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Pretty As A Picture - Staging your Blog

By
Real Estate Agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate 516-457-7103

butterflyLate last night I was soaking up my last little bits of inspiration for the challenge ahead.  Luckily for me, one of my final stops was at the blog of Debra Davis, who shared not only her trepidation about the 30 in 30 challenge, but her excitement at having found a great resource for attractive graphics, most of which are offered free for any use and are in the public domain.  My natural inclination was to hurry over to the site to check out its offerings.  Thankfully I didn't, because when I visited there this morning I found it almost impossible to drag myself away to fulfill the obligations of the day.  A talented photographer with a generous spirit, Jon Sullivan is a computer programmer with a keen eye and a clearly artistic bent. 

Aside from wanting to see it all and experience the world from Sullivan's perspective, I couldn't help but think how helpful this would be for all of us with lessremote photographic genius than C. Richard Weisser, Myrl Jeffcoat or Russel Ray, to name just a few of the folks here who delight us with their talent.  I've compiled a collection of his photographs to be used at a future date, but suddenly found myself thinking how different many of the information filled posts here in the rain would look if "staged" with attractive artwork to break up the wall of words we're too often confronted with. 

Just like a home about to be put on the market, take a look at your offering before you click "post blog entry."  Is it dressed in its Sunday best? Does it have curb appeal? Will it make your visitor want more?  If the answer to any of this is no, take a moment and find just the right graphic to help tell your story and make us want to stay awhile.  We'll all be glad you did.

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Graphics contained in this post courtesy of the prodigious talent of Jon Sullivan - PDPhoto.org

Author:  Geri Sonkin, real estate broker associate/stager/decorator, serving the Long Island real estate market.  For more information, visit www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com or www.AtHomeOnLongIsland.com

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Comments (58)

Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Geri......love it.  I think that it's awesome that we deo stage a blog.  A good stage sells a good home.  A good stage sells a good home.

Aug 30, 2010 04:15 PM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Geri, very creative.  I'm always looking for ways to improve my posts.

Aug 30, 2010 04:30 PM
Stefan West
West Realty - Murrieta, CA
Temecula-Murrieta-Menifee CA Real Estate

Good thoughts on the pictures and I will have to consider that.  I may start using pictures my son takes - he is so proud of them!

Aug 30, 2010 04:40 PM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

Always good to have new photos when needed.  I've got quite a few of my own but some of these are really cool!

Aug 30, 2010 04:52 PM
Chris Olsen
Olsen Ziegler Realty - Cleveland, OH
Broker Owner Cleveland Ohio Real Estate

Hi Geri -- You are so right, and I fail miserably in this regard.  I need to do much better.

Aug 30, 2010 04:56 PM
Terry Chenier
Homelife Glenayre Realty - Mission, BC

Geri,

In addition to spicing up you're your post with appropriate clip art and graphics, please press "spell check".

There's a difference between there, their and they're. It's endless with synonyms, acronyms etc.

Aug 30, 2010 05:08 PM
Diane Casale
Coldwell Banker First, Huntsville, AL - Huntsville, AL
REALTOR®, ABR®, CNAS®, SNP, Selling North Alabama

Great post!! I need to "dress" my blog up and this is perfect. Thanks so much!

Aug 30, 2010 05:32 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Beautiful photograph.  I headed right on over there and found a wealth of photos to use for my garden club yearbook.  I'm sure there will be plenty for my real estate blog, too.  THANK YOU!

Aug 30, 2010 11:36 PM
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Geri, thanks for sharing this picture perfect post and the free photo source. We all like free!  All the best!

Aug 31, 2010 01:35 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Geri...

First of all, thank you very kindly for the mention! I am in the process of "re-staging" my blog header, and hope to get a fresh new look. But you are correct, the right photo can make a post pop!

Aug 31, 2010 01:35 AM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

Great site for royalty free photos Geri ! I will become a regular there...thank you !

Aug 31, 2010 02:05 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Geri, photo can definitely spruce up a post for more eye appeal. Thanks for the information and the link.

Aug 31, 2010 02:22 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

This is so important for new bloggers to understand...visual appeal is important when blogging too!  If I see just a page of print, I don't stick around.  I just don't have the time to invest in that much reading when I'm checking out blogs.

Aug 31, 2010 04:26 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Gerri - This is great advice.  I'm a visual person, so if a post doesn't have an attractive photo to draw me in, chances are I will just pass on the post.  There's nothing worse than being faced with a long page of text. 

Aug 31, 2010 04:39 AM
Wendy Rich-Soto, Realtor/Broker Associate
Keller Williams Realty, LA Harbor - San Pedro, CA
Getting you to your next with a zero failure rate!

Geri,

The prettier the post, the more likely it is to be read.  Thank you for the information!  I know I will use it!

 

Wendy

Aug 31, 2010 05:04 AM
Tina Gleisner
Home Tips for Women - Portsmouth, NH
Home Tips for Women

Geri, There certinly are some really nice photos there ... and I love your idea about staging your blog. What a perfect play on words for what we do here and to some degree, our blogs are our online home too!

Aug 31, 2010 03:33 PM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Excellent source of information.  Keep up the good work.  I would have joined the 30 in 30 challenge but I see that not all of the bloggers are keeping the rules in mind when posting.  But, I will check in to see how you are all doing.  Thanks. 

Sep 01, 2010 03:48 PM
Christine Pappas - REALTOR®
eXp Realty - Willoughby, OH
When You’re Ready To Move, I’m Ready To Help

Thanks Geri,  I can't wait to see you what you do with all of it now!  Roger said you are a guru!

Sep 02, 2010 01:07 AM
Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

Geri, I'll definitely check out this site tomorrow. I love your expression "staging your blog." Now that's something we can all relate to.

Sep 02, 2010 02:51 PM
Kathy Fisher
Parker Properties - Decatur, TX
Realtor Wise County Texas

Another place I can find some great pics, animated or not, is Photobucket.com. NOW, you may have to do a little digging through sometimes, but well worth the hunt.

GREAT POST and thanks for the link as well.

 

HAPPY SELL'ng out there & GOD BLESS!

Sep 20, 2010 10:46 AM