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Two WordPress blogs, One Site, Now Live! And Thanks to AR folks

Yesterday my new site went live. What fun! When do you know it is time to go live? When the new is better than the old. Waiting until it is perfect means permanent paralysis...

One site:

www.MikeJaquish.com

Two WordPress blogs. "Neighborhoods" and "Journal."

http://neighborhoods.MikeJaquish.com

http://blog.MikeJaquish.com

In "Neighborhoods," we will create and post content to help folks learn about local communities, amenities, and activities. Content is now coming on-line daily.

In "Unplugged," I will hold forth on a variety of topics, listings, market forces, personal opinions, remodeling and house issues, etc. Opinions? Never in short supply here.

I want the visitor's experience to be friendly and engaging. I hope that shows.

After stumbling around with MS FrontPage, Expressions, Dreamweaver, some volunteer help, approaching several people, and spending a few bucks, I gave up. It was a blow to my ego to admit I wasn't going to develop my site, as there are so many people doing it who can't. And, shame of shames, I was going to invest MONEY in the development. But, it just wasn't getting done, and my time is better spent in contact with clients, and chasing real estate details. I didn't have a plan at that point, other than "Ask Around."

I "Asked Around" to Eleanor Thorne who suggested I speak with Hal Goodtree about site development.

I'm glad she did, and I'm glad I followed through, as I'm happy with the results, and moving on to getting very familiar with the operation of the site. I see there will always be details for me to fool with and organize. I can do that!

We started off to do a neighborhood wiki, but decided the WordPress platform was more flexible and appealing, and easier to work with and integrate into the site. All good stuff. And I had already been fooling around with the WP Tarski theme, so it was an easy step to adapt it twice for the site.

Much credit for raising my awareness goes to the AR WordPress Blog group, particularly Cheryl Johnson, who breaks down topics into such digestible form. Thank you all, particularly you, Cheryl.

And of course, I hope you all will take a look and shoot me a little feedback.

Off to Day 2!

Posted by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC on 03/04/2008 08:05 AM

Comments (28)

neighborhoods, wordpress, ar

Post is included in group: WordPress Blog

28 Comments on Two WordPress blogs, One Site, Now Live! And Thanks to AR folks

I LOVE THIS SITE! The neighborhood information is GREAT! This was ambitious - but I think you've done a GREAT job!

03/04/2008 08:13 AM

by Eleanor Thorne, Cary Mortgage Loans (Meridian Residential)

Eleanor,

Thanks! My work on the site is just starting.

I was going to get a lot done this evening, but someone is holding an AR meet-up...

03/04/2008 08:17 AM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Mike,

The friendliness shows! Welcome to Mike Jaquish Journal "No Hassle Home Searches" and www.MikeJaquish.com. Congratulations on the new site!

Mike in Tucson

03/04/2008 08:52 AM

by Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC)

Well, if Mike Jones says it looks friendly, I take that as an expert opinion!

Thanks, Mike!

03/04/2008 10:33 AM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Mike - Off to check this out now. I am tweaking things as well and I am interested in how you incorporated 2 blogs there.

03/04/2008 05:29 PM

by Steve Scheer - Denver Real Estate - Highlands Ranch Real Estate (RE/MAX Masters, Inc.)

Steve,

I can't take credit. All I offered was "creative differences."

03/04/2008 10:28 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Mike, nice job! This is what's so great about AR....the info is here and most people are happy to share their tips and ideas.

03/04/2008 10:33 PM

by Maple Valley WA Broker/Owner Colleen Fischesser 425-432-5400 (RE/MAX Select Real Estate)

Congrats on launching the site, Mike! That's one of the great things about ActiveRain -- there's always someone willing to help, or someone who can point us in the right direction to implement our ideas.

03/04/2008 10:34 PM

by John Novak - Las Vegas and Henderson NV Real Estate (Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace)

Colleen,

Thank you! Yes, AR's real strength is the sharing.

John,

Thank you! Yes, reading on AR really helped me get my mind around where I wanted to be, and how I wanted to get there.

03/04/2008 10:40 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Mike - I like the new sites... Clean, easy to navigate. Really nice job.

03/05/2008 05:14 AM

by Fairbanks Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton (Jesse & Kathy Clifton, REALTORS - 907.699.6024 - )

Jesse and Kathy,

Thanks! Clean and fast was the goal..

Now to add content without messing it up...

03/05/2008 05:33 AM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Congratulations Mike on a job well done. You are a very busy man. Keep up the great work my friend.

03/05/2008 10:04 PM

by Ray Nellum, Fort Smith Real Estate (Warnock Real Estate, LLC.)

Ray,

Thanks a lot.

Means a bunch to me coming from you!

03/05/2008 10:10 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Mike, I checked your blogs out and they are very nice. I just started a wordpress blog also. I just bought 2 hard bound books to try and learn all I can as I am doing it myself.

03/06/2008 05:07 PM

by Marchel Peterson Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro ABR (Results Realty)

Marchel,

Good luck!

The more I fool around, the better I like WordPress.

I might even get good at it.

Thanks for checking it out and commenting over there, too.

03/06/2008 06:23 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Mike, You have one problem that could get you into big trouble. I had to scroll around to find your brokerage name, and I couldn't find the address. I know the laws are slightly different from state-to-state but I thought both the name and address were supposed to be easily noticeable to the consumer. Is that just how Florida wants it? (And I made the same mistake on mine too, until a colleague e-mailed me.)

03/10/2008 09:46 PM

by Lisa Hill (Daytona Beach Real Estate) (Adams Cameron and Company)

Lisa,

Thanks for good input.

We are working on it.

03/10/2008 09:58 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

A belated "You're Welcome!"

03/22/2008 07:47 AM

by Cheryl Johnson, Bob Taylor Properties, Inc., Los Angeles, CA

Nice site - I like the plant at the top...very whimsical.

Tina in Virginia

03/22/2008 11:38 AM

by Tina Merritt - Virginia Beach Real Estate (Long & Foster Oceanfront - Virginia Tech Hokie)

Cheryl,

Happy Easter!

Tina,

Thanks! We were looking for something different, and simple.

03/22/2008 02:49 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Nice job and great idea!

You mention in one of you're blog posts about Flickr. What exactly do you do on Flickr to promote yourself?

03/22/2008 04:38 PM

by Debra Drummond, The MichiganMoves.com Team at RE/MAX on the trail (RE/MAX on the trail)

Debra,

Thanks!

As much as self-promotion, I use Flickr so people can access photo information of the surrounding area.

Would you like to see some shots of the Lake Wheeler Park area?

I have them to offer.

8182 views makes me think it works...

03/22/2008 05:55 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Thanks for those links! I bookmarked'em and they will def. come in handy down the road!

03/22/2008 11:53 PM

by Christopher Watters, Realtor - Greater Austin Texas Area (Texas Ranch & Home Realty)

Christopher,

Run with it!

And thanks for stopping in.

03/23/2008 07:20 AM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

It was great to work with you Mike!

04/03/2008 12:05 PM

by Hal Goodtree - Web 2.0 for Business (Goodtree & Co., Inc.)

Mike,

Great job. Best wishes to you!

04/03/2008 04:33 PM

by Sandy Shores, Melbourne, Brevard County, Florida Space Coast (M & M Real Estate Inc)

Hal,

Et vous, mon ami!

Or... Right back at ya!

We are starting to get a little traction, and I am having continuous brainstorms...

04/03/2008 05:21 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

Snady,

Thank you!

And.... The best is yet to be!

04/03/2008 05:23 PM

by Mike Jaquish Keller Williams Realty, Cary, NC (Keller Williams Realty)

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