WordPress and IDX
It’s a common question – how do I integrate IDX with WordPress? Unfortunately, there are a few factors working against you.
1) Feed formats vary by regional so it’s unlikely you’ll find a one size fits all solutions
2) Because WordPress plugins are built to handle a specific data format, it would require considerable customization to make it work.
Personally, I found it easier to write my own PHP, CSS, etc and link to the feed stored daily in a MySQL database. It took some time, but the end product was exactly what the Realtor needed.
See virginiasportingestates.com/advanced-search.php for an example.
Contact me if you want to discuss.
Read MoreAnyone using wordpress and know of a good plugin to display IDX listings?
via WordPress and IDX.
2009 Internet Marketing Trend #8 – Behavioral Targeting
Online behavioral marketing is similar in nature to traditional behavioral marketing. The idea is that online content adapts to a users behavior on your site or on the web in general. Several applications from leading online retailers, such as Amazon.com, already employ this technique and can therefore serve more relevant ads and content based on a users previous actions.
In its simplest form, behavioral marketing might include suggesting a new product or newsletter subscription to a vistor who is reading a particular article on a related topic. A more advance application might identify cookies from a visitor’s profile and leverage that information to highlight content that might be of interest.
The advantges of understanding an incorporating behavioral targeting techniques into your internet marketing strategy are numerous. As with needs based segmentation, behavioral marketing taps into the specific needs and interests of your customer, serving individualzed communication. If your interested in discussing the online behavioral marketng for your company please call me @ 434-806-3272.
Read More2009 Internet Marketing Trend #5 – Blogging
Blogging will continue to be a major force for Internet Marketers in 2009. So much has changed with blogging over the years and as new tools develop, blogging continues to morph into a very promising platform. The expansion of Web 2.0 tools, video commenting, and mobile applications continues to drive the blogging platform as a useful channel for people to connect, either one-on-one or one-to-many.
There are several outstanding blogging platforms to consider when building a blog. My preference is for WordPress, the leading open source blogging platform that is free to download and has a loyal following of top-notch programmers. On the surface, the beauty of WordPress is it’s simplicity – the administrative dashboard is intuitive and requires little if any real technocal know-how. The real power comes on the backend with the ability to completely customize your user interface and add a number of plugins to enhance the functionality of your site.
If you would like to learn more about blogging or set up a blog for your company, please feel free to give me a call @ 434-806-3272.
Read MoreIntegrating CAAR MLS IDX into website with WordPress
Integrating real estate IDX feeds into one’s website seems to get a great deal of attention and many Realtors are faced with the prospect of spending a ton of money to make this happen.
After several weeks and some sleepless nights, I’ve finally completed my first CAAR MLS IDX integration. For a sense of the end product see Virginia Sporting Estates.
Of course, there is still some styling work to complete, but the functionality is there, which really is the toughest part to learn.
Call me at 434-806-3272 if you’d like help getting the CAAR MLS IDX feed on your site so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.
Read MoreSony Refreshes Bravia HDTV Line, Promotes 240Hz Refresh Rate
Sony Electronics showed off its latest high-definition televisions today. The new HDTV models reflect the company’s emphasis on improved color reproduction, fast 240Hz refresh rates, and Internet connectivity.
Sony announced 18 televisions in total, across six product lines.
Fast Refresh Rate
Six new models introduced today at CES 2009 feature Sony’s 240Hz technology. Designed to compensate for motion by inserting extra frames to smooth out fast-moving sequences, 240Hz is currently the fastest technology commercially available (LG Display has shown a prototype of its forthcoming 480Hz panel).
Sony has a two-prong approach to its 240Hz technology. The company inserts nine interpolated frames between each actual frame of video when playing back film content; and it inserts up to three additional inerpreted frames between each actual video frames. In addition, Sony has an image blur reduction circuit to help reduce motion issues along the horizontal and vertical axis.
The Sony Bravia XBR9 series gets 240Hz Motionflow technology in all models greater than 40 inches. These three models–the Bravia KDL-52XBR9, the Bravia KDL-46XBR9, and the Bravia KDL-40XBR9All–also feature an ethernet connection, Bravia Link HDMI CEC for accesing additional entertainment components, integrated Bravia Internet Video (first introduced two years ago), DLNA and USB host support (for playing mulitmedia files), and Sony’s newly announced Bravia Widgets for additional Internet content (financial news, Yahoo Video, Flickr, weather reports) via the Yahoo Widgets Engine.
All also feature Sony’s Wide Color Gamut Cold Cathode Fluorescent Light (WCG-CCFL) backlight technology, which enables the panel to access a broader color palette.
The 32-inch Bravia KDL-32XBR9 boasts both full 1920 by 1080p resolution and Motionflow 120Hz refresh technology, impressive specs to find in a relatively small-screen television. But, this model lacks integrated Bravia Internet Video and WCG-CCFL backlighting.
New Bravia Z Series
Also new is the Bravia Z- series. Three models–the KDL-52Z5100, the KDL-46Z5100, and the KDL-40Z5100–all pack Motionflow 240Hz and all of the features of the XBR9 series but the WCG-CCFL technology; and adds in Energy Star 3.0 compliance.
All of the Bravia XBR9 and Z-series models are due out this spring.
Energy Efficien
In keeping with this year’s energy friendly trends, Sony introduced its Bravia VE5-series. Due out in the summer, this line–Bravia KDL-52VE5, the Bravia KDL-46VE5, and the Bravia KDL-40VE5– features high-efficiency HCFL backlighting, which uses reduced-size cathode tubes in order to improve power efficiency by 40 percent compared with other Sony LCDs. These models also feature a zero-watt standby power switch, a light sesnor with dynamic backlight control to adjust the screen’s brightness down for use in dim environments, and a presence sensor that turns off the TV if it doesn’t detect motion for a specified period of time. These models all feature Motionflow 120Hz technology, are Bravia Link-compatible, have a USB port, and have Bravia Sync HDMI CEC.
Notably, only one line in Sony’s Bravia HDTVs lacks 120Hz technology–the Bravia S5100-series. Also, with this year’s lineup, Sony has just two 720p models left in its arsenal: The 32-inch Bravia KDL-32L5000, and the 26-inch KDL-26L5000.
Conspicuously absent from Sony’s announcements today: Any mention of LED backlit displays. The company will continue to ship its XBR8 series with LED backlighting, though, and LED remains on its radar.
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