We know this because you made AgentPress not only a top seller among real estate themes, but among all themes available to WordPress users.

Brian Gardner, Founder of StudioPress and creator of AgentPress says, “It’s been a top seller in the StudioPress gallery for the last 18 months”.

We also know that you were ready for some changes, and so AgentPress has evolved. The new version launches today and our Agent Evolution team is proud to have had the opportunity to collaborate again with Brian on this latest release.

GREATER FUNCTIONALITY

The most notable difference from the first version to the new AgentPress is with how listing management is integrated.  Listings are now entered as custom post types via the accompanied AgentPress Listings Plugin (which you can download for free). FYI- Integrating your listings via the plugin makes this data portable to future theme upgrades.  This new functionality makes blogging your listings easier and more systematized.

FLEXIBLE DESIGN

The AgentPress 2.0 design is sleek and extremely flexible. It comes in 5 colors, but of course you can always rock custom design and branding.  So whether you’re an exclusive listing agent highlighting beach front property with amazing photos and video, or a community focused blogger posting content on a regular basis…AgentPress is modular so you can add and remove what you need to fit your marketing strategy.

HOME PAGE IMAGE 1

HOME PAGE IMAGE 2

The above example showcases just one version of the new layout. You decide what you want to feature: listings, communities, blog articles, etc. Isn’t it about time your website was designed with features and content that meet your business goals, and deliver value to your clients? We think so.

In fact, Chad Johnson, President and COO of Agent Evolution says, “The move to AgentPress 2.0 is all about flexibility. The homepage layout is flexible enough to allow major changes without touching a line of code. And the listing plugin makes it easier for new features to be added with a one-click upgrade.”

Another benefit of  the AgentPress theme is that it’s built on the Genesis Framework. So it’s now possible to have a website that is lightweight and search engine optimized without bulky plugins slowing your load times.

WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE

If you’re a do-it-yourself, check the the AgentPress tutorials provided by Brian. But if you’re in the have-it-done camp, give us a shout and we’d be happy to consult with you on your website goals.

Introducing Social WordPress Plug-In

Social is a new WordPress Plugin that’s bringing comments back! Social is designed to aggregate the conversation happening on your blog posts with the conversation happening in networks like Twitter and Facebook. Not only that, but it brings new meaning to the hub and spoke approach to social media marketing. Let’s take a look at how social works.

A little background to the Social Plug-In setup

Social is compatible with both single author and multi-author blogs. At the time of setup each author will visit their profile and link up their Facebook and Twitter accounts. Then similarly, visit the Settings area of Social and add your Facebook and Twitter account there too. You’ll also be asked for a Twitter Consumer key, which is really simple to setup. For that, go here and login with your Twitter account and complete the application details and agree to the terms. Twitter then will return OAuth settings; in those settings you’ll now have the consumer key.

While in settings, you can also build a standard message to be shared to Twitter and Facebook using the following tokens:

• {url}: Includes your post permalink
• {title}: Includes the post title
• {content}: Includes the post content
• {date}: Includes the post date
• {author}: Includes the post author name

Now that Social is setup, how does it work?

At the time of post creation you can set the “social broadcasting” rules—allowing you to turn on or off the automatic Facebook post or Tweet.

Once your newly created content has been published, Social will aggregate new comments via Twitter or Facebook automatically using built in cron job. You’ll see the newly found content is nicely integrated with your WordPress comments. See all comments in aggregate, or use the tabs to filter out comments, Tweets, Facebook mentions, and even pingbacks. If the published post has not received replies via Twitter and Facebook the continued aggregation for that post will stop.

MyTechOpinion

I’ve seen many different comment plug-ins come on the scene over the years. Some completely take over the native comments feature in WordPress and you loose control as a result. Social is different, you stay in control of your comments and get the added benefit of integrating the conversation of your content from other networks. I appreciate the clean layout and ability to filter out the channel that’s most interesting to you. Also really like the Twitter hover cards that appear as you hover over a users Twitter handle.

I’m also happy to report that the plugin creators have stated they are actively developing the ability for Facebook pages to connect via the plugin not just Facebook profiles. I’m also eager to hear when they’ll integrate Google+ into the mix.

Here is an example of what we’re talking about:

Authorship Markup is essentially a way for Google to connect authors with the content they create and then show what I’m calling Visual Search Cues in the organic results.  This is all done by using HTML5 microformats such as the rel=”me” and rel=”author” tags to identify your content.

How do I setup Authorship Markup with my Blog?

The first thing you’ll need is a Google Profile, which is already a good thing to have based on the fact it’s highly search optimized and Google lets you link directly from the profile to your website, blog, external social profiles and more.

TIP: Make sure that your avatar is “a good, clear headshot of yourself” and does not include a logo.  If it does, Google has said that they will not show it in the results.

To establish authorship of your content, you’ll need to complete two steps:

(1) Link the blog to your Google Profile
(2) Link your Google Profile to your blog or blog’s author page

Step 1 – Linking your blog to your Google Profile

You may have noticed, with WordPress v3.2, on your individual post pages the link from your name to the author page includes the rel=”Author” parameter. That’s awesome, and exactly what we need. All you’ll need to do is add a link from the Author page on your blog, to your Google profile. The link should be in this format:

<a href=”[profile_url]?rel=author”>Google+</a>.

Replace [profile_url] with your actual Google Profile URL, which will look similar to this: http://plus.google.com/107461963711346948468. Also make sure not to delete the ?rel=author parameter

If you prefer to use a button, use the Google profile button generator

Step 2 – Linking your Google Profile to your blog’s Author page

Next you’ll need to create a link from your Google profile to your blog or blog’s author page. Do that by visiting your Google Profile and selecting “Edit Profile”. Next click on the “Links” area located on the right-side of the screen and include a link to your blogs homepage, or if you are writing on a multi-author blog you can link directly to your Author page. Now check the box that reads “This page is specifically about me.”

One last thing…Google also recommends that after you’ve completed these steps you should complete this form.

MyTechOpinion

I can see this feature being a huge hit with content creators and even searchers, especially as search and social seem to be converging.  We’ll be able to spot our favorite authors easier, and with that we’ll also be able to reach out and connect from a search results set. It’s still unclear how quickly newcomers will be added to this new index, but I would highly recommend getting things setup from your end.

Here’s to seeing you in the search results!

I’m excited to announce I’ll be sharing my WordPress expertise online via a series of upcoming classes…available to you, for free!

This will be a great opportunity if you’re ready for a Website with more freedom and functionality.  Or maybe you’ve been hearing how WordPress assists you in your overall marketing plan? Whatever the case, I’ll be providing a Webinar series is for those of you that are new to WordPress and ready to navigate this powerful platform.

Each Webinar will take place on a Wednesday at 11am PDT. The first 30 minutes will be a presentation given by yours truly, with an extra 15 minute segment from 11:30-11:45 dedicated to you and your WP questions. In fact, Chad Johnson (Co-Founder & COO – Agent Evolution) will be joining me during this time to provide his technical expertise.

So go ahead, register now for one or all of the upcoming classes! It’s time to get your blog on!

July 6 – 11am Pacific: WordPress for Real Estate 101: Why WordPress?

Learn why real estate professionals are choosing WordPress for their professional Website, but also as a marketing command center. Understand the differences between both WordPress platforms, how to get started and where to turn for help!

July 20 – 11am Pacific: WordPress for Real Estate 102: Developing YOUR Content Strategy

Every real estate professional possesses a unique combination of knowledge, expertise and interests. So isn’t it about time your real estate Website reflect that combination?!  Learn how to differentiate yourself online by creating relevant content (aka: blog posts) that positions you as a trusted advisor, generating you more business!

August 10 – 11am Pacific: WordPress for Real Estate 103: Post & Promote

Learn how to post your articles and videos on your WordPress site, as well as how to promote your relevant content via social media and traditional communication channels. Get a step by step guide to optimize your sharing via Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, email, and even print!

Looking to get started with your own WordPress site? Contact the Agent Evolution team! We can help!

Of course it’s a wonderful thing to improve user experience on your site. But it shouldn’t come at price…which is often a bloated blog with a slow load time. Nobody wants that! So, whether you’re new to WordPress or looking to optimize site performance I’ve narrowed my list of favorite plugins down to the must-haves and organized them into 5 categories. Take a look…

(1) IDX Home Search:

Make it easy for your users to search for and find real estate in your local market. Diverse Solutions and IDXBroker are as good as it gets! Both offer easy home search integration, but Diverse takes it a step further with their IDXPress Plugin which literally puts the MLS on your blog!

(2) Lead Gen Forms:

So whatcha, whatcha, whatcha want, whatcha want!? Whether you’re offering a CMA, other market data, a newsletter or just yourself via contact info…make sure your visitors can get what they want. Use Gravity Forms, Pop Up Domination, or the MailChimp List Subscribe Form to create the perfect lead generation opportunity on your site!

(3) Market Data:

If you’re creating neighborhood pages or want to become a regular source of market trend data consider adding: Altos Research or Simple Real Estate Pack.This type of content is an extremely valuable for helping consumers digest market trends in their local area. It’s also a great way to supplement other written or video content you create.

(4) Site Performance:

What good is a beautiful site with robust content and features if you can’t access it! So be sure you’re backing up your site regularly (should anything every happen) with Backup Buddy and ensure your site has a faster load time with W3 Total Cache.

(5) Social Integration:

Not only do share controls help you promote and track your own content, but you’re also providing that important functionality to your site visitors. Give them the power to tell others about a great resource they know….you! Consider adding share controls with purpose. Send content to the obvious places with Facebook Likes and Twitter Shares. You may also want to try out Google’s new +1 button. And don’t be afraid to go oldschool with a “Print this Post ” type of feature. Some of us still enjoy printing for reference or sharing with a friend. To create your own mashup of share controls, check out the options available from Jetpack.

I should also mention that smart WP developers (aka Chad Johnson & Dave Bonds) can add share controls like the Facebook Share & Like buttons, and even Google’s +1 by coding them directly into the template.

Chad Johnson (COO, Agent Evolution) says, “This provides the same functionality with less overhead than a plugin.”

And Dave Bonds (Director of Web Design, Agent Evolution) adds, “We do it that way because you can’t always control where the plugin will put the button, so we make it easy by grouping them all together.”

MyTechOpinion:

Clearly you don’t need all of the mentioned plugins. You might find some work better than others depending on your WordPress theme, which is why I ALWAYS recommend the Genesis Framework w/ the AgentPress Theme. So take a look at the current state of your site and pick one category from above that you could improve on! And just do it!

Clearly the Girl Scouts, being the savvy salesgirls they are, embarked on a new distribution strategy for their delectables this year! My little neighbor not only informed me I could purchase cookies on the spot, but also introduced me to their new iPhone app in case I needed to locate more in the near future. She even gave me her card that included a link to her troop’s Website and email newsletter!  Now I can get all the news and tips I need to suffice all my cookie cravings!

Go Girl Scouts! They get it! They recognized the need to update their distribution strategy to better meet the needs of their targets. So I ask you…when was the last time you updated your distribution strategy?!

If you are carefully crafting your marketing message and uniquely relevant content, you should be placing that same effort into how you share the message and content with your network.  Blindly blanketed your networks with the same postings is not only annoying, but completely ineffective.

When you post an article to your own Website, your goal should be to utilize channels like Facebook, Twitter or email to drive your targets back to the cookies (I mean the source of the content). When you have something delicious to share that folks want and you consistently tease them (in an informative fashion) you are positioning yourself as the source of the cookies. If I want more cookies…I KNOW where to go to get more!

But this strategy can fail quickly from 2 major mis-steps posting in our favorite networks…(1) treating every network exactly the same AND (2) the set it and forget it mentality.

Depending upon the communication channels you participate in, posting or sharing your relevant content will involve different nuances that shouldn’t be taken for granted.

Don’t Treat Facebook Like it’s Twitter, & Vice Versa

When you post your blog article to Facebook, be sure to include the link back to your site (which will usually pull in the image and description associated with the post). Then add your own commentary…giving us a reason to want to click the link and read more. Ask a question, share an important aspect of the article or one suggestion…but never recap the entire article or say, “check this out, or click here for more info”.  FYI: saying “check this out” as your commentary is about as exciting as when someone comments on your post with “thanks for sharing”.

When you post your blog article to Twitter using the title can be simple and effective, but don’t forget to add a short URL directing folks back to your site. If you plan to re-post that article during different times of the day or during the week, I suggest mixing it up. Tweet an enticing quote from your article or highlight one specific tip but allude to more.

Don’t Set It & Forget It

Just because you have a distribution strategy doesn’t mean you’re off the hook when it comes to responding. Whether you post to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or send via email…be sure you have the proper notifications set so that you can get back to those who engage with your content.  That is the goal after all….to provide your expertise to those who need it and want it. And if those targeted folks are engaging with your expertise don’t drop the ball by missing opportunities to answer questions, provide additional assistance or take the online engagement…offline!

MyTechOpinion

Take a cue from the Girl Scouts! Modify your distribution strategy if you know you could be delivering delicious cookies to your targets in a more effective manner.

If you don’t have a distribution strategy, it’s time you did.  And if you need help establishing your own content management hub online, talk to us! Agent Evolution can ROCK you a WordPress site or Facebook Page to better market your real estate business, expertise and listings online.

Brian is the Founder of StudioPress, Creator of the Genesis Framework, Partner in Copyblogger Media, and fellow Starbucks addict. He’s also been a mentor and colleague to Reggie, Chad and I over the years.  Suffice it to say, there is much admiration for the design, clean code and functionality that he brings to WordPress.  In addition, Brian has developed the #1 real estate specific theme, some of you may already be familiar with, AgentPress.

I’ll be picking Brian’s brain on the benefits of using WordPress for your real estate business. I’ll also be focusing on design elements, content and features that make for (as I always say) a ROCKIN’ blog! So you won’t want to miss a minute, scratch that, a second of this powerful session. Brian will only be making a special appearance in Chicago!

Get all the details and the conference schedule for Agent Reboot Chicago.  FYI- Sign up online and save 50%! Also, we’ll be tweeting up the night before Reboot (4/19)…so join us!

It’s all good…every blogger (aka “Content Creator”) has glared at the computer monitor trying to recall a post idea only to allow yourself to be distracted by the dog, the kids, the glass of wine. Becoming a content creator is tough (at first), so here are a few tips that may make the process of writing your next community-focused post much easier.

Create a Blog Topic List

First, if you don’t already have a blog topic list now’s the time to start one. This is a list of topics you are passionate about and that your audience can benefit from. And when it comes to writing hyperlocal content your list could include:

• Arts (theatre, gallery, performance)
• Business (newly opened, changed locations, bargains, specials)
• Charity (fundraisers, causes, events)
• Dance (events, lessons, instructors)
• Dog Fun (parks, trails, grooming, stores)
• Educational (school scores, events,
• Entertainment (kids, families, date night)
• Exhibit (art, wine, cars, etc)
• Family Fun (best activities & restaurants)
• Farmers Market (locations, produce, unique finds)
• Fresh Produce (what’s in season, recipes)
• Gardening (native planting, nurseries, tips)
• Gift Ideas (holidays, stores, tips, homemade)
• History (stories, points of interest, landmarks)
• Movies (new release, reviews)
• Museum (hours, exhibits, experience)
• Music (new release, reviews, shows)
• Parks (descriptions, maps, trails, dog friendly, kid friendly)
• People (clients, residents, business owners, volunteers, advisors)
• Real Estate (your listings, neighborhood spotlight, new building, laws affecting)
• Recreation (activities, suggestions)
• Restaurants (reviews, favorites, suggestions)
• Science (events, ideas)
• Seasonal (fun found in your area: winter, spring, summer, fall)
• Special Notices (new laws, meetings, chamber of commerce)
• Sports (events, clubs, gyms, races, games, tips)
• Transportation (options, schedules, changes)
• Uniqueness (What’s special about where you live & work?)

In order to write good posts that truly hit home with your audience, you need to clearly pinpoint WHO it is you’re trying to reach (demographic & geographic criteria). If you’re focused on first time buyers and young families…think like them. What info do they ask you for, how do they spend their time, what concerns them, etc.  Also, don’t be afraid to narrow the gap…or widen it! If there are 12 agents in your market already writing about your city, consider getting uber-focused on a particular neighborhood(s) or expand your emphasis to a region (i.e. Silicon Valley). But whatever you decide…carve that niche and stay consistent!

Anatomy of a GOOD Post

Alright, you’ve decided on the topic for your post…let’s say it’s an upcoming fundraiser held by the local high school.  Here’s what you should include:

MUST HAVE:

1. Post title (include location or topic)
2. Topic details (when is the event, where is it, why should I check it out)
3. Keep it short (200 words, no more than 300)
4. Link to original details (Website, Facebook Page, etc)
5. Include an image with your post (photo of location or topic)

WHEN POSSIBLE:

1. Provide a personal experience or story related to what you share (been there, done that?)
2. Interview someone involved (event chair, business owner, volunteer, etc.) & include the video in your post
3. Facilitate connecting (provide Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, other social channels for topic being shared)

Getting the word out!

Once you’ve posted your hyperlocal article on your blog…it’s time to get the word out! Do any or all of the following:

1. Post your article as an update on Facebook. Use the link feature to pull in the article image and description. Include commentary to frame your update with a reason for reading your article. Don’t tell us what your post is about, ask us if we’ve heard of the topic or share a related tip that sparks our interest.
2. Tweet your blog post title with a short (& trackable) URL back to your site.
3. If you’re using WordPress (you’re extremely smart) you can add the WordPress app to your Linkedin profile which will aggregate your most recent WP blog posts on your professional profile.
4. Share your post via email newsletter with your sphere list.
5. Create a print version of your article and use it as a targeted farm piece.
6. Turn on your Web cam and talk about this great event or interview someone involved, upload to YouTube (and share elsewhere).

What are you waiting for?

You’ve got ideas, you know what to include in your post, and you’ve got skillz for promoting your hyperlocal content….so, what are you waiting for? There’s no better time to position yourself as the Trusted Advisor, the Super Agent….the AUTHORITY in your local market area!

You know, the place where you share your expertise, showcase your listings, and deliver relevant content. The place that helps:

(1) your sphere stay up to date with your market,

(2) potential clients get the information they need to take the next step, and

(3) makes current clients extremely happy they chose to work with you because clearly, you know how to facilitate interest in their home and community!

And finally, the place that makes having an online marketing strategy make sense. Yes that place is your Website, but in 2011 that place should be your WordPress blog site.

It’s not why WordPress….it’s when.

Well, actually it IS still a question of “why WordPress” for many of you. Yes, there are more than a few blog platforms out there but none that are supported in quite the same way. There is good reason afterall that nearly 10% of ALL Websites have been created on the WordPress platform!

WordPress is extremely flexible.  A WordPress site can match your goals and deliver the type of content that matters most to your targets.

WordPress puts you back in the driver’s seat. With proper training a WordPress site gives the user the power to easily update and manage their site.

And WordPress helps the right people find you…because frequent content, rockin’ SEO, and utilizing other social channels like Facebook, Twitter or YouTube is a recipe for online success!

Content Marketing IS your Field of Dreams!

You’ve got expertise…so instead of sharing “barrowed” content (article, video, photo, etc) that sends your targets to other Wesbites…send them to a highly relevant resource, you!

This way the next time you’re looking to share an article on Facebook giving locals 5 great reasons to live in the Oaks Neighborhood or advice on how to face the insurmountable task of spring cleaning…write it yourself, post it yourself…and they will come! And when they do, be sure to provide them with an opt-in way to get more of your expertise via an email newsletter.

Yes, creating your own content is time consuming, but it has the greatest payoff…Google will show you that…and you’re new clients will thank you for it!

ROCK a Distribution Strategy!

Now for the best part about having an online hub! When you write a post and share it on your WordPress blog site, it’s really just the beginning of an online marketing strategy that has some serious legs! Your post will be indexed by Google making it easy for your targets to find you via search. It also becomes very easy (for you & others) to share that post to Facebook, to Twitter, to Linkedin, etc. You can take that same post and make it a script for a video. You can again use that same post for more traditional marketing like print newsletters for your geographic farms, or even email newsletters for your sphere.

Now there is an art to how you distribute content because we don’t want to spam people with the same exact message across numerous platforms. But once you select the channels that make sense for your goals and your sphere, you can create a distribution flow that will work time and again.

MyTechOpinion

As the first month of 2011 comes to a close, I think it’s time to evolve some of the strategies we used last year. It’s great to see many of you actively participating in a number of social channels….but I challenge you to step it up. Using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube alone are not enough. You need to have an online hub with regular content and features you can share like digital breadcrumbs leading the right people back to the source! Otherwise you’re online marketing efforts will be the death of you, well not literally, but you know what I mean!

Many times, our vision didn’t coincide with the current technology. That is when having a “mad scientist” like Reggie came in handy. He would always find a way to introduce new features that amazed us.

By 2010, the world of WordPress had caught up to our vision in a lot of ways. The problem was, MyTechOpinion was built on such a highly customized template, that taking advantage of advancements in WordPress was getting difficult.

Time for a Reboot

After a lot of deliberation, we decided to start over. The only things saved were the blog posts. Everything else was scrapped.

Looking back, it was really the only choice we had.

Building for WordPress 3.0

There is a huge difference between upgrading to WordPress 3.0 and building for it. So many features just aren’t utilized as well as they could be.

If your template wasn’t developed for 3.0, consider moving on.

Frameworks

While you are looking at your current template, if it isn’t built on a framework, consider moving on.

A framework is essentially a platform that sits between your theme and WordPress. It adds functionality without a lot of plugins. This is the future of WordPress development.

In our book, Genesis is the only framework to build on.

“Imagine your WordPress site is a new Mercedes. Installing Genesis is like getting the AMG package.”

Real World Benefits

What did the redesign really do for our blog? Here is a quick overview:

WordPress 3.0 Features

Starting on Blogger and then into an early version of WordPress, made our database a mess.

The biggest issue was that of post images. They were stored in multiple directories, making the built-in media gallery nearly useless. These random image folders also caused issues with our backup system.

Through countless hours of scrubbing, all of our blog posts are now using the WordPress media library system. (Thank you to Carole Bonds for the help).

Now, every post has a “Featured Image”. Doesn’t seem like much, but don’t those sidebar and excerpt thumbnails look good?

A Dozen Plugins

Plugins are amazing, but they can also be problematic. Plugins can cause compatibility issues, slower page loads and can be abandoned leaving you looking for an alternative.

Building with WordPress 3.0 and Genesis in mind, our current site is running with only 12 plugins.

Some of the plugins we no longer need are:

• WP-Pagination
• Page-Links-To
• All-In-SEO Pack
• Sociable
• Featured Posts/Pages
• Breadcrumb Navigation
• Author Boxes

Simplified Coding

The general focus of the redesign was to simplify. This sounds easy, but keeping web design simple takes a lot of planning and foresight.

Thanks to Genesis, the finished code is much cleaner and lighter.

• Through Genesis function calls, our theme has fewer template pages.
• Utilizing Genesis Simple Sidebars, each category can now have different sidebar widgets without writing a single line of PHP code.

“Reggie-Free” Upgrades

The old MTO environment was so customized that upgrading by anyone other than Reggie was dangerous. WordPress and plugin upgrades could literally break the site. I speak of this from experience (Oops!).

Since we haven’t figured out how to clone Reggie, yet, we must use his limited time wisely.

The new MTO was built so that our development team at Agent Evolution can handle all maintenance of the site.

Now, the mad scientist can focus on the next big idea to change the shape of real estate technology blogging.

Time for your WordPress 3.0 Redesign?

Have you been blogging on WordPress for a while? It might be a good time for you to consider “starting over”, as well.

And since so much has changed in the blogosphere since Reggie first conceptualized and created MTO back in 2005, I thought it might be nice to look back over the last 5 years.

The MTO Backstory

MTO was born out of love for real estate, technology and education. At the time of its official launch in December 2005, our goal was to become a helpful resource for aspiring real estate bloggers, as well as to enlighten and inform the everyday agent looking to generate more business and improve productivity with technology. We quickly realized our readers thirst for this type of information and grew a robust community of passionate agents, colleagues, and soon….friends! We coupled our online efforts with offline events, both locally and nationally, which fostered new relationships, strategic partnerships, and professional opportunities!

Fast forward a couple years and we found ourselves confined by the limitations of initially launching on the Blogger Platform. We also had a good number of ROCKIN’ posts now requiring a more efficient design to highlight the depth and breadth of our site’s content. So we made the painstaking but completely worthwhile move to WordPress in early 2008. And soon we had the flexibility and functionality we hoped for! We also became fans of StudioPress, our pick for best custom WP themes! In fact, MTO v.2 utilized the now retired but popular Revolution theme.

We put our heart and soul into MTO v.2, as well as some rather serious modifications and custom code. Soon the rise of blogging for business was coupled with social networking….”social media” was now front ‘n center! So in our continued effort to innovate and explore Web 2.0 we integrated custom lifestreams. We were also the first blog in the RE.net to implement Facebook Connect, as well as provide support for industry leading companies.

So here we are, excited to ring in the New Year with MTO v.3! And there’s no better way to celebrate our 5 years of blogging than with a renewed motivation and commitment to this site! Blogging….the concept, the act of, and most importantly the technology have greatly evolved. And that’s exactly why we’ve chosen to build MTO v.3 on the Genesis Framework. If you’re not already familiar with Genesis…it’s time you learn!

When you invest in WordPress for the long haul, meaning you want your site to meet your goals and grow with you over time, well…updating your theme can make you want to cry (or have a wobbler as Reggie says I sometimes do). And that’s because updating your theme can erase 1000’s of mini customizations you’ve made. But thankfully WordPress theme ROCKSTARS like Brian Gardner have not only recognized this issue, but now deliver the solution…a framework! The framework includes both parent and child themes, so our customizations are now saved in the child theme while the parent theme can be updated by a simple click in the admin. LOVE IT! We not only stand behind the decision to “GO GENESIS” but we’ll be ROCKIN’ plenty of tips, tools, and tutorials for implementation.

Are you “IN”?

Many friends and interested folks ask us if there’s truly an ROI in blogging. And if you must know….ABSOLUTELY!!! We (Reggie, Chad & I) owe our success and professional growth all to MTO.  Thanks to MyTechOpinion…Reggie has the dream job he’s always wanted enabling him to work with his mentor, Marty Frame. Chad and I (with Reggie’s immense help) have launched a new startup, Agent Evolution, which fuels our passion for creating ROCKIN’ blog/sites and educating real estate professionals on Internet marketing.

This blog has literally changed the course of our lives…it’s changed EVERYTHING for us…and for the better! MTO has been and will continue to be the most instrumental vehicle for sharing our expertise and above all….getting to know YOU, our readers. So thank you to those of you that have been right there with us since the beginning and for those of you who have just joined the party! YOU ROCK!

And we hope you’re “IN” for the next evolution of MTO….because we are! We’ll be bringing you articles on social media, mobile technology, blogging with WordPress, and much more! So don’t sit back and enjoy. Instead, jump in, join the conversation, challenge our opinions, share your experiences, and most importantly….learn something new that makes you excited to be an EXCEPTIONAL real estate professional TODAY! Oh, and I DO believe we might also have some fun!

There is some validity however, to the shear amount of effort required in implementing social media marketing strategies….or ANY effective marketing strategies for that matter. And that’s why I’m not surprised when agents ask me if I can do “the social media” for them. But if you know me, then you know I’m not an automator…I’m an educator. Which means I prefer you learn about the new strategies available to you, best practices for using them, and how to measure their effectiveness.

So whether you or your marketing assistant is syndicating your listings, sending an email drip campaign, blogging or engaging in social media channels…KNOW the plan, the process, AND your role in it! By being a participant who’s just as knowledgeable about your own business as you are about your market area it’s much easier to become a trusted advisor. But obviously it’s not just about being a trusted advisor…it’s about closing deals too. So no matter the strategy or the channel…you need to create an opportunity to convert.

Now the reason I’m so passionate about social media as a real estate marketing strategy is because it gives agents who are willing to be a participant….a huge conversion opportunity. When you take an active role with blogging or Facebook comments and posts, you can directly connect with current and past clients, as well as potential leads.

For example, let’s say you’re passionate about the schools in your local market area. So you decide to get involved with a local “Back to School” cause. You post information about the cause on your Facebook Page telling locals about the supplies needed, where to donate, associated fundraising events, interviews and pictures of local teachers setting up for the school year, etc. If you’re a part of the plan and the process…as well as actively engage on the Page, then you’re creating an opportunity to convert. Especially, when you run into thankful teachers, parents and locals who you’ve been engaging with online. Taking an active roll in your online engagement means it’s easier to take an active roll in your offline engagement.

When you haven’t got a clue what social media strategies are being deployed on your behalf, you’re missing out! Sure you might be getting more online exposure for your brand and listings….but the opportunity to convert is greatly lessened. That’s because when potential client Susie Q sees you at Starbucks and thanks you for helping her neighborhood school you won’t have any idea what she’s talking about. But had you taken an active engagement role online you would be easily able to strike up a relevant and thoughtful conversation…a conversation that could possibly lead to new business tomorrow or someday in the future. And that’s your ROI when it comes to social media.

But if you’re still of the “have it done” mindset, there are plenty of “blog for you, tweet for you, post for you” services popping up. These companies are happy to take your money and create your Web presence for you, as well as automate, duplicate, replicate, and syndicate “relevant” content on your behalf. So if you’re looking for the shortcut to success with social media, there you go! And to be honest, you may very well get the exposure you want….but I highly doubt you’ll get the conversion opportunities you need to take your business to the next level. But who knows, I could be wrong.

I WILL say that there is a happy medium. The relevant content that you drip out through the various channels you participate in can be created by others (but should be supplemented by your own) and can also be scheduled. Tools like HootSuite and Tweetdeck let you schedule and post to a variety of networks. In fact, I created a Tweet Plan for using Hootsuite for both general business and for real estate. And innovators, like the folks at Roost, understand the content dilemma and deployment that real estate professionals are faced with and have created a new tool that will soon ROCK your Facebook world!

Probably the biggest social media roadblock for agents is identifying content that can be shared, retweeted, commented on, blogged about, curated, etc. So I am all for making the organization of content much easier with a homepage or dashboard of content. Alltop, Regator, My6Sense, and Google all offer great options in the organization department. A few savvy real estate companies have even created their own custom content dashboards, and are regularly creating content their agents can share and re-purpose!

So clearly there IS a benefit to “systematizing” your content flow to maximize online exposure…BUT remember that if you go the route of scheduling resourceful tweets and/or posts, that you still need to be listening, responding…and initiating social interactions! More importantly, you still need to be you and bring your passion to whatever marketing strategy you plan for!

MyTechOpinion: You CAN shortcut your way to “success” with social media…but that depends on what success really means to you.

The past year has been crazy for the Nicolay household…to say the least! Reggie started his new job with RPR…and has been passionately reaching out to curious agents and creating a variety of helpful resources that are soon to launch. I, on the other hand, have been extremely focused on my new company.  Agent Evolution was born from our efforts right here on MTO! After all, many of you have regular questions for us…and occasionally ask for help with your blogs. So we answered by mixing my teaching skills with Chad’s blog shop to provide a full service new media company!

In the midst of this professional progression, we’ve definitely let our regular MTO blogging schedule slide. Let’s face it, something had to give! And frankly, as a Mom, I wasn’t willing to give up bike rides to the park, volunteering at school, and bedtime stories. Finding balance in life is far more important and harder to achieve these days. But all in all, I can’t complain…I’m very fortunate to be able to work alongside @ReggieRPR…but also get to go out and play (aka: educate and inspire).

So now, it’s only right that we get back to the heart of what’s propelled our professional lives….and passion for the last 5 years!!! MTO was created with 100% of passion and love for real estate technology. And it should be expected that we will continue to feed that niche. Reggie and Chad will continue to focus more on product and service releases, hardware, and innovative technical know-how! And I’ll stick to listening to the little voice inside that feeds my passion for sharing thoughts, ideas, and strategies for technology and marketing implementation.

Okay, now that you’re up to speed…let’s get back to the title of this article! In the past I’ve suggested creating a content posting plan and shared several blog topic ideas. These tips can really kickstart a new blog or create consistency with existing blogs. But what happens when the plan doesn’t match the voice?! Well, now that I’ve experienced this firsthand…I do have a few suggestions. So here’s my advice when you’re faced with a nasty case of “blogger’s block”.

(1)    Read, read, and read some more. Reading other blogs or a really good book will often inspire your own thoughts and ideas.

(2)    Go to an event, or just have a coffee (or better yet, wine) with a friend. Sometimes a good conversation is all you need to get your creative juices flowing. Plus you may have colleagues or friends that ask REALLY great questions…which make for great articles!

(3)    Make time to write….at the right time. Only you know the best time of day for your inner voice! So listen to it. But if you sit down…and all you can think about is “how do I get this over with” …walk away, go do something active or interesting. You can’t force the inner voice!

(4)    Your best bet, ALWAYS, is to write what you know or write about experiences you’ve had. Take that a step further by relating your expertise and experience to your target audience by giving them a little nugget of advice, a tip, strategy…or “ah-ha moment” that they can benefit from!

I know these suggestions may seem fairly obvious…but that’s because they work. And they are only suggestions until you put them into play! So go now…it’s time to play!

But, what if you have an event you are producing yourself? Maybe that event requires managing RSVP’s or even selling tickets to the event. You’ll need a more specialized system than a basic calendar. Fortunately, there are several WordPress plugins that will help you pull your event off without a hitch.

Advanced Events Registration Pro Version

The first option is an add-on to one of my favorite WordPress calendar plugins, Calendar by Kieran O’Shea. By adding the Advanced Events Registration Pro Version, you will be able to:

• Accept Paypal payments for tickets
• Limit the total number of attendees
• Offer multiple pricing options
• Export attendee lists to Excel

This is a premium plugin, so it will set you back $50 and $5 a month for support and upgrades. This shouldn’t be seen as a drawback as premium plugins tend to be supported better and development on new features is quicker.

Eventbrite for The Events Calendar

This second option is also a combination of 2 plugins, as well. The first plugin is The Events Calendar, a quality WordPress event calendar with Google Maps integration and an attractive full-width calendar page. Adding Eventbrite for The Events Calendar introduces the functionality of the Eventbrite service. For those unfamiliar with Eventbrite, it is a third-party event management system that allows users to:

• Accept ticket payments through credit card, Paypal or Google Checkout
• Promote their event through email, search engines and social networks
• Generate custom name badges and attendee lists
• Create time-sensitive offers like early registration discounts

The benefit of using the WordPress plugin with Eventbrite is that most event management tasks can be done from your WordPress admin panel. Putting on successful short sale seminars and other educational events takes a lot of work. Using a quality event management system will insure a better experience for you and your attendees.

Anyway, oneforty is like your Target for Twitter tools. Sure I can go to Walmart…but the shelves are overstocked with so many items I get frustrated by the experience and make a b-line for the door while hoping nothing jumps out at me. Target, on the other hand, also offers a great variety of items, but the shopping experience is one that draws me in. It’s organized aisles invite me to stay awhile, assuring me I’ll find what I need….oh, and there’s a Starbucks.

Now oneforty may not have a Starbucks, but it does happen to be a comprehensive site for finding, rating, collecting, and sharing Twitter apps. And by Twitter apps, I’m also referring to any application which posts to, shares content with, and/or is relative to Twitter in any way. The site was founded by Laura Fitton “@pistachio”, author of Twitter for Dummies, is backed by a rockin’ development team, and advised by social media heavyweights @briansolis and @guykawasaki.

Just recently oneforty launched a new feature called “toolkits”. Basically any member of the site can create a set of applications relevant to a particular topic or strategy. For example, I created a toolkit entitled, “ New Media Tools for Real Estate Professionals”. I asked @pistachio to tell me in her words why she thinks this new feature is beneficial to users and here’s what she had to say,

“Well, toolkits are a chance to show off exactly how you use Twitter, which is really important. The value is different for everyone. The right tools and some tips make a HUGE difference. The really exciting stuff is still ahead – once developers build more stuff that makes Twitter’s value self-evident from the first encounter, the benefits everyone raves about can go truly mass audience. We built oneforty not only to get the right tools into the right hands but also to foster innovation in the ecosystem itself as a whole.”

So, here’s how you, the real estate agent extraordinaire can benefit in my opinion. We all know what a frustrating process understanding and applying Twitter can be (at first). And while there are many lists floating out there in the blogosphere telling you to use this or that, there hasn’t been one site that dynamically changes to share current trends and a variety of topic based app collections…..until now.

To create your own profile and/or toolkit, visit oneforty.com to sign up for a free account. You’ll be prompted to customize your profile, obtain a profile URL (which you can also share and/or link to your Twitter profile), as well as find, rate, and share your favorite Twitter tools! Woohoo!

MyTechOpinion

Whether you’re an agent fluent in social media or a newbie working it all out, oneforty can and will be a dynamic resource for finding the best apps to meet both your business and personal goals.

What does this mean for you?

It means your real estate blog can now have the functionality of a highly custom site with search engine friendly IDX data. dsIDXPress is released with special introductory pricing of $99.95 setup and $29.95 a month. That is an introductory offer and will go up over time.

And for the most part the plug-in is compliant in all markets they cover with the exception of a couple of the more strict MLSs. If you have any questions or comments about compliance reach out to them here.  Let’s take a look at a few ways to implement dsIDXPress.

Short code

If you’re not already familiar with shortcode, it’s worth taking some time to familiarize yourself with the concept. It was introduced in WordPress 2.5 and allows the blog author to include a small piece of content [shortcode] in a post or page to replicate what would usually be numerous lines of code.  In the case of dsIDXPress the shortcode placed in your posts and pages is replaced with specific listings or groups of listings from your MLS.  That’s right, no frames….actually pages from your site that get indexed by Google and the others. *C’mon deep crawl*.  This also means that your real estate blog can now be sculpted to represent your market area in custom fashion. For example, take a look at a few options:

• Geographic: Create a page for each of the different areas in your market. Break them down into geographic levels that make sense: city, zip, community or tract.  Here are a few different examples of how the shortcode could be displayed in a page:

[idx-listings city="Pleasanton" orderby="Price" orderdir="Price" count="15"]

[idx-listings zip="94566" orderby="Price" orderdir="DateAdded" count="15"]

[idx-listings community="Golden Oak" orderby="Price" orderdir="LastUpdated" count="15"]

[idx-listings tract="Willow Glen" orderby="Price" orderdir="DESC" count="15"]

• Listing Specific: This piece of shortcode uses the MLS number to display a configurable view of a property. Show just the basic property details or all data available.  Included in the property display is a Google map that will also display in your RSS feed for subscribers.
  Example: [idx-listing mlsnumber="AB454834" showall="true"]

Widgets

dsIDXPress comes with 3 widgets: Search, Area List and Property List. Each provides different levels of customization. The property list widget can display a crawl-able list of properties, map, and a detailed array of properties.

MyTechOpinion

It’s no secret that we at MyTechOpinion love WordPress. So much so that we partnered with Brian Gardner of AgentPress because he captured the essence of what a real estate agent require in a WordPress theme.  Now we see the same in Diverse Solutions new dsIDXPress.   We think they really nailed it with their plug-in.  To start, it’s very easy to install and early adopters will likely see amazing results. Overtime it will become more important for real estate bloggers to sculpt their site to increase pagerank and facilitate a deeper index by Google.  If you need help in that department, make sure you reach out to Chad of MyTechOpinion for a quote.

If you’re even slightly interested in learning more about dsIDXPress from this article let me give you the push. Go check it out….tell them Reggie from MyTechOpinion sent you.

Now when it comes to selecting a WordPress theme that delivers a clean design, variety of options, highly optimized code, and customer support….the MTO team chooses StudioPress. Which has been a great theme option for us and our Web design clients. But now theme legend, Brian Gardner, is back and has developed AgentPress, specifically for the real estate industry. In fact, we’ve partnered with Brian to offer customization and consultation for AgentPress theme users.

We’re excited about this new theme (yes, because partnering with Brian ROCKS) and because it brings together the best features of StudioPress: sleek appearance, clean code base….but also integrates listings with custom property templates. So now when you’re adding listings to your blog, all you need to do is upload an image once and Brian’s AgentPress theme dynamically auto-sizes it for you. Uploading a listing with WordPress has never been easier! And if you’ve been looking for a way to archive your sold listings, this theme will take care of that for you too!

We choose to use AgentPress because once customized with your selected features and content, you’ll have a blog that makes an impact with your local market, impresses your clients, delivers relevant resources, and helps you better maintain relationships with your sphere.

We can help you customize your real estate blog with highly relevant content and resources to benefit your local market. Some of the customizations we feel an innovative real estate blog should have, include: IDX search, local market and real estate trend data powered by Cyberhomes ,Walkscore, & others, neighborhood & school score data, Facebook Connect or Fan Box integration, as well as  lifestreaming multiple social profiles (Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc.)and shares.

Visit AgentPress to learn more and if you’d like assistance with AgentPress customization, contact us at info@mytechopinion.com. Got questions or comments, drop us a line right here!

BlogWorld officially kicks off October 15th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  The first day of the 3 day program will provide some specific niche tracks…one of which is Real Estate BlogWorld. The agenda for REBlogWorld is packed with rockin’ speakers and sessions covering a variety of topics specifically geared towards the real estate industry (i.e. Social Media ROI, Hyperlocal Blog Content, Branding in the Social Age, etc).  Yours truly will be moderating an ALL-STAR panel including Jeff Turner, Ian Lurie, Todd Carpenter…and rumor has it, David Armano! My fellow MTO rockstars, Reggie Nicolay and Chad Johnson, will be presenting their idea of the “One Site”, the real estate blog of the future that can be achieved today! To obtain all the details for the day, register and view special hotel rates, visit REBlogWorld.com.

Now just when you think all the fun is over, another 2 days of social media bliss will ensue! The BlogWorld & New Media Expo was my favorite event last year! I was able to get up close and personal with many of my blog idols: Darren Rowse aka “Problogger”, Laura Fitton, Lee Odden, and Chris Brogan. It was like a Disneyland for bloggers! And I would say that the learning, laughing, and conversing I experienced was even more fun than Space Mountain!

So I’m extremely excited to not only attend this year, but also have the opportunity to speak alongside some of social media’s finest! If you plan to go to BlogWorld, you will not want to miss, “How Twits Lay Golden Eggs – The Art of Social Engagement for Business”, on Saturday October 17th, 4:15-5:15 pm in Room 221.  The panel includes microsharing maven – Laura Fitton, the nicest social media pirate you’ll ever meet – Chris Brogan,  real-time innovator – Nick Halstead…and me (clearly the underdog who begged, borrowed, and danced her way into speaking at BlogWorld).  At any rate, I’m in and would appreciate any support. My promise to you: a fun, playful learning experience with highly useful takeaways!

If you’re lucky enough to be headed to BlogWorld, here are a few pre-trip tips for you:

• Follow @blogworld and @reblogworld on Twitter
• Check out and RSVP for both events on Facebook (REBlogWorld, BlogWorld & New Media Expo)
• Plan your schedule now. Don’t forget to RSVP for Branding in the Social Age, Integrating Everything Into the One Site,  and How Twits Lay Golden Eggs: The Art of Social Engagement for Business
• Read Reggie’s post: 10 Ways to Make Deeper Connection at Your Next Conference

So, “shut up and put your money where your mouth is” and “shake the glitter” with me at BlogWorld in Vegas, baby!

Regator.com is online hub of hand-picked blogs representing numerous content areas. Basically, you can search for and find quality blog posts on just about any topic. With millions of blogs, it can be a very time-consuming task to find, identify and bookmark the REALLY GOOD ones out there. So Regator chooses the best and most resourceful blogs, then organizes them in a way that’s easy for you to locate exactly what you are looking for. You can also be assured that these blogs will offer you quality content, which is key if you aim to be your network’s trusted advisor!

With the NEW Regator iPhone app, which is FREE, you’ll have mobile access to over 3 million quality blog articles from 500 diverse categories. Everything from beekeeping to real estate technology! View real-time trending topics and the most popular blog posts in the blogoshere! And best of all, share what you find via email, Facebook, and Twitter.

MyTechOpinion

I already turn to Regator.com to find interesting blogs and helpful resources. Now I get to do it on the fly….woohoo! This is a no-brainer! It’s a free resource that helps you help yourself, and others! Love it! FYI- While this free version of the app does not feature the “MyRegator” tools available on Regator.com, a paid version with these features may be released in the future if there is demand.

To obtain the Regator iPhone app visit the App Store and search for “regator”. To see Regator in action, check out the  video below.

Back in November of 2008, I created the Tweet Plan in order to streamline the resourceful side of twittering. I sent it to Darren Rowse (aka @Problogger), and he was intrigued and understood the value of better organizing your tweets to reach your network. Rowse published my tweet plan on his Twitter tips blog, Twitip.com. Shortly after, I modified the Tweet Plan specifically for real estate professionals and shared it here on MTO.

Well, the Tweet Plan is back and super charged with a new handy tool. In this new version you will drip your resourceful tweets using an auto-tweet tool called HootSuite throughout your day, but also share some spontaneous thoughts and experiences when you have time to! Let’s get started!

Step 1-  Start a Tweet Topic List

Start with a tweet topic list, which is nothing more than an on-going list of topics you are passionate about, as well as your expertise. Here’s a quick example:

Step 2- Identify Your Resources

Visit and bookmark your favorite sites that provide great articles and media related to your topics and expertise on your Tweet List.  Here are a few of my favorite sites:

Step 3: Schedule Your Drip Tweets

Now that you know where to find resourceful content, all you need is a great tool to automate your drip tweets to your network. My favorite auto-tweet tool is HootSuite. To get started, visit HootSuite.com and login with your Twitter info.

Next drag and drop the “Hootlet” into your toolbar.

Now you are ready to visit your favorite resource sites and set your drip tweets. For example, let’s say you  visited the Cyberhomes Good Reading Blog. First, scan the site for a relevant article you’d like to share with your network.

After selecting the article you like, click on the “Hootlet” shortcut in your toolbar.

The Hootlet window will pop up and automatically create a tweet for you, including the article title, name of the Website, and shortened URL. You can then choose the “send later” link to schedule when you’d like that tweet published. You can also modify or customize that tweet with your own verbiage if necessary or even add you own opinion.

I recommend scheduling 5 drip tweets a day and staggering them out (i.e. 6:30am, 9:00am, 11:30am, 2:45pm, 7:00pm). And in order to better manage your time effectively, consider blocking time daily for a “Twitter Check-in”. During that time you will add new followers, send welcome messages, and schedule your 5 drip tweets for the day (or following day).

Step 4: Supplement with Spontaneous Tweets

Now if you’re sharing resource or drip tweets you ARE providing value to your network via broadcasting. But in order to become your network’s trusted advisor  you should also be listening and responding. So try to make a little time each day (even if it’s only a few minutes) to scan your network’s tweets and respond back if you can relate, offer assistance, provide help, or just laugh along! Everyday moments and occurrences are very easy for people to relate to and engage with.