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Jeff Dowler, CRS, The Southern California Relocation Dude (eXp Realty of California, Inc.)

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Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I was a new agent, less than a year and had just fired my partner who had almost three years experience.  I did not know anything about the internet and could barely search the MLS.  I remember someone from Detroit wrote an article in a newsletter for agents and said they would send you information if you sent them an email.  I did, and at the end of their response was something about activerain.  About 3 months went by and I checked it out.  I learned to blog right here and that was in 2008.

Jan 24, 2015 12:51 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Jeff Dowler CRS the reason I started blogging is funny!

I used to teach a class on BLOGGING FOR BUSINESS where I covered different blogging platforms, why blog, ease of blogging, what to blog about etc. As a need, I learned about ActiveRain.

It took almost couple of years before I seriously started blogging - within my limitations of course. Now, I am here - for the love of community as much as to promote blogging - I think since late 2010.

Jan 24, 2015 12:23 PM
Ambassador
6,380,446
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Wanted to get my website noticed, and this seemed to be a good way, since April 12

Sep 16, 2019 09:01 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

I found my way to Active Rain in October of 2006.  Unfortunately, I strayed away for several significant periods of time over the years...

May 22, 2017 05:23 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I started blogging on my website in 2006, here on AR in 2008.  I had read that blogging was a good thing for professionals to do.

Jan 25, 2015 12:57 PM
Rainmaker
1,026,994
Sharon Paxson
Sharon Paxson, Realtor® EQTY Forbes Global Properties - Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach Real Estate

I have been blogging since 2007, and also blog on my own website as well.

Jan 25, 2015 07:16 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

I have been blogging on AR since 2008 . I read an article in Realtor magazine.

Jan 24, 2015 10:43 PM
Rainmaker
1,621,596
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I decided on my own......but it took a long time for me to write my first public post here. I'm still have my limitation and struggles, but now I'm addicted. I'm very thankful to your, Rainers for your support and advice!

Jan 24, 2015 04:23 PM
Rainmaker
1,771,867
Noah Seidenberg
Coldwell Banker - Evanston, IL
Chicagoland and Suburbs (800) 858-7917

I had an assistant blogging on my Word press blog for about 5 years. She had twins and quit on me so I decided to do it myself But I had seen Active Ran come in in searches so I tried and became hooked with all the friends I met

Jan 24, 2015 01:37 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,470
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

In January of 2008, although we had signed up earlier and did not do anything.  We wanted to learn what this was all about.  A

Jan 24, 2015 11:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,085,010
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

My broker told me about ActiveRain in 2007, so I joined and wrote one post, went away for six months, then came back when I lost a deal because someone had contacted me via AR. So I have been actively blogging since 2008 with a hiatus last year - needed a break, but now back in 2015.

My broker piqued my interest with the idea of blogging, as I was an English major and liked to write. I am convinced that being on ActiveRain was a major contributor keeping our business going during the economic downturn. Even with a break, I am still light years ahead of 99% of the agents around me when it comes to everything SEO and social media. 

I blog here and also have a WordPress blog flemingislandflrealestate.com

Jan 24, 2015 10:20 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

To gain more business, Jeff.  I read that this was the thing to do.

Jan 24, 2015 08:43 AM
Rainmaker
2,817,665
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

I have been blogging (for business) for 4.5 years.  It has been on my "to do" list for at least a year as I heard a social media person saying this would be a good thing to do.  (previously, in 2006 I had blogged a bit for fun (for a year) on a yahoo platform that no longer exists...it was related to yahoo answers and it was just for fun).

I did not know anything about SEO when I joined AR in July 2010.  I learned it all here.  One year later, I started my own wordpress site (TheFlooringGirl.com) and that has been tremendous for me...gets me way more clicks and calls than AR.  But, I never would have been able to do it wo/ AR.  AR taught me SEO and gave me the backlinks to make that site rock.  And, it gave the confidence on how to blog and a super duper network of colleagues, friends and cheerleaders.

Jan 24, 2015 07:10 AM
Ambassador
5,044,753
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Suzanne

Well Jeff Turner (who is an amazing person to know, BTW) is a great influencer in this business. So you have been at it for some time - good for you!

Jeff

Jan 24, 2015 06:05 AM
Rainmaker
943,583
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

I started blogging here in 2008 when I read about this forum in a real estate column....it might have been written by Jeff Turner....the rest is history.  And, no, this is the only place I (sometimes) blog.

Jan 24, 2015 04:56 AM