Admin

Just Picture Getting A Featured Post

By
Services for Real Estate Pros

You might think think it's a mystery.

How does one get a Featured Post?

How do you get that post you've worked so hard on in the bright lights of ActiveRain's Home Page?

Well there's one gatekeeping step that has been requested by ownership.

INCLUDE A FEATURED IMAGE WITH YOUR POST.

Adding a Featured Image is easy enough.  Next time you're creating a new blog post, just look right below the Title block and you'll find Featured Image and right below that CHOOSE FILE.  

Upload an image. 

It can be a photo you took.  One of the free to use photos from Pixabay.com.  Or perhaps an AI generated image from a site like Night Cafe.

Bottom line, add some eye candy.  It helps your post stand out on the blog roll.  If your title doesn't catch someone's attention, perhaps your Featured Image will!

Other tips for getting Featured?

Write a post of general interest to the community.  (Sorry, but with very rare exceptions, market reports, open houses and new listings aren't going to fit the bill).

Stories from the real estate trenches.

Sharing tips others can use to build their business.

We like to celebrate milestones and big achievements related to ActiveRain.

Meet-ups with other Rainers?  Love them!

Put the spotlight on other Rainers as Kathy Streib and Carol Williams do ever week.

Participating in the monthly challenges can up your chances of having the Feature Fairy wave the wand in your general direction.

Be aware of how you present the post itself.  Too small a font, absence of white space, and mispuled werds don't help your case.

And sometimes it's just a bit luck.  There's only so much Feature Fairy dust to go around, and some days they're more present than others.

Good luck!
ARMS

Comments(17)

Show All Comments Sort:
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening ActiveRain Member Support,

A good list of things to do to help advance the possibility of your post being featured and especially include the Featured Image! It helps to explain the process of selection..Thank you! 

Apr 14, 2025 07:33 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

All great pointers! Ben wants ONLY featured posts with graphics so, the feature fairies have a tough job sometimes. They read a great post but, can't feature it because there is no featured graphic. 

The thing that many writers don't realize is that the featured graphics are SO much easier to upload then the ones we include on the posts themselves! Just a couple of clicks and it's DONE - sized and everything!

Thanks for the reminder!

Apr 14, 2025 08:00 PM
Kathy Streib

I agree Debe Maxwell, CRS uploading a graphic or photo for the Feature Post is quicker and easier than uploading one into your post!!!

Apr 15, 2025 06:39 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello ARMS - valuable information.   For members who may have forgotten this key part of presentation for posts and for those who joined without ever knowing.  

Apr 15, 2025 04:33 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Oh, those mispuled werds! Yes, check spelling and white space and add a featured photo. As Debe Maxwell, CRS also added, putting a featured photo in is very simple, just select it and all the sizing and everything else is taken care of. Piece 'o cake!

Apr 15, 2025 05:38 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

The feature fairies have never looked lovingly upon my posts, haha.  I have even used the required featured photo for a very long time.  I am fine with not being accepted by the powers that be in the Rain, though.  Even those who spotlight other posts weekly in the Rain, I have not found favor with, haha.  I get a chuckle from the requirement of no mispuled werds because one specific Rainer comes to mind, haha.

Apr 15, 2025 05:57 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

Agreed with others the featured photo draws the eye and consequently the interest. The copy is why the reader stays on the blog posting.

Apr 15, 2025 06:57 AM
Dr. Paula McDonald
Beam & Branch Realty - Granbury, TX
Granbury, TX 936-203-0279

Thank you all for doing the behind-the-scenes work to keep our site active and interesting.

Apr 15, 2025 10:37 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Good guidance for those seeking a featured post.

Apr 15, 2025 12:21 PM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.WarrenCountyOhioRealEstate.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Personally I've got a good sized stack of pix I've taken myself, go to Pixabay when I need to, and I've dabbled in some of the AI image generators.  There are times I should probably add more eye candy in the main post.

Apr 15, 2025 04:41 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Thank you ActiveRain Member Support it's good to remind members, especially those new to the platform about the Feature Photo. I agree with Debe Maxwell, CRS that uploading one is easier than when you upload it to your post. 

Apr 15, 2025 06:42 PM
Debra Leisek
Bay Realty,Inc Homer Alaska - Homer, AK

You have made it quite easy to upload a feature photo. Nice reminder to folks that write really good posts but don't have a feature photo!

Apr 16, 2025 01:25 AM
Ginger Harper
Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage~ Ginger Harper Real Estate Team - Southport, NC
Your Southport~Oak Island Agent~Brunswick County!

Pictures help to make a featured post.  We look at the photo and they draw us in

Apr 17, 2025 07:51 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Good pointers, and if I may add.  Cut & pasting someone elses blog, or blogs created by Real Estate companies for their agents aren't going to get featured.

Apr 17, 2025 09:33 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
Retired Broker/Owner - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Great reminders ARMS!  Feature photos are so easy to upload now than previously!  Not sure we could even do it way back when?  Thanks for getting the word out again!!

Apr 18, 2025 12:33 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Adding a feature photo that makes sense given the content of the post is easy. Good reminder of how important this is for getting a feature.

Jeff

Apr 18, 2025 07:40 PM
Peter Mohylsky,
Property Management International-Destin - Inlet Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098

thanks for sharing this info.  It is on my dream sheet but so far no luck even when I try extra hard.  thanks for the tips

Apr 19, 2025 01:02 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Getting featured is a good way to gain additional exposure and the extra hits used to help SEO

 

my first thought when I read the title were the exchanges when someone would get featured and others felt they were snubbed 

No one currently in ARMS can even imagine what that would have been like

 

Apr 20, 2025 02:02 PM