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Blog by Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Tucson, Arizona
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Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)
Posted at RealTown Report by Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 6, 2008
Categorized in: Real Estate
Tagged with: bog, frances flynn thorsen, point2 agent, tucson, tucsontowncom, web site

My new Point2 Agent web site is evolving each day. I wish the pointer for my new domain name (TucsonTown.com) would start working! I made significant progress with the Point2 Performance Index rating. Now, this is a point system I can wrap my brain around - there are three indeces with lists of activities and enhancements that move an agent forward, Marketing, Community, and Web Site. My Performance Index score went from 0 on Friday to 201 yesterday to 2,865 today. My AZ state ranking went from 2,499th yesterday to 190th today.

Here are some of the changes that I made in a day:

  • I replaced the stock photos of the top and side banners with original photos that I took yesterday in the Saguaro National Park East. I stocked up on a couple hundred original photos of cacti and landscape and my derriere took a couple of cactus needles in the process! Ouch!
  • I had an opportunity to meet our local Congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, who was at Safeway to meet her constituents. Of course, I blogged about it on my new Point2 Agent blog.
  • RealTown article widget contains links to my articles. I have installed this on my Point2 Agent web site,I created my very own RealTown article widget (shown at right), in RealTown orange, for my RealTown articles RSS feed and I placed it on the About Us page. At first, I was a little put off by the orange and purple color combo, but it stands out!
  • I created a page about Tucson using Wikipedia and a framed page template on the P2A platform.
  • I added a RealPing click-to-talk button on several pages.
  • I added a Meebo Instant Message widget to a couple of pages. This particular widget is not appearing everywhere it should and I have to troubleshoot the issue this week. It is working on the About Us page and not on the home page. Hmmmm ...
  • I added an RSS feed from my HUD Homes for Sale Blog to the HUD Homes Teleconference Page on the web site.
  • I added agency and contact information to the template footer that makes the web site compliant with Arizona real estate law. I also added a logo there. This appears on each and every page on the web site.
  • I added my social network page as a CARE advocate to a framed page on the new web site.
  • I also added a CARE widget to the home page to recruit new advocates who want to take action to fight poverty. 

I am open to feedback and suggestions. This platform is awesome! Now I need to get some listings so that I can syndicate them to the world. I will work on a good FSBO page this week. Hmmmmm.....

 

 

Permanent Link | Comments (18) | Write a Comment | Send Link

User Comments

1. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Mary Pope-Handy
Apr. 6, 2008
Fran I love what you've done!  I've never figured out how to do what you did with the header and side pics. (I had a paid version of Point 2 for a year or so and recently went back to the free version since I don't use it much.) I think I never learned all the neat things that can be done with it. Big kudos!  Love the colors. Sorry to hear you got SO upclose and personal with the desert cacti!
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2. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 6, 2008

Mary,  To change the top and side banner photos, go to your Online Office -> Edit Website -> Customize Design -> Graphics and Buttons. Based upon the template you have chosen you will see specs for new graphics ... create those graphics and upload.

My top graphic is temporary ... I need to shoot a panoramic view of the Foothills on a less hazy day ... but the present photo is an improvement over a stock photo that had no Southwestern flavor.

I am amazed at the power of the Point2 system ...  and I have neat plans for a few blogs.  Thanks for stopping by.

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3. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Debbie Rowland
Apr. 7, 2008

Fran

I tried to look at your new web site but it isn't working.

A big thankyou for pushing me to get my epro!

Within the month I hope to have my site up too!

Debi Rowland

Realty World Breisch

Allentown Pa 18104

610-398-1967

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4. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 7, 2008

Debi,  The domain name pointer is not working yet, but the site is live: http://FrancesFlynnThorsen.point2agent.com

Congratulations on your e-PRO. Give my best to Dolores and Tom and the rest of the Realty World Breisch family.

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5. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Peter Macdonald
Apr. 8, 2008

The Meebo instant message idea seems like a good one to me. I'll have to study that one a little bit before putting it on my site.

Do you know if there is a downside to putting it on the website? Do you think that it captures the id info for people that use it? I wouldn't want visitors to my site to get spammed because they talked to me.

If it is free, what is the "catch"?

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6. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Peter Macdonald
Apr. 8, 2008
The RealTalk widget is interesting. Did you design that from scratch? Is there a template for widgets someplace that I am missing?
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7. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 9, 2008

I see no downside to installing Meebo on a website. To the contrary, it offers consumers an opportunity to connect with you instantly when you are online. Real estate agents who are using this device report excellent results. I have never heard of issues involving spam originating from Meebo. Personally, I doubt that is a problem.

I designed the RealTalk widget from scratch. It took less than five minutes from start to finish. You can design your own widget using the link that appears at the bottom of the RealTown widget.

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8. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Anonymous
Apr. 9, 2008

This is slightly off the topic but does pertain to RealTown blog navigation and usability. I am going to run a test with this post

Some of my posts to this thread have pictures and some do not.

I am responding today to an email notification that a new entry was posted. I have not logged in. Will my picture appear?

The other day when I did log in, I had a hard time, finding this thread but I think my picture did appear.

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9. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Jeannine Clontz
Apr. 9, 2008

Hi, Frances -

Hope you're doing well.  I think the changes you've made are fabulous...making me long to get mine up and running.  I do so many for my clients that I think I forget, I need one, too! ;)  Thanks for getting me motivated.  I just LOVE all the new features and photos...great job!

And the increase in rankings is stellar...let us know when you make it to the top 10! ;)

Best of luck,

Jeannine

 

 

 

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10. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 9, 2008

I am guessing this is Peter. If you are not logged in your photo will not appear on the post. You are appearing as "Anonymous" here.

BTW, you can create your own widgets at http://widgetbox.com.

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11. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Peter Macdonald
Apr. 9, 2008

My post without the login, did not have my photo. 

Seems reasonable enough no login, no ID, no photo but I think an instruction/method for easy login might be beneficial.

Part 2 of this short test is that I have now clicked the above link "click here to login" and was taken to a place nowhere near this current thread.

To get back here, I had to go back a couple of screens.

If my picture appears then at least the circuitous login will have worked in a very round-about way.

OK thats it.! Back to PurpleSageRealty

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12. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Peter Macdonald
Apr. 9, 2008

Yup! its me. Thanks for the WidgetBox.com reference. I will check it out.

Frances, for your old times sake I am going to drive by the home you "grew up" in,100 Benton St and take a photo. Is there any particular angle that you would like to see? I am not risking any shots of your bedroom window if it requires me to sneak into the back yard.

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13. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 9, 2008

Peter,

It is 106 Benton Road ... my bedroom window is on the first floor on the side of the house that is on Abbott Road. The house is on the corner of Benton and Abbott.

FYI ... My sister lives there now.

We'll have to get together next time I am in Paramus, maybe next month following the NAR Mid-Year Meetings in DC.

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14. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Peter Macdonald
Apr. 9, 2008

Frances,
Well! If your sister lives in your old "homestead" then, I won't papparazi her with my Kodak Brownie (that was the name of the camera wasn't it?)

I would welcome a rendezvous, perhaps at that big NYC conference that I think you blogged from last year. Was it the Inman event?

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15. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Frances Flynn Thorsen, e-PRO, SRS
Apr. 9, 2008
I attend the Inman Conference in NYC in January, but why wait! I'll be in Waldwick, NJ,  to deliver an e-PRO presentation June 20, and in Westfield, NJ, on June 20. Perhaps we can rendezvous there ... and perhaps you can help me drum up some attendance there among some REALTORS who would like to hear an old Jersey girl evangelize e-PRO and Web 2.0 and blogging ;-)
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16. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Peter Macdonald
Apr. 9, 2008

Great! I will see you at the RealSource Board of Realtors ePro event in June.

I will beat the drums and chase as many as I can out of the bush. I think that you will get a good turn out.

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17. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Callie Sinkinson
Apr. 9, 2008

Fran

I am so happy to see this blog! I am in the process of building a point2 site also. Living in Northeast Ohio has put a crimp on picture taking so I am anxious to change the pictures also.

I will see you in the new No Blogger Left Behind as I am also trying that to increase my exposure.

Thanks so much for sharing :-)

Callie

Here is a link to my Point2

www.HomesForsaleAkronOhio.com

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18. RE: Color Me Purple - Creating a New Real Estate Site in Tucson (Part Two)

Written by: Judith Clausen
Jun. 21, 2008
Fran, with all you do I don't know how you find time to sell real estate!  Your recent efforts are spectacular...keep it up.
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