For those of you that use WordPress, you know there are thousands of plugins to chose from that can be added to your site to boost its functionality. One plugin that I often use for my own sites and my clients is the Google XML-Sitemap. This is an easy to use tool that will generate an XML sitemap for your site and streamline the process of getting your site index by the popular search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask.com.

Once you have installed the plugin, the set up process is pretty straight forward, however lately it seems as though a number of people I’ve talked to have been stumped by this step. Not to worry, I’m happy to help guide them/you through it.

Selecting the search engines you want notified when changes are made to your site is as simple as checking the appropriate box under “Basic Options” of the XML Sitemap settings screen. This isn’t exactly the case for Yahoo. Although there are a couple of extra steps involved, it’s also pretty easy. Keep reading for instructions.

While in your WordPress dashboard, scroll down to the “Settings” section in the sidebar and select “XML Sitemap”. You will see the “Basic Options” box.

Step #1 – Check the box that reads Notify Yahoo about updates for your blog

Step #2 – To get a Yahoo application id, click on Request one here!

To proceed with the request for a Yahoo application id, you will need a Yahoo account. If you don’t have one, you will need to register for one in order to continue.

You should now be at the Yahoo login screen. Go ahead and log in!

After logging in, you will be taken to the Yahoo Developer Registration page. Your Yahoo ID will auto populate in the first field. Proceed with filling in the rest of the required fields:

Authentication method: Select Generic, No user authentication required
Developer/Company Name: I recommend just using your name
Product name: I would reference the sitemap so it’s easy to remember what this id is for
Contact email: Your email address
Description of Application: A short description of what the application id will be doing (feel free to use my description)

Click “Continue” and you will be taken to your Yahoo application id. Copy the code and paste it into the box titled “Your Application ID” in your XML Sitemap “Basic Options” settings screen. Save your XML Sitemap options and you’re all set to ping Yahoo when you make the next change to your blog/website.

Click “Finished”, accept the Yahoo Terms of Service and Voila! Your done!

The great thing about the XML Sitemap plugin is that it automatically regenerates the sitemap any time you edit, publish or delete a post so there is no need to manually rebuild it when you make changes.

I hope this was helpful.

It hasn’t been until more recently that people in the real estate industry have been raving about QR codes as a must have tool in an agents real estate marketing tool box. At this point, I’m not entirely convinced of the effectiveness of the QR codes in an agents marketing efforts, however I think it can be worth testing the waters with them, if an agents market is a right fit.

In Part II of this series, QR Codes for Real Estate – Fad or Trend?, I will discuss in more detail whether QR codes are a right fit for your real estate business and implementing them into your marketing. Check back or subscribe so you don’t miss out.

What is a QR code?

A QR code, or quick response for short, is a matrix code or two-dimensional bar code originally created by a Japanese corporation to track automobile parts. The codes would have hidden text, a url or other types of information in the code, in the form of black modules arranged in a square pattern. The purpose behind this, was that with the right tool, or reader as they call it, the hidden information could be decoded at high speeds.

How QR Codes Work

In order to reveal the hidden information in a QR code, you will need a smartphone with a camera, internet access and a QR reader application installed. Some smartphones come with QR reader capabilities, so double check your phone specifications before installing any unnecessary applications. Once your mobile phone is properly set up with a QR reader you simply take a picture of the code with your phone, your phone then converts the code to text and the reader application translates the text and displays the hidden information in the form of a web page, contact information, a message, or more.

QR Code Readers

In the event that your smartphone does not already have a QR reader installed, there are a number of reader applications that you can install. Here are a few:

• BeeTagg – Supported Phones | Download Instructions
• Kaywa – Supported Phones | Download Instructions
• QuickMark – Supported Phones | Download Instructions
• ScanLife – Supported Phones | Download Instructions
• i-nigma – Supported Phones | Download Instructions
• Upcode – Supported Phones | Download Instructions

What Information Can Be Used in a QR Code?

A QR code could include any of the following types of information:

• Text
• Website url
• vCard or contact information
• Event calendar (vcalendar)
• Google maps location
• A message (Typically limited to 100 characters or less)
• SMS
• Phone number
• Email
• Social media information
• Paypal Buy Now links

QR Code Generator

Now that we know, what QR codes are are, how your target consumer can decode the hidden information, and what information you want in the code, it’s time to create the QR image. It’s as simple as choosing the type of information you want in the code, provide the required information, and hit “generate”. Voila, you’re done. Your QR code image will be there for you to download or copy and paste into the marketing piece of your choice.

There are hundreds of free QR code generator sites out there and listed below are a few to try (I haven’t tried them all, but would love to hear if you have a favorite QR code generator).

• Mobile Barcodes
• BeQRious
• Kaywa
• Zxing
• QR Stuff
• GoQR
• QReate & Track

QR codes are being used in some exciting and creative ways by people and businesses in all types of industries. I look forward to taking a closer look in Part II of this series, how and if these codes are going to be a long term, effective marketing tool for real estate agents or if they will generate more confusion for their target consumer.

I hope you’ll chime in and share with us your experiences using QR codes. What feedback have you received from your target consumer about QR codes?

Let’s take a small step back. Some of you may be wondering what MailChimp is and what these lists are that I’m talking about. MailChimp is a wicked email marketing program that allows you to create, customize, send and track HTML email campaigns. When set up right, this type of email marketing will help you stay in regular contact with the people on your list, by sharing valuable and useful content about your market. The “lists” that I refer to are your subscribers, generated from lead capture forms on your websites and blogs.

What better way to keep your subscribers current and informed, than to share your blog posts with them as you write and publish them, and having it run on auto-pilot.

Setting up your MailChimp RSS Driven Campaign

Step #1 – Create an RSS Driven Campaign

Log into your MailChimp dashboard and from the main page, or the Campaign tab, click on the orange “Create Campaign” button and select “RSS-driven campaign” .

Step #2 – Set Up Your RSS Feed

The next screen will ask you for your RSS feed URL. If you are not sure of the url you can simply enter your blog url and MailChimp will try and locate the feed address for you. Next you will want to tell MailChimp the day and time you want the emails sent out. Once complete click the next button.

Step #3 – Select the List  You Want to Send To

Select the list or segment that you want to send to OR create a new list.

Step #4 – Configuring Campaign Information

Here you will give your RSS-driven campaign a message subject, a from name and reply to email. You may also decide to give the campaign a name for your own purposes. The campaign name is not required, but it’s a good idea to have one for easy reference later. Included in this step are email tracking settings as well as social media settings and integration you may want to customize or leave the defaults.

Step #5 – Campaign Design/Layout

This step you will select an email design from the many customizable pre-designed templates that MailChimp provides or you may choose to upload your own custom template.

Step #6 – Add Content

Once you have chosen your campaign template you will want to add any additional content you want to share with your list. You may also need to set up the RSS Merge Tags to tell MailChimp the information you want pulled into the email from your feed. Sample Merge Tags would be:

• *|RSSFEED:TITLE|*
• *|RSSFEED:DATE|*
• *|RSS:POSTS_HTML|*

Step #7 – Configure Plain Text Message

This step you want to review how the plain text version of your email will look for those recipients that do not or can not accept html messages. Edit or add content as you see fit.

Step #8 – You’re Almost Done!

This final step is your opportunity to review your campaign settings, preview your campaign and send a test email before starting your new RSS campaign.

Step #9 – Start Your RSS Driven Campaign

If you’re sure everything is in order and your ready to launch your campaign, click the Start RSS Campaign button and you will see a confirmation window from MailChimp. Confirm you want to start the campaign and your done!

If you have any questions or need some assistance with customizing or creating your email template, check with a  Real Estate Virtual Assistant. They would be happy to help out.

If you do not have a MailChimp account, you can sign up for a FREE account and use their Free Forever plan that includes a subscriber list of 1000 and send 6000 emails a month.

WARNING REALTORS® According to the MailChimp Terms of Service they do not allow “Real Estate Prospecting or Listings”. This RSS driven campaign may or may not work for your specific feed if your blog posts include listings. For more information, please feel free to leave a comment or contact us. We would be happy to discuss your options.

What is VaultPress?

According the VaultPress site:

VaultPress is a subscription-based protection, security and backup service for WordPress blogs and sites. It’s built on the same Automattic grid that reliably serves over 11 million WordPress.com blogs and 250 million monthly visitors.

The VaultPress security and backup service allows for an easy set-up in 3 steps, real time, continuous backup and synchronization and simple restoration of files when necessary.

Who is VaultPress for?

The answer to this question is one simple word…everyone. VaultPress covers everyone from the personal blogger to large corporate companies and IT managers running a single site or multiple sites using the WordPress platform. Visit the links below for detailed information

• Personal Bloggers
• Professional Bloggers
• Small & Medium Businesses
• IT Managers

VaultPress Video Introduction

Don’t miss out. VaultPress has now begun handing out Golden Tickets. Sign up now and get your name on the list to protect your blogs with VaultPress.

WordPress 3.0 New Features

• A new default theme called Twenty Ten
• New API’s allowing for easy customization of backgrounds, headers, shortlinks, menus, post types and taxonomies (taxonomies are are a way of grouping things together).
• Merging of MU and WordPress
• Ability to run bulk updates (I love this one!)
• and many more…

WordPress 3.0 “Thelonious” Video

Watch the video below for a complete run down of the new WordPress 3.0.

You can also visit the 3.0’s Codex page for a more detailed look at the improvements and the WordPress Trac for known issues.

Have you already upgraded to WordPress 3.0? I’d love to hear what you think about the new changes and how they’ve benefited your site(s)…or not.

Quite a few years ago, I was introduced to Top Producer and I have to be honest, I wasn’t overly impressed. I thought the system was cumbersome and not very user friendly so I stopped using the program with clients. Today, however I have a completely different opinion.

About a year and a half ago, I started using Top Producer again but this time it was the 8i version. Top Producer 8i is a completely different program than the one I used a few years back. The 8i version has a fabulous clean layout, it’s packed full of features, customizable action plan templates and it is by far more user friendly than previous versions. Top Producer 8i is not only a real estate CRM, but rather an all encompassing CRM, sales and marketing tool.

Top Producer Updates – May 5, 2010

This past week, Top Producer released an update for 8i that includes some exciting new enhancements that I can’t wait to try out with my clients (at least I think they are exciting).

New Contact Record Header

The contact record header has been overhauled with a new layout that includes a Contact Status indicator, Buyer Preferences and an icon, when clicked, displays all the contacts primary information. No more searching multiple screens to find important contact details. The right hand side of the header contains a set of three buttons that allow quick access to various actions you can initiate for this contact (i.e. Market Snapshot, Action Plans, Email etc.), report printing and the Things to Talk About feature (love this feature and will discuss it further in a future post).

New Contact Record Summary Tab

The contact record now has a summary tab that houses all the important information about that contact in one place and at-a-glance for easy initiation of new tasks. This includes Contact Notes, Listing Notes and Closing Notes. Along the right hand side there are another set of boxes that make it very east to see, at-a-glance, Next Call and Appointments for that contact. Incomplete and complete activities can also be viewed with a quick click of the tab.

The contact information box shows the primary contact information and by clicking the icon in the bottom right hand corner you can view the rest of the contact information in a convenient pop up window without having to switch screens and move away from the contact record.

Social Media Activity

Lastly, Top Producer has integrated Social Media Activity to 8i. In this third box you can enable your contacts Facebook and Twitter feeds within 8i to have an at-a-glance view of what’s going on in their lives and get to know them better. With this new integration, you are able to view and reply to Facebook posts (420 character limit. Option to add photos) and reply and retweet tweets from within Top Producer 8i.

When viewing a contact record it’s easy to see their social media activity which could also help with your marketing strategies. Engaging with your contacts via 8i is quick and could make a lot of difference to your contact that you’re taking the time to get to know them.

In order to enable Social Media Activity for your contacts you have to configure your own social media account in your preferences. Also at the time of writing this post, Top Producer only has Facebook working in this update, and will be adding Twitter in the next couple of weeks.

The new features added to Top Producer 8i this past week will make tracking your contact details, initiating various actions and engaging with your contacts quicker and more streamlined. I keep crossing my fingers that in future updates I’ll see an announcement that Top Producer is compatible with Mac…wishful thinking, I know. 

Time is a precious thing for agents on the go, and I think these changes will allow you and your assistants more time and added benefits to engage with and market to your contacts.

Do you use Top Producer 8i? What are your thoughts on the new changes?

StudioPress offers a whole line of premium WordPress themes, that I love, and are easily customizable. Brian Gardner of StudioPress recently announced that they are taking their line of themes one step further and launching a new WordPress theme framework called Genesis.

Genesis was developed with the new and veteran WordPress users in mind and they have packed this framework full of widgets, hooks, layouts and first rate SEO optimization for ease of use and expandability.

Brian also mentioned that the Genesis theme will not only be the framework for all future StudioPress themes, it will also be used for the current themes as well.

According to the StudioPress blog, some of the widgets included in Genesis are:

• My Tweets – displays an unordered list of your latest Tweets (view widget)
• User Profile – displays the Gravatar of a user, as well as their biography and a link to an about page (view widget)
• eNews & Updates – displays an opt-in box for users to sign up for delivery of your posts by email (view widget)
• Featured Posts – displays post excerpts and a thumbnail to be used in a homepage featured section (view widget)
• Featured Page – displays page excerpts and a thumbnail to be used in a homepage featured section (view widget)

An added feature that I am excited about in the Genesis framework are the 30 plus hooks they have incorporated. This might not mean much to the new WordPress user, however developers and advanced users love these. My site, this one, is run on the Thesis platform which also uses hooks to make adding content to the site easier and flexible (once you get the hang of them).

In a nutshell, hooks are like “positions” of various content on your site. I’ll leave a more in depth explanation of hooks for a future post.

The Genesis theme platform will also include 3 layout options, BuddyPress compatibility, custom thumbnail image sizing and a Child Theme Marketplace (by invite only). I personally can’t wait to get my hands on this theme and look forward to hearing feedback from all you beta testers out there.

Sneak peak of the Mocha Child Theme for Genesis.

For more information about the StudioPress Genesis theme framework visit the StudioPress blog or click Demo to see it in action.

StudioPress does it again. What a great way to start the new year.

Have you ever gone out for dinner with friends, and friends of friends you didn’t know, and enjoyed getting to know these new people? (That was a mouth full, but I think you get what I mean). Have you ever attended a chamber of commerce meeting and introduced yourself to other members? Well, these are a couple of examples of the simplest forms of face-to-face social networking.

Online social networking is not much different and doesn’t have to be scary or complicated. With a carefully planned out social networking action plan and schedule, it can be fun and extremely rewarding.

Anyone who owns a business, including real estate professionals, rely on their networks and sphere to build relationships and generate business. Social networking, whether it is face-to-face or online, is something you and your business need to operate and grow.

Social Networking Explained

The gang at Common Craft have put together this easy to understand video to explain the basics of social networking.

There are hundreds of different social networking sites you can join and it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to choose. Select ones that are relevant to you and your industry. For the real estate professional, the first networks to join could be Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and ActiveRain.

There is no need to join all the networks available all at once. Start with the basics and work your way around once your network begins to grow.

Brian partnered with the crew at MyTechOpinion (Nicole Nicolay, Reggie Nicolay and Chad Johnson) to put together the AgentPress Real Estate WordPress theme for agents and brokers.

The AgentPress theme offers all the same great code, sleek design and features as the other StudioPress themes with a couple of added features for the real estate professional.

AgentPress has incorporated a custom property template that enables you to display each listing as a separate post with all the property details and relevant information laid out in a professional, eye catching, easy to read format. The custom property template includes the following:

• Property Details – Square footage, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, MLS#, etc.
• Additional Features – A section to highlight the properties unique features.
• Additional Photos – Various interior and exterior photos.
• Property Map – A section to embed a Google map of the property.

In addition, the auto sizing thumbnail management does all the work for you. Upload your main property image once and AgentPress automatically resizes the image for you and sets you apart from the crowd with it’s incredible display.

As with all Brian’s StudioPress themes, AgentPress offers endless possibilities for a real estate website with its four different theme color options and a little customization.

For more information, visit the AgentPress site or go straight to the Demo and have a look.

Don’t forget to click on the “Details” button for a short personal message from me.

Happy Holidays!