Welcome to the next installment in our ongoing series "Making the Most of Your Localism Sponsored Communities." We began this journey shortly after the Localism Land Rush, as we raised our glasses high in celebration of our spoils. But quickly, we scratched our collective heads and asked, "We've Just Sponsored a Localism Community! Now What?"

(To access the previous episodes in this series and more, go HERE)

So far, we've authored our community descriptions, started to populate our community with good, relevant local 'consumer-oriented' content, dusted off our ActiveRain profiles, and started building bridges to community businesses.

Allow me to digress, and take just a moment to remind you all that Localism is still in private BETA form. That means it's still undergoing some fine tuning and final development stages until such a time as we open it to the general public. But don't let that dissuade you from investing your time and efforts to establish a valued presence there.

For this week's edition, I want once again call upon the skilled instruction of our favored resident techno-geek, Brad Andersohn, to provide us with some helpful advice on uploading pictures onto Localism. Brad did such an excellent job, as he normally does, I thought "Why re-invent the wheel?"

So without any further gilding of the lily, ....here's Brad!

 

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder:

As Localism.com begins the climb up the search engines to be the "World's Most Complete NeighborPedia", remember the value and importance of using quality pictures, titles, and descriptions.  Like anything you put on the Internet, SEO is important. Did you know your photos get SEO?  And there's more than just SEO to consider...  

While the content on Blog posts is "ALL-IMPORTANT", the photos you upload should have the same level of value and priority.  Just like photos of a home help to create interest and contribute to the sale of that home, the same applies to photos of neighborhoods and communities. 


The reason quality is so important:

Your photos not only get Google juice, but they represent YOU as the contributor and are linked back to your profile on Localism.  If you put up less than Quality images, you may be missing an opportunity and get less than quality results.  We should always Autograph our work with Quality, that's our signature.

How To add and upload Photos To Localism:  Here's some sites where I have stored photos in the past.

FIRST: Make sure you have named, re-sized and saved your photos in the proper format. If you don't have a photo editor, you can use sites like Picnik.com or Picasa to name, re-size, and save your images in the proper .jpg format.  It's FREE.  I suggest naming them with a recognizable and search-able file name, NOT P10648235.jpg.  Something like "Monterey Harbor" or "Lovers Point" will get better results.  I suggest nothing larger than 640x480 for fastest uploading and processing time without sacrificing or compromising quality.

 

 

NEXT: Go to Localism.com. make sure you are logged in, then select the neighborhood where you wish to add your photo.  Click on the "Upload Photo" link just under the Top Neighbor area on that page, or just below the current photo that may appear.  (uploading to communities without existing photos was corrected)

Click on browse, select your photo from it's location on your computer, then add a description.  Think SEO, make it short and sweet.  You'll notice a link to "Add More Photos" before you begin the upload process.

This is "NEW" and will save you time uploading one photo at a time.  If you want to view ALL photos for that neighborhood or community, just click on the "View All Photos" link.


A Few Things To Know and Remember:

Photos are reviewed by the AR editorial staff for quality and content.  Depending on what you upload will depend on if they show up in that community.  All your photos will ALWAYS show up on your Localism profile.  Currently, there is no way to edit or delete your photos, so be careful and be selective what you submit.  Try to avoid posting pictures that are poor in quality, blurry, low res, or that are too large in file size. CRUCIAL: DO NOT PLAGIARIZE.  

 

Pictures and photos of neighborhoods and communities are important and shouldn't be taken for granted.  Photos are what helped to make National Geographic one of the Top Magazines in the World.  They are the most viewed pages by consumers when looking to buy a home.  Captured images are what sell newspapers and make Blogs and Websites attractive and sticky.  Pictures represent the closest and next best thing to being there besides video.  They create an emotional element that inspires and motivates ones desire to want to see it in person, to go there, to vacation there, to own there.  Our digital pictures will last for more than just our lifetime.

 

                                                        Have a picture perfect week!  :-)

 
Post is included in group: Active Rain Newbies
Post is included in group: Dedicated Bloggers
Post is included in group: The New Localism

38 Comments on Making the Most of Your Localism Sponsored Community, Part IV

SEP
12
2008
438,592 Points 47 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hey Rich can you tell me where I can find your Localism subscribe button?

3:31pm • #1
406,241 Points 179 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Bill:  Interesting that you ask that. I just had an epiphany the other night about ways for us to promote our Localism communities, and that was one of my thoughts. Let me get back to you on that, okay?

3:35pm • #2

Great article Rich!  I need to do more research on how to use localism, so I'll go back to your earlier blog entries.  Thank You!

3:44pm • #4
279,903 Points 29 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Rich, I had actually forgotten about my Localism communities as I post on AR with the same content which is mostly focused on my local communities anyway.  I think I will go over to Localism and visit just to see how things look.  Thanks for the reminder:)

3:51pm • #5
6 Featured Posts

Hi Rich! As always, thank you for a great blog. Just the idea of Localism is ingenious and I agree that anyone worth their salt as a Realtor should be jumping on the wagon.

3:55pm • #6
2 Featured Posts

Thanks, Rich for the update. I was wondering where I could find past posts, and you got it right here. I will check and read each one, and contact you if I need further help.  Appreciate the update.

3:58pm • #7
376,225 Points 7 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Rich,

When will Localism go public? So we have an idea of how much work we have to do and how much time we have to do it in....

4:07pm • #8
658,343 Points 104 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Rich- Thanks for the helpful series on how to utilize Localism. I have seen a lot of plageurism going on and hope that the tech dept can add a flag button to the localism posts soon so we can start to help you clean up the spam, copy and pastes and rift raft. Localism will be very valuable and to keep in google's good grace we must all police the content to make sure spam is not tolerated.

4:15pm • #9
364,536 Points 9 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

More great information for localism.  Thanks for the update.  Photos do make a difference and it is good to know how to resize them.

4:25pm • #10
1 Featured Post

I've taken loads of pictures of my favorite communities in Tallahassee, but haven't taken the time to put together any sort of narrative to go with them. I haven't spent much time on Localism yet. Is there a template to use or suggested information to provide about a community?

4:43pm • #11
6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

great information here. I now just have to get myself out there and snap the photos. I keep saying "tomorrow I will do it"

4:47pm • #12
454,892 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Rich - Thank you for the information and I do try to post to Localism with pics, I don't know if it's doing anything. How can I find out?

Brad - Nice photos and I will agree that photos play a big part to any posting, better then just plain words.

4:50pm • #13
225,649 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Rich~ Thanks for the pointers for localism.  I haven't been there lately either and I am going to revisit and see how it looks. 

5:28pm • #14
393,126 Points 58 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Rich, isn't this kinda like cheating using techno guy?  LOL it is actually great stuff.

7:29pm • #15
Localism Sponsor

Rich:

I can not agree more about photos is what people are looking for. Google Earth has done a great job with their aerial and street photos. But its only half the way there. This summer in the 95 degrees heat I have been out taking photos of communities in my area. Over the next several months I will be working on a lot of new community profiles along with some great photos. 

I am real excited about the new content but I am in the process of bringing up a new blogsite so localism will have to be back burner for now.

8:28pm • #16
696,039 Points 145 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Rich (but mostly Brad) - thanks for the information on photos. Now to find the time to upload all thos beauties I have taken. Is there are time frame for the Localism beta to end?

Jeff

8:32pm • #17
358,486 Points 11 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

I'm still trying to figure out this localism and this will help.  Thanks.

9:18pm • #19
360,181 Points 22 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Rich...I have 2 communities, but I gotta be honest with you....It's still overwhelming.  It's going to take some time for me to master it.

10:05pm • #20
1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor

Thank youThank you for the great information... I need to go back and read your other posts. Thanks for sharing ... being new to AR I still sponsored a community; so I really needed this post. Thanks again... your biggest fan! Brenda :)

10:13pm • #21
2 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor

Thanks for the info.  I have not yet tried posting pics of my communities, but I will now.  Thanks

10:15pm • #22
237,716 Points 56 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Rich, good information and now all I need is the time to get this whole thing going...have you guys got a solution to time?

With all this blogging and bringing in new business, time is needed to continue with the technology and blogging. Need to have a great article about stretching and adding more hours in the day.

10:29pm • #23
SEP
13
2008
365,927 Points 3 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

I appreciate the constant reminders and step by steps.  I need to spend a bit more time on my localism stuff.

12:32am • #24
373,780 Points 23 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Perfect timing on the reminder....i spent the day doing 'localism interviews...and creating photo ops....'.........can hardly wait to put them all together!

12:58am • #25
142,946 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router

Rich - checked my photos today and added a few more - love the new add more button.

1:19am • #26
144,272 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Rich,

Thanks for the post. As usual this information will go a long way to help members maximize their use of the Localism and make for a better community. Thanks.

6:27am • #27
209,687 Points 12 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Almost missed part 4. K, added to the The Localism Compendium like the others. 

btw: i noticed in your article that it says photos can't be deleted. Did the delete button Brad mentioned got added, go away again? if so, why?

Another great resource for those new to Localism. Keep up the good work Rich!

7:24am • #28

thanks for sharing ,where can we find the localism button to subscribe ??

Great blog btw !!

9:11am • #29

Rich...we're all wondering how long the beta phase will last, it gives us a time frame.

Thanks

Chris
10:05am • #30
101,264 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog Hit Router

Good to know we can't delete the pics we submit - mine have all been good so far - and will continue to be with this post - reminds me to get out there and take more.

3:40pm • #31
SEP
14
2008
Localism Sponsor

Photos CAN be deleted from Localism.  Just tried it again, works great.  

See my blog post & bookmark it for future reference when you need to delete a photo:

http://activerain.com/blogsview/645253/How-to-Delete-Photos from Localism

 

9:28pm • #33
SEP
15
2008
126,152 Points Outside Blog

Thanks for the info. I'm definitely no expert, so this was very helpful. Doing the photos is my favorite part.

10:41am • #34
1 Featured Post Outside Blog Hit Router

Thanks for the post. I am glad to learn of additional resources for storing and inserting photos. It is a big help for us neophytes.

9:44pm • #35
SEP
16
2008

great Information. Thanks for Posting.

12:30pm • #36
Outside Blog

Rich,

It won't let me upload for Anacortes/La Conner.  There are photos in there from a prior version I think.  So how can I get my photos in?  I have some great ones!

1:36pm • #37
SEP
17
2008
393,126 Points 58 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Hey if I reblog Brad will I get a gold star too? LOL

4:22pm • #38
SEP
23
2008
1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor

Rich I have a question, on the 'outside blog' Templet there is  room to put a picture up but how do you create/ crop  that long picture on top of the Blog. I would appreciate a bit of help either in one of your educating posts or just directly to me. Thank you in advance.

3:01am • #39

Leave a response…



(optional)
What does the graphic say?
 
Ben_alex_0575 Rainmaker_large

Rich Jacobson Your Kitsap County WA Real Estate Agent

Silverdale, WA

More about me…

Windermere West Sound, Inc.

Address: 9939 Mickleberry Road, Silverdale, WA, 98383

Office Phone: (360) 692-6102 x 320

Cell Phone: (360) 440-4758

Email Me

Providing Knowledgeable Empowerment and Relentless Representation of Real Estate Clients throughtout the Western Puget Sound, including all of Kitsap County WA, and portions of Mason, Pierce, and Jefferson Counties.

"Helping You to Successfully Achieve Your Next Adventure in Life!"

Rich Jacobson
Rich Jacobson
Create Your Badge



Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog

Find WA real estate agents and Silverdale real estate on ActiveRain.