The one thing I told Julie Ferenzi I wanted her to concentrate on this week is making connections with living, breathing human beings in Plainfield, Illinois. It's about YEO She's going to be venturing out of the house to make contact with local organizations to encourage them to use the Event Form on her Living In Plainfield blog, and she's going to be following up with some people she has already blogged about.
But I also want her to make an attempt to meet new people via the Internet as well and add quality content to her blog at the same time.
The thing is, Julie's blog is local, her goals are local, so I want her to try to connect with people who are local. One of the ideas I'm throwing out for everyone to consider is this: use flickr to find local photographers you can feature and write about. Do it once a week as a set feature of your blog. Over time, it could be something readers would look forward to, like Teresa Boardman's Friday Fun posts.
How would I do that?
Good question. The best way to get this idea across is to pretend, for a moment, that I'm a real estate agent in Santa Clarita, CA. I would be interested in meeting and featuring photographers who photograph Newhall, Saugus, Valencia, Santa Clarita and Castaic. So, The first thing I would do is search on one of those areas using a Santa Clarita California for this example. In this case there are 8 photos to choose from, but I could easily expand my search or choose a landmark, like Towsley Canyon or Six Flags Magic Mountain to get to a photo assortment.
Once I've found a photo I like, and there is one in these 8, I do a bit of research. Who is the photographer? Where was the photo taken? Can I find anything on the Internet about the location? Etc. Then I write my post.
Here's what my post might look like:
Photo Of The Week: Sable Ranch
This weeks featured photo blew me away and allowed me to see a part of Santa Clarita I've never seen before... Sable Ranch.
The Story Behind The photo
This high contrast black and white photo by mewtate makes me want to step back in time and experience what this ranch must have been like when it was originally built in 1920 by Frank Sentous. It's been the scene of numerous TV Shows and movies, including, "Ride 'Em Cowboy" (1940), "Bells of Coronado" (1950), "Diplomatic Immunity" (1991), "A Message from Holly" (1992), "Robin Hood Men in Tights" (1993), and "Deadwood" (1997).
I can almost see Roy Rogers and Dale Evans resting in the shade of the tree, taking a break from their lead rolls in "Bells of Coronado." This looks like a truly magical location. No wonder so many people are attracted to Santa Clarita real estate. Even today, the views of the canyons and mountains are captivating.
How To Find It
From Los Angeles, take the Golden State Freeway (5) north to the Antelope Valley Freeway (14) north. Exit at Sand Canyon and turn right. Go past Placerita Canyon Road. The ranch is on the right.
Santa Clarita (Canyon Country), where Los Angeles County meets the Angeles National Forest, California, USA 91351
When I finished the post, I'd go and comment on the photographer's flickr page and make sure to let them know that I had featured them on my blog. Don't be rude and put a direct link to your blog there. Just say "on my blog, TheSantaClaritaVoice." They'll be able to find it.
The end game is quality content that allows you to engage others in a real way. In this case, the prime target of your engagement is the photographer. You get to applaud the photographer and showcase their work. You get to connect with them and through their work, connect with others. They get their name out. And you get inspiration for posts and beautiful photos to dress up your blog.
I think it's a win for everyone.
Jeff Turner aka respres
Great idea Jeff.
I've been trying to use other local Flickr users' photos as long as I've been blogging and it has led to some great connections.
Kaye... yes! I'm surprised at every turn as well. And I agree that it's daunting sometimes to look at the vast amounts of "stuff' out there. I think you've got to just pick your spots and stick with them.
Andy... well I'm glad to know this is and idea that has some legs!
Hi, Jeff! You are GOOD! I haven't searched Fickr, but I'm betting they don't have a large library of photos for Hurricane, WV. In little towns like this we'll have to use your earlier advice to Julie to go out and meet people and take the pictures ourselves. (I like the excuse to take pictures anyway!)
Good Evening to you, Good Morning to me, and thanks for cheering me up the other day! :o)
There's not a lot of commercial use photos tagged with Hurricane, WV. But there are some. In your case, you'd need to expand to beyond hurricane to neighboring communities as well. I found this one. It was under the title of "changing you oil and saving christmas" at the same time. :)
And you're welcome!
Photo Uploaded on December 30, 2005
by Edu-Tourist
Fran... no, thank you.
Teresa... I would plead sleep deprivation, but it's actually just plain carelessness. I know better than that!
Nick... you have a list? :)
Jeff - love this idea, and will check out things in my area to see how I might take your idea and put it to work for me. Thanks for sharing!
Ann
Interesting thought...
I know a couple of photographers that are local and could definitely use the exposure...
and in return I get great content that attracts eyes to me!
Jeff
While this idea and sample post is excellent, your point of YEO is once again the front and centerpiece of this concept. Its about paying tribute to (in this case) the photographer and putting the spotlight on them and in time will create some reciprocity. Do this a few times and watch your personal network grow.
Love it. My only problem is TIME.... How do I (we) keep up with you? Please for your next post, I request something about a time machine or something like that -- I need the flux capacitor (back to the future). Knowing you, I'm sure you'll find it on the internet. Ha ha..
Nicely done
Martin
1.21 JIGAWATTS, Martin!! how are you gonna do that! i'll sell you the plans.
yes Jeff, I have a list, and i'm checking it twice and thrice!! :)
Martin... clearly you need to spend more time in the cul de sac playing with the kids... that always give me energy. :)
David... it's all about relationships as far as I'm concerned. Any idea that allows us to make others a star has the potential to be powerful.
Steve... I wish I could imagine it! :)
Nick... :)
Christina... thank you!
Teresa - you have my sympathy. Strange things happen to my name (it's the hyphen - it confuses people).
Mary, thank you. And thank you for keeping the "h" incident humming. :) And thanks for the quick Meebo chat on your site as well. I enjoyed that.
Jeff T. ... This is very cool. I am still learning all of this and wanting to go out and blog about the town that I live in. What I am struggling with is that I live in a town of 12,000 people. It's a great town though.... I have learned so much just because of the first two localism posts that I wrote. The first one, I thought was very good. I even learned a few things.
My question and or concern.... do I get very detailed? Pick out say... a few restaurants? All 10? Do I just do 1 each day? My 2nd post was on churches... there are like 11 in town, but I took pictures of like 4 or 5 of them and wrote little inserts. Just looking for advice. Julie is one lucky person....
What in the "H" are we talking about here?! (speaking of "h's").
What is flikr...i'll go look to see but I am completely missing something here.
Jeff, I believe you are an unfair advantage for Julie. Please tie one hand behind your back for the rest of the competition!
Another great post and additional IDEAS!!!!!
Jeff... I thnk I'm going to write a post as a response to your questions, if you don't mind. I'll email you when it's done. Good questions.
Mary... whether you're missing something is a matter of opinion, :) but here's one more link for you.
I post a daily (or almost daily) photo to my website as I am in a vacation area and a lot of our owners don't live here. I do it with Flickr and put my URL on the bottom of each photo as they do get spread around. They seem to be in the public domain and I have seen them used on other websites.
I like your idea of blogging about photos we see on Flickr too. I am also planning a series of blogs on local businesses. (Frisco Colorado is a small town.)
Jeff T.... I don't mind at all, that's why I asked you. Yes, please let me know when you post this. And you spell my name.... BOB... lol Okay, so I am tired.... thanks
Gary... very funny. :)
Tony... thank you and please call me when you're ready, I'll gladly walk you through, though you won't need it. :)
Irina... thank you.
Joanne... excellent move on your part! I love how you see them around the web. It must be very gratifying.
Great ideas on this post. It gave me another idea along similar lines that I am going to add to my blog.
PS your virtual tour software is really cool and easy to use. I did the free trial and registered today for a year. Thank you!!!
Missy... you're welcome!
Ines... often Paul is just twittering by himself, but I have, on occasion, twittered with him.
Jeff,
Great post. Almost as good as the one on the Kodak v705 that has created so much activity on AR. Your suggestion in favor of this camera has made it the "Jeff Turner Official AR Camera".
However this blog has got me thinking. There is a noted commercial photographer in Huntington Beach, CA. I need to look her up and see if we can do something to promote our area. Yours is a great suggestion, as always.
I am so glad I found your blog! I get so much valuable information every time I visit. I really enjoyed website grader. And I am going to try some of your other ideas also. You have a terrific headshot by the way. How did you find your photographer?
Mike... very funny. Please let us know of you do somethign with the noted photographer. I'd like to see it.
Ines... :)
John... stupid in a good way. I like that.
This sounds like a great way to use Flickr to benefit people all the way around and is typical of your YEO attitude.