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Great Tools for Bloggers

I am always excited when I come across new tools that will enhance my real estate blog--particularly when those tools are free and easy to install.

Two recent finds are Link Within and Zemanta. Link Within is a quck plug in that installs easily. It scans the current blog post and finds older blog posts that might also interest the reader based on the content of the current post. It then posts a thumbnail photo of 3 older posts from your blog archives with the caption: "You might also like". The beauty of this tool is that it encourages the reader to delve deeper into the blog. The time each of my visitors spends on my blog is increasing. That is a positive sign! LinkWithin may be found at www.linkwithin.com

Zemanta was just released in June. It assists with enhancing the SEO of each post by adding links, tags and photos based on the content of the post. It is a free application. Once it is downloaded, the Zemanta icon sits on the browser and will be accessible for the blog and gmail. It evens adds a ReBlog button to the right lower corner of the post, so readers can easily quote you with a single click. It provides proper attribution and a backlink. Zemanta can be downloaded at www.Zemanta.com

Here is an example of a recent post with Zemanta added:

Are You Ready for a New Kitchen?

Image by Jay Paradis via Flickr
Merrillat Cabinets and www.dannylipford.com are offering one lucky winner $25,000 to redo theirkitchen including appliances, cabinets, andflooring. This contest is simple to enter. No essay or video is required, just fill out the online form and press "enter". One entry per person through September 22nd.

If you are the one to win, please let me know! What would be the first thing that you would change about your kitchen?

You might also like: 2006 Existing and New Home Prices by County/Township Some spring home maintenance tips Running the Sahara LinkWithin Posted by Diane Brooks at 12:52 PM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: Floor, free giveaway, freebies, Kitchen

Do you have other blogging tools that you just can't live without? Please post them in your comment!

Diane Brooks, CRS, GRI

FC Tucker Company, Inc.

Follow me on twitter @talktoDiane

Posted by Diane Brooks on 08/25/2009 03:45 PM

Comments (6)

Blogging Tips in the ActiveRain Channel

blogging help, tools, zemanta, linkwithin

Post is included in group: The Art Of Marketing You
Post is included in group: Online Marketing Sites
Post is included in group: Indiana Real Estate Professionals
Post is included in group: Indianapolis & Surrounding Area Bloggers

6 Comments on Great Tools for Bloggers

AUG

I can't live without www.postlets.com This is an amazing tool if you do alot of listings. It is also free. Love that free stuff. Thanks for your tips, I will look into both.

Thanks for Suzanne for mentioning Postlets. That is a great one! I love those tools that make life (and business) easier.

AUG

Thats awesome...had never heard of Zemanta! Thank you for sharing such a great tool.

AUG

Does Zemanta site on A/R or on your desktop, do you have to type your post in another browser. I guess I will play with it and see if it plays back.

Hi Charles, once downloaded, Zemanta opens when you begin a new blog post. If you want to add any of the suggested photos, tags or links, you just click on it. That is how it operates on Blogger. I haven't tested it on any of the other blogging platforms.

Good luck!

Diane