I primarily blog on my own wordpress site and it brought me a ton of business.  It represented about 1/3 of my business. I use AR to backlink and strengthen my site and I think the combo of using both is the way to do.

When I first started here on AR in 2010, I paid $39/month, but the price has come down.  The most efficient way to get started is to pay for the whole first year.  Then, after, as you get more points, the price declines.  Eventually you get to free membership.  I was one of the first to get earn my way up to free membership (because in 2009 and before it was free...as long as you blogged at least once every 3 months or something).  So, I joined too late.  Once you are at 500,000 pts it's free.  I made in there in less than 2 years (I think it was maybe a year and a half or 1 yr 8 months).  Now, it's easier to get points, but it still takes a lot of work.

My advice is get membership for 1 year, then go month to month.  It's well worth the money based on the business it brings you.  Smartest investment I made.  And, back when I started, I really couldn't even pay my regular bills...so I took a chance and it paid off big time.

I've been writing blog posts on ActiveRain for 8 years...faithfully..... I get great Google Juice from it.... my personal website is very seasoned and that, too, gives me equal and often better visibility... I use both....I start with my personal website....always.... 

Yes, I have had potential clients contact me directly through Active Rain because that is where they found me after searching specific key words.  If I count the referrals that also ensued from those initial AR contacts, it has been lucrative. 

I have been blogging on Active Rain since before Columbus found the passage to India.  I don't blog anywhere else.

It has made me highly findable on Google... but it wasn't anywhere near instant.  It took consistency, continuity and content.  Over time consumers began to find me.  And as a side benefit from blogging on AR, other members sent me referrals.

ActiveRain:

1. joy of blogging
2. great relationships
3. business, great referral business and yes, I've cashed checks thanks to AR leads and referrals thanks to fellow members and the public reading my blogs.

Yes I've been going strong since 2008. And yes, consistency and building relationships - networking does bring in business!

Many years ago, I wondered the same thing especially when I signed up and was paying dues. Then, the contact came that led me to a $20k commission. That makes me able to say that ActiveRain paid for itself many times over

Our posts are published on our site first, then on Active Rain, and yes, I have people calling us quoting our posts every so often. A

My community follows my posts as I have a link to it on my websites..you bet I get business from it!

Blogging is a PROCESS not an Event . Each one builds momentum ........

Yes, it does bring in business, and Bob Stewart may be able to help with any coupons.

I no longer worry about attracting business with my blogs. 

I do all my blogs through AR.  It keeps me on op of my town on the internet and from there I get many calls.

Yes i get business through AR and have for several years. I know it will continue too.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

We absolutely get phone calls and business as a direct result of our blogging here on AR.

I've gotten business through AR... both clients and referrals. It costs me nothing each month except my time. And it's part of an entire social media strategy to build what I refer to as "street cred."

Active Rain blogs do show up in Google searches. I haven't been writing often. Many members are happy with the SEO AR attributes.  As for the cost I was paying monthly fee about $30 Last year I paid for one year using a discount.  Now I plan to reach 500000 points before or shortly after my membership is renewed.  

You bet, I've gotten tons of business from AR since 2007 - it's well worth the business generated; the relationships and resources here are amazing as well!

After you reach 500,000 points, it's free and it's worth every penny to get to the free account and to learn how to blog. I don't know if there's a coupon code though, Eva.

After referrals, my blog is my leading source of new clients. It is not always instant, it writing daily. It is being interesting, a mix of market reports and my choice is sharing stories buyers and sellers can learn from. 

I have given referrals to other here in the rain, waiting for my first referral yet.

Check with Bob Stewart on the coupons, or email Support@ActiveRain.com. Yes, I get business from being here, and from other sources to, including my Word Press blog

Have a deal in MD closing this month thanks to an AR blog, and another in TX about to go under contract because of the exact same AR blog.  So yep, it works : )

I get business and I give business via this community.  AR is good for backlinks to my word press site. Even better, the connections made here are priceless.

ActiveRain is currently my only blogging platform and then I link posts to Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.  Although they may not always say AR I can tell through the conversation that this is the source.  

My primary goal when I joined ActiveRain was business and that has been a benefit.  The networking and the relationships(virtually and in real life) that have formed has been a very nice surprise.  

As far as fees -- it's likely best(most economical) to purchase a year in advance and then check in, comment, ask/answer questions and post as much as you can until you reach free membership.  It will come a lot sooner than you think.  Good luck.  

Not sure what coupon code...

But I am addicted to AR now. I wish I could post more often. Yes, I believe it helps my marketing. 

Eva B. Liland with Century 21 Doug Anderson - this is the only place I blog - so I believe the calls on my market reports are a direct result of my blogging.

YES!! Paid for itself many times over. Worked with a couple of Active Rain members who both happen to be ambassadors on a project earlier this month.

Thank you for sharing

 PM

I do as well as elsewhere. I get referrals.

The SEO here has not been as good as it was a few years ago, so blog on my web site, my company web site and between all of them I do get business.

I blog in multiple places.  I have gotten business as a direct result of blogging here.  I also have gotten referrals here.  I also have gotten indirect business via someone finding a post and then moving on to my site and my search and signing up there with contact info.  It's benefited me than I could explain. Not to mention the vast amount of knowledge I get here.  Contact customer support and find out your old password and go back to  your first account where you have a head start in having a free account.

I blog here, my website and realtytimes... but mostly my website.  By a bunch.  Doesn't always get me business, but I am starting to get content link requests to some of the articles I re-post, so my content is being seen.

If you earn points in high gear (10 blogs a week, 20 comments and answers a day) you can easily get to a free account in a year.  Plus for each 100k points you get, you save money off the monthly fee.  At 500k you get a free account for life.

As to your prior account, if you have the name of it support or Bob Stewart should be able to get the password reset for you (if you can't do it yourself or no longer have access to that email).

Yes. We are fortunate to receive business referrals for other Activerainers for both San Diego and Charlotte and Sarasota, Florida listings and buyer reps

Susan Haughton nailed this one!

I blog through my personal site, linked to ActiveRain. And I read/comment on AR often. I have indeed received referrals from other agents on this site, but that's only one benefit! I've learned a lot about the real estate business here, about other areas of the country and world, about the inspection business, mortgage business, and about the "real" life of others here. 

After 500K points, all that benefit is free!

Like Roy Kelley, attracting business is no longer a consideration but happens when it happens!

yes they do call

Yes, I do, but it is free for me.

Good luck.