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Free Seminar Tomorrow: Top Ten Money Making Tech Tools of Today’s Top Real Estate Agents
By Reggie · October 29, 2008 · 7 Comments
I have another free opportunity to improve your technology skills in a webinar coming up tomorrow. The event is sponsored by Cyberhomes and presented by Allen Hainge of CyberStars. If you are an MTO fan, you may remember that Allen has recently become a guest contributor here at MTO. He has lots of industry knowledge and is a techno-fan too! See more on Allen here.
For those of you attending the webinar, you’ll leave this session with concrete, proven steps to increase your business today! Here are a few of the topics Allen will cover:
+ Why old tools & strategies don’t work in today’s market
+ The Top 10 tools top agents use to build their businesses
+ 3 types of agents Web sites…and why only one really makes you money
+ 5 “must have” elements of a money making Web site
+ 5 things listings on your site must have
Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now!
Join us for a Webinar on October 30th, from 10 am to 11 am PST
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/938348453
Blog Action Day: Using Social Media to Fight Poverty
By NikNik · October 15, 2008 · 8 Comments
It’s MTO’s 2nd annual Blog Action Day post! If you’re not familiar with Blog Action Day, it’s (1) a uniting of bloggers worldwide, (2) taking action on their blogs, (3) by voicing thoughts, opinions, concerns, etc. on an important issue affecting us all. Last year, the environment was the issue at hand. Click here to read MTO’s 1st Annual Blog Action Day post on recycling.
This year, Blog Action Day asks us to take a closer look at poverty and how we can help those in need. It’s especially hard to understand poverty if you don’t see it in your own backyard. But, the current economic crisis is making all of us reassess our spending and savings. So if we’re hurting in one way or another, imagine how much more affected the impoverished will become if we stop giving our time and resources.
You may feel strapped which may make you feel less powerful to help. But there are plenty of ways you can reach out using tools and items on hand. So don’t let this economic crisis get you down…get inspired by a need and get motivated to provide what’s needed.
Cyberhomes Here I Come!
By Reggie · October 14, 2008 · 9 Comments
That’s right I’ve scored a new gig at Cyberhomes.com. It’s official. Actually my title is the official part: Director of Social Media. Very exciting given the fact that Cyberhomes is such a major player in the online real estate search. If you don’t already know, they have extremely deep and rich data around more than 100 Million homes in the US. Also layered over the home ownership data you’ll find neighborhood stats, school info, home sales, and rental info.
If you are a fan of me or Cyberhomes I would appreciate you joining our newly created Cyberhomes Fan Page on Facebook. I’ll be using this page to highlight Cyberhomes events, conventions, meet-ups etc.
Also please follow me on Twitter: @cyberhomes.
Since I’m asking favors, I would also like you to investigate a program Cyberhomes has created to help real estate agents gain market advantage.
Cyberhomes Neighborhood ExpertTM – A bundle of exclusive tools for your zip codes. The package includes your Local Ads on local home searches, current market data, offline marketing materials and slick co-branded property reports.
Cyberhomes Good Reading: Good reading includes writers from BusinessWeek, Money, Bankrate.com, Wall Street Journal and more. In good reading you’ll also notice a new Cyberhomes blog held down by Lauren Baier Kim & Janine Sieja.
See Sellsius coverage of my new gig.
Schooling Your Clients From Your Real Estate Blog
By NikNik · September 11, 2008 · 14 Comments
Oh, how I love back to school! Not just because I have kids, I was a teacher, and can’t get enough school supplies from Target. Actually, those are exactly the reasons I love back to school. But this year, there is one more reason for real estate agents to get excited about back to school. Education.com wants to give you helpful hyperlocal school Read full story
MTO Vlog Contest, and the winner is…
By Reggie · September 3, 2008 · 11 Comments
MTO Vlog Contest Finalists
By NikNik · September 2, 2008 · 9 Comments
While we are waiting for the expert judge panel (@LaniAR, @ResPres, @mlbroadcast, @RealEstateZebra) to deliberate and deliver their votes, let’s take a closer look at what the 12 Finalists have to offer?
(1) Ian Watt The original “Car Blogger”…aka “Clogger”. The most enthusiastic daily blogger who reaches out via video from his car and more! He is your local Vancouver real estate expert!
(2) Kelley Koehler First off, Kelley is my middle name. Did your parents also name you after the Kelley Blue Book? (That’s what mine told me.) Anyway, superb patience with mobile technology at its finest! Read full story
Trulia Sure to Impress Consumers with New iPhone App and More
By Reggie · August 24, 2008 · 5 Comments
Trulia has been busy creating new features aimed at improving the home search experience while also making housing data readily accessible to today’s consumer. Pete Flint, Trulia CEO, said “At Trulia, our mission is to deliver unique local insight to consumers when they want it, how they want it, and where they want it. Today’s launch is a big step in this direction.”
Personalization
Trulia knows the areas you care about! How can that be? It’s true now when you visit Tulia’s homepage you’ll see local results for new property listings, home price changes, upcoming open houses, Read full story
Real Estate Vlogging Contest Update
By NikNik · August 12, 2008 · 4 Comments
I may have been tired with kids whining in the background…but I didn’t let that stop me from quickly shooting this Contest Update with Reggie’s help. So whatever obstacle is standing in the way of your video blog entry, I don’t care! No excuses, send us your link already…I’m waiting!
View contest submissions here!
Kick Off To MTO Vlogging Contest!
By NikNik · August 3, 2008 · 20 Comments
Okay, so you may have noticed we have taken a fancy to podcasting here over the last few months. It’s been a great exploration of social media….learning how to best create and share our podcasts. I could also compare my experience to that of a horror flick, as recording and listening to my own voice pretty much scares everyone out of the office. I started out as a perfectionist, trying to bleep out and edit all my verbal mistakes. Poor Reggie would listen from a far as a barrage of four letter words would radiate from my mouth with each tongue twister I encountered. I quickly learned to “get over” the mishaps and just let the words flow. Besides, everyone makes mistakes and it’s just more natural and easier to listen to.
So, now that I’ve been podcasting for awhile, the next scary medium that requires my attention….is video. Duh! I’ve been afraid to touch vlogging in the past for many of the same reasons that others have been avoiding the camera: (1) it takes too much time, (2) not sure about the right equipment, (3) what content is best to share, and (4) I will look and sound like a jackass…or to quote one of my favorite comedic geniuses, Adam Sandler, “They’re all gonna laugh at you!”
I finally have the perfect retort:
(1) TIME REBUTTAL: Make a commitment to once a week. Pick a spot and shoot. It can actually take a lot less time than writing a post…if you know what you’re talking about.
(2) EQUIPMENT REBUTTAL: The Flip…it’s $149 and has one red button for start and stop and plugs directly into your computer via USB drive. Video opens in a super easy format with immediate email and upload options. Oh, and no rendering time!
(3) CONTENT REBUTTALL: What makes you and your niche unique? If you are asking questions or talking about a specific topic, idea, thing, or place…chances are someone else is. So address those topics. If you’re clients have regular inquiries about your Read full story
Advertise to Your Local Niche via Trulia Pro
By NikNik · June 19, 2008 · 2 Comments
If you are looking for an affordable option for advertising to your local audience, Trulia can help. Yesterday, Trulia stepped up with yet another great feature to assist real estate agents and local businesses with the launch of Trulia Pro.
With Trulia Pro, you can target up to 20 locations with unlimited local spotlight ads. Participant listings will also get a boost to the top of relevant search results. And this self-service offering is available via a low fixed fee of $39 a month, or annually for $348 (just $29 a month).
Why advertise at Trulia you say?
“Trulia is the fastest growing online real estate site with approximately 5m unique monthly users and is a top 10 real estate site.” –Rudy Bachraty
Give your brand, your service, and your listings the online visibility they need to take your business to the next level. Advertise with links to your real estate blog and/or Trulia Voices Profile to grow your network of readers, clients, and colleagues.
Oh, and if you are already using another advertising program, Trulia wants to give you 3 months FREE with the purchase of a one year subscription.
Visit the Trulia Blog to learn more!
HomeGain Launches New Agent Blogging Network
By NikNik · April 29, 2008 · 8 Comments
HomeGain launched their new agent blogging network tonight. Since Max the HomeGain Gorilla isn’t returning my Facebook messages and tweets, I had to hit up Louis Cammarosano (General Manager of HomeGain) with a few questions. Thanks for the lowdown Louis!
HomeGain members can now blog directly to consumers! Each agent blog will have a distinct URL with the member’s city, name, and zip code (ex: http://blog.homegain.com/real-estate-blog/sanfrancisco/NicoleNicolay/94133). Unlike the agent to agent blog platforms, HomeGain’s blog network provides agents with a forum for helping consumers with the home buying and selling process. Agents can reach out to consumers via their blog, as well as make, receive, and approve comments.
The HomeGain Blog recently scored a page rank of 7, so agents looking for a SEO boost could potentially get one from blogging there. Louis adds, “Also since our traffic comes not just from SEO but from HomeGain.com (which is a source of traffic that far exceeds our SEO traffic), SEM and from hundreds of partners, there is a built in audience so the agent does not have to write for Google to get noticed.”
The new HomeGain member profile features the agent predominantly with a link to their web site and phone number. There is an email box that the customer can use to ask a question (the email box remains a fixture at the top of all tabs). The HomeGain member interface incorporates carefully organized tabs for quick links to the agent’s blog and profile, as well as other home buying and selling tools including the Homesale Maximizer. And, if the consumer wants to they can fill out a form and get a professional CMA or they can just ask for one by calling or emailing the agent. Louis shared that he’s got one more tab coming that will complete the offering and there will be NO ADVERTISING!
HomeGain will continue to enhance its functionality with additional features. A new HomeGain Search Feature and Library of Syndicated Content are in the works already! Check out the HomeGain real estate blogs here.
New Feature from MyBlogLog Builds Your Contact Manager
By NikNik · April 25, 2008 · 2 Comments
So, you just discovered a rockin’ new real estate blog and want to know more about the author. What about adding the author to your contact manager? If you are a MyBlogLog member, you are in luck! MyBlogLog recently added a new feature that allows you to easily add your favorite bloggers contact information to your address book via vCard and hCard.
vCards are commonly used in eSignatures or attached to business emails. They are standard electronic business card files that usually include an address, phone number, email, Website or blog URL, etc. vCards can be added to the Mac OS X Address Book, Microsoft Outlook, and other applications.
Now, I hadn’t heard of the hCard so this gave me a chance to learn more. Apparently an hCard is a microformat for publishing contact information, as well as for extracting details to be used in other applications or Read full story
