Quick Tip: Photo Grid

Quick Tip!

Photo Grid - Collage Maker & FX Editor

(Image via http://bit.ly/1zVg2eK)

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Photo Grid is an application that allows you to combine several different photos into one shareable collage. But it doesn't stop there! Photo Grid also allows you to edit the individual photos via different filters and styles. You can even resize photos, add stickers/captions, and choose from a plethora of different grid backgrounds,

First choose which photos from your mobile device's gallery that you would like to add into the collage. The minimum is 2 photos and the max is 15 photos.

Then pick the layout for how you want the photos to be displayed. You can choose from a simple equal grid.

Or a layout that highlights a specific photo over the others.

Or even an abstract layout. The possibilities are endless!

Once you have designed the collage you love, you can easily share it out to your social sphere using any sharing method that you would like!

Pro Tip 1:
Use Photo Grid to showcase an entire listing all in one photo!

Pro Tip 2:
Photo Grid collages are automatically formatted to fit Facebook and Instagram's photo sizes so that you no longer have to worry about resizing or cropping your image before sharing it!

Learn More: http://www.cmcm.com/en-us/photo-grid/

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Quick Tip: Instagram

Quick Tip!

Instagram: THE photography app for social media!

(Image via http://bit.ly/1otvptJ)

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Instagram is a social media application that allows you to take a photo from your mobile device, edit that photo through many different filters and designs, and then share that photo with your sphere. How it differs from other forms of social media is instead of writing a status update describing what you are doing, you are letting a photo tell your story.

(Image via http://bit.ly/19RrqR7)

(Image via http://bit.ly/19RrqR7)

       

With Instagram you can take a live or downloaded photo from a smart phone or tablet and then process it through multiple filters that will change the image's look and feel.

(Image via http://bit.ly/19RrqR7)

You can even do additional technical tweaks to the photo like changing the brightness, shadows, contrast, and more to really make the photo shine!

(Image via http://bit.ly/19RrqR7)       

Once you have finished editing your photo simply add a caption to it (optional) and then post it onto your Instagram profile. You can even choose to share that photo to your other social media profiles like Facebook or Twitter, thus eliminating the process of having to upload a photo onto each individual profile.

Pro Tip:  #Hashtags

A # (A.K.A. the pound sign) is a way to make a word or string of words into a searchable category on social media. The purpose it serves is to expand the reach of your post to anyone outside of your connections that is interested in the # topic.

For Example: #CENTURY21Award

Learn More: https://instagram.com/

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Quick Tip: Aviary

Quick Tip!

Aviary: Photo Editor App

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Photo Editor by Aviary is a quick and easy-to-use photo editing app. With it, you can mix and match different filters, frames, overlays, stickers, and effects to give a photo the exact edit that you want, all from the touch of your phone or tablet!

(Image via cdn1.tnwcdn.com)

As a REALTOR®, Aviary is an amazing tool that you can use to give your listing images a huge visual boost on the web.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

With Aviary, you can use a combination of different tweaks and enhancements to really add a visual pop!

WAY AFTER:

You can even add frames, overlays, and stickers to truly customize your images.


PRO TIP: Aviary has a special deal where you can download all of their photo editing supplies for FREE! This deal is only lasting for a limited time, so download the features right away!

Learn More: https://www.aviary.com/

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Quick Tip: Open Home Pro

Quick Tip!

Open Home Pro: Your New Open House Tool

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Open Home Pro is a tablet app that updates your open house experience. The app is a digital version of a sign-in sheet. When someone visits your open house, you can ask them to sign-in via the app on your tablet. The app will then ask a series of brief questions including What is your name? What is your contact information? Do you have an agent? Once filled out, the app will then send that person(s) an email, with your full contact information, thanking them for coming to your open house.  With Open Home Pro you replace the use of a hand written sign-in sheet and now have an easier time following up with leads.

PERKS:

• Showcase the latest technology for hosting your open house.
• No more trying to decipher illegible hand writing on sign-in sheets.
• Automatically follows up with leads.
• Instantly inform leads of open house price reductions.

Open House Pro Tip:

Play the CENTURY 21 Pandora station to set a lively and inviting mood at your open house.

Learn More: http://www.openhomepro.com/

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Quick Tip: CENTURY 21's Pandora Station

Quick Tip!

CENTURY 21 Pandora Radio: Great Music You Can Use as an Agent

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Pandora is a free streaming music service that can be used on your computer, tablet or mobile device. Simply choose an artist, song or genre, and Pandora will create a custom radio station of similar songs.

The branded CENTURY 21 Pandora station plays a customized selection of contemporary songs and includes C21 advertisements. The custom skin displays the C21 brand, including the Smarter. Bolder. Faster. campaign.

USE IT DURING:

• An open house
• In the office
• At an affiliate luncheon

GET THE STATION:
On your computer, log into your Pandora account (create an account if you've never used Pandora.
Search for the CENTURY 21 Station or click here.
Play! The station will now also be available on your mobile devices.

PRO TIP:
You must add the CENTURY 21 station to your Pandora account on your computer first - it is not searchable on the mobile or tablet app.

Learn More: Pandora.com

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Quick Tip: Buffer App

Quick Tip!

Buffer: Scheduling Your Social Media Content

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Buffer is an application that allows you to connect with several different social media sites and then schedule out content to your profiles on those sites. As of right now you can connect Facebook,Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+ to Buffer. It's a great application to use to have content consistently posting out to your sphere.

How to Schedule with Buffer:

1. Set your weekly schedule for when you want your content to post.
2. Find an article you want to share and highlight the url of the webpage.
3. Paste the url of the article into Buffer where it says "What do you want to share?" A preview of how the article will be viewed on your social media sites will then appear. From there you can add your own status to go with the link.
4. Select which social media profile you would like the post to go to. You can choose to have it go to all of them at once or certain individual sites.
5. And finally select "Add to Queue". You even have more scheduling options such as having the post go to the top of the queue, sharing it immediately, or even giving it a unique schedule date that is different from your weekly posts.

PRO TIP:
Which ever day your work week usually starts on, take out some time in the morning and schedule the rest of your week out. That way you won't have to scramble to find an article to post later on in the week.

PRO TIP 2:
Install the Buffer extension for Chrome. After you install the extension, simply click on the Buffer logo on the side of your browser's address bar to schedule your post instantly. Save time and the hassle of copy/paste. You can download the Chrome extension HERE.

Learn More: Bufferapp.com

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Weekly Tech Tip: Learn Helpful Features

Chances are, the computer or device you are using has a series of helpful features that you aren't aware of. Commit to picking up a new trick once a week and you'll be more efficient in no time!

WINDOWS 7: Snap

Capitalize on your screen size by using the Snap feature, which automatically fits a window to half of your screen. This is especially useful when comparing documents, moving files, or working in multiple windows.

TO DO: Drag the title bar of a window to the left or right side of the screen until an outline of the expanded window appears, then release the mouse. Repeat on the opposite side of the screen with another window to arrange them side by side.

TIP: Dragging a window to the top of the screen will maximize it. To Snap a window using your keyboard, hit the Windows logo key and the left or right arrow.

iOS/Windows: Cycle Through Open Applications

Both Windows and iOS will let you quickly cycle through your open applications and windows.

TO DO: Hit the ALT+TAB keys (Windows) or CMD+TAB keys (iOS) to bring up the Cycle Window (Windows version pictured above). Keep hitting these keys or hold them and use the arrow keys to view your open windows, and release to bring your selected window to the forefront.



iPhone/iPad/Android: Drag/Drop to Create Folders

You can group apps on your iDevice or Android to declutter and streamline your experience.

TO DO: Press and hold an app until it is selected. On iDevices, the icons will start to wiggle and on Android it will "lift". Drag the app icon on top of another app icon and release. On iDevices, you will need to hit the home key one final time so save your changes. You can also rename these folders.




Get more tips here:
Apple (iOS/iPhone/iPad): http://osxdaily.com/
Windows: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/setup/windowstricks.aspx
Android: http://www.droid-life.com/category/tips/

Weekly Tech Tip: Lookout Mobile Security

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Lookout is a mobile security app for your cell phone. It is a must have for any smartphone user as it provides security, backup, and location services. It is a FREE app that includes a Premium upgrade with more features that costs $3/month. It is available for both iPhone and Android devices.

There are 5 categories in Lookout: Security, Backup, Missing Device, which are free, and Safe Browsing and Privacy Advisor which come with the premium upgrade.

For Security, Lookout scans your device to provide advanced protection from threats. It scans every app in your device and updates its information on the latest digital threats.

Backup offers all your contacts in your phone to be saved to the cloud in case anything happens to your phone. Your photos and call history can also be saved to the cloud if you purchase the premium app.

Missing Device is perhaps the most advanced part of the app with several different features that help you find your lost phone. First is Scream that helps find your device by emitting a loud siren alarm and causes your screen to flash red and blue for 60 seconds. Second, there is Locate which speaks for itself. From Lookout.com you can locate your phone on a map using it’s GPS. When your phone is running low on battery, Signal Flare will automatically save your device’s location before it runs out of juice. Lock Cam is a feature that will take a picture of anyone who incorrectly enters your PIN, password, or pattern 3 times. Lookout will then email you the picture and your phone’s location.

With Premium you can also get Lock which keeps your personal info safe by locking your device remotely and allows you to create a lost message that will assist anyone who finds your phone in getting it back to you. And finally there is Wipe which will clear all texts, photos, contacts, logins, other data from your phone if it is feared to be truly lost.

Safe Browsing, which one of two categories available only for premium, scans all links you visit in real time to protect your device from phishing and other malicious sites and software.

The final category and other premium offer is Privacy Advisor, which scans all apps and gives you privacy alerts for anything that could make your private information at risk.

Learn More: https://www.lookout.com/

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