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Apture - The All In One Tool For Social Media Content

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Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

Apture - The All In One Tool For Social Media Content

Apture is a pretty nifty tool that allows you to select and control the start and stop times of Youtube Videos, Embed a real-time Twitter feed of a user or search phrase, Embed Interactive Google Street View Maps, and make your Blog posts and websites come alive with a single player and embed code that includes all the above and more.  Apture now has a free online service (Builder) that will allow you to search and capture selected content, then place it into a single window that consolidates space on your Blog or site, and lets users select what they want to see.

In just a few minutes, you can select content from various sources to be displayed in the player, and Apture does the search within their custom builder.  Many of my Blog posts are longer than I'd like them to be since I add video, RSS feeds, snippets, podcasts, and photos that take up a lot of space.  It also takes me time to place each item in the post correctly so they look somewhat cosmetically attractive.  I can see many useful ways Apture could be used for creating and posting Hyper-Local content, Listings and Community information, adding relative multi-media and more without taking up all the space on your Blog post.

Here's a sample of the Apture embed tool using various topics and links. As you explore the content options by clicking on the various windows, you'll see what I mean about saving space, time, and consolidating larger amounts of content into a single resource tool.  Once you try Apture yourself, you'll see how easy it is and will most likely want to try it with your own topics, searches, and content.  Just imagine how long this post would have been if I had included all these items individually.

Why embed only 1 video or slide show when you can include up to 7 items in a single player?

To see how Apture is best utilized, click on any of the images in the lower area of the window above. Each one will open a new window without leaving your Blog or Website. There will be a link to each item if your visitors want to see more. You can also use a variety of multiple content and topics from various sources. If you want to add custom or specific URLs to Apture, you'll just need to sign up for their FREE membership to do so. For more tips and tricks using Apture, see their Blog HERE.

CEO and Co-Founder of Apture demonstrates (using this tool) how to "Go Inside Congress" and create transparency by connecting tidbits of news, video, articles and information into links embedded into his Blog. Yet another great way to use Apture to create exciting Blog posts loaded with rich and useful multi-media content.

Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

Wow, I do try to stay up with technology, but am about a full year behind the curve right now.  I keep trying to catch up, but am always a step behind it seems.  Hats off to you for being so great at this sort of thing.

Oct 14, 2009 08:19 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Dora and Vincent - Not sure if you can "filter" out specific or individual twitter feeds, but you can use any user name or topic.

Oct 15, 2009 02:40 AM
Kathryn Gorham
Green Key Realty - Emerald Isle, NC
Emerald Isle NC Crystal Coast

I watched the video on Congress - it reminded me a lot of the video I watched on google wave but for blogging vs. email

Oct 15, 2009 02:56 AM
Sue Berger
Gladwin, MI
Gladwin MI

Brad~ Thanks for sharing looks like another great app.  I just added the video of the backflip to my Facebook that you had on Twitter it also was amazing, as are you!

 

Oct 15, 2009 04:43 AM
Phil Caulfield
Prosperity Home Mortgage - San Carlos, CA
I Get The Loans Done That The Big Banks Don't!

Brad,

You are the Babe Ruth of real estate social media tips, tools, and tricks! Any thoughts on what a mortgage originator might put on an Apture post?

Oct 15, 2009 07:45 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hey Phil - Apture will work for any part of our Industry or Business. You just have to decide what you want to be available in the player. Maybe some posts you've written, a video explanation of the loan process, a mortgage rate calculator etc. Let me see if I can put one together for you real quick... be right back..

OK... I'm back. Here's a link to a quick apture player I put together.  Take a look and then decide how you would want to use it for your area and business you're trying to generate. Let me know what you think. :-)

http://www.apture.com/view/HYJP3tZFGX/

You can copy this embed code below if you want to try it in a post:
<embed id="aptureEmbed_HYJP3tZFGX" src="http://static.apture.com/media/embed.swf" class="aptureEmbedPlaceholder" quality="high" width="400" height="270" flashvars="linkToken=HYJP3tZFGX&domain=http://www.apture.com&shareId=6106798&prevShareId=0" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" allowFullScreen="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>

 

Oct 15, 2009 09:55 AM
Gregory Hall
Shore Media Solutions - Spring Lake, NJ

Good stuff!

Oct 16, 2009 03:58 AM
Jim Frimmer
HomeSmart Realty West - San Diego, CA
Realtor & CDPE, Mission Valley specialist

I think I am hopelessly behind the times. Fortunately, the tried and true methods still work well enough in San Diego real estate to keep me going in my niche market.

Oct 17, 2009 02:45 PM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Brad, as always, this is just great stuff!

One question though.

Which blog type (blogger, wordpress, other) plug-in should we download for ActiveRain?

Let me know as my creative juices are bubbling over with this one!

Oct 19, 2009 01:28 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Craig - this portion of Apture is using just the "Builder" application.  You can use the apture widget on AR Outside Blogs, you'll find it under the widgets installer tab.  I have never tried to use it on the Internal AR Blogs.  That's something I'll have to look into when I get a chance.

Oct 19, 2009 03:13 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Gotcha!

I'm running with it.

This new tool seems way too cool!

Thank you Brad!

Oct 19, 2009 03:20 AM
Sonny Kwan
Quantum Group Commercial - Residential - Lease Seattle, WA - Mercer Island, WA
206-819-8228

Brad, Apture - The All In One Tool For Social Media Content is great, as soon as I figure out how to load it!

Oct 19, 2009 05:11 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Sonny - it's easy. Once you select the media files you want to show, Apture provides you with an embed code that you can place on your post, website, or sidebar, the same as you do with a video, slideshow, or widget.  The fun part is deciding what you want to display in the Apture player. :-)

Oct 19, 2009 06:50 AM
Lora "Leah" Stern 914-772-4528
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson

Brad, another cool tool, but I can't even keep up with all the old ones.  How do you do it?

Oct 19, 2009 01:37 PM
Sara Woolford & Steve Golson, ALHS
iTexas Realty Co. - San Antonio, TX

Hi Brad- Great meeting you at RainCamp.  Apture is so interesting, but we're not there yet.  I have bookmarked this post to add to the "to-do" list.  Thanks for all that YOU and the rest of the AR staff DO!

Oct 20, 2009 07:46 AM
Kent Simpson
Realty One Group Mountain Desert - Tucson, AZ
Real Estate Is About People

Brad - this looks like something I've got to check out!  Thanks for sharing.  (BTW - sorry I had to miss you guys when you came to Arizona - will make a point of the next time!)

Oct 20, 2009 02:34 PM
"The Lovely Wife" The One And Only TLW.
President-Tutas Towne Realty, Inc. - Kissimmee, FL

Blog-N-Roll Brad...

Saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-Weet !!!

Are you really sure I should let this Cat out of the bag? :)

TLW...ROAR!

Oct 28, 2009 07:21 AM
Dan Quinn
The Eric Steart Group of Long & Foster Real Estate - Silver Spring, MD
Dan Quinn

Great stuff Brad.  I have seen this before and now I will give it a try.  The blogger with the most toys and gadgets rule!

Oct 31, 2009 01:29 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

Brad I just cannot seem to keep up with the technology.  It changes so fast, but at least i am ahead of most REALTORS in my age range.  I have had a personal website now for over 5 years. I now have an Outside Blog with AR.

Nov 01, 2009 04:32 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Sybil - keeping up with all the latest technology is an ongoing challenge.  That's one of the beauties of AR, there are so many members here doing that and willing to share making this place one of the greatest "Libraries" of content I've ever witnessed. It doesn't just "Rain" here, it pours!   BTW - Congrats on your new Outside Blog.  :-)

Nov 01, 2009 04:41 AM