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Why use Autoawesome for your Photos? Videos they are not!

By
Industry Observer

Auto Awesome Photos in Motion on Google+Hudson River New York

 

Auto Awesome is a photo feature on Google+. It was launched on Google+ on May 15th 2013. The feature creates "Photos in motion" automatically, and hence the name. It has been a big success, and many people are having fun figuring new and innovative ways to use this for fun AND business. They look like a gif, act like a gif and while they really are a gif, and they take zero to no effort to create. Get a Google+ account and upload photos in sequence to the platform, and Google takes care of the rest. 

 

Hudson River Views of Newburgh NY

I have written a couple of articles already on the subject and a tutorial on how to make them. The question comes up as to why not just use video. The answer is that Photos in Motion are much easier and don't require all the details to put together that a video would entail. The point is that you can actually use them more often and to highlight a place or event much easier. Since they are more unique than a still photo, they attract attention for someone to click on a post. They are never meant to replace a video. It is just a photo in motion... nothing more, nothing less.  

So if you are looking to try to create a Autoawesome photo, you will want to read the tutorial. Once completed the next step after you have created the photo would be to implement them into an ActiveRain or a WordPress blog. The tutorial I wrote tells how to pick up the URL from Google+ and then place it into your AR blog. Nothing much to it and bam.... photos in motion. 

I was recently asked how to get the photo in motion specifically into a WordPress blog. It is done the same way that it happens on ActiveRain. Nothing different really, just drop that URL of the photo into the WP site the same you would any other photo.

MTA - Commuter Train to NYC - autoawesome photo

 

Important tip to remember is that the photo is actually a Gif. It lives in your Google account in the photo section. You can't eliminate the photo in motion from google, or your photo will disappear everywhere else you have put the url. As long as you have the account there is no problem.

While you can put these photos on Pinterest and Facebook, they become still. The good thing is that you can link them back to the original article for SEO and then they will be seen live.

Something new and easy to do. Give it a try, and share your photos in a community post. Check out the Autoawesome Community and see how amazing the members can be. Great exchange of ideas and maybe something will spark your marketing style with an awesome photo.

published by: Janis Borgueta Key Properties of the Hudson Valley  in Newburgh NY. Her blog is about living, working and Real Estate in The Hudson Valley. Information here is a community service to the public.  Please subscribe to this blog. When you are looking to buy a new home, Search the MLS for New Homes in Newburgh NY. You can contact Janis at (845)-527-7115 or find her on Google+

Comments(20)

Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Oh Janis, I so need to do this.  I've tried it a few times w/ one of my cats, but then he didn't move enough.  I need to go to the Hudson and do this.

Sep 16, 2013 04:39 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Janis

Looks like a fun thing to use now and then. Will check out your posts - I saw this before but I don't recall taking the time to read...my bad.

Jeff

Sep 16, 2013 04:44 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Cats are usually great subjects... =)

Jeff it is fun and attracts attention to a post. Enjoy!

Sep 16, 2013 05:02 AM
Craig Daniels
Tech Training for You! - Staten Island, NY
Technology Instructor/Project Consultant

Janis - nice work making use of this feature :) here's a fun link to see your auto-awesome history https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/search/%23autoawesome

Sep 16, 2013 05:30 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Thanks Craig - good to see you!! Thanks for the link. these photos are fun.

Sep 16, 2013 09:03 AM
Jon Zolsky
FunCoast Realty 386-405-4408 - Ponce Inlet, FL
your Daytona Condo Agent

Of course it catches the eye, but I am afraid that we would quickly get used to it, and this constant movement will become annoying. I thhink it would be very cool if you could adjust what moves and what doesn't. Like if this is the river, the water is moving, but everything else is still, as otherwise if becomes a bit jumpy.

I will wait.

Sep 16, 2013 12:32 PM
Lynn Pineda
eXp Realty - Boca Raton, FL
Real Estate Promises delivered in SE Florida

You are such a pro at this Janis. Well done.

Sep 16, 2013 01:42 PM
Ann Zieve
Keller Williams Success Realty - Eden, UT
Unmatched Ownership Experience

Janis, wow!  I've seen this and never knew how they were done.  Thanks so much for sharing!

Sep 16, 2013 08:37 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

So well done Janis and yes it does become annoying if not done right...it becomes a Vine...I like it with the sun rising the waves, the train is awesome.  You use it the best I must say!

Sep 16, 2013 09:48 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

I hardly EVER use my Google + account - I know, I should - but I have to try this one out! Thanks!

Sep 17, 2013 12:24 AM
Steve Thayer
The Thayer Group - Castle Rock, CO
- 2015 DERA Realtor of the Year

Thanks so much - I'm going to try this out!  I love this idea as opposed to using video.  Video is, indeed, more time consuming to use, and also, I like to avoid sound.  These really catch your eye!  Again, thank you for taking the time to share - and for providing examples of ones you've done!  

Sep 17, 2013 02:49 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Janis, I am ready to give this a try. The look is interesting and is an attention getter.

Sep 19, 2013 12:53 PM
Helen and Larry Prier- Re-Max Gateway - Residential Real Estate
RE-MAX Gateway- Residential Real Estate Sales - Anacortes, WA
Anacortes & surrounding Skagit & Island Counties

Janis, Just to let you know that I highlighted you in "My Favorites" for last week. Here is the link:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/4181692/my-favorite-blog-posts-for-last-week-september-16th-to-22nd

Sep 24, 2013 01:22 AM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

 I hadn't a clue, Janis.  They look great.  Will have to try to figure it out after I figure out how to just upload a plain photo these days.

Oct 05, 2013 10:49 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Elyse I was working with the upload earlier and it had issues with links. 

Oct 05, 2013 01:48 PM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

The video loops we shoot with natural sound are short and sweet. Clip the end, add the fade transition in and out and you have a three sec or less you are there at the property. The sound is 40% of the experience, the remembering it. Video to gif.

Oct 05, 2013 10:40 PM
Elizabeth Bouchard
Samson Properties - Arlington, VA
Associate Broker in Northern Virginia, DC and MD
Thanks for sharing this. I have seen these photos before but didn't know it was a google feature. I will have to check it out.
Oct 06, 2013 02:11 AM
Theresa Harden
Hawaii Dream Realty LLC - Honolulu, HI
PB SFR e-Pro Realtor

This is awesome. I've used Macromedia Fireworks to create animated gifs in the past but it is good to know that Google offers this feature especially since upgrading my Windows desktop and my Macromedia software is no longer compatible.

Oct 06, 2013 02:50 AM
Raymond Denton
Homesmart / Evergreen Realty - Irvine, CA
Irvine Realtor®

How'd you do that train, Janis?  Did you take more then one photograph?  Or is that a single photograph?

Oct 06, 2013 02:57 AM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Andrew - while I would love to have a bit of sound, then these get more time consuming and difficult. With a click of my cell phone I shoot a minimum of 5 photos and it uploads for me.. no fuss no muss. The hardest part is keeping the cell phone still. I am getting better at what to choose and highlighting the local area for photos that work.

The beauty of Autoawesome is that it does not require work!! SUPER easy 

Raymond - please read the tutorials I've written on how to make it happen. THey are a series of photos.. a minimum of 5 and I believe the latest number is up to 50+. They are automatically made but you need a Google Plus account. Give it a try.. they are fun.

Oct 06, 2013 11:52 AM