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Facebook’s Fan Box – The Inside Scoop
By Reggie · July 13, 2009 · 4 Comments
Last Wednesday (July 8, 2009) Facebook unveiled a new widget that lets users promote and showcase their Facebook Page on any website or blog. The widget comes with your Facebook page stream and fan avatars. This is Facebook’s 2nd widget; they also recently launched the Live Stream box to let anyone incorporate a Facebook chat box into their site.
If you would like to know how you get the Fan Box, watch this short video:
5 Ways To Add A Membership Area To A Wordpress Website
By Chad A. Johnson · July 9, 2009 · 11 Comments
Moving beyond its blogging platform roots, Wordpress is gaining in popularity as a content management system (CMS). With this shift in utilization, the system is being asked to host more complex websites. One such example is that of a membership site.
In real estate, there are numerous uses for a membership site:
Real Estate Brokerage Intranet – Share news, make documents and forms available for download, and post company meetings and events on the calendar (using one of our recommended Wordpress calendar solutions).
Preferred Client Area – Add an area to your real estate website to share special information and services to clients who register. Can you say, “lead generation” or “client retention”?
Paid Content Site - Are you the next Brian Buffini? Have a sales strategy that is worth selling? Create a membership site with paid subscriptions.
30 Blog Post Ideas To Keep Your Content On A Roll
By NikNik · June 26, 2009 · 29 Comments
Recently, my friend Rob Hahn posted a great article entitled “Design vs. Content: Design Wins!‘. And I wholeheartedly agree with him! How many times have you left a blog due to eye strain from small print or out of pure confusion from all the flashing ads and shiny objects strewn about! There’s no denying that design plays a major role in Website attraction! Read full story
4 Ways To Add An Event Calendar To Your Wordpress Blog
By Chad A. Johnson · June 24, 2009 · 16 Comments
The addition of an event calendar can add a lot of value to your website or blog. This is especially true for those real estate agents who maintain a community based site.
Posting information on events such as farmers’ markets, garage sales, club meetings and city recreation programs to a calendar makes your website community resource. A resource worth bookmarking, Twittering or sharing on Facebook.
TinyChat: Don’t let the name fool you, it’s all muscle
By Reggie · June 18, 2009 · 4 Comments
If you’ve been unimpressed with the available chat applications for your blog, you’ll be excited to learn about TinyChat.
TinyChat recently delivered version 2 of their chat product and I’m really impressed. The application is extremely intuitive, which starts with a large text field prompting for a chat room name. Within seconds your new room is created. But not before you’re given the chance to sign in using Twitter and invite other participants. If you’re not using Twitter don’t fret; just enter your name to continue.
At this point the chat room has been created, now set a chat topic and select your privacy option. By private it really means not listed on the TinyChat website. If you need password protection, you’ll have to upgrade to the professional plan. With that plan, you’ll also own up to 5 rooms, and broadcast in HQ video.
Overcoming the Wordpress “Fatal Error: Allowed Memory Size” Error
By Chad A. Johnson · June 3, 2009 · 71 Comments
If you are like me, you love Wordpress for it’s extendability. Through the use of plugins, new features and functionality can be easily added. Because of this, Wordpress is one of the best platforms to build a real estate agent website on.
While plugins can be a blessing, they also can cause problems with a website. This can come in the way of slow website performance or error messages.
One common error message experienced by those getting a bit “plugin happy” (activating a lot of plugins on a single Wordpress installation) is that of the “Fatal Error: Allowed memory size…” error.
Lifestreaming Real Estate Web Content
By NikNik · March 24, 2009 · 4 Comments
Lifestreaming might sound like something that occurs during your favorite reality TV show, but it’s actually the aggregation of your online presence in one central location or Website. It’s an effective way to organize and display your collective thoughts, ideas, blog posts, and social connections that you share online. There’s really no right or wrong way to lifestream since the content is comprised of your Web activity. But you can think strategically about how and what you choose to share in your lifestream, as well as where you make it available.
For example, here at MTO, we are very resource driven so we aggregate the delicious bookmarks from all three of us (Reggie, Chad, NikNik) into one fluid feed on the homepage. This way our readers get access to the ideas and articles we like in one place. In addition, we have chosen to lifestream a combination of both personal and professional Web content on our individual profile pages. My profile page aggregates my tweets, delicious bookmarks, Flickr pics, Viddler videos, and more! Read full story
Cyberhomes Blog…NOT Your Run of the Mill
By NikNik · January 22, 2009 · 7 Comments
Our very own Reggie Nicolay helped officially launched Cyberhomesblog.com today. Reggie hasn’t wasted anytime jumping into his new role as Director of Social Media for Cyberhomes. Yes, I may be a bit biased since I’m married to the guy. But the Cyberhomes Blog is more than just your run of the mill industry blog. Reggie practices what he preaches here on MTO, by demonstrating how design, content and social media strategies can make for a powerful and insightful online community.
Upon first glance, you’ll notice that Reggie integrated Facebook Connect, like what we’ve done here at MTO. FB Connect allows you to port your Facebook Profile right into the Cyberhomes Blog Community. This makes participating an optimal experience! You control your profile settings and how your comments and other resources are shared. Read full story
Kickstart Your Blog Community with Facebook Connect
By NikNik · December 17, 2008 · 35 Comments
My household lives and breathes tech, so I’m sure it comes as no surprise that we take advantage of every opportunity to geek out. In fact, I take the kids to the “Gym Park” (as we call it) so I can burn off my diet of ice cream and peanut butter via kickboxing, the kids get to run wild in Fitzone, and most importantly…Reggie can stay home and DIG! He’s the best Webdigger I know. And if left completely alone on a Saturday morning can turn up some valuable Webgems! This Saturday morning was no different. And when I got home Reggie was working away on integrating Facebook Connect with both MTO and the Cyberhomes Industry Blog.
Organize Chaos with The Real Estate Tweet Plan
By NikNik · November 15, 2008 · 11 Comments
Have you considered better organizing your time on Twitter? Wait…before you call me a rigid “you know what” or send hate email telling me I’m ruining the spontaneity of Twitter, think first about how much of your work time and efficiency is affected by tuning into to Twitter all day. Maybe it’s not. Perhaps you are the type that can free flow all day, tuning in…tuning out. Or you could be a self-proclaimed Twitaholic, who can easily manage your twitter volume from your desktop on Tweetdeck and Twitterific Pro on the go…never missing a single tweet from your 1000+ followers! Good for you!
But now more than ever real estate twits are working twice as hard. Do you really have time to tweet all day while you’re showing 18 houses, writing multiple contracts, and consulting with your clients? If you do, great…don’t bother reading the rest of this article. The Real Estate Tweet Plan is only for twits looking to organize and better balance social media marketing strategies.
Recently, I wrote a Tweet Plan for Darren Rowse’s new blog, Twitp.com. This was a general Tweet Plan framework really, so I thought I’d share an example Real Estate Tweet Plan. And it goes a little something like this…
Free Seminar Today: Web site secrets and powerful social networking strategies
By Reggie · October 24, 2008 · 5 Comments
Trying to build your online presence? Cyberhomes has hired Randy Eagar, Search Engine Expert and leading technology trainer in the real estate industry to teach you the secrets of some of the most successful agents earning over six figures a year online.
In this seminar, Randy will share easy-to-implement web site secrets and powerful social networking strategies that work. He’ll also introduce a ton of other ideas you can use to dominate your real estate market online!
The Seminar is today Friday, October 24
1-2 pm PT / 2-3 pm MT / 3-4 pm CT / 4-5 pm ET
If you are interested, click this link to RSVP
SMS Widget Makes Connecting Immediate…No Superpowers Required
By Reggie · October 9, 2008 · 12 Comments
Real estate technology blogger Matt Rains has created a new and useful SMS widget for your website or blog. The goal behind this widget is simple, allow visitors to connect with you quickly. And you’ll receive the phone number of the online individual reaching out.
Consumers move fast these days and they want immediate attention. The powerful element behind text messaging…is its immediacy. It’s also proving to be the way in which many communicate.
According to Nielsen, the average mobile subscriber in the US sent and received more SMS text messages than mobile telephone calls during Q2 2008.
