FAQs: Step by Step GETTING STARTED WITH AGENT ELITE How To Point Your Domain To Your New WebsiteEasiest and Safest Way: allow our professionals here at Agent Elite to access your domain registrar and do it for you at no extra charge. We may need your ID and Password for your domain registrar. You can do it yourself: Please call or email us so we are ready for when you do change your nameservers (our working hours M-F 7am-3pm PST). Then, log into your domain registrar (ex: Godaddy, Network Solutions, etc.) and find where to change your nameservers. Then, change them to… ned.ns.cloudflare.com wanda.ns.cloudflare.com You should only have two nameservers listed. Make sure you save it and then email us (support@agentelite.com) or call us to let us know you have taken these steps. Preparing for TransitionAll email sent to mailboxes at your domain (e.g. joe@mydomain.com), is routed to the mail server for that domain. Usually this is the same server that hosts your website, although sometimes clients have dedicated third party mail servers (e.g. a local Microsoft Exchange Mail Server). So when an email is sent to joe@mydomain.com, the internet routing tables look up the correct Mail Server on record for the domain mydomain.com and then send the mail to that server. Switching the Domain When you switch your domain to a new server, you are essentially telling the internet routing tables to direct all traffic to the new server (this includes mail traffic, unless specifically redirected to another location manually). This is accomplished by logging into your Domain Registrar account (e.g. Network Solutions, Dotster, Godaddy, etc) and updating the DNS information. You will enter the new DNS information for our servers, e.g. NED.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM, WANDA.NS.CLOUDFLARE.COM. And then the domain begins to point traffic to our servers. However, the internet has no centralized control system and it can take up to 72 hours for all the independent routing tables to update their information (as they see fit). Usually it happens within a few minutes but could take a couple hours. There may be a period of time when some emails are routed to the old server and some emails are routed to the new server. In order to make sure you don’t miss any emails, you will need to find a way to check both the old and new servers for a period of time. Before You Switch the Domain Before you switch your domain to point to your new server there are several things you need to do. It is very important that these steps are coordinated properly, or else people will have trouble checking their mail. Our responsibility is limited to making sure that the mail server is functioning properly. It is the clients responsibility to ensure that the switch is handled appropriately internally within their own organization. Mailboxes: you need to make sure that there are mailboxes setup on the new server, which match the mailboxes/aliases on the old server, so that when your new server goes live, mail sent to these mailboxes doesn’t bounce (because they don’t exist). We provide access to the server, so that you can create the necessary mailboxes and individual aliases to each mailbox, and/or Mail Groups. New Settings: you need to make sure that everyone who has a mailbox at your domain knows how to change their personal mail program settings (when the time is right) so they can check their mail on the new server. Coordinate Timing: you need to coordinate with everyone so they know the time that the domain will be switching so that they can make the necessary changes. Changing Your Mail Program Settings Please refer to the articles below for general setup instructions for your mail program. If you use another program, the principles are the same. If you are switching your domain from another server, remember that it may take a couple hours for traffic to direct to the new server. Be patient. Because there is a period of time when email may be going to both your old and new servers, after a domain is switched to point to a new server, you will need to make sure to check your old server at least one last time before abandoning it. The best way to do this is to use your old server’s “Webmail” access. Usually you can access this through an alternative domain (e.g. the domain of your old host, or through your old hosts control panel, etc). It’s important to find an alternative domain access because your domain will likely be pointing to our new server at this point. If you can access your email through a webmail interface, you can read and forward anything that happens to come in to the old server. Alternatively, if there is no webmail access at your old host, you can usually setup a temporary account on your mail program and point it to your host’s mail server. Instead of using your mail server url, e.g. mail.mydomain.com, you would use your old host’s domain, e.g. mail.myhost.com and usually this will require that your username includes your full domain, e.g. instead of username of “joe” you would use “joe@mydomain.com”. Either way you should contact your old hosting company to ask them for details and help regarding how to check mail on their server, when your domain name points to another server. If you are having trouble setting up your local mail program to access the mail on your new server hosted with Gutensite, you can always check your mail via our Webmail interface. CUSTOMIZER: CHANGING COLORS AND DESIGN USING WORDPRESS Accessing Your Website DashboardIn order to access your website dashboard, please follow the steps below: Visit your website in your browser Scroll all the way down to the bottom of your site and click on “Visit Backend” Sign in using the ID and Password we gave you Accessing Your Website Design Customizer Log into the backend of your website using the instructions above Click on “Appearance” from the left hand menu You now see the front end of your website with a new left hand menu Open different sections of the left hand menu which automatically makes changes live on your site Your changes will not go public until you click on “Save & Publish” near the top left of the page IDX: LEADS, LISTINGS, HOTSHEETS How to Manually Enter Your Listings Log into the backend of your website using the instructions above Click on “IDX Panel” from the left hand menu From your IDX Panel, click on “Listings” at the top of the page Once you are on the Listings page, locate and click on Supplemental in the left hand column Click Add a Supplemental Choose the type of property you want to add Once you have chosen the type of property, a form will populate for you to fill out with all of the property details When all details have been added, click on “Save Property Information” at the bottom of the page You will then be brought to a page to add all of the photos for your property NOTE: After adding a listing manually, the listings will automatically populate onto the listings page on your site Changed Brokerages?If you have recently change brokerages and need help rebranding your website to reflect your new brokerage, please send the following items to support@agentelite.com. Name of new brokerage New brokerage logo New brokerage address New office phone number Any additional information that your new brokerage may require you to have on your new website. Once we receive this information, we will make the changes for you! How to Change Logo and Agent Image From your website dashboard, click on Appearance. Click the dropdown box titled “Site Identity” and click on it Upload your desired image to their respective areas To publish for the entire world to see, click “Save & Publish”. How To Manage Leads/Add Leads to Listing Alerts Log into the backend of your website using the instructions above Click on “IDX Panel” from the left hand menu Click on “Leads” at the top of the IDX Panel Click on “Manage Leads” Click “Search Leads” (in this section, you can manage any existing lead, and also add leads to the listings alerts) To add leads to listings alerts, you will need to click “Add a Lead” Once the form populates, you can fill it out with whatever information you have for the specific buyer. Keep in mind, Name and Email are mandatory. The rest of the fields are optional. **Note** The email format section will usually always stay at the Web-based option **Note** You will want to check “YES” for the Welcome Message section as this will send basic instructions to your buyer on how to utilize your property organizer. Finally, click “Save Settings” **Note** This area is not only going to allow you to monitor the activity by any given lead, but will also allow you to set the buyer up with Listing Alerts. **Note** Option 1 is for very basic search criteria (City/Zip, Type of property, price range, beds/baths and square footage) **Note** Option 2 will be for buyers who have more specific search criteria (subdivisions, required features, school districts, distressed properties, etc.) This is the area where the search criteria will be chosen. Also, this is the page that allows you to set the client up on Listings Alerts. If they choose YES to the Listing Alerts, you can then choose how often the buyer will receive them. The comments box is for your eyes only. This is an area to keep track of any communications with that buyer. This area is for you to customize the message that goes at the top of each Listing Alert email that gets sent to the buyer. Once you are finished entering the buyer’s criteria, click “Save Changes” for the buyer to automatically start receiving the Listings Alert emails. Modifying the Lead Capture Log into the backend of your website using the instructions above Click on “IDX Panel” from the left hand menu Click on “Lead Capture” at the top of the IDX Panel Click on “User Registration” The first section allows you to choose how aggressive the lead capture forms will be (will they be mandatory, will they be optional?). Check the desired choice, click “Save Changes”. * This section also allows you to choose when the lead the lead capture form will pop up for prospects to fill out. Once your numbers are chosen, click “Save Changes”. How To Manage Your Listings Log into the backend of your website using the instructions above Click on “IDX Panel” from the left hand menu Click on “Listings” at the top of the IDX Panel **Note** Your ACTIVE listings section require zero maintenance. Any listings that get added or modified in the MLS, will automatically get updated on the site without you having to lift a finger. **Note** Keep in mind, all ACTIVE listings that change status (to Pending, Off the Market, Sold, etc…) will automatically disappear from the website and go into the Sold/Off Market Category. If you want those listings to still show on the website, please follow the instructions below: Locate and click on the Sold/Off Market option in right hand column of the IDX Panel. Locate the listing you want to add back onto the site and click on the address. Click on Property Information to modify the status of the listing. This section will also allow you to choose whether or not you want the listing to continue to show on the site. Once you click on Property Information, you will need to complete 2 steps… You need to choose whether or not you want the listing to show on the website. Then change the Status from UNKNOWN to Pending, or Sold. Once you have completed these two steps, click SAVE PROPERTY INFORMATION at the bottom of the page. **Note** If you do not complete these steps within 120 days of the listings changing from an ACTIVE status, the listing will be deleted from this control panel and will no longer be available. Accessing Your IDX DashboardIn order to access your website dashboard, please follow the steps below: Visit your website in your browser. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of your site and click on “Visit Dashboard” in the footer. The login screen will appear and ask for the Username and Password that we had sent you. Towards the bottom left menu, click on “IDX Panel” **Note** Don’t remember your Username or Password? You can always change your password from the login screen. Or you can give us a call at 866-808-7711, or email us at support@agentelite.com. PAGES: ADD, DELETE, MODIFY PAGES AND POSTS USING WORDPRESS How to Add/Edit Blog Posts Visit your website in your browser. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of your site and click on “Visit Dashboard” in the footer. The login screen will appear and ask for the Username and Password that we had sent you. After logging in, in the left hand menu, click on “Blog Posts” From here you can see a list of all your blog posts (by clicking on a title you can then modify that blog post). TO ADD NEW BLOG POST… click on “Add New” on the top. Enter a title for your new blog post Put the content of your blog post in the larger blank text box below the title. When you are finished with your blog post, click the “Publish” button on the right hand side of your blog post. How to Add/Edit Pages Visit your website in your browser. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of your site and click on “Visit Dashboard” in the footer. The login screen will appear and ask for the Username and Password that we had sent you. After logging in, in the left hand menu, click on “Pages” From here you can see a list of all your pages on your website TO ADD NEW PAGES… click on “Add New” on the top Enter a title for your new page Put the content of your page in the larger blank text box below the title. When you are finished with your page, click the “Publish” button on the right hand side of your page. **Note** Now this page exists but there are no links to this page on your site! It is recommended to create a link to it in your navigation menu. **REMINDER** WHEN YOU ARE DONE EDITING YOUR PAGE, DON’T FORGET TO CLICK ON THE UPDATE BUTTON TO THE RIGHT OF YOUR SCREEN. IF YOU FAIL TO DO THIS, YOUR CHANGES WILL NOT BE SAVED How to Add a Photo to a Page Log into the backend of your site, go to pages, and open the page you would like to edit. Locate the large text box for that page’s content. Click in the editor where you want to add the image. Then click “Add Media” (located underneath the title box). You now will need to choose how you would like to insert your photo. If the photo is already uploaded, click on the “Media Library” Tab and choose an image. To upload a new photo from your computer, click on the “Upload Files” Tab. **Note** Once you have the photo selected (it will be highlighted in blue with a check mark in the right hand corner). Click on Insert into Page. Once, the photo has been uploaded, click on “Update” to the right of your screen to save your changes (or “Publish” if new page). How to Add Links to Your Navigation MenuStep 1: From your website dashboard, hover your mouse over Appearance in the left hand column and then click on Menus. The Menus section is referring to all of your pages at the top of the website, including drop down menus. This section allows you to add additional pages to your navigation and edit the pages in your navigation Step 2: To add a new page to your navigation, locate the box to the left of your Menu Structure, titled Pages. Step 3: Locate the page you are wanting to add to your navigation and click the check box to the left of it. Once you have the page selected, click Add To Menu. Once you click Add to Menu, the page will automatically populate at the bottom of your Menu Structure. You can now click on the Page from the Menu Structure and drag it into the position where you are wanting it placed on the website site. Click Save Menu when you are finished. Keep in mind, all pages that are aligned to the left are the primary buttons that will always be visible at the top of the website. The pages that are slightly indented to the right, are your drop down menus. How to Remove a Page from your Navigation All of the pages in your Menu Structure have a little arrow icon pointing downward. Once you click on that, you will the Remove link at the bottom left corner of the box. Once you click on that, that page will disappear from the navigation. When you are done, click Save Menu. MEDIA: ADD, DELETE, MODIFY IMAGES USING WORDPRESS Your Media LibraryAll your Media Library is, is a place for you to store any files and images that you may want to add your site in the future. Keep in mind, when you upload a file or image to the Media Library, it is not visible on the website. This is strictly for storage purposes. How to Upload Files and Images to the Media Library Step 1: Click on Media in the left hand column of your dashboard Step 2: Click Add New at the top of the page Step 3: You now have an option to drag multiple files/images into the large box outlined by the dotted line, or you can upload your files one at a time by clicking on Select Files. Select files will allow you to browse your computer for the files you are wanting to download. How to Edit Image Slider (Large scrolling photos on homepage)These steps are to learn how to change the images that are scrolling on the homepage of your website. Step 1: From your website dashboard, click on Image Slider. Step 2: Locate the image you are wanting to replace. Once you have located the image, click on the Edit link to the left of it. If you are not wanting to replace an existing image, but simply add a new one, click Add New Slide at the top of the page. Step 3: If you are replacing an existing photo, you will click on Remove Featured Image below the current featured image. If you are adding a new one, simply click Set Featured Image. Step 4: After clicking on Remove Featured Image, that same link will now say Set Featured Image. By click that, you can upload the new image from your Media Library, or browse your computer Once the new photo has been selected, simply click Update/Publish to the right of your page to save your changes. Note: Depending on the website theme you are currently on, photo sizes may vary. If you have questions regarding this, please feel free to give us a call at 866-808-7711, or simply email us at support@agentelite.com.