Featured homes through IDX January 16, 2006
John Vanhara
This is one of the nice features we developed in our own (in-house) IDX solution. We didn’t want to give users only option to search for homes. We wanted them to be able to look at our web pages about different communities and see immediately homes for sale.
For example we can create page about the most expensive homes in Las Vegas. We go to our IDX, get the HTML code for the most expensive homes and paste it to any HTML page. We can specify many criteria, like number of homes, number of rows, columns, areas, communities, view, pool, golf amenities, etc. And it will show homes like that:
Example of the most expensive homes in Las Vegas.
Do you type WWW in front of your domain name? January 13, 2006
John Vanhara
When accessing different websites do you type just domain name (iloverealestate.biz) or do you type www in front of the domain name (www.iloverealestate.biz). Everybody is different and people are using both options. But the important issue is how your own website works.
When you type just domain name will your website show in the address bar: www.iloverealestate.biz (automatically add www)? It is very important to use just version and set up your web server so whatever option users type it will show just one option.
The set up is done through function called mod_rewrite and what you have to do is to place small piece of code to your .htaccess file.
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{HTTP_HOST} ^iloverealestate\.biz [NC]
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ http://www.iloverealestate.biz/$1 [R=301,L]
Why is it so important? Because otherwise search engines like Google might think that there are multiple versions of your website. We can help you fix small things like that for less than $25 fee. It takes few minutes, but can make long term and substantial effect on your search engine rankings.
Link Building for real estate blogs January 10, 2006
John Vanhara
Blogs creates great opportunities for link building strategies. You know about networking. You know that you want other people that you are involved in real estate business. So one day such people can recommend you or use you for real estate transactions.
It works the similar way on the internet. You should network too. You can read other real estate people blogs, write intelligent comments on their blogs, which will link back to you. These links are like networking, which will bring you traffic from other blogs and search engines. Internet networking int he forms of links will work for you 24 hours a day without any extra effort. That’s why it is much more easier than in real life!
Chris Garret in Networking for Blog Success suggest following:
“Other bloggers
Get to know other bloggers. Comment (intelligently) on their own blogs. Link to your favorites regularly. Find out where bloggers hang out. There are conventions for real world rubbing shoulders and there are forums for virtual hob nobbing.
Forums
Forums often allow you to use signatures that contain a line of text and possibly a URL. Just by taking part then you are getting your blog address out there. Better though is to really take part and answer questions, put forward interesting thoughts and get known as someone to turn to for information and interesting dialog. If you do this before you launch, and you are well known and liked you might even have a chance to drop your URL more prominently.
Discussion Lists
Like forums, with discussion lists you can include your URL in your email signature and just like forums it’s even better if you make yourself known and heard.
To really drive traffic link through to posts that might be useful in the discussion. Often frowned upon in forums, dropping links in email discussions is more often allowed or even encouraged.”
Display author picture in your WordPress blog
John Vanhara
Putting you picture next to article you write in your blog will help you create of image of expert in the real estate area. I really like WordPress as blog software because of all the free plugins you can use to customize your blog software. Let’s say you work with few other agents and have a team blog about real estate in your city. One of you is doing commercial and other agents residential. You want to have your name and picture next to your articles. Each time potential clients will read your articles they will see your photo and your name next to them. It is more efficient then regular advertising. And it doesn’t cost anything extra!
The plugin I used for displaying pictures is free. You can download it here or let us help you to set it up. This is another service we can provide.
Post bubble employment scenarios January 8, 2006
John Vanhara
I don’t know if you think there is a real estate bubble or not, but read this article about possible post bubble employment scenarios. If you are real estate broker or agent it is better to be prepared for the worst (and hope for the best).
“Here is the prediction of percentage remaining of brokers and agents:
Real Estate Brokers 50%
Real Estate Salespersons 40%”
I don’t think the numbers are way off. The strongest will survive. This is another reason why cut expenses, do better and more creative marketing, and increase profitability. And that’s the reason why I write this blog to give some ideas how to achieve lower expenses and higher profit.
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