Ad Manager

The Ad Manager, located under the button, is a tool to post, renew and upgrade listings. Your Ad Manager displays both pending and posted ads separately allowing you to easily view and edit each listing regardless whether it has been posted or not.

Action Icons

• Use the edit icon to make changes to your listing
• Use the copy icon to create identical listings
• Click on the information icon to view the posting information including the posting history
• Use the preview icon to see what your posting will look like to seekers
• Use the photo icon to upload or edit photos associated with the listing
• Use the shield or unshield icons to shield or unshield the listing (see more shielding information below). This action is available only for posted ads.
• Use the upgrade icon to add an enhancement to the listing. This action is available only for posted ads.

Sheilding

Advertisers have the ability to modify listings that post to ColumbusRealEstate.com automatically, such as from other websites, or from The Columbus Dispatch. These types of updates are referred to as feeds or wraps and are updated frequently (sometimes more than once a day). If you modify a listing that originated from a feed or a wrap, you may want to prevent those changes from being overwritten by the next update. In order to do this, you must shield the listing you have edited.

When the shield icon next to the ad in Ad Manager is yellow, the posting - or a portion of the posting - has been shielded. Ads with a gray icon have not been shielded.

Listing A Property

Getting Started: What do I need to place an ad?

Placing an online ad on ColumbusRealEstate.com is a quick and affordable way to advertise your property. Before you start posting an ad, get ready by having the necessary information on hand.

Gather your property information and documentation. You will need the property address, lot size, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms etc.

1. Decide on a price. You may indicate a listing price and the original listing price with your ad.
2. Take photos of your property. The best way to advertise your property is to include multiple photos with your listing. If you have a digital camera, take several photos of your property both inside and from the outside. Plan to include your best 6 photos with your ad. If you don't have a digital camera, you may be able to process your film in digital format. Once you have the photos in digital format, you can include them with your listing.
3. Have your credit card ready to pay for your listing.

Creating An Ad

There are five steps in the Ad posting process:

1. Select the Ad Package
   The first step in posting an ad is selecting your Ad Package. Select the posting package from the dropdown box.

   

   You have several options to choose from:
   • Standard: Regular ad including unlimited description, multiple photos, ad statistics & reporting.
   • Featured Ads: These are standard ads displayed on the home page and are marked with a star icon to better differentiate itself from other ads within the search results.
   • Spotlight: Spotlight ad is displayed above all other ads on the search results page, prompting buyers to click through to the Ad Details.
   • Open House Listing: Draw attention to your Open House and provide a date and a time along with other important details. Open house icons are displayed in search results.
   • Multiple Listings: Save money by purchasing a package of individual postings offered at a discounted price.
2. Enter Listing Details

   The Listing Details page is broken into several sections. All fields denoted by (*) are required.

   • Listing Details
     Enter the property information starting the property name. Click the Hide Address checkbox if you want to keep the exact address confidential. Enter the location and price and specify whether this is a property for sale or for rent.
     

     

   • Terms: For Sale vs. For Rental
     There are subtle differences between the Property Details for property For Sale and For Rent. For Sale Property Information includes: Auction Date, Open House Date, Listing Price and Original Listing Price.
   • Property Details
     Select the property type, enter the MLS #, Lot Size, Square Footage and number of beds and baths.
     

     

   • Property Description
     Draw more attention to your ad by providing a detailed property description. Use our text formatting tool or HTML code to enhance your property description. The first 180 characters of your description text will appear in the Search Results.
     

     

   • Multimedia
     If you have a video and/or audio tour for your property, enter the tour URL in the fields provided.
   • Contact Information
     You are required to include some contact information with each listing. The contact information you provide here will be displayed with your ad and you will receive buyer responses to your E-mail address.
     

     

3. Add Your Photos

   Once you have completed the property information form, click on the button and you will be directed to the Add Photos page. If you do not want to add photos at this time, click on the Continue button at the bottom of the page. You will be able to come back and add the photos to this ad when you are ready.

   You can add up to 6 photos to each ad. The photos will be added to your ad and buyers will be able to view them on the Ad Detail page. The main photo will appear with your ad in the Search Results. We recommend you use a photo of the full exterior of your property or other photo that presents your property well. For your other photos, try using a combination of exterior and interior photos that highlight your property's best features.

   • Photo type/format
     We recommend that you upload image files that are JPG, JPEG (most digital cameras use this format), or GIF. You can tell if your photo is this file type by checking that the filename ends in either '.gif' or '.jpg'.
   • Photo Size
     Most cameras have settings to control photo size. Select a size or quality setting that makes the image 320 x 240 for best results. Keep in mind, we resize and optimize all images for presentation and speed on our site.
   • Resolution
     The higher the resolution, the better image quality, but this also creates a larger image file. You may have trouble uploading large image files. If you have a slow Internet connection or a dial-up connection, we recommend you upload files of size 100Kb or less. You can reduce the quality setting on your camera to reduce the image file size. If you have a cable modem or DSL you can probably upload larger files without delay.
   • Uploading a photo help
     We recommend you include photos with each ad because including photos generate more responses than ads without photos. You can upload the photos directly from your computer.
     If you have your photos available, select the browse button and go to the directory which holds the picture(s) that you would like to use. Double click or highlight the name of the file and click the open button. After you have selected the photo, click the upload button and the picture will appear in the corresponding window on the right side of the screen.
     

     

     Select the browse button and go to the directory which holds the floor plan(s) you would like to use. Double click or highlight the name of the file and click the open button. After you have selected the floor plan, click the upload button and the floor plan will appear in the corresponding window on the right side of the screen.
     • Can I edit my images after I upload them?
       You will be able to add and remove photos from your ad at any time but you should edit your photos prior to uploading them to the ad. Try to upload photos of high quality and the correct aspect ratio. The best aspect ratio to use is 4:3 which is a typical aspect ratio for most digital cameras. You should not have to resize your photos if they were taken with a digital camera.
     • How long will it take for my images to appear on the site?
       All edits to your listings including uploading your images will be published at the next update.
4. Upgrades

   To draw more buyers to your ad, choose one of our upgrades. Simply select a check box next to the upgrade you would like to purchase. Click on the 'Continue' button when you are finished and your ad will be instantly added to your pending ads. To complete the posting process and make your ad live, you must mark the checkbox next to the ad in your pending Ads Manager and click on the Checkout button.

   

   Tip: Spotlight ads get 10 times as many clicks as standard ads and featured ads get 4 times as many clicks as standard ads. Learn more about Spotlight and Featured Ads.
   
   • Standard vs. Featured/Spotlight Ads
     Get ahead of your competition, maximize your visibility and draw more potential buyers to your ads by purchasing Featured or Spotlight Ads!

     

     • What are the Key Benefits?
       
       • High Visibility. Featured and Spotlight ads are highlighted on the Property Search Results and other content pages. This increases the chance of your ad getting noticed by active and passive buyers.
       • More Click Throughs. Your property will get more detailed views from buyers. Your ad's success can be gauged in your Response Report.
       • More Exposure. Bring more attention to your properties and your profile by buying one of our upgrades.
       • For more details check out our Features & Benefits Comparison Chart.
5. Checkout

   To finish your Ad posting, you have to complete the checkout transaction. At the top of the checkout page, you'll see a description of the product you are purchasing with the total amount due. You have the option to enter a promotion code if you have one. Please review all the details of your purchase and if correct, enter your payment and billing information.