Don’t Lose Your Visitors: Custom 404 Pages to Retain Real Estate Traffic

404 Error on Computer ScreenIf you have a website, you need a custom 404 page.

Why?

  • Because there is nothing LESS “sticky” than a standard 404 page and you want a “sticky” site to retain visitors
  • Because you want to deliver the BEST personalized service to your clients online and face-to-face
  • Because you hate 404 pages yourself
  • Because getting a generic “Error 404: Page not found” makes people run away, feel stupid, belive they have done something wrong, or it simply frustrates them when they didn’t get what they wanted

People don’t like to feel stupid and they avoid situations that make them feel that way. They don’t like to be frustrated and ditto on the avoidance there. You don’t want YOUR site to be the cause of these feelings, do you? Continue reading

Best of the Web: Users Vote in Top 100 Web Applications, Tools and Toys

Want to know the top browser, top online game, top web-based communication option — selected by Webware readers and web based application fans from all over? Check out the WebWare 100 Winners for 2007.
Many of these I use, or have used, but a few… under the topics of “entertainment” and “community” are begging for some of my “free time” — whatever THAT is!

It’s good to know that WordPress beat out Drupal, Blogger and TypePad in publishing/blogging and web content tools. *grin*

Improving SEO on WordPress Websites For Real Estate Agents

It’s been awhile since I’ve really “dug in” where SEO is concerned. Basically, I’ve been working under the assumption (a fairly good one, IMHO and in my humble experience online) that if you build good content, organize it well and use common sense when titling your articles, posts and web pages — that the readers will come.

For my own sites, and my client sites, it’s worked like a charm.

To be fair, I have spent a great deal of time studying SEO in the past and still try to keep abreast of any big changes. But mostly, I’ve determined that avoiding the “tricks” and the “blackhat” methods — and relying on offering a site of useful information and making it easy to find and access that information is the best long-term SEO approach. (I do keep an eye on well-crafted metas and always have an eye on local search.) Continue reading

It’s St. Patty’s Day!

This is, hands down, my favorite holiday. Has been for years. But today, being away from home and having this HUGE conversion project underway for my blog has dampened my usual high St. Patrick’s Day spirit.

It’s going to take ages to get my new WordPress blog here on WickedBlog working exactly the way I need it to work. I’m verbose. I write alot. Usually, that doesn’t bother me. But, usually, I’m not in a position of checking over 500 posts for errors, for weirdnesses in funny characters that happen when you convert databases (like question marks inside black diamonds — what’s up with that!?!?)

I know this is going to be great when it’s complete — I already see indications of greatness around the edges — but for now I’m frustrated. It will pass, but for today… I’m just frustrated.

Playing with WordPress for WickedBlog

Today, I’ve been working away… on a new content management system for my blog. I’m running a tandem version of WickedBlog on a secure (can’t be spidered) production site. I must say, I’m enjoying the process. It’s also frustrating the be-jeepers out of me, but most new systems do.

I’m actually going to end up learning a little about CSS. Right now, my sheets don’t “cascade” yet — they kinda fumble around and fall alot. But, it’s still enjoyable.

Continue reading