How to Add Headers and Footers to a Microsoft Word Document
By irenedorang | November 1, 2008
Have you ever wondered how to get that copyright or contact information into the bottom of a Microsoft Word document so that it shows up on every page? It’s easy to do, using the ‘Header and Footer” toolbar.
Here’s how:
1. In the top horizontal menu click “View”
2. From the pull-down menu that appears, click “Header and Footer”. (If you do not see that option listed, click the down arrows at the bottom of the dropdown menu to expand it.)
The main part of the document becomes inactive, and at the top and bottom of the document active Header and Footer regions appear, surrounded by a dashed line.
3. Click within the header or footer region and type the content you want. (You can adjust font style and add an image just as you would within the main document body.)
4. When you are finished, click “Close” on the ‘Header and Footer’ toolbar that popped up . The toolbar will disappear.
5. If you are happy with the result, click “Save” to save your changes.
That’s it! Remember you can also adjust the font color and size so that the header and footer content does not stand out as much as the main body content.
Topics: Tech Tips | No Comments »
How to Put a Contact Form on Your Website
By irenedorang | September 2, 2008
These days there are some great online services that make it easy to build web forms that you can link to from your website, blog or emails. One of my favorites is Formspring, due to its ease of use, friendly interface and multiple pricing options (including a free version.)
Just to be clear, it’s MUCH better to link to a contact form than to your email address directly. I find it so annoying when I click on a “Contact Me” link and my computer automatically loads the Microsoft Outlook mail editor, which I never use - so I have to wait for the page to load and then click several times to close it out. Grrr. 
Using a form also allows you to get a better idea of what your visitors really need. Here’s an example of one that took just a couple of minutes to create:
(Paid accounts don’t show the Formspring logo at the end.)
Formspring Ease of Use
Creating the forms is drag-and-drop easy, even for the technically challenged. You can insert the forms into a site or blog by copying or pasting the javascript or html they give you into a page (so you do need to know how to do that, but for anyone who blogs this is cut-and-paste easy again.)
Even if you think that’s beyond your skills, you can always use a straight link to the form, and link to it from your emails or any text or graphic on your website or blog.
So are you ready to boost the professional look of your online contact forms? Click here to check Formspring out.
Topics: Blogging & Web, Real Estate Marketing, Tech Tips | No Comments »
How to Reconnect With Past Real Estate Clients
By irenedorang | August 7, 2008
Do you have potential repeat and referral real estate business in your contact list that you’re just not sure how to tap into?
If you’re like most real estate agents, the answer is ‘Yes!’ To make it easier for you, we just posted an article on how to EASILY reconnect with those past clients when you think a little too much time has gone by. You can read it on this page of our ToolsForRealEstate.com website.
Topics: New Agents, Real Estate Biz Tips, Real Estate Marketing, Resources | No Comments »
Dynamic Drive Has Great Tools for Your Real Estate Website
By irenedorang | August 4, 2008
If you’re a bit of a techie you should know about a great site I was referred to by Seattle pet photographer Jamie Plughoeft (you can check out her excellent dog and cat photos at www.cowbelly.com.)
It’s called Dynamic Drive, and you can find javascript and dynamic html script to create all kinds of cool features on your website or blog, including easy slideshow creating scripts. (That one is the one used on the home page of our www.ToolsForRealEstate.com main site.)
If you’re not a techie it’s still worth giving your webmaster a heads up about this site, and you’ll have fun looking at the demos that are usually available for each script.
Topics: Blogging & Web, Online Marketing, Real Estate Marketing, Resources, Tech Tips | No Comments »
Walkscore is a Cool Tool for Agents and Homebuyers
By irenedorang | July 31, 2008
Here’s a good resource for agents working with homebuyers who need to know how close a property is to amenities like shops, parks and libraries. If you’re in one of 40 major metropolitan areas in the U.S. just plug the address into Walkscore and you’ll immediately see the amenities plotted out on a map around the address. It also creates a list of each one along with the walking distance, and rates the neighborhood for “walkability”.
Here’s an example:
With gas prices sky high and the green movement gaining ground, this is probably indicative of a trend in neighborhood review criteria that’s going to grow over time.
Topics: Real Estate Biz Tips, Resources, Tech Tips | No Comments »
How to Buy a Domain Name on GoDaddy
By irenedorang | July 24, 2008
Think you don’t need your own domain name because your real estate company hosts a page for you, or you don’t have a website at all yet? Wrong!
You can buy a distinctive, easy-to-remember domain name for just a few dollars a year and forward it to any other website, including one your company provides for you. And even if you don’t have any kind of website, owning a domain name means you can set up an email account to that address, so that your email looks professional instead of ending with something like yahoo.com or gmail.com.
Here’s a short video that shows you step by step how to buy a domain name:
That’s all there is to it - get your domain name now, before someone else does!
Topics: Online Marketing, Real Estate Marketing, Tech Tips | 1 Comment »
How to Add an Email Newsletter Signup Link to All Outgoing Emails
By irenedorang | July 24, 2008
Want to grow your contact list of future real estate clients? Make it easy for people to get great information from you!
Watch our video tutorial on how to add the signup link for your email newsletter to the email signature line of all your regular emails, so that people notice it and can easily sign up for your email newsletter.
Or, you can also download the printed instructions (a pdf file) showing
how to add your email newsletter signup link to all of your emails (click the underlined link.)
Topics: Online Marketing, Real Estate Marketing, Tech Tips | No Comments »
Put Ask the Builder Videos on Your Website
By irenedorang | July 16, 2008
Here’s a cool way to add some interesting content to your real estate website or blog. Just copy some code from Tim Carter’s Ask the Builder website, paste it into your website or blog, and you’ve got this little widget, below:
You can choose different styles and sizes of the video box just by checking a few options, and you don’t need to know any html at all - it’s just copy and paste.
Here’s the link to the page to get the code:
http://askthebuilder.magnify.net/widgets/playlist?playlist=recent
Tip: Check the box that says “Open in new window”, then click “Refresh Widget” before you copy the code. That way people don’t get permanently directed away from your site when they click on a video link.
Have fun!
Topics: Blogging & Web, Online Marketing, Real Estate Marketing, Resources | No Comments »
A Great Real Estate Postcard Idea
By irenedorang | July 5, 2008
Want an eye-catching way to advertise to home buyers? Send this picture as a postcard, with the tagline “Considering Your Next Move?” to prospective home buyers, with a blurb about your services on the back.
(Hey - dogs, dry humor - it’s an unbeatable combination. )
This photo is available here at Dreamstime, which is a royalty-free photo source where you can purchase credits that you use to buy photos with.
For this one you’d want the 300 dpi option (the second one) so that it would print correctly, which would cost just $2. (The version on the left is watermarked, too small to use and copyrighted unless you actually purchase it at Dreamstime.)
If you want a super easy-to-use, high quality real estate postcard service try XpressDocs - they will actually take an order up to 2 pm CST and have it at your doorstep the next business day.
Topics: Real Estate Marketing, Resources | 1 Comment »
The Mr Scribbles Fear-of-Video Video - Funniest Ever?
By irenedorang | July 4, 2008
Have you been hearing the buzz about using video to promote your real estate business online, but found yourself nervous about trying it out? This video offers good tips and is laugh-out-loud funny at the same time - check out the ‘Video - It’s Not For Everyone’ video from Mr. Scribble:
Topics: Blogging & Web, Real Estate Biz Tips, Real Estate Marketing, Resources | No Comments »