REALTOR.com® Search Gadget/Widget
In general, gadgets and widgets are easy-to-use mini-programs that provide quick bits of information at a glance and provide easy access to frequently used tools from the desktop.
REALTOR.com has just introduced Gadgets for Windows Vista and XP and Macintosh OS X that let you search for available home listings anywhere in the United States without leaving your desktop! The Gadget/Widget installs on a computer and displays a continually updated slide show of the available listings in an area.
The following parameters may be used to define a search: geographic area (zip code), price, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms. When a listing of interest is found, you can click on it to expand a slide out with more information. From there you can link directly to the Listing Details page on the REALTOR.com® listing site.
Additional Details
- To see a video of the REALTOR.com® Vista Search Gadget in action: http://labs.move.com/video/rdc_ppt.wmv.
- Available for download on Windows Vista and XP and Mac OS X and through a variety of distribution methods, including sites that aggregate widgets, such as Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, Pageflakes, and Netvibes.
- To download one now, visit http://labs.move.com.
Benefits
- Extends the REALTOR.com® search platform to the desktop, extending brand awareness and driving traffic to the REALTOR.com® Web site.
- Enables REALTOR.com® to form a direct relationship with consumers and engage them in a parsonalized way. Due to the interactive and viral nature of gadgets, they tend to live longer than traditional ads, offering tremendous word-of-mouth marketing opportunities.
- Piggybacks on emerging media give users the ability to pass the Gadget along to their friends and interact with REALTOR.com® in a new way.
Metrics to Watch:
- User interface usability — Apply usability measures to gadgets to ensure consumers find them easy to use. Utility and coolness must outweigh difficulty of use.
- Downloads — The most basic way to track gadget use is to count the number of times it's been downloaded.
- Activity — This can be measured in terms of time spent interacting with the Gadget or through the click-through rate to the REALTOR.com® Web site.
- Buzz — Both consumer feedback as well as broader viral measures such as online buzz metrics, including blog mentions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the REALTOR.com® Search Gadget/Widget (PDF: 19KB)
