Maui,
I totally agree with you that promoting your own blog is the best. We absolutely put more effort in to our own Blog over any other and we diversify out to as many high authority relevant blogs like Active Rain that we can for more exposure and quality back links. We also get referrals and pick up buyers directly from the other blogs.

I do recommend to someone who has not blogged and has no knowledge or budget to optimize their own blog start in a place like AR because they can find their voice and actually be found by others until they get some traction on their own blog.

Last thing I do not drink Active Rain Kool-aid I just know it works and I do know I am very blessed to have a team and partners who allow us to have such a large reach with all of these tools such as this fantastic forum. I love AO I would have been lost in the REO world without it. As you can see I have been a member since 2007 and have very few post. I found AO Jan. 07 followed all of the great REO/BPO agent advice and got so slammed with REO/BPO business that I had no time for anything else. Early this year I realized I had all my eggs in one basket and learned how to do SEO and build web site/Blogs. I see you are very web/tech savvy and would love to talk SEO strategies with you.

Shoot me a PM whenever you'd like, if you'd prefer to take this conversation off the thread.

Looks pretty nice except it lacks functionality and user customization.

I've had my AR account since 2008. For a while it was free even though some had to pay right after AR was sold to another company. Now, my account is no longer free and I will need to pay if I want my information to be public.

Can someone enlighten me about what changed? I admit I have not done much with it but thought I was safe (from paying).

Inquiring minds want to know!

You will have to send them an email asking them to reinstate your grandfathered account.

A couple months ago they made a DUMB move and "ungrandfathered" a bunch of accounts that had been dormant - they said to keep your account free you had to post a blog 1x every 45 days. There was a HUGE backlash. If you request them to reinstate it they probably will.

Then just make sure you post something every month and you'll be fine. for now.

This is why I have a Wordpress blog as well. Just in case AR goes to all paid in spite of what they promised. but even if my blog isn't public the profile IS and that's important (if you have a good profile that is)

Perky I knew you would know. Do you know who do I send this email to or where do I look for it?

Try this...

Email Bob Stewart

Let me know if that works!

I emailed him and also customer service. I'll let you know the outcome.

Perky, he reinstated my account all I have to do is make a public post.

Thank you for giving me the right words to use on my note to him.

I've been in the Rain since 2008, I think. I got several listings from it, several rental referals, I just couldn't deal with the "Thanks for sharing" comments just to up your ranking anymore. It's pathetic! Some agents do nothing but post mindless comments to get their daily points and then you have a load of "Great Post, thanks for sharing" comments tailing your post. Wonder if my account is still active now..........

Thanks for the comment.

OK that was totally a funny.

I know exactly what you mean about those types of comments, they really stink and it is always so apparent what they are doing.

Despite that, I still see a lot of value in AR from the juice you get from Google to the referrals you can receive from other agents.

Glad you got it reinstated. NOW it's $89 / month!!! That's NUTSO. I see nothing positive happening from this crazy price increase.

re: the mindless dumb comments - they are very annoying.

AR has been a great tool for networking (as this form is as well)