Canada included here folks...

When speaking with potential new clients, I ask about their IDX solution options and have either been told, "Yes, I can have IDX" or "No, I can't have IDX" - and then there's Quebec where I've heard that agents cannot have IDX, nor can they even use the handshake listing options that Point2 offers...

I just don't understand the governing rules...especially when I have certain areas in Ohio where agents cannot have a standalone IDX unless they're with Keller Williams - KW offers a standalone IDX to all their agents, no matter where they are - even Ohio.

I guess the answer to this would be EVERYBODY IN OHIO needs to be with Keller Williams if they want IDX capability for their own websites.  Why can't a standalone IDX be allowed for agents under other brokerages like RE/MAX, for example.  Or if it's the MLS Board that's not allowing it, how does KW get away with being able to offer it?

Is there anybody out there that can shed some light on this so unfair position for agents?

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

I have a client who needed help with her WordPress site.  She has the cool Lifestyle Search feature that one particular IDX company offers, and they also offer the hosting for the WordPress...she took the offer and had everything initially set-up on their hosting.  Then I came in and did some touch-up work for her. 

She has email attached to her domain, and when the IDX company gave her nameserver information for the changeover to bring up the new site, I informed her that her email would go down if she changed out the nameserver information...she either needed to set up her email in the IDX host, change just the A Record of the domain, or send over MX records to the IDX host so they could add them on their end.  Neither of these were an option for my client as the IDX host does NOT have any email capabilities.

When the nameservers are changed over, you're telling the domain host that "everything" is over "here" at these nameservers (the IDX host).  Since none of the above options were capabilities of this particular IDX host, my client was then told she could have her hosting anywhere she wanted...so she went with iPage, a company that also moved her files over to their servers, thereby leaving her email in Network Solutions with the domain.

Her site has been down all weekend and noone can seem to locate the problem.  And there's really nothing I can do to help at this point which just kills me!!! 

Her frustration lies in the original IDX company not mentioning that they don't support email as I know any emails back and forth clearly show hername@herdomain.com. That should've raised a red flag with the IDX company right then and they could have mentioned it at this time.

So make sure you ask about email capabilities when looking at IDX companies also offering to host your WordPress.

She's in a real pickle now and I feel absolutely helpless!!!!  When a wordpress site goes from "temporary" to "live" you simply change the URL under Settings - General - and boom, it's done - in about an hour's time - and the new site should show up...no new site...and no way now to login either under the temporary URL or the real URL.

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

On Wednesday Jan. 18th thousands of sites will go dark to protest SOPA & PIPA, two US bills racing through Congress that threaten prosperity, online security, and freedom of expression.

New to the Fight? Learn More…

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

Wolfnet (MLS Finder) is an IDX solution that is offered through Point2 Agent.  But you don't have to go through Point2 Agent to purchase Wolfnet's IDX solution direct.

Here's what I'm finding:

• If a client purchases the IDX through Point2 Agent, then if they ever leave Point2 Agent, they must start over and sign up again with Wolfnet direct - meaning any previous URL's will be null and void upon leaving Point2 Agent.
• If a client is having problems or can't figure something out, they don't have direct support through Wolfnet, they must get their support through Point2 Agent instead.

Unfortunately, this just doesn't seem like the path to take.  Sorry Point2.  Something like this is just NOT in my clients' best interest, so I can not recommend purchasing IDX through Point2 Agent.  I have to suggest getting your IDX solution direct from the IDX solution itself.

When I'm dealing with any IDX solution...I believe that particular IDX solution knows its own system better than anyone else.  Why go to a 3rd party support system when you can go direct to the IDX solution for support?

I am purposely NOT putting any links to websites here simply because Wolfnet is not the only IDX solution out there and this is not intended to be a plug for Wolfnet.  You need to choose the IDX solution that's right for you.  Yes, I definitely think Wolfnet is in the top with the following:

• IDX Broker
• Wolfnet Technologies
• Diverse Solutions
• FlexMLS

And there are many more...but these are my personal top picks based on my own experience using them for clients.

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

Taking just a little time to check your site for updates is a MUST when your site is using the WordPress foundation.

WHY? Because updates for WordPress may contain security updates, functionality updates, or other updates.

And the Plugins are "ahead of us" and have already been notified by WordPress that there's going to be an update and they get on the wagon to make sure the Plugin(s) they offer are also ready to update as well if needed.

Sometimes your Theme might have an update for functionality or whatever reason.

Once you get behind by even a couple updates on anything, you run the risk of "something" not working.

Especially the IDX Plugins that real estate agents use. (I'll be doing another post on the hierarchy of Plugins and how not all of 'em play nice together!)

________________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS FOR QUICK AUTOMATIC UPDATES:

Once you login to your WordPress site, you'll see right away if there's updates over in the left column top area (Home - Updates). 

If you simply follow the prompts, you can do the following:

1) If WordPress has an update, do that FIRST!!! Follow the prompts for an automatic update. Most of you already have some sort of "backup" either built-in your host or through a Plugin...so don't worry about the notification of backing up your files...just do the automatic update.

2) If you have a Theme update as well, do this SECOND (or before any plugins if there's no WordPress update) - same process...follow the prompts for the automatic update.

3) Plugins are LAST all the time unless there's no WordPress or Theme update.  You can choose the bulk updater and update every single one through the Updates area.  Check 'em all...and follow the prompts.

This process literally takes a couple minutes to complete for everything and you'll be glad you do it!

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

I received an email notification this morning that someone sent me a message from what looked like Linkedin.  The email ended in "linkedin.com" so I thought it was safe...I clicked on the link to view the message and my AVG blocked a threat.

If any of you receive an email notification that someone sent you a message on Linkedin, you're best off just logging into your Linkedin account to view the message - don't click the link within your email.  And, if it wasn't really from Linkedin, there will be no message and you'll know you did the right thing by "not" clicking directly from your email.

It's sad though...that I now can't trust any messages coming from Linkedin because even though the email ends in "linkedin.com" I'm not going to risk getting a virus.

Heed my warning!!!  Don't click on any email notifications from Linkedin - just log directly into your account to see if there really "is" a message from someone.

I'm not sure if the email notifications of someone wanting to connect can be trusted.

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

I've been running into more and more spam getting into my dashboard "waiting approval" - sometimes 100-200 a day...sometimes not even marked as spam...I have to mark it as such.  And I've got Akismet!

I'm at the point where I just had to ask myself what was more important TO ME? Comments or Sharing? Or both?

So I've officially nixed any comment capability on any future blog posts in any of my WordPress sites in hopes that more people will "share" instead of comment. 

After all, it's all about the "Viral Marketing" isn't it?

This is NOT for everyone...those who get lots of comments that aren't spam can't necessarily do this if they still want those comments...but for me, I don't get lots of comments...so this was the best route for Nancy.

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

Now you know I love you Active Rain :-)  But for those of us who "also" have WordPress there's options for the AgentPress Theme by StudioPress.

AgentPress Using the Genesis Slider:

AgentPress "Without" the Genesis Slider:

Using the Traditional AgentPress with WP-Cycle Plugin instead of the Genesis Slider option:

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

Nine years ago today my husband took on the greatest challenge of his life...ME!!!

Nine years later ... 6 kids (his, mine, and ours), 1 grand baby and 2 on the way, 4 moves, 5 dogs, a job that he can't wait to...well I won't talk about that...

Here's to nine and counting Wayne!  Can't wait to see what the future holds!

Love you with all my heart!

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites

Nothing makes me happier than to see clients dig into their sites!  After one training session in PhotoImpact X3 this is what Tabatha was able to create! Her site isn't "live" just yet, but it will be SOON!

Kudos Tabatha - GREAT JOB!!!! 

If any of you like to do things in your website yourself, a little one-on-one training can really help you learn exactly what you need to know instead of attending a "Beginner" class or "Intermediate" class. 

Click here for more information!

Point2 Agent | WordPress | Facebook | PhotoImpact X3 | and more!

Nancy Golliday Custom Point2 Agent Websites / WordPress / Social Media Branding / On-Site SEO NancyGolliday.com | FirstCoastDesigns.com 912.673.8238 (Office/Home) | 912.322.2858 (Mobile) | Email: Nancy@FirstCoastDesigns.com Facebook Business Pages | Custom Point2 Agent Websites | WordPress Blog Sites