It happens. I've been busy with my day job, family, talking to Real Estate Professionals about social media...just returned from RE Bar Camp in Chicago... I've been a little busy but I don't want to neglect this blog and my two or three readers.
So here's a quick update of what's going on... I've recently accepted the opportunity to Chair the (newly created) Social Media Committee for the Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals. I'm hoping to help my competitionlocal mortgage professionals survive thrive in this market by learning about some tools to stay connected with their clients. So far, I've built a social intra-net (a Ning) for WAMP and I recently did a presentation at Safeco Field on Social Media along with David Gibbons of Zillow and Adam Stein. It's flattering and if I can help my mortgage brothers and sisters, I'm happy.
RE Bar Camp in Chicago was great. What an amazing city. Right now, one of my favorite bits I learned at this event was get clicky. It's a tool that analyzes your blog/website -- it's free and very easy to use. Check it out!
Some ideas at Bar Camp caused me to make some minor tweaks... with my blog, I moved my greeting video up to the right corner and removed my static photo...the video is getting more comments and activity all ready. I also used my www.rhondaporter.com url which I had pointed to my blog, redirected to my Facebook page (not to be confused with the profile). My blog still has the url www.mortgageporter.com. We'll see how this experiment pans out.
I also decided to pick up a "netbook". I wanted a mini-computer to use for presentations--I don't like lugging my laptop around. For under $300, you can get a mini-computer that's lighter; less fussy than a computer and bigger than trying to type on your super smart cell phone. I'm writing this post from this new toy....just another tool to stay connected.
Today The Talon Group hosted a 2 hour class on social media featuring a panel of two local real estate professionals: Jim Reppond of Coldwell Banker Bank, a Seattle area real estate agent who is an expert in video marketing, Facebook, BizNik (I could go on and on...) and your's truly.
I only had time to jot down a few notes that were mostly points I was hoping to make or points that struck me as interesting. Here's a bit of my rough notes:
The lines between personal and professional social media's are blurring. However with that said, I think it's important to have professional and personal sites. Facebook is a great example of where you can have a profile which is more casual (which I use for more personal and all types of people can find me) and a professional proflie (aka a "page") which is all business.
Real estate and mortgage are "personal". A representative from Biznik suggested the use of virtual assistants (off shore!) to help update and keep track of your various social media's (if I understood her correctly). I don't agree with this. If you're using social medias to attract new clients and contacts, the people you attract will not be attracted to you since you're not the one who's creating the content you're putting out in the internet. They're attracted to your virtual assistant! You stand to have some disconnect between your potential client and you if you are hiring someone to be you in the social internet world.
If you do not have time to be engaged in all the various forms of social media (and there are TOO many) pick a few to start with and go slow. Jim and I both picked Facebook and Twitter as our top two choices of "non-blog" social media platforms. However one of the class participants swears by LinkedIn--there is no wrong or right social media. You should check them out and see which formats are most comfortable for you--it's like buying a new pair of shoes--you want a good fit or you won't use it.
Be careful not to fall into a social blogging buddy trap. This can be a time sucker. Bloggers are friendly people and they'll all want to "friend you'. It's not important how many "friends" or "followers" you have. What counts is the quality of your friends and followers.
Go slow, have fun...be patient.
How can you control being found on Google when someone searches your name? It's easy--create your personal profile. I just finished mine and you can all ready find my Google profile page on the first page.
This takes 15 minutes...a half hour at the most to create your profile on Google.
http://www.google.com/profiles/mortgageporter
What are you doing right now? Take a 15 minute break and create your profile. Click here and get found.
The Talon Group is promoting a 2 hour intimate (meaning you better sign up soon--space is limited) seminar featuring yours truly and Jim Reppond, a local Realtor who's an expert at various forms of social media networking.
Our goal is to provide local real estate agents and mortgage professionals ideas and information on various forms of social networking beyond having a blog. Learn from two real estate professionals who have been successful in our businesses using various forms of social media including Twitter, Facebook, BizNik, LinkedIn and videos.
The Details:
Space is very limited (first come/first serve)--so please RSVP today if you're interested.
Local Real Estate Agent and Socia Media Expert, Jim Reppond, shares how to promote your listings in Facebook by using Postlets.
I'm pretty excited about a new FREE social media tool that you use with your web cam: TokBox. Don't stop reading here...if your lap top doesn't have a web cam...you can pick one up for less than $100.
TokBox allows you to do:
Free video conferencing--if your recipeint also has a web cam.
Drum roll... free video web conferencing! I'm thinking this will be an incredible way to re-launch R TEAM meetings! No driving...make your own coffee and breakfast...log in and we're talking about the subject du jour. I believe (but I'm not certain) that if someone doesn't have a webcam, they may be able to log in and view our conference and chat via text.
Cool, huh? So if you're interested in getting R TEAM going again, sign up for TokBox at www.tokbox.com. Check out my TokBox at www.tokbox.com/mortgageporter
Last, read this Sellsius article about TokBox and be sure to click on the video link.
I really see this as an easy to use tool that will set you apart from your competitors.
Let's say you've been blogging for a few months and you've just decided that you don't like what you originally decided to call it. No problem!
You can always keep your current URL and buy a new one featuring what ever you've decided to name your blog. I kind of did this with Mortgage Porter.
You can still find me by using the typepad address and you can also find me by my old website address www.rhondaporter.com which I have forwarded to Mortgage Porter. It's kind of the same concept. Just keep your URLs and monitor your traffic from them so you know how folks landed on your website. You may discover after a few months that you can terminate your older URL or you may want to keep it. I just visited my "former name" url and it looks like some phoney splog has picked it up...oh well!
I do recommend giving the name of your blog some thought...especially before renaming it for a second time. What's most important is for your clients to be able to find you so if you still have www.myoldblogname.com in addition to www.googlelovesmyblog.com pointing to your blog, you should be fine.
Wow! There's a lot happening in our area starting this week. Here are a few events I'll be participating in...it would be GREAT to see you there too.
Meet Rain City Guide ~ a casual get together at the Food Court where you can meet me and many of my fellow authors of Rain City Guide.
Seattle Unchained ~ half day FREE seminar (there's a quick pitch for their $eminar in Phoenix) where you can learn about blogging and social media marketing. I will be featured on a question and answer "panel" with fellow real estate bloggers.
Zillow's headquarters at 999 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 41, Seattle RSVP to Scott Cowan 253-219-1194
Seattle RE Bar Camp ~ so far, it's my understanding that there are about 300 folks showing up for this FREE event which follows Seattle Unchained. This is an "organic" or "ad hoc" un-seminar where people can either volunteer to lead a group or be all ears. It's about sharing what you know with others and learning from each other. I participated at RE Bar Camp in San Francisco and really enjoyed it. If Seattle's event is half as good, you'll thank me for taking a day to attend this event.
I hope to see you at all of these great events!
Guest posting is when you write an article for someone else's blog (or someone writes an article for your blog who is not a regular author). For example,if you're writing a "Sunday Drive" about a niche neighborhood for Mortgage Porter, you're writing a guest post. Or if I'm writing an article about mortgages on your blog, I'm your guest. I think you get it
This article from ProBlogger really covers all the do's and don't do's as well as how to make the most of your guest post. It's a must read.
First of all, it has NOTHING to do with a "bar"...it's not where real estate professionals learn how to toss back a stiff drink! I think this photo pretty much sums it up. It's the agenda from RE Bar Camp in San Francisco.
I arrived a little late by the time my plane landed so I missed the start of the gathering where the attendees chime up about what it is they want to learn more about. Ideas and wants were thrown out and other attendees who specialize or are experts in these areas would volunteer to lead a discussion about that topic. Everyone breaks out into groups and is free to go to what ever session they want.
It was not just about blogging. You can see theirs information on her on podcasting; a break out group just for mortgage professionals and a class on Flickr.
If this event is anything like the one in San Francisco, we won't know the exact agenda for the Seattle RE Bar Camp until we all show up and speak up about what it is we want to learn about.
So I encourage you to:
I'm really hoping this will be like the S.F. event which, if I had to sum it up with a few words, I'd say it was dynamic and organic. I really enjoyed it. I will be there and I hope you will too!
The event takes place on February 13, 2009 at Zillow's headquarters (they're gracious enough to allow RE Bar Camp to use their space). For more information, contact me or click here. RSVP HERE!
PS: If you're twittering about Seattle's RE Bar Camp, be sure to include #rebarsea in your tweet.
I do, too! I'm here in Washington working away and trying to help folks take advantage of our current low rates. Here's a fun solution, visit Twitter search to see what attendees are tweeting about in New York during the conference. The Twitter code to search for is #icny.
Enjoy!
It's been announced that RE Bar Camp will finally make it's way to Seattle on February 13, 2009 at Zillow's headquarters. More information to follow--you do want to attend this regardless of what level your blogging or social networking skills are. Click here for more information.
I attended RE Bar Camp in San Francisco and I cannot recommend it enough. The San Francisco event was down to earth, grass roots--get your knuckles dirty with hands on learning from the best--real people who are in the real estate industry successfully blogging/social marketing. For example, I learned about Flickr from none other than Teresa Boardman! I will keep you posted as I learn more details about this event...I'm just returning from our "New Years" vacation and catching up on emails.
PS: as an added bonus, on February 12, 2009, also at Zillow (999 3rd Ave), Bloodhound Blog will be providing a free preview (with hopes you'll drop a few bones to attend one of their future seminars) from 1-5pm.
Update 1/12/2009: Check out the Seattle Real Estate Bar Camp's page on Facebook here.
The Twitter hash-tag is #rebcsea. So when you Twitter anything about RE Bar Camp in Seattle--be sure to include #rebcsea so that when someone doesa Twitter search, they can read all of our comments.
I check out how people find me via the search engines...and many are by questions they have. People seeking answers simply type the questions into the SEO (google, yahoo, msn...who ever) and hopefully my blog is on the first page. I don't really write for this...but I do write for what I think is currently on my clients (or my desired clients') mind.
So if your "perfect client" had a real estate Magic 8 Ball in their hands, what would they ask it?
Answer them.