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My Name Is Jenn & I'm A Widget-aholic...

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Gundaker

WordpressThis isn't easy for me to confess... I've got a new addiction (in addition to lurking on AR). In the course of redesigning my website, I've discovered Wordpress and their Widgets. There are THOUSANDS of widgets and plugins, even many that are real estate specific (online mortgage calculator, anyone?).

 

None of this would have happened had my previous website provider cut in half the things you got for 'free' with their starter site. (I used to use A La Mode's free Agent XSite... check it out here: http://www.alamode.com/products/agent/xsites/) As free services go, they have a really cool setup and if you have no website at all, it's definitely a great jumping off point. I was ready for the training wheels to come off, but their fee-based site was too expensive for my taste, hence the search for something else.

 

Enter Wordpress (http://wordpress.org). They have themes and widgets and plugins... Oh My! You can scour the Internet and find lots of free stuff for your site that's designed specifically for real estate sites. I'm still fussing with the details of my site, but the basics are there (http://jennbeilmann.com). Now if I can just find a Widget that will beam the buyers directly to my office, I'll be all set!

 

Anyone else use Wordpress? Got any good widgets/plugins you can share?

Chris Canzano
Villa Realty Group, Inc. - Cape Coral, FL
Billion Dollar Broker - Cape Coral, FL

one question, how much money has all these widgets made you?

Sep 07, 2008 01:21 PM
Jenn Beilmann
Coldwell Banker Gundaker - Mehlville, MO
St. Louis MO Realtor

Well since my new site has been active all of 5 minutes, nothing yet. But one reason i quit using the free site was the limitations it had on helping with search engine placement. Luckily Wordpress has a widget for SEO. Most buyers search the web before they do anything else. I want to do everything I can to grab their attention online. Widgets are just one *small* part of that effort.

 

Sep 07, 2008 01:30 PM
Ann-Marie Clements
Candidate for an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership - Saint John, NB
Ed.D. candidate, Innovative Proactive Principa

Hi Jenn,

I have that "Widget-alholicism", once I discovered them, I put them all over my "Blog".  The only differences were I googled the ones I thought were relative to Canada, with one from Meez.com to create my "cartoon character".  LOL  Jenn, You will get through this, I did.....

                              ;>)

Sep 07, 2008 01:34 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I have been using WP for not quite a year.  I love the platform.  Very flexible.  Don't go too nuts on the widgets though, because they will drag you down. 

Sep 07, 2008 01:38 PM
Jenn Beilmann
Coldwell Banker Gundaker - Mehlville, MO
St. Louis MO Realtor

Thanks, Ann-Marie & Lane! I do realize I need to keep the widgets in check. I don't particularly like visiting websites with lots of 'stuff' flashing on the sides, so I sure don't want to do that to people who visit MY site.

 

Sep 07, 2008 01:42 PM
Judi Downing Real Estate Properties in Charlotte & Union Co
Keller Williams Realty - Indian Trail, NC

I agree with you it can get addicting. Each time I see a new one on somebody's site I want it. I don't know why I guess it just think it looks cool.

Sep 07, 2008 01:48 PM
Aaron Cullen
Brokers Inc. Residential Real estate - Folsom, CA
Folsom, El Dorado Hills & Sacramento Real Estate &

Widgets....... Some day I'll find an interest in widgets!

Sep 07, 2008 02:14 PM
Mary Bowen
Coldwell Banker United, Realtor - The Woodlands, TX
Real Estate At Its Finest!!!

Well, we all need are toys. I think the widgets are cool.  meez, too.

Sep 07, 2008 02:16 PM
Jenn Beilmann
Coldwell Banker Gundaker - Mehlville, MO
St. Louis MO Realtor

Thanks, Mary - how's biz in the Woodlands? I have family in Katy & Galveston...

Sep 07, 2008 02:36 PM
Kevin Wood,
Keller Williams Southern Arizona - Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ Realtor

Alrighty then....

Oct 28, 2008 05:48 PM
Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn
Sell with Soul - Pensacola Beach, FL
Author of Sell with Soul

I'm with Aaron - someday I'll figure out why I should be obsessed with widgets, but so far... eh... hasn't happened!

Will I see you in St. Louis (er, Columbia)?

Oct 29, 2008 12:10 AM