Special offer
John Novak, Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
4,572,283
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I have long followed the wise words of Susan Emo to "keep my eyes on my own paper".  When I have strayed from that path I get "lost in translation" and can be found in other mysterious and sometimes scary places.  Lesson learned.  Don't talk about the Fight Club.  

Jul 02, 2019 12:04 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Why are you asking us instead of Ben and Bob?

Jul 02, 2019 01:12 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Is this a joke question? 

Jul 02, 2019 02:40 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I haven't seen anything expressing a vision since the last purchase, not have there been improvements. I do see a lot of advertising for Brevity.

Jul 02, 2019 12:35 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I have no idea what is going on behind the scenes John Novak . I am glad AR is here and I hope it continues. The AR feature fairy does seem to favor very few but those few are really good at what they do so if anything I'm just a bit jealous.

Jul 02, 2019 11:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

As far as I know it's been 2+ years since any vision statement or "state of the site" was given.  Ben is still the owner.  There were some good ideas but they were never implemented or fell flat on their face when they were (think of the neighborhood focused site, that required bloggers to be trained by Ben's team).

 

Bob hasn't been around for a while now, there was even a question a couple weeks back about if he's even still employed by AR.

 

I have no clue who David is.  He had one post 2 years ago and that was it.

 

We do have some support people working to keep the site running.  At this point I'd just be happy if someone came out and said "we're going to tackle the spammers" and that was it.

 

The site could use some pruning.  When I win the next super-duper-mega-lotto and win boat loads of money, I'll buy this site and fix it up.  After I buy a Lamborghini and the aforementioned boat, of course.

Jul 02, 2019 02:52 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

John,

One would have to ask them...A

Jul 02, 2019 12:30 PM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

Great question; Inquiring minds want to know!

Jul 02, 2019 11:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Why do you feel that it's your place to wonder what Ben's mission statement is? 

Why don't you buy it & then run it just the way you like giving it 'your direction'.

Jul 02, 2019 01:49 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Good question. I think AR is adrift.

Jul 02, 2019 01:01 PM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I have no idea where AR is headed. I am reading other's responses.

Jul 02, 2019 12:40 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

Great question.....

Jul 02, 2019 12:35 PM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

You may want to reach out to those on the 'About' page, John. 

And, you're right - we are a member base of about 40 - 50 - seriously.

Jul 02, 2019 09:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Well, John, you'd be better served to ask them directly, I think

Jul 02, 2019 07:51 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Dave's not here man

Jul 02, 2019 07:15 PM
Ambassador
5,049,455
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

I have no idea but it's a good question. But I just doing what I am doing.

Jul 02, 2019 05:40 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

That is a great question.  

Jul 02, 2019 04:23 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,419
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Good questions. 

Jul 02, 2019 02:03 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Michael Jacobs said it right

Jul 02, 2019 07:26 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Absentee for years!!! 

Jul 02, 2019 04:47 PM
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

I wish I knew.

Jul 02, 2019 01:59 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Your observations are correct.

The team lead/owner is Ben. He purchased AR to acquire the talented technical staff which were immediately re-assigned to support and develop revenue generating resources owned by Ben. You can bet when Ben sees how to monetize AR...changes will occur.

In the meantime the same 20/30 hanger-ons will gather around the water cooler fabricating questions to which  the answers are known.

Jul 02, 2019 01:07 PM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

That Susan Emo is wise beyond her years.

Jul 03, 2019 03:47 AM
Rainmaker
961,383
Mel Ahrens, MBA, Kelly Right Real Estate
Kelly Right Real Estate - Hood River, OR
Customized Choices for your Real Estate Needs

Everything has a life cycle, including Active Rain. AR has certainly matured over the last decade with little to no recent feature improvements. Ask BBD.

Jul 02, 2019 07:55 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

I woudl ask them. So far it is hands off. My wish is less spam.

Jul 03, 2019 05:24 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

With Big Z ramping up AR could become more valuable then ever ?

Jul 03, 2019 04:11 AM
Ambassador
2,061,864
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

There's a "direction"?

Jul 03, 2019 09:21 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

not stagnant.... but not as it was 10 years ago.... there are "working girls" who want their space here!!!  drug dealers, too....

Jul 03, 2019 06:59 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

I am just a participant, not a visonary.

Jul 03, 2019 06:51 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

ROI or return on investment may be under the microscope as in either this thing pays for itself or what is the point? Certainly spending money on it during this examination must be painful unless theri is an end-game plan

Jul 03, 2019 06:34 AM
Rainmaker
4,160,899
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

John Novak ActiveRain community consist of good people, and can continue for a while.

Jul 03, 2019 04:22 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

I have been on a few sites that are essentially dormant. 

Jul 03, 2019 06:56 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

We have not seen anything from the AR management in a long time.

Jul 25, 2019 07:35 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

why not to tag Ben and other guys so we know the answer? 

Jul 04, 2019 11:56 PM