you!

I learned how back links worked, how to choose the right key words for my target market area, how metatags came into the picture and studied what Google wanted and looked for in a "friendly" site. After creating my OWN UNIQUE CONTENT the site was being noticed. It was climbing little by little until that glorious day when I finally saw it on the top of the first page for my chosen market area! WOO-HOO and happy dance!

Mental note to self #5. I can't let down now! Hungry competitors were lurking behind me just waiting for me to fall. I heard about this site called "ACTIVE RAIN" AND THEY FEATURED BLOGGERS in the Real Estate business.

Mental note to self #6. Must figure out what a blogger is!

WHEN I visited AR's site I became overwhelmed! The information and the camaraderie was incredible. It was like everyone was there to help or to teach or to share a part of themselves. I was instantly in love. I found humor, statistics, insight involving my business and a huge welcome and best of all, I found friends. So, I blogged. Sometimes without any forethought, (okay, most of the time), but with all good intentions. With the addition of LOCALISM, KEY WORDS AND ACTIVE RAIN'S WONDERFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOOGLE, I began seeing my posts on the web!

Mental note to self #7. By Jove, I believe Active Rain's got it!

Soon it was obvious that ACTIVE RAIN WAS MY KEY.

I shall always be grateful that through my learning curves the Rain and all its Members were there for me.

MENTAL NOTE FOR YOU #1. BECOME AN ACTIVE PART OF ACTIVE RAIN~YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID.



Between my regular site, Localism and various BLOGS published ONLY by ACTIVE RAIN I always have a minimum of 20-30% Market share of the first page of my selling area. Oh, and page 2, 3, 4, LOL!

I am proud to be a part of the ACTIVE RAIN community!

SCROLL BELOW TO SEE MY CURRENT PLACEMENT WITH GOOGLE. NOTICE HOW I GOT THERE! THANKS AR!

I'm Deb Brooks."
Nate Blury II (Fox Mortgage): Mortgage and Lending in Grand Rapids, MI Nate Blury II (Fox Mortgage) said almost 14 years ago,
"I have been able to use ActiveRain to connect with Real Estate Professionals in my area, and across the country..."
Dennis Girard, 34 Years Experience in both U.S and Canada (Signature Sotheby's International Realty): Real Estate Agent in Sarasota, FL Dennis Girard, 34 Years Experience in both U.S and Canada (Signature Sotheby's International Realty) said almost 14 years ago,
"Referrals from and to Active Rain Agents have proved successful and enjoyable.....THANK YOU ACTIVE RAIN!!!!!"
Tim White (Power Check): Home Inspector in Sandy, UT Tim White (Power Check) said almost 14 years ago,
"So far it's provided me with an incredible amount of useful information."
Shawn Grajeda, Flipping Houses (Investment Sources ): Real Estate Agent in Rancho Cucamonga, CA Shawn Grajeda, Flipping Houses (Investment Sources ) said almost 14 years ago,
"Referrals are given about once a week."