How Do We Get More People To Engage In BP Discussions?
Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
How Do We Get More People To Engage In BP Discussions?
Most Popular Reply
Joshua D.Pro Member
BiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votesWhat most people, unfortunately, don't realize, is that by participating in the discussion, you are raising your own profile and increasing the chances that others will want to network and do business with you!
Those members who are most active are also the same members getting the most out of the site.
By engaging in the various discussions, people get to see you, know you, and trust you (most of the time).
I always laugh when people ask us to close their profile because they "didn't get anything out of the site." Typically, they just created a profile and read some threads, but never ENGAGED with the other members on the forums, blogs, buttletins, etc. That's exactly why they didn't get anything out of the site. No one knew who they were and as a result, had little reason to connect.
Bottom line, if you're participating by joining the various discussions about real estate, the economy, strategies,and even the off topic discussions, you're increasing the likelyhood that others are going to want to do business with you. You don't have to have all the answers, just some quality feedback, insight, or opinions.
Along with that, of course, having a complete profile and a personal photo for your avatar go a LONG way!
I'll wrap my post up with a quote from an email I got this morning. This was from a member who is a regular blogger here:
"I have noticed something that has been huge for me and I would like to share it with others. While BiggerPockets is not bringing the most hits to my site, the hits are the targeted ones that I want. They are actual investors asking about deals, partnering, advice, wanting to help each other, etc. I've had about 5 potential investor partners contact me in the last month alone and when I ask how they find me all but one which was a referral said BiggerPockets. It is the quality of the hits not the quantity and my main message would be that BiggerPockets is the most highly concentrated site to network, partner and learn Real Estate Investing."
I think he said it perfectly!
146 Replies
- Investor · Cornelius, NC · Member since 2010 · 17 posts · 2 votes16y
I've been lurking in the shadows, watching this thread develop, and I must say, I find it very interesting.
- Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
Welcome Brian! Please post and share going forward. We need more blood in the forums.
- Residential Real Estate Broker · Merrillville, IN · Member since 2010 · 35 posts · 17 votes16y
I'm relatively new on the site and I find it very intriguing. I've added my input and was helpful to many people and not so helpful to others. It doesn't affect me at all. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions and I feel that I can always learn something new. I love real estate and I love helping people and obviously the people participating on this forum feel the same way.
- Real Estate Investor · Lake Wylie, SC · Member since 2009 · 16 posts · 7 votes16y
Great initial question and awesome feedback from the posters.
I'm fairly new to social media, too. I have a marketing maven who keeps me up to date on stuff, but she handles most of my posting. She's really good at marketing, but still learning real estate investing. She runs in and out of my office all day long to GET good replies to post to questions.
As an investor, trainer, and coach I love to answer people's questions. Just like in one of my live events, people are afraid to ASK questions for fear of sounding silly. Just remember there are no stupid questions.
As for answering and being more interactive, we all suffer from a time crunch. Whether you invest full time or part time, there are never enough hours in the day (or night) to be as active on social media sites as you would like to be. Believe me, I know.
First you have to decide which sites are most beneficial to you. Then perhaps categorize them as sites you can learn the most from, sites you can contribute the most to, and sites that can benefit your personal business the most. Allocate your time accordingly.
I have built my business on the mantra that putting people and principles before profits - profits everyone most. This thread is a great reminder to me that there are ALWAYS people I can help by being more active. I actually just upgraded my account at BPockets. Perhaps we can all make a concerted effort to reach out to people and encourage them more.
Make it a great day, everyone!
Larry Goins
:cool: - Vendor · Redondo Beach, CA · Member since 2010 · 37 posts · 17 votes16y
I became a member of the BP family a few days ago and like Larry, I'm pretty new to social networking. I can see how a newbie could get stuck in "Lurk Mode" for quite some time with all this new information to digest.
I think the best way to get more people involved, especially the newbies and lurkers, is to just ask them to join in. If we know they're sitting on the sidelines reading the posts, then why not encourage them to participate in the discussion by asking what they think or if they have a related question they’d like answered.
This is my first post outside of the “New Member Introduction Forum†and I’d like to tell all the lurkers out there that it feels great to get my feet wet! I plan to participate in as many discussions as I can… because I have a lot to learn and a lot to share.
- Real Estate Investor · Portage, MI · Member since 2010 · 470 posts · 315 votes16y
I have been watching for the past month or so, and I am seeing more postings by people that have been members for quite a while, but have relatively few posts and influence points. This thread must have worked! It is great to see new faces and new perspectives & input. Please keep it going!
Bill - Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
Yeah...I think some of our former lurkers turned new posters contribute some of the best content lately!
- Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes16y
Glad to see more getting involved. I think there are some sitting out right now because they are making hay while they can.
Glad to see all of the new faces.
- Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
521 online in the last 24 hours and I would venture to guess that fewer than 30 have posted anything or participated in any way.
Ideas?
- Real Estate Investor · Irwin, PA · Member since 2010 · 23 posts · 6 votes16y
In my case, and I'm sure in most other's cases, people are generally here to learn and read what other, more experienced investors have to say. I read quite a bit on BP before purchasing my first property but didn't post anything because I was so new to the business. Having actually made the move, I will be spending more and more time here, trying to add what I can while learning in the process. I want to do this right and I feel this is a great reasource for that. I think many of the people signing on (including me about a week ago) are only considering making the move and have not done so. As a result, they don't have much to add.
- 16yJoshua D.Pro MemberBiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
Thanks Jason. You're post today, My First Rental Property (Pics), is proof of why people should definitely be engaging when possible, with any questions they've got. I've been very much enjoying watching all the great advice you've been getting about your new deal.
- Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
Yeap...wouldn't you have liked to have received the advice you got on the thread BEFORE you made the purchase? It may or may not have influenced your decision to purchase the property, but it certainly would have helped some...no?
- 16yMark UpdegraffBusiness MemberReal Estate Broker · Rochester, NY · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 702 votes
Would a chat feature help? Engage more people on a social level, help network, and brainstorming...
Just a thought during the VMAs ;-)
Wait a minute... Chat is dead... We're all suposed be tweeting right? :D
Updegraff Group Realty4.746 Reviews - Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
I think the PM feature is intended to cover that. Chat would be really cool...not sure if it would help, but it sure would be nice!
I would be worried it would keep people from posting and sharing with everyone though.
- Real Estate Investor · Aurora, CO · Member since 2010 · 175 posts · 92 votes16y
I'm glad our fearless leader set the record straight about reviving old posts and I thought I might be posting too much here, being a new kid.
This site is fairly young and it doesn't seem to be cliquish which is a big deal for the newcomer and the seasoned pros are awesome about repeating answers. Thank you STEVE for being the unofficial linkmaster!
Also, the big welcome I got from my first introductory post was wonderfully genuine and spurred (a little Texas pun) me to join in the discussions. I try to watch for newbies and return the favor.
I'm sure I'll be showing my stoopid for many months but I don't think I'll get bloody over it. I know enough to know that I don't know anything!
Good post, Bryan. You must be the pot stirrer since it got so many responses.
- Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
Well that is what I am trying to do to get more lurkers involved. It has always been a bit puzzling to me that people lurk without posting. How can you possibly benefit from the site fully if you don't interact with people at all?
- Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes16y
Originally posted by Diane J.:
I'm glad our fearless leader set the record straight about reviving old posts and I thought I might be posting too much here, being a new kid.
This site is fairly young and it doesn't seem to be cliquish which is a big deal for the newcomer and the seasoned pros are awesome about repeating answers. Thank you STEVE for being the unofficial linkmaster!
Also, the big welcome I got from my first introductory post was wonderfully genuine and spurred (a little Texas pun) me to join in the discussions. I try to watch for newbies and return the favor.
I'm sure I'll be showing my stoopid for many months but I don't think I'll get bloody over it. I know enough to know that I don't know anything!
Good post, Bryan. You must be the pot stirrer since it got so many responses.
Diane, great to see you involved in the threads. It's great to have another perspective. There is real benefit in being involved here. I get contacts both local and across the nation because of blogs, forum posts and other snippets posted on BP.
Also you will find that if you reach out, you have more creditability if you are a more active member. I thin most of us like to know something about who we do business with.
Everyone benefits from BP. Those that are more active, I believe will benefit more IMHO. It is harder to interact with someone that you don't know anything about and even harder when you can't find them. Lurkers enjoy just one side of BP, the other side is the many opportunities to connect and do business. It can happen without participating, but it is harder.
I would love to get to know everyone on BP and have the opportunity to spread success and spread useful ideas for becoming more successful.
Many thanks to those that have built the content of BP over the years. I give thanks to many others that will add their input to make this site many times better than it is today.
- Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
I have had initial conversations with more than 5 people that I have been posting with for months now and we always comment on how we feel like we know one another already even though we have never met! Wow...how's that for a community?...good stuff!
I am hoping this post continues to pull people off of the sidelines. I have seen comments from a number of folks that are posting regularly now and contributing for everyone's benefit. If we could only get the other 80%+ of the people off of the sidelines everyone would benefit!
- Irvine, CA · Member since 2010 · 28 posts · 12 votes16y
I'm guilty of being a lurker and have been for several months. When I first came to BP I pretty much just did a lot of reading since I am entirely new to real estate investing. Still, my knowledge is purely book knowledge and I have no real experience so I am always reluctant to pass on anything I learned to someone asking a question. I feel there are a lot of qualified people on here who have more experience and I don't want to come off as a pretender. However, if it's just general advice or simply a ".02 cents" thing then I don't mind.
Little by little I'm sure I'll become more active as I tend to do in any of the forums I visit.
- Harlingen, TX · Member since 2010 · 51 posts · 8 votes16y
Originally posted by Rich Weese:
Bryan- yes, I do think that keeps many from posting. Fear, thin skin etc. I think sometimes newbies are jumped on hard, when it is because others have come on as newbies with the same verbage and have turned out poorly. It is almost like the new newbie is punished for sins of the previous newbie.
Ok I have just read this entire thread and voted and quoted Mr. Weese. I know I do not have a thin skin but I do keep from posting on topics because I don't want to get jumped on. I don't mind a debate ext but am going to ovoid being jumped on if I can. I do post and ask for more information but in some threads people are told that its all fake and there dreaming. If you wold like an example I would be more than happy to provide. Just my opinion and if you want to jump on my comment feel free :lol: - Investor · Round Rock, TX · Member since 2010 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes16y
Please do provide some examples Katherine. That would be most helpful...
- Flipper · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2009 · 973 posts · 679 votes16y
Originally posted by Mark Claire Updegraff:
Would a chat feature help? Engage more people on a social level, help network, and brainstorming...
Just a thought during the VMAs ;-)
Wait a minute... Chat is dead... We're all suposed be tweeting right? :DThere is a chat room on the left under Popular Links. It's usually empty, but I've seen several people in there after someone has posted that they will/are using it. It only takes one person to be the leader. :D
- 16yJoshua D.Pro MemberBiggerPockets Founder · HI · Member since 2008 · 16k+ posts · 5k+ votes
I think you're referring to the Bulk REO forum, which we sometimes refer to as the Wild West . . . as I believe we've discussed before, most of what happens in that forum is complete and utter BS. The only reason that forum even exists (we've tried on a few occasions to get rid of it) is to keep the garbage posts off the rest of the site. Sure there are a handful of people who are legitimate and there are certainly newbies who want to learn something, but frankly, it is mostly a sham. If someone is going to get offended because people jump on them for thinking they could make a few points on Billion dollar deals that they are going to broker between a bank and some buyer that they know, without having any knowledge about real estate, deal evaluation, etc., I'm not going to lost much sleep. The premise of such a thing happening is utterly ridiculous. On many occasions people have been asked to prove that they have closed these bulk deals -- even small ones -- and all they offer is their word for evidence . . .
Could this post potentially keep people from posting there, maybe . . . and if it does, it is probably a good thing. I like to think that BP is a place where visitors and members can learn about the reality of real estate; that's why many of the gurus don't like it here... many of their get rich quick claims are also crushed here.
This site is not designed to help people live in a fantasy world. Real estate investing is a VERY difficult business. It requires work, patience, diligence, and education.
I've been running this site for close to 6 years now and have seen countless people come and go. A small percentage of people actually make things happen, and most newbie investors are gone from the business within a few months of starting.
That is the cold reality.
Again, if hearing that or any other truth here from people who are in the business and making it happen turns people off, then they didn't stand a chance in the first place.
That said, outside the Bulk REO forum, there are over 1/4 million posts, a vast majority of which are chock full of incredibly helpful information. There are countless members here who give of their time and knowledge without any expectation of return.
It is in the interest of any new investor to jump in and share their questions, concerns, and needs with the rest of the community because they will get what they seek -- answers. They may not like those answers, but in most situations, those hard to swallow realities are what the investor needs to hear. Engaging on this site may challenge your thinking, may make you angry, but doing so will absolutely make you a better investor, and will without a doubt help your business. The visibility that comes with doing so is priceless.
Thanks for listening!
- Real Estate Investor · Irwin, PA · Member since 2010 · 23 posts · 6 votes16y
Originally posted by Bryan Hancock:
Yeap...wouldn't you have liked to have received the advice you got on the thread BEFORE you made the purchase? It may or may not have influenced your decision to purchase the property, but it certainly would have helped some...no?
Yes and no. I felt like I received a good understanding of what I was getting into from this site before my purchase. I can relate to this as I do with graduate school; you learn a great deal more when you are in the field you are studying. For example... what did my accounting class mean to me when I was in undergrad and not working in a professional role? It's difficult to say... BUT what does my graduate accounting class mean now that I am a Corporate Accountant? A word of difference. Similarly, now that I am actually a real estate investor, I can relate and apply what I learn on BP to my situation. Not to mention... since I've made the purchase, I have no choice but to learn!! Too late to turn back! - Harlingen, TX · Member since 2010 · 51 posts · 8 votes16y
Below are a few comment I have come across. I was simply making an observation and Josh if I have offended you I am sorry I was simply trying to provide reasons why people may lurk. I have been involved in Real estate investing my entire life. My father is involved in real estate investing and have learned from his business my entire life. I am now involved and working in several areas of real estate investment I am by no means a newbee to the real estate world. I have posted a few comments below that I have come across. I do think the main goal is for people to learn and make things happen and better themselves. And I agree asking questions and getting involved is a good idea again learning is the key.
http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/52893-how-many-properties-have-you-purchased-with-down-?page=2
http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/69/topics/54410-investment-partner-dallas-tx
http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/64/topics/53847-need-lender-asap
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.