Real Estate 2.0 Technology

This past week, I was busy exploring the use of tags and keywords for the Real Estate 411 Directory Network, when I discovered a really powerful tool called a Swicki!  When a visitor or member finds your Swicki, they can see the keywords or tag phrases used to find particular posts or videos.  A Swicki allows you to add all the "Key Words" or "Tag Lines" you want to use, and that you want your visitors to see!  I have copied the one to the left here from the RE 411 Main Dashboard.  

I love this tool because it allows your visitors, who may be searching for a certain topic, see keywords that may entice them to be interested in something they might not have thought of during their "keyword" or "tag line" search!  Do you know what your visitors are typing into Google, Yahoo, and MSN to find you, your Blog, or your website?  Now you can add them to your Swicki.  If the keywords or tags they are looking for aren't on your Swicki, they can still use your search feature, and you'll get notified on what words they used to search your Swicki.  Now That's powerful!!

Swicki is created by a Company known as Eurekster, Inc. (http://www.eurekster.com/) They are the pioneer and leader in social search technologies.  Their custom search portal and widget ("Swicki") harness the knowledge, power and behavior of on-line communities to improve the search experience.  Users can now build and customize their search portal on any topic, then share and distribute the social search widget to grow a community of interested users.  With every search, your Swicki becomes more relevant and meaningful to the user, and more valuable to "YOU" the swicki builder.

I also love that it works with text or Video.  To see a sample of the Swicki's I am using, you can CLICK HERE, or go to their website above.  Eurekster won the 2006 Peoples Choice Award!  They were also the 2007 Web 2.0 Awards Winner!  Their headquarters are located in San Francisco, California, with their Research & Development Department located in Christchurch, New Zealand.  I would consider looking into this product for your Blogs and Websites.  To see Eurekster's Directory of many Swicki's, go to http://www.eurekster.com/directory.htm

Since I mentioned this above, I would also like to extend a Formal Invitation to any of my close Active Rain friends to join me at Real Estate 411.  This site is nothing like LinkedIn, FaceBook, Cre8buzz, or any of the other Social Networking sites.  The tools and options available there (like the Swicki) are like none I have seen on any other Network.  It is a "New" community, with many valuable tools and benefits! 

I really like that you can upload documents, files, attachments, videos, and even widgets into the comments of your post!  That's right, into the comments!  I also love the ability to customize and make your profile unique.  There is much more to report, but that's a post for another time.  Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

Hopefully this post will make up for the one I posted about BlogBar a couple weeks ago, where many AR members were unable to use it here on their AR Blogs.  I know you'll forgive me after seeing the Swicki tool and the Real Estate 411 site....at least I hope!!   These are definitely two items I feel are worth looking into.  Also, watch for the upcoming post "Year-In-Review" being compiled by many of your fellow Active Rain members!  It will be a fantastic compilation of "The Best of 2007 Here On Active Rain!" 

Content Copyright Protected © 2007 -            Join RE 411

What the Heck is Spyware, Anyway?  Is your computer slow?  Trouble Connecting?  Taking forever to load certain pages?  (like mine)  :-)

Spyware is computer software that is installed on your computer to intercept and record your activity without your knowledge.  These programs can collect various types of personal information, and can even control your Web-browsing experience by directing you to certain sites without your intent.  While it is often used for advertising purposes, Spyware  has also been exploited as a vehicle for privacy theft, such as the pilfering of credit card numbers, bank account credentials, and the like. 

Most Spyware is installed by piggybacking on other applications that often appear useful, such as Weatherbug or Kazaa. Machines infected with Spyware often have degradation in performance, difficulties when connecting to the Internet, accelerated CPU activity, and stability issues. 

My machines are protected from Spyware by automated blocking and filtering systems in place. While spyware is not always malicious in nature, you may also wish to avoid it on your personally owned PCs. There are many products available, generically called "anti-spyware" software, that will remove this code from your machine (two good, free products for your personal use are SpyBot and Ad-Aware). Similar to running an anti-virus scan, you simply run the program periodically to check and clean your system of any unwanted programs. As with everything in life, with increased ability comes increased responsibility.

Content Copyright Protected © 2007 - Brad Andersohn                   Real Estate 411

I remember a time, not long ago, when I was told that technology and email would save me time and be a more efficient, inexpensive and effective way of communication. Well, part of that is true.  However, it seems the more people I meet, the more email I am receiving and sending.    

I don't know about you, but for me, it's an all day and evening endeavor.  Something I use to do a few times a day, I am now doing all day long.  In searching for a solution to filter out the many emails I receive, I was really looking for a way to reduce the SPAM.  I hate SPAM!

Phishing is another thing that drives me crazy!  If it takes me 3 passwords to get into my secured network laptop, why is it so easy for them to get in?  Phishing is when you get an email from the Bank (appearing to be your own) and they ask you to click on a bunch of different links, then enter private and personal information.  DON'T DO IT!   JUST DON'T DO IT!  Your bank will NEVER send you an email like this. 

• The Google Spam Filter
• Free POP Access
• Free Forwarding

1. Sign up for a GMail account.
2. Give GMail the login information for your POP account.
   (From Outlook, Outlook Express or any other email program)
3. Let GMail collect your email for you, and filter it through their spam filter.
4. Set your Outlook (or whichever program) to stop receiving from your POP account, but instead to receive from GMail.
   (Keep outgoing email settings the same) Do Not Change.
   

Last month I did a post regarding ways to search Active Rain using the built in "Search" option.  I also shared how you can use the URL address bar above to search Tags or Keywords.

Now you can have your very own search engine built into your Blog.  Have you ever read a post by another member, book-marked it, then tried to find it in that list of the other 3000 posts you've book-marked? :-0  Here's a really cool tool that will allow you and your readers to search your Blog for any topic or keywords.  NOT JUST TAGS either.  This is great for your fellow AR members and for visitors to your Blog or Site.

 
It's called BlogBar.  NO, this is not a place where Bloggers gather to drink, agreed, the name is a bit deceiving.  Sorry!!  I know how much some of you like a good bar! LOL! 

It's a free search engine widget you can add to your own Blog or Website.  I put this on my Blog a few weeks ago to see how it would work and I LOVE IT!  It's like having your own "Google Search" on your site.  I can find anything I have ever written about anywhere in my Blog and so can you.  Search single words, multiple words, or even phrases, and it pulls up every relevant post available on your Blog.  You can also use the BlogBar pull down menu to search Google, Technorati, All Your Friends, or ALL of the Internet.

DISCLAIMER: EDITED ON 12/10/07 - Before you continue, you need to know that some members on AR experienced errors after installing the Blogbar on their Active Rain Blogs.  There is a 460 stack overflow that is being reported, and no one seems to know why.  It works fine on sites outside AR, so continue with caution if considering this for your Active Rain Blog! Read the comments on this post for more details:

Do you need Blogbar on your Website or Blog?  I wouldn't post this if I didn't want you to certainly consider it!  Try the BlogBar I've added over on the right, (under my photo) and you'll see how powerful it is!  This can really help your visitors find what they're looking for while they're visiting you.  It will only take a minute to set up, then you and your visitors are ready to search anytime!

INSTRUCTIONS:

Adding the BlogBar Widget is very simple: 1. Just go to BlogBar   2. Select your color and design  3. Choose from one of the eight different languages  4. Enter the domain name of your website or the location of your Blog  5.  Then click on the button that says "grab it!"  Once the HTML code is generated, just cut and paste the code into your Website or Blog.

For Active Rain, just copy the HTML code from BlogBar (CTRL + C), then go to "My Settings", and paste the HTML code (CTRL + V) anywhere in the "Blog Description" box.  Be sure to click on the "update" button, and now it will appear under your photo on the right hand side of your Blog.  You're Ready to search!

Here's another cool feature!   Imagine you wanted to know what your friends said about the Blogbar Widget, for instance.  Just type in “BlogBar” in the Blogbar search box, and select “at my friends” in the drop down menu, Hit “OK”, and that's it!
 

Blogbar will now search on all Blogs you've linked to in the past: friends, media sources, acquaintances, etc.  This is really a powerful tool to help you know what’s going on in YOUR Blogoshpere!  

I'd give Blogbar two thumbs up, but I'm not Siskel and Ebert.  Try it for yourself, and you decide.  If for any reason you don't like it, (which I doubt) at least you know now where it's available and it's FREE!  Once you have written 20 or more posts, then I know you and your visitors will see the benefits of having a Blogbar.

Do you want visitors searching your Blog?  Well now they can!  :-) 

Content Copyright Protected © 2007 - Brad Andersohn