"Using WordPress to Build Websites Instead of Blogs

May 5th, 2008 | Posted in WordPress 28 Comments »

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One of the things I like about WordPress is its versatility. WordPress isn’t just blogging software. With the right theme, you can build a website that doesn’t resemble a blog at all. Essentially, writers who become familiar with WordPress become empowered as web designers as well.

A few weeks ago, I made a website for a client who was launching a green building business (see or click the image below).

It’s a predesigned theme that I purchased from ithemes.com, customized a bit and configured. I also wrote the content. I like WordPress because you don’t have to start from scratch with the theme design. If you get a system down and are familiar with the theme you’re implementing, you can create a professional site fairly quickly."

me: Gotta love WordPress- just look at this blog. What would you add to it to make it a "real" site? Read the rest of Tom Johnson's post for ideas- I love this about WordPress too. There is much more than blog functionality in the design, just like there is much more than blog functionality designed into Posterous, but in a different way. Our MLS provides an embeddable home search function for free (well, not in addition to the MLS fee), so if you self-host you can structure yourself a decent site for next to nothing.

Grow Your Blog’s Readership By Targeting Readers

Blog Promotion 33 comments

Who is your Primary Blog’s Target reader?

I was speaking with a blogger a couple of weeks ago via IM and he asked me the eternal question that we all seem to ask:

‘How do I find more readers for my blog?’

It’s a question I get asked a fair bit and one that I can easily reel off 10 to 20 strategies for. However on this occasion I decided to answer the question with another question and fired this one back to the blogger:

‘What type of readers do you want?’

Go here and read the rest. Good article for blogging and for setting up any business strategy

Filesocial.com- pretty good idea

Oh, lord, I am over there again. Quick, someone- what's the answer?

One size fits all

Photo: Leonid Meteor Shower: Best Sky Show Tonight

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Leonid meteors streak across the sky over Joshua Tree National Park in California on November 18, 2001. The horizontal streaks are stars and planets caught moving in the long-exposure photograph.

During the 2009 Leonid meteor shower, sky-watchers—depending on where they are—may see anywhere from 30 to 300 shooting stars an hour, experts say.

Come stand outside tonight, and count falling stars with me. We share the same sky!

Rich HTML email signatures straight from Gmail

One of the benefits of using a dedicated email application like Apple Mail or Mozilla Thunderbird is the ability to send emails which included rich HTML signatures. These email signatures are easily recognizeable and often include hyperlinks, images, or a combination of the two. Although Gmail users could easily access their accounts via POP allowing for HTML emails, web-based users are were forced to use plain text signatures. For quite some time, I yearned for the ability to add a little more personality to my emails. Unfortunately, because I managed all my email accounts via Gmail’s web interface, the option was non-existent. That was until I discovered the Better Gmail Firefox extension.

After installing the Firefox-only Better Gmail extension, you’ll discover a handful of configurable options – one of which is the "Allow HTML in Signature" option under Gmail > Settings. Once the option is selected, you now have free reign as far as HTML signatures are concerned.

going to try this. I like my Yahoo signature because it has my card.ly info- maybe I can do the same w/gmail

RPR Madness! NAR unleashes national property database with Cyberhomes

By Brian Boero | Nov 7th, 2009 | 61 Comments Categories: Cyberhomes, Deals, NAR

[What follows is my somewhat stream of consciousness take on today's events. This post is a beast. Interested in your thoughts. And please point out where you think I've missed the mark. More will follow.]

The NAR has taken over certain technology assets of Cyberhomes from LPS (formerly known as FNRES) in order to bring its RPR (Realtors Property Resource) project, as well as its consumer-facing play, HouseLogic, to market. To do this, they have created Realtors Property Resource, LLC – a wholly owned subsidiary of the NAR.

Certain LPS executives, including Cyberhomes GM Marty Frame, will be making the transition over to NAR/RPR. Frame will serve as the President of the new entity. Dale Ross, who was co-founder of MRIS, the nation’s largest MLS, will be CEO. LPS will also provide call center support and other services as part of the deal.

here is one view of what is flying out of Pandora's box. I think we had all heard rumors that this was happening- I believe I had heard something about it at Inman Connect NYC, before Todd Carpenter was there and it was still a gleam in someone's eye. Where do you weigh in on this?