I was one of the lucky ones (lucky and smart!) to be able to attend RainCamp Los Angeles yesterday. It was well worth the investment of time and money. Besides getting to meet and hang-out with a terrific group of Los Angeles real estate professionals (a big shout out to the men and women who traveled from as far away as Hawaii, Puerto Vallarta and New Jersey!) I got a head full of new information to incorporate into my blogging and social media efforts. I took away great info to propel my Los Angeles home staging business to a higher level. I was happy to see there were 3 or 4 other Los Angeles home stagers in attendence.
There was a lot of great information pouring out of Brad Andersohn, Ben Kinney & Tom Ferry. 
I took 4 pages of typewritten notes! I tell you what...there were a lot of fingers flying over a lot of keyboards in that room; all of us trying to record this valuable knowledge for later use.
Jeff Dowler wrote a post here on AR with a very extensive list of the recommended websites.
Here's some important information I came away with (via Ben Kinney):
Why you should care about social media:
- 74% of Americans are spending twice as much time on the Internet over TV
- 32% participate on social websites
- 112,000,000 people are on FB
- 13,000,000 people in CA are on FB
- 5M people in Los Angeles are on FB
- 85% of qualified searches come from search engines
- 75% of consumers don’t go past 1st page of Google
- 87% home buyers are using Internet to search for homes
- 94% of 24-44 year olds are using Internet in home buying process
- 37% of home buyers found their home on the Internet
Here's some information about Active Rain and why it should be an important part of your marketing efforts (via Brad Andersohn):
- 180K members
- 200-300 new members per day
- 2,000 new blog posts per day
- 2.5M unique visitors each month
- 1.7M blog posts on AR
- National & hyper local news media coverage
- Superior SEO due to all the activity
- #1 top Real Estate Networking site
- (numbers are approximate)
The day flew by! I was fully engaged and absorbing information from 9:00AM-5:00PM. It was worth every penny and I highly recommend you attend if you get the chance. (I bought a platinum ticket which included wireless Internet, lunch and an after party). I was sorry that RainCamp LA was only a 1 day event (hint, hint).
Ben Kinney
Brad Andersohn
Tom Ferry
Irina Netchaev, Pasadena real estate agent (and my carpool buddy)
Hobnobbing with the brains behind Active Rain (and a bunch of really nice Los Angeles real estate pros)
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2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.
Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.
For more information about our Los Angeles home staging services, contact Michelle at (626)385-8852 or by email.
Click here to see our Los Angeles home staging portfolio
Click here to go to our Los Angeles home staging blog
Click here for more information about home staging in Los Angeles and how we can help sell your home faster and for the best price
I missed it--had clients in from out of the country so I showed 14 homes and hope to sell at least one of them! I'm reading blogs about the event and taking notes. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and notes.
I hope there will be one close by in Virginia. Thanks for sharing with us.
It was a great day - and yes lots of notetaking! Sorry that I didn't get a chance to say 'hi' personally but I had to leave promptly at 5:00 so I missed the after-hours party. I hope that was as much fun as the day itself!
I missed it as well - but thanks for sharing the info. I am sure it was a great event.
Catching the LA ActiveRain energy and information here. Lots of folks in New Mexico would love AR Camp to show off under our blue skies sometime SOON!
Sounds like you had a great experience Michelle! I've heard they cover some different topics at each location so no two RainCamps are exactly the same.
Michelle-What a dazzling presentation. You made me feel like I was there. I attended a Camp in NYC in January and came away with many of the same impressions. i am a real estate attorney in Massachusetts, so not really a maintstream "Rainer" in profession or state. I have really enjoyed educating people about the "Massachusetts rules" and have received many referrals from people in other states who need information and guidance.
ActiveRain has been a Godsend for my business. it sounds like yours has been enhanced as well.
You took better notes than me!! THANKS!!
I agree Michelle. It was great. You have some great photos there.
Hi Michelle -- I love reading your staging posts, you do such nice work. Thanks for the update and stats. Also, thanks for the link to Jeff's post, I missed that, so that was very helpful as well.
Norma: Good luck! I hope they buy one of the homes you showed too.
Wanda: I think the next one is in Washington DC in June. Are you far from DC?
Michael: Sorry you missed the after party as well. It was very enjoyable. Fewer people so it was easier to talk one on one.
Sharon: Sorry you couldn't make it. Next time!
Emily: Start a campaign. I'm sure if enough people want it, they'll make it happen.
Karen: I was wondering about that. I read a post by someone who had attended 2 or 3. After attending this one, I can see why.
Elliot: I probably would not be in business if it weren't for AR. I'm a big fan.
Carla: I was tapping away up front on my netbook. If I missed something, I just peeked at my neighbor's screen to catch up.
Bill: It really was terrific. I feel very energized:o))
Chris: I somehow missed your response. Thank you! Some of the websites listed in Jeff's post are pretty awesome so definitely check them out.
I can't wait for the Sacto one coming up next month! YES... next month. Whooo Hoooo! If anyone missed it in SoCal, they can come up the NorCal and hang out!
Oooo, Sacramento? I may just make the trip. What's the date?
I thought Facebook was claiming something like 400 million members. They have a lot, whatever the number is.
Michelle ~ I love all of the RainCamp recaps! They are the next best thing to being there. Thank you so much for this one!
MM... Tuesday June 8th 9am to 4pm. Be on the plane day before and I will pick u up!
Jim: That may have been the number of members in the US. I was typing as fast as I could so I might have missed that.
Terrie: You're most welcome!
LKP: I will put it on my schedule and see if I can make it work. I have a lot of traveling coming up.
I missed it, but thanks for the info
Michelle - I can't wait for RainCamp to come to Toronto or a location nearby.
HI, Michelle, gracias. sharing all these tools are so appreciated. have a productive year. Lupelyc
Hi Michelle,
Glad to see you had a great time. I can't wait for my first rain camp. As soon as they come close to Michigan Im jumping on it
thanks for your post.
Tom
Michelle,
Great recap of the event especially the photos. I agree that Raincamp needs to be for more than one day. Like you, I can say it was well worth paying the extra and getting the Platinum ticket. I strongly encourage any activerain member who has the opportunity to attend a Raincamp to sign up without hesitation. You'll b glad you did. As a real estate agent, I'm already implementing some of the tools I've learned at Raincamp.
Michelle thanks for the update... I was there too with others from my AR group... this is great stuff and the future of RE and AR... Looks like you are on top of your game thanks again!
Michelle, what an awesome event! You took better notes than I did... love the stats! See you soon!
Rain Camp is an amazing opportunity to learn more about social networking and blogging and to network with other real estate professionals.
Those are some mind boggling numbers and ActivRain is in the middle of it . .great post!
Rain Camp rocks !!!! Went to it in NYC right before the Inman conference and soaked in so much information. Very motivational and a ton of information. Great stuff !
Thanks for all the raincamp information. I am going to attend the one in Washingtin DC next month.
Michelle .. aggghhh, it really looks wonderful! I went last year to RainCamp and I found it quite humorous how we all had our camera's out!
"5M people in Los Angeles are on FB" ... It's staggering how many people are on Facebook. Thanks for the stats, Michelle.
Michelle - Thanks for the behind the scenes tour & the list of stats (can definitely use that in a marketing piece.)
Marguerite: You're welcome
Marc: Hopefully they will hold a RainCamp in Toronto soon.
Lupe: De nada:o)
Tom: You won't be sorry if you attend
#22: I guess you weren't signed in when you commented so I can't thank you personally.
Richard & Janet: I try to stay on top of all the new technology, or at least not fall behind.
Irina: There were a couple of times I looked over at your notes just to make sure I had gotten it right:o))
Christine: You are so right!
Fernando: AR is a very powerful tool. Take full advantage.
Christopher & Stephanie: I'd like to go to RainCamps in other cities to see how they differ and if I can learn even more.
Rebecca: You will love it.
Pippa: At the LA RainCamp almost everyone had a laptop or netbook. Sometimes I couldn't hear over the clicking keys.
John: Ben Kinney gave us some pretty compelling evidence about the power of FB (plus some ways to put it to use)
Susan: I'm glad the stats will be useful to you. Good luck!
It was a pleasure meeting you, Michelle and it the day certainly provided valuable information which hopefully will take our business to the next level. Next time you catch me in a picture though, would you please make sure you take my good side :)
Will do, Jane:o))
The stats are interesting. I also want to check out the list of recommended websites.
The website recommendations were excellent.
You lucky lady, you! thx for sharing. I was able to attend RE-Tech South here in Atlanta-- I loved every minute as well -- it was 2 days, so I understand your hint to bring on another day!
Karen: I really enjoy hanging out with other AR peeps who are interested in bettering their lot. Maybe future RainCamps will expand to 2 days.