How Do We Get More People To Engage In BP Discussions?

[Bryan Hancock]

I did a quick check and there have recently been over 500 people (within the last day) people on BP. Most topics have 5-15 main players comment back and forth and a variety of lurkers that just view things.

How can we get more people engaged in conversation on topics? I never have understood people just lurking and not participating. What are the main reasons this happens and more people aren't involved?

[Joshua Dorkin]

What 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!