This is my very first AR blog post!
Well, ok, not really... If you want to get all technical on me, I started blogging maybe a month ago. But I've seen how many blogs with that title have become featured so I figured I'd spoof and give it a shot!
After all, in the past month I've just about worn my fingers to the bone in AR by doing the following:
- Written 21 blogs,
Including what I would consider a handful of decent blogs:
Decent Blog #1 – cute letter to homeowners
(Disclaimer: I admit that I may be just a wee bit biased as to what really constitutes a “good” blog – just a little. At least I’m honest)
- I even created a funny, all original, graphics for one of the posts: 
- I have been re-blogged 4 times within AR (I'll admit that the first time I had no idea what being re-blogged meant. It was a tad scary that first experience...)
- I have been re-blogged at least 3 times to sites outside of AR
(I’m most proud of that)
- I have re-blogged others twice (once I figured out what that meant)
- I’ve commented all over the place
- I’ve tried to comment back to comments on my blogs, but I’ll admit I get busy and I’m not the best at this.
- I think (maybe hope is a better description) that I figured out how to adjust the “Settings” to optimize my profile page SEO
- I’ve linked to my AR blog from my main website
- I’ve posted my AR blogs in other places like Trulia, Merchant Circle and our business facebook page
- I’ve “called” three shots (once I figured out what that even meant)
- I’ve earned three subscribers
- I've earned about 12,000 points
- I've downloaded Scribefire although I can't figure out how to use it
- I’ve received numerous compliments on the blogs from existing clients and residents
In short (is it too late to say “short?”) I’ve walked the walk and I’ve talked the talk. I’ve done what I believe AR and my fellow Rainmakers suggest I do.
Yet…. Not one new client or a single featured blog to show for all of this! So, I admit, I’ll even try misleading “First AR Blog Post titles” at this point.
Maybe, just maybe, the AR Gods will have a sense of humor and smile on me.
Maybe?
Mark Delgado, DRE#01880416
President/Managing Broker
Benicia and Vallejo, Solano County rental homes and rental listings
Mark-just keep writing meaningful posts and a feature will come when you least expect it.
Good luck with that Mark. I've had one of my posts featured but that was way back when. Sometimes I think you just need to be one of the cool kids to be featured.
Mark,
Keep it up. If this is an indication of what you can do I can't wait for more.
Good morning Mark,
Fun blog...hang in there, you will find that AR is worth your time!
Mark * you have come SO FAR in such a SHORT TIME, Grasshopper! You are on the RIGHT PATH!
Hi Mark ~ Sounds like you are doing all the right things! Keep up the good work and new clients will come!
Hello Mark,
Good luck with your blogging on Active Rain. I believe that you will find Active Rain to be a very
useful resource.
Mark, Blogging takes time. And it takes time for people to begin reading and following you. I had one client that read my blogs for 6 months before contacting me. Then, he came in from England and bought a condo from me on the river. Be patient... they will come. Blog about the market, neighborhoods, what you love.... people will come, I promise. Best wishes.
Dear Mark -
WELCOME!!!
Enjoy every minute in the Rain --
You'll make friends all over and even wind up meeting them one day! Looking forward to following your writing - great sense of humor!
Have a happy day -
Lynn
LOL! You go, boy!! Congratulations on the feature, your 12,000 points, and all of the other great accomplishments! YOU ROCK!
Mark - Your doing great and keep on doing what you are doing. Build it and they will come "Grasshopper" as Wallace has said....lol Keep it up..Congrats on jumping in.
Mark: Congratulations! You figured out the system! Lol!
Mark it worked :) I think you are doing very well, and as long as you remain consistent you should get amazing results.
Mark, you are featured - so yes, AR Gods smiled on you!
And for a newbie, my recommendation - join AR Newbie group. You'll learn a lot. You see, you lost about 10,000 points in a month. Think of it, you would be closer to a free subscrition at least two weeks sooner!
Now, if you are taking everything I said seriously, please don't - I am just kidding..
Welcome once again! Hope to see you more often, commenting, re-commenting, blogging, re-blogging and getting to know more RainMakers....
Mark, it looks like you hit the ground running. My first post was this compared to yours.
Scribefire is an interesting journey ... I'm still not sure that I'm using it correctly! Nice blog and welcome to Activerain! I'll be looking for you!
Congratulations, Mark, you got your feature! and it sounds like you are singing in the Rain - oh yeah, welcome!
Woohoo congratulations, I'm still working on it!! Welcome to AR!! Let me know if you ever need help up in Napa!
You have this figured out! I am so happy for you getting your feature! I will add a "Yippee" to your Hooray!I will go back and read all of your blogs when I get a chance.
Mark, Looks like you're doing just fine! Stick with it....the rest will come. Keep on blogging!
Mark,
Good for you and congratulations on this featured post. If you publish regularly you will find success here.
It would also be good if you had a niche of some sort.
Brian
Welcome! You are off to a fantastic start! Wishing you much success in The Rain!
Wow, if I use that title do you think I'll get featured after two years? LOL!! You are off to a great start.
Smart strategy and it worked, you got this featured! First congratulations, and i will visit your previous blogs the title really looks interesting.
Congrats on the Feature. The more you are active, the more tips you will learn.
Mark -- It seems to be you are doing quite well. You have a pretty good handle on things after figuring a lot of it out for yourself. . Keep at it. Be consistent and you will have plenty of people contacting you. Best of luck.
I certainly enjoyed your graphics here. Nice work, and a tricky headline as well. Keep up the good work.
Mark:
You have the making of a great Rainer. Just keep plugging away. I became a subscriber, so make that 4.
It's a great blog Mark, I enjoyed reading it and your sense of humor. There is no suggest button (which I would have hit), so you must have your first one! Congrats!
Okay, I just visited all your above mentioned posts and suggested those that had a button. So you see, whining does pay off!
Mark - You're "smarter than the average bear" and won me over with this post and your great sense of humor. You just earned yourself a new subscriber! :)
Welcome and enjoy yourself - your off to a great start!
Mark ~ Welcome to AR & keep on blogging! As you have shown, its worth the effort!
Keep doing it and doing it and doing it. Make it a habit and you'll make money and friends.
Hilarious! Congrats on your star. I wrote almost 75 before I got my first feature. When I saw this I was like oh no uh uh I have seen and commented on your posts then I read your post to see it was a spoof on the title!!! I LOVE IT!!!!
Enjoy it and welcome to the rain
First blog or not.. this was a great post. Keep them coming!!
Ok Mark, good job on using the first blog trick. Now what? When you figure out how to keep it up, let us know. LOL.
Good thinkin', Newbie! Love your attitude. I am going to go grade your other posts now. LOL
Take the Rainmaker classes - you will learn soooooooo much.
Nicely done Mark. Welcome to the AR crew. One day, you too may be an AR GOD. See you around the rain.
No way Mark? Really? This is your first? For this to be your first you did a very good job! Great blog/post and keep up the good work..
Hi Mark - Welcome to ActiveRain and congratulations on your first post. You are off to a flying start.
Very creative post. Just stick with it. You are going to end up with lots of subscribers, no doubt about that. Curious, who told you about AR? Your broker? A colleague? I learned about AR from my broker...
Welcome and good luck to you as you go down the Active Rain road. Remember, "Rome wasn't built in a day" as the saying goes, as good things take time.
Patricia Aulson/ Seacoast NH & ME REALTOR
Mark, congrats on your feature. Very clever, but the AR gods move in mysterious ways, and no one knows for sure when they will shine their light upon you. So, in that case, keep doing what you're doing!!
Mark, looks like they did smile upon you. Congratulations on the feature.
“My First Active Rain Blog Post*”
* after my 100th post
Melville
The more you blog, the better you will get. It's definitely a skill that needs time to hone. You are off to a great start.
Mark, I like your humor and appreciate your creativity. Keep it up!
Mark - love the smart o meter.... keep up the bloging.
I think you are on the right path now. Welcome to AR. You're a quick learner and all I can say is remain consistent.
Keep up th egood work- you surely have to be on the right track and no matter what it cant hurt. enjoy!
Mark you did something right to get featured, i have been on AR almost a year, amassed 200,000 points which i just hit last Monday with little fanfare. I have only been featured once. Others get featured once or twice a week... it doesnt seem like a good process for choosing what is featured and what isnt, some blogs you shake your head at how they got on the featured page... you did well though... very funny post and congratulations on the feature.
It takes a while to figure it out.But it looks like you have done that. Congratulations.
Congratulations! That is quite an accomplishment in such a short time. I am still waiting for my first feature after 8 months.
Congratulations Mark! Your post with 62 COMMENTS * YEOW! * I now featured in the Property Management group of ActiveRain!
Look at how far you came with this blog post Mark. Tons of comments. Congratulations. An engaging title always does the trick. You seem to be doing very well for your first month in. Wish you all the best as you continue.
And this is my very first comment on your post. Good luck with your blog, Mark, I like your approach!
Mark, looks like you got your wish. It's hard to know what to take seriously in your post here. Have you had no success from AR? Customers & leads from blogging take time, just like every other medium. AR is a valuable place to educate yourself though as well. I use AR more for the purpose of staying abreast of the industry than I do from trying to get leads.
Mark, congrats on the feature and figuring out how to beat the system, so to speak. I'm sure you'll continue having fun.
I'll admit I didn't read all the comments, but when I read that you linked to ActiveRain from your website I had to stop and comment. You should link from here to your site, but not the other way around in my opinion. Use AR to drive traffic to your website, not the other way around.
Hello all. Yes, this was a spoof and not my "very first post" although I only starting blogging about a month ago. The entire post is actually true and believable.
I just wanted to see if I could get a featured post by being a little silly and a little creative.
The idea of not posting to AR from my webiste does make me think. The whole purpose of doing so was to allow folks who visit my website to view the blogs so that they can see this "side" of the company they are considering working with. Granted, it does take them away from my website. I suppose I am being optimisitic that they will return.
Hi Mark -
We all start some where. Sounds like you're coming right along in AR. I too have only been doing this about 6 weeks and learn daily. Key here when someone post on your blog .... blog on theirs. Build you a community of followers and friends in the Rain. It will get easier I promise.... hang in there.
Best regards from the Q
Mark, I thought I had left a commented before, but I see that I missed Congratulating you on your Very First Featured Post. I would just keep on writing some quality work and target those consumers, who will put the money into your pockets.
Enjoy being a newbie! Keep blogging and reading blogs and you will begin to enjoy!
I haven't figured out Scribefire either been busy working ....let me know if you do.
If I may make a suggestion, get weekly emails from your chamber of commerce and post community blogs on Localism.....lots of folks will find you there!
Mark, I don't know how I missed this post but I'm glad to find it now! You are now officially on my subscribed list so keep up the great blogging. I know we have spoken already so you must really be out and about!
Welcome!
Love this post. 12,000 points in just one month? Nice!
AWESOME!! I'll have to ask you for help as I'm a little behind where you were when you wrote this! Thanks for the humor and realism. :)