How is my “Blog Posts” page different from my “Recent Posts” page

IDX Blogger adds some special capability to WordPress, most importantly the ability to geolocate the post onto your special maps, the Blog Post map and the Search Listings map.  There are different ways that you can have your IDX Blogger setup in order for your clients to interact with your blog content.  The pages listed below are all created about 

“Blog Posts” Map: The Blog Posts map shows the map of your metro area with all of your geocoded blog posts.  Note that this map does not show listings, and does not show blog posts without a location.  In order for a blog post to display on this map, it must be geocoded.  Click here to see how to geocode your posts.

“Search Listings” Map:  This map contains BOTH the listings from the MLS, as well as any blog post that you have geocoded.  This is the map that your clients will spend the most time on, and this map is the only location listings will appear.  If you feel that having your geocoded blog posts appear both on the Search Listings map, and the Blog Posts map is redundant or confusing, you may hide the blog posts map.  Click here to see how to hide a page in IDX Blogger.

“Recent Posts” page:  This page does not contain a map, and will display your blog posts in reverse chronological order just like a any other standard blog on the internet.  This page displays all of your blog posts, including the posts that have not been geolocated.  This is useful if you would like to just show off your blog content without a  map interface.

Special Map Icons

New special map icons are available for the IDX Blogger system.   You can now have different icons for coffee shops, shopping, schools, parks, events, blog posts, happy hour, and restaurants all shown right alongside the listings on your map.  Clients visiting your website will be able to browse neighborhood listings while seeing and reading the custom content you have included with that neighborhood.  Demonstrate your knowledge of an area to your potential clients by including pictures and information about local schools, parks and other attractions.   The difference between a normal blog post and a special icon post on the map is only which category is used.

Why have custom icons?  As an agent, you find yourself selling a neighborhood to a family just as much as you have to sell the house.  To sell a neighborhood, just blog about it and your map posts will do the talking for you to any website visitor.

How do I get started?:

To use the special mapping icons, you must have specially named Categories added to your system.  Any post included in one of these categories will display with a special icon.

Adding the Categories (Do this step once)

Click here to see how to add Categories to your IDX Blogger system.

Note: You must add these Categories, they do not exist by default.  Make sure to keep the exact name or the special icon will not display.

Special Category Names:

• Listing
• Miscellaneous blog post
• Coffee shop
• Shopping
• Happy hour
• Restaurants
• Parks
• Schools
• Events

Categorizing a post (Do this everytime you want a post to show on your map):

Add a post (from Write > Post) like a normal blog post.  (Note: Make sure to geocode the post, only geocoded posts appear on your map.)

When you categorize the post, make sure to use one of the pre-defined special categories listed above.

Example: