Real Estate Blog

I was inspired to write this post after the several public whippings I have received in support of Twitter. I think it’s obvious that either “you do” or “you don’t” Twitter.  And that’s fine. Nobody is saying (especially me) that if you don’t Twitter you will never reach Zen 2.0, or your real estate client database will double overnight. I think I just appreciate the utility of Twitter (among other things) and I’m happy to share what I’ve learned and discovered thus far. So if you love it already like Hitler, or you’ve found yourself on a bandwagon to Twitterville, this post is for you.

Quickly, (I’ll try) let me fill you in on why Twitter has become my connection companion. First, I find myself behind a computer most days and it’s nice to know that others out there sharing the same interests (or not) want to share themselves with me.  And not only share their transparent moments, but also extremely helpful tips, resources, and information….that positively impact my own professional development and business.  Twitter has even assisted me with customer service 2.0. (Thanks @Midphase)

Out of the office, Twitter Mobile -Style is where it’s at! I can send pictures of whacky things, great ideas, or inspirational thoughts with any of the numerous Twitter apps available. Moreover, I can check in with the people that mean the most to me. I can find out where my peeps are at for a meetup or connect with conference goers on a deeper level. BTW-If you’re already using Twitter, I’m sure you have 101 reasons why you already love it (so leave me a comment). This lightening speed overview is mostly for newbies wondering what the hype is all about.  

So if you’re on the fence or not. Check out the following widely used and loved Twitter applications that I either use myself or have been clued into by other Twitter users.  Twitter does not require outside apps to gain appreciation or like, they just make the experience more lovable! FYI-I do NOT recommend downloading and trying to use every app mentioned below, but rather encourage you to peruse for yourself and pick a few to try out. Now if you are in good company with other Twitter users, I’m sure they will point you in the direction they favor most!

10 Twitter Tools:

1. Twitter Search (aka Summize): Filter your tweets by searching keywords, phrases, twits, trends and more. (ex: real estate professionals, bloggers, industry experts, special interests, key niche phrases, etc)
2. TwitterLocal Search for twits in your local area. (ex: Find and follow all the twits in your neck of the woods… reach out with tips and transparency. )
3. Twitter Counter : Find out who the most popular twits are. Who knows, you may identify a few great resources for following and gaining great info.
4. TweetScan: Get tweets mailed to you that include your selected keywords or phrases. (ex: If you set the keywords for your niche real estate market and neighborhoods you can find twits that may be planning a move soon…or at least talking about your area.)
5. Twitter Atlas: A mashup of Twitter and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth. See also Twittervision. Just a really cool visual interface for identifying where twits are.
6. Remember the Milk: Kind of like Jott, but Twitter style. RTM is your personal reminder service. Ask RTM to remind you to pick up dry cleaning, order inspections, or grab milk at the store.
7. TwittyTunes: Tweet the songs are you are currently playing with one click. Send inspirational songs, bday greetings, or just share cool tunes.
8. Twitpic : Share your photos on Twitter. It’s as simple as that! See also Mobypicture: Post pictures with one click to Twitter, Flickr, Tumblr, Wordlpress, etc. (video & audio coming soon)
9. Twitterfeed : Submit your blog feed and your latest posts are auto-twittered.
10. Ping.fm : Relays messages to a variety of social networking sites from AIM, Gtalk, iGoogle, WAP, iPhone, iPod Touch, SMS, or email.

To get the conversations starting, here are 10 really cool RE twits that crack me up or assist me in my goal of being a lifelong learner (don’t hate, just follow): 

1. @BNIX
2. @DOVERBEY
3. @INES
4. @LANIAR
5. @MADMARTIN
6. @MIKEMUELLER
7. @POPPYZOOMF
8. @RAILLIFE
9. @RESPRES
10. @TBOARD

TWITTER DISCLAIMER: Twitter can spend your time like nobody’s business. So manage accordingly. Also, in the beginning you may feel compelled to add everyone who adds you.  I did. But now I recognize the people I find interesting, helpful, hilarious or meaningful. Everyone else is getting “unfollowed”. Sorry, I can only stand so much noise.  

BTW-Check out this new Twitter Commercial…you may see a familiar face…and hands?

Other posts you may enjoy:

• 22 Reasons to Use Twitter for Business and Pleasure
• SpotIt brings Community Interaction to your Real Estate Website
• Save Money On Your Technology Purchases
• Real Estate Bloggers Connect in San Francisco
• On Your Mark, Get Set, Go to SellsiusRealEstate.com!

See more here:
A Twitter Resource for Real Estate Twits

As you know NikNik, Chad and I have a strong love for real estate technology.  Recently we crossed paths with Alan Hainge, President of Cyberstars. Alan will occasionally contribute his thoughts on marketing, technology and its application in the real estate industry. Please Welcome Allen as a guest contributor to MyTechOpinion. [Read full bio here.] 

What an opportunity!  90% of the agent population still relies on traditional marketing methods: classified ads, same-ol-same-ol real estate magazine ads, recipe cards, open houses, floor duty, etc.  Folks like you, as evidenced by your reading MyTechOpinion.com, realize that you can market much more effectively and reach far more prospects for less money by using methods that meet the needs of today’s consumer.

How do I know?  I teach tech seminars to the real estate industry, both my own seminars and as a Senior Instructor for the Council of Residential Specialists (CRS).  Across the country, I see that the majority of agents are well-grounded in traditional marketing but that a small percentage are using Web marketing to build their businesses.

Fortunately, there are exceptions.  Many of them can be found among my CyberStars^TM, a group of 200 agents from the US, Canada, the Bahamas and Australia.  We are a networking group of top agents who use today’s technology to meet the needs of today’s consumer.  You will hear about them and see examples of how they use today’s technology to capture their markets in future posts, but I will mention one here.

James Nellis of RE/MAX Allegiance, Burke, VA, has always taken the lead in marketing with today’s technology.  He shared one of his latest finds with us recently: Issuu.com.  This dynamic site lets you save documents such as PowerPoint presentations to pdf format and then upload them to Issuu.com, where they display as stunning presentations in book, magazine, journal, newspaper or photo album formats.  

You can see James’s listing presentation on Issuu here or one of his beautiful property brochures here.

Note one more thing: James has his listing presentation on Issuu (and also on YouTube).  More about why he (and other CyberStars^TM) does that and how it works in my next post.

For now, congratulations on being in the 10%….those agents who realize that you need to know how to use today’s technology to meet the needs of today’s consumer!

Other posts you may enjoy:

• No related posts.

Originally posted here:

I may have been tired with kids whining in the background…but I didn’t let that stop me from quickly shooting this Contest Update with Reggie’s help. So whatever obstacle is standing in the way of your video blog entry, I don’t care! No excuses, send us your link already…I’m waiting!

View contest submissions here!

Other posts you may enjoy:

• Kick Off To MTO Vlogging Contest!
• Zipform Desktop Is Now Vista Compatible
• Zipform (Winforms) Is Fully Windows Vista and Apple Compatible
• Zip Code Facts for Your Real Estate Business
• Zillow Adds “For Sale” Listings

Here is the original post:
Real Estate Vlogging Contest Update

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:”";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

I love free technology, especially when it increases my productivity. That’s why I was so excited about the release of Adobe’s Acobat.com beta.  This new online application suite is not what you would think looking at the name. It’s not just an online version of their already popular Acrobat. This site is packed full of features ranging from free online meeting software to document storage and delivery.

Free Online Meetings, what’s the catch?

The only catch is that you need 3 or fewer attendees. If you do, your meeting is free!  The service is called Adobe ConnectNow. This online meeting and collaboration solution is both attractive and powerful.  ConnectNow boasts features like video conferencing, teleconferencing, chat, whiteboard, screen sharing, and unique meeting URL.

Setting up a meeting is a snap. To invite attendees give out your personal meeting URL. (Choose your custom URL based on availability.) Or send an invite from within your ConnectNow account.  Invitees will be asked to join as guest or create an account. If they choose “Guest” they insert name and they are in.  If you need to setup a corresponding phone conference, click on the phone icon from within your ConnectNow window. That will display the phone number, Host ID, and Participant ID needed. From this point you can share your screen, and begin your presentation.

Once you’re underway, bring up the Whiteboard to add annotations to the screen.  For example if you’re talking with a new out of town buyer, you can easily bring up a Google map of the area. With the annotation turned on you could draw a particular part of the neighborhood so that you buyer would clearly see the neighborhood focus area.  Then simply save the drawings as PNG file to share. You may even take it a step further by clicking “Start My Camera” and suddenly your webcam will stream video of you talking to your attendees.

ConnectNow also includes a remote control feature. This tool is designed to hand over control (when you approve) of your PC to one of the other users you’ve invited. This can be great in a meeting with multiple contributors. But it can also be a powerful technical support tool.  Simply invite your smartest friend or colleague into the meeting and then give them control of your computer.  Then they can operate your computer while you watch.

FYI: Over 3 attendees try: Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro.

Sharing with 5 GB of Free File Storage

Adobe Share is another powerful application in this free suite for real estate agents. To start, the “My Files” application creates a mobile repository for all your documents…up to 5GB. Simply upload what you think you’ll need and then you can recall it from any computer with Internet access.  All posted materials can be private, shared or even limited access. This would be great for you mobile real estate agents that need access to the same document time and again.  Document can be shared from “My Files” easily. The first option would be by email. Supply the email addresses and corresponding message. Then the recipients will receive a message with a link to the file(s).

If you would like to feature one of your files on a Website or blog there is also an option for you. That’s the embeddable document viewer. To get the viewer you’ll copy the provided embed code and place it on your site where needed.

If you want to start hosting free meetings like me, visit Acrobat.com and create your free account today.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• Yugma Online Meetings for Real Estate Agents
• Want Free Online Meetings For A Year? Then Read This!
• Online Meeting Solutions for Real Estate Agents

More:
How I Stopped Paying For Online Meetings!

It may go with saying that I’m one of those individuals who waited outside AT&T for my new iPhone. But this was not just a simple switch from one technology to another.  My Blackberry has been a godsend over the years. I truly loved the mobile device. Email and calendar couldn’t have been easier. The device had always been stable.  But what was it that made me want to switch? Before I answer that, let me back peddle a bit!

Luckily NikNik got the iPhone at the same time!

Luckily for me, NikNik and I got our phones at the same time.  Although mine had terrible reception from the start.  But the issue was strange; I would go from 5 bars to no service very quickly.  When I compared it with NikNik’s, the difference was night and day. Her iPhone had great reception.  I immediately went to AT&T to let them know that I had a defective phone. However the salesman at the counter told me it was a bad SIM card. So he added a new SIM card and sent me off on my way. Within 5 minutes I knew my iPhone was not fixed. I still had “NO SERVICE!”  So now I’m back at AT&T for the 3^rd time in as many days so we could take a closer look at my iPhone reception problems. This time the sales associate tells me that I will need to purchase another iPhone and I can get reimbursed when it arrives. They’ll simply swap devices. But because of the current demand it may take 21 days. This got me a little annoyed, so I asked the sales guy to do something for me since I was without a reasonable working phone.   He replied that I could buy another phone and return it when the iPhone arrived. (Great…let me buy 3 phones so 1 can have one working?! ) I didn’t like this suggestion much. I decided instead to get through the next few weeks without a properly working phone. It was challenging, to say the least. Many calls went to voicemail. But that all changed late last week when my new iPhone arrived; now I’m happy to say the iPhone works perfectly. I now have great reception.

Although with my phone working, my immediate thoughts went out to other consumers who may have a similarly defective phone and not even know it. If I could not have compared my phone with Nik’s I would have thought the iPhone reception was weak in general!  But that’s not the case, once working the iPhone has been an amazing and innovative change in mobile smartphone technology.  Which brings me to my last thought, is it right for you?

Do I recommend iPhone or Blackberry technology for real estate agents?

This is a tough question because of so many different personality types out there.  To start if you are a teckie real estate agent there is probably no stopping you…as a matter of fact you probably already own the smartphone. Although if you are looking for stability and time tested solution the blackberry is still a great vehicle for you. You may want to wait a few more months for demand to die out and then you can easily move into the device. And if the unfortunate should happen like you purchase a defective phone at least you will not being waiting 21 days for a new one to be shipped to you.

 Things I love about the iPhone:

1. It’s beautiful
2. Huge screen w/ accelerometer
3. Real Internet with 3G (where available…seriously)
4. Push email with Microsoft Exchange support (crucial)
5. Convergence of multiple devices (laptop, camera, iPod, phone)
6. Multi-Touch….LOVE THIS!
7. Wi-Fi
8. The app store
9. Perfect convergence between work life and personal 

Things I loved about my Blackberry Curve:

1. Keyboard
2. Durable case
3. Camera w/Flash
4. Light-weight
5. Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES)

Below is a basic matrix for comparison between the iPhone and the Curve.
(Note soon Blackberry will release their BOLD which would be a better comparison.)

¹ T-Mobile Curve 8320, AT&T Curve 8310, Sprint Curve 8330, Verizon Curve 8330.

² T-Mobile Curve 8320 offers IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 while the AT&T Curve 8310, Verizon Curve 8330 and Sprint Curve 8330 offer only Bluetooth 2.0. 

³ Curve 8310 offers GPS receiver.  The T-Mobile Curve 8320, Verizon Curve 8330 and Sprint Curve 8330 do not offer GPS.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• Jott for Blackberry - The Secret To Speaking Your Emails
• Real Estate Agents with Verizon: It’s Time to Upgrade
• Mobile Agent Tip: Sync Microsoft Outlook Calendar with Google Calendar
• The New Blackberry 8800: Not Just For Work
• Real Estate Agents Catch the Curve

See the rest here:

Okay, so you may have noticed we have taken a fancy to podcasting here over the last few months.  It’s been a great exploration of social media….learning how to best create and share our podcasts.  I could also compare my experience to that of a horror flick, as recording and listening to my own voice pretty much scares everyone out of the office. I started out as a perfectionist, trying to bleep out and edit all my verbal mistakes. Poor Reggie would listen from a far as a barrage of four letter words would radiate from my mouth with each tongue twister I encountered. I quickly learned to “get over” the mishaps and just let the words flow. Besides, everyone makes mistakes and it’s just more natural and easier to listen to.

So, now that I’ve been podcasting for awhile, the next scary medium that requires my attention….is video. Duh! I’ve been afraid to touch vlogging in the past for many of the same reasons that others have been avoiding the camera:  (1) it takes too much time, (2) not sure about the right equipment, (3) what content is best to share, and (4) I will look and sound like a jackass…or to quote one of my favorite comedic geniuses, Adam Sandler, “They’re all gonna laugh at you!”

I finally have the perfect retort:

(1) TIME REBUTTAL: Make a commitment to once a week. Pick a spot and shoot. It can actually take a lot less time than writing a post…if you know what you’re talking about.

(2) EQUIPMENT REBUTTAL: The Flip…it’s $149 and has one red button for start and stop and plugs directly into your computer via USB drive. Video opens in a super easy format with immediate email and upload options. Oh, and no rendering time!

(3) CONTENT REBUTTALL: What makes you and your niche unique? If you are asking questions or talking about a specific topic, idea, thing, or place…chances are someone else is. So address those topics. If you’re clients have regular inquiries about your market, create a short video that can be viewed time and again. And just remember….any content that you had planned to write about can be shared via video.

(4) JACKASS REBUTTAL: Who cares?! I do, and you should too. You may not be the next Meredith or Matt from the Today Show. But you should make a concerted effort to look like your audience. If your audience is rockstars…put on your leather pants! If your audience is business professionals, put on a suit! If your audience is comprised of neighbors in your niche, then look like you do when you meet them in public. Your branding yourself, so don’t make yourself up into something different that your normal everyday! We want to recognize you!

We’re so excited about video that Reggie, Chad and I would like to announce our, “Kick Off To MTO Vlogging Contest”!

Your Task: Create a video that answers the following question: What technology product or service has made the biggest impact on your business? And why? (EX: blog, social network, mobile device, transaction management, lead generation tool, etc.) Upload your video to YouTube and send us the link. We will be featuring all entries on MTO. Be sure to get your video in by midnight August 31, 2008. Your video will be judged by us, as well as three celebrity guest judges. The winner will receive:

(1) A Flip Ultra valued at $149.
(2) Become a Featured Video on MTO Homepage for 6 months
(3) Score Custom Video Blog Integration (offered by Chad from DravenCreation Web Design)

THE RULES:

• You must be a real estate or mortgage professional.
• Answer the question in 5 minutes or LESS.
• Be creative
• Be professional
• Be yourself
• Prove your point!
• Submit your video to YouTube and send us the link by midnight August 31, 2008.

We’re looking to get cozy with you, so MTO now supports video comments.  Video is not a one way street, it’s an information super highway with shortcuts, road blocks, and occasional potty break….so please, don’t make me do all the talking. Jump in and go for a ride with me! 

Other posts you may enjoy:

• YouTube for Real Estate Marketing
• Why Ubertor For Your Next Real Estate Website?
• Using Video in Your Real Estate Business
• Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Your Real Estate Technology
• Real Estate Bloggers Participate In Blog Action Day

Go here to read the rest:
Kick Off To MTO Vlogging Contest!

It made me feel so naughty. It is so ingrained in me to not touch an LCD screen for fear of marring the surface that using the new HP Touchsmart PC made me feel like I was breaking the rules. That feeling subsided quickly.

The HP Touchsmart PC is the latest all-in-one computer system to hit the market. Much like the Apple iMac, Dell XPS One and Gateway One, the HP Touchsmart PC incorporates the entire computer into the monitor housing. No need for a separate CPU cluttering your desk or floor, this class of computer is a dream for those with limited space.

What separates the Touchsmart PC from the competition is the inclusion of a 22″ touchscreen monitor. As tablet laptops have done for years, the Touchsmart PC allows you to interact directly with objects on the screen. Better than a tablet laptop, though, since it was designed to be used with your fingers instead of a stylus.

The similarities between the Touchsmart PC and a laptop computer go well beyond just the touchscreen technology. Looking at the specifications of the Touchsmart PC, it would appear to be more of a huge laptop than a compact desktop computer.

Utilizing many laptop components, the Touchsmart PC runs on an energy efficient Intel Core 2 Duo platform. A slot loading DVD burner, 5-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard slot, Bluetooth and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity are just some of the features you expect to see in a laptop computer, not a desktop PC.

The Touchsmart PC isn’t short on traditional desktop features, though. A 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM, a Gigabit network card and integrated hi-def TV tuner allow the Touchsmart PC to compete with most multimedia desktops on the market.

Marketed as a multimedia computer for the family room or kitchen, the HP Touchsmart PC could possibly be the perfect computer for real estate agents.

For many real estate agents, interacting with a computer is cumbersome. Using a mouse on a horizontal plane to guide a pointer on a vertical plane is not an intuitive action. Using the Touchsmart PC makes interacting with objects on the screen much more natural.

Imagine browsing the internet by touching website buttons instead of clicking on them with a mouse. How about playing a video tour of a listing by touching the play button with your finger? You could even move pictures around a listing flyer with a simple swipe of the finger.

The real estate business applications of this technology are limitless. It would be a shame to only use this machine in your family room.

For any real estate agent who dreads their daily interactions with a computer, the Touchsmart PC is a great computer to invest in. Much as the iPhone is changing the way that real estate agents perform mobile computing activities, the Touchsmart will alter real estate computing at the desk.

Check out these comprehensive video demo of the HP Touchsmart PC:

Other posts you may enjoy:

• Zipform Desktop Is Now Vista Compatible
• Zipform (Winforms) Is Fully Windows Vista and Apple Compatible
• Zillow Adds “For Sale” Listings
• Yugma Online Meetings for Real Estate Agents
• Winforms meets Microsoft Vista

Source:
Go Ahead, Touch the Screen

Yes, the title gives it away! The secret to your blog success is YEO. YEO, a now popular term used by bloggers (coined by Jeff Turner) to describe the process of building your network and facilitating blog success via YOU ENGAGING OTHERS.  I’m not even going to mention the other term that makes us sweat, and also has an “e” and “o” in it. That aside, what have you done lately to reach outside your real estate blog? Have you employed tools or strategies to keep your readers enticed to come back for more great information? What about making your blog more than just a resource but a REAL community of readers who interact with each other via offline, as well as online?

Finding ways to connect offline can be more of a challenge with a larger audience, say nationwide. However, with a smaller niche blog connecting in person is great way to get involved and build relationships in the community you work in. And, of course it’s much easier.  Check out Jeff’s Rules of Engagement.

One way to throw yourself into the community mix is by joining the conversations that are happening at your local Starbuck’s, grocery store, hair salon, restaurant, etc.  Listen and gather information. And casually let people know that you are doing something great! You’re a real estate professional looking to support and connect the community via your blog. Be sure to have business cards with your blog address on hand or obtain their emails and send them a link. And let interested business leaders know that you’d like to interview them or involve them in some way on your blog.

 Schools offer a great avenue for discussion and community connecting. Education conversation will be happening in most households forever. If you live near or have a student in the school that makes it even easier to get more involved.  But you don’t have to have students to participate.  There are plenty of ways to reach out to your community using school information and local insight. And schools make for a great topic both off and online. Parents who turn to the Internet to find school scores and profiles are probably looking for homes online as well. So why not combine the 2, and throw in some helpful hyperlocal content that your market cares about!

If you are looking to utilize school data, reports, scores, and the people behind it all to create community in and outside of your blog, here are a few tips to get you started.

Building Your Offline Community:

1. Interview the school principal and find out their current “need”. Could be anything from needing more computers, musical instruments, or even hiring additional yard duty.
2. Interview teachers and get grade level homework tips.
3. Interview parents on school success stories or upcoming events/fundraisers.
4. Create your own Education Committee or Foundation (EX: Realtors Getting Real About Schools)
5. Volunteer for school food drives and walk-a-thons (take donations or help publicize).
6. Start a School Garden Project (get help and donations from local businesses).
7. Volunteer as a crossing guard and share safety tips both on and offline.
8. Create and distribute a print marketing piece with a snippet of school tips and scores…allude to more on your blog.

Supporting Your Online Community:

1. Write about the school budget, spending per student, and current needs.
2. Write about teachers making a difference one student at a time.
3. Write about parents and their educational concerns and expectations.
4. Integrate school scores and reporting with your blog. GreatSchools offers a framable version for $250 a year. Use it for your blog, as well as post it next to property listings to provide an overview of the community. So, the fee covers multiple uses.
5. Add an Educational Widget to your blog. Both GreatSchools and Education.com will be releasing widgets in the near future. Users will be able to search for schools, scores, stats and more.
6. Add podcast advice to your blog on how to read and interpret school scores, as well as other school facts and resources.
7. Write posts on school events (ex: School Walk-a-thon, Book Fair, Plays, etc.).
8. Offer a free e-book for “Understanding School Scores and Your Child’s Achievement” via email sign-up.

Schools or not…involve yourself with a section of the community.  Utilize your blog as your relationship builder and start getting to know the neighbors.  YOUR RESULT: (1) further your expert status, (2 ) gain trust by supporting shared interests, and (3) expand your network of friends, colleagues, readers, members, and when the time is right…new clients.

Other posts you may enjoy:

• No related posts.

Read more from the original source:
The Secret to Blog Success: YEO, You Engaging Others

/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:”";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:”Calibri”,”sans-serif”;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}

I used to teach my first graders a really fun game to learn about how plants grow. Each student would get a laminated “secret identity card” (sun, soil, water, air, seed). The seeds (excitable first graders) would travel through the air (run from one side of the blacktop top the other) looking for the elements (other excitable first graders) needed for their growth. But the elements were not so easy to acquire.

The seeds had to ask individual elements one at a time to divulge their secret identity. They did this by running up to one of the scattered students on one side of the blacktop and just asking, “Are you air?” If the element was indeed “air” that student would link up to the seed. Then, together as a connected team they would run to the opposite side of the blacktop to acquire another element. As this went on you can see why we moved the game to grass as kids became winding chains with all elements needed for plant growth.

This game was fun, but more importantly the kids learned very quickly what environmental factors affect seed growth (sun, soil, water, water). The fun for me came in rigging the game so some little seed couldn’t grow. It would always a good way to get conversation flowing about why plants do NOT or CAN’T grow.

So if a seed requires sun, soil, water and air to grow. What environmental or external factors does your blog require to grow and succeed?? Let’s take a look…

(1) Foster community interaction

(i.e. Neighborhood Wiki, Q & A Forum, Instant Messaging,  Local Sponsors & Interviews, etc.) To maximize your community interaction try integrating a feature that requires readers to get involved. Invite dedicated parents or business leaders in your community that want to contribute to your blog, help out with a wiki, or become regulars in a Q & A forum.  Create a directory of “best” neighborhood services and get testimonials.  Volunteer and provide updates for the local food drive or school walk-a-thon. Schools, by the way, offer a fantastic avenue for connecting with your community.

(2) Provide additional content, features, or tools to supplement your voice

(i.e. Podcast Advice, IDX MLS Search, Mortgage Rate Widget, Calculators, Neighborhood Maps, School Scores & Info, etc.) I’ve met very few people (if any) who are experts in EVERYTHING! (Okay, maybe Martha Stewart!) Whatever your expertise, share it. Then supplement your voice with content features that provide additional information in other areas of expertise. Here are a few ideas for you. Zilllow just released some bomb digity mortgage rate widgets. Consumers love searching for homes online, so give them the opportunity to do it freely from your blog. Integrate school scores for your niche market, transportation schedules, neighborhood maps, etc. Invite a great lender to contribute weekly updates, rates, and tips.

(3) Integrate social media with your blog

(Flickr, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Zolve, Real Seekr, Trulia, Zillow, etc.)Adding any collage of social media features to your blog provides transparency and creates a cross-over effect.  Create profiles at your favorite social networking sites and then be sure to add links or a “connect with me” section to your blog. Give interested readers the opportunity to connect with you via networks they are comfortable with, as well as get to know YOU as a person. Some readers may prefer sizing you up and communicating using their preferred media. Then once your new connections warm up to you or become fans, their newfound trust may result in an increased level of participation on your blog. It’s the cross over effect…don’t deny! Click here to learn more about social media.

(4) Regularly podcast or vlog

While this may not be a comfortable strategy for you, it’s definitely one that can get you noticed. Besides, not every person enjoys their information in the same form of media. My teaching experience led me to develop several modes of communicating lesson plans as people tend to have preferred learning styles (i.e. audio, visual, kinesthetic, etc.) This is the age of the iPod afterall, so why not make yourself available on iTunes with regular podcast advice and tips for buying and selling in your market area. Click here to learn more about podcasting. As for video, well, I’m still taking baby steps myself but here’s a great example of a provlogger.

(5) Create a call or action/Capture leads

(i.e. email newsletter, IDX MLS Search, e-book sign up, drawings or contests, etc.) Create a way to collect email addresses or contact info via your blog. Don’t be too pushy or require info for all your great blog tools and resources. But offer an opt-in email newsletter. Create an e-book (market tips, mini relocation guide, school score report, etc.) and give it away for free via email sign-up. Hold a monthly contest or drawing with local business giveaways. If you have a particular expertise people would find helpful (investing, short sale coaching, school info, etc.) consider holding online trainings. Invite readers and/or clients, but require a RSVP via email.

(6) Share content in a way that nobody else is

You are unqiue! So think long and hard about what makes you unique! And then create a way to share content on your blog via your uniqueness. For example, I focus my uniqueness around education. I enjoy sharing information and teaching, so I choose to write many of my blog posts in a how-to format. Additionally, I know that researching ideas and topics can sometimes be a bitch! So I don’t want to make readers look for their next resource, I want to be the next resource.  Well, I aspire to that anyway! We all have to have a goal!

Plants…blogs…they all require a combination of environmental factors necessary for growth and success. Consider your plant type and feed accordingly!

Stay tuned for the last article in this series: The Secret to Your Blog Success

Other posts you may enjoy:

• “Does my blog REally rock?” An Assessment for Serious Real Estate Bloggers
• Internal Factors Affecting Your Blog Success
• Add Cyberhomes To Your Real Estate Website, Blog or Single Property Site

See the original post here:
External Factors Affecting Your Blog Success

Last week I talked about the importance of assessing your real estate blog. Whether you have room for improvement or just need to boost your already prospering success, tweaking your blog is a process that should continue throughout its life on the Web. Today, we’ll look at the internal factors affecting your blog success, as well as support tools.

(1) Speak to your target audience

Identifying your target audience hopefully occurred for you during the conceptualization of your blog. Now that you’re up and running, is your blog geared up to attract new niche readers?  By that I mean, are you including a variety of keywords for your niche….hopefully ones that make sense when searching from Google? For example, “Pleasanton Real Estate”, “Homes in Pleasanton”, “Pleasanton Meadows Neighborhood”, “Downtown Pleasanton”, etc.  I’m not talking “keyword stuffing” here, but a natural integration.  These keywords can improve your search results on Google and target your niche audience.  With each new blog article, write it first, then think about how 1 or 2 of your niche phrases could be added naturally. Can your title be improved as well? Also speak frequently and consistently. Check out these tools for analyzing the keyword usage on your blog. TOOLS: Google Webmaster tools, Webconfs.com, SEOQuake for FireFox

(2) Speak in an authentic voice

Funny enough, speaking to your target audience involves a whole lot more than just speaking. And actually takes place in the selection process of your blog design and layout, branding, features, and blog posts. This is really a holistic strategy which helps your blog exude its overall essence.  But when it comes to speaking, try using your talking voice when writing blog posts. Don’t get too caught up in grammatical perfection. Yes, spelling and sentence flow are critical to us thinking that you have some educational background. However, you may occasionally make up your own word to identify a new strategy or an original idea. And you also may write some articles using fragments or run-on sentences….that’s okay if it reads well.  Just remember to be clear and concise while showing off your personality. If you have an opinion, state it, but be ready to defend it. Finally, don’t speak in acronyms…unless everyone knows what you are talking about. EX: We all took B.A.R.T. into the city last week. No we didn’t take Bart Simpson or your Uncle Bart…but Bay Area Rapid Transit.  TOOLS: Your close family and friends. They know you best so have them read your articles and give you some feedback.

(3) Share content that your target audience cares about

Whether you are targeting the nation, a county, a city or a neighborhood….be relevant! Your niche wants information about their area and anything that affects their area. If you have a neighborhood blog, get out there and get to know the neighbors. Be the community expert and talk about events, businesses, safety, the market, etc. Interview businesses owners in the area, talk to parents and teachers, find out the nitty gritty at planning meetings, etc.  Be a communication hub where neighbors can become readers and community members….interacting with you (the expert) and other readers with similar interests. TOOLS: Need some help with finding and organizing your content, click here.

(4) Provide content that is compelling, remarkable, or helpful

Rather than just sharing resources or your opinions on industry topics, try including what I call “the next step”. The next step is anything that supports your post, it can be things like: statistics, helpful Websites, video, podcast advice, freebies, additional tips and how-to’s, screen shots, professional and creative images, etc. Sometimes you may have posts initiated by a “good find”. But most times, you’ll have a good article that could be great…with a little more to back up your point.  TOOLS: Here are a few places where you can search for good backup to take your post to the next level:  YouTube, DQ News, iStock Photos, Realtor.org, HGTV, Wikipedia, etc.

(5) Create a professional blog design that is pleasing to the eye

Please, please, please….don’t take this one for granted. And get other opinions once you have selected a design(s).  There are many great template designs that just need a little tweaking to be made into your custom dream blog! However, that usually takes some design and coding know how. So hire someone to help if need be. Now design can definitely be subjective, so here are just a few of my DO’s: be selective (don’t settle until you’re happy), get creative, give your blog a cohesive theme throughout, incorporate branding or color scheme within every possible aspect, consider user experience. TOOLS: For custom design help, consider Chic & Sassy and DravenCreation. For blog templates, try iThemes, BlogFlux and Template Monster. For help with complimentary color schemes, try BigHugeLabs and Kuler.  And finally for user experience, you MUST try out the rockin’ tools provided by CrazyEgg.

(6) Keep up or add to the conversations on your blog

Do more than just interact, be present in the conversation.  When readers leave comments, respond timely with real input. If you can provide a resource or answer to their question, solve a problem, or point someone in the right direction…you further your expert status! We all have busy lives and busy schedules, but your blog can facilitate your business so get connected.  Carry a phone with Internet access so you never miss a fleeting moment. TOOLS: Take commenting to the next level by installing Comment Relish, an auto-thank you feature that thanks each first time commenter on your blog.

A lot more can be said about internal factors depending upon your experience and your niche. So feel free to add your thoughts, comments, and the resources YOU find helpful and remarkable. Stay tuned for external factors affecting your blog! This is where it greats really interesting and FUN!

wait… wait… wait… wait… wait… wait… wait… wait…

Other posts you may enjoy:

• “Does my blog REally rock?” An Assessment for Serious Real Estate Bloggers
• Focus Your Social Media Marketing

Read more from the original source:
Internal Factors Affecting Your Blog Success

If you’ve been clamoring for an up to the minute mortgage rate widget for your real estate blog….it’s time to dry your eyes and head over to Zillow.  There you’ll find four brand new Mortgage Rate Widgets that you can freely leverage for your own blog.  If you’re looking to foster greater online interaction via your blog community and provide readers with a knowledgeable tool, this may be just what you need. Not only are these widgets radiating rates…but they look nice too!

If you thought the Mortgage Rate Widget was the only new candy in Zillow’s goodie bag, it’s time to reach in for a second helping. Did you feel that? It’s Zillow’s FREE co-branding! With it, your blog readers will have access to Zillow tools and features while being reminded who sent them there in the first place.  With Zillow’s co-branding individuals or companies can utilize this free service just by adding any of the following to their blog or Website: individual Zillow URLs, mortgage rate widgets, links generated by the Zillow API, new profile badges.

Here’s how it works:

Before you can take advantage of Zillow’s free co-branding, you need to take care of the following: (1) sign up for a Zillow account, and (2) add a Zillow URL to your blog or Website. Then, when readers select the Zillow URL on your blog and a new Zillow page opens, you’re picture, contact information and link to your Website will appear at the top of that page.  Wherever your blog reader travels on Zillow during that session, your branding will follow too. Click here to learn more about Zillow Co-Branding.

In this market, any edge, ledge, step stool or leg up you can get to boost your blog community and market freely to your target audience is worth checking out. And if you’d like to get up close and personal with the Zillow team AND you’re planning to go to REBarCamp and the Inman Connect, you won’t want to miss Beer with Bloggers. The venue is Café Du Nord (from 6-8pm), which just happens to be right above REBarCamp on July 22, 2008. See you there!

Other posts you may enjoy:

• Yugma Online Meetings for Real Estate Agents
• Real Estate Bloggers Connect in San Francisco
• New Recent Reader Widget from MyBlogLog
• Marketing Your Real Estate Blog
• JIBJAB…Just Plain Laughs

Excerpt from:
Your Edge in Real Estate is Getting Sharper

Have you taken a good look around your real estate blog lately?  Would you like to gain more traffic?  And, reach each your target audience, for real? If you are serious about your blog, then you should be serious about taking new steps and exploring innovative options to boost your blog success. Don’t let your blog take a back seat to 2.0!

MTO is gearing up for the Inman Connect SF. In fact, I’ve been invited to speak on the Blogger’s Connect panel entitled, “Growing Pains: Taking Your Blog to the Next Level“, alongside these A-list rockin’ real estate blog experts Dustin Luther, Jim Cronin, and Daniel Rothamel.  The RE 2.0 guru himself will be there as moderator, yes, you know him….Jeff Turner.  So over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing tools and suggestions for taking that next level leap. But of course I’ll be leaving the meatiest of it all for those of you attending the Connect. So, I hope to see you there!

Anyway, our blogucation cannot begin without a self assessment, a blog assessment really. The best teachers assess at the beginning and the end of an assignment or goal. How else will you know if you made any real strides? To start, you will notice quickly that the following assessment is organized in 2 sections, Internal Factors and External Factors.  To examine your blog best, you should focus on these 2 areas.

Internal Factors are actions, tools, and strategies you put into play on your blog to give it life, display your expertise and target your audience. These may include your voice, design, blog posts, organization, comments, etc.  External Factors are actions, tools, and strategies you use to reach outside of your blog, create interaction, and hopefully bring readers back to you.  These may include, but not limited to: IDX Search, email newsletters, commenting, podcasting, video, social networking, etc.

Take the “Does my blog REally rock?” Assessment (Directions: Print this article, read each question, and write your yes or no answer next to each one. If you’re old school, grab a piece of paper and number 1-6 twice, then write down your answers. Keep your eyes on your own paper. )

Part 1 - Internal Factors (Looking in at your blog.)

1. Are you speaking to your target audience?
2. Do you speak in an authentic voice?
3. Are you sharing content that your target audience cares about?
4. Is that content compelling, remarkable, or helpful?
5. Is your blog design professional and pleasing to the eye?
6. Do you keep up or add to the conversations on your blog?

Part 2 - External Factors (Looking out from your blog.)

1. Besides commenting, do you foster community interaction? (i.e. Neighborhood Wiki, Q & A Forum, Instant Messaging, Local Sponsors & Interviews, etc.)
2. Does your blog provide additional content, features, or tools to supplement