Keep checking in, blogging, commenting, participating in contests, asking and answering questions, following ---- you'll have a FREE RainMaker membership much quicker than many others.  

In the meantime, if you don't pay, the likelihood of being found by possible clients is a lot LOT less.

No. Some of us have been blogging longer than the dues structure.

With the current guidelines, you will have a free account when you pass the 500,000 points level. It is unknown what the rules will be with the new ownership.

By the way, you can earn 500,000 points in less than a year with the current points game.

I'm grandfathered fortunately, but I probably would pay if I weren't just because of the Google juice

I'm a longtime Rainer and was grandfathered in when they went to a pay system. The biggest benefit to Rainmaker status is that your posts are indexable by Google. Without it, your content is only seen by other AR members.

considering it....... Probably a good idea.

Yes, I am a RainMaker, everyone should.  I understand after I reached 500,000 points it became free.

I currently do not. I'm newer to AR so I wanted to feel it out before paying. It seems to be worth it from other posts though!

I did when I started and then earned my 500,000 points and went to the free account. I never had just a members only account. My whole objective was to reach the public and to grow my business through additional exposure on the web. 

Yes, I do and it's so worth it to rank on google.  Now, I divert the juice to my own site.  Totally worth it.

Clarification...I was a paying member, and now I'm free.  When I started it costs more $39/month and totally worth it.  I think I made it to free membership in 1.5 yrs (certainly less than 2).

Great question.  I also wondered about this same question. The answers are very interesting.   I had no idea why any one would pay  but now I get it.  Thanks!

I paid AR until I received 500,000 points, and now I don't pay anything.

Are there dues?  I did not know.

No, never did and I have now been here over 7+ years.

Been here since March 2007 no fees. 

I did until I reached 500,000 points and now it's completely free. But your price goes down with each 100,000 level reached.

Well past the point level, Jennifer Provencio ....

I do not pay any more, but I sure did till 500k. Some members never paid since they are blogging here from the very beginning.