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Even an Old Dog Can Learn New Tricks- AR BootCamp!

By
Home Stager

Even an Old Dog Can Learn New Tricks- AR BootCamp!

Many of you know that I love to learn something new every day, and that's always true here at ActiveRain.An Old Dog in a Boat  So I decided to take the ActiveRain BootCamp Webinars to see if I can't learn something new or even discover if I've been doing something wrong.

Well, and I'm sure you know where this is going.... I learned many new things today.  The ActiveRain BootCamp today was on How to Write a Blog.  Today's webinar covered the mechanics of writing one.  I wish I'd had this when I started because my experience was mostly trial and error (probably mostly error).

I've been posting here in earnest since 2009, even though I joined AR in 2008.  You'd think I'd know how to write a post by now.  Some of you may think I still need to go back for more classes, but tough, write your own post about that!

Here's what I learned that I did not know.... had a hazy idea or... or just plain guessed at:

When you embed a picture into your post, a little box comes up and you need to enter an Image Description and Title.  Well, I never really knew exactly what they were for and just entered pretty much the same thing.  I knew I could ask someone but never did.
Image Description- this is what the Search Engines will look at as what the picture is representing.  Very important if you want those scrolling army of SEO ants discovering your "Living Room-Before" picture.
Title- These are part of your keywords for the page.   

activerain insert image

Tags- that space just beneath your post- This allows people to find similar posts on your blog.  You can find on your blog page to the right>>>>> over there "List My Tags".  You'll want to keep your tags the same... for example if you use "Boca Raton Home Staging" don't write in "boca raton home staging".  
         And, you never want more than 3-5 tags.

HyperLocal Pages-oops on my part.  This is where you place your posts IF they're about that local area!  

Categories- honestly, I always kind of skipped this because by the time I got down to this area I was so tired I just wanted to hurry up and finish.  But just take a minute to place your post in one of the categories, which will help viewers find your post if they're looking in that category.

activerain hyper-local-channels-categories

 

Think you're too busy or too seasoned to learn something from BootCamp?

Think again!

(and this is for Bob Stewart... I wrote this all using the AR Editor) 

The next BootCamp is next Thursday and will be about SEO!!!!

 

Posted by

Kathy Streib
Retired Home Stager
and Interior Redesign

In Person Consultations in Texas
for Houston & Harris Counties
and
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for all states


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Comments (65)

Teri Clardy
Colorado Premier Staging, LLC - Littleton, CO
APSD Certified Home Stager Pro

It was great, I learned new things in the session too.  I'm so glad I attended.  I went right out after it was over and signed up for the one next week!

May 11, 2012 01:02 AM
Kim Carlson 480-993-9384
www.NowSellingAZHomes.com - Mesa, AZ
Valley of the Sun Realtor, Seller Specialist

Good Morning Kathy, I love to read your blogs, I have a lot to learn and everytime I think I,ve kinda got it I learn something new!

May 11, 2012 01:07 AM
John DL Arendsen
CREST "BACKYARD' HOMES, ON THE LEVEL General & Manufactured Home Contractor, TAG Real Estate Sales & Investments - Leucadia, CA
Crest Backyard Homes "ADU" dealer & RE Developer

Kathy, I too am thaking AR Bootcamp. I've been a member for a few years and probably don't post as often as I should. I mostly like to read and comment. I feel I learn more by reading and listening than I do writing. But I realized yesterday how little I really knew about writing a good post. This is good stuff. Anyone who's serious about writing a good post should most definitely take Bootcamp.

May 11, 2012 01:24 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Yvonne-you’d think I would have learned all of this by now!!!

Irene- I’m glad you were able to “attend” the webinar.  Don’t forget next week’s webinar on SEO!

Barbara- so did I , and I’m sure I’m not doing it as I should.

Sharon- I agree.  I really do get a thrill when I’m able to learn something new, whether here at ActiveRain or just in everyday life.

Gene- I’ll use color with my fonts but not too much of it(well at least not too much for me).  I get bored with just black ink.  But by the same token just as in Staging... too much can be distracting.

Al & Peggy- see you two as well!  I can’t wait since it’s on SEO.

Debbie- I wasn’t sure what was going to be covered, but I’m so glad I listened in.

Leah- it is isn’t it.  Don’t forget you can go back to listen to previous webinars!

Pat-you’re not kidding.  I guess it keeps us on our toes.  

Mike- I know I’m going to have to miss one in a few weeks but I’m glad we can go back to the AR library.

Lou-just going to your motivational posts every day you can learn something.

Joan- really... I had no clue what that “alignment” thing was for but it sure makes a difference.

Patricia-woof!  As one dog to another, I’m happy to share it with you!

Mike- you flatterer!!!  I make my share of mistakes and I really should go back to my earlier posts and redo them.

Tammie-I clicked on the link to the right of my post.. the one that shows you all of your tags, and I really need to redo them.  I have too many.

Margaret- coming from you... you just made my day!

Praful- I didn’t know about re-sizing your pics after you’ve place them either!  

Christine-me too.  I can’t believe some of the stuff that I’ve been doing wrong.


May 11, 2012 02:22 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

James-sadly, I’m one of the ones who jumps right in and then after some time, I’ll read the instructions!  I do it a lot when I cook!!!

Joe-my pleasure.  Hope you found some hints to help you.

BarbaraT- sometimes we get so used to doing something one way we don’t realize that there may be a better way to do it.  I would have saved myself a lot of time if I’d spent more time at the webinars!

Gary- same here.  Heck, I was here for months before I realized that you got points for things!

Joni-this one is very detailed, as much as they can in 1 hour, which is good.

The Christiansen Team-I try to but work can get in the way.  I’m glad you can go back to the AR University.

BARFF-don’t change a thing!   You do a lot of learning on your own!  How was Mickey’s dinner?

Bill-they can really make a difference in the appearance of your post, which can help you get readers.

Peg & Wayne- I learned a lot from Brad’s posts too.  I bookmarked most of them.

Michael-I truly didn’t have a clue.  And, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve deleted a photo that was the wrong size and then have to re-embed it.  Didn’t know you could resize it within the post.

Cyndi-didn’t you love it.  I can’t wait til next week.

Travis- what’s important is that the Image description is what you’re telling Google the picture is.

Teri- good for you!  I’m ready for it!

Kim- thank you and I’m glad I can show you something new!

John-I’m glad you’re here and maybe you’ll start writing more!!

May 11, 2012 02:40 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I'm not sure why you wouldn't have been using your state & area for staging? Obviously it's a benefit for you with Google juice.

In the AR Channel you should start a Staging section if there isn't already one for it for consumers or even us!

May 11, 2012 02:49 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

I'm going to examine the AR webinar this weekend and learn more about what I don't know and thanks for the lessons.

May 11, 2012 05:08 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

I've been very bad about putting in the description for all my pictures.  One project my assistant is going to do is go back to all my blogs and put in keywords.

May 11, 2012 05:28 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

My wife is attending.  I have not had a chance to review with her yet.

May 11, 2012 11:07 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Lyn- good idea!  I'll have to email Kerrie and Bob!

Kimo- take a look at AR University.  You just never know what you'll find.

Bryan- that's a great idea.  I'm still trying to figure out the best key words.

Gene- watch out.. she may give you a test!!!

May 11, 2012 11:53 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Kathy,  Thanks for all the great tips, your notes and graphics are very informative.

May 11, 2012 12:29 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Kathy, Great explanation of using the title and description. You can never learn enough, but it may have to crowd something else out, I have only so many synapses to play with ; )

May 11, 2012 01:13 PM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Kathy, great post. I to was using description and title interchangeably.  Now I know different!  Thanks!

May 11, 2012 09:29 PM
Derk Simonson
ReMax Coastal Properties La Jolla and Pacific Beach, San Diego - La Jolla, CA
Ex-builder, long time Realtor

Hi Kathy, I couldn't resist sending this Old Dog learning new tricks video 

May 12, 2012 01:36 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Kathy, Linked to this post this morning for our morning post.  Thanks for the inspiration :)

May 12, 2012 01:39 AM
Jairo Arreola #SOLDBYVETERAN
PRG Real Estate - San Jose, CA
VA Home Loan Specialist - SF Bay Area

Thanks for the info!  I also just put the same words in the image description and title. Now I know what to do =)

May 12, 2012 03:49 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Bob- hope these were of some help!

Donald- same here... the old dendrites need to be jump-started every now and again. 

Bob- If I hadn't been so lazy I would have emailed or called Bob or Kerrie long ago to learn how to do it correctly.

Derk- OMG... I loved it.  What a great video!  Tell me... how long did you teach him to play the piano!  I haven't seen your blog (but I will now) but if you haven't posted that video, I hope you will. 

BLiz- thank you for the link and thank you for reminding us about linking our photos. 

Jairo- I was too!!!  I knew one of them had to do with SEO and stuff but wasn't sure which one. 

 

May 12, 2012 09:12 AM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Thanks, Cathy.

I feel like I attended Boot Camp even though I did not. I am filing your blog under my favorites to come back to when I am scratching my head about what all that stuff below the area in which I write is about.

May 12, 2012 10:57 AM
Wayne Jackson
Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake

Thanks Kathy, I too watched the class and promptly forgot much of it. I have bookmarked this to refer to when doing my next blog.

May 12, 2012 02:55 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Kathy, I signed up as well for this course, as I knew I would learn something...and like you I have.  It is a course that all Rainers should be taking ... if nothing else just for a review.

May 13, 2012 02:17 AM