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A Second Chance to Have Your Blog Featured

Reblogger
Services for Real Estate Pros with RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired 104763

I actually saw this post on a reblog by Joyce Marsh, Luxury Market Specialist and I thought I'd help spread the information, too.... there have been several who asked about features in the Q & A section.... here's your answer....

and there's Carol Williams second chance Saturday.... if AR missed the first time, maybe that will wake them up when seen on a Saturday post by Carol.... 

 

Original content by Bob Stewart

Depending on the day, ActiveRain will see as few as 500 blog posts written and as many as 2000+. On any given day, we will feature between 8 and 16 blog posts.

This means we most likely miss many great posts that should have, could have been featured.

Now is you chance to give that one post, (the one where as you wrote it, you just knew your name was going to be in lights!) a chance to be featured. You saw gold stars raining down from the heavens as you pondered that perfect title and fiddled until you nailed that exact closing sentence, and yet the email never showed up alerting you that your post had been featured on the home page of ActiveRain.

If we missed your masterpiece the first time around, I invite you to share a link to that post in the comment section here. Over the next few weeks, we will try to feature at least one "got missed the first time around" post each day. 

A few thoughts on what I look for when selecting featured posts:

1.    Does your title pull me in? There are 16 posts on the home page at any given time. Does our title make me want to click? Will it make others want to click? In fact, there are a thousand articles at any given time I could be reading.....suck me in to your article. Check out Headline Hacks for some of the best headline writing advice I've come across. 

2.    Is the formatting solid? Are you a master of the wall of words? Learn how to use the return key (or even shift return for a smaller line break). Consider using a slightly larger font and holding sub headers within your post, so it can be easily scanned by someone to determine if they want to read the whole thing (attention spans are short, realize this, learn to take advantage of it)

3.    Do you satisfy the other half of my brain with an image? What do they say? A picture says a thousand words. Seems like it would make sense to add one. Not only do they add to the story, they draw your readers eyes into the article. Make sure your spacing is good, with plenty of white space. This video will show you how to insert an image and wrap the text around your image while adding great white space. You'll have that professional look in no time. (Is it ironic I didn't use one here? Or is that something other than irony?)

4.    Easy on the colors! I have yet to come across a news website (of any repute) that uses anything but black (or very dark gray) fonts. I believe readers on the Internet are programmed to discount content that has text of any other color. I'm sure the purple font seemed like a good idea.....but why aren't the professional content creators using a rainbow of colors?

5.    Share a little of yourself. I'm a sucker for learning something about the author when I read a blog post. Of course, I hope to be educated. But just as important is creating a connection with your audience. Add a personal anecdote or story. It will bring your post to life. 

6.    Write interesting stuff. I know, easier said than done. But I can't tell you how many times I've been left thinking "geez, this is a great topic, I wish they would have gone more in depth". It's almost every day. After you write the first draft of your article, read it again and think to yourself "where could I expand a little bit?" Often, the answer can be found in #5. Or better yet, have someone else read it and ask them where you could have gone deeper, or what they were hoping to see but didn't.

So here's your chance to see your smiling mug on the home page. Really looking forward to seeing some of your awesome content that we missed the first time around!

Bob Stewart
ActiveRain
408-638-1834

 

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Barbara Todaro, Great Grandmother to Caleb, Santino, Aiden and Gianni       

Todaro Team - Retired

508-918-9148

               

             Copyright © 2009 - 2021 Barbara Todaro

                               All Rights Reserved



 

Comments (21)

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Sheri Sperry - MCNE® I'm sure those who make selections are reading the comments on this post and Joyce's.... 

Feb 17, 2019 06:35 AM
Ricardo Mello
Manhattan Miami Real Estate - Manhattan, NY
Manhattan & Miami Real Estate Agent

Thanks for reposting Barbara!

Feb 17, 2019 06:43 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Barbara, Thanks for this reblog, I never knew how this features were pick.  Make it a great day!

 

Feb 17, 2019 06:58 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

One can just not always tell when the "Fairy Blogmother" will strike with her magic wand and make that post you have labored lovingly over...A Starring feature.

Feb 17, 2019 07:07 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

I don't get many features since I typically just do boring market reports LOL but great info none the less!

Feb 17, 2019 07:57 AM
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Barbara,

Thank you forwarding this post to all of us.  Wishing you a wonderful rest of the day and a great week ahead.  A

Feb 17, 2019 10:38 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

thanks, everyone, for your nice comments..... and now we all know what's looked for when searching for a feature.... 

Feb 17, 2019 10:51 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thank you very much, Barbara, for sharing this excellent reblog selection.

Feb 17, 2019 01:46 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Barbara I often see comments stating a blog should be featured.  Well Carol is giving them a chance to suggest those blogs, so no reason to complain.  Carol is doing a great job with this.

Feb 17, 2019 04:59 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

you're welcome, Roy Kelley 

George Souto yes, Carol Williams  does a fine job with her Second Chance Saturday....

Feb 17, 2019 05:05 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thank you for reblogging the post. I missed reading the original one 

Feb 18, 2019 03:16 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

It seems like I read Bob's post on this subject a long time ago. Wonder if the system has changed much? (Actually, it was 2 1/2 years ago, or August 2016). I've been fortunate to have several featured posts. It is a compliment to be recognized for your work.

Feb 18, 2019 01:33 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Gita Bantwal it's a good post for all to read...

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty I'm sure the points that describe a featured post are the same.... I think the number of posts must have declined....

Feb 18, 2019 02:22 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the mention Barbara. I have noticed several Features have shown up AFTER my Second Chance Saturday. 

 

 

Feb 19, 2019 03:48 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

that means there some third chances out there!!!  and people complain about not being featured....all types of chances available... Carol Williams thanks for all you do.... you're Second Chance is very important to many...and I think it helps give them the boost to keep going.... good stuff.

Feb 19, 2019 04:01 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Third Chances... even better!

 

Feb 19, 2019 04:17 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks, Barbara. There are some good tips for us all here about features. Carol's posts on Saturdays are a great way to get featured!

Jeff

Feb 23, 2019 09:47 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Good tips in here! Excellent choice for a reblog in light of the questions that continue to come up.

Feb 23, 2019 10:49 AM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Glad to find this via Carol Williams' Second Chance Saturday. This post is the 1st time I've read Bob's explanation about features. My methods have been altered now Barbara, not with how I write but how I will read.

Feb 23, 2019 12:41 PM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Perfect reblog.  We all need to follow these suggestions!!!  Thanks Barbara.

Feb 24, 2019 01:26 PM