Special offer
Bob Crane,  Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671 (Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified)

Spam prevention
Ambassador
5,229,439
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Remove points - that will bring 'serious' members, askin 'serious' questions back to this forum.

Jul 27, 2019 11:04 PM
Rainmaker
4,571,917
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

We know of cycles in real estate - maybe it's just that.  What's the goal?  More questions or more relevant questions?

Jul 27, 2019 11:37 PM
Rainmaker
757,885
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Robo Q would be as quick a fix as a shot of whiskey for the shy kid at the dance. I'm not a fan of bots but that would do it.

Link it to the blog section, "Ask a question" button embedded & then it goes live for all to answer, opt in/opt out when you post. 

Advertise the section as a draw

Increase the points for asking a question or better yet give points on an increasing scale based on the questions strength, people who answered & interactions

Ask a question a day til you hit 7 days- they keep track & when you hit the mark you get points, an AR bumper sticker, something. 

Kiss the Utah students asses & give them all free memberships for the torture they had to endure, then give us upgraded memberships for the torture of hearing their questions repeated a dozen times in a month

I got ideas for days

Jul 28, 2019 07:01 AM
Rainmaker
1,052,176
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Damn, do I have to do everything? 🤣😂🤣😂

Who says it's not hopping? I don't see a problem here.

Take away points and you'll get fewer non answers and non questions.

Ask intelligent questions. Give intelligent answers. Be fun and not condescending and not snarky and try to be helpful.

Jul 28, 2019 06:33 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

It's been slow for quite a while now even when we had the student questions. Quite frankly, I've also seen a dimunition in posts from many long-standing AR members. 

Jul 28, 2019 05:56 AM
Rainmaker
716,049
Richard Bazinet /MBA, CRS, ABR
West USA Realty - Scottsdale, AZ
Phoenix Scottsdale. Sellers, Buyers & Relocations

Totally flame the inappropriate questions, time-waters, and the non-real estate ones?

Jul 28, 2019 12:13 PM
Rainmaker
289,719
Dario Ferreira
Attleboro, MA
Internet Marketing & SEO

Less negativity by some members, although it may be too late.

Some members think it is okay to attack people on their motives to ask questions or if the question has been asked before. You are not the AR or internet police.

If they disagree with a point, that's one thing, but always calling into question the motive, is tiring and rude. I'm not talking about SPAM.

Also, the non-answers turn people away. This is the only forum I ever been a part off that has that problem.

Jul 28, 2019 08:26 AM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

Free Beer!

Jul 28, 2019 07:09 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

I think we are all doing fine, it is just a cycle... Less posts also from members I have enjoyed following...Summer vacations?  A

Jul 28, 2019 06:21 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

the quality of the questions set the pace ....

Jul 28, 2019 04:50 AM
Ambassador
2,436,099
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

There are about 313,000 people who have set up a profile on Q&A, and only about 30 use Q&A on a regular basis. I don't know what the answer is, but it would have to be something that would make the other 313K people find it of value. Or for non-Active Rainers to find and ask real estate related questions. Easier to search for answers? Easier to find questions in different categories? Questions to your question...

Jul 28, 2019 02:27 AM
Rainer
344,388
Kris Collis, Associate Broker
Smart Way America Realty - East Stroudsburg, PA
Professional Results you Expect 570-801-5525

This is a RGQ, Bob...

"Really Great Question" 

The answer might be this:  Different Strokes for Different Folks
Divide Q&A into 2 Forums & Make a Contest of Naming them:

Q&A1 for Thick Skins where Anything Goes (or almost anything)

In this forum existing members know each other and are amused more than offended by the occasional shots, slams, sarcastic humor, etc.  It's a lettin' off steam place.  Newbies can be warned to enter at own risk, that the back and forth banter has been known to get dicey at times :))  They are  encouraged to post in Q&A2 when looking for strictly business, no nonsense answers.

Q&A2 for Newbies and Anonymous

In this forum existing members must assume that most of the posters will know next to nothing about AR.  And to treat them as you would a new client.  The tone for this forum - keeping it professional all the time.  Add a rule prohibiting certain responses that might offend those just getting to know AR.  No slamming, judgments, name calling, labeling, ridicule, condescension. Nothing that could be brought up on COE charges. This forum would not be the place for off-the-cuff shots like "google it, or that's been asked many times before."  It would be a place for serious answers ALL the Time, simply because the questioners won't know their way around.  They don't know it's been asked many times before. They won't be able to read between the lines of a joke of people they don't know.  Even their misinterpretation of a response can be enough to send them packing. I'm not fond of the term "safe space" if it connotes coddling, but the new Q&A forum should exude safety for newbies.  For Anonymous, they should know this is the-e place for serious, excellent opinions and answers, without having to cut through a bunch of stuff that doesn't contribute to their need.

Jul 27, 2019 08:34 PM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

It's frickin' Sunday Bob .... it's hot .... even by you. I'm going to Nordstrom now.

Jul 28, 2019 12:57 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,347
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Excellent question. Maybe its a cycle, but it has been a long one!

Jul 28, 2019 05:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I wish we knew.

Jul 28, 2019 03:50 AM
Rainmaker
3,626,530
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Good question, I have no clue.  On another note I've also noticed there are fewer newbies posting their first blogs.

Jul 28, 2019 02:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,898
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I think we are hopping as it is.  Granted the days of 20+ Qs being asked per day are gone, but that's fine.  I'm not after points now.  :)  We do have some UT students here, Dion Jacobson is here and does ask mostly unique questions that are often pretty good questions and fun to answer.

Jul 28, 2019 09:41 AM
Ambassador
2,178,533
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I love giving my opinion so I jump (or hop) at just about any question.

Jul 28, 2019 09:33 AM
Rainmaker
4,160,276
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Bob Crane it is not easy to set standards on the type of questions.

Jul 28, 2019 09:22 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I don't know. It seems that there are only so many questions that can be asked.  Those who left or stopped engaging and posting in this forum left for their own reasons.  Maybe it is a case of too little a lot too late.  The membership was crying out for a long time and the cries only echoed into the night. 

Jul 28, 2019 08:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

That's a good question as I hop on one foot.

Jul 28, 2019 08:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,390,113
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

The Q&A section is a reflection of the participation in AR in general.

For us, at least, there are 2 factors that affect our decreased engagement and participation in AR. One is that we're just simply too busy most of the time to engage in AR. Two is that the financial benefits we once saw from AR (SEO and referrals) have dropped so, by necessity, it moved lower on our priority list. 

Having said that, the benefit of AR in terms of support and relationships is still there so we keep coming back :)

Jul 28, 2019 07:20 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

It is summer, soon will be more questions.

Jul 28, 2019 06:16 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,123
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Participation, support, inviting and safe to risk all are related to successful interactions as a rule.  Intrigue, depth, meaning and fun have to be at liberty to produce their sweetest fruit when used. What one puts in they surely get out. Think: your reap what you sow. Lately the "sow" has been so what?

Jul 28, 2019 05:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,588
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

What kind of questions are you looking for that would meet a certain level?

Jul 29, 2019 08:35 AM
Ambassador
3,125,396
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

It's summertime Bob and people are busy doing other things. This is still a FUN place to gather and glad to be part of this forum!

What was the question again? LOL 

 

Jul 28, 2019 06:24 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,367
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Politics?

Religion?

Jul 28, 2019 04:25 PM
Ambassador
3,587,835
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

I'm with Debe Maxwell, CRS get rid of the stupid points and those that want to show up will anyway. I will because I do find some interesting questions and a whole lot of fun people too!

Jul 28, 2019 10:16 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Becareful what you wish from Bob Crane  - but it comes and goes in cycles, doesn't really bother me - I ignore what I'm not interested in

Jul 30, 2019 05:49 AM
Ambassador
1,076,551
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Destroy it.  This Q&A has never been great.  It killed blog commentary.  Well, Q&A and the complete neglect from ownership.

 

Otherwise:

 

- Get more engaged professionals involved

- Get rid of the junk Q's (did you know so and so reached 4,197 points today!?)

- Put some development and time into making AR an SEO powerhouse again

 

Q&A would naturally improve if the site overall improved.  It's all outdated, prone to spam, and the blog roll needs a TON of fresh blood - while facebook groups have grown, AR hasn't caught up - places like Lab Coat Agents, Mastermind groups, etc on facebook have drawn more attention and more professionals.  If AR focused more on spotlighting members and SEO rather than being a registration forum for Ben Kinney webinars, I imagine all aspects of the site would see more traffic and come more alive.

Jul 29, 2019 07:37 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,155
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I think it's doing just fine Bob Crane 

Jul 29, 2019 01:55 PM
Rainmaker
4,935,567
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I think we need to somehow get more active members in the Rain.  Good question.

 

Aug 02, 2019 09:04 AM
Rainer
19,468
Dion Jacobson
Future - Centerville, UT

As a brand new student who don't know anything about real estate I always have some question for my studying. I really appriciate all the answers from all the professors. However, for some people they are not really nice to answer. You may or may not want to answer my question. That's fine. But please be nice. I'm stuying online so I don't have a direct answer from my teacher. That's why I want to come to active rain to ask because I think maybe this state the real estate is different from the other state. So they may have different answers. But the way some of you answer, just make me become an idiot. If I'm an expert and I know everything, I don't need to come up here. In my opinion, active rain is a place for all the professional people communicate and exchange the information as well as for some of new student like me to learn. So please be nice and I think that's the best way to encourage the Q&A hopping again.

Jul 30, 2019 07:19 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Again remind all that this is for real estate purposes, not all the dumb stuff.

Aug 10, 2019 10:06 AM