Step 1: From the “Write” menu, click “Page”

Step 2: Enter your page title, and scroll to the bottom of the page without entering any page content.

Step 3:  From the “Page Template” drop down menu at the bottom, select “Blog Page” as the page template.

1) The Header:  Your IDX Blogger header is automatically created by the template and will always appear at the top of every page.  The header includes information pulled from your HomeQuest contact information (Click here to see how to change your Contact Info).  If you change your HomeQuest contact information, your websites will reflect the new information automatically.  The header color and background color are determined by your “Theme” (Click here to see how to change your IDX Blogger theme).  The header is not customizable unless a Custom Header is ordered.

2) The Navigation Bar:  The navigation bar is the horizontal list of links that appears below the header of each page.  The navigation bar lists each page in your IDX Blogger system (unless the page has been hidden).  The links in the navigation bar are used by your website visitors to get to the different pages in your site.

3) The page content:  The page content is where the bulk of your information will be displayed.  Ultimately, the header, sidebar, and navigation bar are only supporting actors to this star role.  The page content is the star of the show because this is where the relevent information exists, while the header is only for aesthetics and contact information, and the sidebar contains only widgets.

4) The Sidebar:  The sidebar of your IDX Blogger site is where the widgets will appear.  Widgets are great for displaying little “accessory information” tidbits.  This can include things like your agent profile, logo, agency information and logo, as well as other useful items like a mortgage calculator or a list of your recent blog posts.  Click here to see all articles on widgets.

Note: The widget sidebar does not appear at all on pages with a map.  This includes the Search Listings map, the Blog Posts map, and the Daily Email signup map.  The special mapping functionality requires the use of the entire page, so the sidebar is not shown.

“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.

Step 1: From the “Write” menu, select “Post”.

Step 2: Enter the title of your post, as well as the body content of the post.  (Click here to see how to add images and media to your post)

Step 3: (Optional) You can tag your post for easy categorization and grouping with similar posts.  (Click here to see more information on tags)

Step 4: (Optional) Categorize your post by clicking the checkboxes of the categories that you wish the post to be filed under.  (Click here to see more information on Categories)

(Remember, you must use special categories if you want to use the Special Map Icons)

Step 5: (Optional) Enter the address to the location you are blogging about, then click “Map Location”.  This will show a preview pin on the mini map representing the location the post will be geocoded to on your IDX map.  (Remember, posts without a location will not appear on your map.  Click here to learn more about geocoding)

Step 6: Click “Publish” to post immediately to your site.  You can click “Save” if you would like to work on this same post later, and publish at a later date.

Editing a post:

Step 1: From the “Manage” menu, click “Posts”

Step 2: Click the name of the post you wish to edit.

Step 3: Make your changes, then remember to click “Save”.

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:

When added, your blog the following calendar will appear.  Click the blue links (where they are available), and you will be taken to a list of any blog post published on the selected day.

Step 1: Create an Album to be included in posts and pages.  From the “Manage” menu, click “Album”.

Step 2: Enter a name for your Album, and click “Add”.  Once the Album is added, select it from the drop down list on the left to add galleries to this Album.

Step 3: Drag and drop photo galleries from the right hand side onto the space on the left hand side.  The galleries added to the left are the ones that will be included with this Album.  Remember to click the “Update” button above to save your changes.

Step 4: From the WordPress page editor, click the “Add NextGEN Gallery” button.

Step 5: Select the “Album” tab.  Then choose your Album from the drop down list.  Click the “Insert” button to add it to the editor.  Please note that you will only see some special text in the post editor, and it will not appear as an album until you save and view the post.

Your Album is now viewable on post/page once it has been saved.

Step 1: From the “Design” menu, select “Widgets”.

Step 2:  Click the “Add” link next to the “Archives” widget.  There are a few options available for this widget including the ability to have it display as a drop down list rather than a series of links.  Click here to see more information on adding and removing widgets.

The Archives widget now appears on the right hand side of your IDX Blogger site.