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The Widget Every Agent Needs on their Blog...

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners

As real estate professionals, we want to provide the best possible service to our clients and potential clients. One of the ways we can do that is by being easily accessible and giving people a quick response whenever they have a question or need to get in touch with us.

So how do we accomplish this task? By putting this Text Message Widget on our blogs and websites. It was recently recognized by Widget World and Brad Andersohn as one of the Top 10 Web 2.0 Widgets for 2008 and as the Best Text Message Widget on the Web. The widget was created by Matt Rains, the creator of Real Estate Technology Online.com and RETechBlog.com.  

Text messaging is one the dominant forms of communication these days, particularly with the younger (Read: First-Time Home Buyer) crowd. It offers the ability to get in touch with someone quickly and also to receive a quick response as well. Having the text message widget on your blog, website or listings allows people to ask you a question easily without much effort.

How it works:

Simply click on the link below and fill out the short form, then click on "Give Me My Widget." Automatically the embed code pops up, just copy and paste it into the website or blog you would like it to appear on. Also, you can put it in as many places as you would like.

GET TEXT WIDGET NOW

The widget will appear on your blog and people can then put in their phone number and the message they would like to send you. After they click on the red "Send Txt Message" button, you automatically receive the text message within 15 seconds. At this point you can either text them back or call them.

Imagine someone sitting at their computer looking at one of your listings, they type you a question and receive an answer in less than a minute...how IMPRESSIVE and PROFESSIONAL do you look?!

True Story:

I can tell you first hand that you can obtain clients through using this tool; in fact, my husband and I were at a wedding in Augusta, Georgia-we were about to leave the hotel to go to the ceremony, when we received a text message that said "We're interested in selling our home." Matt called them right back-they were still sitting at their computer looking at our website and were so impressed by the quick response that they wanted to schedule a listing appointment right then and there and of course we got the listing.

Why wouldn't you add this widget to your blog? It's FREE and it'll bring you business.

Thanks for reading!

Kayla Pearce
First Class Properties - Milford, DE
Real Estate Agent - Milford Delaware

Hey Anne, great advice! Thanks for showing us this tool! I am going to get mine right now!

Jan 14, 2009 01:22 AM
The Rains Team
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Hoschton, GA
A higher standard in real estate

Marilyn: It's great to give people as many options as possible.

Tim and Pam: You're welcome, I hope it brings you business.

Steve: It's a great tool; I hope it works well for you.

Dan and Amy: You're so welcome!

Johnathan: Haven't received any spam texts yet...let me know if you receive any.

Mike: You're welcome; this one's easy to add to your blogs and website.

 

Jan 14, 2009 01:24 AM
The Rains Team
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Hoschton, GA
A higher standard in real estate

Lynn: I went to your blog--it's beautiful! I really like the way it looks--very appealing to the eye. As far as the twitter bird, I typed in twitter bird in Google images and copy and pasted the one I liked into my pictures. Then I just insert and add a link to my twitter account. You may save my image from my blog post if you would like.

Jim: Great, glad to share this with you.

Jenny: I talked to Matt and he said it should be available in Canada sometime next week. Check back on the page where you get the widget or just e-mail me and I'll let you know. Sorry you can't get it today--but you'll soon be able to.

Kathleen: You don't have text messages?!! LOL--definitely time to add that on!

Suzanne: I thought it was pretty cool too!

Michele: It's definitely a good idea to have as many ways as possible for people to reach you.

Steve: You're welcome! Glad you like it!

Kayla: You're welcome! Hope it works well for you.

Jan 14, 2009 01:35 AM
Mayra Espinosa Realtor San Mateo Pacifica Homes
Mayra Espinosa Broker- Realtor | Call 650-996-8961 - Pacifica, CA
San Mateo County Real Estate | Buy | Sell | Invest

Thank you for sharing the Widget World link. I love Widget. Thanks :)

Jan 14, 2009 06:13 AM
Scott Guay
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services PenFed Realty - Ocean Pines, MD
Associate Broker. Ocean City and Ocean Pines MD

I have been meaning to do this.  Thanks for the poke.

Jan 14, 2009 06:28 AM
Jodi Bakst
Team Jodi Realty - Chapel Hill, NC
Team Jodi - Chapel Hill Real Estate, Durham Real E

Anne,

I love this.  Thank you for putting this out there.  I am going to use it!

Jan 14, 2009 08:53 AM
Michael Swinney
Select Realty Services, LLC - Alexandria, VA

This tip is making my top ten list of tips.  Thanks.  

Jan 14, 2009 10:15 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I think the technology is great but I'm afraid of the nuts that would call me at all hours.  Had someone leave a VM yesterday at 11:15pm.  Sorry office closed, during business hours that would be OK, but unfortunately who's idea of business hours do we use?

Jan 14, 2009 11:25 AM
Sharon Alters
Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty - 904-673-2308 - Fleming Island, FL
Realtor - Homes for Sale Fleming Island FL

Anne, this is going on my blog and web site tomorrow. Thanks! I have told people they could text me (love texting, sometimes it's the only way I can reach my kids!) but have had no response. This should get the job done.

Jan 14, 2009 01:23 PM
The Rains Team
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Hoschton, GA
A higher standard in real estate

Mayra: Glad to help!

Scott: You're welcome.

Jodi: I'm glad you like it! It's a great widget to use.

Michael: Are you writing a post about your top ten tips? I would like to read it.

Lyn: I can understand your hesitation, so far nobody has texted me too late. And if they do, my incoming text message noise on my phone isn't loud enough to wake me if I'm asleep.

Sharon: Excellent! I love texting too and people that see "Text Me Now" will definitely start doing so.

Jan 15, 2009 04:13 AM
David Width Jr.
Little Egg Harbor, NJ

Thank you for the information. This is definently something I am going to check out.

Jan 15, 2009 06:25 AM
Josh Lutz
American Premier Property Inspection, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

Very cool! I have wondered if there was something out there that would do that but never got around to searching for it.  I will have to try it out, thanks!

Jan 15, 2009 09:03 AM
Rhonda Burgess
Southern Living Realty Partners - Smyrna, TN
Moving to Nashville TN Real Estate Specialist

Great tip Anne.  Thanks a bunch.  I will definitely be adding this to my blogs.

Jan 15, 2009 01:20 PM
Josh Murphy
Windermere Peninsula Properties - Belfair, WA
Belfair WA Real Estate, 360-710-3972

I have the code. where can i paste it so that it appears on the right hand side, with all of my blogs like yours does?

Thanks!

Jan 16, 2009 05:54 AM
Tim Houk
Keller Williams Red Stick Partners - Baton Rouge, LA

Thanks!  I am sending this to my web guy now.  Best of luck from Baton Rouge!

Jan 16, 2009 06:00 AM
Kathy Torline
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog 719-287-1049

Thanks -- I'm going to put this on my all of my blog sites.  I'm always looking for good tools!  Thanks for sharing.

Jan 19, 2009 11:24 PM
Teri Eckholm
Boardman Realty - White Bear Lake, MN
REALTOR Serving Mpls/St Paul North & East Metro

Anne--Thanks! I just added this to all my blogs!

Jan 28, 2009 08:58 AM
Larry Brewer - Benchmark Realty llc
Benchmark Realty LLc - Nashville, TN

Anne- THanks for this. I added it to my website, and hopefully it will generate some additional contacts for me.

Feb 11, 2009 01:42 PM
Matt Collinge
Century 21 In Town Realty - Vancouver, BC
REALTORĀ® - Vancouver Real Estate

I just added this to my site (on the home and contact me pages) and also to my AR blog. So glad to have found on of these that works for Canada.

Once question. What is up with the time. It is showing EST and I am on the West coast (PST).

Feb 11, 2009 02:53 PM
Rick Silver
Nexus Software Systems - Danforth, ME

Cute! That widget looks pretty good as well. ;}  Good idea, actually.  I think I'll make something similar. Thank you.

Jun 26, 2009 09:30 PM