REAL ESTATE TECHNOLOGY 2.0

You are a professional, right? So stop texting... stop hiding... and pick-up the telephone.

Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:48:21 -0700

As someone who lives and breathes in a digital world, I regularly text, e-mail and use social media to communicate with friends, family and colleagues. However, I use traditional, commonly accepted modes of communication when it comes to substantive business correspondence such as:

Telephone Call with Confirming E-Mail
E-Mail
Business Letter Sent via Facsimile
Business Letter Sent via U.S. Mail

Usually, I try to mimic the method of transmission of the message used by the other person. If you send me an e-mail inquiry, I typically will respond via e-mail to the e-mail address that you used to send the original message to me. However, I draw the line at texting and social media as a communication tool for agent-to-agent business communication. Here are a few reasons:

Papertrail: Texting doesn't create a papertrail that can be easily accessed or easily archived. There are programs and systems for doing so. However, only the real tech savvy do so. Whereas a copy of e-mails and letters are placed in the file and archived on my computer, text message aren't - except I do type out a written summary of substantive texts for the file.
Security: Social media messages travel through unknown servers. I simply don't trust that the messages will be received, that the messages won't be intentionally or inadvertently sent to the wrong location (e.g. Facebook wall versus personal message), or broadcast to unintended recipients.
Professional Content: Text and social media messages often have limited number of characters. It is difficult to fully communicate a position on a substantive issue in 140 characters or less.

More importantly, although I use multiple e-mail addresses for specific purposes, I only use a single e-mail address for business communication. I don't use a separate e-mail address for MLS, for my website, for my business card, etc.

Here are some simple examples of the poor use of technology tools to communicate with other agents:

Example #1: Scanned counteroffer is sent to listing agent with cover sheet via e-mail. Telephone call is placed to listing agent to confirm receipt of offer. No response to voicemail mesage. No response to e-mail. Deadline passes for counteroffer. Additional telephone calls are placed to listing agent. Again, no response. After deadline has passed, listing agent sends reply to counteroffer via text message. At this point, deal is dead.
Example #2: Agent sends inquiry regarding contract via e-mail. Listing agent replies via e-mail to the e-mail address used by the first agent. No reply. Telephone calls are placed to agent inquiring regarding status. Agent, after claiming that amendment wasn't received, finds the e-mail and states e-mail account where the e-mail was sent is his bulk e-mail account and he doesn't check it regularly. E-mail address is the e-mail address listed on the local association roster and on his MLS bio or profile.
Example #3: Broker sends text message regarding dispute. Listing agent replies "too lengthy to discuss via text... call me." Broker doesn't respond. Listing agent then places call and leaves voicemail message. No response.

My point is pretty simple. Stop texting... stop using social media... and pick-up gosh darn telephone for business communication. Send a confirming business letter or e-mail summarizing the conversation where appropriate.

The rise in instant communication has resulted in some circumstances in poor communication and lazy transmission of important contractual responses. While instaneous communication may have some benefits in timing, it certainly has some major drawbacks in terms of substance. If the tone of message is lost in e-mail, then it is even worse via text.

So... stop hiding, pick up the telephone and act like a professional. By the way, if you think "LOL" and a "smiley face" make you look and sound like a professional, I suspect that you are dead wrong.

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PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

PREA Signature Realty is a full service brokerage located at 1709 Park Avenue in the Lafayette Square neighborhood of the City of St. Louis. PREA Signature proudly serves the following city neighborhoods: Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park, Benton Park West, Downtown Loft District, Forest Park Southwest, Central West End, Tower Grove East, Tower Grove South, Compton Heights, Shaw, The Hill, Dogtown, Carondelet, Holly Hills, St. Louis Hills, Dutchtown, and the Other Historic Neighborhoods of the City of Saint Louis, Missouri.

The opinions expressed herein represent the opinions of the author only and do not reflect the opinions of PREA Signature Realty. All photos and written content were produced by PREA Signature Realty. All Rights Reserved - PREA Signature Realty (2009). This content may not be reproduced or reprinted, except for Active Rain re-blogging, without express written permission of PREA Signature Realty.

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Real Estate Tech Gadget - Tired of Monkeying Around with E-Mails - Use MailChimp.com to Send E-Blasts of Newsletters to Customers

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:58:36 -0800

Tired of monkeying around with e-mail templates, try www.MailChimp.com. This little chimp sure delivers gorilla-like results. MailChimp.com allows you to generate professional looking newsletters, advertorials and other touch-type marketing materials.

Here are a few of its features:

Easy interface is so easy that even a monkey could do it.
Step 1 - Upload or enter your mailing list. The free service is limited to 100 subscribers for your newsletter.
Step 2 - Design your newsletter on-line.
Step 3 - Send your newsletter and then review the statistical tracking reports or better use Google Analytics to track your campaigns.
CAN-SPAM Act compliant with several forms and tools for opt-in permission based e-mail marketing.
Don't go ape over the price - It's FREE if you limit your mailing list to 100 recipients and send newsletters less than 6x per month.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Real Estate Tech Gadgets - Tools to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Website, Search Engine Optimization Strategy and Content

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 23:40:15 -0800

Like any business plan, I find that it is important to track what impact my search engine optimization strategies for my website (http://preasignaturerealty.com) have on how Google views and ranks my website and its individual pages.

When we first launched our website in November, 2008, I manually entered my website's URL by entering it into a number of sites such as: GooglePageRankChecker.com or Pagerank.bthomson.com to see page rank for my website and its individual pages. I also used the Google Tool Bar to see the page rank of each page as I reviewed the content of the page. However, I recently discovered a tool called PageRankAlert.com. Instead of periodically checking the page ranks, I receive an e-mail when Google changes the page rank for any of my website pages.

I still use other tools such as Google Analytics to measure traffic and changes in traffic and SearchEngineGenie.com to measure such things such as Google BackLinks, Google Indexed Pages, Yahoo Back Links, Yahoo Index Pages, MSN Indexed Pages, Alexa Traffic Ranking, AlltheWeb Indexed Pages and Altavista Indexed Pages.

I am interested in discovering what tools you use to measure the success or failure of your website. Please feel free to post relevant links to website analytical tools.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

TECHNOLOGY TIP - EMBEDDING YOUTUBE AND OTHER VIDEOS IN YOUR CRAIGSLIST AD

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:40:54 -0700

For real estate agents, Craigslist is an invaluable marketing tool. However, it isn't exactly technologically advanced platform, visually pleasing or even user friendly. It does, however, generate leads. As with any marketing medium, it is important to differentiate yourself from your competition. The text ads offered by Craigslist offer little visual appeal. Craigslst ads created using html code - whether cutting and pasting html from Postlets or your ActiveRain blog or some other html editor - are more visually appealing and project a more professional image.

Despite the title of this post, Craigslist doesn't support embedded YouTube or other videos. If you attempt to embed a video, Craigslist simply strips it out of your ad when it is posted to the site.

However, there is a simple solution.

Step 1: Take a screenshot of your YouTube video
Step 2: Upload the photo to your favorite photo hosting site.
Step 3: Using your preferred html editor, upload the photo and then create a link to your YouTube video URL.
Step 4: Cut and paste the code into your Craigslist ad.

The code should look something like this: <a href=”[insert YouTube URL here” rel=”nofollow”><img border="0" src="Insert Photo URL here" width="480" height-"295" </a>

By following the steps above, your Craigslist ad has the look and feel of an advertisement with an embedded video. As a result, you have distinguished your advertisement from those of your competitors on Craigslist. More importantly, you increase the likelihood that the ad reader will watch the video. An embedded video (or even a pseudo embedded video) is more likely to be watched than a video linked to the ad by a hyperlink. The method described above is effective because the ad reader is accustomed to clicking on the start arrow to see a video. The second advantage offered by this method is that it captures the ad reader. By clicking on the image, the ad reader is then taken from the Craigslist site to the site where your video is hosted. If your video is hosted on your YouTube channel, website or blog, you have increased the likelihood that they will view other videos or information from your hosting site.

To see an example, visit: http://stlouis.craigslist.org/reb/1828371425.html

INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR HOME IN ST. LOUIS USING? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com to discover how to use technology to more effectively market your home for sale.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Recycling Electronics in Lafayette Square

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 22:44:14 -0700

This month, we focus on a local non-profit Web Innovations and Technology Services ("WITS") who is the largest non-profit electronics recycler in Missouri. Under Missouri law, electronic equipment such as computers, televisions, cell phones, cordless telephones, and monitors are classified as "hazardous waste" and must be collected and disposed by regulated collection sites because electronic equipment often contains heavy metals such as cadmium, lead, and even PCBs. Although there are a number of commercial electronics recyclers in the St. Louis area, there is only one with a strong track record of re-use and recycling.

Here are some of WITS' achievements:

In 2009, WITS refurbished and reused over 3,500 computers and other electronics. Since 2004, WITS has refurbished and reused over 20,000 computers and electronics. These refurbished computers and electronics have been sold or given away to residents in local communities.
Over 8,000 volunteers and residents have helped promote or support WITS or donated to WITS programs.
In 2009, WITS diverted over 6.5 million lbs of electronic components from landfills and waste streams by refurbishing electronics, by disassembling electronics, and by re-manufacturing products for other uses. Since, 2004, WITS has diverted over 20.5 million lbs. of electronic components from landfills and waste streams.
65% of electronic items donated to WITS are reused. 35% of electronic items donated to WITS are demanufactured and sold for new product uses.
WITS has created over 365 new jobs since its inception.
1,250 low-income families have volunteered at WITS events to earn a computer, TV or other working electronic item.

Here are some of the ways that St. Louis real estate professionals can benefit from WITS' recycling programs:

Electronic Disposal: Dispose of old, used and inoperable electronic equipment in a safe, environmentally friendly manner. Other commercial recyclers charge disposal fees. WITS does not charge for the disposal of most electronic items delivered to the WITS' facility or delivered to a WITS' collection site.
Tax Donation: Receive a charitable donation letter summarizing the fair market value of the donated item for use as a charitable tax donation
Onsite Electronics Pick-Up: If you require pick-up service, WITS charges $50-$100 per box truck for all business pickups, $30-75 for residential pick-up with a 1 hour drive.
Purchase Refurbished Electronic and Other Items: Purchase refurbished computers (from $60), laptops (from $100), and LCD Monitors (from $25). Other items including televisions, radios, stereos, fans, heaters, lawn equipment, etc. are available starting at $5.
Home CleanOut: If you work with seniors or sell home in probate estate, WITS offers a low flat fee ($100) pick-up service of all household items. WITS then repackages and delivers such non-electronic items as clothing, household furniture, etc. to other non-profits.

Other WITS's programs:

Volunteer for Computer Program: Volunteers who agree to work at WITS' facility or WITS' events for 65 hours receive a free computer or other electronic item. Senior, veteran and disabled volunteers can work from home placing telephone calls and earn a free computer after 45 hours of volunteer time.
Student Program: Eligible low income students accepted to college and maintain a B+ average receive a free computer.
Kids with Kancer Program: Chronically ill children age 8 to 18 suffering from cancer and hospitalized or receiving full-time home care are eligible to receive a free laptop.
Seniors Program: WITS receives applications from seniors and donates 1 computer system per month to seniors in need of a computer.
Computer Exchange: Non-profit organizations, schools and churches can exchange used, old and inoperable computers for new computers.
Revenue Sharing: Non-profit organizations, schools and churches can act as event organizers or collection sites and receive a percentage of the income generated from the recycling of electronic items.

If you are interested in learning more about WITS, visit their facility at 647 E Holly Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63147 (2 blocks from N. Grand and Hwy 70), their website at www.witsinc.org, or their upcoming recycling event in Belleville, Illinois on August 8 or Chesterfield, Missouri on August 28.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adjusting Your Privacy and Account Settings

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:29:41 -0700

Introduction to the LinkedIn Pro Series: Over the next month, I will be doing a series of articles on LinkedIn.com and how to effectively set up and use LinkedIn as a tool for generating new leads, developing new business opportunities, and keeping in regular contact with contacts, prospects, current and former customers, and members of your sphere of influence.

This Week's Installments... The posts during the first week will focus on setting up a basic profile. In today's installment, we discuss:

Adjusting Account and Privacy Settings
Overcoming Fear and Adopting Transparency as Your Social Medial Philosophy
Settings for Photograph
Settings for Public Profile
Settings for Status Updates
Settings for Profile Updates
Settings for Contacts, E-Mail and Invitations
Settings for Viewing Connections
General Discussion on Hiding Connections
Settings for Group Visibility
General Discussion on Group Visibility

Feedback, Questions and Comments are Encouraged: Despite the title, this is a "back to basics" series unrelated to the LinkedIn Pro product and is intended to expose real estate professionals to the power of LinkedIn based on simple, easy to understand instructions and tips. Feel free to leave questions, suggestions, etc. in the comments section. For more advanced users of LinkedIn, please share your tips, comments, examples, war stories, etc. in the comments section.

When it comes to account and privacy settings, it is a matter of personal preference. However, social networking is based, in part, on relationships and transparency. The more restrictive your account and privacy setting are the less success that you will likely obtain from using LinkedIn.

For real estate professionals in St. Louis. Missouri, the materials for the LinkedIn Pro Series will be used in a live quarterly training session on real estate technology jointly hosted by PREA Signature Realty, New Castle Home Loans, and Assured Title (formerly Landamerica). Reservations are required and seating is limited to 30 persons per session.

For more information on the real estate technology sessions, please contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

LinkedIn Pro Series - Setting Up Your Profile

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adding Content

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PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adding Content to Your Profile Using Status Updates and LinkedIn Applications

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:44:43 -0700

This Week's Installments... The posts during the first week will focus on setting up a basic profile. In today's installment, we discuss:

How to Add Content
The Importance of Regularly Updating Your Status
How to Effectively Write an Update for Your Status
Using Ping.fm to Update Statuses across Networking Sites
Using Box.net to Upload Files to Your Profile for Download by Customers
Using Slideshare.net to Upload Slide Show, Power Point, and Other Presentations to Your Profile
Using BlogLink to Add Your Blog Posts to Your Profile
Using Reading List from Amazon to Start Conversations
Using My Travel to Start Conversation and Obtain Invites in the Cities that You are Visiting
Using LinkedIn Polls for Market Research and Other Purposes

The installation steps for setting up LinkedIn Applications are simple. Step 1 - Go to home page. Step 2 - Click on applications in the left column. Step 3 - Select the application to install by clicking on its logo or icon. It will open up with a description of application. Step 4 - Click on "show on profile" then click on "add application." Step 5 - Register for account if applicable. Step 6 - Upload files or enter information like the current book that you are reading. The steps vary from application to application but these are the basic steps. If you have questions on how to install a particular application, post the question in the comments section. You can also see the application in place by visiting my profile on LinkedIn.

For real estate professionals in St. Louis. Missouri, the materials for the LinkedIn Pro Series will be used in a live quarterly training session on real estate technology jointly hosted by PREA Signature Realty, New Castle Home Loans, and Assured Title (formerly Landamerica). Reservations are required and seating is limited to 30 persons per session.

For more information on the real estate technology sessions, please contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

LinkedIn Pro Series - Setting Up Your Profile

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adding Content

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Real Estate Technology - Facebook Fan Page Series - Creating Your Facebook Fan Page - HTML/FBML Code, Cheap Tricks and Short Cuts, and Other Design Ideas

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:56:37 -0800

In this series on How to Set Up a Facebook Fan Page for Real Estate Associations, Brokerages and Agents, we will discuss the basics on how to set up a Facebook Fan Page. Here are the topics in this series:

How to Set-Up a Basic Facebook Page
How to Create Customized Tabs for Facebook Fan Page
HTML/FBML Code, Cheap Tricks and Short Cuts, and Other Design Ideas
Strategies for Using Facebook Fan Page to Market and Sell Real Estate

In today's installment, we discuss in two installments the HTML code used to create the Facebook Fan Page for the Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Counsel of Realtors. To view the Fan Page, click on: WCR-St. Louis Fan Page.

A. Custom Header for Landing Page.

Code:

B. Custom Intro Tex for Landing Page.

Code:

C. Custom Link Table.

Code:

<h3>GETTING STARTED…</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.facebook.com/WCRStLouis?v=app_11007063052”>Sign-Up for WCR-STL Announcements </a> <div class=”descrip”>Receive announcements of WCR-St. Louis events, business resource meetings and more.</div>
</li>
<a href=”http://www.facebook.com/WCRStLouis?v=app_10442206389”>Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities</a> <div class=”descrip”>Sponsor a WCR-St. Louis event, business resource meeting, etc. or gain additional exposure by advertising in WCR-St. Louis newsletters, event announcements, and online media.</div>
</li>
<li><a href=”http://www.facebook.com/WCRStLouis?v=app_6009294086”>New Member Inquiry</a>
<div class=”descrip”>Become a member or affiliate of the Women’s Council of Realtors</div>
</li>
<li>
<a href=”http://www.facebook.com/WCRStLouis?v=app_7146470109”>Join a WCR-St. Louis committee. </a><div class=”descrip”>Contribute to the success of WCR-St. Louis by giving your time and sharing your knowledge, experience and expertise. </div>
</li>
</ul> </div> </tr> </table>

D. Custom Banner Footer.

Code:

<a href="http://www.BannerFans.com"><img src="http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/7030/433778588090db2m3.jpg" border="0" width="700" height="100" alt="BannerFans.com" /></a>

E. Box Image with Link.

Code:

F. Document Downloads Powered by Box.net.

Code:

<a href="http://s474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/GildedAgeSales/WCR-Facebook/?action=view&current=Header.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i474.photobucket.com/albums/rr109/GildedAgeSales/WCR-Facebook/Header.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<style type=”text/css”>
.menu {
background:#FFFFFF none repeat scroll 0 0;
border:1px dashed #BDC7D8; padding:5px;
font-family:”lucida grande”,tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size:15px;
width: 600px; margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%;
}
.menu h3 {
margin-bottom:10px; padding:5px 0 0 5px; font-size:14px;
}
.menu ul {
color:#3B5998; padding:0 10px 5px;
}
.menu li {
font-weight:bold;
list-style-image:none; list-style-position:inside; list-style-type:square;
padding:0 0 5px;
}
.menu .descrip {
color:#444444; font-weight:normal;
padding:3px 0 0 15px;
}
h3 {color:#3b5998;}
<!–
a:link {color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none; }
a:active {color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none; }
a:visited {color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none; }
a:hover {color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none; }
–>
</style>
<div class=”menu” >
<h3>WCR - Downloadable Forms</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://www.box.net//URL deleted</a><div class=”descrip”>President Message, Officer Reports and Other Chapter Information </div></li>

</ul> </div> </tr> </table>

By replacing the image URLs, document hosting URLs and text, you have a roadmap for creating the code for your Facebook Fan Page. In the next post, we will discuss some HTML codes written specifically for Facebook Fan Pages using FBML.

For more information on how to create your customized Fan Page, contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381. Or, visit www.PREASignatureRealty.com and click on the "Technology Toolbox."

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Real Estate Technology - Facebook Fan Page Series - Creating Your Facebook Fan Page - Creating a Custom Facebook Fan Page Tab

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:05:51 -0800

How to Set-Up a Basic Facebook Page
How to Create Customized Tabs for Facebook Fan Page
HTML/FBML Code, Cheap Tricks and Short Cuts, and Other Design Ideas
Strategies for Using Facebook Fan Page to Market and Sell Real Estate

In today's installment, we discuss how to create customized tabs. As discussed in the prior post, Facebook Fan Pages have six tabs with two tabs universally dedicated on every Facebook Fan Page - Wall Tab and Info Tab.

Step 1 - Install Static FBML Application. Go to Wall Tab. On left side, click on "Edit Page". The bottom section is labeled as More Applications. Click on "Browse More". On Applications Page, enter "FBML" or "Static FBML" into search box. The search results should include an application called "Static FBML". Click on "Static FBML". On the Static FBML under the Application icon, click on "Add to My Page". There will then be a pop up showing your Facebook Fan Pages. Click on the Fan Page upon which you want to install the custom tab.

Step 2 - Create Custom Tab. Go to Wall Tab and click on "Edit Page." Go the FBML Application. Click on "Application Settings". Click on "Tab Available Add."

Step 3 - Create the Page Content for the Tab. Now, click on "Edit". There will be an elongated rectangular box. In the first section, enter the name of the custom tab in the "Box Title" section as you want it to appear on the Facebook Fan Page Tab Bar. In the second section, cut and paste the HTML/FBML code into the box entitled "FBML".

Step 4 - Creating HTML/FBML Code. There are three divergent methods on how to create the Page Content for the custom Facebook Fan Page Tab. Here are some of the methods:

HTML Code: If you are an experienced programmer, you simply write the HTML code necessary to create the page content. For this method, you want to employ a professional such as Mike Mueller on Activerain. Here is a link to his website describing his custom Facebook Fan Page Business Services.

HTML Editor: Use an HTML editor to create the intended design and look and then click on the source code to obtain the HTML code. NVU is a free and easy to use HTML editor and can be downloaded for free. Or, if you blog on ActiveRain, use their WYSIWYG editor, save as draft, and then open again click on HTML. To join ActiveRain under a free membership, click on New Member. Cut and paste the code into the Static FBNL box.

NVU Editor

Design on Screen

Click on Source at the bottom of the design screen to obtain HTML code.

Cut and paste HTML code.

ActiveRain Blog

Design on screen using WYSIWYG editor.

Save as draft.

Click on edit to open blog post. Click on HTML to switch from WYSIWYG editor to HTML editor. Cut and past HTML code.

Image Only HTML: Create your intended content using any program such as Microsoft Publisher. Use a screen image capture service like the free Snagit Editor to capture the image and then save the image as a .jpg file. Upload the jpg file into a free photo hosting service like Photobucket. Edit the photo to create an image a maximum of 760 pixels wide. Cut and paste the HTML code from the photo hosting service into the Static FBML box.

Create item. Use screen capture like Snagit to capture the image. Save as a .jpg.

Upload .jpg file to Photobucket. Cut and paste HTML code for image.

To see a recent Facebook Fan Page set up for the Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Counsel of Realtors using all of the methods described above, click on: WCR-St. Louis Fan Page. It is still a work in process but you will get some ideas.

In the next post, we will discuss how to create more specialized boxes and tabs using simple HTML code.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

Real Estate Technology - Facebook Fan Page Series - Creating Your Facebook Fan Page - The Basic Set Up

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:14:41 -0800

How to Set-Up a Basic Facebook Page
How to Create Customized Tabs for Facebook Fan Page
HTML/FBML Code, Cheap Tricks and Short Cuts, and Other Design Ideas
Strategies for Using Facebook Fan Page to Market and Sell Real Estate

Step 1 - Go to Facebook Home Page. Scroll down to the bottom and click on "Advertising." On the Advertising Page, click on "Create Pages".

Step 2 - Select the appropriate page type. The choices are local, brand/product/organization or artist/band/public figure. The initial choice is important because it will impact what info is displayed on the Info Tab of your Facebook Fan Page.

Here is the information contained in the Local Info Tab:

Here is the information contained in the Brand/Product/Organization Tab:

Here is the information contained in the Artist/Bank/Public Figure Tab:

Step 3 - Enter the name of your Fan Page including the company name and clever business tagline.

Step 4 - After entering your Fan Page name and clicking enter, you will then be taken to Fan Page site. Click on the photo box identified by the "?" and upload a photograph. Using graphics that will stand out as a thumbnail is preferred.

Step 5 - Click on the "Info" tab and enter the appropriate information. Don't limit yourself to the description used by Facebook. Expand the "Info" information to reflect your business, practice areas, geographic service areas, etc.

Step 6 - Click on "Write Something about..." on the left column of your Facebook Fan Page. Add a description of your business or service with a clever business tagline.

Step 7 - Plan out your tabs. Basic Facebook Fan Pages have a total of six tabs with two of the six tabs fixed and universal to all Facebook Fan Pages - the "Wall" and "info" tabs. Although only six tabs appear across the top of the Facebook Fan Page, additional tabs can be accessed by clicking on the "+" Tab. However, consumers and fans using your Facebook Fan Page may not realize that you have additional content so the most important content should be included in one of the six tabs.

Step 8 - Organize your tabs. Click on "Edit Page". In the second section of the Fan Page edit page, you will see a series of boxes with your pre-set Facebook Applications, including Discussion Boards, Events, Links, Notes, Photos and Videos. Set where the application appears on your Facebook Fan Page - either "box" or "tab" - by clicking on "Application Settings" and then specifying "Tab" or "Box" by clicking on "Available" to change it to added and vice versa. It is possible to include an application on your Facebook Fan Page as both a "Tab" and as a "Box".

Step 9 - Click on "Add More Applications." On the Applications Page, click on "Pages". Some good applications are:

My Office - Collaboration tool good for non-profit organizations.
Social RSS - Use for Blog and Other RSS feeds.
Slideshare - Display your Powerpoint and other presentations.

Repeat Step 8 to set where these applications will appear on your Facebook Fan Page.

Step 10 - Click on "Edit Page" and Click on Edit Settings to set your country restrictions, your age restrictions, and to publish the Fan Page.

Step 11 - Click on "Wall Settings". First, set the default view for the wall. Your choice is "Posts by Page" or "Posts by Page and Wall." This selection will determine whether your wall is interactive or is outgoing message only. For social network sites, more interaction is preferred so select "Posts by Page and Wall". Second, Second, set the default landing tab. Until you create a landing page, your default page should either be your wall, your box tab, or your discussions tab - depending on where the best content is located. Third, set the fan access to specify whether fans have access rights to post to wall or upload photos, videos, and links.

Step 12 - Populate your site with sample posts such as wall posts, notes, links, photos and more. Here are some ideas and examples from the Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors.

Here is an example of a Wall for interacting with members by posting notices, links, photos, videos, event announcments and more.

Here is an example of the Info Tab showing location and websites. Content will vary based on the type of group selected at the outset of creating the Facebook Fan Page.

Here is an example of a Landing Tab for a Facebook Fan Page.

Here is an example of content for a Boxes Page including links, photos, videos, etc. Also, include Boxes that integrate your other social media platforms.

Here is an exampe of a Discussion Tab.

Here is an example of a a Download/File Sharing Tab.

Here is an example of a Tab Banner for advertising, recognizing others, etc.

To see a recent Facebook Fan Page set up for the Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter of the Women's Counsel of Realtors, click on: WCR-St. Louis Fan Page. It is still a work in process but you will get some ideas.

In the next post, we will discuss how to create customized tabs for your Facebook Fan Page.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

GOOGLE TOOLS FOR REALTORS SERIES - GOOGLE WAVE FOR COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION AND INTEGRATION

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:01:14 -0800

GOOGLE TOOLS FOR REALTORS SERIES

In this Google Tools for Realtors Series, we will cover, review and provide how-to tips and strategies for Google's suite of productivity tools including such tools as:

Google Calendar
Google Alerts
Google Wave
Google Documents
Google Maps
Google Earth
Google Local Business Center
Google Adwords / G-Mail Ads
Google Blogger
FeedBurner
Google Analytics
Google Groups
Google Sites
G-Mail
Picassa
YouTube
Google Talk
Google Voice
Google Search
Google Toolbar

GOOGLE WAVE

In the third installment of the Google Tools for Realtors Series, we will take a look at how Realtors can effectively use Google Wave in their real estate practice including such topics as:

What is Google Wave
Google Wave 101 - Terminology
Google Wave 102 - Basic Features
Suggested Uses for Google Wave
Google Wave Tools

WHAT IS GOOGLE WAVE?

Google Wave is currently available by invitation only. It is an interesting tool for communication, collaboration and the transfer and sharing of media. It is a hybrid product that looks and feels like e-mail, text messaging, forum threads, wikis, social media and more. However, the best may be yet to come. Google Wave is built on an open source platform which means that there will be competing products and a large amount of extensions/tools/applications built around this new platform.

GOOGLE WAVE 101 - TERMINOLOGY

What is a "wave"? A "wave" can best be described as a hybrid between conversation and document. People can communicate and work together with text, photos, videos, maps and more. A "wave" is shared. meaning that any invited participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. The playback feature creates accountability and lets anyone rewind the wave to see who contributed what and when. A wave is live. As a live document, can have faster conversations, see edits and interact in real-time.

GOOGLE WAVE 102 - BASIC FEATURES

Google Wave has some interesting features as a communication and collaboration tool. Here are some of the highlights:

SPLIT CONVERSATION INTO THREADS: E-mails are static and linear. That is, you send an e-mail. You then receive a reply. When you are "replying" to a wave (e.g. message), you can reply in the message itself creating a thread within the message or after the message similar to e-mail. For example, someone sends an agenda. Instead of replying at the end, you can actually interlineate your comments within the agenda itself. The arrows below show where new threads can be inserted. It is similar to when you include the original e-mail and interlineate in the original e-mail questions, comments or responses.

INSTANTANEOUS/SIMULTANEOUS CONVERSATIONS: Communication via Google Wave is in real-time. Althought it looks and feels like e-mail in some respects, it is more like text messaging. Two or more people can reply to the wave at the same time. The communication is live and can change even as your are reading the screen.
HIDE REPLIES: When the "wave" or replies generated by the "wave" are done, you can hide and/or delete replies to clean-up the conversation. You can also copy the completed "wave" into a new wave.

INVITE OTHERS TO THE COMMUNICATION: Communication via Google Wave can be 1-on-1 or you can invite a group to participate. Even after the conversation has started, you can add additional parties to the conversation. For example, the comments drift into another person's area of expertise or responsibility. You can add the additional person to the conversation by simply clicking a button or by dragging and dropping from the contact section of the Google Wave platform.

PLAYBACK FEATURE: Since you can add a person at any time, the new participant can replay the entire communication sequence by sequence from the creation of the wave through each contribution. You can see who wrote or added what and when. Here is a simple example showing the progression . There was an initial wave containing an invitation to speak. The second action was to add Don Rogers as a participant. The third action was Don Rogers' acceptance of the invitation.

PRIVATE REPLIES: Within a "wave", you can reply to the wave which is visible to all participants or can reply privately to one or more participants. When you reply privately, the reply only appears on the "wave" of the parties to the private reply and not on the "wave" viewed by all participants.

DRAG & DROP FEATURE: You can drag and drop other waves, photos, videos, links etc. into the wave.
ATTACHMENTS: You can add attachments with a click of a button.

DOWNLOAD IMAGES: For photo sharing, Google Wave permits each participant to add photos, edit titles, and download all of the photos. It is a nice and easy way to share photos. You no longer have to worry about e-mails being hung up or bounced back due to the size or resolution of the photos.

GOOGLE SEARCH FEATURE: You can search within the Wave using Google and ad links. Click on G+ icon. Enter search terms. Add to wave. Here is an example including a resource link into the invite to Don Rogers.

SMART FEATURES: Google Wave has a series of built-in smart features. For example, you include a video link in the wave. It shows a light bulb. By clicking on the light bulb, you will then be given options such as show the video as a link or embed.

LIVE CONCURRENT ONLINE EDITING: Google Wave allows users to edit each others messages, contents and even replies. This allows for online editing and collaboration.
GADGETS: You can use Google Wave's gadgets or import gadgets into your wave. Here are a few examples:
- You can insert a Yes/No/Maybe feature for approvals, RSVPs, votes, etc.
- You can insert a map. You can place pins for locations and can draw on the map.

SUGGESTED USES FOR GOOGLE WAVE

Google Wave has great potential. However, converting the potential to actual use will require an expansion in the number of users, the addition of more extensions or applications and a learning curve as users adopt this tool for communication and collaboration. Here are just a few anticipated uses:

SINGLE COMMUNICATION: Consolidate information into a single living document. Use with customers to define housing criteria, map tours, transmit and store documents, provide instructions, review closing documents and more. Instead of searching through dozens of e-mails, you have a single communication thread which can be accessed by all members of your team - agent, transaction coordinator and clients.
TEAM COLLABORATION/EDITING: For teams, groups and organizations, you can take a single document and allow multiple parties to collaborate on a project in real-time. You can draft content, discuss items and solicit feedback all in one place. It eliminates the need for creating multiple copies that get out of sync. For example in the context of an organization, you could set a meeting and outline the agenda. Each participant could then add additional information, action items or documents to the agenda such as place, map to location, parking instructions, documents to be reviewed prior to the meeting and more. After the meeting, meeting notes or action items can be added and tasks disseminated to others.
SHARE PHOTOS: Instead of e-mail photos back and forth, each participant can upload and share the photos. Each participant can then download all of the photos. You can create a photo album easily online.
BRAINSTORMING: You can present an idea, concept or problem to a group. You can use Google Wave to brainstorm ideas. You can add rich content like video, images, URLs, etc. to provide examples or to clarify ideas and concepts. Google Wave can be used a virtual white board.

GOOGLE WAVE TOOLS

Google Wave has great potential as a collaboration tool and as a communication tool. However, the gadgets and applications developed using the platform offer an interesting glimpse as its possible use as an integration tool. Although Google previewed a number of extensions, gadgets and applications (see video below), the most intriguing use of Google Wave is the ability to embed a wave in your website or blog. After a wave is embedded, people can communicate with you in real time within the embedded in a blog - but directly to you via the Google Wave. That is, a post could be included in a wave and posted on multiple sites. The replies or comments received would then be aggregated. This tool would give you a single access point to engage others in discussions. Here is an example from Google using their Bloggy prototype application showing a wave and then the embedded wave in a blog post:

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW TO USE GOOGLE TOOLS IN THE MARKETING AND SALE OF REAL ESTATE? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

GOOGLE TOOLS FOR REALTORS SERIES - USING GOOGLE ALERTS TO MANAGE YOUR ONLINE REPUTATION AND MORE

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:21:14 -0800

GOOGLE TOOLS FOR REALTORS SERIES

In this Google Tools for Realtors Series, we will cover, review and provide how-to tips and strategies for Google's suite of productivity tools including such tools as:

Google Calendar
Google Alerts
Google Wave
Google Documents
Google Maps
Google Earth
Google Local Business Center
Google Adwords / G-Mail Ads
Google Blogger
FeedBurner
Google Analytics
Google Groups
Google Sites
G-Mail
Picassa
YouTube
Google Talk
Google Voice
Google Search
Google Toolbar

GOOGLE ALERTS

In the second installment of the Google Tools for Realtors Series, we will take a look at how Realtors can effectively use Google Alerts in their real estate practice including such topics as:

Why Use Google Alerts
Setting Up Google Alerts
Google Alert Success Stories
Non-Google Reputation Management Tools

WHY USE GOOGLE ALERTS?

Google Alerts allows you to create automated searches of diverse media such as blogs, images, video, groups, news and the Internet based on simple keywords. The tool has many benefits:

Monitor Real Estate Trends (e.g. St. Louis Market Reports)
Competitor Research (e.g. Name of Agent or Brokerage)
Tracking Upcoming Real Estate Events (e.g St. Louis REBar Camp)
Manage Online Reputation (e.g. Ryan Shaughnessy or PREA Signature Realty)
Identify Misuse of Your Listings (1515 Lafayette or the Georgian)
Monitor Past Clients (e.g. Client A)
Use as Customer Service / Testimonial Tool (e.g. Ryan Shaughnessy or PREA Signature Realty)
Track Technology (e.g. Google Tools)
Track Government Information and Announcements (e.g. Missouri Real Estate Commission)
SEO Management (e.g. www.LafayetteReport.com)
Catch Copyright Infringement (e.g. Blog Titles)

HOW TO SET UP GOOGLE ALERTS

Step 1 - Log into Google account. Go to: www.google.com/alerts.

Step 2 - Enter the search information.

Search Terms: Use Narrow Keywords to Limit Search to Relevant Items
Type: Select the type of search - comprehensive, image, video, blog, groups, news, internet or comprehensive.
How Often: Select period - immediate, daily, or weekly,
E-Mail Length: # of returned search items - 20 mentions or 50 mentions.
Deliver to: Your preferred e-mail address.

Step 3 - Review e-mailed alerts.

Step 4 - Manage alerts. If you are receiving too many or too few alerts, change your search terms for the alerts.

KEYWORD SEARCH OPERATORS

Use standard Google search operands to narrow or refine your search:

Inclusive Search: AND - "Real Estate" AND Technology
Alternate Search: OR - "Second Empire" or "Federal"
Wild Card Search: "* with a mountain view"
Specific Site Search: site:http://www.PREASignatureRealty.com
Link: link:http://activerain.com/blogsview/1507292/google-tools-for-realtors-series-google-calendar

GOOGLE ALERT SUCCESS STORIES

Over the past 18 months, Google Alerts has been an invaluable tool. Here are some of the success stories:

Identified Competitor Copying and Pasting Market Report.
Discovered Long Forgotten Media Video Clip of One of Our Agents.
Discovered Misuse of Craigslist Posting by Unlicensed Real Agent and by Rental Scam Artist.
Discovered Problem with Trulia Feed Directing Leads to Competitor's Website.
Found Article on Past Client regarding New Development Project.
Identified Buyer for Commercial Property.
Found Negative Comments regarding a Development in Area.
Identified End-User Subscribing to RSS Blog Feed.

NON-GOOGLE REPUTATION MANAGEMENT TOOLS

Oddly, different alert services focus on different media and yield different search results. Here are some other services:

www.Trackle.com
www.SocialMention.com
www.SocialOomph.com
www.steprep.com

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW TO USE GOOGLE TOOLS IN THE MARKETING AND SALE OF REAL ESTATE? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

GOOGLE TOOLS FOR REALTORS SERIES - GOOGLE CALENDAR

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:31:25 -0800

GOOGLE TOOLS FOR REALTORS SERIES

In this Google Tools for Realtors Series, we will cover, review and provide how-to tips and strategies for Google's suite of productivity tools including such tools as:

Google Calendar
Google Alerts
Google Wave
Google Documents
Google Maps
Google Earth
Google Local Business Center
Google Adwords / G-Mail Ads
Google Blogger
FeedBurner
Google Analytics
Google Groups
Google Sites
G-Mail
Picassa
YouTube
Google Talk
Google Voice
Google Search
Google Toolbar

GOOGLE CALENDAR

In this first installment of the Google Tools for Realtors Series, we will take a look at how Realtors can effectively use Google Calendar in their real estate practice including such topics as:

Getting Started with Google Calendar
Working with Calendars
Using/Syncing Google Calendar with Other Calendar Programs
Mobile Google Calendar
Embed Calendar
Strategies for Using Google Calendar

GETTING STARTED WITH GOOGLE CALENDAR

WHY USE GOOGLE CALENDAR?

Google Calendar is a great tool for organizing your business meetings, marketing efforts and more. The benefits to Google Calendar include:

Online Access - Available Anywhere at Anytime
Multiple Calendars - Ability to Create Multiple Calendars that Can Be Viewed Individually or as an Integrated Calendar
Sharing - Easy to Share and Coordinate Schedule with Others including Making the Calendar Public, Embedding in Website or Blog, or Allowing Others to Subscribe to Updates via RSS Feeds
Scheduling - Easy to Schedule Meeting, Events and More
Synchronize - Easy to Synchronize with BlackBerry's Calendar, Microsoft Outlook and More.

CREATING A GOOGLE CALENDAR

Step 1 - Create a Google account. Then go to http://calendar.google.com.

Step 2 - Click on Create.

Step 3 - Using the Create New Calendar input screen include:

Calender Title - Use a short distinctive name. The calendar name should be short so that it can easily be viewed under the My Calendars section. It should also be distinctive so that the title can be recognized by others with whom you may share the calender.
Calendar Description - Google calendar makes it easy to create public calendars and to share calendars with others. The description of the calendar should be keyword rich so that others can find your calendar - especially if it is used by an organization.
Location - Similar to Calendar Description, the Location simply assists others to find your calendar.
Time Zone - Google Calendar allows you to share calendars across the world and syncs events on calendars in other time zones to the time zone for your account.
Public Calendar - If your calendar is for an organization or if you want it searchable by the public generally, click on Make this Calendar Public. For organizations advertising their group events, this is recommended.
Sharing - If you want to share the calendar with a specific group of individual, enter their e-mail addresses. Then set their permission settings such as view only, edit, etc.

TYPES OF CALENDARS

Google Calendars allow you to create multiple calendars. The benefit is that you can create calendars for specific purposes and specific groups. Once created, you can view the calendars individually or can integrate the calendars as a single calendar. Events can be color coded based on the assigned calendar.

We recommend creating calendars for specific purposes. Here are some examples of the calendars that I have created for my use, the use of team members, and groups:

Personal
Business
Marketing
Prospecting
Blogging
Listing Tracking/Showings
Training
Closings
Women's Council of Realtors - Events

CALENDAR VIEWS

Google Calendars can be integrated showing all Google Calendars, can be viewed individually or can be viewed as groups by hiding selected calendars (either by highlighting only the calendars to be shown or by clicking on hide calendar if already shown).

Google Calendars can also be viewed by day, month, custom setting (set in your general calendar setting screen) or by using an agenda showing a list of events in chronological order without the calendar.

WORKING WITH GOOGLE CALENDARS

ADDING EVENTS - VIA GOOGLE CALENDAR

After you have created a Google Calendar, add an event to your calendar.

Step 1 - Click on Create Event.

Step 2 - Using the Add Event input screen include:

What - Enter the name of the event or action.
When - Enter the start date/time and end date/time
Where - Enter the location by general description or address.
Calendar - Before hitting save, make sure that the event is being added to the correct calendar.
Description - Include a description of the event or task. For example, for a meeting, include the agenda or action items to be discussed.
Attachment - Upload and attach a Google document (e.g. agenda) to the Event. People viewing the Event can then download the document. The document can be in any format supported by Google Documents such as Word, Excel Spreadsheet, PowerPoint, PDF and others.
Repeats - If this is a reoccurring event, you can make a single entry and create a reoccurring event selecting daily, weekly, monthly or annually. If you have a repeating event with different topics, you can create the event and then go back clicking edit on the edit shown on the calendar. This will allow you to edit all of the reoccurring events, the future reoccurring events, or the specific event only. This is helpful where you have reoccurring events with different topics, speakers or action items.
Reminders - See below.
Privacy - Privacy determines who can view the event. Whether your calendar is public or private, there are times when you want other to see some or not all of the events. For example, if you have a public calendar, you may want the event to be shown (e.g. meeting). However, you may want to hide the items or deadlines that you entered on the calendar associated with event (e.g. send out invites/agenda).
- Default allows you to set the event's privacy to the same setting as the calendar's privacy setting.
- Private allows the event to be viewed by you and anyone else with whom you have shared the calendar and have the permission setting to make changes to the events. For example, if a private event is placed on a public calendar, it can only be viewed by you and the other people who have an administrative setting allowing them to edit events.
- Public allows anyone to see the event - even if the calendar itself is private.

Step 3 - Editing Events. If you need to edit an event, simply double click on the event to open and edit the event.

ADDING EVENT - VIA G-MAIL

You can also add events to your calendar via G-Mail.

Step 1 - Open E-Mail.

Step 2 - Click on More Action Tab.

Step 3 - Click on Create Event.

Step 4 - Repeat actions described in Add Event - Via Google Calendar above.

SET GENERAL GOOGLE CALENDAR SETTINGS

For Google Calendar, there are four general settings:

General - The general settings relate to time zone, format and related items. Set "Automatically add invitations to my calendar:" to "No, only show invitations to which I have responded."
Calendar - The calendar settings include a list of calendars, notification settings and sharing for each of your calendars covered below.
Mobile - The mobile settings allow you to enable texting of daily agendas, reminders, etc. Enter your cell number. Receive text. Enter code to enable texting.
Lab - The lab settings allow you to include add-on items to your calendar. Click enable or disable.

SET INDIVIDUAL CALENDAR SETTINGS

For individual Google Calendars, there are three general settings:

Calendar Details- Change "Auto-accept Invitations" to "Do not show invitations."
Share Calendar - Allows you to share calendar with specific group of individuals. Set permissions to approved level.
Notifications - Set when you want to be notified. If you select Daily Agenda, you receive a daily e-mail with a list of the day's scheduled events.

CREATING REMINDERS/DAILY AGENDA FOR A CALENDAR

To create reminders for an entire calendar, click on the Notifications tab. You can set up reminders (one or multiple) to send you an e-mail or pop-up at a designated interval prior to an event. You can create a daily agenda of all of the day's events to be sent to you via e-mail. If you have opted to receive a daily agenda from more than one calendar, it will be sent in a single e-mail received at 5:00 a.m. each morning.

Here is an example of a Daily Agenda received via e-mail:

CREATING REMINDERS FOR AN EVENT

In addition to setting default reminders for a calendar, you can override the default reminder for a specific event by clicking on Options when creating an Event. The setting for the reminder for the Event will override the default setting for the Calendar.

USING/SYNCING GOOGLE CALENDAR WITH OTHER CALENDAR PROGRAMS

IMPORTING OTHER CALENDARS INTO A GOOGLE CALENDAR

Step 1 - Open calendar in Microsoft Outlook or other calendar program. Save file in an iCal format. Same approach can be used for importing Facebook event to your Google Calendar.

Step 2 - Under Other Calendar / My Calendar list, click on Add. Select import Browse to located saved iCal file. Select the Google Calendar where the events are to be imported. Click Import.

EXPORT GOOGLE CALENDAR EVENT TO OTHER CALENDAR

Step 1 - Go to Google Calendar Settings. Click on Calendar Details Tab. Scroll down to Private Address. Click on iCal.

Step 2 - Click on URL.

Step 3 - Click open with Microsoft Outlook.

SYNC MICROSOFT OUTLOOK (Default File) AND GOOGLE CALENDARS (Primary File)

Step 1 - Download Google Sync Calendar file from http://dl.google.com/googlecalendarsync/GoogleCalendarSync_Installation.exe.

Step 2 - Run file.

Step 3 - Enter Google e-mail and password. Select 1-way or 2-way sync. Select time intervals for updates.

Note: Only the primary Google Google Calendars will sync. Secondard Google Calendars will not sync.

MOBILE GOOGLE CALENDAR

CONNECT TO GOOGLE CALENDAR VIA CELL PHONE

Step 1- Open browser on cell phone to www.google.com/Calendar.

Step 2 - Sign into Google Calendar.

RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS VIA TEXT MESSAGING

Step 1 - Go to general Google Calendar Settings. Go to Mobile SetUp tab.

Step 2 - Enter cell telephone number to receive text message. Enter Google code from text message.

Step 3 - Go to specific Google Calendar's Notification page. Click on SMS to receive Daily Agenda. Repeat for each Google Calendar.

CHECK YOUR GOOGLE CALENDAR VIA TEXT MESSAGING

Step 1 - Enable texting messaging as described in Step 1 above.

Step 2 - Send command to GVENT (48368):

nest - for next calendar event
day - for all event's today
nday - for all event's within next 24 hours

SYNC GOOGLE CALENDAR WITH YOUR BLACKBERRY

Step 1 - Point Blackberry browser to http://m.google.com/sync. Download Google Sync.

Step 2 - Click menu button and select Get Link. Click download.

Step 3 - On Blackberry Home Screen, click on Google Sync icon. Sign into Google. Click on Sync Now button.

EMBED CALENDAR

To embed a calendar on your website or blog, take the following steps:

Step 1 - Go to Google Calendar Setting Page. Click on Calendar Details Tab. Go to Embed this Calendar section.

Step 2 - Click on "Customize the color, size, and other options". Then select options such as calendars to include, size, color, etc. Click on Update HTML.

Step 3 - Cut HTML code and paste into your website or blog.

STRATEGIES FOR USING CALENDAR

Strategy 1 - Google Calender is a great calendar for creating a dynamic calendar for your website, blog or Facebook Fan Page. Change your Google Calendar and it automatically updates your website and blog.

Strategy 2 - Google Calendar is a great collaboration tool for groups or teams. The calendar is live with data automatically updated. There is no need to sync or e-mail calendars.

Strategy 3 - Google Calendar is a great tool for time blocking. Plan your sales calls, your prospecting activities, your marketing activities and other reoccurring events in a single spot.

Strategy 4 - Google Calendar isn't a CRM product. However, it can be used to track things like listing tasks, closing tasks, etc.

Strategy 5 - Google Calendar is a good back-up system for proprietary calendar platforms.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW TO USE GOOGLE TOOLS IN THE MARKETING AND SALE OF REAL ESTATE? Contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

The Willy Wonka Blogging Strategy

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:02:31 -0800

Willy Wonka was a marketing genius. He offers a "free" factory tour, garners a ton of "free" publicity, and in the process creates a crazed demand for his Wonka chocolate bars as children across the world buy his Wonka chocolate bars in search of the five golden tickets for the tour.

Mr. Turkentine: You, Winkelmann, come here. Do you know what's happening?
Winkelmann: Mr. Wonka's opening his factory. He's going to let people in.
Mr. Turkentine: Are you sure?
Winkelmann: It's on the radio. He's giving truckloads of chocolate away.
Mr. Turkentine: Class dismissed. (Mr. Turkentine starts to put on his coat).

For real estate professionals, the Wonka marketing strategy serves as a roadmap for our blogging strategy. That is, we disseminate free articles and other insightful commentary on our blogs with the intent of creating a "buzz" regarding our services. Our blog is the "free" factory tour offered by Wonka. Our "free" publicity is our readership which fosters name recognition and which assists in the development of relationships in and outside of ActiveRain.

Here are some thoughts as to the keys to the Willy Wonka blogging strategy:

Eliminate Advertorials - Demonstrate Your Expertise

Wonka didn't offer the "free" factory tour to generate sales. He offered the "free" factory tour to locate a successor - a small fact that he didn't disclose until the end of the movie. When developing content for your blog, you should promote your expertise and/or services in an understated manner. The goal should be to develop content that shows or demonstrates your expertise as opposed to simply telling the public that you are an expert. In Wonka's case, the "free" factory tour was a test of sorts to identify the best person to take over the reigns at his chocolate factory. It would have rendered the test ineffective if he had announced it as a test. Similarly, advertorials are ineffective if they focus solely on your business, your services, your expertise, etc. It is more effective to communicate in an altruistic manner - that is, in a manner that presents the content as a public service announcement as opposed to a "pure" advertisement for your services.

Willy Wonka: So shines a good deed in a weary world.

Wonka had it right. Genuine efforts to inform the public of important issues affecting their real estate purchase or sale pays off tenfold.

Create Original Content - Stand Out from the Crowd

The internet offers a vast array of content - both good and bad. Well-written, original content stands out from the crowd. If you have developed interesting and/or unique content for your blog, your blog will gain readership and will become a resource for others. In Wonka's case, he developed unique gum flavors, everlasting goobstoppers, etc.

Willy Wonka: Don't you know what this is?
Violet Beauregarde: By gum, it's gum.
Willy Wonka: Wrong. It's the most amazing fabulous sensational gum in the whole world.
Violet Beauregarde: What's so fab about it?
Willy Wonka: This little piece of gum is a three course dinner.
Mr. Salt: Bull.
Willy Wonka: No, roast beef. But I haven't got it quite right yet.

Wonka had it right. Take an old concept or product and adjust or improve it to make it distinctly different or unique.

Good Content Takes Effort

As the old adage goes: "You reap what you sow." Good content generates good leads and business opportunities. Bad content like bad coffee is a waste of your time. If you take the effort to generate original, thought provoking posts, then you will generally receive greater returns on your time and effort.

Willy Wonka: Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple.
Mrs. Teevee: That's 105 percent.

Wonka had it right. Good content takes a sustained effort.

Free Information - Test Drives Create Demand

Consumers like to sample or test drive the product or service before they purchase it. Studies have shown that consumers are more than twice as likely to buy after sampling the item for free. In Wonka's case, he couldn't keep the public from tasting his new products. Unlike auto dealerships that permit test drives, grocery stores that provide samples, or software companies that allow a trial period for use, real estate professionals have more limited opportunities to permit the public to take a test drive of their services before they purchase. Possible avenues for real estate professionals include the dissemination of informational articles, market reports, competitive market analysis reports, relocation packets, first-time homebuyer packets, and free forms, holding home purchase seminars, and offering free consultations. These methods are effective because they permit the customer to get a feel for your business philosophy, experience, and style and method of practice before purchasing your services.

Willy Wonka: It happens every time, they all become blueberries.

Wonka had it right. When you give prospects a little taste, they all become customers.

Paid Reports - Don't Create Artificial Barriers

Now, there are multiple schools of thought on lead capture type techniques. However, registration requirements from your blog for additional reports like market reports or MLS searches create artificial barriers between you and the consumer whereby you drive customers from your blog. Occasionally, I see real estate reports that require the payment of a fee. Although it is easy to make a paid product free, it is more difficult to require payment for a product such as market reports where such reports are readily available from competitors for free.

Mr. Salt: I'm not signing anything without my lawyer.
Veruca Salt: Give me that pen!
[she grabs the pen from her father]
Veruca Salt: You're always making things difficult.

Mr. Salt and Veruca Salt are typical consumers. Some will register without any thought, others will walk away.

Throw Out the Scorecard

As my sales associates will likely tell you, I am a big fan of measuring, quantifying and tracking the effectiveness of advertising, marketing, and sales associate performance. However, when it comes to blogging, I recommend that you throw out the scorecard. There are intangible benefits associated with developing good content for your blog that may or may not generate immediate business, leads and sales. Some of these benefits include: name or brand recognition, development of referral, mentor and other relationships with other real estate professionals, and enhancing one's status as an expert in a particular geographic or practice area. For me, it is more about organizing my thoughts for our sales meetings.

Veruca Salt: I want it now, daddy.

Veruca Salt has the exactly wrong attitude for blogging. Sometimes things take time to develop. If you want leads now, blogging may not be the best use of your time.

Note: The opinions and statements contained herein represent my personal opinions and observations. These blog entries are not reviewed, endorsed or approved for publication by Gilded Age, L.L.C., Gilded Age Sales, L.L.C. or Preservation Real Estate Advisors, L.L.C

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PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategies - Warm Calling Based on LinkedIn Information

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 01:32:36 -0700

This Week's Installments... In today's installment, we discuss:

Warm Calling - Cold Calling is Dead
LinkedIn Information
Profile Information
Connection Information
Status Update Information
LinkedIn as the Ultimate "Small Talk" Starter Tool

Interested in Upcoming Training Sessions on LinkedIn?

For real estate professionals in St. Louis. Missouri, the materials for the LinkedIn Pro Series will be used in a live quarterly training session on real estate technology jointly hosted by PREA Signature Realty and Assured Title (formerly Landamerica). The next technology session is set for April 24, 2009. Reservations are required and seating is limited to 30 persons per session. For more information on the real estate technology sessions, please contact Ryan Shaughnessy at PREA Signature Realty at 314-971-4381 or by e-mail to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.

This series will also be made available to all attendees at the Women's Council of Realtors monthly luncheon. The panel discussion on technology is set for June 4, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. and will include a panel discussion on technology tips, gadgets and communication tools. For more information on the Women's Council of Realtors month luncheon covering the use of technology, visit the Women's Council of Realtors - St. Louis Chapter's website.

Other Parts to the LinkedIn Pro Series:

LinkedIn Pro Series - Setting Up Your Profile

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adding Content

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adjusting Your Account and Privacy Settings

LinkedIn Pro Series - Building Your Network with Invitations and Introductions

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adding Recommendations and Testimonials

LinkedIn Pro Series - Adding Your Company Profile

LinkedIn Pro Series - Effective Use of Groups

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Widget for Distribution of Blog Posts

LinkedIn Pro Series - Promoting Your LinkedIn Profile Using Badges

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategy - Reference Selling

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategy - The Advisory Board

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategy - The LinkedIn Website

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategy - The LinkedIn Expert

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategy - Agent Recruitment

LinkedIn Pro Series - LinkedIn Strategy - Warm Calling Based on LinkedIn Research

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PREA SIGNATURE REALTY

For more information, visit our website at www.PREASignatureRealty.com or contact Ryan Shaughnessy at 314-971-4381 or send an email to Ryan@PREASignatureRealty.com.