Social Media
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Balancing Your Social Capital, One Interaction at a Time!
By NikNik · June 29, 2009 · 7 Comments
Have you’ve embraced social media as a means of marketing your real estate business, but have experienced little in terms of “pay off”? If your answer to this is “yes”….then I ask you to consider the way in which you’ve implemented your social media marketing strategies.
Let’ start with the basic understanding of what social media marketing allots us. Creating profiles on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, and the like offers you a unique connecting experience, otherwise referred to as “ambient awareness”. This is not a new term. In fact, social scientists have been talking about this online phenomenon steadily since 2006. Ambient awareness is the feeling we infer and relate to from what is being shared by those connected to us via online networks. Read full story
10 Social Media Lifeskills for Real Estate Professionals
By NikNik · June 8, 2009 · 15 Comments
If you have kids, then you probably know that most schools teach character education along with the ABC’s and 123’s. And when I was teaching elementary school, there were 10 lifeskills in particular that I focused on with my class each year: integrity, active listening, effort, respect, caring, responsibility, cooperation, trustworthiness, courage, diligence.
These lifeskills set the stage for better communication between teacher and student, student and student, and even child and parent. The lifeskills provided me with the opportunity to help my students interact more positively, engage in cooperative learning, and problem solve when disagreements arose.
With the advent of new marketing techniques (namely social media strategies), it seems rather apparent that we should infuse the lifeskills we learned back in the day (when we began learning to better communicate and cooperate) within our current business goals and strategies. So I’ve taken character education full circle here by suggesting the following: “10 Social Media Lifeskills for Real Estate Professionals”.
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TheClozing: The Real Estate News Aggregator
By Reggie · June 2, 2009 · 1 Comment
I remember just 3 or 4 years ago I could count all of my favorite blogs on one hand. It was easy to keep up with all the useful content. But obviously with the growing popularity of blogs and other online content all that’s changed. While this evolution took place, many of us turned to websites that aggregate useful information like TechMeme. Although if you find yourself in the real estate niche you’ve noticed that we’re often forgotten, so that mainstream content can take center stage. That is, until I ran into www.theclozing.com
TheClozing is based off the TechMeme format, but is classified as a real estate and business news aggregator. This is done by gathering and organizing real estate news from major U.S. newspapers, magazines and publications with related articles from the social media world. That’s where the real value comes in. Viewers can read the mainstream stories, and then review related blogs for the back-story. The site refreshes every hour, to provide new content.
Why TweetLister, When You Can Just Twitter
By NikNik · May 21, 2009 · 24 Comments
What is TweetLister?
TweetLister is a new Twitter tool specifically created for real estate agents. Signing up for the free service allows you to post, schedule and manage real estate listings on Twitter. Track clicks received on your listings, as well as collect and download contacts you get through those listings (available via an Excel Report).
While I see the benefit of scheduling resourceful tweets to share with your network (aka “drip tweets”) throughout the day, I don’t recognize the benefit of ONLY twittering your listings. As a real estate professional on Twitter, your goal should be to become your network’s trusted advisor. This means you should be sharing what makes you a great source of related information. Yes, listing information is important to your local network (for those planning to transact now or in the near future). But what about the vast majority who are not transacting. Surely you want to maintain your connections and provide resourceful and local information so that when those in the majority are ready to transact, they call you!
Twitter Rolls Out “Saved Searches” to the Twitmasses!
By NikNik · May 4, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Twitter has been integrating Search.Twitter (formerly Summize) for some time now. I first noticed the search tool and “Saved Searches” features about a month ago. However, it seemed like Twitter was taking it’s time rolling this new search tool out to all it’s users. You may have already observed the trending topics and search bar that have taken up residency on your Twitter Profile. But now you can search a topic or specific keywords, and then add each search to your sidebar as a “Saved Search”.
Other applications like Tweetdeck and Tweetie have integrated various search and sorting tools already, but now you can search and monitor directly from your Twitter Web Profile. And the experience seems to be fast and easy thus far!
If you are currently monitoring specific keywords (i.e. your business name, your name, expertise, local interests, etc) with alerting services like Twilert and Tweetbeep, then you’ll quickly identify the benefit of this new Twitter feature! If not, this is the perfect introductory tool to keep you in the “know” when it comes to what Tweeps & Twits are saying about you and your business. Read full story
Lifestreaming Real Estate Web Content
By NikNik · March 24, 2009 · 4 Comments
Lifestreaming might sound like something that occurs during your favorite reality TV show, but it’s actually the aggregation of your online presence in one central location or Website. It’s an effective way to organize and display your collective thoughts, ideas, blog posts, and social connections that you share online. There’s really no right or wrong way to lifestream since the content is comprised of your Web activity. But you can think strategically about how and what you choose to share in your lifestream, as well as where you make it available.
For example, here at MTO, we are very resource driven so we aggregate the delicious bookmarks from all three of us (Reggie, Chad, NikNik) into one fluid feed on the homepage. This way our readers get access to the ideas and articles we like in one place. In addition, we have chosen to lifestream a combination of both personal and professional Web content on our individual profile pages. My profile page aggregates my tweets, delicious bookmarks, Flickr pics, Viddler videos, and more! Read full story
14 Tools for Real Estate Lifestreaming
By Reggie · March 9, 2009 · 9 Comments
As a real estate professional using social media you’re probably starting to think about different ways to aggregate your web presence. So I decided to get a list going of helpful lifestreaming resources. However by no means is this list complete, so please share your favorites (i.e Facebook, MyBloglog) in the comment stream below. I’ll be sure to review and add suggestions to this permanent resource. This will be the beginning of a series of blog posts focused on lifestreaming for real estate pros like you!
What’s YOUR Twitter Success Story?
By NikNik · March 5, 2009 · 6 Comments
Twitter, tweet, twit, Twinkle, Tweetie, Tweetdeck, TwtVite, Twinfluence, Twitbacks, TwtPoll, TweetGrid, Tweetag….what’s all this “TWALK” about?
Download your FREE copy of the “Twitter for Real Estate Twits” ebook and allow me to break it down for you! In fact, I cover everything from setting up your Twitter account to strategies for becoming your client’s trusted advisor!
If you’re already a seasoned Twit, then I want to hear from YOU! I’ll be creating an updated version of the ebook. Actually I plan to add to it yearly, keeping it freshly stocked with tools, apps, strategies and more. But for now, I’m looking to add one more chapter that will include success stories from REAL estate professionals. If you’ve had successes large or small with Twitter, tell me about it. Submit your Twitter Success Story, but you must meet these guidelines: Read full story
Tweet It Forward: The Secret to Building an Invaluable Twitter Community
By NikNik · February 19, 2009 · 11 Comments
Recently I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how best to build your network on Twitter. I previously offered up some search strategies for finding your tweighbors. But after finding and following…where do you go from there? Not everyone finds jumping into the conversation that easy. And if you approach twits the wrong way you can end up being outcast as a marketer or spammer…or even worse in my opinion…BORING & SELFISH!
The best way I’ve found to foster community on Twitter is by being a community participant. If you want twits to interact positively with you, then you need to start by positively affecting others. But first, you better get organized. Read full story
How Do I Love Thee…Let Me Dance the Ways!
By NikNik · February 13, 2009 · 1 Comment
WE LOVE YOU! Well, we love our loyal MTO readers and community members! Thanks for sharing your love with us every day via your comments, thoughts, ideas, suggestions…and most of all, support! We’re also very thankful that you love technology as much as we do. But it’s time to get off the computer (for just a moment) and share some love (and your best moves) with those around you! So we made you this Valentine Dance Gram! Hope you enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day from MyTechOpinion!
Is My Facebook Profile Complete? FacebookGrader Has the Answer!
By NikNik · January 30, 2009 · 9 Comments
Yes, I have Google Alerts delivered and even check my Twitter grade from time to time on Twittergrader. Who doesn’t? If you’re investing time in social media marketing, then you should be analyzing your efforts with a variety of analytics resources.
When it comes to helping my friends, colleagues and clients establish a Web presence I suggest creating a Facebook Profile (as one of many online strategies). Facebook, as most of us know, is the largest online network with over 150 million users. It offers abundant opportunities for building relationships (both on and offline). Real Estate Professionals can easily drill down to a local level by connecting with their local sphere, joining local groups, creating their own group or fan page (among other things). But before going crazy with applications and groups….you need to make sure your profile is COMPLETE! Read full story
12 Ways to Use Bubble Video in Your Real Estate Business
By NikNik · January 15, 2009 · 8 Comments
Yes, it’s true…I thoroughly enjoy creating deliciously dorky birthday videos. It gives me a chance to show off another facet of my personality…the REAL NikNik! And apparently, highly intelligent and obviously fun-loving people find them somewhat engaging! If you haven’t seen one of these masterpieces, check out these birthday dance grams for @Respres, @MikeMueller, and @BHGRE_Sherry.
More recently though, I’ve created “welcome videos” for my new Twitter followers. I wanted something that would stand out in a sea of simple greetings like…”Thanks for following!” So I usually send new followers a welcome message with a link to a video that lets them know what they can expect being a follower. The only downside to the video link is that it takes new Twits to a 3rd party site (like Viddler) to view my videos. Now I have a video player embedded on my blog, but to keep my “welcome video” most current I would have to create a blog page specifically for a welcome video. But, I’m looking for a bit more flexibility with my short and sweet videos.
Thanks to the BubbleGuru (aka: Kevin Sherman) and his Bubble video solutions I have some seriously great video options now! With BubbleTweet, BubbleComment, and BubbleTestimonial, I can create, send and manage all sorts of fun and informational videos and place them atop any Website or page I choose! Bubble-what? Let me break it down for you:
