I recently met an amazing speaker named Craig Zablocki who was extremely spontaneous onstage. He read the crowd well and rolled with their responses naturally. And being a lifelong learner you know I had to pick his brain! So after his presentation I asked him if he could give me some tips as I’m always looking to raise my game. He of course said sure…little did I know he was looking for some social media marketing help. So we decided to meet after our event and trade knowledge!

After an hour of coaching him on social media strategy….Craig shared some suggestions to help me become a more spontaneous speaker.  And the end of our meeting we decided to give each other a checklist of actions. Actions each of us could take to dive in to the skills we wanted and needed to learn. And trust me…his list for me was far worse than mine!  He suggested actions like (1) wear a plastic boogger while shopping at Nordstrom and (2) the next time I fly (which was this last weekend) I should get my entire row to sing a nursery rhyme with me. (By the way…I used the intercom to accomplish that action! Thanks @VirginAmerica)

Clearly these are things outside of my normal comfort zone. But that was the point. To Craig, sending a tweet with a shortlink sounded like something you feed a bird. But in that moment both of us realized that in order to become more confident with the tools and concepts we wanted to learn…we had to practice using them.

So when I was asked by the Women’s Council of REALTORS – California Chapter to give a keynote sharing some technology trends for 2012 I couldn’t very well give them concepts without ACTIONS! The 12 I suggested are in my slides below! And here’s hoping you’ll take some ACTION with something that makes you uncomfortable today…but gives you a little more confidence each time you give it a try!

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!

1. NEW! Page Owners

If you’ve taken the tour and upgraded to the new Facebook Page layout, consider featuring “Page Owners” on the left sidebar. This is particularly important for those of you that have multiple admins contributing to the Page.  Perhaps your team has a page focused on the real estate market you live and work in, or maybe you’re a broker with a brand focused page.  In either case, adding Page Owners personalizes the page a bit more and provides LIKERS with the faces and names behind the relevant content being shared.

HOW-TO: Go to “edit info” on the top of your page, select “featured” from the left sidebar settings and edit your page owners. BONUS: Edit your featured likes to call attention to local business affiliates, other office locations, or resources.

2. NEW! Post as Yourself

Probably my most favorite new feature from the recent update, and one I’ve been whining about to Facebook for some time! You now have the ability to change your “post preference” for a Page that you’re an admin of. So instead of the Facebook Page image showing up when you post to your page, your own profile image can appear. Can I get a woohoo!? This new change is music to the ears of individual admins and multiple page admins because it not only alleviates confusion over who is actually posting to the Page but again improves the personalization of the Page. Pages can often seem like “relevant content silos” with streaming posts and no actual engagement taking place. Now that we can put a post to a name I’m confident more actual commenting will take place. <fingers crossed>

HOW-TO: Go to “edit info” on the top of your page, select “your settings” and un-check the “post preferences” box.

3. Create Lists

Do you find that you’re always talking to the same 5 people every time you login to Facebook? If you are, then you’re probably not making the most of Facebook as a business tool for staying top of mind with your sphere. Now, don’t get me wrong…those 5 people may be important folks in your Web of connectivity and may rock referrals your way. But what if your 5 were 10, or 50?! Don’t let Facebook’s Edgerank keep you focused on just a few key targets. Expand your reach and conversations to stay top of mind with a variety of people in your sphere. To do this, you need to segment your friends into lists which makes it much easier to engage in a more relevant way than saying “thanks for sharing”.

HOW-TO: Go to “edit friends” in the dropdown menu on the right side. Select the “create list” button up top and segment your friends by geographic location, demographic or other target characteristics.

4. Filtering the Newsfeed

When you want to find out what’s going on in your network you can easily turn to the Facebook Newsfeed. The Newsfeed has 2 options: Top News & Most Recent. It’s tempting to hang out in Top News where supposedly all the action is…or most interacted with posts. And you will see all the usual suspects there…people that have mastered the art of being social and sharing relevant content…which IS valuable and fun. But what about all those folks in your network that are equally if not more important to connect with on a regular basis? This is where Facebook Lists play an important role. When you view the Most Recent option in the Newsfeed you can filter what’s being posted by the lists you’ve created. So instead of seeing Top News from the usual suspects, you see the people you want to stay top of mind with.

HOW-TO: Create lists (see tip #3), then utilize the dropdown menu in the Most Recent Newsfeed to filter and engage with targets. Not only will you be able to easily see what your network is sharing, you can learn more about what your sphere needs and wants. Challenge: Pick a list every day and comment on at least 3 posts made by others.

5. Daily Engagement Plan

If you’ve heard enough hype about Facebook as a business tool and are ready to make good use of your time and this fabulous network….it’s time for a Daily Engagement Plan. Set 20-30 minutes aside in the AM or PM to take care of the following marketing tasks:  (1) update your status, (2) post a relevant share to your Page (if you have one), (3) filter the Newsfeed and comment on 3 posts made by others, (4) post or send birthday wishes to those in your network celebrating, (5) check and respond to messages, (6) invite or accept new friends.

MyTechOpinion

Although these features can help improve the ebb and flow of your conversations in Facebook, the best tip I can honestly give you is to engage consistently with a balanced diet of YOU (personality, passion, profession)! Carry on!

Nearly every time I teach a Facebook class to real estate professionals there is usually one agent who asks (right from the beginning), “How do I post my listings to my wall or tab?” And my reply is most often not the answer, but a question, “If you’re a consumer do you start your search for a home inside Facebook?” (Usual reply: “uh no”) Yep…that’s what I thought.

So then, why do we continue to see the Facebook Newsfeed and Walls of real estate professionals cluttered with sales pitches for their current listings? And don’t tell me it’s just the Facebook newbies? There are plenty of seasoned super tech-agents still posting “Beautiful 3 bedroom, 3 bath home in a quiet neighborhood, XYZ…call me today for more details or visit 123listing.com” on their personal profiles. Yes, on their Facebook profiles.

First, let’s remind our “salesfriends” of the basics. If you’re not already familiar with Facebook’s Terms of Service then you should know that it’s against their policy to use your Facebook Profile for commercial gain. If you want to post your listings, then do it from a Facebook Business Page. Which brings me to my next point. If you only post listings on your Facebook Page, do you REALLY think that’s going to be enough to keep folks interested or engaged (or “liking” your page)? Moreover, do you REALLY think the consumer is going to say to herself, “Today is the day, I’m ready to look for my dream home so of course I better start at Jenny Smith’s Pleasantville Real Estate page on Facebook!”

I know there’s a chance that someone in your network who’s looking to buy may be online at the moment you post that listing to your Facebook Page Wall, and may even see it in the Newsfeed. And it could be a match made in heaven (or Facebook)…it’s possible. But if that’s your strategy…go ahead, throw that dart and see where it lands.

Now let’s examine what happens when you only post listings on Twitter:

Yep, that sure gives me a reason to respond, follow you and converse.  When real twitter users encounter real estate listings like the example above, one word comes to mind…starts with an “s”…spammer! So you may as well sew a big “s” on your sweater because you’ll be permanently marked that way until you change your ways.

Enough is Enough

It’s time to raise the bar and use the tools the way they’re meant to be utilized.  So if you’re investing your time and effort in Facebook, Twitter and other online communication channels, remember to obey the “nature of the network”.  I’m not saying you can’t or shouldn’t post your listings altogether.  In fact, go for it. But don’t expect real “engagement” to take place unless you put in some real “effort” to make what you share actually “of interest”. So here are a few strategies you may want to try:

(1) Facebook – Listing Feature Post: Share your listing on your Facebook Page but instead of just regurgitating listing details (like 3 BED, 3 BATH, PRICED REDUCED), why not focus on what makes this home special. Highlight a feature of the home (unique yard, new kitchen, awesome view) or better yet the surrounding neighborhood or community. Give us a peek into the lifestyle…give us a reason to want to learn more, a reason to actually comment.

When you broadcast listing details the only engagement you’ll most likely yield are a couple of “likes”…and that’s usually someone who likes you, not your “NEW LISTING”. Those “likes” are not going to give you enough “FB Edge” to rank well in the Newsfeed…which means you’re counting on your targets visiting your Facebook Page on a regular basis to see if you’ve posted their dream home (that they may or may not be planning to buy right now).  So instead think about creating conversation around an interesting element of your listing with text, a photo, or video…and then link to a landing page where people can choose to get more details. Thank you Nashville & Beyond for this ROCKIN’ example:

And another stellar example from @FloridaSunSales of how to accomplish sharing a “listing feature”, but on Twitter:

(2) Facebook – Social Listing Post: Rather than posting listing features, post HOW you’re getting down to business on any given day. Working with clients, prepping for a showing, waiting at an inspection, or better yet….share the interesting work related occurrences that pop up in your day! Just think about answering “What are you up to?” as if a friend were asking. Thank you Mizzle for this ROCKIN’ example:

(3)  Facebook – Proactive Listing Post: You see a house on Broker’s Tour and immediately think of a certain client, or a client who’s always looking for that “perfect forever home”. Ever considered taking a photo and posting it to the wall or sending it via message to that client. Well, that’s exactly what Shannon King and Heather Elias do for their clients. Not only is this proactive strategy helpful to the potential buyer….but think about all the other people that will notice your initiative! Clearly these ladies have the expertise to match their clients with the home and lifestyle they are looking for! That’s talent…that’s a local market expert! Thank you LocoMusings for this ROCKIN’ example:

(4) Facebook  - Custom Tabs: If you focus your Facebook Business Page on your local market area and aim to deliver relevant info that local consumers care about…well, BRAVO! I’ve seen many agents migrate from personally branded pages to geographic or niche focused pages…which is great! But don’t forget to highlight who’s delivering this helpful content…YOU! So consider adding a custom tab that showcases your expertise and any tools you may want to offer. Your tab can also welcome locals to your page and provide important calls to action: like my page, sign up for my newsletter, search for homes (on your site), etc. This way you can still provide all the relevant local content that keeps targets coming back for more, but also have a place where your LIKERS know to go for YOUR real estate expertise.

MyTechOpinion

At the end of the day, you need a plan of action for gaining listing exposure online. Which most likely starts by (1) optimizing your MLS listing details, (2) creating a landing page to feature the listing on your own online hub (Website/blog), and (3) syndicating your listing to places where consumers actually go to look for real estate (Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com). When it comes to Facebook, Twitter and the like….you need to remember why you are there (i.e. cultivate relationships). And don’t forget the nature of the SOCIAL network you’re using!

Once upgraded I experienced the happy delight of a new vantage point…exactly the same high I get when rearranging furniture. Yes, I enjoy the familiar comfort of my living spaces, but it’s always refreshing and energizing to update the design and functionality in my home. Same goes for Facebook Profiles…really! So here’s what I like so far…and what might take some getting used to:

What I like:

• The photo stream at the top highlighting photos you were tagged in. There is clearly more of an emphasis on photos. Images are eye-catching and this new design provides more staying power for recent posts w/ photos….more opportunity for engagement.
• Main navigation is now located in the left sidebar vs. top tabs (which no longer exist). Profile navigation actually seems more intuitive to me, and mimics more of the design and feel of the home page.
• Your photos and videos are now merged. Access your photos link from the left side navigation and view all photos and videos you have shared or have been tagged in. You can view photos and videos separately or as a mashed feed down the page. Perhaps this new design will motivate those of you waiting to get started with video…to just do it already!
• One of my most favorite new features of this new profile is how “friends” are now displayed and organized. You can easily filter friends from your profile as opposed to just in the newsfeed. But  instead of filtering lists or groups of people you set, you filter via location, school, work, etc. This will definitely make engagement more fun and efficient from your own profile. Profile filtering will most likely become a new task on my Daily Engagement Plan.
• I like poking from my profile. Pokes are a better fit on the profile. This nonchalant form of engagement is kinda fun, it can be both an active and passive form of engagement to let others know you’re thinking of them….with a little nudge.

Might take some getting used to:

• I’m not a big fan of the new headline in replace of my own creative bio or description that formerly resided under my photo. This new headline pulls info from your profile information which can be customized to include your work, education, relationship, birthday, location, etc. Is this Facebook’s attempt to keep things “simple and easy”, showcase your “background” and put more emphasis on interactions over cleverly crafted identity statements?! You tell me?! But I really think I should have the option to create my own headline, bio, or statement.
• My Facebook Business Page gets the boot! Well, at least as a direct link from my sidebar. If you want your Facebook Page linkable from your main profile (i.e. the headline up top) then you have to add it to your work history. Which is still lacking a bit in functionality since some of us may have different company and community focused pages. Clearly this is still a work in progress for FB. Just be sure your Pages are listed in your contact info and work info for maximum visibility.
• Updating your Info links. These are the links associated with your work history, likes and interests, education, etc. Currently many of these links take you to Community Pages which usually just aggregate keyword content and posts referencing the topic (good for search & monitoring). However, if you want your friends to be able to click these links and land on your actual Business Page, then you will have to reset them. This feature wasn’t working for me right away last night. I tried entering Agent Evolution and Reggie tried RPR several times but apparently we were experiencing a glitch. So just be sure to enter the text for a particular page EXACTLY as it reads on and shouldn’t have any issue.

MyTechOpinion:

Before you poo-poo the new profile and start your own “Let’s All Revolt Over the Facebook Redesign – Episode 82″….rearrange some furniture, take in the vantage point and then ready yourself to explore what’s new, secure your settings, and get social!

The past year has been crazy for the Nicolay household…to say the least! Reggie started his new job with RPR…and has been passionately reaching out to curious agents and creating a variety of helpful resources that are soon to launch. I, on the other hand, have been extremely focused on my new company.  Agent Evolution was born from our efforts right here on MTO! After all, many of you have regular questions for us…and occasionally ask for help with your blogs. So we answered by mixing my teaching skills with Chad’s blog shop to provide a full service new media company!

In the midst of this professional progression, we’ve definitely let our regular MTO blogging schedule slide. Let’s face it, something had to give! And frankly, as a Mom, I wasn’t willing to give up bike rides to the park, volunteering at school, and bedtime stories. Finding balance in life is far more important and harder to achieve these days. But all in all, I can’t complain…I’m very fortunate to be able to work alongside @ReggieRPR…but also get to go out and play (aka: educate and inspire).

So now, it’s only right that we get back to the heart of what’s propelled our professional lives….and passion for the last 5 years!!! MTO was created with 100% of passion and love for real estate technology. And it should be expected that we will continue to feed that niche. Reggie and Chad will continue to focus more on product and service releases, hardware, and innovative technical know-how! And I’ll stick to listening to the little voice inside that feeds my passion for sharing thoughts, ideas, and strategies for technology and marketing implementation.

Okay, now that you’re up to speed…let’s get back to the title of this article! In the past I’ve suggested creating a content posting plan and shared several blog topic ideas. These tips can really kickstart a new blog or create consistency with existing blogs. But what happens when the plan doesn’t match the voice?! Well, now that I’ve experienced this firsthand…I do have a few suggestions. So here’s my advice when you’re faced with a nasty case of “blogger’s block”.

(1)    Read, read, and read some more. Reading other blogs or a really good book will often inspire your own thoughts and ideas.

(2)    Go to an event, or just have a coffee (or better yet, wine) with a friend. Sometimes a good conversation is all you need to get your creative juices flowing. Plus you may have colleagues or friends that ask REALLY great questions…which make for great articles!

(3)    Make time to write….at the right time. Only you know the best time of day for your inner voice! So listen to it. But if you sit down…and all you can think about is “how do I get this over with” …walk away, go do something active or interesting. You can’t force the inner voice!

(4)    Your best bet, ALWAYS, is to write what you know or write about experiences you’ve had. Take that a step further by relating your expertise and experience to your target audience by giving them a little nugget of advice, a tip, strategy…or “ah-ha moment” that they can benefit from!

I know these suggestions may seem fairly obvious…but that’s because they work. And they are only suggestions until you put them into play! So go now…it’s time to play!

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?

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!

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!

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

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

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

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

One the first day of iPhone Apps,
MyTechOpinion blogged to you…
Try Regator Premium
You’ll find great blogs to review!

About Regator Premium:

Regator, one of our favorite relevant info finders, recently released a premium version of their already very resourceful iPhone app. With Regator Premium you can easily search, scan and read articles from the Web’s best blogs on more the 500 different topics. Once you locate articles you like you can share them to Facebook, Twitter or even via email.

Now I already love the free Regator iPhone app, but for a few bucks the premium version provides a more personalized experience. With it, you can save your favorite blogs, posts, and topics for quick access. You can also auto-sync with your Regator.com account if you use the service on your desktop.

Why we like Regator Premium:

One of the best ways you can add value to your network is by sharing relevant resources. Regator makes it easy to find interesting blogs and helpful articles by not only choosing categories, but also by monitoring keywords. So you can use Regator to monitor your online reputation, as well as key topics of interest and expertise. Then simply share your “great finds” with your sphere in Facebook and Twitter.

Make better use of your time when you’re stuck waiting in an endless holiday shopping line. And more importantly, get the latest real-time results for topics you and your network care about. Thanks to Regator you can give the gift of relevant info and work toward your goal of becoming a Trusted Advisor.

Let’s start with obvious failures inside Facebook…at the moment!

MyRealEstateListings (there are 2 of them, as well as a few more similarly named cohorts) but they essentially all do the same thing- create a “MyRealEstate” or “MyListings” tab on your profile. You can then click on the tab (when was the last time you clicked on a tab) to view a lack luster interface of your manually entered listings from which you can then decide to click further to obtain details, which lands you on a third party site outside of Facebook. Click for more details, really!?!

My Listings, or Realtor Listing Application, displays your listings on a tab or box on the side of your profile. But again when you click to learn more you are taken to a third party site away from Facebook. Third party site. Really!?!

CenterStage for Real Estate, a failed, failed attempt to charge you $8 for displaying listings inside Facebook. Don’t even get me started! $8, really!?!

Oodle Pro aims to solve the listings inside Facebook issue. The tool can distribute listings to online communities like Facebook Marketplace & MySpace Classifieds. I’m sorry, when was the last time you were on MySpace.  Really!?! Oodle Pro can upload your listings to your Profile and Fan Page, yet they recommend to keep personal and professional identities separate from one another.  Listings on both, or is it one or the other, really!?!  And Oodle Pro will run you $15 a month! Really!?!

I will throw them a small “woot” for displaying links back to social profiles from wherever your listings get posted online.  And I do see great value in listing syndication to numerous online marketplaces and listing aggregators…don’t get me wrong! But the Facebook MarketPlace is not where I’ll be turning to search for my dream home. Really!?! I’ll turn to a reputable source…like the agent, broker, or one of the major real estate portals.

Apparently, the best options…

Posting your listings as status updates on a Fan Page dedicated to your local market, where locals can choose to participate seems like the best choice to me! This strategy is non-invasive, opt-in, and informative. It can even be more friendly and creative since you can add your own take via text in the status bar along with a link to the listing…preferably one that takes you back to the agent/broker blog or site.  Check out the example from Heather Elias.

Now if you don’t host listings on your own domain, the next best option is creating a single property site or posting to Vflyer or Postlets. Once you’ve created a detailed packed site with all the trimmings (local info, pictures, video, etc) you can post the URL to your Fan Page Wall and include a brief message. Some services include an autopost to Facebook feature.

SeeMyListings from Realtor.com is a widget that can be added to your Facebook profile and displays your listings. To view more details you are derailed to a 3^rd party site, but it is a more reputable site (at least in the eyes of consumers) and also displays listings in a much more user friendly manner.  See the example I grabbed from Mariana Wagner’s profile on the left.

Now if you are looking for a more organic way to share listings inside Facebook, I would recommend using photo albums. You can create photo albums of active and sold listings. I have to say, The Rains Team, does a great job of sharing listings via photos on their fan page.  But don’t forget to include a few details about the home, and important contact info.  I also came across Lesley Lambert’s photo of a recent listing via Posterous inside Facebook. She emailed the photo from her phone which was posted to her Posterous site as well as her Posterous photo album inside Facebook.

Last but not least, if you like to have stuff that no one else has you can create a custom tab for your listings with FBML (Facebook Markup Language).  You could brand the landing page with links to your blog or listing sites.  Check out  the Los Gatos Real Estate & Homes Fan Page via Mary Pope Handy. She includes a great deal of area info, market reports and listings with links to her blog. But again, I worry that tabs get looked over. Nonetheless, I know where to look for Los Gatos housing info inside Facebook.

My opinions on all this…really!?!

Personally, if and when I’m ready to move again I wouldn’t go to Facebook to look for listings. I’d go to a resource that rocks…like the agent or broker Website or a national aggregator. I go to Facebook to make connections and build relationships….to chat and find out what’s new in the lives of my friends, family, colleagues and clients! Search listings, really!?!

But if you’re goal is to show everyone the listings you’re currently managing, then go ahead and share them at Facebook too. But consider posting them to a Fan Page dedicated to your market area with links back to you, your site, or your company…not third party sites. Third party sites, really!?!

Don’t fail at implementation! If you post photos about the listing on Facebook don’t forget critical contact info or brief details. No contact info, really!?!

So, what’s your opinion…

• Do you think listings should be posted inside Facebook?
• If so, what’s the best way?
• Where do you post listings ? Profile and/or fan page?

What are Twitter Lists?

Twitter Lists are nothing more than groupings of your tweeps based on categories you choose. For example: I have 3 lists thus far, (1) RE Rockstars, (2) Tech Influencers, and (3) Keepin’ It Real. Tweeps can exist in multiple lists, but at this point it looks like you are limited to creating 20 lists.

How to create your Twitter Lists:

(1)   When the feature is available to you, you will know! A happy blue bird will invite you to “create a new list” right on your home page.

(2)   To get started, select the “create a new list” button at the top of your profile. Or check out the right sidebar under Lists, and choose “New List”

(3)   You’ll be prompted to name your list and decide whether you want to make it public or private.

(4)   Once your list has been named, you can then add your chosen tweeps to any of your lists from the drop down on their profile.

How to manage your Twitter Lists:

(1)   If you like to be organized, consider making a list of possible lists prior to going hog wild.

(2)   Identify what is most helpful or relevant to your network. When it comes to real estate, you should “think local”. Lists of local businesses you recommend and/or local tweeps are a great way to connect your community.

(3)   Identify your hobbies and interests (i.e. travel, photography, dance, etc.) and consider making a list or 2 of those.

(4)   Identify topics and tweeps that help you be better at what you do or feed you with relevant content. You may want to create both public and/ privates lists for these categories.

(5)   You should know that once you have created a list, you can re-name.

(6)   Create 3 lists to start so that’s it’s easy to add tweeps in real-time and as you think of them!

Why Twitter Lists ROCK!

(1)   You can better focus on conversation with your target network/locals, similar to the way lists are used in the Facebook Live Feed.

(2)   Stay tuned in to those who influence your business practices or the real estate industry. Get to the good ideas and relevant content faster.

(3)   Connect with your friends and family by filtering them out for easy access!

(4)   If you make good lists, tweeps will share them and look to you as a resource.

Finding Twitter Lists that ROCK:

(1)   Visit your favorite tweeps and scan their lists.

(2)   Go to Listorious, a directory of lists by category where you can scan the most popular Twitter Lists.

(3)   Go to TweetMeme which aggregates the most tweeted Twitter lists.

(4)   Tlists lets you launch, curate and distribute twitter lists. <Coming Soon!>

Promoting your Twitter Lists:

(1)   Write a blog post containing links to your lists.

(2)   Create a badge on your blog that links to a favorite list.

(3)   Create a page on your blog dedicated to your lists.

(4)   Promote a list on your offline marketing.

Twitter Lists – Best Practices:

(1)   Don’t ask people to add you to their list. Unless they’re holding open additions! @Scobleizer did, but I didn’t beg him to be on a list…rather I asked him to be the judge! And I’m quite honored he found a place for me on his Tech Pundits List!

(2)   Don’t create lists that are inappropriate or mean spirited…you won’t make many friends that way!

(3)   Try not to take it personally if someone doesn’t add you to their list.

(4)   Stay focused on building relationships through conversation and offering helpful resources. The better reputation you create, the more influence you will have amongst your peers…and yes, the more lists you will find yourself on.

(5)   Thank those tweeps that add you to their lists. You can view the lists you’ve been added to easily, just look next to your follower count. Select “listed” and reply with a simple DM or perhaps public “thank you”…depending on your level of excitement!

MyTechOpinion

This feature is still in BETA and it will be interesting to see what happens once everyone has it. I have a feeling that being “listed” is going to be of great importance to some…but remember it’s not always about the numbers, it’s the quality of the list created and who’s doing the creating that really matter!

Windows 7 seems lighter, faster and cleaner. It has breathed new life into my aging computers.

First Impressions

Microsoft has done a good job of simply refining Vista. At first, I was disappointed that Windows 7 is so much like Vista. After upgrading 2 computers and working with the operating system, I am glad Microsoft didn’t start from scratch.

Compatibility

As an early adopter of Vista, I dealt with software and hardware compatibility issues. This was frustrating and costly as many programs and peripherals had to be replaced.

Fortunately, everything that worked on my Vista computers is compatible on Windows 7.

Learning Curve

The learning curve is not nearly as steep, as well. When adopting Vista, there was a noticeable decrease in productivity as I learned how to do things the “Vista way”.

After completing the installation of Windows 7, I jumped right in. Nothing slowing me down. Only new features to learn over time.

Installation

I have suffered through upgrading every version of Windows since Windows 3.11 in 1994. Never has a Windows upgrade been so simple.

Upgrading from Vista to Windows 7 is a breeze. Launch the disc, follow the prompts and you are up and running. The installation can be time consuming (4-5 hours for each of my computers), but the process is very straight forward and simple enough to complete.

If you are upgrading from XP and switching from 32-bit Vista to 64-bit Vista, the process is a bit more complex. You will need to wipe your hard drive clean and start from scratch. This is a very long process as you have to reinstall on programs and device drivers. This may be a task best suited for a professional.

Installation Tips

The installation is simple, but there are a few tips that will make for a smooth upgrade.

• Run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor to identify if any of programs or hardware isn’t Windows 7 compatible. Address any issues it uncovers.
• Back up your data twice in 2 different locations. The Vista to 7 upgrade shouldn’t cause data loss, but better-safe-than-sorry.
• Unplug all peripherals over than your keyboard and mouse. You can plug those webcams other USB devices after the installation is complete.
• Temporarily disable your anti-virus program.
• De-authorize your computer from within iTunes. You can authorize it again after installing Windows 7.
• During the initial installation procedure, another Windows 7 compatibility test will happen. This one is more detailed than the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. If any issues are listed, quit the installation process, address the issues and start the upgrade again. This usually means removing a program or two.

After the Installation

Once Windows 7 is installed, there are a few activities to perform to ensure that your computer is running at its best.

• Run Windows Update to get any patches or updated drivers.
• Check for hardware driver updates on the manufacturer’s website. Many Windows 7 drivers are already available. If Windows 7 specific drivers aren’t out, the most up-to-date Vista drivers should work.
• Check for software updates. Depending on the program, updates can be found either from within the program or on the manufacturer’s website.
• Go to Microsoft’s website to download free add-ons like the Windows Live Movie Maker or desktop themes.

Overall, Windows 7 is a huge improvement over Vista. Any real estate agent running Vista shouldn’t even hesitate to purchase an upgrade disc. This technology is that good.

Those still working on 2001’s Windows XP, now might be the right time to invest in a new computer.

Check back for a more in-depth look at the best new features of Windows 7 and how they will benefit your real estate business.