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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
Google Maps: New “What’s Here” Feature
By Reggie · June 20, 2009 · 7 Comments
Not too long ago maps were used simply to find locations and get from one point to another. But over recent years digital mapping has pushed the boundaries; adding new and innovative features with Google leading the way. Yesterday was no different; Google announced a new feature called “What’s here?” A very intuitive implementation that works by simply selecting a point on their map and choosing “What’s here?” Google then presents what they feel is “the most relevant result representing that location”
Real Estate Marketing: Carving Your Niche
By NikNik · June 17, 2009 · 10 Comments
Targeting your marketing efforts is easier said than done. A lot of agents are finding themselves in scramble mode right now. Just trying to get “it” done. For many, that “it” is just maintaining the basics like client interactions and daily administrative tasks. But if you’re not prospecting then what happens when the “keeping up” with your current business ends, and you’re left without new listings or buyers? Ummm, I think you know the answer to that!
If hiring an assistant or marketing coordinator is not in the cards for you right now, you need to find a way to organize your marketing efforts and concentrate on sharing your expertise with the right network. One simple way to elevate your expertise above the competition is by obtaining a designation or specializing in certain types of real estate transactions. Do you have several green builders in your area, as well as knowledge of sustainable home features? You may want to consider becoming an EcoBroker, a special designation for environmentally concerned real estate professionals.
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
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
Lovely Charts: Sophisticated Diagrams Made Simple
By Reggie · February 11, 2009 · 5 Comments
If you need to create a flowcart, diagram, org chart or even a wireframe, I have a powerful and attractive resource for you! Lovely Charts is a slick Adobe Flex application that uses a simplistic drag and drop drawing engine. You can tell Lovely Charts has placed heavy importance on their clean design and attractive chart output. Their graphics and symbols will help you clearly represent your ideas on screen…without having to dig deep through thousands of choices. But don’t take my word for it, view their Gallery here.
7 Real Estate Events Worth Attending in 2009
By NikNik · February 4, 2009 · 14 Comments
Of course we can’t go to every real estate conference taking place this year. But we can plan ahead for events that may be coming to your local area. Or better yet, plan for a vacation-learning experience. I may be a bit biased being in California, but San Francisco and San Diego make for great destinations! Here’s the lowdown on all the valuable upcoming real estate conferences….all are worth attending! Which one(s) are you planning for?
REBarCamp Seattle - One day event for passionate real estate professionals who are hungry to learn and share creative and effective marketing ideas and industry trends. When: Feb 13th, 2009 Where: Zillow Corporate Headquarters, Seattle
RETechSouth - Real conversations about the technological changes impacting the real estate industry. Some of the best minds in the industry will gather in one room to share their knowledge. When: March 20th 2009, Where: Gwinnet Center, Atlanta
REBarCamp Los Angeles - If you missed Seattle, don’t worry REBarCampLA is a great day for agents looking to get started with social media marketing and other creative online and offline strategies for growing your business. When: April 2nd ,2009 Where: Location TBA Read full story
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:
Finding Tweighbors on Twitter
By NikNik · January 6, 2009 · 10 Comments
You’ve arrived! You’re on Twitter, you’re tweeting, but are you strategically growing your network? And I’m not talking about following all of someone else’s followers. It’s definitely valuable to learn from your peers, but following every other agent in the Twitosphere is not necessarily going to help you build relationships and grow your network within your own market area.
There are some great techniques and tools, however, which you can employ to get to know the twits in your neck of the woods. And once you find and follow these local twits, it’s your job to befriend them with your interest based experiences, professional expertise (transparently), and above all…being helpful. Be a friendly conversationalist, gradually gaining trust and building relationships…that may lead to offline connecting and potential sales leads when the time is right.
Did I Social Mention…
By NikNik · December 8, 2008 · 6 Comments
If you don’t already track your Web presence with tools like Google Alerts, BudURLS, Yahoo Pipes and others…you really should. Now if you already have enough analytics results to make your head spin, what’s one more….especially if it’s easy to use.
Social Mention is a search engine that scans user-generated content such as blogs, comments, bookmarks, events, news, videos, and microsharing sites like Twitter. You can search all social media sites using keywords, or narrow your search by scanning only blogs, bookmarks, images, etc. Your aggregated Web results will be displayed for your keyword search and you can sort by date and time. Other features include RSS feeds for a particular search term(s) and social ranking information. Read full story
