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Making Your Post, A Mini - Webpage

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Creating a post to look like a website is in my opinion, a great way to market yourself and provide valuable information to the public on Localism.com. Many are doing this already, but for some, maybe this will help inspire and motivate you to put a little more into your posts' for the Localism website. This is NOT a very good sample of a website looking page, but you get the "picture". It's giving your readers the choices and options, the same as a kid would have, from the local Ice Cream truck! (Remember These?)

Today, I received a call from a consumer who found my "Short Sale" post on Localism.com, and wanted more information about my blog. She asked if there were any agents in my area that might be able to help her. She's a real estate investor. I immediately networked her with an agent (Viktor Manrique) in the area she was interested in. After I hung up, I had an after-thought, I should have combined other relative information with that post, regarding other issues like REO's, foreclosures, trustees sales, even Active Rain MLS data. This would have been useful to her based on our conversation. She liked that it was easy to reach me from my post too.

The links above are just samples of what you can do to add to your Localism posts, and make them more valuable to consumers and other viewers. If you are good with HTML like Craig Schiller, and others on the rain, you can make your posts look like a website, and encompass more tools, products and services for your clients. If you're "Not so Hot" with HTML (like me), there are members like Mike Mueller who have mastered the art of HTML, and you should take advantage of their knowledge and their services. :-) That's Mike, The Mortgage Guy!

I hope you'll find this post to be a useful "sample" of some Blogging ideas for Localism.com This, is just a sample, and is for "Members Only". I am working on my actual Localism community "website post" which is coming soon. Feel free to click around, then comment. Active Rain has been a great learning platform for me, and the relationships I have developed here, are "virtually priceless!"

*** Watch for my next post: The Non-Judicial Foreclosure -

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Posted by Brad Andersohn ~ Community Manager on 06/25/2007 11:46 PM

Comments (71)

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Originally posted at: Real Estate 2.0 Technology : Making Your Post, A Mini - Webpage

71 Comments on Making Your Post, A Mini - Webpage

JUN

2007

Great looking website-page-blog, Brad. HP had some free e-courses on using html - perhaps they still do.

Here I was trolling along...

and viola!

what a great looking post you have.

Thanks for the mention - you've taken the html torch and took off running!

Looks great!

I'd sure like to learn more, I'll check out HP, I think I know what classes you are talking about. I know the basic stuff, just have trouble with design, layout, and the graphics part of it all. Thanks Sharon!! :-)

Mike, see what I mean everyone? Mention HTML, do a post, and there's Mike Mueller within 60 seconds!! Wow Mike, I am impressed! Thanks! I look forward to our meeting this week or next. I will be calling you for an appt later my friend. Thanks!

<center><br><font=red></br></center><p> ..... just kidding!! :-)

JUN

2007

Brad!

Excellent idea! I think I can do these:

I can do bullets. (√)
I can do pictures.(√)
I can do hyperlinks (√)
Now if only I can think of a topic that hasn't been written about. (Problem) LOL

How do you come up with all of these cool ideas? (I'll try to do that glitter signature that you taught Teri next). Thanks!!!

That was great, Brad!! i have so much to learn

Now Here's a Website within a Comment!! LOL Now this might be carrying it too far....just kidding!!

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Brad,

This is great, I think I going to go into information overload, but still love it! I will check out your other posts, thanks.

Brad - You are amazingly innovative. Wish I could share your brain for a couple of hours! Thanks for sharing this concept.

All I can say is WOW!! Great idea... Just when I thought it would be a short night of blogging, now I have to stay up a little longer and try to catch up with some of the HTML tricks. :-|

I love the look - and the info you rock - thanks for always being there for all of us

Excellent - Bookmarked! Now I just have to figure out how to do it!!

Cheers - have a great week & thanks

That was pretty neat! This may just be a great idea...hmmm. WooHoo!

Hey, just posted a Braddah Iz with song...thought you may be interested in listening to the song!

Yolanda - I was going to use buttons instead of links. it was just taking too much time. I am looking into an easier way to do Mini-Website posts, (kinda like Vflyer does) but not limited to a flyer. Someone told me notepad or typepad, something like that does a great HTML blog post! I'll be researching it and of course, coming back to share when I get it down. Thanks so much for your kind comment.

Marie - you have allot of members here to help you, take advantage of all that this place has to offer!! :-)

Carmen - I feel your pain with information overload. Just remember, eat the elephant one bite at a time!!

Marlene - thanks! You are too kind! My brain and blog are always open to you. I look forward to seeing your concepts in your blog too!! :-)

Kimberly - no dose or coffee, you'll never make it without!!! LOL! :-) Thank you.

Thesa - thanks! That means allot to me, glad to do it! :-)

Deborah - if you need any help, don't be shy, we love to help each other out here on the rain. Everyone wins!!

Aloha Sally, just checked out and commented on your post! It made my night special and brought back many awesome memories. Thanks for that!! You have turned out to be a wonderful "ohana" blogger! Mahalo!! :-)

Very cool. I am going to try to work on this for my blog later this afternoon. Very good.

Just keep in mind that if you advertise in your post for Localism you may lose your posting points, this happened to me and that is why I quit doing it.

Truley an inspiring article, I'll work on it this weekend. Never entered my mind but who the power of that is unbelievable.

Kristine - thanks, I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I'm sure it will be awesome!

Linda - I have never heard of that, can you explain? I have posted to localism before, and advertised, but I did not lose any points (not that points would matter if business is being sought and gained). Just curious what you mean? Maybe I'm missing something here... Thanks!

Brad - great idea/website-blog, etc....I feel soooooo far behind in the things I want to do (post more to Localism). Your post is a "gentle" reminder that I need to get focused!

Joddie - there's nothing "gentle about it!" Get off your _ _ _ and get posting!! LOL! just kidding...

Don't be so hard on yourself. If you felt up to speed on the rain, then you'd feel "far behind" in something else in your life. As long as your priorities are in order, just have fun with everything!! Balance!! Especially those things that can contribute to the success of your family and business. Now I'm off to check out your stuff... :-) I'll be gentle with my comments, I promise!! (BIG SMILE)

Interesting concept. I'm just getting used to having a blog...but my webpage IN my blog? Hmm.

Jeff - the concept is more "A mini-webpage in a post" that is within your Blog, and then fed to Localism.com.

It doesn't really mean to put your website in your blog, it's more like making your post look as if it were a mini-webpage to attract more attention from consumers, and offer more services, products and tools from a single post! It is just a concept. :-)

I am sure you have seen many varieties of posts out here, this is just another one of those. I think if you ask this same question to your readers, it might make you think HHHMMMM, instead of Hmm!! LOL! Thanks for commenting, that does mean a great deal to me! Your Blog is great by the way!!

Missy - I look forward to seeing your work over the weekend! The power of a post! Maybe that's what I should have named this one, I like it. Thanks!! :-)

Brad, good idea and great concept.

Thanks Rod - I appreciate that! :-) Nice to have you here too!!

Brad, what a nice layout, very pleasing to the eye, a great way to present info on Localism to consumers. And as you said, who cares about points if it brings you business.

realtor closing gifts, marketing tools, garaughty.com

Brad,
You amaze me, you are so creative and resourceful. Thank you for giving some of us who are "less inclined" great tips and guidance.

Brad, I agree, this is very pleasing to the eye! Now can you explain how to do it for us tech challenged folks? In other words, can this be done in the Regualar wyswyg or do I have to remember my html? Great post btw!!

Cynthia - thanks for the kind words in your comment!! It feels good to "Pay It Forward", something I learned from Colleen Kulikowski early on out here in the rain!! :-)

Karen - you can use either one. Most will probably use wyswyg, but for those willing to learn and use HTML, there are not as many limitations. You don't need html for the sample I did above. You can add graphics, links, icons with links etc. You can't add borders, change font sizes and colors, add java or multimedia and layouts like you can with HTML. It's a learning curve I know, I'm still on the bank turn of that curve, but I see the value in being able to do both! There are some apps that may help you and others with HTML or blog design. I am researching it now and hope to post more about this in the future. Keep checkin back and I'll try not to let you down. :-)

I have full faith in you Brad, and I will keep checking back. Thanks for all you do for everyone.

Brad,

This is great! You are awesome! So much to learn!

I took a peek at your photo blog, wow very impressive!

Ginger

Brad - this post looks fantastic. I think that using a format or branded looking post is a great idea.

Brad

Hey thanks this is really useful info. I have to learn HTML not enough time. But what a great idea!

Thanks!

Brad - WHERE do you find the time? I am simply amazed. It took me forever just to post my lengthy - 40 - post, and now here you are again how many days in a row? You are a bottomless pit of information and I LOVE it!!! :-) People like my glitter.....:-) and so do I!!

BOOKMARKED AND RATED A 5!!

Glitter Graphics

Thanks Karen!! It's my pleasure to help anyone, anyway I can. Guess that's why my creator placed me here!! Some call it karma, some call it christian, I call it plain old fashioned "passion" I love helping others because so many have helped me in life!! Paying It Forward, you'll hear me say that time and time again! :-)

Ginger, I am glad you had the chance to check out my photo blog, it's dedicated to "What's Right With The World!" a bit more positive outlook on life and the beauty of the world we live in today! Thanks for your wonderful comment, I wish I had as many viewers there as there are here on Activerain. Many of my photo posts over there still have 0 comments. That's why I like AR, you can feel the Love on every post!! :-)

Maureen - Thanks for the compliment, it's not anywhere near what I'd like to produce, but I am always a work in the progress eh? LOL! I like the idea of a branded post because I think that's what consumers will gravitate to, and remember down the road. Something about a bunch of text (wall of words) on a bunch of posts, doesn't really pop out to me as memorable. I still believe in the 5 principles of a good blog. Now , I think we need to carry that down to the actual post level. Every post should be the best it can be, forget about points, and create it like it's your last...one day, for us all, it will be.

Gary - I'm certain I'm not the first, nor will I be the last, to say GARY ROCKS!! I love your name! I know how good it makes me feel when my friends say "Brad Rocks!!", so you must feel good ALL THE TIME!! Love it! :-) Regarding your comment, here's the beauty, you don't have to learn HTML! I will be doing a post showing you how to get around this (once I find the best and easiest way) No one has time to learn HTML who doesn't know it already. There are ways to convert what you see in your application to html on the fly. Watch for that post ok? Thanks!!

Teri - two words (cause now I'm all out of them...haha) Thank You!! :-)

guess what?

Brad, Do you post the photos on Localism as stand alone photos?

Ginger

Ginger and Roger, photos are posted to localism individually, they do not come from your posts. I am assuming that is what you mean by "stand alone". Does that answer your question? LMK

Doreen -what?

Rated & bookmarked! This is a fabulous idea! Just when I was getting the hang of it all...along comes a superb looking post like this to challenge the learning curve!

Michelle - thanks!! When you say "rated and bookmarked", does that mean a 1 and reported as spam? hehe LOL! Just kidding. I think it is good to be challenged and pushed out of the comfort zone. It keeps life exciting and full of adventure!! Thanks again! :-)

Hey Brad, you always make great blogs, this is a good one, so we can mek a copy cat :) LOL ! :) well, you gave us the whole enchilada and guacamole picture :)

Ray - that's too funny, thanks! You always have a great attitude. Remember, that's what determines your altitude!! (smile)

JUN

2007

I see the application - good idea.

We are in labor right now and I've got few minutes away - and look what I'm doing!

Jeff - I new you'd see the light...LOL! on the other note...

WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING!!!! Your wife is in labor, minutes away from giving birth to your child, probably sweating, screaming, cutting off the circulation in the nurses arm, and you're Blogging Me?

I feel a post coming on....LOL!!! :-) Now we all have to know, Boy or Girl, How big, Name, time born etc. etc. Please come back and let us know, or better yet, do a post (after the baby is born) and show us photos and tell the story. I'll attest to the fact that you're addicted to AR if you need!! ROFL!!!

NOW PUT AWAY YOUR PHONE! CLOSE UP YOUR LAPTOP! and GET IN THERE AND ENJOY YOUR NEW MIRACLE AND ADDITION TO YOUR FAMILY!! They grow up so fast so take time to enjoy every moment of every day. (See Illustration below) Congratulations my friend, I'm happy for you and your family!

JUN

2007

Hi, Brad!

I like the example shown above! Thanks for coming up with something like that. I sure would love to create something like that--it'll probably take a little while as I learn the steps one by one.

Thank you for your endless tips, all equally informative especially to newbies!

Emilie - it takes a small amount of time compared to the Large rewards that will come. Let me know if I can ever be of assitance to you in your blogging or real estate endeavors! Always glad to help when I can!

Thanks for your kind words and comment!! :-)

JUN

2007

This blog is really cool.You must have put alot of work into it.

Hey Brian - I did put a little time and effort into it, as an inspector, do I pass your test? LOL! Thanks!!

Wow! Can't wait to go from a newbie to get where you are at. Good job on your site!

Diana - 100 or so days ago, I didn't even know what Blogging or Active Rain was. I am humbled by your comment, but you don't have far to go. :-) Thanks for the compliment, don't hesitate to holler if you ever need any assistance out here. That's what members do for each other on the "rain".

"Membership Has It's Privileges!" :-)

JUL

2007

Great post. It makes sense since many times blog posts can do very well in search results.

Julie - excellent point and one often missed by many of us. My next post is how to create a post that gets readers. Thanks for the comments.

Brad, what program are you using for the mini website? This is such a good idea. I have been working on a template but something always fail's. Great Post.

i was toying with the idea of creating a blog template..... maybe i should get on it. LOL

good stuff

JUL

2007

Frank, no program, just html and Active Rains Wysiwig format. Created the banner in Paint Shop Pro, the side bar the same, and the Links are just links. The idea is to get away from the "ALL TEXT POST" if at all possible. Each post should be original, and still contain enough information to keep your readers and viewers stuck on your post. Look at is as much more than just a post on your blog, it really is a webpage all in itself. Has it's own url and everything!! Let me know if this helps. You can always email or call me too! Thanks Frank!!

Tom - I'm not sure a template is such a bad idea? I don't know how the SEO and Google love works on those, but I do know that consumers and readers like them. I got 3 phone calls last week from Localism.com. All 3 are now potential clients and have been referred to Agents in their specific areas. I think the better your post looks and feels, the better responses you'll get from other members and consumers. Thanks Tom.

Brad,

Thank you for getting my wheels turning. At this time in the morning that can be hard to do! I appreciate all your effort in educating us in the Rain. Thanks Bunches!

Anthea - might I recommend a strong cup of Java to get that "Kicked Into Gear" feeling we all need from time to time. LOL! Pete's coffee helps me really get my "wheels turning" in the morning!! :-)

AUG

2008

This is still such a great example (minus the long graphic at start, hehe). I was hoping you could add-on to this Brad with examples based on the new guidelines, size dimensions and whatever other reasons you'd like. btw: mc.donalds coffee is not half bad either.

Ok - I fixed it. This is one of those post that got buried forever, then we changed our Blogs on AR with the Customizer so the long sidebar got moved. All better now. Thanks Castellum, this post was dead for over a year now... the last comment was when I worked for First American Title on 7/2/2007. That's too funny.

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