Uploading Properties to RightMove.co.uk

I'm putting the finishing touches to a recent project for an estate agent and thought I would blog about the process:

Summary: My client, an estate agent, was currently adding their properties to their own website and then also adding them to RightMove and basically repeating the 'addition' process for every property. Very tedious and time consuming so they approached me about uploading to RightMove automatically...

Started off by contacting RightMove and asking whether it was possible, and yep it was and many agents are now doing it this way as it makes a lot of sense. So they gave me their Automated Datafeed specification and my work had begun!

In a nutshell, I had to extract the data for all their properties from the database on the website, get everything in the right format and then upload it to RightMove. Yeah, easier said than done! :)

Here's how I've done it...
1. Wrote a PHP script that will extract all the properties from the MySQL DB at the end of the working day to grab all the latest properties. It then save the data into a delimited file with all required RightMove fields.
2. Now we have this data file, we need to 'Zip' it up along with all the photos for the properties. Did this with http://www.7-zip.org/ and wrote a batch file for the process.
3. The batch file then runs FTP and uploads the Zip file to RightMove.
4. A Scheduled Task will then run the batch file each night.
5. RightMove receive the datafeed file, process it, and Bobs Your Uncle, the properties all appear on RightMove.

I also had to increase the amount of validation on the estate agent website so that when they add their properties, all of the data is good. Else otherwise when it gets to RightMove they will not be able to process it properly.

Client is now more productive as they only have to add each property once to their own website. And I'm happy as its been quite a nice project to work on.

If there are any other estate agents who can benefit from a process like this then please give me a shout! In fact, AutoTrader allow the same bulk data upload for any car dealers who may be reading.

Cheers,
Swof

Corporate Impact Videos

Here are some Corporate impact video templates that would look great on a website to impress your visitors. Impact videos are great for advertising your services and tend to convert really well. Let me know if you are interested in having one created...







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PR Impact Videos

I was recently asked about producing some videos for a PR company and I've put together this collection of impact video templates. Impact videos are great for advertising your services and tend to convert really well...

.CO domain, the new .COM

.CO is a new global domain extension - available to anyone or any company worldwide.

So for the first time in many years, .CO will provide a significant new opportunity to register a truly global, recognisable and credible domain name extension.

.COM domains are now used everywhere. Due to its meaningful and universal appeal, .CO has a similar potential to grow quickly.


Let me know if you would like to register a .co domain...

How 'Bright' is your CRM?

As a Web Developer, I'm always looking at ways of making life easier by using the web to streamline our business processes. Here is a good example...

I'm sure you already have a website for your business, right? And on this website is probably a contact form? And when someone completes the form it e-mails you all the details, and your left thinking of a way to store their contact information. Sound familiar?

Well, I would like to recommend a great CRM system called Bright Pearl which is a web based system that does lots of clever things... Including the use of 'Smart Forms' which allows your website contact form to generate a new contact automatically into your database. Cool right? 

And once their in your database the fun really starts... You can contact them individually, mailshot everyone using MailChimp (which is what I'm doing right now) and it even has an Accounts system allowing you to generate Invoices with their details on, etc.

But don't take my word for it, I want you to try it free for 30 days! Here is a direct link: http://www.brightpearl.co.uk/?aid=37867

Cloud Computing rocks!
Steve

iPhone 4G

Rumours are all over the internet about Apple's next iPhone, the 4G, with more pictures and videos leaking and cropping up. Gizmodo.com got their hands on one after it was found lost in a bar in Redwood City near California. Here is their full review with pictures and a video: http://gizmodo.com/5520164/this-is-apples-next-iphone

New hardware features include a front facing camera and an improved back-camera which now has a flash.

The new iPhone OS 4.0 is due for release this summer with software improvements such as multitasking and the ability to organise your apps into folders. So the iPhone 4G will no doubt be supplied with this OS update. The update will also be available for the iPhone 3G, 3GS and the 2nd/3rd gen iPod Touches. Full details about the update are available here: http://www.apple.com/iphone/preview-iphone-os/

So will we be able to use the 4G network in the UK? Well, not for a while by the looks of it. We are still struggling to get 3G everywhere and 4G coverage is way off. In fact, the UK's future 4G network has tech companies divided: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-02/16/uk%27s-future-4g-network-has-tech-companies-divided?page=all

With this in mind, Apple are thought to be calling it the iPhone HD rather than the 4G. Either way, it's sure to be hot property and will no doubt boost their market share of the mobile world even more. The official release date is thought to be April 2011.

My 5 favourite iPhone apps

As I've started developing iPhone apps, I thought I would write about my current 5 favourite apps...

5. iTranslate
A language translation app based on Google Translate. I'm currently trying to learn Spanish so this is great for tapping in sentences and getting the translation.

4. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a great business tool and posting and checking updates on the iPhone is something I do when I'm wating around for something. If you want to connect with me, I'm here: http://uk.linkedin.com/in/steveswoffer

3. iHandy Level
This is a clever app which uses the iPhone's accelerometer to display a virtual spirit level! When doing virtual tours I need to make sure I have my camera flat on top of the tripod so this is very useful.

2. Dropbox
I use Dropbox a lot for backup and file sharing with colleagues and being able to view the same docs and pictures on the iPhone is pretty useful.

1. TweetDeck
Probably the thing I do most on the iPhone is tweet and TweetDeck is a great app for using Twitter.If you want to follow me I'm over at: http://twitter.com/SteveSwoffer

I'll be speaking about iPhone apps at Circle Events on the 17th March.

My Gadget Life

I coundn't be without my gadgets and enjoy using them in life and for work! Here is what I currently use...

At the centre of my universe is a Dell Studio Laptop which I simply could not live without. I'm planning to wipe it and install Windows 7 but need to make sure I have everything backed up first. Eek!

My current mobile is a Nokia E71 which is great for communication and works well with sycronising Google Calendar. For mobile 'playing' I have an iPod Touch which is used for apps and listening to music and podcasts. At home, I have an Intempo RDi which is a great little iPod Dock and DAB Radio.

My photography and virtual tours are done using a Nikon D60 which is a superb SLR. My videos are shot with a Panasonic AG-HMC41E and also a Canon Legria HF200.

Wishlist: iPad (although, I'm still not sure), Nexus One and a new Sat Nav! 

What are your favourite gadgets?

Cloud Computing and how it benefits me

In general, cloud computing is a term used for IT services where you do not own the phyiscal infrastructure and instead rent it from a 3rd party supplier that then allows you to transfer data over the internet using their infrastructure. For small businesses I think this is great, as we may not have the capital or resources to run our own server and a lot of cloud computing is free to us. Here is what I'm now using...

I now use Google Calender to keep organised which is great because it syncs beautifully with both my Nokia phone and my iPod Touch. Meaning that whether I'm at a computer or on my mobile devices I can access and update the same calender (and without any cables!). I also share my Google Calender with a colleague meaning that we can stay up to date with each others schedules.

For sharing files between my clients and colleagues I now use Dropbox which is a file sharing product available across the platforms (Windows, Mac and Linux) and you receive 2gb of storage for free. But if you recommend someone and they sign up (easy to do if you're going to share files with a colleague) you get an extra 250mb and you can earn up to 3gb for free! There are also pricing plans if you require higher capacity storage.

Everything you store on Dropbox is encrypted both in transmission and storage. Nobody can access your files unless you choose to share them yourself. There's also an iPhone app for Dropbox allowing mobile access to your files. Again, no cables!

For collaboration, I use Google Docs which allows you to create Documents, Presentations and Spreadsheets all within your Web Browser which you can then share with colleagues and work on together. Microsoft, are also following suit and will be releasing 'Office Web Apps' with Office 2010 this year allowing you to collaborate on Office files together online.

If you use any Cloud Computing then get in touch and let me know. If you want to know more about it I'm thinking of running a Cloud Computing Workshop later this year.

SwofCast - The impact of a Web Video

Introducing SwofCast and a new Web Video service...



Have you thought about the impact that a video could have on your website? It's a chance for you to speak out about your business and showcase your products and services.

We will record, edit and produce your video on the web and can also provide a DVD copy if required. We use HD camcorders, high quality microphones and can also provide an autocue for your script.

If you would like more information please contact us.

SwofCasts are also something we're planning to do regularly so watch this space!