As one of the University’s tenured professors (wink wink), I’ll be presenting a 3 hour seminar (GREC credits pending) on “How to Use Social Media as a Marketing Tool.” If you want to learn how social media can help your business reach existing customers AND build relationships with new ones, this is the class for you.

Social Media as a Marketing Tool will cover the “how to” basics for promoting your business through social networking and blogging. Learn how to create an effective integrated strategy for your business and save time online. Bring your laptop and come prepared to set up sites and get answers to all of your questions.

This will be the first time that this conference is offered in Atlanta and will feature 16 different accredited educational sessions taught by leading experts in the 50+ housing industry.

The cost of the conference is $80 for 50+ council members and $125 for non-council members. If you’re looking to take advantage of additional savings, non-council members can increase their value by simultaneously becoming a member of the Atlanta 50+ Housing Council and registering for the conference for only $150. That’s a savings of $75.

Space is limited, so act fast to take advantage of this offer. For more information about 50+ University Day, including online registration and class schedule, visit the website.

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2. Atlanta, Memphis, Jacksonville, Louisville
3. GNTC Spring Social Media Lab

This group will move fast as their ideas fly across the stage. As the social media stage crew for the Super Sales Rally, the mRELEVANCE team (Mitch Levinson and myself) will once again by tweeting and blogging to provide those at the show (and at home) with the latest greatest tips and quotes from this group of super sales trainers. Follow the IBS hashtag #IBS2011 on Twitter.

Learn breakthrough ideas to earn big numbers in new home sales. Ignite your selling power and blow past your goals with proven strategies that elevate and supercharge your sales. You’ll get enough new-home sales education to empower you for a full year. Every solution hits the sweet spot of selling by refining often-overlooked fundamentals and presenting today’s hottest techniques. Get ready for fast-focused, results-oriented sales education that will transform your results.

Learning Outcomes:

* Vaccinate yourself against predictable objections by using negotiation strategies that create win-win outcomes
* Learn the ‘baker’s dozen’ closing techniques that will help you close sales like clockwork – including the sure-fire cure for ‘talkaholisim’
* Create a customized, fail-safe follow-up program to convert your contacts into contracts
* Apply state-of-the-art internet selling strategies to expedite key parts of your sales process

Date: Thursday, January 13
Time: 9:00 am – 11:30 am
Location: Valencia Ballroom
Level: All

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1. Friend, Fan, Follow or Fail: Discover the Basics of Social Networking
2. I’m Thinking S’Mores at New Homes Camp
3. GNTC Spring Social Media Lab

With consumers, Realtors and other influencers flocking to social networks, targeting them as friends, fans and followers will ensure that you don’t fail in promoting your homes, communities, products and brand. From account setup on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, as well as the fine points of using each site, we will show you how to ‘netweave’ it all together, save time and get a passing grade!

Come prepared to take notes!

Learning Outcomes:

* Learn the top 10 Do’s and Don’ts for using LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook
* Get easy-to-follow tips for setting up your presence on the basic social networking sites – and how to use them to generate business
* Discover the free, powerful tools social networking sites provide for targeting relevant audiences
* Get valuable tips for simplify social media management

Date: Friday, January 14
Time: 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Location: West 304 A-B
Level: Novice

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2. Selling to Women? Consider Social Networking
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Women influence 91% of home sales – so are you doing everything you can to attract them in your online marketing and onsite presentation?

This year at IBS, I’ll be presenting “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Laptop: What Women Want Online and Onsite” with Meredith Oliver and Kerry Mulcrone. Our session will show you how to appeal to the “power of the purse” with your website, social media marketing and onsite demonstration. Discover how to bundle your home’s convenience, health and safety features into an irresistible package designed for today’s multi-tasking woman. Join three of the industry’s top coaches to learn the inner secrets of appealing to these powerful decision makers.

Save the date, we hope to see you at the International Builders Show in Orlando, Fla.

Date: Thursday, January 13
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: West 311 E-F
Level: Intermediate

Related posts:

1. Selling to Women? Consider Social Networking
2. 75% of Online Women Use Social Media
3. Sell to Women Through the Social Media Grapevine

Luckily for home builders, remodelers and developers going back to school has never been easier. In fact for those looking to create a dynamite social media program it starts with a short read.

In my book “Social Media for Home Builders: It’s Easier Than You Think,” published by NAHB BuildersBooks, I offer builders block-by-block directions for setting a social media program.

And because we are all in back-to-school mode, it is a great time get started building your program!  Best of all with my new promo you can win a signed copy of “Social Media for Home Builders: It’s Easier Than You Think.”

Here are the guidelines (or maybe I should call them class rules?). Now through September 17 when you Tweet or Post on Facebook you will be entered into a daily drawing from mRELEVANCE to win a copy of my book.

Simply tweet the following:  I want to go back to school with Social Media for Home Builders by @CarolFlammer. Post this on Twitter or on the mRELEVANCE Facebook wall or on Carol’s Facebook wall, or just tag Carol in a post.

“Social Media for Home Builders: It’s Easier Than You Think” is available from BuilderBooks.

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Additionally, PWB is presenting two seminars geared toward women during the show. Come join us, it should be a lot of fun.  First Mitch Levinson and I will present Social Media for Home Builders at 10 a.m., then Tammie Smoot and I will present Sell To Women Through the Social Media Grapevine at 2 p.m.

Let us know what you’d like to learn during Social Media for Home Builders! Mitch and I are happy to cater the class to your requests and suggestions!

Don’t forget to register for the show at www.21BuildingExpo.com.

Related posts:

1. Sell to Women Through the Social Media Grapevine
2. Friend, Fan, Follow or Fail: Discover the Basics of Social Networking
3. Sisterhood of the Traveling Laptop: What Women Want Online and Onsite

We did an online poll of the participants. The question posed was, “What types of social media are you using for your business?” The poll results are pictured, but I’ll post the results as well:

Blogs – 22%
LinkedIn – 51%
Facebook – 73%
Twitter – 19%
YouTube – 24%
Other – 14%

Ok, so in terms of what I do on a daily basis, this is HUGE!  With only 22% of the companies on the call using a corporate blog, that means that 78% need one! Having the blog work as the engine of your social media program integrates your program. It makes the program less work. Companies can reduce the amount of time needed in social media management by 50% while increasing their website traffic by 25 – 50%. Integrating this piece is key!

This seminar is part of a 5 part NAHB webinar series called Building Conversations, so make sure to check it out!

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Compassion:

“It’s nothing personal, it’s just business.”

We spend more than 50% of our lives at work. Why would anyone want to wake up in the morning and go to work with that attitude? If you don’t make it personal, and if you don’t make it count, what’s the point?

Business is missing one important core value: compassion.
“Between work and family, I have no time for community.”

This is is something everyone feels at some point in their lives. But think about it: What if we made community an integral part of our business? What if we recognized that we can’t have strong businesses without a strong community and we can’t have a strong community without compassion?

The real way strong communities are built is through the compassion we extend to others. Both to those we know, and to those we don’t know.

The Internet is amazing because it connects us all. Compassion for those around us now extends globally and beyond our physical boundaries.

We can all do more for each other and be better.

Be compassionate to everyone no matter the level of connection.

Make compassion a core business value.

Start with a smile to a stranger.

Start by getting others to nod in agreement when you say: “If we’re not compassionate to one another, what’s the point in the end?”

Get the complete free ebook by Seth Godin  – What Matters Now.

Let’s all figure out what matters to us now.  Take a break from all the noise and take time for a long walk, a drink with friends or a rowdy wrestle with man’s best friend. Give back to the community that supports your business. They will not only appreciate it, but more business will undoubtedly follow.

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As you can see from these photos, it has been a Topsy Turvy Mother’s Day at the farm! Reminiscent of the world of Dr. Seuss, when I took the photo of the Topsy Turvy I accidentally moved the camera and got a really crazy shot. I assure you that our house is not bent!

Now I’m growing tomatoes upside down! It will be interesting to see if each plant really produces 50 pounds of tomatoes like the ads claim. Tomatoes are supposed to grow 20-percent faster and no staking is required. The downside is that I have to try to remember to water them every day.

No related posts.

Political commentator Donna Brazile gave the keynote address which focused on women attaining and managing power.

Ten Tips from Donna Brazile:

1. Know your power and believe in yourself.
2. Be true to yourself and visualize.
3. Identify role models and mentors.
4. Nourish your ambition.
5. Dare to dream and communicate clearly.
6. Set a strategy for success and write it down.
7. Remove stumbling blocks and remain steadfast despite the obstacles.
8. If you get knocked down, get back up.
9. Don’t be afraid of controversy.
10. Stir the waters.  Sometimes making waves is the only way to move forward.

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