Real Estate Advertising Tips

Thanks Misty I am going to try and get this to work.  I didn't know about this.

Hi Misty. I was just noticing peoples backgrounds on twitter the other day and wondering how some of them had branded ones...now I know. :) Thanks!

Just went to the site and thought everyone might want to know that, although you can make a free background branded with your own info, it is also branded with the TwitBacks logo. They will remove their branding for $9.99, and they also might start charging for the service at some point, if they can't monetize it some other way. I created a background and am awaiting the email with instructions for downloading it. It would be nice if, for the $9.99, we could get the background not only w/o their branding, but also in a editable format that we could change any way we wish. Maybe I'll suggest that to them.

I signed up and waiting for the email to be sent.

OK, that was quick...I received my free background and downloaded it per the instructions in the email. However, I don't think i"ll be uploading it to Twitter, for a few reasons:

1. Non-matching color scheme. I used the "Fire Red" theme. The branding area seems to be a much brighter red than the majority of the background. I prefer the branding area to blend into the rest of the background so there is no discontinuity in the color scheme, and the background I use now does that effectively. I created it myself in a free program called Paint.net, which is similar to Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. You can see it here. You can view my free TwitBacks background here.
   
2. Text in branding area. I don't care for the font they used; it appears to be an Arial font, where I prefer a more refined font to match the font types in our logo. Also, it's not changeable and there is no other choice when you create your background. Giving a choice of fonts would be a nice addition.
3. Insufficient contact information. The entry area for the background only allows for one web site, one blog, one email address and one phone number. I would prefer to be able to add all of our web sites and blogs, and all of our contact info, including multiple phone numbers and email addresses. You can never have too many ways to be contacted!
4. TwitBacks branding. I'd rather not have someone else's branding on my background, and even though you could probably remove it easily enough in a graphics program, it's a negative in my view. As I stated in my previous comment, if you were to pay $9.99 to have their branding removed, it would be nice if you could also edit the image to choose different fonts and colors.
5. Overall impression. As I look at the TwitBacks background, I get the impression that it's work in progress. It has an unfinished, almost scattered look, as though the designer was trying different combinations of colors, fonts and design elements, and couldn't decide which ones to use.

Now remember, these are only my opinions regarding my own free background; others may have vastly different feelings about their own background, or even about mine, so please don't shoot me for these comments. I'm just trying to be constructively critical of the design, not tear it apart for no reason. If I could make the changes I detailed above, I'd use it in a heartbeat!

As a side note, when I created my background it was with the assistance of a graphic designer, Leah Dossey, who blogged about creating your own background and gave instructions on how to do so. Her blog post about it is here. If you have some creative inclinations, you may want to give it a try. You can follow her on Twitter here, and you can check out her background as well. I hope this review of TwitBacks has been helpful.

Thanks for the review Pat & Wayne.  Yes the site is a work in progress.  Just launched today.  A few of your points have been addressed.

1. Some more solid background templates have been added for those who do not like two-toned colors.

2. You can now choose a font style if you do not want the default Arial.

3. Font size is now the same for all text on background.

I'm off to go check this out now...thanks for sharing it - I've been looking for something like this.

Thanks Misty, I have recently ecome a big fan and user of Twitter and just wondering about how to have a better background. Now I know.

You are the best

Bo

Thanks Misty, I'll have to check it out. Sounds like it might be a nice addition.

Misty, this is awesome !  I appreciate it as our Twitter background is a little boring and did not know how to dress it up !! You rock : )

Misty, I never got mine. It has now been 2 days, any suggestions?

Hi Missy - It may have got caught in your email filters.  If you visit TwitBacks on Twitter http://twitter.com/twitbacks it can be sent to you through a Twitter DM

Thanks for your information. I have been playing with a custom background (not finished yet). Apparently my screen is wider than usual and it makes everything look wacky. ~Rita

This looks interesting.  It also is a lot more visually interesting than a plain background.  I'm off to go play.  Thanks,

I'm so glad I stumbled upon your post!  I need a twitter background.  I'm off to check it out now!  Thanks for sharing the info!