I just published a fun interview with Greg and his pack of bloodhounds. This is the first of the season and I am looking forward to publishing at least a half-dozen more over the next few weeks. Sadly, I noticed that I don't have anyone from ActiveRain represented, and I'm sure that has a large part to do with the fact that I haven't been very active over here until recently.
But this is an easy issue to remedy. Please let me know who you think is the most influential blogger here on AR (and I'm looking way beyond points!). Based on your recommendations, I'll pay special attention to these AR bloggers over the next few days and when I find one that really sticks out for me, I'll ask them if they would be willing to be interviewed on RCG! :)
In the mean time, here are some of the interviews I ran last year that are chalk full of advice for agents looking to take part in the blogosphere!
- Jonathan Miller of Matrix
- Jim Duncan of the Real Central VA blog
- Noah Rosenblatt of UrbanDigs
- Andy Kaufman of MyEastBayAgent
- Property Grunt of the Property Grunt blog
- Tim O’Keefe of the Real Estate Marketing Blog
- David Smith of the Affordable Housing Institute
- Merv Forney of the Northern Virginia Real Estate Guide
- Todd Carpenter of Lenderama
- Alex Stenbeck of Behind the Mortgage
- Fraser Beach of Toronto at Home
- John Mudd of Inside Real Estate (deceased)
- Fran of The Real Estate Blog
For me the name that comes to mind is Kristal Kraft, and it's based on a lot more than just points. She's written some great local content (with lots of original photos), tackled tough real estate issues, encouraged new bloggers (including doing a presentation on blogging to the Denver WCR), has 2 of the 11 'Most Memorable' posts, and is always quick to help both onsite and off. Kristal is half the face of ActiveRain!
Dustin,
Thanks for the post. I would like to recommend Mary McNight. Kristal Kraft and Mary are both excellent choices. Either one and you can't go wrong.
Hey Dustin
Check out us Stagers...we are all pretty willing to share with one another both encouraging blogs that will get us through our days as well as information that will help one another grow our businesses. I think we are a pretty neat bunch of bloggers here on AR
Let me know what you think?
Phyllis Pafumi ReStyled to Sell Home Staging, NJ
Phyllis Pafumi's comment made me think of the stager who wrote the most memorable Active Rain post of 2006, the one and only Craig Schiller.
Pretty influential guy on Active Rain. His nose has been all over (the red one), he formed a police force, he wrote the most memorable post of 2006.... Craig is influential.
but I still say Kristal Kraft, Maureen Francis and Broker Bryant too... all for different reasons.
I second/third:
Kristal Kraft, Maureen Francis and Broker Bryant
Moo
and there is that dynamic duo from the Kitsap Pennisula:
You weren't here for the December 22 festivities Dustin....
I third it or forth it:
Kristal Kraft, Maureen Francis and Broker Bryant
For a mortgage broker - Brian Brady
Stager: Craig Schiller
Dustin - excellent selections in the names already provided. Will you be providing us the info here when you do your interviews?
Thanks,
Ann
Maureen, you're much too kind! I like to think of us more as the ActiveRain "Dean & Jerry" Show. I play the comic relief to Mark's intelligent straight guy....but thanks for the vote!
Thanks Rich, you are influential on Active Rain in a lot of ways....
I hate to be a comment hog but I am going to be....
Dustin, you have never interviewed Matt Heaton and Caleb Mardini? They always get gold stars when the blog on Active Rain, they gotta lota influence... and they have a neat little site for "advice for agents looking to take part in the blogosphere"
I would say the most "influential" would be
Kristal Kraft
Bryant Tutas
Jeff Turner
What is unique about AR is every aspect of RE is represented so I think one individual from each sector should sit at a roundtable and be interviewed as a whole being greater than the sum of its' parts. Craig Schiller's charismatic personality is unsurpassable and he is a man stager to boot. The interview would open up the concept of team building in RE. It takes a village to sell a home!
Kristal Kraft, Bryant Tutas, Mary McKnight, Brian Brady, Jeff Belonger - apologies to many other outstanding bloggers not on this short list!
Craig Shiller
Brian Brady and Jeff Belonger.
Less exposure but 'right on' advice - Ann Guy
I'd agree with others here, but add that the most influential *long time* members are Kristal Kraft, Broker Bryant and Maureen Francis. They are all well established.
I'm late to the party, and I see you already have everyone that I would suggest. Kristal Kraft, Maureen Frances, Broker Bryant and Rich Jacobson have been the most influencial with me.
Look, for example, at Kristal's profile, you'll get an idea of how awesomely on the edge she is. Her pictures are always stellar, and her style is great. She makes you feel like you just sat down to converse with a good friend.
Maureen Frances has a more newsworthy style that keeps the reader feeling like they are hearing a play by play at an exciting ball game. (and her and Dmitry's picture rocks!!! They looks so urban, funny...I never felt that way in Michigan!!!)
Broker Bryant for injecting humor into the proceedings and being SO modest (not to mention TLW...Roar!!!! Plus excellent content and posting pictures that are humorous most of the time, but really add to the content of the posting. Look for his Prepare to be shocked. Read this!!!!! post (I don't know how to link yet...Still a work in progress) The picture tells it all.
Rich is last, but certainly not least. His posts have influenced me the most (plus I enjoyed his birthday more than I did my own....). His posts are a blend of friendliness, lightheartedness and information. The most local content I saw on here (except for Rich's posts) were sterilized market reports. OK, it's important information, but stats don't really convey the information as well as talking to the client about what's happening. Rich cranked it up to a new level with writing about local businesses and things that are happening in his area. First posts that I saw that really made me want to go see another location.
I know you weren't asking for votes, BUT...I love to get my 2 cents worth....
There are many influentials here on Active Rain. We are quite a unique bunch of people. To pick out just a few means we leave out so many.
I took a picture in Kansas last week that I think fits us here. The geese fly in this pattern because it's a more efficient means of travel. Scientists say it's about 70% more efficient. I believe blogging on AR is much like this. We spur each other on to greater heights, like the geese we travel more efficiently and faster. And together we look REALLY GOOD!
Thank you for mentioning me!
kk
P.S. I vote for Maureen Francis who has dug deep into intuition to bring us bloggers together with in-house contests, Carnivals, blog tours, etc. She has done more for group unity IMHO than others.
The two BB's Broker Brian who has emerged as an awesome consumer blogger. And Brian Brady the Irish guy who has a personality as big as the Mother Land (New Jersey) who's blogs and comments add value because "he cares."
I could go on an on...there are truly so many good ones... :)
Rob ~ LOL, no just a man. lol
kk
Thank you to everyone for all the great suggestions! I definitely look forward to following a bunch of the names mentioned (closer!)...
I would ahve to say and it is a hard choice but the one who has give me the most advice is Mary McKnight She seems to know what she's talking about when it comes to blogging and advertising.
While I totally enjoy and learn from many many many rainers... Krystal, Bryant, Sara Lipnitz, Maureen F., Elaine Reese, Carole Cohen, Angus all go way back... man this is really tough.
But there are 2 who at night... I ponder on what they say as I fall to sleep. They a making me grow in ways I never imagined. Those 2 are Jeff Turner and Bill Leider. They both have my brain cooking... and I love it.
Thanks for taking this on... kewl idea.
Me