Web Presence on a Shoestring Budget Updated 4/30/2009

It's hard to keep up with the technology. I want a video blog, but haven't worked up to it yet. Here is an old post I try to keep updated for a KW class.

It all started with MySpace. From there I got invited to ActiveRain. I resisted for quite some time before joining, but I am glad I finally did. Here I learned how to bulk up my website, I learned about SEO and I even got a referral!!! I have 3 websites, my own blog and an active approach to online networking. 

Updated 1/8/2009 - I'm a Facebook fanatic and most recently discovered ning, but I'm not sure what to do with that yet.

Updated 4/30/2009 - Have my own social network at www.SmartGirlsOwn.net and on Twitter frequently now. It's hard, but there's something there. I like how it grabs the Activerain posts and sends info over to Facebook.

Here is a list of free, or almost free, websites that can exhibit your profile, your listings, or are just plain helpful in this business. These are a fraction of the business basics... there are 1000's more. Let me know if there is one you'd like to share!

NEW DISCOVERIES:

www.dakno.tv: Info rich videos about website and web presence, social networking, blogging and SEO. Nice!

www.zipvo.com: A goldmine I haven't tapped into.

www.freeenterprisewarriors.com from Dave Jenks

Submit Your Site:

*www.google.com/addurl - submit your site to Google

http://www.google.com/local/addxplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit - display your business on Google

http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/local/business.php - display your business on Yahoo

*https://siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com/submit - submit your site to Yahoo

*http://search.msn.com.sg/docs/submit.aspx - submit your site to MSN

Listing Syndication:

*www.point2agent.com - Ads, website, virtual tours, PLUS listing placement -- free for 6 months ($9.95 a month thereafter) Great value, and shows up high on Google searches.

www.Trulia.com - post listings, answer questions, blog - definately post your profile here!

http://www.trulia.com/tools/ - Free widgets and cool downloads to place on your website. Beware: all roads lead back to Trulia

www.Zillow.com- free profile and listing ads - can link right to IDX and pull your listings onto your Zillow profile.   

www.1031NetEx.com - free profile and listing ads for investors

www.backpage.com - free ads  

www.craigslist.com - free ads  - if nothing else, post your listings on here and you will see traffic to your site.

www.postlets.com - free ads, free listing placement, and HTML for craigslist, etc.

Social Networking/Blogging:

*www.facebook.com - online networking - just about everyone I know is on here.

*www.twitter.com Update your status and it will update on Facebook, link to ActiveRain and send blog postings to Twitter and Facebook. Link to Blip.fm and send songs to Facebook. It's cool.

www.myspace.com  - online networking and blogging 

http://www.ning.com/ Create your own neighborhood social network for free

*http://activerain.com/action/referrals/sellwithstacey - online networking for Realtors, blogging community. Join Twitter and Facebook - blog on here and reach 100's of people you know and don't know.

http://www.localism.com/ - offshoot of ActiveRain - post listings and news  

www.youtube.com/sellwithstacey - free video hosting

www.linkedin.com - professional online networking

www.realtown.com  - blogging

www.plaxo.com - online networking, connect to all of your online networking sites and contact management

www.wannanetwork.com - online networking for Realtors

www.naymes.com - online networking  

*http://www.blogger.com/ - blogging - can also connect to Twitter.

Helpful: 

www.godaddy.com - domain names ( .info is sometimes cheap)  

www.mlsfinder.com- Wolfnet (NOT FREE - IDX search for website) 

http://www.realbird.com/ - widgets, listing ads

http://www.clearspring.com -widgets  

www.circlepix.com - sometimes can catch good specials - it used ot have a link for free virtual tours, but it's not there anymore.

http://www.eagentc.com/ - If you're at KW, this link is invaluable.

*www.voicecloud.com - voicemail to text transcription - not free, but really cool.

Good Freebies:

*http://www.realestatetechnologyonline.com/widget/ FREE text message widget for your website - VERY cool.

www.flyinside.com - free virtual tours - can connect them to Realtor.com for a measly $25 or to the MLS for $10.

 www.animoto.com - cool virtual tours - you can't use them on the MLS, but they look cool on Facebook.

www.realtyjuggler.com  - database - free 90 day trial ($99 a year thereafter) 

http://www.alamode.com/products/Agent/xsites/Default.aspx - Free real estate websites

www.freebielist.com - free stuff in general  

https://www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com/ - free coupons for Lowes for clients

http://www.mypersonaladvantage.com/about/pricing.aspx - free 30-day trial of drip email marketing campaigns ($9.95 a month thereafter, print and mail is additional cost)

www.verticalresponse.com - 25 free email drips when you sign up.

 www.jott.com - free reminder service, not free anymore, but very helpful.

www.leadtoclose.com - free in beta - lead/contact management 

News/Info:

http://www.morningstarmultimedia.com/html/dlreguide.asp - free marketing guide

http://www.hobbsherder.com/current_enews.asp - free monthly newsletter - marketing help

http://www.rismedia .com/ - real estate news  

http://www.inman.com/news - real estate news  

www.housefront.com - real estate valuation tool for text messaging  

http://www.stumbleupon.com/ - learn more about other websites and promote your own

 

MORE...  

http://www.zadzoo.com/

https://www.trexglobal.com/partner

http://www.freerealestateads.net/  

http://www.rehablist.com/

http://www.submitawebsite.com/blog/2006/05/use-google-base-to-list-items-in.html

http://www.wordpress.com/

http://www.seodiva.net/

 

Thanks,

Stacey McCarthy

http://www.bigjoemccarthy.com/

http://www.smartgirlsown.com/

* = personal favorites