Craig's Classroom - Blog Feed March 2023

By
Education & Training with Tech Training for You!

People will find our blog posts in various ways. One way is when we share it with them for example in a link on our email signatures. Another way, when we do SEO right, people will drop in "out of the sky" and land on the specific post. From there, we'd hope that they want to read more of your blog posts.

Today, if they jump to our blog feeds on ActiveRain, they will see a listing of text, a wall of words! While that is adequate, it is not ideal. That listing has not gotten the upgrade (yet) to the same visual format as the AR home page or the site's main blog feed. I will keep nudging the dev team that this update on our own blog pages would be VERY appreciated. Meanwhile, I thought a specific example of some of my own posts would illustrate this point. Perhaps, you've newly subscribed, or you've been a long time subscriber. Thank you! Here's a visual feed of some posts that you might want to go check out.

How To Create a Post For a Facebook Page

FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Adding posts to Facebook pages is made easier when using the Meta Business Suite tool. You can preview exactly how your post will look. It is also helpful to schedule the post for a future time that you specify.

 

Conversations--In Facebook Messenger

NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Conversations via back and forth emails can get cumbersome. Switching to chat makes for better conversations. Facebook messages is one chat platform. Many never realize that there is a much more useful "messenger view" (on desktop) that makes the conversation much more readable.

 

Smile - Your Hard Drive Just Crashed

NOVEMBER 14, 2022

When your hard drive one day fails to operate, will that be just a nuisance or will that day be a disaster! That depends on what you do NOW. This is not something you should procrastinate on. Your precious digital files are at risk!

 

Creating and Using Screenshots

FEBRUARY 11, 2022

Taking snapshots of what you see on your screen is just a simple shortcut key away. Let's look at how this is useful in all sorts of cases. Besides that, let's see how you can take a marker or highlighter pen to add annotations when you need to do that.

 

Tech Tip Thursday - Shortcut Keys

JUNE 18, 2020

If you invest just a tiny amount of time memorizing a few special key combinations, it can make frequently used tasks much faster! Shortcut keys are very useful for repetitive commands. Let's explore a few favorites that you can add to your repertoire if they aren't already there.

 

Pro Tips for YouTube Watching

APRIL 25, 2020

There are few people who use the internet who don't spend some time on YouTube. However, in this post, I reveal a few tips that many people don't realize what can be done. Let's dig a little deeper and reveal some very useful pointers.

 

Are You Using GOOGLE PHOTOS?

OCTOBER 2, 2016

I have thousands of them, so do you! Photos! Curating, Editing, Sharing are a triple set of tasks that allow you to better enjoy your library. Backing up your photos is also a critical component. Google Photos is hands down my favorite tool to do all of the above. Come take a closer look with me!

 

 

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I appreciate every new subscriber
to both my ActiveRain blog AND
my YouTube Channel!

Craig Daniels
This blog is all about technology and helping you to use it smarter! Your digital footprint is your chance to attract new clients. What kind of impression are you making via your website, blog, and social media? We’ll be talking about that! Are you as productive as you can be? What apps might help you out? Do you know how to use all the best tools inside the apps? I enjoy photography and videography, you can expect to see those topics also on this blog.
Are you ready to learn?
Welcome to Craig’s Classroom!

PS - get ready for some homework… :) 

Comments (18)

Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Craig... it would seem to me that this is one of the reasons many of us feel the the SEO value here in the Rain is not what it used to be. Or am I wrong?

Mar 04, 2023 02:43 PM
Craig Daniels

Nina Hollander, Broker - we all miss the old days SEO of the site. It's a huge formula to get back in the better graces of the algorithms. Quality content is always the most important thing. If people see the quality here, they link inbound, they spend time on site. Google rewards that. The devs will do what they can to shore up the foundation technically. What we put on the site is in the hands of the members though.

Mar 04, 2023 04:59 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Craig Daniels hi Craig... you make a good point. At the same time, I know over the past decade my posts have significantly improved in many ways and I have less traffic than when they were not very good.

Mar 05, 2023 05:57 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Got it Craig Daniels. Thanks for the explanation. 

Mar 05, 2023 09:09 AM
Craig Daniels

Nina Hollander, Broker - your content is undoubtably getting better and better. the problem with the site is that it is a community site and our reputation is not singular but the collective. There's plenty of lesser quality content being posted here. That's why continuing to invest in excellent quality on your own dedicated site is valuable. 

Mar 05, 2023 09:03 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

Is there any way to update old posts to the new format, or do they need to be reentered to be "pretty"?

Mar 04, 2023 04:19 PM
Craig Daniels

Mimi Foster - It's a good thing that for quite a while now we've had the ability to put "featured" images on all of our posts. This image is not just for being featured but showing as the thumbnail in the new visual blog feeds. Once the devs implement the new look on all the feeds (not just the home page and main feed), our own blogs will pop out in a way they haven't done so yet. Blogging members have done their part. Ball is in their court now!

Mar 04, 2023 05:02 PM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

I like that idea a lot. The streamlined look is very classy and nice.

Mar 04, 2023 06:34 PM
Craig Daniels

thanks Dr. Paula McDonald - I hope we see the update soon

Mar 05, 2023 09:04 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

It’s interesting to have a  classroom Siri for this blog. I’m surprised it didn’t happen already. Good luck!!!

Mar 04, 2023 08:49 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

It’s nice to see the classroom flourishing. Good luck with everything! Love and light and all the best!

Mar 05, 2023 02:11 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Craig Daniels sometimes it takes a little poking to bring attention to things.  This one is worth poking, so keep poking the bear.  👍👍👍

Mar 05, 2023 05:11 AM
Craig Daniels

thanks George Souto - let's see if poking the bear gets us anywhere 😬

Mar 05, 2023 09:09 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign


you’ve been featured in Bananatude!

Mar 05, 2023 05:15 AM
Brian England
Arizona Focus Realty - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I hope that the ActiveRain Dev can make that happen in the near future since that would certainly make us look a lot better in the eyes of prospective clients!

Mar 05, 2023 05:22 AM
Craig Daniels

They have done the similar update already on the other pages, so it would seem like they have a good starting point to carry over. Thanks Brian England 

Mar 05, 2023 09:10 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Property Manager

Hi Craig,
My biggest pet peeve is all the canned content being posted. That can't be good for the site.

Mar 05, 2023 06:46 AM
Craig Daniels

I agree completely Carol Williams 

Mar 05, 2023 09:11 AM
Antonio McGriff
Boomtown Media, LLC - Orlando, FL
Helping Agents Talk Their Way To The Top!

Great info as usual. Thanks to you, I was able to create a decent signature for my blog. Always looking forward to your posts!

Mar 05, 2023 09:53 AM
Craig Daniels

Antonio McGriff - nice job on the blog signature. I'm glad to see my post and video helped!

Mar 06, 2023 09:44 AM
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Craig Daniels  Thank you foR poking the DEV - wish you would do another Zoom meeting -  Your input is so valuable - You will be seeing more of me in the future - I have also bookmarked this post 

Mar 05, 2023 01:18 PM
Craig Daniels

I realize there is limited dev resources Hannah Williams, but as long as I continue as an ambassador on this site I am going to continue to highlight the deficiencies that I think need attention. (I have a list if anyone is listening at HQ)

Mar 06, 2023 10:56 AM
Hannah Williams

Craig Daniels sounds good to me 

Mar 08, 2023 12:53 PM
Aura Alex
Seattle, WA
Retired Real Estate Pro

Hi, Craig.

With so much knowledge to be had, I've found a particular spot in my memory for that valuable data - bookmarking it forever!

As always, thank you for your teaching.

Mar 05, 2023 02:13 PM
Craig Daniels

Appreciation is the reason I'm still on this site Aura Alex - thanks for saying so!

Mar 06, 2023 10:56 AM
Ray Henson
eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277) - Elk Grove, CA
Realtor

Thank you for continually working and nudging those at ActiveRain to do more updates and make ActivRain even better.

Mar 06, 2023 07:19 AM
Craig Daniels

I only hope I can make a difference Ray Henson - when you shout long enough in the wind, at some point, you realize nothing comes out of it. But I'll keep trying for now.

Mar 06, 2023 10:58 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Craig:

I like the look, and of course your content is top-notch and so helpful. I suspect there is a lot for the dev team to do but hopefully this change will be forthcoming soon!

Jeff

Mar 06, 2023 03:50 PM
Craig Daniels

My list of things is getting shorter, but this definitely makes the short list of the few things I'd like most. Thanks Jeff Dowler, CRS 

Mar 08, 2023 10:57 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Craig,

As always we appreciate your updates, instruction and tutorials and nudging to the development team! I'll look forward to see the change soon.

Mar 07, 2023 05:59 AM
Craig Daniels

The dev team does listen, I'm just emphasizing the squeak in the wheel. Thanks Dorie Dillard Austin TX 

Mar 08, 2023 10:58 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi @Craig Daniels. I always learn a lot whenever I read your posts. I am bookmarking, so I can come back to read on those that you have listed here. 

Mar 11, 2023 12:13 PM
Craig Daniels

very glad to hear of the benefits of my posts, thank you Jerry Newman 

Mar 12, 2023 10:32 AM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Thanks for everything you do to make this a better platform for us.  We look forward to the new and improved site.

Mar 16, 2023 09:39 PM