This real estate agent is in a situation that is very common. In her average day, she uses a Windows PC, an Apple laptop, an iPhone and an iPad. Working with so many different platforms is creating a real challenge.

She has tried several cloud based solutions, like Google Docs, but they all have fallen short. Mainly because she needs to edit Excel spreadsheets from any of her devices.

The Solution

We have run into similar problems with the operations of Agent Evolution. Actually multiplied as we not have different platforms, but also multiple people working with files.

Thank goodness for Dropbox.

By storing all of our business files in a Dropbox folder, everything is in the cloud. Securely stored with access to past versions. Plus, we have the ability to share files with other Dropbox users (great for teams).

Add a file to your Windows PC and it will sync with the Dropbox folder on your Apple laptop. No effort needed. It has literally made thumbdrives obsolete for us.

What About Mobile?

Although Dropbox has apps for iPhone, iPad, Droid and Blackberry, they don’t allow for editing of files. You can view files and upload new files, but that is it.

Another piece is needed to provide file editing from a smartphone or tablet. That piece is DocsToGo Premium.

With the DocsToGo Premium app on an iPhone/iPad, Word, Excel and Powerpoint files can be edited directly from Dropbox. Changes are saved back to the original files in your Dropbox.

DocsToGo Premium and Dropbox have reinvented mobile productivity.

MyTechOpinion

Cloud computing is changing how business is done. With easy access to all of your important files, catching up on work can mean 10 minutes with your iPhone in line at Starbucks.

Spend $9.99 a month to get 50GB of storage from Dropbox. That should be plenty of room to move all of your business files to the cloud.

Cough up another $16.99 to add the DocsToGo Premium app to your iPhone or iPad. It is a costly app, but worth every penny.

You are now a mobile rockstar.

But it seems like every time I get booked to speak at an event (lately), I’m inevitably asked to “work a little bit of iPad” into my presentation. Back to sexy and shiny again, which is fine to a point. But if you’ve seen me speak you know I focus more on substance, less on tools.

That’s not to say I don’t love my tools (iPhone, iPad, MacBook Air, etc). But they will evolve…which means I must always be ready to adapt. And I must always be ready to learn new ways to share my expertise with those who need it and want it.

No, I don’t have a tool strategy

Which brings me to why I don’t have a tool strategy (social strategy, content strategy, distribution strategy….yes, yes, and yes). But no tool strategy…I rock more of a tool mantra. A little reminder I can recite to myself when a take on a new tool. Mine goes like this, “I promise not to drop you in the toilet or leave you in a limo.” True stories.

In all seriousness though, it IS important to keep in mind why you selected your current tools. Do they improve communication with your sphere? Do they improve your productivity? If the answer is yes to both, then you’ve selected wisely. If not, then it’s time to upgrade or reassess.

Another reason your shiny new tool may be working against you is because it is just that…a tool (with clearly no purpose).

It’s ALL in the application

A tool becomes an integral element in your business when it fulfills a purpose. With the iPad, there are many ways it can enhance the transaction process and day to day real estate related activities. But the question I’m asked more often than not, is how to effectively use the iPad for a listing presentation.

And perhaps some of you would enjoy my tips on formatting and features in Power Point or Keynote. But rather than get lost in minor details, let’s focus on what you have to offer (to your potential client). Moreover, could you enhance what you already share in your presentation with a new resource? I bet you could…you overachiever!

To YOU, bringing your iPad to the appointment is not enough. YOU actually want to demonstrate your expertise in a valuable way with your iPad. YOU understand that your iPad is a teaching aid…giving you the power to become a trusted advisor by showing what you know.

And one of the best ways to support your expertise is with data, specifically listing information, comparables, charts and reports. Fortunately, I know one resource that provides all that along with 147 million property records, the Realtors Property Resource or “RPR”. Yes, I’m closely affiliated with their Director of Marketing and Social Media. That aside, those of you with access to RPR know exactly how amazing the information, graphs, saved searches, heat maps, etc. are!

If RPR is not in your area, get involved and make that happen. If it is in your area, you have no excuse…not to be using this valuable information in your next listing presentation.

The RPR reports are extremely detailed giving you the ability to highlight key indicators and trends with your clients. More importantly, you can use the information to support your expertise and better position yourself as a trusted advisor. FYI- All RPR reports can be emailed in PDF format and opened on the iPad using GoodReader, PerfectReader and iBooks. Check out @ReggieRPR’s how-to video for more details.

MyTechOpinion

Sexy and shiny may get your clients to the table, but it’s demonstrating your expertise that sustains their appetite. So go ahead, grab a free iPad (or just buy one at the Apple Store)…but use it with purpose!

Whether printed, uploaded to Facebook, or added to a blog, images add an appeal that words alone simply can’t.

The key to effectively using photography isn’t in the camera. It is the software you use to organize, edit and share your pictures that will make the difference.

Photo software comes in many forms. Web-based systems like Picnik.com and free programs like Picasa offer easy-to-use, basic photo management tools. Advanced users can use Photoshop CS5, but at a hefty price tag and a steep learning curve.

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Splits the Difference

More robust than Picasa and easier to use than Photoshop CS5, Lightroom offers the best combination of organization, editing and sharing tools in one desktop application.

From camera to Facebook, this is the only program you will need for all of your photography needs.

Lightroom isn’t cheap ($299 retail price), but it is worth every penny. No other program offers such an easy to use interface with such powerful functionality.

Before you let the price turn you away, check out what Lightroom offers:

Import

Lightroom provides the ability to import photos from any device. Plug in a camera, memory card or USB drive and a step-by-step dialogue appears to walk you through adding the photos to your computer.

It evens allows for a second set of the photos to be placed on an external drive to make sure you never lose a picture.

Organize

One area that even the uber-powerful Photoshop ignores is photo organization. This is where Lightroom excels.

Lightroom organizes your photos into a library. From within the library, you can group images using collections, ratings, color-coded tags or by flagging important photos.

Create collections for each listing and rate each photo to identify the best images for marketing materials.

Edit

Touching up photos is a breeze with Lightroom. Start with a one-button auto adjust feature. From there, make simple adjustments to get the look you desire.

Cropping, rotating, red-eye removal, blemish touch-ups and more are simple tasks.

There are even preset filters to create effects like vintage photography with a single click.

What to see how your changes differ from the original photo, click the Before-and-After button and see the original and changed photo side by side.

The best part of editing photos in Lightroom is that it is “non-destructive” editor. That means that you never actually touch the original photo, you work with a copy of the photo. That makes it virtually impossible to ruin the original image.

Share

If no one ever sees your photos, they will never do your real estate business any good. Lightroom makes it easy to share your creations with the world. Options include:

• Export photos directly to Facebook, Flickr or SmugMug
• Optimize groups of photos for the web and export to a folder
• Slideshow capabilities for sharing on-screen
• Advanced printing options
• Export HTML for web galleries (for those of you without WordPress websites)

Other Features

Do you have 2 monitors? Click the second monitor button in Lightroom and double your workspace.

Still want to use Photoshop CS5 for extreme editing? Lightroom will export photos directly into Photoshop.

Worried about losing precious photos? Lightroom provides periodic library backups and can even check the integrity of your backup file.

MyTechOpinion

The modern real estate agent is rarely without a camera. That may come in the form of an iPhone, a compact camera, or an advanced dSLR.

With more photos being taken than even before, it is important to use a quality photo management tool like Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.

Over the last few years we’ve covered many different screen sharing technologies.  Some were bloated with heavy installs and others had the perfect feature set but were over-priced for the average real estate agent. Today we have an option that may just bridge the gap perfectly. Introducing Join.me, a FREE and simple screen sharing tool that can support a variety of needs whether you’re holding  a virtual office meeting with peers, reviewing homes with an out-of-town buyer, or even going over contract details with a busy seller.

Really? So how is Join.me different?

My biggest complaint about online meeting software is that typically the install feels overly complicated and users need to keep track of ID’s and passwords.  Join.me simplifies all that by allowing meeting owners to easily share one thing–the meeting URL.  The people you invite are not asked for anything…no email, no username…they simply click the link you’ve shared.  As for compatibility, both PC’s and Mac’s are good to go. Join.me employs Flash player 10 found in any of the current browsers.

You’ll know the meeting software has launched when the Join.me navigation bar appears front and center on your monitor. (See graphic below.) Each Join.me meeting can hold up to 250 people and comes with an optional audio bridge accessed by clicking the phone icon once you’ve logged into a meeting. Once you’ve dialed the phone number and PIN provided, audio support will begin.

If you need to chat with your viewers, you’ll select the “Quote” button to send the message.  It will display a chat window that lets you communicate with all attendees or you can target a particular user by selecting them from the list. Keep in mind if you’re sharing your screen, all attendees can see what you’re typing.

A few other standout features include the ability to share files via your meeting and to let someone control your screen. The file sharing utility could be truly valuable using the scenario I mentioned early. Say you’re meeting with an out-of-town buyer and you’ve shared your screen and started to review homes.  You’ve gone through each of the properties from your initial selection and now the buyer has selected a subset to see next week. Now you quickly render a Buyers Tour and immediately share the file. Now your buyer instantly has the packet of homes and details, and can save it to their computer for review later.

As I mentioned, you can also give a meeting attendee the permission to control your screen.  This will allow the attendees to actually click links, scroll and perform other actions as if they were on your computer. Of course as the meeting creator, you control who can use this feature and most importantly you can stop sharing control at anytime! In the unlikely circumstance that one of your meeting attendees becomes unruly, just click the people icon and select the “X” next to their name. That will remove them from the meeting.

Ok, I’m convinced. Let’s go through the meeting setup:

• Step 1: Visit Join.me
• Step 2: To host a meeting click the big “Share” button. The meeting software quickly will launch the share tool to the top center of your screen.
• Step 3: Copy the meeting URL to your clipboard or choose to send by email.

At the end of your first meeting you’ll have the option of installing a very lightweight application that makes it super easy to start meetings in the future.

Going PRO: If you like what you see with Join.me and want to take it a step further check out their pro version. That will allow you to customize your URL, schedule and lock down meetings, and provides better user management tools. The pro version is priced at $29/month.

In addition, you’ll notice I provided tips for “best practices” with these tools! And as if 20 tools aren’t enough to help you shake your groove thing…I scored 12 more “agent picks” from some of your favorite colleagues in the RE.net! Special thanks to @RealtorTed, @LesleyLambert, @Hermanity, @DaleChumbley, @PasadenaViews, @skynnard, @TLCHome, @mindyg, and @goingbigger!

So here they are baby….

Let’s say you called all the local Apple stores today, managed to find an iPad just 90 miles away, and dropped everything to drive there on a mission (not even stopping to use the bathroom). Okay, you could have just added your name to the list on the Apple Website and waited patiently for a day or 2 (but what fun is that).

So you have the iPad now….time to put it to good use! To start, you need some apps. You won’t have the abundant choices like with the iPhone since it’s still early. But there are several iPad apps worth adding right away. Check out the following:

Zillow (free)- For home search and valuation. Strolling through a neighborhood with the map feature has never been so much fun!

Calc XT (free)- A side by side calculator and notepad. Make quick calculations on the jumbo calculator and scribble notes at the same time.

Keynote ($9.99)- Whether you use a Mac or PC, load, create, and share presentations.

Pages ($9.99)- The app I’m using at this very moment to type this post while I sip my coffee here at Starbucks. Use Pages to make lists, start docs, compose articles….and easily share your pages via email!

Photogenie ($3.99) &/or Camerabag ($2.99)- Two rockin’ photo editing apps. I have to say there are benefits to each. Photogenie offers a full suite of editing tools, while Camerabag has several filters and borders of which I’m a fan!

Houzz (free)- Beautiful photos offer design inspiration for just about any room in the house.

Tweetdeck & Twitteriffic (free versions)- If you’re a Twitter user, check out Tweetdeck for monitoring keywords and people. But I favor the actual twittering experience with Twitteriffic. For now, the free versions will suffice….but I’m really hoping Tweetie will be coming to iPad sooner than later!

Kayak (free)- Searching for and booking flights has never been easier because Kayak aggregates flights from Orbitz, Expedia, Travelocity, etc.

Now that you’re stocked with useful apps, that are also applicable to your business….you’re on the road to becoming a mobile agent! Go ahead and….

(1) Launch a listing presentation

(2) Preview property

(3) Provide your clients with a super cool tool while showing property

(4) Save and share important docs and forms

(5) Market your biz and listings on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

(6) Stay current with industry news and your favorite blogs

(7) Organize your to-do lists

(8) Bring the “wow” factor at your next open house or broker’s tour

MyTechOpinion

I actually have quite a few more ideas for usage that I will be expanding upon in future articles.  But in my opinion, if you like useful tech tools and you want to differentiate yourself from the pack….it pays to be an early adopter of the iPad. If you’re thinking about scoring an iPad for your real estate business, you’re in luck because the iPad 3G was released today! However, the Wi-Fi enabled iPad may be easier to find. But, you’ll need a Verizon MiFi 2200 or Intelligent Mobile Hotspot to ensure that you have Internet access wherever you go!

Anyway, oneforty is like your Target for Twitter tools. Sure I can go to Walmart…but the shelves are overstocked with so many items I get frustrated by the experience and make a b-line for the door while hoping nothing jumps out at me. Target, on the other hand, also offers a great variety of items, but the shopping experience is one that draws me in. It’s organized aisles invite me to stay awhile, assuring me I’ll find what I need….oh, and there’s a Starbucks.

Now oneforty may not have a Starbucks, but it does happen to be a comprehensive site for finding, rating, collecting, and sharing Twitter apps. And by Twitter apps, I’m also referring to any application which posts to, shares content with, and/or is relative to Twitter in any way. The site was founded by Laura Fitton “@pistachio”, author of Twitter for Dummies, is backed by a rockin’ development team, and advised by social media heavyweights @briansolis and @guykawasaki.

Just recently oneforty launched a new feature called “toolkits”. Basically any member of the site can create a set of applications relevant to a particular topic or strategy. For example, I created a toolkit entitled, “ New Media Tools for Real Estate Professionals”. I asked @pistachio to tell me in her words why she thinks this new feature is beneficial to users and here’s what she had to say,

“Well, toolkits are a chance to show off exactly how you use Twitter, which is really important. The value is different for everyone. The right tools and some tips make a HUGE difference. The really exciting stuff is still ahead – once developers build more stuff that makes Twitter’s value self-evident from the first encounter, the benefits everyone raves about can go truly mass audience. We built oneforty not only to get the right tools into the right hands but also to foster innovation in the ecosystem itself as a whole.”

So, here’s how you, the real estate agent extraordinaire can benefit in my opinion. We all know what a frustrating process understanding and applying Twitter can be (at first). And while there are many lists floating out there in the blogosphere telling you to use this or that, there hasn’t been one site that dynamically changes to share current trends and a variety of topic based app collections…..until now.

To create your own profile and/or toolkit, visit oneforty.com to sign up for a free account. You’ll be prompted to customize your profile, obtain a profile URL (which you can also share and/or link to your Twitter profile), as well as find, rate, and share your favorite Twitter tools! Woohoo!

MyTechOpinion

Whether you’re an agent fluent in social media or a newbie working it all out, oneforty can and will be a dynamic resource for finding the best apps to meet both your business and personal goals.

Apparently, Facebook users are also commitment phobes and “becoming a fan” equates to saying “I DO” in front of your entire online network! I can see their point, but then again, I usually jump in with both feet blindfolded to swim around and explore before coming up for air.

Anyway, at first glance you may think you can no longer send updates to fans….I mean friends….or “people”. But you can, you just have to edit your page. However, I’m guessing there are more changes to come since the term “fans” still remains in some areas on the editing dashboard. But I don’t think it will be long before Facebook eradicates that term completely!

Another interesting change associated with this update is that the interests you share on your Facebook Profile will be linked to similar interest based Pages. So for example, if you list “No Doubt” as one of your favorite bands in the music section of your profile, Facebook will suggest you join the No Doubt Facebook Page. Facebook explains their new focus in detail on it’s own blog here.

One not so noticeable feature you may have missed today is the ability to create a Facebook Ad for a particular status update. Friend and RE rockstar, Dustin Luther, explains the “Promote a Post” feature on his blog!

Now if you’ve been playing around inside Facebook and have a few thoughts, questions or comments….I hope you’ll share them with me here! And be sure to tell me, “How do you LIKE Facebook’s latest update?”

A new service called NutshellMail aims to be the Mr. Clean of your email inbox! With it, you can add all your social accounts, even other Webmail providers such as Yahoo, Gmail, and Hotmail. And instead of getting hit with a barrage of notifications you get one sleek email that gives you a daily rundown of social happenings from all your accounts!

I’ve been using NutshellMail for a couple of weeks now, and I find it to be a very useful way to consolidate all my email notifications. Which honestly reduces the distractions, stress, and organizational efforts I once dealt with.

So, exactly how does NutshellMail work?

Well, according to one of the founders, Mark Schmulen, it’s so easy to use…his grandma signed herself up and customized her account in 3 minutes! So to get started, visit NutshellMail to sign up for free. You will be prompted to add the accounts you maintain on the Web. In fact, there is really no limit to the number of accounts you can add.

When it comes to adding your Facebook account, you have several options to customize. You can set it up to receive general notifications for new friends, birthdays and events. But you can also add Fan Pages you wish to monitor more closely. You even focus on particular friends by creating a list of targets or influencers inside Facebook, and then add that list within the Nutshell Facebook account settings.

As for Twitter, you can modify the Nutshell settings to receive new followers, most recent DM’s, and the most recent tweets from your Twitter Lists. And what I think is pretty cool is the fact that I can accept new friends, reply and even retweet right from my email inbox. So basically, I have all the functionality of Twitter.com from my ONE daily NutshellMail!

Once you have added all your social profiles and email accounts, you can choose how often you want to get notified (days & times during the week). I’m a daily kind of gal…and I’ve also selected an AM and PM delivery! But 2 daily email notifications are far better than…well, I don’t want to tell you how many I was getting before…but it was more than 100!

MyTechOpinion

NutshellMail is a simple way to consolidate the notification craziness you may be experiencing in your inbox. From casual users to those of us that manage multiple profiles and accounts…you can turn off information overload, and turn on NutshellMail! Woohoo!

First and Foremost

Smarter Agent is a mobile app platform that can be utilized and branded by agents and brokers. The app can be downloaded by consumers to search all MLS listings in their area. And it’s important to know that Smarter Agent works on virtually all mobile phone devices.

The Skinny

When a real estate professional signs up with Smarter Agent, he/she is provided with a personalized text code that consumers use to download the custom app. But now that same text code can be used to create both a branded badge and tab on your Facebook Profile or Facebook Fan Page.  In fact, your Facebook friends can even add your personalized Smarter Agent badge or tab to their profile.  To get started or learn more about this new Facebook Integration option, login to Facebook and search “Smarter Agent” to view the app. You can also contact Smarter Agent directly.

A few examples:

Customized Smarter Agent Badges

Customized Smarter Agent Tab

MyTechOpinion: I’m already a fan of Smarter Agent, and this new feature also gets a “thumbs up”. I especially like it for Fan Pages. But I wouldn’t be put off by seeing it on a Facebook Profile either. I think it’s just one more way to contact the expert you know and trust in your area for real estate advice and listing search. In addition, the tab is very informative and provides a demo on how consumers can best utilize the app!

Facebook celebrated it’s 6^th birthday in style…by launching a redesign of the home page.  I was excited to be included in the initial 80 million accounts that were updated with the design on February 4th. This new layout is being rolled out to the remaining Facebook users now (Reggie’s still waiting).

I have to say I’ve been a bit annoyed with some of the recent minor changes made by Facebook, but when it comes to this new overhaul…I’m a fan! Most notably, are the cleaner home page appearance and the removal of the bottom “start” bar. The search bar is now prominently displayed in the top center of the home page, just above the News Feed. And the top blue navigation bar has been simplified to include just a few key quick launch links on the left and right sides.

Now just in case you are a tad turned around by this new layout, I put together a quick list of 10 tips for getting reacquainted with the network you know and love!

(1)   Quick Launch Notifications – Located in the upper left, gain quick access to your most recent notifications.  I’ve been using and enjoying the notifications feature more and more lately. I find it helpful in keeping track of who’s interacting with me, as well as to easily navigate back to conversations I’m participating in.

(2)   Quick Launch Friend Request – Now the old “friend requests” link is still available in the upper right. But this new quick launch button in the upper left provides a drop down menu to scan recent friend requests. You can also click through to your “friend request dashboard” for a full view.

(3)   Quick Launch Messages – The “inbox” link has been removed from the navigation bar. Now you can access your messages 2 ways from the home page. Either select “messages” from the left sidebar navigation or my preferred channel…the new messages quick button in the upper left. A simplified drop down menu will appear, allowing you to scan your recent messages, respond back, and even quickly send a new message.

(4)   Left Sidebar Navigation – The removal of the bottom navigation bar (or start bar) was a good move! I don’t know about you, but I rarely used it. Now, we have a more organized left sidebar to navigate events, photos, friends, games, applications, ads & pages, groups, marketplace, etc.

(5)   Friend Filtering – Upon first glance you might miss noticing where to access and navigate “lists” you created to filter your friends in the New Feed. This is probably one of the most important features Facebook offers as it provides an organized and consistent approach to engaging with key friends in your network. To filter the News Feed via your lists, select the “Friends” link in the left sidebar and the “Friends” dashboard will appear. You will then be able to select from your created friend lists in the left sidebar under the main “Friends” heading.

(6)   Applications & Games Dashboards – You can select and view these new dashboards from the left sidebar. Both provide an overview of your friends’ recent game and/or application activity. This is nice new way to see and connect with other friends playing the same game, or better yet, who is utilizing an app that you may also find helpful.

(7)   Revised Chat – Now moved to the left, similar in functionality and a right bottom bar remains to keep the conversation flowing.

(8)   Simplified News Feed – Well, it’s actually pretty similar to it’s predecessor, but the options have been more clearly stated: “Top News” and “Most Recent”.

(9)   Updated Account Menu – Still a link in the upper right, but the menu of options has been expanded to include “Edit Friends”, “Credits Balance”, and “Logout” in addition to the various privacy, account, and application settings.

(10)   Rebuilt Photo Uploader – Next time you upload a photo, you’ll not only have the option to browse from your computer (which by the way provides a more robust navigation interface) but you’ll also be able to create and use a custom email for uploading (similar to Posterous).

MyTechOpinion – I give the new Facebook layout 2 thumbs up! After playing around with it for a few days, I’m impressed with the quicker speed at which I can interact, message, and share. And, the home page interface is much cleaner without the cluttering of repetitive feature links and bars. But that’s my opinion…what’s yours?

What does this mean for you?

It means your real estate blog can now have the functionality of a highly custom site with search engine friendly IDX data. dsIDXPress is released with special introductory pricing of $99.95 setup and $29.95 a month. That is an introductory offer and will go up over time.

And for the most part the plug-in is compliant in all markets they cover with the exception of a couple of the more strict MLSs. If you have any questions or comments about compliance reach out to them here.  Let’s take a look at a few ways to implement dsIDXPress.

Short code

If you’re not already familiar with shortcode, it’s worth taking some time to familiarize yourself with the concept. It was introduced in WordPress 2.5 and allows the blog author to include a small piece of content [shortcode] in a post or page to replicate what would usually be numerous lines of code.  In the case of dsIDXPress the shortcode placed in your posts and pages is replaced with specific listings or groups of listings from your MLS.  That’s right, no frames….actually pages from your site that get indexed by Google and the others. *C’mon deep crawl*.  This also means that your real estate blog can now be sculpted to represent your market area in custom fashion. For example, take a look at a few options:

• Geographic: Create a page for each of the different areas in your market. Break them down into geographic levels that make sense: city, zip, community or tract.  Here are a few different examples of how the shortcode could be displayed in a page:

[idx-listings city="Pleasanton" orderby="Price" orderdir="Price" count="15"]

[idx-listings zip="94566" orderby="Price" orderdir="DateAdded" count="15"]

[idx-listings community="Golden Oak" orderby="Price" orderdir="LastUpdated" count="15"]

[idx-listings tract="Willow Glen" orderby="Price" orderdir="DESC" count="15"]

• Listing Specific: This piece of shortcode uses the MLS number to display a configurable view of a property. Show just the basic property details or all data available.  Included in the property display is a Google map that will also display in your RSS feed for subscribers.
  Example: [idx-listing mlsnumber="AB454834" showall="true"]

Widgets

dsIDXPress comes with 3 widgets: Search, Area List and Property List. Each provides different levels of customization. The property list widget can display a crawl-able list of properties, map, and a detailed array of properties.

MyTechOpinion

It’s no secret that we at MyTechOpinion love WordPress. So much so that we partnered with Brian Gardner of AgentPress because he captured the essence of what a real estate agent require in a WordPress theme.  Now we see the same in Diverse Solutions new dsIDXPress.   We think they really nailed it with their plug-in.  To start, it’s very easy to install and early adopters will likely see amazing results. Overtime it will become more important for real estate bloggers to sculpt their site to increase pagerank and facilitate a deeper index by Google.  If you need help in that department, make sure you reach out to Chad of MyTechOpinion for a quote.

If you’re even slightly interested in learning more about dsIDXPress from this article let me give you the push. Go check it out….tell them Reggie from MyTechOpinion sent you.

Agents that already utilize Realtor.com to post their listings will be able to sync with their account via the app. Branding and contact information is carried over so that interested buyers can easily reach out to the agent, or even add the agent to their iPhone address book. In fact, an interested buyer can contact the listing agent in a number of ways with a single tap: ask a question, call agent directly, visit agent Website.

Consumers can easily search for homes and upcoming open houses, explore neighborhoods using the map view, and utilize the advanced search criteria. And when I say “easily”, I’m particularly referring to the GPS feature which allows users to drive around a neighborhood they like and view all the current listings in the area (which are also updated every 15 minutes).  BTW- You could also search using the MLS number.

Once you’ve selected a home you like, the listing detail page offers up a good amount of info, as well as up to 25 photos of the home (which can also be viewed in landscape mode). The home buying process itself can become a more organized and efficient process with this app by saving favorites and using the Notes and Ratings features.

Now when it comes to sharing listing information, buyers using the app can simply email their favorites to friends or agents,  or….share to Facebook or Twitter! I appreciate the fact that I can add a personal message along with the listing I share, making the sharing experience more personalized.

It’s important to note that although this app was created specifically for iPhone users, Realtor.com will be exploring options for other mobile sharing devices this year.

To get started, you can download this app from the iPhone App Store by searching “Realtor.com”…oh, and it’s FREE!

A few weeks back we were excited to hear Ustream was approved for the iTunes app store. At the time, it seemed obvious Qik would follow suite and make a move for approval. Well it’s happened; Qik (version 4.40)streaming video service has been officially approved by the app store and is now ready to download.

This smooth application lets you to stream videos right from your iPhone.  If you don’t already have a Qik account, simply create one after downloading the application and you’re ready to start shooting video in public or private mode. If you choose private you’ll control who sees the video by sending various parties a direct link from SMS or email.

Why we like Qik:

Qik was the first to bring video to the iPhone, even before Apple.  The only problem with Qik was that users needed to Jailbreak their phones to get access to the app. One major drawback of Jailbreaking is that you void your factory warranty.  Although now that Qik is officially approved, you’ll get all the benefits simply by installing the free app.

We love that Qik works on the iPhone 2g, iPhone 3g, or iPhone 3gs. We also like that once you’ve captured that perfect video, Qik makes it easy to share using sites like Facebook, Twitter & YouTube.

If you’re wondering how you could apply streaming video to your real estate business, here are a few ideas:

• Share a local home tour with your out of state buyer
• Capture important moments from your local city council meeting
• Broadcast downtown event on your blog
• Share highlights from a  convention

Cost: FREE!

On the 11^th day of iPhone apps,

About Yelp:

Search for and receive reviews for local business and service providers while on the go. View nearby restaurants, stores, banks, etc. based on your location. Obtain a quick rating, reviews, contact info and directions. Filter your results via distance from, affordability, and what’s actually open. You can also bookmark your favorites and/or email them to friends. View the feed of real-time results for local reviews, quick tips, and added photos.

Why we like Yelp:

Yelp is clearly a valuable tool for finding and sharing information about local businesses….not only for locals but also when visiting new places. However, when it comes to learning more about your own backyard, Yelp’s monocle view provides you a new perspective via augmented reality. Yelp was actually the very first app to go augmented! And it will definitely be exciting to see how augmented reality will undoubtedly be taking center stage in the real estate industry very soon! So starting get familiar with it now, if you haven’t already!

Cost: FREE!

NOTE: For those of us that would occasionally like to leave our dinner choices to chance and spontaneity…there’s always Urbanspoon!

About the Dragon Search app:
Historically if you wanted to search a keyword or phrase on your iPhone you’ve typed directly into a search engine. Ok, maybe you’ve tried the Google voice app, but for me I was left wanting more. Not any longer, Dragon Search is the new one-stop search application controlled by your voice. At its heart you’ll gain the ability to speak any given search into like Google, Yahoo, Bing, YouTube, Twitter, iTunes, and Wikipedia. Once the results have populated your screen, use the intuitive search carousel to switch between the other sources on the fly. Dragon also archives recent searches, allowing you to quickly recall past activity.

Why we like the Dragon Search app:
Dragon search is quickly become one of my favorite iPhone apps because of the accuracy, speed and convenience. Plus the fact that Dragon provides a very slick and intuitive interface. I also appreciate the ability to define my preferred search engine. I would recommend that you head over to the iPhone app store and download Dragon search today.

If you like this app, try Dragon Dictation.
Cost: FREE

On the 9^th Day of iPhone Apps

About the Animoto app:

It should be no surprise to you that we think Animoto rocks! So endorsing the Animoto iPhone app is something we’ve been meaning to do. With it,  you create free 30 second animated slideshows, or a 90 second slideshow for $3. The app also syncs with your Animoto.com account. So all the slideshows you create from your desktop will be accessible. The Animoto app also sports share controls, making it easy to share your slideshow from your iPhone to social networks or via email with a special message to your recipient.

Why we like the Animoto app:

This is a great tool for showcasing your listings with pizzazz! Tech savvy mobile agents can easily snap a few photos, choose a song, and share their listing slideshow to Facebook and/or Twitter…as well as to their client. You can also embed your Animoto slideshows on your blog.

Animoto slideshows don’t just have to be a listing, you could also showcase neighborhoods, a downtown, seasonal events, etc. And being that we are amidst the holiday season, you could easily create a holiday slideshow wishing your clients, friends, or family peace and joy! Today, I selected a few recent photos of my kids throwing snowballs, then selected a holiday song from Animoto’s music collection, and presto…I had slideshow a ready to share with family! Or, go back through the year of photos taken at events and choose favorite photos with colleagues and clients! And for those of you that enjoy sending template holiday greeting cards, Animoto.com even offers a holiday pack of various slideshow greetings for $30, or 30 second single greetings for free! Now that’s one creative last minute greeting!

Cost: FREE

On the 8th Day of iPhone Apps,

About CitySourced:

I was talking with Dan Mirsky recently about our favorite and “just plain cool” iPhone apps. He directed my attention to a new local app for the city of San Jose that I immediately thought was pretty handy! It’s called CitySourced and it’s available for free to all San Jose residents. The city paid $4500 for the app’s development. With it, city constituents and residents can report graffiti, abandoned vehicles and other neighborhood blight to the proper city departments.

San Jose City officials hosted a “download day”  to teach constituents how to use the app when patrolling their neighborhoods in search of potholes, broken streetlights, and other city maintenance issues. Anyone in the Bay Area can use the app to report issues which are sent via email. But city workers have a special portal which routes complaints to the specific city department.

This type of app is the first of its kind in the Bay Area. Any interested city looking to do the same can visit CitySourced online to learn more and inquire about the development process.

Why we like CitySourced:

With so many foreclosures and vacancies popping up in neighborhoods across the country, crime and suspicious acts like squatting have also risen. Additionally, most of us care a great deal about the our neighborhood’s appeal, and would like to help improve or at least maintain our market value. And as a real estate agent, you also have vested interest in the local markets you work in. This type of app gives power to the people “in your neighborhood”!

I know that when I go to the park with my kids and find gum in the drinking fountains or a broken sprinkler wasting water…I would like to do something about it! And now I can, by taking a picture and reporting the issue directly via the CitySourced iPhone app!

Cost: FREE

A quick video intro about CitySourced:

On the 7th Day of iPhone Apps,

About the Webex iPhone app:

Remote meetings just got even easier with the WebEx app. Now, if you have to attend an online meeting but can’t be near a computer you can attend from your iPhone. Log in using the app and it automatically dials into the audio portion of the meeting. You can even see the presenter’s screen on your iPhone. This app really makes WebEx standout from its online meeting competitors.

You should know that although you can start a scheduled meeting from your iPhone and assign another presenter to take over, you cannot present from the iPhone itself. And to attend a Webex meeting via iPhone you will need OS 2.0 or above and a Wifi connection.

To start a scheduled meeting on your iPhone, open the Webex app and enter your Webex account information on the Profile page. At that point you’ll be able to launch and view your meeting. If you’re on the go but arrive back in the office, you can seamlessly handoff the meeting from your iPhone to your desktop computer.

Why we like the Webex iPhone app:

It’s just plain cool! Mobile agents and industry professionals on the go can dial in automatically and participate in meetings. Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today….while you’re standing in the mother of all lines at Starbucks, waiting at the doctor’s office while your child is having a Barbie shoe removed from her nose, or stuck in traffic (with someone else driving of course).

Cost: FREE, if you’re joining as an attendee. But if you plan to start scheduled meetings you’ll need a Webex account.

On the 6th Day of iPhone Apps,

About WorldCard Mobile:

This little app makes business card readers obsolete. Simply take a photo of a business card and WorldCard Mobile will add that person to your contacts. All you need is an iPhone and a steady hand! Just snap a photo of the business card, then WorldCard Mobile will automatically capture and store the important details (i.e. name, company, phone, email, business address, etc.).

I tried out this handy app with a recently obtained stack of business cards and was surprised with how accurate and easy the process was. A few suggestions for you though: (1) be in a well lit area, (2) hold the card steady, and (3) wait to snap your picture until the iPhone camera has time to focus.

Once you’ve taken a photo of the business card you will be prompted to “recognize” the parsed data. You can then make any changes or corrections. You may receive a minor error in the data from time to time, but that’s usually due to user error (taking a bad photo) or from dark business cards with scripty (yes, that’s a word) text. But even when an error presents itself, the minor edit is much easier than manually entering a business card contact.

Why we like WorldCard Mobile:

I know many of you have left conferences, rebarcamps, and other events with stacks of business cards. And most of us get right to the reconnecting process by finding those new friends on networks, as well as entering our new contacts into our master database. However, if you’ve ever been frustrated or embarrassed by that large stack of cards that just sits there on your desk or the pile you find in your conference swag bag, then you’ll appreciate the WorldCard Mobile app. Point, click, capture…that’s it!

Cost: $3.99

NOTE: We also like the Bump app. Mostly because it’s a free app offering an environmentally friendly business card.  When you encounter someone who is also using the Bump app, you can exchange contact info automatically by shaking (or bumping) hands! No fancy buttons or extra steps! And it’s fun! But the app is only useful when others have also taken the time to setup their Bump Business Card! Still, it’s definitely worth downloading to have on hand when you “bump” into someone who also rocks the Bump app on their iPhone!