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With my last Flickr-ing brain cell...

No, I didn't misspell Flickr... If you aren't familiar, Flickr is an online photo sharing site. It is world-wide and very diverse... and it can be hyper local and quite specific as well.

So, the question is...

How can a photo-sharing site be a social network?

And the answer lies in a little creativity. I talked about this a little bit during #rebcclt, in a couple of different groups. Flickr is a perfect way to help build online relationships and foster offline relationships.

Here is an idea...

Using a site like MeetUp, you put together a group of like-minded folks with a common interest.
Through FaceBook and Twitter, promote the meetings.
After the event, use Flickr to compile the photos from all of the attendees. Create a group on Flickr and build albums for the group.
Using Flickr slideshows, embed slide shows about the event in blog posts by any of the members.
Promote future events with all of the pictures that are generated...

In this case, Flickr is a good tool to foster a continuing relationship with people that you initially met through social networking.

Or...

Put together a Flickr Group based on an existing group, like your child's school.
Invite all of the other parents to upload their event photographs to the Flickr Group.
Using slideshows, distribute the more complete picture albums across different blogs and websites.

This time, the Flickr Group is being used to strengthen relationships that begin and continue offline.

Finally...

Go find a bunch of people that you would like to know...
Shoot a bunch of pictures.
Invite them to see the pictures on your blog or website.
Invite them to join your Flickr Group to add more pictures.

Here is a strategy to use offline social networking to build your online awareness among your target market.

So, here are three ways to utilize Flickr to build a community/social network that is both online and offline. There are as many different ways to leverage Flickr as there are people trying to do it. I bet you can come up with a few ideas of your own.

I'd love to hear from you...

Posted by Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy on 05/17/2009 05:58 PM

Comments (40)

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40 Comments on With my last Flickr-ing brain cell...

MAY

2009

My son has all his photos on Flickr and it is a great way to share. I have not gotten the hang of it yet, or maybe just don't have the time.

Hi Lane~ I have a few photos on Flickr, but I haven't gotten the hang of it yet either....

I love flckr... I should add some more photos.

I've added photos on Flickr, but primarily as a non-verbal way to advertise my listings....I'm wondering about the other possibilities, as I have not yet expanded my network that far. You've definitely given me some ideas to try and use, so thanks!

Lane...

I never thought of Flickr as a social network, but now you just might have something there! Interesting take on the photo sharing site!

Look at you getting featured and all!

Great blog, as always :-)

I had never thought of that.Thanks for the idea. Now I will have something else in my daily line up:) Dinah Lee

Lane, I like Flickr but love those cars! Regards,

This is cool...I post photos of my listings on Flickr...I love it!

Careful how you use the photos or what you name them. My account got deleted for using them for real estate.

Sounds like way too much work for me.. I hand it to you for doing all of that.

I have used Flickr a little, but, maybe I should play around with it a little more...thanks!

Thanks lane.........lots of good ideas and I know exactly what groups this would be perfect for.

I thought this might be a great place to store Real Estate pictures for use wherever I may need them Office, Home Office, Client home. But it sounds like Shane had some trouble with using Flickr in that fashion. Wonder Why?

Lane, There are only 24 hours in the day and there is only 1 of me. I typed a whole lot more but then deleted it because the first sentence summarizes it well. Different strokes for different folks and I'd rather spend my time doing something else. For those that have a lot of excess time, this sounds like some great ideas.

Lane I love Flickr, no matter where I am I just have to open my flickr account to retrieve a photo.

Hi Lane -- What a fabulous idea. It's so easy to see now that you pointed it out. The topics and possibilities are endless.

MAY

2009

I have to post my listing photos on flickr. I of course could set up a few groups considering I have years of pics. of the Colorado landscape and its' multiple attractions.

I use Flickr a lot and I attend some of the photos walks. There are many groups and I have found the I don't have to start or organize anything. I can just go, have fun and meet people . . and I do. :)

I love Flickr, I send all my photos of new listings there and then add them to a set. Matt Stilango just taught me about proper tagging this week on the phone so have some homework to do.

I also get most of my photos for AG on there by searching>advanced>creative commons>photos to modify.

Thanks for all this infromation.. .I was wondering if Flickr was a site I should be spending time on. .

Never heard of it but we'll have to check it out. Thanks for the information.

Yet something else to think about doing. There's no end to it.

Overwhelming is the word.

Patricia Aulson/Portsmouth NH Real Estate

Great tip...I'll check into Flickr!

I've never thought of using Flickr that way. I need to look into it more as a networking site. Thanks for the tips!

Sandra - It really doesn't take that much time... after you start using it.

Vickie - I haven't figure out all of the ways to leverage it...

Joan - Me too.

William - That is what I started with... but T showed me the light...

Richard - It is all in how it is leveraged.

Tara - Thanks.

Dinah - Add it to your hobbies and other things you are already doing.

Pete - Thanks.

Exit - There is sooo much more...

Shane - Adding 'agent' and 'listing' are apparently fast tickets out. I had someone clue me in on that... But, the strategies I'm talking about are not directly promoting your business, but rather networking to increase your name recognition.

Russ - Is it too much work to take a few pictures at the Little League game? In effect, this comes down to taking pictures in places you would be anyway, and then getting everyone else there to be a community.

Tina - So should I...

Anna - Cool.

Scott - Don't tag pictures with things like 'listing for sale' real estate agent' and other explicit tags. But, addresses, subdivisions, etc are fine.

Judi - I went to a car show that I would go to anyway... I talked to 30-40 people I would talk to anyway. I took 100 pictures I would take anyway. I took 3 minutes to prep and send them to Flicker. I took 5 more minutes to tag them and place them on the map. The total extra time was 8 minutes. The 30-40 people I talked to have my card... but they also have a personal reason to visit my website now.

Jennifer - That is a nice bonus.

Chris - We are only limited by our imagination.

Sabrina - I have a lot of Utah pics and stuff... but the ones that are 'community builders' are the shots of my son's school program.

T - you are one of the people that figured out VERY early how to leverage Flickr more than anyone else. You are rocking it.

Missy - It is a great resource as well.

Fernando - Could be... ;^ )

Y&D - Yes, check it out.

Patricia - I need to write a post about NOT getting overwhelmed.

Wendy - Cool.

Integrity - I didn't get it for a long time...

You always come up with the best post titles! You could moonlight charging for titles for fellow Rainers!

Lane: Thanks for the Flickr reminder.. I need to start using this..

Lane - I agree Flickr is a must for social networking these days if your into photography. I admit I haven't uploaded for a while and must do that again soon. I have many friends on Flickr as well as feeding it to Facebook and other sites. It's always showing up in my seo for my area's as well. I Love Flickr!

Good idea!

Lane - appreciate all the tips on using Flickr. I haven't spent alot of time on it other than adding a bunch of photos, adn clearly there is more that could be done. For folks who enjoys creating and sharing photos, Flickr is a terrific way to build and engage in relationships.

Jeff

I think this is a terrific idea, and the way you spelled it all out for us should expedite our training time with it!

Thanks for sharing,

I use Flickr for my listings. I never thought of using it for social networking.

I have seen Realtors do great work doing Flickr. They are also steady picture takers. I am not so I don't use it although i see the benfit. My next move is video. I do use www.photobucket.com and Vflyers for listings because they do virally spread, and Vflyer has a call to action.

Flickr is definitely the best of breed in online photo sharing sites. Great post, a full social media strategy definitely includes photo and video.

Great advice, I have never used Flickr but ill have to give it a try.

Natalie - I have had a couple of good ones...

Roland - It is a cool place.

Robert - I think even if you aren't into "photography", but rather into sharing pictures with people you know of events you all went to, Flickr can be a great asset.

Realty.com - Ok.

Jeff - It is. There are so many ways to leverage it.

Tammy - Good luck. Let me know what you come up with.

Jen - Flickr isn't the thing... it is what you do with it.

Joe - Actually, I think FaceBook has more benefit to people that are always shooting pics... post them on the wall and be social with them...

Daren - Yep.

Aaron - Fire away...

I obviously need to spend a bit more time on Flickr. I hadn't figured out the uses, but you've given me several to think about. I love pictures but wasn't sure what to do with it.

MAY

2009

I am not too sure about all this "social networking" available on the internet. I belong to Flickr (but, can't remember my sign on) and I see it is owned by Yahoo!, but Yahoo is giving up it's other movie site Jumpcut. I have used both and YouTube along with other movie editing sites. I make a movie about the house I am trying to sell, the local area, school events, holiday celebrations because I enjoy trying to put them together not because I might meet a future buyer or seller.

I also belong to twitter, facebook, linkedin, myspace and other groups. As a social network - well, I just don't get it.

I have also posted a blog and, like here, respond to blogs written by others. While some are educational, others maybe funny to inter-act with fellow agents for fun and venting. But, I do not see any future value in helping my income.

If networking works for you, great. To me it's just another excuse my broker can use to explain the lack of income in today's real estate market. Attracting new business is my sole responsibility now and still he gets the same cut from my commission check.

As Stanley Johnson said, "somebody help me, Please."

Christine - Think of the ways to impact people... and the pics are fun, too.

Gregory - Online social networking is only different from offline networking in the tools. I owuld assume that you talk to people about things other than real estate to keep your name fresh in their mind.

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Lane Bailey - REALTOR & Car Guy

Suwanee, GA

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Diamond Dwellings Realty

Address: 2078 Teron Trace, Suite 250, Dacula, GA, 30019

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