New Marketing Information!

Trulia Upgrade - Now Your Can Change The Linked Source for Your Listings

One of the advantages to the new Trulia Pro subscription is you can change the link source for your own listings.
Since often syndicated links are sourced from sites other than your own site you cannot reap the benefits of the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) traffic boost. So with the Trulia Pro version you can now increase control of your syndicated properties plus increase traffic to your website.
Click here to learn more and help increase visitor traffic to your website.

Inman News: The Future of Real Estate Marketing

Inman News is peering into the future of real estate marketing with a sharp lens. Click here to read today's interview about how marketing to real estate consumers is changing and what to do about it.
Excerpt:
Q: What skills will the real estate agent of the future require?

A: Agents will need an abundance of social media and publishing skills as well as an understanding of how distribution networks work and how to leverage these networks to obtain maximum exposure for the agent and the agent's inventory. Agents and brokers will need to see themselves as "creators" of original real estate-related content specific to their local market.

Make Audio Message, Send Via Email - For Free!

Wouldn't you rather watch a video or listen to an audio message than read on your computer monitor? I sure would.
This new online audio recording service is free. It is called Houndbite. Have a listen. All you need is a microphone that plugs into your computer. Beats typing if you are a slow typist like me.
-Posted by Reese

Top 10 Broker Websites for 2008 - from 1000 Watt Consulting

We talk about the changing face of real estate websites - getting more in line with what customers demand these days, and looking less like a simple brochure/IDX site. The document below from 1000 Watt Consulting spells out in detail what these top broker sites are all about.

1000watt Top Ten Real Estate Brokerage Websites - Upload a Document to Scribd

Construction & Design - Latest Hot Trends

There are a million Do's and Don'ts that help to guide future home sellers to get the most when selling their home. This list caught my eye since it had some very cleaver and useful ideas that are not too expensive to implement. Click here to view the list.  And, while you are there, check out the other marketing resource documents available to you.

Property Text Messaging - Next Generation

Part One) It is cold outside. Or, it's raining.
Or, perhaps you just don't feel like getting out of your car to pull the flyer from the flyer box.
But you really want to know more about the house. As a prospect looking for property information you have no choice. You have to exit the car and grab a flyer.
Enter property text messaging: The video below demonstrates the simple phone text technology for Realtors that connects prospects looking for information about a house to their cell phone. The benefits for a home seeker are convenience and quick information about the property (especially when the flyer box is empty) without having to deal with a printed flyer; and the Realtor will benefit when the prospect requests the info since they receive the prospect callback number, thus connecting with a lead they might never have met.

Part Two) The next generation phone and property search/find process.
It will soon be possible to watch a moving map on your cell phone screen as you drive through a neighborhood, and each home for sale you pass is identified, the asking price and features, and what it would take for you to purchase it.
To take this still deeper, applications recently offered from Yahoo, Google and Microsoft to developers will tie together data like your credit score and loan app, so as you drive through the neighborhood your phone will only display properties in your price range. When you find a home you like you can instantly notify the Realtor you are interested.
As described at Yahoo's site, "We're here to make the whole web respond to your location and help you to discover more about the world around you." Though this technology is available on a limited basis, this is certainly the future of real estate search, at least from within your car.
You can experience this with your cell phone by clicking here.

To learn more, about this and other new marketing tools and strategies generating NOW business for real estate professionals, contact Shawn at (760) 271-8584 or Bev at (619) 246-6715.

YouTube.com 'Insight' - Your Audience Revealed

AdWeek - New York March 27, 2008 - Google has introduced a free YouTube tool that will provide those who post clips -- whether they are semiprofessionals or media conglomerates -- with deeper insights into when, where and how often their videos are viewed.

Using YouTube Insight, publishers can analyze the viewing patterns of individual videos far more thoroughly than in the past, when only total views and users ratings were available. For example, with the new tool, any content producer who posts videos on YouTube can examine which days of the week or hours of the day traffic spikes; which U.S. states account for the most viewing streams; and how long particular clips remain popular.

Theoretically, content publishers can use the tool to determine programming strategies. Advertisers can use it to test the popularity of several different ads in different parts of the country. Media planners could use it to gauge their best spending opportunities.

"Effectively, we've become the world's largest focus group," said YouTube product manager Tracey Chan. "There are so many use cases. This really enables programmers and marketers to optimize their presence on YouTube.

For Real Estate professionals, this is a new marketing tool in the enlarging list of online marketing tools that allows you to expand the reach of your message, target your audience, and know who and when they watch you. 

Real Estate Video, the Bad and the Ugly

Real Estate videos, when done well, can result in an educating and fun experience for the real estate prospect. This innovative marketing strategy leverages low cost (once you own a video camera it is practically zero expense), offers high visual value, works as a virtual selling tool, and has tons of viral marketing potential (email, RSS, links). But when done poorly can be a serious detractor.

Your video will be judged as an extension of the real estate property, so before you delve into the realm of Steven Spielberg, watch the expose below on bad real estate videos, along with tips on the what it takes to produce  a really compelling real estate videos.

Click HERE for examples of bad real estate video.

Click HERE and HERE and HERE to learn some tips on how to shoot good video and upload to YouTube.com.

Call Shawn to learn about a terrific new Open House and Caravan strategy using video (760) 271-8584.

Create a Blog for Your Listed Property

For many Real Estate professionals, a unique property website is an important element to marketing your listing, however it can be difficult and expensive to create your own, involving FTP, programming code, etc. that most of us do not understand.
However, Chuck Charlton of Milton, Ontario, Canada, utilizes an inexpensive blog template (such as Typepad) to create a lead generating property website that informs and educates prospects and clients about his 'Chocolate Lofts'.
Visit www.ChocolateLoftForSale.com.
This blog/property website is very user friendly, contains photographs and entertaining streaming video, and is designed to expose practically every unique feature of the property.
The good news is that you can create and easily manage this blog/property website yourself, without the need for a professional.
Call Shawn at (760) 271-8584 to learn more about this exciting marketing tool.

Important Blog Websites

For those of you who recently attended the Web 2.0 Blog Training Event Series, below is the list of the blog and websites that we referenced.

As you create and write for your blog, keep in mind that consumers want to pull back the veil of hype and get to know the real you. Your blog will develop trust, expand your ‘voice’ and position you as a consultant.  It will naturally create strong Search Engine Optimization as well.

Write your blog to a narrow target audience - a localized audience. Be sure that your blog is an integrated part of your overall business operation/strategy. Your blog will add leverage to your existing marketing strategies.

5 Important Blog Sites
www.activerain.com (RE Community)
www.3oceansrealestate.com (RE Blog)
www.bloodhoundblog.com (RE Blog)
www.brian-brady.com (Lender Blog)
www.stpaulrealestateblog.com (RE Blog)

When you visit these sites, click the "Blog-roll" links to other blogs and websites.

Ten Important Real Estate Websites:
1. To add humor in this down market: www.flippernation.com   (watch Episode #3)
2. To track the latest marketing trends: www.futureofrealestatemarketing.com
3. To realize the importance of good property photos: www.teamfisher.com , click 'Just For Fun'
4. To syndicate your listings: www.postlets.com, www.vFlyer.com
5. To check your reputation: www.google.com/alerts (free but requires Google free email account)
6. To create business card-sized flyers: www.ListingCard.Net
7. To verify your listing price value: www.Zillow.com   (make necessary mods, plus flag as 'For Sale')
8. To maximize your listing exposure: (Register on) www.trulia.com, http://base.google.com, www.openhouse.com, http://realestate.Yahoo.com and http://realestate.MSN.com
9. To connect with leads: www.trulia.com/voices http://answers.yahoo.com   
10. To read the crystal ball and share with your community: www.altosresearch.com, www.inman.com

Thank you again for attending the Web 2.0 | Blog training events. We constantly strive to provide you the most pertinent business training to support your long-term success. Call today! (760) 271-8584