I’m sure you already have favorite websites you visit on a regular basis, so be sure to bookmark them in your browser, homepage, rss reader, twitter list, Google+ Sparks, etc. (Whatever format works best for you and can keep you organized.)

Alright, ready to learn more about resources that can help you easily create and share content on the Web, I thought so….

Don’t miss all 8 videos (and steps) for Developing a Content Marketing Plan!

[VIDEO] Developing a Content Marketing Plan: Step 1- Strategize

[VIDEO] Developing a Content Marketing Plan: Step 2 – Brainstorm

And if you’d rather get to the point than watch me dance in yet another video, read on.

So what’s my take on the “ROI in Social Media”?

First, let me remind us of the obvious. Social media channels like Facebook, Twitter and the lot, are little or no cost to you at all.

Yes, they take time and effort…but doesn’t EVERY good marketing strategy?!

And it’s true…time is money. And many will say that social media takes too much time. Well, not if you’re using it in an effective manner. In fact, social media can enhance what you’re already doing with your marketing by driving consumers back to you (your info, your expertise, your knowledge, your website).

In terms of measuring your efforts:

Start with goals and objectives, make a plan, block your time and give yourself tasks to complete, and use the RIGHT tools to measure what you do.

What do you measure:

It could be numbers (like followers, friends, & likes) but I’m not always a fan of numbers alone.  It could be the level of engagement taking place, and it can also be leads you receive via the various channels you’re participating in.

What can be difficult to measure:

New relationships being facilitated and maintained, and the level of trust being established with your targets.  And sometimes it’s difficult to know EXACTLY what you did to make the phone ring…or emails, tweets, and FB messages roll in…but they do…and they will.

What do I do:

I think about what I want to accomplish? Then, tie my goals and objectives to specific actions…and see what happens.

MyTechOpinion:

I’ll tell you this much…”you get what you give“. So, start giving…your expertise, your knowledge, your thoughts, and your insights.  Success won’t happen overnight…but I KNOW you’ll be surprised by what comes back to you. I am…EVERY single day!

Last week I started playing around with HootSuite’s new Custom Social Media Reporting module; and I was pleasantly surprised by it’s flexibility. The report builder includes over 30 individual report modules; allowing you pick the metrics you’re interested in tracking. Then once I had a finished product, sharing the report is a snap.

So what’s this going to cost me?

The HootSuite Pro Plan runs $5.99 a month and includes the ability to generate 1 custom report of your choice. (Note: the Ow.ly Click Summary Report is free). When you sign up, you’ll get the first 30-days free, and you can easily downgrade your account anytime during that period and you’ll never be changed. It’s worth noting that you’re credit for a report will not be used until you actually click “Create Report”. Also you can edit and modify your report at anytime, and that will not result in an additional cost. With the Pro account you’ll end up with 50 points redeemable in the reporting module.

Building your first HootSuite Social Media Report

From your HootSuite dashboard, click the “Analytics” link on the left-hand side of the screen. Now select “Custom Analytics” and you’ll see the options available to you. Notice the tab is divided into reports owned by you, reports shared with you, and reports still in draft mode.

By clicking the button titled “Create New Report” you’ll now have the option to choose from one of their prebuilt templates as a starting place. (Note: you can easily customize the report in a later step.) The HootSuite templates include: (1) Proposal Report, (2) Ow.ly Click Summery, (3) Google analytics, or even (4) Facebook Insights. For this example, I’ll use the start from scratch option.

As you begin to build your report, you’ll start by adding company logo and contact information. Next you’ll type a header description; something that describes the metrics to follow. Now you’ll start to add the modules you want to include. Each report module (except for Ow.ly) will use 5 points. Your Pro account will give you 50 points by default. If you need more points they can be purchased, but additional points are not as cheap as the first set.

Here are a few of the metrics we have available to us:

Email and Scheduling

Once the social media analytics report is set up, you can schedule daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly email updates. Having this information push out to you is extremely helpful, and will keep real estate partners up-to-date on all ongoing marketing efforts.

Don’t like your report, change it!

You can make tweaks to your report at anytime by removing modules; the points you spent will be immediately returned to be used on different modules. This could be helpful when you’re tracking the results of a unique marketing campaign or event.

MyTechOpinion

I really like the flexibility they’re introducing into their reporting module. Although I would like my initial 50 points (from the Pro Plan) to stretch a little further.. I didn’t like that the next jump up was to spend $50 dollars / month. I felt like the Google Analytics report was a waste of my credits, especially given the official Google Analytics reporting module will let me make an unlimited number of reports for free. That being said, I do like the ability to create my own custom report from scratch, and gather metrics from multiple social media platforms in one report.

If your actively using social media to market your real estate business, you should be measuring your results. HootSuite Pro is certainly worth checking out.  Besides, HootSuite has tons of other features and applications you should be aware of.

Make sure you let me know what you think of the new HootSuite Custom Reporting Module! Here are a few related resources:

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!

But let’s face it…not all of us are really THAT interesting? Or are we? Have you taken the time to really digest what makes YOU…YOU?! And are you sharing what makes YOU…YOU in the best possible way. I challenge you to take minute and examine your finer points. What are your interests? What are your strengths? What knowledge base do you possess, and could potentially share it in a more helpful way with your sphere!? Well, don’t tell me… make a list and have it handy!

Now let’s step back and also examine your life…your routine…your daily happenings. When you go about your day, are you “present” or aware enough of what’s happening around you to identify the “interest episodes”? And by “interest episodes” I mean those little things that naturally occur in your day that make you smile, laugh or reflect in some way.

For example, my son lost his first tooth last week! Now simply posting  “my son lost his first tooth” is fine, and I’m sure it may even illicit some reaction within your network. But who wants to be “fine”…fine is like someone sighing in agreement….a reaction barely worth mentioning.  If you really want to make the most of connecting and sharing with your network a “sigh” is not enough. So when an “interest episode” occurs, think about the story that led up to that experience.

Now what I didn’t tell you when I shared that “my son lost his first tooth” was that his younger sister “accidentally” kicked him in the mouth when they were “rough-housing” (aka: pillow fight). Now clearly this was an “interest episode” but instead of posting the obvious to Facebook or Twitter I add my own commentary, or story behind it! Here’s what I posted:

If Reggie were reading this he’d tell me to get to the point already.  So here it goes…whenever you share something via your blog, Facebook Page or Profile, Twitter, or elsewhere, give people a reason to invest in the content you create or post (whether it’s an article, a photo, a video, or your own daily interest episodes). Why IS the short sales article you shared a must read? What ABOUT your weekly office meeting is so helpful to your business? How did your son’s first tooth fall out? Give us the backstory, give us the juicy info, the WOW factor, the most important tip, and best of all…give us a reason to relate to YOU!

So next time you take a look at your handy list of “finer points” and head out to identify and post a RELEVANT resource…make it MORE relevant by adding to it. And when you stumble upon an “interest episode” refrain from giving us a “sigh” and tell us the story!

One more tip for you…

A very wise and highly creative woman (aka Sonia Simone) once said…”Don’t just be YOU, be the BEST possible YOU” which usually requires one to be both “useful and entertaining”.

If  you can’t be both useful and entertaining….then really, I mean REALLY ROCK one or the other. But if you CAN be both…you will be “REMARKABLE”! You will be someone, that frankly, we just can’t take our eyes off of.

MyTechOpinion (aka @Nik_Nik’s last word): Instead of “engaging authentically”….”engage strategically”! It’s really the same, only the latter implies more forethought and creativity.

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

So here they are baby….

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.

This one-day party, oops, I mean conference will be taking place in 12 cities. My boogie shoes are packed for: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas, Portland. And then your favorite Real Estate Zebra will be rocking: Denver, Houston, Chicago, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Washington DC.

So what goes down at an Agent Reboot you ask?

Well, as one of your hosts I can confirm that you’ll most likely learn something you probably didn’t know already. You’ll hear about the latest innovations in real estate from local brokers and speakers, as well as from many familiar industry rockstars! You’ll be invited to stop by, connect, and “tweetup” with attendees and speakers after the event. Oh, and checking out any of the top industry products and services in the EXPO may result in a handsome reward.

As for the logistics. Agent Reboot is a one day conference (9am-3pm) with a set program, but supplemented with local flavor…speakers, sessions, topics.  As host or emcee, I will be your guide for the day. We’ll laugh, learn, and ROCK together! We may even dance…because picking up a new move every now and then can’t hurt!

The official Agent Reboot kickoff  is July 12, in San Francisco. Both Daniel and I will be joined by a myriad of industry leaders and local brokers. This first Agent Reboot will be slightly different from the rest of the road show.  A modified program will take place from 9-12, with a break for lunch and then 3 partner programs in the afternoon. Attendees can choose from varying topics presented by ActiveRain, C.A.R., and Zillow. This is sure to be a power-packed day!

Why I wanna ROCK Agent Reboot!

I wanna ROCK Agent Reboot to meet you, engage with rockin’ speakers and local participants…and most importantly, bring you a program that motivates and inspires you to learn some “new moves” or perhaps add to your existing repertoire.

So now you know why I wanna ROCK Agent Reboot. But I want to know….why YOU wanna ROCK Agent Reboot. In fact, if you leave me a status update…or even a video update telling me “Why YOU want to ROCK Agent Reboot!”, on the Agent Reboot Facebook Page you’ll be automatically entered to win one of 5 free passes to Agent Reboot in San Francisco! You have from NOW until Thursday (7/1) at midnight PST to leave a Facebook update on the Agent Reboot wall. On Friday (7/2), I will post a video announcing the winners.

Good luck! And let it ROCK!

Yesterday I had the opportunity of being a guest on #RTB on the Radio. Many of you may be familiar with this crew, but if you’re not…you’re really missing out! Really! So jump in and join the conversation. Michael McClure, Todd Waller, and Maya Paveza are hitting the #RTB nail on the head with each and every guest on their show, as well as just by being their uber-professional selves out there in the RE.net. Lead by example folks, woohoo!

I told them this already, but I’ll put it in writing again…I could have spent all day chatting about life, liberty and the pursuit of professionalism. But we all have day jobs (some of us more than one) so we had to keep it to an hour. Anyway, as our conversation unfolded the topic of the noise and particularly signal to noise ratio was raised (thank you Marc Davison). Anyway, we had so much to talk about yesterday, that we didn’t have much time to dive into this issue. And lately…it’s all I can think about…so I thought I’d ring out a few of my own thoughts here.

The REAL Issue as I See It

Real estate professionals are being mis-advised. Broadcasting what you THINK may be relevant information again and again, without pre-screening the source and considering the context is a waste of your time. Sure you might get “a hit” or heck, even a lead. But it won’t work consistently and it won’t be successful over the long haul.

So, while some “experts” may be leading you down their automated paths or filling you up with hope of launching a comprehensive social media marketing plan in 5, 10 or 12 days….my advice is “think for yourself”. There are no quick fixes with social media, it takes work and it takes drive….just like with any successful marketing or business plan. Most importantly, it begins with content. The tools and strategies for sharing good content with your sphere can be learned. But, creating and sharing good content takes skill.

So, what’s next?

Identify, Recognize, & Organize

Identify your role in obtaining good, relevant content. Are you a content creator a content curator? Or perhaps you’re both.

A content creator is someone who identifies the “needs” within their audience and seeks to help by creating original and highly relevant content. This content is most often in the form of articles, videos, or a mixture of media shared usually via your own blog…as well as on social outposts.

A content curator is someone who sifts through the Web to find and deliver the most relevant content for their intended audience. Sort of a Hunter-Gatherer 2.0! I know many of you might be saying, “Yeah, yeah…I’ve been doing this for awhile!” And it’s true, we have! We share links to helpful media in our tweets, status updates and even within our blog posts.  But a thoughtful content curator is more than just a broadcaster of good info.  It’s someone who understands their brand and their audience well enough to identify the relevancy of the content, as well as the best context for sharing.

Recognize the sources that deliver consistently rockin’ content. You probably have your favorite news and resource sites that you visit on a regular basis. If not, you need to recognize both local and national sites that can assist your content delivery efforts.  And if you ROCK a niche, be sure to recognize those sites as well. If you’re not sure where to go to find sites based on relevancy…start at Regator and Alltop and search by category or keywords.

Organize your sources in a dashboard or reader format for easy access. Once you’ve recognized the sites that provide highly relevant content, organize them into a personalized news dashboard. Now I’m lucky because I have a “Reggie”…and “Reggies” are hard to come by. But my Reggie rocks at splicing and dicing feeds which can be displayed in my own personal resource dashboard. If you don’t have a Reggie, other DIY favorites for content organization include: Alltop, Regator, and Google Reader.

Your Challenge

Balance & Frequency

Balance the type of content you share. The content you share represents you, and your brand. So be sure to really check out what you share with your network. If you share an article, read it first. If you share a video, watch it first. Don’t let fancy titles rule your sharing. And don’t let poor tips and products be a reflection on your brand.  Your goal should be to find and share content that REALLY helps your audience…or is REALLY interesting.

Don’t ask me to give you a personal to professional ratio…but I will tell you this much…your consumers don’t gain anything from a constant stream of commentless Foursquare checkins…and the same could be said about listing tweets that are not framed in a social context.  If it doesn’t add value or create conversation….don’t share it! Local market trends and charts, interesting events, homeowner tips, niche resources….those add value! And yes, I know that my son changing his spelling test grade doesn’t add value, but it surely creates conversation.

Moderate your frequency level and improve your quality of life. For those of us that love our spouse, and enjoy spending time with our kids, family, and friends…..this is for you! I know I’m not the only one who feels that their attention has been diverted far too many times by the compelling feeling to tweet, post, snap, and share on a regular basis. The feeling is important…you need to be motivated to deliver consistency with social media. That being said, I’m far more concerned with delivering better quality content than quantity. And so should you if your strategy is to become your network’s trusted advisor.

And in order to do that, you need to listen, share, and respond. I see a lot of sharing out there….but far less listening and responding. Social media is about creating opportunities to engage with others.  So rather than auto-posting  20 articles a day….try scheduling 3-5 REALLY GOOD shares…and then focus on listening and responding, as well as interacting with others’ shared content.

Now I have much more to say on this topic…but I gotta run…I’m off to get a mani-pedi with my munchkin! But if you have any thoughts or ideas about content creation and curation, I’d love to hear them!

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!

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!

I’m accustomed to presenting in a why-to, how-to style, but it was still fun to hit the audience fast and furiously with 20 takeaways for their real estate business. You may not like all of the following tips, but I wouldn’t expect you to. This list represents a wide scope of online marketing ideas, so (1) you’ll need to consider your current marketing plan and (2) decide which of the following can assist you best with your business goals.  If you have a specific question about any of the tips, leave me a comment and I’d be happy to expand further!

BlogWorld officially kicks off October 15th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.  The first day of the 3 day program will provide some specific niche tracks…one of which is Real Estate BlogWorld. The agenda for REBlogWorld is packed with rockin’ speakers and sessions covering a variety of topics specifically geared towards the real estate industry (i.e. Social Media ROI, Hyperlocal Blog Content, Branding in the Social Age, etc).  Yours truly will be moderating an ALL-STAR panel including Jeff Turner, Ian Lurie, Todd Carpenter…and rumor has it, David Armano! My fellow MTO rockstars, Reggie Nicolay and Chad Johnson, will be presenting their idea of the “One Site”, the real estate blog of the future that can be achieved today! To obtain all the details for the day, register and view special hotel rates, visit REBlogWorld.com.

Now just when you think all the fun is over, another 2 days of social media bliss will ensue! The BlogWorld & New Media Expo was my favorite event last year! I was able to get up close and personal with many of my blog idols: Darren Rowse aka “Problogger”, Laura Fitton, Lee Odden, and Chris Brogan. It was like a Disneyland for bloggers! And I would say that the learning, laughing, and conversing I experienced was even more fun than Space Mountain!

So I’m extremely excited to not only attend this year, but also have the opportunity to speak alongside some of social media’s finest! If you plan to go to BlogWorld, you will not want to miss, “How Twits Lay Golden Eggs – The Art of Social Engagement for Business”, on Saturday October 17th, 4:15-5:15 pm in Room 221.  The panel includes microsharing maven – Laura Fitton, the nicest social media pirate you’ll ever meet – Chris Brogan,  real-time innovator – Nick Halstead…and me (clearly the underdog who begged, borrowed, and danced her way into speaking at BlogWorld).  At any rate, I’m in and would appreciate any support. My promise to you: a fun, playful learning experience with highly useful takeaways!

If you’re lucky enough to be headed to BlogWorld, here are a few pre-trip tips for you:

• Follow @blogworld and @reblogworld on Twitter
• Check out and RSVP for both events on Facebook (REBlogWorld, BlogWorld & New Media Expo)
• Plan your schedule now. Don’t forget to RSVP for Branding in the Social Age, Integrating Everything Into the One Site,  and How Twits Lay Golden Eggs: The Art of Social Engagement for Business
• Read Reggie’s post: 10 Ways to Make Deeper Connection at Your Next Conference

So, “shut up and put your money where your mouth is” and “shake the glitter” with me at BlogWorld in Vegas, baby!

Tweetups also give small business owners a chance to reach out to consumers (in a non-spammy way) and gain more exposure. Some local businesses will even take it a step further by sponsoring or hosting a tweetup. For real estate professionals who understand the current marketing and communication shift taking place, tweetups offer a unique way to engage with likeminded locals and grow your network. But there are many more reasons to tweetup, here are my top 10:

10 Reasons to Tweetup

(1) It’s fun!

(2) Gets you off the computer and facilitates meeting your online friends in person! Face to face!

(3) Connect with other likeminded tech folks and make new friends with similar interests.

(4) Connect with local business leaders which can lead to more referrals or cooperative business endeavors.

(5) Learn more about your local community – local needs, new businesses, upcoming events, etc.

(6) Support a local charity or fundraiser. Rally supporters, organize donations, or host an event.

(7) Promote your business authentically via networking. Your business will undoubtedly gain more exposure from word of mouth and via the media (photos, videos, etc) being shared from tweetups.

(8) Share your love of Twitter with others who know EXACTLY what you are talking about – favorite apps, cool tools, new tweeps, etc.

(9) Swap twitter business strategies, as well as other social media tools and tips. Share what has worked for your business, talk best practices, and ask questions.

(10) Reconnect after the tweetup on Twitter, support local endeavors, pay it forward with RTs, and foster your new friendships.

If you haven’t been to one, or wish to start a regular tweetup group in your local area, check out these 10 tips for success!

10 Tips for Continued Tweetup Success:

(1) Create a Facebook Page for an online hub, inviting others, and fostering community.  Invite several admins to participate by sharing helpful links, creating future events, and regular communication.

(2) Identify media makers! There will always be that one guy or gal who loves taking pictures and/or video. Dub him or her as your media mascot and invite anyone who enjoys sharing media to take a lot of photos and video at the tweetups. And be sure to post to Flickr and Facebook, tag tweetup members and promote commenting!

(3) Center the evening around an optional activity or fun contest! This will help kickstart conversation. Draw upon your local attractions, restaurants, activities. (ex: bocce ball, star gazing, wine tasting)

(4) Name tags!  Okay, it may seem dorky, but how else will you remember the names (and usernames) of your new Tweeps! Check out these super cute “Tweetstickers“! An alternative option would be to create a fun sign-in sheet or board.  The usernames can be made into a list and then shared via Facebook, email or your own tweetup blog.

(5) Invite speakers or “sharers” meaning someone shares a helpful twitter tool, social media strategy, OR provides a fun demonstration. Could even be a local restaurant sharing a favorite recipe, a nurse sharing flu-shot clinic hours, or real estate pro giving some helpful advice or tips. But remember to keep it short & tweet! Tweeps are there to connect and converse, not to sit and watch a speaker all night.

(6) Create an official local tweetup blog (invite several tweeps to contribute), OR  lifestream local member tweets.

(7) Create an event page, either as a Facebook Event, Twtvite, or a page off your tweetup blog. Be sure to share with your local network, invite newbies, and connect with new tweeps ahead of time!

(8) Get a local business(es) to host the tweetups. A local restaurant owner who uses Twitter or has the benefits explained to him/her will usually offer up their location for regular use (especially if your tweetups take place during the week). Our local Tri-Valley Tweetup Club has invited several businesses to take part to help provide exposure to a variety of locals in our community. I happen to live in an area with over 40 local wineries who are happy to participate. For example, our October 8th Tri-Valley Tweetup is being hosted by Wente Vineyards. In fact, they are so excited to host us that they are pouring our first glass of wine for free and setting up a star-gazing center for attendees!

(9) Involve local businesses as sponsors (prizes for contests, host activities, freebies). Again we reached out to our community and our friends at Diablo Magazine bring free mags to our tweetups, our Tri-Valley Visitors Bureau brings local treats and wines for prizes when we have contests/activities, and other local business owners, like Swank Mommy provide special giveaways from time to time!

(10) Everybody loves a T-shirt! And they can help promote your local tweetup club! Even better when you add fun phrases like “wearing my twitter shirt” or “show me your tweets”!

Now these are my tips and suggestions. You could really go in a lot of different directions here. There is no one true formula for tweetups. I have attended tweetups that were organized specifically for real estate professionals, or in conjunction with a local conference. In fact, I’ve attended a tweetup that was itself a unique learning event hosted by a speaker. However, in my experience I’ve really enjoy my local tweetup group, because I get the chance to connect with people who live, work and play in the same community. The tweeps I’ve met have shared their reviews of fun events and activities, suggested new local resources which I have benefited from, and most of all….I’ve made many new local friends! Oh, and did I mention…it’s fun!

With that said, my Twitter for Real Estate Twits ebook is back! I’ve updated the first version (released March, 09) to include new tools, new tips, a new tweet plan, and even success stories from real agents using Twitter for business.  In “MyTechOpinion”, Twitter for Real Estate Twits v. 2, is one rockin’ guide that clearly explains how to not only get started with Twitter, but also learn key strategies for becoming your network’s trusted advisor. But don’t just take my word for it, check out what these real estate pros have to say…

To download your free copy of “Twitter for Real Estate Twits v.2″, click here! And please drop me a tweet if you want to let me know what you think about the ebook, have any questions or just want to “get your tweet on!”

1. Update your business cards with your social profiles
2. Sponsor a local event or fundraiser
3. Create swag- t-shirts, pens, etc. & give them away to clients and friends
4. Attend and/or host local meetups & tweetups
5. Get a vanity plate for your car
6. Focus on word of mouth wherever you go (grocery store, hair salon, etc.) & carry those business cards
7. Create or sponsor a local business or resource guide
8. Mail hand written client appreciation & thank you cards
9. Create a neighborhood newsletter/ “weekender” (mail or walk it)
10. Direct mailers with comps & social profile callouts (offer a coupon/deal)
Email Marketing
11. Create a drip email campaign, focusing on your niche (offer tips & advice)
12. Send a weekly or monthly email newsletter
13. Send flash animated birthday, holiday, special occasion cards (check out ZingDing)
14. Work with local businesses to co-brand an email offer (send to both your contact lists)
15. Invite sphere to a local event or Free online Webinar for homeowners (based on your niche expertise)
16. What’s happening this weekend? Special weekender tips for your local area (include a coupon for local business attraction)
17. Rate updates and info (work with a local lender)
18. Seasonal homeowner reminders & safety tips (storm drains, garden tips, etc.)
19. Invitation to your social profiles or exclusive Facebook Group (based on local interest)
20. Survey or poll your clients and share results with further relevant info
Blog/Website
21. Create an ebook, require name & email address for free download
22. Video/podcast blog series on a specific topic/niche
23. Offer client Q & A via a contact form, highlight in sidebar
24. Offer a free IDX search tool
25. Add Facebook Connect to your blog
26. Host a contest with prizes from local businesses
27. Comment back timely and create dialogue within posts
28. Post articles about others on your blog (local businesses, interesting people, neighborhoods, etc.)
29. Create a local special interest landing page (i.e. wineries, schools, non-profit, etc.)
30. Feature your listings, use a single property Website solution like MyMarketWare that syndicates your listings to several reputable listing aggregators
Facebook
31. Create a profile and import your contacts
32. Send daily birthday wishes
33. Comment or Like 3-5 posts from the Newsfeed daily
34. Update your status with fun and value once a day
35. Create a Facebook Page for your business
36. Post helpful and relevant resources from your FB Page
37. Leave comments on local business pages or groups (NO SPAM, or self interest linkbacks)
38. Comment on others’ status updates
39. Create a past client photo album with testimonials (tag clients that are on Facebook & post on your business page)Marketing Advertising Blog — VuManhThang.Com
40. Create Animoto slideshows or a photo album for listings (post on your business page)
Twitter
41. Create a Twitter profile, use Twitterlocal.net to connect with locals
42. Use the “Find People” feature to find people you already know on Twitter
43. Tweet homeowner tips (easy repairs, projects, upgrades)
44. Tweet funny, interesting, inspiring, engaging experiences and info
45. Tweet local market info, updates
46. List yourself on Twitter directories: NearbyTweets, WeFollow, etc.
47. Break news as it happens
48. Tweet local event information
49. Tweet your blog posts
50. Tweet your professional expertise & activities (niche advice, relevant tips, open houses, new listings, broker’s tour, thoughts & experiences)

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.

Thanks to Twitter, we can learn that our friends are wine tasting in the Napa Valley the moment the wine touches their lips! Thanks to Flickr, we can see the wine as it’s being poured , favorite bottles being purchased, or the lunch accompanying the tasting. Thanks to Facebook, you can instantly connect with new friends who have joined existing friends on their wine tasting adventure. And you can do all this from the comfort of your own home using social media tools.

The social media tools that create ambient awareness are also creating an opportunity for you as a business professional. By better understanding what your network is doing, feeling, making, and essentially how they are living and interacting with others….you can better assess their needs, wants, and desires. So as a real estate professional, the more you listen, the easier it will be for you to anticipate needs and predict what your network requires from you.  And if you become your network’s trusted advisor by providing helpful resources and relevant information, you can build more relationships that may translate into business….improving your bottom line.

However, social media is not about transactions…it’s about interactions.  Every connection you build through community interaction affects your social capital in one way or another.  Your social capital is similar to the concept of karma. Basically, you get what you give. Participating in communities is a lot like balancing your checkbook. When you share resources with your network that others benefit from, help others promote their endeavors, solve collective issues, and befriend others authentically….you create positive social capital, or a deposit in your favor. If you are only interested in what you do, promote only yourself, and ask for favors from others without giving back, you negatively affect your social capital. Selfish community interactions translate into withdrawals.

In order to build and maintain positive social capital you must carefully balance your social interactions with give and take. To do this, you can start by listening in the communities you participate. Learn about others as they cross you path. If you notice someone asking a question relevant to your expertise, by all means, answer and create dialogue. When someone friends or follows you, take time to view their profile and respond with a brief welcoming message. Regularly share helpful resources, but also promote others’ resources by commenting or giving them a “like” on Facebook, retweeting them on Twitter, and/or linking back to them via your own blog. You can take this concept further by cultivating your own authenticity. Take what you know, and pay it forward. For an example, I love to dance so I create dance gram videos when I have a little extra time. Sometimes I do this for people I know, but I also make a point to create dance grams for those I want to get to know. I don’t make money from creating dance grams, but I build new relationships one wacky interaction at a time.

MyTechOpinion

This may all seem overwhelming and irrelevant to your business marketing plan, but the same could be said for forking out a wad of hard earned cash to send thousands of mailers in hopes that business will come knocking. Instead, take it slow and steady, foster the connections you create within online communities one interaction at a time. Listen and connect with people as the person you are, with the expertise you know….and you will experience the real “pay off” that social media offers: a large prospering network of people that trust you as their advisor and turn to you when the time is right to make one of the biggest decisions they will ever make, buying or selling their home.

RETEchSouth is taking place Friday, March 20^th in Atlanta. Well, at the Gimmet Center to be exact. Now the really exciting part is that a pair of highly skilled real estate professionals (Brad Nix & Matt Fagioli) is responsible for organizing this 2^nd annual event. And they’ve invited a myriad of real estate innovators and influencers to present, share and teach.

The format for the day includes main stage presentations, smaller breakout sessions, and tech stations where you can get answers to all your burning tech questions via hands-on training. Topics include: Flickr, Real Estate Blogs, Video in Real Estate, New Media Tips & Tactics, the Future of Real Estate Search and more! I will be there with my partner in crime @cyberhomes to share social media strategies for generating business….particularly with Twitter and Facebook.

If you’re planning rock RETechSouth, I look forward to connecting with you! If not, you’ll be missed….but you don’t have to miss out on asking me (or Matt “Fastman” Fagioli) your BIGGEST question about using social media to generate real estate business. That’s because Justin Zimmerman, host of Good Morning Real Estate, will be holding a FREE 50 minute teleseminar this Thursday, February 26^th, at 8pm EST. You can register for FREE here.

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.

TOOLS: One confusing aspect of Twitter is the noise factor! It’s true…there are plenty of uninspiring tweets. But maybe that’s because you’re not following the right twits.  When it comes to real estate, you often target market to a specific demographic. So if you’re investing time in building relationships online, consider taking more time to check out your twits before you follow. Before following, take a little time to glance at their profile, visit their Website, read their short bio or scan their recent updates. This gives you a better vision of WHO’s tweeting with you.

Once you gain a following…don’t be afraid to rely on a desktop app to better organize your community! Tweetdeck can easily assist in the categorization of your twits. And Peoplebrowsr is like Tweetdeck on steroids with a variety of group features for better targeting those with similar interests.

ACTIVE LISTENING: It might sound like a request from a first grade teacher…and you’re absolutely right! Active listening means you’re listening with your whole self….your eyes, your ears, your heart, your mind…no distractions! And, making mental notes along the way! By becoming a better listener you become a better communicator…making you more productive.  And if you learn to master your own communication skills, the easier it will be to leave lasting impressions on those you meet both online and offline.  And we all know how misunderstandings can occur from not being able to read someone correctly…especially with email or SMS.

So, you need to listen a lot! I do. In fact I’m lurking in the background and you don’t even know it. I’m taking it all in and thinking about how I can add to what’s being said or shared. I do this to gather details about those I’d like to connect with….so that connecting and communicating become more seamless than stuffy! Not to mention all the fun you’ll have learning about others!

TWEET IT FORWARD “TIF”: Active listening will afford you with the best option for building your network authentically….and that’s “tweeting it forward”.  When you listen to your followers you gain details (ladies…you know what I’m saying). Details give you insight into what your new friends like, dislike, need to know, want to learn, etc. So pick a time each day, to scan your followers tweets via Twitter itself or Tweetdeck categories. Better yet, use Twittersearch to find recent tweets related to your local area or interests. Once you’ve identified a couple of meaningful tweets…it’s time to access your resources (business and/or personal) and help!

Let me be crystal clear for a moment: the goal here is to share and add to the tweets you find meaningful. This is not thanking your retweeters. I’m specifically referring to helping those who haven’t helped you yet. For example, tweet about someone’s cause that you can also stand behind and help to spread the word. Answer twits with local questions that you can offer real advice for. If someone is looking for a specific resource for their business or is confused by something and needs a tip…be the one to kickstart their success or unscramble their confusion.  Even making a random Blip.fm dedication to a twit that’s having an off day can create viral happiness!

The more you surprise others with your helpfulness….the more lasting impressions you make. It’s that simple. And if you’re not sure…just ask yourself, “What would Chris Brogan do?”