Real Estate Blog - Create A Widget For Your Blog...How to from the WidgetBox!

Home : Blogs : Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant : Real Estate Virtual Assistant: Laura's VA Views

Create A Widget For Your Blog...How to from the WidgetBox!

Ok kids! If you look over to the right>>>> you will see under my profile a nice little widget for my blog. (Most of you know by now I am getting widget crazy)

Not only can you customize your own blidget for your websites, blogs, and MySpace pages, but you can also promote your blidget to be subscribed to, and you can promote yourself as the "developer" of your widget. (As you can see from my widgetbox page) Click Here to find out what a Widget is and How it Can Help You.

I'm excited about this, because now that we are learning so much about SEO from so many of our great SEO contributers, these kind-of tools can help with fresh relevant content, Your content, and help boost your subscriptions and web traffic. Your subscribers on AR do not want to have to weed through all of your great blogs to find out if your interesting or not!

And let's face it, sometimes we write dud blogs, that never get noticed. But with a blidget a potential subsciber may see your masterpiece next to your dud, and realize, hey, you really do have talent!

So to create and develop your own Blidget, click on the photo above and follow the directions closely. You can customize colors, Title, tags, your profile and monitor stats and number of subscriptions.

This was a quick blog, but one I was excited to share, as I have been playing around with this all morning. Good Luck!

OK, Here are some fast directions:

To create blidget, put in the URL of your blog, NOT your profile.

Once you have created your blidget, you need to get the code: Click on the Get Widget Code Option

Copy/Paste the HTML code into your blog description, (not the area, blog description text) found under "My Settings" hit update when pasted.

Join the conversation on our Facebook Fan Page! We'd love to see you there!

Posted by Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant on 06/02/2007 02:36 PM

Comments (89)

active rain community support

89 Comments on Create A Widget For Your Blog...How to from the WidgetBox!

JUN

2007

Appreciate the heads up on widgets/blidgets. Have been using a number of them (even a"24" clock those of you who are Jack Bauer fans!). Have seen an increase in traffic to our company website from widgetbox itself. Listen to this lady, all of you! Mike C

Laura - thanks for the great tip!

Hi Emmet~ That is really cool that you've seen an increase on traffic. Do you create most of your blidgets on widgetbox? I will definitely be letting my clients know about this;) P.S. I love your website Emmet, it looks great!

Hi Maureen~ Thanks, I was thinking of you in fact...you are so good at marketing!

I think that Widgets can add a great deal of 'first impression' impact and information to our websites (and therefore have added some to our site) but let's not get crazy with technology and loose site of the main purpose people come to our sites: Information!

Hi LaveryTeam~ I think that this type of widget is a great way to put that information on the fingertips, so to speak, for the people. If you blog with information packed content, its right there. Too many widgets, is simply too much, but targeted the right way can lead consumers to you~

Laura - What a cool tool!

A well deserved gold star. Way to go.

Colleen~ Thanks, hope you find it useful~as I find everything you share.

Ed~ I hope this doesn't turn into a stalker widget:O, LOL! I thought of that when I was looking at it, but didn't delve into the other issues...you'll have to let me know what you think if it comes up.

Laura

This is a very nice widget and one that I use from time to time. It has a clean appearance without any overt commercial appendages. I like your color selection and particularly the use of the Active Rain logo. It's a keeper in my opinion. Good job.

Thanks Ed:) You made me smile.

Hi, I'm thinking this through and still not seeing the benefit beyond having a new "Webgadget". How do they help with new content? Call me Saturday brain-dead.

Forgive me for sounding naive, but what is a widget How does it benefit you and how do you utilize it. I know quite a bit about technology and seo, but not about thiese widgets.

Jeff~ If you put something like this on a website that isn't updated frequently with new information, this can help generate some new content on your website which is good for SEO. It's also a way for people to find your content easier..like a table of contents for your blog. But basically..it's just another tool. Some may find it useful some may not.

*bookmarked*

And I gave ya a 5

David~ Well I can see from your website that you have embedded your profile page of Activerain onto your website. That's great, however, as a consumer, I'm seeing your profile but not your blog, or an article that catches my eye that would compell me to subscribe to your AR blog. With a blidget like this, instead of your profile page, I can get right to the information that you have brilliantly written, AND the other blogs easily. It's compact and user friendly as well. Not only that, but as a "developer" of your blidget, others can blogroll your blidget, if they so choose...more great exposure.

Thanks Laura! I'll look into this.

Tom~ Thanks!

bookmarked, looks fun, dont understand it yet, but i'll check it out ! thanks

This is very helpful! I've been wondering how to go about creating something like this. I've just been too lazy to do the research myself. Thanks for sharing!

I guess I'm falling behind on technology! I've never heard of a widget! I'm not really understanding as to what it does...I'm blonde, I'm confused :(

Wow!

That's awesome. I'm going to do this right now.

Okay, I honestly tried. I thought I could enter my AR profile as the URL, but it didn't work... what am I missing? (At the risk of admitting my technology shortcomings...)

There is so much to learn about on this site, it's amazing!

Thomas~ I just added a link in the post about what a widget is and how it can help you. Remember, you are creating something that helps get information to your target audience quickly, when they need it.

Ricardo~ Glad it could help. I was pretty excited myself.

Mary~ It's ok Mary, that's what AR is for, I'm sure I could learn a lot from you, so it goes both ways:)

Abraham~ Let us know how it works for you!

Margaret~ Enter the URL from your blog page, not your profile page and see if that helps.

This is great! I've checked into widgets before, but they were all blatantly branded with the company's name and there was no way around that. Nice to know that we can brand these ourselves instead.

Linda~ I could see a lot of possibilities, and yes, it looks good I think without all the extra advertising.

Laura, thank you so very much. So all I have to do is click on that blidget graphic at the top, and do I copy the html code into my website?

David~ Yes, click on the graphic above. You'll have to click on the same graphic once you're on that page. You can create your own personalized blidget, create your "developer" profile, and insert the code on your webpage. If you can put it on your homepage...even better:)

Hi Laura!

Thanks for the great info! Keep posting!

Nalliah Thayabharan
Commercial and Residential Building Inspector
Expert Building Inspections Ltd

You know, I thought I was ahead of the game locally by actually bloggin (haven't done a lot, but getting there). And I just read your explanation of a widget and think I get it, but am suddenly feeling out of my depth. Guess I have some research to do....thanks for this - it will get me started.

Thanks Nalliah:)

Hi Liz~ A widget is a webpage doo-hicky. This particular doo-hicky puts your blog into an interesting button your web page that consumers can subscribe to.:)

Great info Laura. I just saved that widget "thingie" page so I can make me a widget. TLW broke my widget last night :)

Laura...

I sure hope your widgets know how to swim. LOL.

Apple...Want a bite? (insert standard evil grin)

TLW...ROAR!

Nice post. I have several of these on my blogs including on my active rain blog but never thought to write a post about it.

Y'know BB, I was going to say something about TLW and her widget breaking...but I think she needs a professional. Take her cookies, that really gets her:)

There are alot of things you can do with widgets/blidgets. I have had my widgets from Widgetbox for a while now. I have two blogs besides AR. I made each into a blidget, then combined the two to form one big widget. I have these on the front page of my website so it is easier for readers to see the most recent posts all at once. Actually, my widgets place higher on search engines then my website. Go figure.

Okay...I just read Blog Boy's (Broker Bryant's) comment.

His widget belongs to me. I have a license that says so.

Now what that means is I have the right to break his widget as often as I like :)

Teresa~ I guess I get excited about this stuff:) I saw some other AR widgets over there as well.

TLW~ Don't go there. LOL!

Laura, this is really cool! Thanks for getting the word out.

Jennifer~ I saw your widget on the site too, and love it on your website! It looks great..and what a great way to add them together...that's what I'm talking about..the possibilities.

Maggie~ No problem!

Cool idea ... the biggest challenge I see when it comes to widgets is not to go overboard. Everything looks so great at first glance, but too many widgets eventually take away from the content.

Jonathan~ Yes, I could see where that could happen..choose wisely.

Looks like a neat little tool, and I can see how it might help tie together multiple domains owned by the same agent. Now if only you can create a widget to help you respond to all of these comments! Congrats on the gold star!

Thank you...that was so easy and it makes perfect sense...again thank you for posting about this fun feature.

Totally kewllllllllll...........thanks, bookmarked and rated!!!

Hi John~ That's what I thought too, lots of possibilites with all the blogs and websites going on out there.

Sheron~ Your welcome!

Teri~ LOL, thanks!

Now I am in trouble. Something else to play with instead of listing and selling.

Thanks for your post and the great tips, we'll give it a shot.

That looks really neat, Laura...I might just put that widget on my website!!

Thanks for the heads up..... =-)

super stuff!, thanks for keeping activerainers in the know

Blidgets of Widgets--guess it's my job to figure this out after your most helpful post. Thanks a bunch.

Hi Laura!

I raced over to the "widget place", made a widget, and now I can't figure out how to get it on my Active Rain profile. I copied the HTML, tried to put it everywhere, got nowhere, need help badly!

I would appreciate your advice on how to insert this---Thanks in advance!

Hi Laura: Thanks for this information. I am going to have to check this out. It looks like a great tool. I will have to bookmark the page and come back when I can catch my breath.

I like the meebo widget because it lets me interact with prospective buyers and sellers in real time and offline. Plus it makes buyers and sellers feel more comfortable by providing anonymity. You can see it on my site and get one for yourself. It's free. Plus, you can create super cool emoticons. Although, I think the monkey requires too many keystrokes, and I'm too lazy to assign it a key for itself. Check it out! Or go directly to meebo.com.

Cheryl~ I think a great place for it is on your business website. There are all sorts of goodies out there ..Yikes!

David~ I hear you, buddy! I appreciate the comment greatly;)

Kevin~ Thanks, and your welcome of course!

A Harb! My Flixtr buddy...thanks for your comment!

Daniel~ I hope the email helped.

Diane~ LOL, Your welcome!

Sandra~ I think I'll edit the post and put ina little how to guide..give me a few minutes. Hope that will help.

Joan~ Your welcome, thanks for the bookmark.

Elizabeth~ I had the Meebo widget for a while, which I loved, but I always forgot to sign in to Meebo, so technically I was always off line. Not only that, but the infamous TLW....broke my meebo widget!

Laura,

This is really cool, thanks for the info!

I need to get up to the widget times. Why are they called widgets? It's such a weird name.

Oh, no. TLW broke it? It works for me because I'm online most days. So I'm always there. When I sign on in the morning, I bring up my About.com homebuying site to make sure the blogs are showing up correctly and to check for forum messages. Then I sign on to Meebo and downsize the screen for it. Then I check e-mail. When I leave my home office, I set meebo to "busy." I probably receive 4 to 5 IMs a day through Meebo. But like you mentioned, you do need to remember to sign on.

Boy, Every day I'm learning about a new thingy. This one looks pretty neat.

We can't wait to try using it! Thanks for sharing it with us AR's.

Please visit our website: WWW.REINNH.COM For NH Real Estate, Browse and please do comment!

Penny~ Your welcome:)

Christy~ I hear you...why they are called widgets I don't know..I'm sure the reason is out there somewhere.

Elizabeth~ I love your site, and perhaps I'll do a Meebo again, but on my website, (not anywhere near TLW);)I noticed we're pretty close together..I'm in Rocklin;)

Tim..I know..but I couldn't resist:)

Laura, great post :)

thanks for sharing this information !

JUN

2007

Interesting gadget.

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin - The Benjamin Team
Keller Williams Integrity First Realty
Gold Canyon Arizona

Laura,

Appreciate you sharing this exciting blidget thing. Have to start playing with it and see how I can put it to proper use.

Thanks for the help on this one. I am always amazed how open people are and helpful on AR. I appreciate all the info and hope one day to do the same.

Nice widget. Good idea.

What a great find! Thanks Laura.

Looks great, Laura...I'll try it! Thanks for the info.

Julia

I read your article and had widgets within minutes.

Thank you!!

This is a great post. This looks like another tool to help beef up our websites and increase our blog subscribers. THANKS!!

I did this last week. I've had some interesting responses.

Laura

I'm just learning about widgets. How is this widget different from the vflyer widget?

Laura, thanks for the great idea! We are in the process of rebuilding our site, so this will be a neat addition. My sidebar on the blog is getting a little too junked up with tools, so I'll have to clean it up a little. But this little gem is staying!

Thanks so much! I'm rating this a 5. Thanks for sharing!

Kathy

I am going to try it now... let you know how it went....

Excited...thanks!!!

JUN

2007

Laura, Great tip! Thanks for sharing this piece of technology!

JUN

2007

Laura,

Thank you for sharing this information with all of us. I will have to give this a try.

JUN

2007

Girl, you are amazing!!!! You've done it again but by now, we shouldn't be surprised!! Thanks for the useful tool:)

I'm sending you these flowers for all of your wonderful work!!

JUN

2007

Wow! What a fun, helpful post.

I have one on my blog here, on my other blog, on myspace, and I've emailed this link to my friends.

Thank you! NWDrew

JUL

2007

This widget blog keeps on giving and giving. Thanks for this very helpful post. I was on vacation, so I'm glad it was linked through a comment on a recent post.

Thanks so VERY MUCH for this post. I found this in your response to another blogger - but cant remember that post. I followed your instructions and I now am a proud owner of my own widget.

Thank you. I created a blidget and it was very helpful. Thank you.

AUG

2007

I will try I promise - oh scary- fun!

FEB

2008

I just wanted to say how proud I am of all your widgets! Great job:)

FEB

2008

You know, every time I try to get my widget code from this site it gives me an error "can't subscribe to this widget at this time"??? I'm not sure why, very annoying. Need to find another widget maker!

That's some pretty cool stuff! I love widgets--and now you've shown us where to make our own--thanks!

This blog does not allow anonymous comments