WordPress Permalinks Simplified

Posted on March 31, 2010 by Jeff

WordPress permalinks can be a tricky subject. So I’m going to stick to the basics in answering this question I received from a Real Estate agent up in Seattle: “do u have any permalink structure recommendations?”

Why yes, yes I do… Here’s how I’ve set permalinks on pretty much all the WordPress blogs I’ve ever setup:

Straight outta the box, WordPress permalinks are stupid. You can see the default setting in the image above and the corresponding URL structure. It’s horrible for search engine optimization. The next two settings aren’t bad, but they’re not great. The last setting, is pretty much just as worthless as the default.

We want to go with a custom structure, that helps maximize how the search engines see the keywords in your URL. As you can see in the image, my preference is to use the category and post name options in the custom URL structure. By doing so, whatever words you choose to use for categories are included in your URL along with the title of each blog post. It should be noted that this specific string of structure tags is not recommended for WordPress sites that contain a lot of pages. If you’ve got more than a thousand pages, you should add the /%year%/ tag into your permalink structure to avoid the related performance issues. This will grow increasingly important as Google adds site speed into their web search rankings.

Ok, so all that seems pretty easy right? Yeah, it is… The hard part of changing your permalink structure is when you’re told you need to change your permissions in order for WordPress to write the new permalink structure. This doesn’t always happen, but if it does, be careful. If done incorrectly, you run the risk of frying your WordPress install or leaving it vulnerable to attacks. Best to call in a professional if you’re not sure exactly what to do or completely comfortable with the associated risks.

So, hopefully that answers the question for you and gives you a better idea of why you would want to set things up this way. When setup correctly, the custom permalink structure can help immensely when it comes to SEO.

This is part of the “pick my brain” series of wordpress support posts. An experiment in social support. If you find this post useful, feel free to donate.

Real Estate Marketing of Tomorrow, Today

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Jeff

I was introduced to a product called StickyBits today (thanks to Brian at 1000Watt) that I think could become a major part of Real Estate marketing plans across the globe very quickly. Of course, I thought the same thing about QR codes back when they were first introduced and they never really took off. But, I think there’s still potential.

The thing about StickyBits that I think is game changing, is the ability to add “bits” of information to the item you’re tagging.

How do you tag an item?

It’s easy. You just find any product with a barcode or QR code (or download and create your own barcodes on StickyBits.com) and using the free iPhone or Android app, scan it. StickyBits then prompts you to add your bits to the scanned item. Bits can be pictures, video, audio, and text.

So how’s this work for Real Estate?

Here’s what I’m thinking… You create a barcode and build it into your listing flyer and stick it on your sign rider with a simple sentence instructing people to download the StickyBits app and scan the barcode for additional information. Then you scan it (to claim it as yours) and add the following bits:

Pictures – above and beyond what you’ve got in the MLS listing. Find the little interesting things about the property, and document them.
Video – A quick introduction video. A walkthrough of the home. Run around the backyard. Walk around out in the street. Maybe even a quick neighborhood tour?
Floor plans – If you have access to them. Why not? You can upload PDF’s from the website.
Notes of interest – leave notes about the property you think people would find interesting. These can be recorded audio notes, or text based comments.

Check out the quick example I whipped up today showcasing the M Realty office in Portland.

From there, when someone else scans the barcode to get the additional information, you get a notification. You can even see the persons profile info, unless they choose to make the scan “private”. What a cool lead capture device! Strike up a conversation with the person on Twitter or Facebook (StickyBits uses Facebook Connect as their primary login) and see what happens. Plus, anyone who scans your item can also leave bits of their own. Maybe pictures they took, questions about the property, or feedback on your list price. That part could get a little tricky, but if you monitor what is being added and respond appropriately, you’ll be fine.

That’s probably just the tip of the iceberg for all the cool stuff you can use this tool for. In fact, I just ordered some new business cards with a barcode that takes the scanner to “more info about me”. The applications are almost limitless!

So, what do you think? Does this one have “sticking” power?

Real Estate Marketing Tip: Listings on Facebook

Posted on March 30, 2010 by Jeff

While I’m not a huge fan of marketing your listings on Facebook to begin with, I definitely wouldn’t do it this way:

I received this message tonight from a local agent (whom I’ve technically never met), and decided it would make a perfect example of how to avoid a potentially embarrassing situation. You see, by sending this listing out as a message to all your friends you run the risk of someone leaving a comment that you may not want others to see. What most people don’t realize is that when sending a message out to a group of people, the “reply” button is automatically replaced with a “reply all” button. Therefore anything someone thinks they’re sending back to you as a private reply instantly gets emailed to everyone else on that list.

Imagine if your client was one of the people in that list (because naturally you want to show them you’re actually marketing their property) and someone sent a message back saying something along the lines of “I toured that dump yesterday, and it smelled like there were dead raccoons under the floorboards”. Think that may be an embarrassing situation that could have been avoided?

My preferred method of marketing listings on Facebook: show or tell something interesting about the home. Here’s a good example from another local agent:

There’s a couple things going on here. First, it’s not your typical automated syndication directly from Postlets.com. The agent actually wrote up a blog post of her own about the property and linked back to her blog. She benefits by getting the link and traffic back to her site, which has potential lead capture built into it using a good IDX platform. Visitors may find one of her other listings, or begin using her property search and convert into a lead. You never know…

She also put some thought into the little commentary above the post, letting her friends know what is so interesting about this specific property, and why it’s worth taking a look at. So many times I see things like “check out my new listing” or “open house-sunday-1-3pm”. Those messages aren’t really that compelling.

I think in the end, it comes down to knowing your audience, and figuring out the best possible way to connect with them. Social media is a great way to connect, you’ve just got to put a little more thought into it instead of just blasting your message out to anyone who will listen.

Will’s Wisdom

Posted on March 29, 2010 by Jeff

I’ve always been a Will Smith fan. I grew up watching Fresh Prince of Bel Air. I also have most of his CD’s. They’re good, clean, fun songs.

Only recently did I realize this guy is actually kind of a genius businessman. Here he shares some words of wisdom that I think we can probably all learn something from. Take the time to watch it, you may be surprised.

Being one of the most successful people in the world, and having fun doing it, has got to be a rough life though. Yet, somehow, I think he’ll be OK.

Top 10 iPhone Apps for Real Estate

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Jeff

I recently shared my thoughts on uses for the iPad in Real Estate. So, some would say this post could be titled Favorite iPhone and iPad applications for Real Estate. But, even though the iPad in all it’s sexiness can use the same applications, it still lacks a major component for some of these apps to work. A camera. So, until the iPad starts shipping with a web cam built in, like suggested here, I’m focusing on the iPhone, specifically the 3GS.

So, without further adieu here they are (random order/links are iTunes links):

ColorChange – $2.99 – Clients say “this room could look great, if the walls were red”. Whip out your phone, take a picture of the room and show them what it would look like. While not always perfect, if you take a decent photo, with good color separation to begin with, the results usually turn out just fine.

Dragon Dictation – Free – I am continually impressed by this one. You speak, it converts your words into text that can then be emailed, sent as a text message, or copied to the clipboard and pasted into other text input fields.

Evernote – Free – Jot down notes, take pictures, or record audio. Linked up with the desktop application on your Mac or PC, it’s a great tool for when you’re out previewing homes (you do that right?) When you get back to the office, the information is ready and waiting on your office computer.

TrueHDR – $1.99 – Take better pictures with your 3GS. Allows for combining two pictures, so you can take an image that has light and dark areas, and convert that into something that closely resembles how we see it vs. how the camera sees it.

AutoStitch – ?? – One of my favorite photo applications. Create panoramic images with ease! AutoStitch lets you take multiple images, which it then stitches together into a single pano image and saves into your photo gallery. Note* as of today, this app is no longer in the app store on iTunes. There are other similar apps, but I have not tested them.

Sketches2 – $4.99 – Take a photo, draw or write on it. Circle an item that needs attention. Draw an arrow showing which direction you’re facing. Send a snapshot of a map, with a note on it. It’s a great tool for doing these kind of things.

ScanR Business Center – $24.99+ – This is a pretty powerful little app. Scan a document in (as a searchable PDF), then email, print (to a fax) or fax it. The document is then also stored online for retrieval later if needed. Requires subscription for faxing ($5 month or $30 year).

Navigon MyRegion – $24.99 – Don’t get lost when you’re out touring with clients, get turn by turn GPS navigation with voice announcements. Note* There are several regions available. Make sure you choose the one you need, or the full version for $80 if you need the whole US.

Yelp – Free – If you’re showing off a home and the client asks “are there any good restaurants in the neighborhood?” you can help, using Yelp. Just click the “nearby” icon, choose the category you’re after, and the map will display the results “nearby”. Funny how that works huh?

Camera – Free – Yep, the standard Camera app that comes pre-loaded on your phone. Obviously, many of the above application would not work if there were no camera. But, even without the other apps, the Camera can be an invaluable tool for Real Estate agents. While not meant for taking listing photos to use in the MLS listings (although many of you do), they are great for other online purposes (think showing something interesting about the home on Facebook or Twitter as a subtle way of showing off your listing). Plus, the Camera app allows you to take video. Again an invaluable tool.

So, that pretty much wraps up my top 10 iPhone apps for use in Real Estate. I’m sure there are others that I’m either blatantly missing, or just haven’t gotten around to trying yet. So, if you have a favorite that isn’t listed here, feel free to leave a comment.

Real Estate Photo Alteration – Now Easier Than Ever!

Posted on March 26, 2010 by Jeff

The act of using Photoshop for “touching up” photos of your listings is nothing new to most people that have been around for a while. Ethical? Unethical? Maybe both, depending on the person. Personally, I don’t have a problem with adjusting the lighting, but anything beyond that I believe is questionable. If there’s something you don’t want to be in the picture, move it. If you can’t, and it’s pertinent to the condition of the house (think holes in sheetrock) then it probably needs to stay in the picture to show a fair representation of the property.

So, with that being said, check out this new feature of Photoshop CS5 called “Content Aware Fill”:

I was an intern at a photo restoration company back in 1995, when Photoshop came on like 20 floppy disks, and the computers could barely run it with their 12mb of RAM. I would have KILLED for a tool like this. The hours upon hours it would have saved me…

Fast forward 15 years to today. It’s now easier than ever to alter photos. In fact, it’s so easy a REALTOR can do it! If they have access to Photoshop CS5. That doesn’t mean that they SHOULD do it, but I have a feeling there may be some people that abuse this feature.

Your thoughts?

Social Media CAN Change The World

Posted on March 24, 2010 by Jeff

And apparently it is… Quickly in this case.

I wrote yesterday about the Nestle/Greenpeace Facebook debacle and how it was quickly spinning out of control for Nestle. I didn’t know much of the background on the story, so this presentation really shed some light on things for me. Check it out:

Still no official response from Nestle on this. I have a feeling whoever was running the fan page is no longer calling the shots on this one. PR crisis anyone?

What To Do When The Chocolate Hits The Fan

Posted on March 23, 2010 by Jeff

Or in this case, 93,000+ fans.

There’s been an awful lot of discussion lately surrounding using Facebook as a marketing platform. Right, wrong, 10 fans, or several thousand fans, it just seems to be a hot topic no matter how you look at it.

So, here’s my thought: “What happens when a good thing goes bad?”

Let’s say you’re Nestle. You’ve got a good thing going, or so it seems. You’ve got a Facebook fan page with thousands of “fans”. Then one day all hell breaks loose! Someone finds out you’re using a product that has a negative impact on the environment, and is responsible for destroying the rain forests. I’m sure there are other issues here, but this seems to be the underlying one. Problem #1.

Next thing you know, your fans turn on you. We all know the viral effect Facebook can have. Someone leaves a comment, their friends see it, they “like it”, their friends see that, and so on and so forth. Within hours you have a blood bath on your hands, and your brand is quickly bleeding out!

What do you do?

Well, you certainly don’t make things worse by lashing out at your fans. Problem #2.

Stop the bleeding!

This thing is so out of control, there’s no hope for saving it. If I were Nestle, I would kill the page. Damage control time! A press release saying this online marketing campaign no longer fits into our current marketing plan might be a good way to go about it.

With all the apparent successes of Facebook marketing lately, this is bound to happen again, possibly to someone in the Real Estate space. What would YOU do? Do you have a plan?

Favorite WordPress Plugins for Real Estate

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Jeff

While I was up in Seattle for Real Estate BarCamp this last week, I was asked to facilitate a couple WordPress sessions. I thoroughly enjoyed helping everyone in the beginner session figure out what the difference between .com and .org is, along with some of the other basics of WordPress. But what really got me going was the advanced session where we got into the real good stuff like URL structures, hosting issues, and my favorite topic du jour “WordPress plugins for Real Estate blogs”.

So, here are my personal favorite plugins, and the ones that were mentioned in my session:

TubePress Pro – Pulls video in from YouTube. Settings allow you to choose to pull videos by username, tags, playlists, etc. Many options to configure the look and layout of the videos. An example can be seen right here on my blog’s video page and sidebar.

NextGen Gallery – Basic image gallery plugin using images you upload. Plenty of display options including slideshow, and sidebar widgets. An example, with some really cool pictures, can be seen on the NW Portland Blog.

Tabs Slides – This plugin rocks, especially if you take the time to set it up properly. It basically allows you to create tabbed content in the middle of your posts or pages. Great for taking a ton of content and breaking it up into manageable chunks. Here’s an example on one of our community neighborhood sites, the Portland Octopus (tabs are under the colorful image).

HomeQuest’s IDX Plugin – What’s the point of having a blog, if you don’t have a home search with lead capture and client manager built into the back end? HomeQuest’s IDX plugin gives it to you. Plus, the ability to geocode your blog posts directly onto a map alongside listings from your MLS. Yeah, it’s pretty cool. Full disclosure – I work for HomeQuest and I very briefly mentioned this in the session. I didn’t want to be accused of pitching my own product!

Using these four plugins, you can build a pretty killer WordPress Real Estate site.

Some other plugins that were mentioned that are worth looking into: ScribeSEO, WordPress Database Backup, and BuddyPress.

If you have any plugins that you’ve used that you think are worth mentioning, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d love to hear what others have found.

Oh, and if you want to learn a bunch more WordPress stuff like this? Attend Real Estate WordCamp, coming to Denver April 12th. If you see me roaming the halls looking for a Coke machine, say hello!

Definition of a Successful Real Estate BarCamp

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Jeff

I joked the other day about my definition of a successful REBarCamp being one that is in close proximity to a Coke vending machine. Mostly because I was on the prowl for my early morning Coke, which is what gives me the kick start I need in the mornings. Yeah, some people drink coffee, I drink a 32 oz coke.

Anyway, on my way home from Seattle, I realized something. I actually had a really good time at #REBCSEA. This was like my 9th Real Estate BarCamp. The last couple I have been to have been pretty “meh” as far as I was concerned.

So, what made this one so different for me?

After thinking about it for a good long while, I came to the conclusion that it was because I was able to lead a couple discussions. I thought back to the RE BarCamps that I had enjoyed the most, and they all had one thing in common. I participated in the discussion in one way or another. Whether it was me out in the crowd asking questions, or me up in front leading the discussion, I realized that sharing knowledge or insight was what gave ME the most value. Not sure anyone else got value, but then again this blog is all about me.

So, one final thought for you to chew on. Next time you’re attending an event, no matter how many you’ve been to in the past, try participating a little more in the discussions. You’d be amazed at what might come out of it.

Until I have my next thought… I’m out.

I am Jeff

Monthly Archives: March 2010