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How to Post Graphic Ads to Active Rain, Craigslist and others!

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com)

Make your Listing Stand Out with Custom Craigslist and Active Rain AdsAs the owner of a marketing company, we are always trying to make things really stand out above the crowd, especially in Real Estate Marketing.  A graphic ad is always better than any plain text ad.  We've all heard that "A picture is worth a thousand words", and this is absolutely true in almost all types of marketing.

In this post, we'll go through how to post an image that will link directly back to your Website into Craigslist  Of course, be reasonable, and do not Spam!  The web-gremlins will not like you!

Step 1: Create Your Image/Advertisement

  • Create your image in any photo editing program that can publish into a jpeg format. 
  • You really want to get your entire final image down to 600 pixels wide possible. 
  • Be sure to place text onto your image, and use multiple images if you can. 
  • Always include how to contact you directly via phone, email, and your website. 
  • SAVE your image as in .jpeg format


Step 2: Create a free account at PhotoBucket.com and upload your image that you created.

  • Go to www.Photobucket.com and sign up for a free account.  This is easy.
  • Go to your Home page on photobucket and click upload images
  • Click on "Browse" and find the image that you have just created and select it and click enter/upload
  • Once it is uploaded, give your image a Title and description. Click enter.
  • Leave this page open and go to step "3"


Step 3: The Code to copy/paste to Craigslist

  • Open up a "Notepad" from your start menu and copy/paste the following code.  

 <a href="YOUR WEBSITE" target="_blank"><img
src="DIRECT LINK FROM PHOTOBUCKET" border="0" alt="Visit My Website"></a>

  • Proceed to Step 4.

Step 4: Place your Website Link

  • Locate the area in the code that says (YOUR WEBSITE)
  • Replace (YOUR WEBSITE) with your website or link that you want the ad to be linked with.
  • IMPORTANT: Leave the perenthesis and make sure that your website starts with http://www. (i.e. http://www.printmyrealestate.com)

Step 5: Place your PhotoBucket Link

  • locate your image on your Home Page in Photobucket.com and copy the "Direct Link" to your clipboard.
  • Highlight the text that says (DIRECT LINK FROM PHOTOBUCKET) and paste the link that you just copied in its place.
  • IMPORTANT: be sure to leave the perinthesis in place.

Step 6: Post to Craigslist

  • Open up your Craigslist account like normal, and proceed as you would post any other Craigslist Ad.
  • When you get to the actual posting page, simply copy/paste the code that you have in your Notepad to the description area, add your title and location like normal... then post.

Congratulations!  You have now posted a Graphic Craigslist Ad for your Real Estate listing or Business!

 

This code actually works on hundreds of different platforms including your website, Blogs, Craigslist, Corkin.com, and many many more.  With a little practice, you should be able to create these graphic ads in under 5 minutes!

This is an example of one that my company recently submitted for an actual Real Estate Listing and is connected to a Virtual Tour rather than a website:

 

 

Take a Hi-Def Virtual Tour

 

Cheers, and Good Luck to you in all of your Marketing endeavours!

Terry Dunshie
Home Smart Elite - Mesa, AZ
East Valley Native

Good stuff, there's also picassa from google to host your images.

Aug 11, 2010 11:51 AM
Lori Bowers
La Quinta, CA
The Lori Bowers Group

I think postlets works well for this too and links to many sites for referrals.

Aug 11, 2010 11:54 AM
Nathan Strauch
Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com) - Denver, CO
Colorado Real Estate Photography & Video

Yes Terry,

There are allot of different sites that work well for this.  I really like Picassa as well, but tend to use it for some of my artsy stuff.  Not that it's better or doesn't work as well, it's just easier for me to remember where my different types of work are located.  (I use too many sites) lol

Thanks for the reply, and have a great day!

Nathan S.

Aug 11, 2010 12:44 PM
Nathan Strauch
Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com) - Denver, CO
Colorado Real Estate Photography & Video

Hello Lori,

Postlets does work well to help syndicate your listing, and generates referrrals.  A newer site that does the same thing, but tends to generate better SEO and backlinks for your brand, name and website is www.Neybor.com

Neybor syndicates to all of the sites that Postlets does, but has a newer look, is easier to use, and has a Slideshow and Virtual Tour option that autoplays from the main listings web-page. 

A listing on Neybor.com is, in essence, a Property Specific Website.  All of my clients who have been using it, say that they love it.

Good luck to you, and have a great rest of the week!

Nathan S.

 

Aug 11, 2010 12:53 PM
Wayne B. Pruner
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI

Thanks for the info. I was wondering how to do this.

Oct 24, 2010 06:51 AM
Nathan Strauch
Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com) - Denver, CO
Colorado Real Estate Photography & Video

No problem Wayne, Have a great day, and I'm glad that you liked it.

Oct 25, 2010 03:01 AM
Nathan Strauch
Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com) - Denver, CO
Colorado Real Estate Photography & Video

Please note, that this blog article is NOT advocating any violation in rules for any marketing and exposure sites.  It's important that all rules are followed in the respective web platforms that any professional may be marketing themselves, their brand, or even a listing. 

Please just make sure that you use everything that's available to you in a fair and honest way, so that you do in fact succeed.  We are all in this together... and are always looking for new and innovative ideas.  Please feel free to express yourself in a professional and constructive manner, or call me direct with any question that you may have at (970) 222-0084. 

Thanks... and Happy Marketing! 

 

Nov 06, 2010 12:48 PM
Anonymous
Are you serious?

I guess I must have been correct if you deleted my post. If you put it back then people will know why you wrote your last post.

Nov 06, 2010 01:22 PM
#9
Nathan Strauch
Hot Shots Digital (HotShotPros.com) - Denver, CO
Colorado Real Estate Photography & Video

Dear Are you Serious?

Thank you very much for your input.  Please allow me to start off with the fact that I certainly could have been mistaken, however when I read your comment I took it as being offensive, disrespectful and borderline slanderous.  If this was not your intention, please accept my apology.

Please feel free to call, or contact me, as I only mean to help others by showing them something that they may not already know..  I am sorry if I offended you in any way by deleting your comment.

Thank you.

Nov 06, 2010 01:41 PM
Anonymous
Are you serious?

I certainly didn't mean to come off that way...borderline slanderous. I was merely trying to point out that craigslist does not allow posting hyperlinks either as http:// or hiding them in a picture. Craigslist only allows simple text, 4 pictures using their photo uploader, requires a price and location. They do not allow any other type of ads unless the third party has writen permission from craigslist. At this point craigslist doesn't allow any third party postlets, links to photobucket, etc in free ads. Live links to websites are allowed only in the Services category.

I do agree the enhanced advertising looks good, but it is simply not allowed. I apologize if that is offensive.

My other point was to say that Realtors need to be honest in everything they do, especially advertising, it's their first point of contact with a potential customer. What I was trying to say is; if a Realtor breaks rules to enhance their position, where does it stop? Will a Realtor say "Yes, I broke the advertising rules of craigslist but I promise I'll be forthright from here on out." What is a Realtor saying to the public when they don't follow simple rules of craigslist? Craigslist is free and has rules that we all should follow. There are plenty of other places for creative advertising and most people know they can copy and paste a URL off an ad, so why cheat the system?

I would hope a Realtor would rather advertise without "doing what everyone else does" because I for one look for these types of things in every service person I deal with. Doing things right shows integrity and craigslist is a good way to sort the good Realtors from the rule breakers. No offense intended to anyone, just letting you know how a recent buyer found a truly upstanding Realtor.

 

Nov 06, 2010 03:44 PM
#11
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News
Funny how things have changed. CL has hundreds of agents posting graphic ads every day. I've never had a problem with vFlyer HTML to post directly to CL.
Nov 08, 2012 08:56 AM