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Using Crossword Puzzles in Your Blog

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

I discovered a free online tool tonight for making crossword puzzles... so of course I had to try it.  You can see  how I used the puzzle in a post on my community and real estate blog at Focus On Crofton, but let me share with you just how easy this is:

1.  Visit Crossword Puzzle Maker

2.  Enter the name of your puzzle and your name

3.  List words and their clues

Crossword Puzzle Maker does the rest.  And they even save your puzzles for you up to two months.  Of course, you can make a screen shot of them, as I did, to save in another file or to insert into a blog post.

 

Crossword Puzzle Clues

 

While my puzzle is a quiz on local knowledge, Michael and Stacy Spickes created an ActiveRain post in 2007 with a Short Sales theme.  I think a crossword puzzle is a great break in the routine of a narrative post, but it could be just as informative.  Think of the many possibile topics...  I am!

 

EDIT:  Great suggestion in the comments from Maureen McCabe.  Instead of using an image for the clues, she suggests typing in the text so they're searchable phrases.  WONDERFUL idea!

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (86)

Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Pamela - I had a great time with it.

Jim - Enjoy!

Kathy - 'Can't wait to see your puzzle creation.

Maureen - It looks great!  Did you see I modified the post to include your suggestion?

Brad - I see creating a puzzle as a free tool, but the "professional" upgrade would be interactive, capable of being embedded in a blog post or on a website/have a link (like YouTube), and offer storage.

Cheryl - 'Have fun with it.

Lanette - Be sure to post a link in your comment to your first puzzle.

Exit Hill Country - Please share your name with us.

May 29, 2009 05:53 AM
Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Hi Margaret~ Thanks so much for sharing this idea.  I can't wait to check it out and pass it on to a friend of mine that loves crossword puzzles!

May 29, 2009 07:21 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

I really like this idea,  IT will be good for our next mailer.  Even better would be if you could fill it out on line.

Kathy

May 29, 2009 09:34 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Margaret, I love it!  Thanks for sharing it with us at AR.  Can't wait to try it.

May 29, 2009 10:15 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Margaret, What a find, this is SO cute!  I think people would love it and I can't wait to play around with it myself.  Thanks so much for sharing it with us!

May 29, 2009 10:22 AM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

I know I will be getting old when I start enjoying cross word puzzles on a blog - LOL

May 29, 2009 10:35 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Margaret - That is very "different" for online blogs, I like it.  I used to do print media newsletters with puzzles and I KNOW people liked them!  Hmmmm.....

May 29, 2009 12:12 PM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Margaret,  What a neat idea.. and how nice of you to share it.

May 29, 2009 02:34 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

This is why I love active rain...the sharing of great ideas..  Thanks so much

May 29, 2009 02:35 PM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

What a good idea. I'll have to try this it think people would love it thanks.

May 29, 2009 02:39 PM
Lane Bailey
Century 21 Results Realty - Suwanee, GA
Realtor & Car Guy

I might have to sit down and play with that...  That could be a lot of fun.  And there are a lot of fun uses for that, too...

May 29, 2009 04:08 PM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Now that is a cool idea Margaret. I would bet if we all added a crossword puzzle to our posts, we could get people to come to our blogs every day. The Crossword Puzzle enthusiasts are diehards. I am not sure they would ever buy a house but who knows, lol.  I love the idea of this and I am going to follow the link. It just sounds like such a great idea I can't resist. Congrats on the feature . I personally love your creative ideas.

May 29, 2009 05:12 PM
Cheryl Clayton
Westlake Village home buyers and sellers Thousand Oaks homes - Westlake Village, CA
Conejo Valley and Simi Valley Realtor

What a fun idea! I have a booth at the next Chamber breakfast. I am going to create a crossword puzzle about our lovely area, The Conejo Valley. It will be a fun item to include in my information packets.

May 29, 2009 05:46 PM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

William said " I would bet if we all added a crossword puzzle to our posts, we could get people to come to our blogs every day. The Crossword Puzzle enthusiasts are diehards. I am not sure they would ever buy a house but who knows, lol. " but they are sure going to know you are a real estate agent and if their sphere is looking... I am sure they can direct them to you if they keep coming back for more puzzles.  Don't you think?

I am not sure you can do a complex enough Crossword puzzle for real, real hard core puzzle people but it is certainly something that will engage some folks.

 

May 29, 2009 06:01 PM
Jim Hale
ACTIONAGENTS.NET - Eugene, OR
Eugene Oregon's Best Home Search Website

Margaret

           h

        ideas

             r

            really

               w

               e

       thanks

               o

               m

                everyone.

 

May 29, 2009 08:05 PM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Good morning, all.  'Headed out the door for an appointment, followed by a family graduation party.  'Can't promise any more comments from me before tomorrow.

But I do want to answer a question that was emailed to me.  How did you get the title on your Crossword puzzle in that font and the acknowledgement under it? 

I made a screen shot of the puzzle, using Snag-it.  Then I used the Snag-It editor to expand the canvas slightly and insert the text boxes.  Very very simple.  If you don't have Snag-It yet, try it...  I use it several times a day.

Have a great weekend, Everybody.

May 30, 2009 12:36 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Margaret!  What a GREAT idea!  And, you know I'm going to have to go out and try one!!  LOL

Have a great weekend...

Debe in Charlotte

May 30, 2009 02:08 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Oh how fun! I'm going to try one myself - now what shall I use as a topic?? :-)

May 30, 2009 07:16 AM
DriveBuy Technologies
DriveBuy Technologies - Austin, TX

What a novel and fun idea! I like it a lot! 

May 31, 2009 11:45 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Debe - Let me see it when you do.

Liz - What did you decide to try for a topic?

Ian - I've got my techie son working on an interactive version that can also be embedded, but this is fun in the meantime.

May 31, 2009 01:18 PM