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Several agents have asked if there’s a way to link directly to the registration page on your dsSearchAgent mapping IDX. It’s our own custom built form that functions similar to a light-box form. While there isn’t a direct link anywhere, there is a way to link to your IDX so that the registration form pops up by default.
The first thing you want to do is go to the page on your site where you have the mapping solution placed. For example: yourblog.com/home-search
Then, you want to add one of the following to the end of that url:
/#ShowRegister – this will force the registration form to appear.
/#ShowLogin – this will force the login form for existing IDX users/subscribers.
Your resulting URL should look like this: yourblog.com/home-search/#ShowRegister
How can you make use of this effectively?
One idea would be to create a “FREE Home Search” badge that you can place on your site’s sidebar and hyperlink to the URL with the registration form and/or have a link for existing IDX users to log-in quickly.
Additionally, you can also do something like this using dsIDXpress. This client for example has badges on her sidebar for “Schedule a Showing Here” and “Request More Information” that link to the contact form in dsIDXpress. To do this, just add:
#dsidx-contact-form
Over to you…
Is something like this helpful to you? What are some creative ways you see yourself using this?
Thank you for posting this. This was a question I had back when I signed up but didn’t know there was a solution for it.
I think the examples shown in the post are excellent uses. Maybe I would add a Login button for people to easily manage their favorites.
Diverse Solutions made a hell of a decision to get you on board. Keep up the good work.
Excellent!!!
I find that the /#ShowRegister suffix also works with defined searches.
What this means is that I can use direct response ads to drive traffic directly to a predefined search. For instance, I can advertise “Foreclosures in XYZ City” and send the trafic directly to a foreclosure search with the registration prominently displayed as soon as they click the link!
I have been doing this without the /#ShowRegister and find that it works well, but I believe that adding the suffix may increase my lead capture rate significantly! I will proceed to test this immediately!
Thank you for a great tip!
Great tip. Keep them coming. the more cool tricks the better.
Erion: Thank you for the kind words. I think a log-in button for existing users somewhere on your homepage (near the navigation or sidebar immediately above the fold) would be a great idea. I’ll keep ’em comin’ weekly!
Jim: Great idea in terms of how to use this uniquely. Doing so without the registration pop-up is a great way to advertise your IDX. Forcing the lightbox type pop-up is a great way to “suggest” that people register. Let me know how it goes when you’ve implemented the feature! Would love to see if it leads to an increase in registrations.
Ed: That’s the plan. Stick around, I’ll have more for you weekly!
To do this, just add: #dsidx-contact-form to what? A single listing ? Can it be added to all listings automatically?
Jay: Here’s one of your listings > http://redwagonteam.com/blog/idx/mls-s642691-8252_tyler_circle_huntington_beach_ca_92646 If I add: #dsidx-contact-form to the end of that url, it takes me down to the contact form.
Here’s a great example (above) of how one individual executed this using certain Call To Action images in their sidebar:
http://www.northofmontanahomes.com/idx/mls-f1860198-1011_south_barrington_avenue_brentwood_ca_90049#dsidx-contact-form
The #dsidx-contact-form link trick is awesome – it would be even better if there were a way to recreate the “Schedule a Showing” functionality that automatically enables the check box in the form for the showing request in the same way.
How do you create a custom sidebar like your example on a live feed that the dsidx creates. I can’t create a custom sidebar like the example shows on a live feed. What am I missing here?
@Josh: in this case, it looks like they’re are using a “custom page template” for that. You would have to create a new page template yourself (or have your designer create one for you).
i know how to create a custom page but how do you have it connect with the idxpress feeds? is this in my options for the plugin?
thanks for the response!
@Josh: Ah, gotcha…I misunderstood. In your dsIDXpress options (in your WP dashboard), you can select the page template to pull “idxpress details” to. Do the following:
1.) Scroll to dsIDXpress > Click on “Options”
Here you’ll see a “Template for Details Pages” option (as a dropdown menu; select the template you’d like to use) and a “Template for Results Option”.
Select the right template and you’re set to go!
Fantastic!
Thanks…
Hi,
I know this post is a couple months old but I don’t understand these instructions.
I want to add the buttons in the sidebar that link down to the contact form. I understand adding “#dsidx-contact-form” to the url but how do I do that when every listing detail page is a different url? Is there a way to pull the current url and then add the #dsidx-contact-form to it?
Thanks.
Hi,
I figured it out. Please disregard.