Using Postlets in your ActiveRain Blog

Using Postlets in your ActiveRain Blog 

IN A NUTSHELL
Postlets allow you to create dynamic web-based flyers for advertising & sharing your listings.

WHY WOULD YOU USE POSTLETS?:
 - Relatively easy to use with options to customize colors, multimedia options, variable template sizes, etc.
 - Additional Property info can be added to the posts such as walkscore
 - Easily submitted to social media and listing networks (Craigslist postings)

Postlets are incorporated into Zillow's online real estate network. This can increase SEO ranking and offers additional networking options via their site  

TIPS FOR USING POSTLETS ON YOUR BLOG:
Fill them out! Many of the Postlets I see have the bare minimum amount of information completed, which means checking a few of the boxes and uploading a couple of photos. Give your Postlet some personality, there are three main text areas where you can incorporate SEO keywords and location specific information.

RainMakers who are using Postlets for their blogs should write an introduction paragraph that includes additional information about the property as well as the area where it is located. I always suggest including relevant information about the neighborhood and local resources for the potential buyer. (Maybe you could add a personal review of that great French pastry shop just a few blocks away)

In my experience, blog posts that only include a Postlet flyer receive less views on ActiveRain than posts with additional information and personal insight. You should also be wary that some of the formatting issues created with these templates (or incomplete Postlet listings) can look cheap or impersonal.  

CHECK OUT MY EXAMPLE POSTLET BELOW:

EMBEDDING POSTLETS INTO YOUR BLOG (FORMATTING ISSUES):

This is the area where Rainmakers have encountered formatting problems, especially on their outside blog. The regular code that Postlets provides is larger than the ActiveRain blog pages. This means that the Postles often appears to cut off entirely, or overlap the right menu covering the member's contact information.

The posting area on your ActiveRain blog is 700 pixels wide and the posting area on your outside blog is 560 pixels. The regular width for Postlet templates (as seen below) is 740 pixels wide. 

*HOT TIP*

If you have problems displaying Postlets on your blog (or outside blog) try embeding the code for the Postlet minis (the large size).

•   The "mini" code is located is generated after you complete your Postlet listing
•   The large (385x535) preview will work well in your blog  (see image below)