There is some validity however, to the shear amount of effort required in implementing social media marketing strategies….or ANY effective marketing strategies for that matter. And that’s why I’m not surprised when agents ask me if I can do “the social media” for them. But if you know me, then you know I’m not an automator…I’m an educator. Which means I prefer you learn about the new strategies available to you, best practices for using them, and how to measure their effectiveness.

So whether you or your marketing assistant is syndicating your listings, sending an email drip campaign, blogging or engaging in social media channels…KNOW the plan, the process, AND your role in it! By being a participant who’s just as knowledgeable about your own business as you are about your market area it’s much easier to become a trusted advisor. But obviously it’s not just about being a trusted advisor…it’s about closing deals too. So no matter the strategy or the channel…you need to create an opportunity to convert.

Now the reason I’m so passionate about social media as a real estate marketing strategy is because it gives agents who are willing to be a participant….a huge conversion opportunity. When you take an active role with blogging or Facebook comments and posts, you can directly connect with current and past clients, as well as potential leads.

For example, let’s say you’re passionate about the schools in your local market area. So you decide to get involved with a local “Back to School” cause. You post information about the cause on your Facebook Page telling locals about the supplies needed, where to donate, associated fundraising events, interviews and pictures of local teachers setting up for the school year, etc. If you’re a part of the plan and the process…as well as actively engage on the Page, then you’re creating an opportunity to convert. Especially, when you run into thankful teachers, parents and locals who you’ve been engaging with online. Taking an active roll in your online engagement means it’s easier to take an active roll in your offline engagement.

When you haven’t got a clue what social media strategies are being deployed on your behalf, you’re missing out! Sure you might be getting more online exposure for your brand and listings….but the opportunity to convert is greatly lessened. That’s because when potential client Susie Q sees you at Starbucks and thanks you for helping her neighborhood school you won’t have any idea what she’s talking about. But had you taken an active engagement role online you would be easily able to strike up a relevant and thoughtful conversation…a conversation that could possibly lead to new business tomorrow or someday in the future. And that’s your ROI when it comes to social media.

But if you’re still of the “have it done” mindset, there are plenty of “blog for you, tweet for you, post for you” services popping up. These companies are happy to take your money and create your Web presence for you, as well as automate, duplicate, replicate, and syndicate “relevant” content on your behalf. So if you’re looking for the shortcut to success with social media, there you go! And to be honest, you may very well get the exposure you want….but I highly doubt you’ll get the conversion opportunities you need to take your business to the next level. But who knows, I could be wrong.

I WILL say that there is a happy medium. The relevant content that you drip out through the various channels you participate in can be created by others (but should be supplemented by your own) and can also be scheduled. Tools like HootSuite and Tweetdeck let you schedule and post to a variety of networks. In fact, I created a Tweet Plan for using Hootsuite for both general business and for real estate. And innovators, like the folks at Roost, understand the content dilemma and deployment that real estate professionals are faced with and have created a new tool that will soon ROCK your Facebook world!

Probably the biggest social media roadblock for agents is identifying content that can be shared, retweeted, commented on, blogged about, curated, etc. So I am all for making the organization of content much easier with a homepage or dashboard of content. Alltop, Regator, My6Sense, and Google all offer great options in the organization department. A few savvy real estate companies have even created their own custom content dashboards, and are regularly creating content their agents can share and re-purpose!

So clearly there IS a benefit to “systematizing” your content flow to maximize online exposure…BUT remember that if you go the route of scheduling resourceful tweets and/or posts, that you still need to be listening, responding…and initiating social interactions! More importantly, you still need to be you and bring your passion to whatever marketing strategy you plan for!

MyTechOpinion: You CAN shortcut your way to “success” with social media…but that depends on what success really means to you.

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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!

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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.

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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?”

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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!

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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!

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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?

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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!

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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

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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

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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:

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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.

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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!

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On the 5^th Day of iPhone Apps,

Okay, if you know me well…you know I already favor HootSuite as the ultimate real-time drip tweet tool. So  you may be surprised that I’ve chosen to write about Tweetie 2, and not the new HootSuite iPhone app that debuted last week. I’ve had some time to play around with the new HootSuite app and I do like it, and will probably use it occasionally. I also recognize that scheduling tweets and viewing trackable link stats is very helpful.

However, practicality comes into play when dealing with mobile apps vs. desktop apps.  I’m really not sure that I scheduling tweets via mobile phone is practical when doing it from your desktop is so much easier (yet already takes time to set up and plan).  Also, scheduling tweets should be focused more on resourceful shares (like great articles and media), which again seems a bit more work via mobile. When it comes to sharing resources on the go, I like Regator Premium.

All that being said, I still felt HootSuite was worth the $2 just to have the option to schedule tweets if I were stranded somewhere without my laptop and had 4 hours to kill (like at the San Diego airport, thanks a lot Virgin America). But I also love the fact that the app brings over my settings and scheduling from my desktop account, so I can easily view what’s in cue, what’s been sent, and check stats for shared links. Stats rock! Measure what you share and you will know if what you share is even worth the time and effort!

About Tweetie 2:

Okay, on to Tweetie 2! I was already a fan of the original Tweetie app (which is free), but Tweetie 2 brings it home for those looking for a comprehensive Twitter app for iPhone! Let’s start with the interface….ah, it rocks! Simple to manage with obvious feature placement. Other bling I should mention: saved searches, twitter lists, message indicators, live-filtering search, draft manager, landscape mode, rockin’ refresh, translate tweets, short URL preview, threaded direct message view, offline mode, link to address book, nearby tweet search, Safari Bookmarklet, text expander, etc. The list of features is extensive and completely worth $3 for a Twitter app!

Why we like Tweetie 2:

Honestly, what’s not to like with this app! The user interface is simply “AWESOME” and highly intuitive. You don’t have to go searching for obvious features, they are actually where you’d expect them to be. Building Twitter karma is easy with Tweetie 2 because the retweet feature is painless, but also offers “requote” so you can add or modify your retweets. You can also manage multiple accounts with Tweetie 2, for those of you tweetin’ double time! And just when you didn’t think this app could get any better it gives you the option to tweet both photos and video. Yes, video…I know! Happy dance!!! Okay sit back down now! When it comes to sharing your video tweets you can even select your preferred image/video host (i.e. yFrog, TwitVid, MobyPicture, Posterous, Vidly)! Woohoo, I love you Tweetie 2!

Cost: $2.99

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On the 4^th Day of iPhone Apps,

About Ustream Live Broadcaster:

Ustream Live Broadcaster may not be the first official app providing streaming capability from your iPhone, but the features and functionality are absolutely noteworthy! You’ll need the 3G network and wifi, but both 3Gs and 3G iPhone users can download this free app (running OS 3.1 or higher). Shoot and share your live video via Ustream, Twitter, Facebook or YouTube. You could also embed a Ustream player on your blog. Viewers can interact with your live video via chat. You can even launch a yes/no poll and receive real-time results!

Now this app isn’t free of a few glitches, like the fact that you need to change your auto shut-off setting otherwise you’ll be left tapping the screen time and again for long streaming sessions. Also, I tested sharing my videos to various networks which seemed to work just fine…minus a couple that were cut off just after a few seconds. Was planning on blaming that issue on user error, but I wasn’t the only one experiencing that problem.  I am happy to note that I haven’t had any recent streaming problems and still think this app rocks!

Why we like Ustream Live Broadcaster:

To start, 3G users who don’t normally have the option to shoot video (like their 3Gs cohorts), will be able to with the Ustream Live Broadcaster app.  Most importantly, this app turns your iPhone into a mobile TV studio, making it easy to share video from important events, like a fundraiser or even an open house. Even remote showings for relocation clients are a possibility with this little freebie! In fact, shooting and sharing video is so simple that I’m sure we’ll be seeing more and more “on the fly” videos from our friends Michael McClure and Ian Watt!

Cost: FREE

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About Dropbox:

Do you ever email yourself a document, just so you could access it on another computer?  You may want to check out Dropbox, it’s a lightweight app that syncs files between computers and even your iPhone.  To me, it’s become one of those apps that I can’t do without.  I switch between my desktop, laptop and iPhone often. And there are certain files in each of those locations. That’s when I rely on Dropbox.

Getting started with the app is really straightforward. Create your free account, and claim your free 2 GB of space.  Then go to Dropbox.com and install the software on each of your computers. Also visit the App Store and download the DropBox application for your iPhone.  That’s it, now just drop a file into the folder and voila…it will sync to your other Dropbox enabled devices.

Why we like Dropbox:

Dropbox is a simple solution to a real challenge we have with files in multiple locations. For those of you that work in teams, try using Dropbox to share and collaborate key files. Because Dropbox stores a copy of your files on their secure server, you’ll always have the most current version of a document with file recovery for accidental deletion.  If you need more than the 2GB of space, check out their Pro plan s starting at $9.99/month.

Dropbox also features a public folder for sharing files with outside users.  Each file in this public folder will let you link directly to them.

Cost

2GB = Free
50GB = $9.99 /month
100GB = $19.99 /month

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On the 2^nd day of iPhone Apps

About Home Value Pro:

There have been a variety of consumer facing home search apps released and updated over the course of the year. Both Zillow and Trulia provide feature centric apps making mobile home search a fun, easy, and visual experience. BHGRE’s Home Select app is a helpful tool for home buyers and sellers. Instead of focusing on home search, this app is a consumer’s assistant in the home selection process by providing organization tools and information. If I were looking for my next home, I would enjoy chronicling my favorite homes with pictures, comments, and ratings….and then share my experience with friends and family via email or Facebook.

Now when it comes to a agent focused app for local market data, I favor the Home Value Pro app from RealQuest. With it, you can: (1) view estimated home values for pretty much every residential property in the US, (2) identify pre-foreclosures, auctions, bank owned, and REO properties, (3) analyze housing stats at the county and zip code level, (4) view 12-month median home price trends, sales trends, and foreclosure rates.

Why we like Home Value Pro:

I appreciate the rich data Home Value Pro brings to the table, along with a “get to the point” interface. Any real estate professional looking to stay informed with market trends and specific local stats will likely find this app extremely helpful. Additionally, the data can be bookmarked, organized, and shared via email.

Cost: FREE

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