Real Estate Views from St Pete

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Widgets and Professional Blogsites

There are neat widgets of all kinds, many of which have been referenced on Active Rain and many that are used on some Active Rain blogs. Some of these – the faces of recent visitors, lists of books you like – are great for a social networking site, but do they enhance a professional blog site or detract from it? Do they take away from the topic or purpose of your blog? Have any of you using them on your “other” blog sites had feedback from your clients on whether they’re viewed as positive or negative?

Sharon Simms, Real Estate Agent selling homes in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Gulf Beaches and the Tampa Bay area.

6 comments • Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS • May 26 2007 08:39PM

Comments

For many, the main purpose is to provide a backlink to the creator of the widget. Nothing is free.
Posted by Will Gaites (RSF Homes) over 4 years ago
I love Love Love my Meebo, which is a free live chat for between you and the reader.  As a fun thing, I meezed myself also.  but I do think that Meebo has a very useful purpose for bloggers, especially ones online often (and who isn't?) but you are also right, there are many out there that just take away from professionalism of the (hopefully) intended blogger.
Posted by Janie Coffey, GRI - Miami Real Estate (One Sotheby's International Realty) over 4 years ago
I created widgets for my blogs, one for each, and then a widget where both of them are listed. The individual widgets  are on opposite blogs so that one points to the other. I placed the widget that features both of them here on my AR blog, so people can see my two outside blogs, and also on my personal website.  confused yet? Well, you can always take a look at my blog on AR to see them. I think they are great but find most people don't even know what a widget is. My husband was so proud this week because he created his own widget with photos of the kids. When I asked him where he learned about widgets, he said from reading my blogs! Wow, even my husband checks out what I am doing from time to time. :)
Posted by Jennifer Kirby, the Luxury Agent (Kirby Fine Homes) over 4 years ago

Will - so true.

Janie -  I'll have to check out Meebo.

Jennifer - uh, yes, I'm confused. I'll go to your blogs to check them out. 

Posted by Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS (ALVA International, Inc.) over 4 years ago

The only widget I've added to my real blog is the VFlyer listing widget.  (Sellers really like it.)  I believe some of the others are too distracting but I keep watching for the next best thing!

Posted by Linda Davis (RE/MAX Realty Group) over 4 years ago

Linda,  that widget does look good on your site. I'll have to look into it further. Where else do you use it?

Posted by Sharon Simms St Pete FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS (ALVA International, Inc.) over 4 years ago

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