The ActiveRain Stuff You Won't Find Anywhere Else on the Web

Creating great content for your subscribers and readers, (and the search engines) is one of the most important things you can do to be successful with your blogs and websites.  It may not be the most important though...  One of the other major components is the "Call To Action" or the "Opportunity To Connect" buttons.  At the end of the day, aren't you trying to "connect" with your target audience?

I've discovered that if your great content cultivates eyeballs and traffic, but you have no way to capture and convert those inquiring visitors, then not all but much is lost.  That's why I'm sharing these Top 5 contact Widgets and tools.  I've researched and used these and know they can increase your chances or at least the potential of capturing connecting with those whom you're trying to reach. 

#1 - Google Voice

Google voice allows visitors to contact you over the phone and for FREE.  If you miss their call, the message is conveniently converted to text and sent to your mobile device via email if you choose to set it up that way.  The voice-mail recordings can be forwarded quickly to expedite specific requests, and multiple phone lines can all lead into one easy to use FREE phone number.  I Love Google voice and I really love that potential clients can call you from their computer screen.

#2 - SMS Text Widget

RETechBlog has one of the greatest text widgets I've ever seen.  This allows your readers and visitors to text you right from the sidebar of your Blog or website.  Heck, you can place this little widget just about anywhere and start receiving text messages before you even have the chance to save it to your site.  When I had this installed on my AR Blog, the first day I received hundreds of text messages from members and had to take it down. (I know others who experienced this as well...)

#3 - Zopim Chat

Now chat might seem like a thing of the past to some of you, but having access to a real person when you need one can be priceless.  The larger companies online these days offer this service to their customers because they know the importance of getting their clients the answers they need in a more than just timely manner.  Customers want it NOW, and they want it from experienced and real people.  I installed this "Chat" for my webinars and it has worked wonders and provided great value to those visiting or just stopping by to check in.

#4 - Contact Me Form

Zillow's "contact me" form/widget can be totally customized and personalized to tap into your target or niche audiences' needs.  Try adding a bit of emotion or something that truly creates a significant call to action, something that your reader can really relate to and you'll be surprised how often this old fashioned but classic form of contact will work for them and for you.  Out of the 30 or so widgets available on the site, this is one of my favorite and most powerful in my opinion.  (my opinion is subject to change everytime a new one comes out...lol )

#5 - Google Me

Now this one is a little tricky but VERY cool. 

Google me is simply a link to any graphic or image that intrigues your reader enough to click on the image. Everything else happens automatically.  There is a site known as "Let Me Google That For You" which you'll find at LMGTFY.com.  Just type in your name, specific keywords, or a phrase where you show up at the top of Google, and watch the magic work.  This is also very useful when you don't want your competition to show up anywhere on the Google search results page. 

• Go ahead, click on the card above and see what happens???

VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION: 

Would you keep on fishing in a lake if you only had bait but no hooks to catch the fish?  You may be #1 on Google, you may get 1000 views on your site per day, but if you're not making a few trips to the bank once in a while, you may want to consider adding some tools like these to your tackle box.  Contact Widgets really are the unsung heroes and they can pack a pretty powerful punch. I hope these will bring you closer to that trip to the bank.

I'm really excited to announce 3 new widgets that launched this past week.  Each of them offers great value to you and to your visitors.  Let me show you each of them so you can decide if they are something you would be able to use on your sites and blogs, or that your clients might like to see. I'll be installing the contact form generator as soon as this post goes public, it's one of my favorites.  Why?  Because it has the potential of capturing contacts that can be converted to clients at a later time.  Plus, they're all FREE.

Since I mentioned it first, here is the "contact form widget" which has great potential of helping you capture contacts.  The reason this one is one of my favorites is because I strongly believe that you're wasting your time on the web if you don't have a capturing tool in place on your website or blogs.  You may be able to cultivate eyeballs to your sites with great content, even be #1 on Google, but if you're not able or at least attempting to capture contacts, then it just doesn't seem to add up in my opinion.

You can customize these widgets to look and say whatever you want.

This second widget is the "rental map widget" and it's very consumer friendly. It's perfect for those relocating to your area who might need to rent before they make the decision where they want to own?  Look at all the rental properties that are now available all across the country, imagine being the connection between consumers needing to rent and helping them make the best choices where to eventually own?  I see huge potential in providing this type of value to your clients and readers.

The third widget is the "agent reputation widget" that every agent should have on their sidebar, blog, website, social profiles etc.  It's the next best thing to a word of mouth referral.  We all know how uncomfortable and inconvenient it is to try and sell ourselves and our services all the time, so letting others help in this area is more than just a convenience.  Client testimonials and reviews are a primary tool for driving more traffic, contacts to your site, and business to your bottom line.  For example: On Zillow, 1 Review = 75% more contacts than agents with 0 reviews, and 5+ Reviews = 150% more contacts than agents with 0 reviews.

All these widgets are brand new and FREE. Each of them comes with the ability to be customized, re-sized, color coded and branded to your liking, but the most valuable piece is the co-branding.  Every time someone visits your Blog or site and uses the widget, if they end up going to Zillow's site from your widget, you will appear at the top of every page no matter what page they're looking at.  This is a great opportunity to stay in front of your target audience and potential clients even when they're not on your site.

(your photo, company, contact info, phone number, and links will appear on Zillow like sample above)

Like these widgets? Then you'll love these others as well. Take a peek at ALL the Real Estate Widgets.

How To Install and Customize Widgets on Your Blogs, Posts, and Sites.

In a previous post about the power and value of Widgets and Gadgets, I promised to provide a training class walking you through the most important steps in creating, selecting, installing, and customizing these little gizmo's into your Blogs and Websites.  While the plaster and paint are still drying, I'd like to invite you to be our first guests at the PRE-Grand Opening of the new ZILLOW® ACADEMY.

This class is only one hour, but will teach you everything you'll need to know about using widgets and gadgets selectively and effectively.  We'll share what works and what doesn't, things to watch out for like pop up ads, java-scripts (which many don't work on ActiveRain) broken widgets, and stuff that will crash your Blog or site.  I'll also share which widgets can bring more value to your readers and add traffic to your site. 

"Can a co-branded widget on your site or Blog really generate leads or clients?" YES, I'll show you why and how.

In exchange for this FREE training and information, all I'd ask is that you'd help me get the word out.  It's such short notice, it would be great if you could Reblog this post, or use the like button below to help me promote it.  I'm not asking for any money, donations, or bonus points, only an hour of your time to show you some things about the almighty "Widget" that can make a huge difference in your Blogging and Social Media endeavors.

If you're unable to attend, we'll be hosting these classes on a regular basis. You're welcome to join us anytime for future classes and trainings.  The Zillow® Academy Calendar will be out shortly, once the virtual desks are in.  We'll also record many of the classes and webinars (with speakers permission and approval) and host them for later review at your convenience.  I'm excited to get this launched and looking forward to YOUR continued growth and success as a re"Z"ult of these efforts.

REZERVE YOUR "VIRTUAL" ZEAT

It looks like this may be my final post for 2009, it sounds so weird saying that. Where did the year go? Anyway....

I am a technology Widget-Gadget-Gidget-Whatchamacallit-Sidebar-Addict.  There, I said it!  I love all those little tracking tools, the neat little links, the fun social networking buttons, cool graphics, icons, HTML objects and embeds, and all that other techy widget stuff.  How selfish of me though, what have I done?  Did I break your browser?  What?  I locked up your computer all these years? Oh No!!

Well it's time to clean house for 2010.  (and it's long overdue)  You might recognize below, many of the widgets and gadgets you used to see on my ActiveRain sidebar.  Over time, you've probably just become numb to them like ads, or even ignored them entirely, that is if you could even get into my Blog.  Can too many widgets and gadgets really slow down your Blog?  The answer is without hesitation, a definite YES.

Just because you CAN add them, doesn't mean you should.  @TLW - that's your queue... lol~

The truth is, if you were on a Dial-up machine, running a windows 2000 computer, using an older operating system, or even if you were using any version of the Internet Explorer browser, then my Blog probably locked up your browser and computer more than once.  This of course leaving you frustrated, and I'm sure, thinking of a few select "key"words you'd like to share with me but couldn't because all my widgets had SHUT YOU DOWN! :-O

Many of you stuck in there though, kept coming back, and did your best supporting my Blog.  Some of you were even gluttons for punishment and kept trying to return even after getting locked up numerous times from all my widgets... for that, I thank you. Well I'm a changed man, I'm turning over a new leaf,  I'm axing my Widgets.  It's a sad day, let's see how long I will last.  lol~

<<{{ as I twinge, flinch and begin having withdrawal symptoms and mild shakes }}>>

Yep, I am finally convinced it's time to turn my Blog "upside down" and shake it out...

~ʍlʇ ɐʎ ʌnl  ~ɐɥɐɥ  ¡ɹɐǝʎ ǝɥʇ ɹoɟ ǝɯıʇ ʇsɐl ǝuo uıɐƃɐ ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ uǝʞoɹq ǝʌ,ı ʇɐɥʇ ƃuıʞuıɥʇ sıɥʇ pɐǝɹ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ ʍou ʇɥƃıɹ pɐǝɥ ɹǝɥ uo ƃuıpuɐʇs s,ǝɥs ʇǝq ll,ı  ˙ǝuo ʍǝu ɐ ɹǝɥ ʎnq ɹǝʇʇǝq pɐɥ ǝɥ ʇɐɥʇ puɐ ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ ǝʞoɹq pɐɥ ı ʇɐɥʇ ƃuıɯɐǝɹɔs puɐ ƃuıʞɔıʞ ʇuɐʎɹq ɹǝʞoɹq ʇɐ ƃuıllǝʎ oƃ p,ǝɥs  ˙ɹǝʇndɯoɔ ɹǝɥ oʇ ǝuop pɐɥ ı ʞɔǝɥ ǝɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ ʇno ǝɹnƃıɟ oʇ ƃuıʎɹʇ sɹnoɥ puǝds uǝɥʇ `sʇsod ʎɯ pɐǝɹ puɐ ʎɹʇ oʇ ǝsn ʍlʇ uǝɥʍ ɹǝqɯǝɯǝɹ ı

Just look what happened to TLW's Blog when my old widgets went sideways whacko on her.

Seriously though, it's been 3 years in the rain, building and adding, and now I'm finally saying Goodbye to most of my Blogger Cloggers so you can finally load my Blog!!  Now if you feel the need or sudden urge to relieve yourself of some of those built up, frustrated, agitated thoughts and comments that you've been holding in all this time because you couldn't get into my Blog,  please don't do it here or now. lol~

I've decided to keep a few things on my sidebar, but only those I'm sentimental about and addicted attached to. It was hard enough to let all the others go, but I did it.  My Blog should be loading at lightning speed now.  If it's not, I'm sure you'll let me know.  So until next year, (man that sounds really weird again)  ActiveBrad signing out.... we'll see you on the other side of 2010!

~ Have a Safe and HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ~

New and "Approved" means "Improved"

Having a network with 123,000 members poses this question, can our network handle this kind of volume and continued growth at this rate?  Yes it can!  However, there are some things that have had to be changed in order to build a better, more secured and stable platform.  Here's your update from the "ActiveRain Files" regarding Widgets and the New HTML approved list.

There are more widgets out there than we have members and new scripts and widgets are being created by the hundreds everyday.  Unfortunately, some of those widgets, scripts, and HTML codes can jeopardize and compromise our growing network.  After taking a serious and detailed look at these, we have come up with the Approved ActiveRain Widget and approved HTML List.

ActiveRain historically has not supported or endorsed third party sites and software applications that are used to create and write posts, grab the code, text, or HTML,  then copy and paste it to ActiveRain.  Fortunately, many of these have worked in the past and will continue to do so, but some outside sources of  HTML may no longer be compatible with our system.  We recommend creating new posts in the ActiveRain formats provided.  Security is our #1 priority to avoid malicious or viral causing scripts or code.

What Is A Widget?

Here are the approved Widgets for ActiveRain 

• • codeamber.org 
  • apture.com 
  • blogburst.com 
  • edatanews.com
  • feedburner.com
  • feedjit.com
  • getclicky.com
  • google.com
  • mybloglog.com
  • designyourownweb.com
  • quickribbon.com
  • realbird.com
  • retaggr.com
  • sitemeter.com
  • topproducer.com
  • twitter.com
  • vflyer.com
  • weatherlet.com
  • amung.us
  • widgetbox.com
  • singlepropertysites.com
  • geovisite.com
    
  • babelfish.yahoo.com
    
  • entrecard.com
    
  • synd.trulia.com
  • blogrush.com is shutting down. Click Link.
  • Statcounter.com was removed
    

This list only applies to "script" widgets.  Not all widgets have script codes in them.  If you do not see a widget that you are using here, and it is currently working on your Blog, then it is not a script widget that we have to worry about, and it is automatically an approved widget.  If your widget is not working, then chances could be that it has code or script in it that will not be allowed on the network.  It may also be that the widget was not installed properly, dare I say...operator error.  LOL~  Here's How To Add Widgets.

(Got Your Own Widget? Make suggestions here, but I can't guaranty they will get approved)

Here are the New "approved" HTML Tags for ActiveRain

Don't pass out on me now, this is important stuff.  I'll provide a link to each <tags> definition.  Beginners: What Is HTML?

a, abbr, acronym, address, b, big, blockquote, br, center, cite, code, dd, del, dfn, div, dt, em, h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6, hr, i, iframe, img, ins, kbd, li, object, ol, p, param, pre, samp, small, span, strong, sub, sup, table, tbody, td, tfoot, thead, tr, tt, ul, var.

For Font Sizes: Use the <h1-h6> tags, or in Wysiwyg mode, highlight your text then use the CTRL+1 thru CTRL+6 keys.

For Font colors: Use this html code now  <span style="color: #29d150;"> instead of this <font color="green"> Here's a link to some different color codes.   Still Lost or Confused?  Click Here

Look for enhancements and upgrades to the wysiwyg editor in the near future.

A Few New Fixed and Added Features

We updated the network last night and ran our maintenance & upgrades.  It will just keep getting better!!

• Every 10 seconds, your draft posts are now being saved automatically.  No more lost posts from frozen browsers, accidentally clicking the back button, or just mistakenly clicking on that red x up in the right hand corner.

• All hyperlinks in your posts should now open in a new window by default unless you change that option manually. Posts written with links in the last week or so will have to be manually corrected.
  

• Twitter Feeds from ActiveRain Posts are now working again.

• Links placed in comments will still work but have "no-follow" tags.  This allows members to place links that are related to the authors topic, but spamming will be useless.
  

Though you may have experienced some minor technical issues in the past, or will from time to time in the future, just know that we are restructuring and rebuilding a stronger, faster, secure network for our members.  Your support and patience is always appreciated, and your help and participation has been stellar.

Thanks for Building and Growing with us. Happy Holidays. :-)

Images By: ImageChef.com

How do you add "Widgets" to your Active Rain Blog?  You can only add them to either your profile page, your posts, or in the right side column on your main Blog page.  These instructions are to add a Widget to your Blog under your photo, the same as you see on mine.

The first step is to select a "Widget" that you'd like to add to your blog.  All Widgets will require you to use the HTML code provided by that Widget, and then paste it into Active Rain.  If you would like to see some samples of the Widgets I have previously used, you can click here .  All these Widgets are FREE.  You just need to register with them to get the HTML codes.

***WARNING:  Be careful using too many Widgets, they can cause your Blog to load slower on older computers "Blogging them down", therefore, causing readers and members to not come back and view your posts.  Too many Widgets can do more harm than good.  See: "Widgets can be hazardous to YOU and your readers!"  DETAILS>>>

To add a Widget, I am going to use the TopBlogArea widget as a sample:  It looks like:          This is a just a little Widget that is used to track your Blog, and see what position you are in on the web.  It's also known as a chicklet.


_________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 1:   INSTRUCTIONS FOR  WIDGET REGISTRATION 

Go to the Widget Website TopBlogArea to sign up, register, and get the HTML code:
(open the link in a new window so you can still read these steps)

a. Click on "Register an Account" 

b.Add your information about you and your Blog

c.Complete other information IE: Blog Category, Blog Name, Blog URL, Blog Description etc.

*NOTE:(Your URL is http://activerain.com/blogs/YourUserNameHere ) Your RSS Feed will be the same.

d. Click on "Get HTML Code" It will look something like below:

<!-- TopBlogArea.com START --><a href="http://www.topblogarea.com/real_estate/" title="Real Estate blogs"><img border="0" src="http://www.topblogarea.com/tracker.php?do=in&id=8242" alt="Top Real Estate blogs"></a><!-- TopBlogArea.com END -->

e. Highlight and select ALL the HTML code with your mouse, and then press  CTRL + C to copy.

Now you're ready to paste into your Active Rain Blog!

__________________________________________________________________________________________

STEP 2:  INSTRUCTIONS TO ADD YOUR WIDGET IN ACTIVE RAIN

Now that you have copied the HTML code, you need to paste it into the proper place on Active Rain.

a. Click on "My Profile" in Active Rain (that means your profile, not mine) LOL!

b. Next, Click on "My Settings"

c. Now paste the HTML code by using the CTRL + V on your keyboard in the "Blog Description" box just below the
Blog Title box as shown below:

d. Now click on "My Blog" to review your Widget.  It should be on the right hand column, just under your photo.

THAT's IT! You're Done!   ~  Now you can use this same process to add "ANY" Widget to your Active Rain Blog. 

Here are some others "Widgets" and links you may be interested in:
GIZMOS  |  MYBLOGLOG  |  BLOGLINES   |  GRAZR  |  POLLDADDY  |  SLIDESHOW  |  JAXTR  |  MEEBO  |  CLUSTER MAPS  |  FEEDBLITZ  |  MEEZ AVATARS  |  WIDGET BOX  |  GCAST  |  WUNDERGROUND  |  TECHNORATI  |  BLOGFLUX  |  SONIFIC

For Hundreds of Widgets, GO TO WidgetWorld or WidgetBox.  See  Missy Caulk's  post: "Why I Love These Little Guys"

________________________________________________________________________________________

*TIP:  You can adjust the sizes of your Widgets and graphics in the HTML code.  Height="350" and Width="500" can always be changed to any size you like.  Just change the number between the quotations "   ".  Be careful of the LARGE Widgets, they'll run your photo and Blog right off the screen. I use around "150" max width to be safe.

*TIP II:  If you want your Widgets to be centered, you'll need to use an HTML code <center> at the beginning and </center> at the end of your HTML code.  This will center ONLY the widget, and NOT everything else, like your links, your tags, or anything else above or below your widget. 

See the sample HTML below...
<center><!-- TopBlogArea.com START --><a href="http://www.topblogarea.com/real_estate/" title="Real Estate blogs"><img border="0" src="http://www.topblogarea.com/tracker.php?do=in&id=8242" alt="Top Real Estate blogs"></a><!-- TopBlogArea.com END --></center>


You can also use Widgets on your profile page.  If you do use Widgets, be selective.  They can be fun, cute and even entertaining, but they can also be distracting, annoying and irritating.  Always use moderation and good judgement.  Change them around and update them often.  There are some great Widgets out there and I am sure that with Apple leading the Widget and Gizmo way, there will soon be many more to choose from.  Good luck, and good Widgets! 

This post is for Seth Callen, a new member on Active Rain who specifically requested this.
Paying it forward, "Active Rain Style!"

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