If you own a Blackberry then you’re probably appreciative of the amazing ease of use as a business tool. The keyboard makes sending and answering emails very easy. The ability to sync with your contact management system keeps your calendar, contacts and email at your fingertips.
Make sure your downalod the BlackBerry App World™ onto your Blackbery where most apps are found. http://appworld.blackberry.com
Here are some other apps to consider to make your blackberry an even more effective tool. Google offers a great collection of mobile applications, including Google Maps, Gmail, Docs, and Sync. Deciding which one to include here was a tough call--until I realized just how useful Google Mobile Updater can be. This tool allows you to install a variety of Google apps--including all the ones I just mentioned--to your phone, and notifies you when new products or updates to your existing apps are available. Go to m.google.com on your computer.
Put in your cell phone number and a text message will be sent to your BB. Click on the link and download the applications. The brand new version has a voice to text search on google. You can say “flight delays at JFK” and it will bring you to a web site to help you.
Social Media. Take your updates on the road with you. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and Linkedin all have apps.
LinkedIn mobile is available for your Blackberry, Search profiles, send messages, receive updates from your network, and invite to connect. How to get it:
Use your Blackberry as a Tethered Modem. http://www.junefabrics.com has a great app to do that. Plug your BB into the sync cord, and use PDANET for blackberries to dial your laptop into the internet.
Whenever I speak to a group, I like to end the class with a quote that is relevant and something that has impacted me. My latest has created quite a following. I get asked for a copy at almost every class. So here it is for you to enjoy. You may have already read the author before . . . "anonymous."
Many internet leads that are generated by websites are lost, marked dead or simple thrown out. Why does this happen? As I travel the country I find that lead management is still a big problem with many. Research has proven that when a consumer contacts you by email, they want an immediate response.
NAR statistics tell us that the first agent to contact them has the best chance of becoming their agent. The reality is that the online consumer may not be ready to commit right away, so we give up, lose interest or don’t have systems in place to keep track of them to convert them. When they enter the actually buying stage, that is when they need you. And that may be more than a year! So be patient.
The solution is pretty simple. Here are some steps to get you started.
1. The goal of lead management is to find that next prospective buyer or seller. Period. To get the appointment! Stop worrying about anything else. Concentrate on getting the appointment and the rest will follow. How do you get an appointment from an internet lead that will not engage you ask?
2. To get that lead to want to talk to you, you must create an amazing experience. What would make someone want to work with you?
* Detailed information on your site for their situation – so when they go online at 9 p.m. they can find everything they need so they don’t go somewhere else.
* Instant email sent after contact with them. This in depth information can be on you and the community they enquired on. Could this include blog posts, or video? Sure!
* Instant response to their inquiries via email or text messaging. Don’t make them wait.
Assign each lead a category, you know, A, B, C or hot, warm cold. Spend most of your time on the hot leads of course but set up some type of system that sends helpful emails to the warm and cold leads very week or two. Also include information on homes that fit their criteria. Every email you send can be automated in a drip email campaign. They are available through a variety of companies.
There are 3 rules to remember. You need to be able to show value to the client, follow up right away and be able to attach an activity plan and let the system do the work. All email must be permission based and based on sound marketing principles. What does that mean? You must include in each email an “opt out” line at the bottom of the email so they can unsubscribe at any time. That makes it permission based. What are sound marketing principles? * Employ high frequency until they remember you. * High impact message to build a relationship * Make it easy to contact you with a call to action Technology is essential to keep in touch, but please remember this, real estate is still about the personal touch – a people business. * Get back to people quickly * Listen and respond professionally * Do your homework Think about your are managing your leads, and think about ways to do it a little better.
Have you ever done that? What made you decide that the information in that particular email was worthy of the inboxes of your family and friends?
Value, a thought, a feeling to help them live better, have a better day.
What type of message do you send to your prospects and clients? Does everything you send, relate to who you are and who your brand is?
Many of my students ask about "still" using email. Social media seems to replace some of their existing prospecting, which is great, but I say, don’t leave email totally behind, have a plan.
Think about going through your database and looking at your top 50 or 100 contacts. Then assign a recurring task with them 4 times a year. Then, before you start the day, don’t open your email until you have checked your “tasks” and every day pick 5 contacts to either email, facebook or call.
What can you email?
Think about emailing one of your blog posts that is interesting . . . As you know every blog post has its own website, so just write 25 words about it and then put the link.
Email links to interesting articles from your area
Email links to photographs you posted on Flickr about your community
Email links to videos you post on Youtube about events in your community.
It is 10 o’clock Monday morning – do you know where your company’s reputation is? As sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook become intertwined with business uses, real estate companies need to establish guidelines and best practices.
Whether we want to admit it or not, companies are learning that social networking, used properly, can be an effective business tool. We know by experience that having your sales associates involved in the community can enhance your company’s reputation and bring in more business. We are now embracing the concept that our sales associates can blog, tweet, and participate in forums and social sites and also increase business — so long as it’s done right.
But how do you monitor the conversation? You need a social media policy that explicitly lays out what is and isn’t permissible, both on the company’s network and outside of it if sales associates presenting themselves as representatives of the company.
If you do decide to take the “easy” way out and just block social networking sites at the company firewall, remember that what people post from home can still affect your company’s reputation.
How to get started
Consider creating a task force with people in your company who understand policy and procedures and others who are responsibly using social media. Together they can create a company platform. As always, before you can develop a policy, you need to define the company’s overall attitude toward social networking. A well executed social media strategy helps consumers and licensees follow an online dialogue protocol that shows promise of a successful outcome for consumers in real estate transactions. Create a statement that reflects the company’s mission statement and commitment to the consumer.
* Do you know what your agents are doing on the web?
* Do You Know Where Your Agents Are Placing Their Listings and What Other Listings They Are Claiming
* Copyright Dos and Don’ts
* Logos and Company Names - Who has the authority to start an Online Group using a Registered Trade Name?
* Q & A Platforms – Are they generating leads in the discussion thread, or are you putting your real estate license at risk?
Social Media Tools To Monitor and Maintain Reputation Management Controls
Educate agents in the correct use of tools to avoid problems and pitfalls and engage consumers in a fashion that will BUILD and ENHANCE a company's reputation online. Remember to always reward responsible interaction on line. If you can show examples of online fires doused as well as positive examples of building reputation online your sales associates will be better informed. Consider hiring a social media director for your association or your company.
Brokers and agents need to learn how to use tools to MONITOR their online presence. Google or Yahoo Alerts. Set up alerts based on your companies name, principals names, etc. These alerts will send you an email every time one of your search words is found by the search engines.
The real estate industry has finally gotten the message. The consumer wants information fast, furious at the speed of . . . your email, text, facebook app or twitter app. According to the 2009 NAR Report on Technology tools used by REALTORS® 45% of us have now adopted and email enabled phone.
Congratulations! First is becoming “more valuable” than “best.” NAR in their profile of Homebuyers and HomeSellers (available for a free download from Right Tools, Right Now on Realtor.org) says that 60-80% of consumers work with the first agent who responds to them. So being able to reach and communicate with a consumer when they are interested in learning about real estate is important. Calling them back then they have gone on to other things will not help them as much. So we need to be connected!
Now the next step. Which applications can we use to make this science of staying connected more fun and engaging? Here are a few of my favorites.
Using your device as a Tethered Modem for your laptop Blackberry requires a call to your provider to unlock the port. They software is on your laptop. Using your sync cord to connect your BB to your laptop, use the software to dial your laptop on to the internet. For all other devices, they let you use the data contract with your phone. Check out a website called uneFabrics.com. They have software to download for almost every model. Their software makes it easier to connect.
Texting For those of you who like to text but would rather use voice to text consider using Jott.com or ReQall.com Both programs convert your voice into emails, text messages, reminders, lists and appointments. Not only can you use your VOICE to TEXT but every text message or email that you send is documented in your email. All you do is sign up for an account, add all the people you want to send messages to. Call the phone number supplied and JOTT recognizes your cell phone number and asks you who you want to JOTT. You can JOTT to your email to leave yourself messages, set reminders and do blog posts and twitter posts.
Handango.com is a great site for any device to find an application for anything you are looking for.
Apps to Consider:
• Dictionary of Terms
• Mortgage Calculator
• Voice notes and MMS/SMS messaging
• Instant Messaging
• GPS
• Real Estate Search
• Calculator
Real Estate Search
Realtor.com, Trulia and Zillow have mobile apps to search for properties. Of course the new Zillow Iphone App is available. Consider SmarterAgent.com for a great search program for all other phones.
Last but not least, visit the mobile page on Google at m.Google.com they have lots of great free tools that you can add to your phone to make your business a little bit easier and your life just a bit more fun.
Back by popular demand, we are offering another FREE WEBINAR. This one will feature Ed Freeman, a comptroller for small businesses. His expertise is using Quickbooks and how easy it is to keep track of your real estate business. Want to manage your finanance better? using QuickBooks you can easily track your business. Learn how to easily pay bills, enter commissions, track expenses andprint infomration tax time ready reports. Click here to register.
Just came back from a few days of "living on the farm." My husband is building a compound for a client at their retirement farm in Pennsylvania. Since he was going, I went. i spent three lovely days looking a green rolling hills and valleys, reading, walking and thinking.I think this sign was the epitome of the trip. Not into the biggest and the best, but what works.
So what works for your business as far as marketing, prospecting, making money to feed your family?
The Real Thing
And the real thing is YOU! Think about that.
Consumers have more power than ever before. Realize that and you will be successful.
The transparency of the Internet and the amount of places they can find you means you better be the real thing or you will be found out quickly!
Make a commitment - do not buy, do anything that doesn't reflect who you are. And you know what? This coffee is pretty darn good.
A great poet once said:
It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are. ~e.e. cummings
Facebook is one of the most hyped web service/platforms right now. Many people have already found Facebook to be a valuable addition to their web marketing strategy. Why? Because Facebook social networking can effectively connect you with potential clients, with no cost and minimal effort. Consider using Facebook as a tool for:
• Marketing to new clients
• Protecting your brand
• Testing out marketing ideas
• Measuring impact of your marketing
Think of it as an “addition” to your prospecting. As you connect on a consistent basis with your past customers, sphere and clients you are probably doing this with phone calls, emails and postcards. Here is a stat from the recently released 2009 REALTOR(r) report on technology usage.
Facebook is an easy addition to your process. Do you prospect on a regular basis? Doyou try to connect with people in your sphere every day? Normally we use email, phone calls and print. Now you can find them on Facebook and make them your friend. You can write on their wall and comment on their milestones, an easy way to prospect. It can become a regular prospecting tool. If you update your status once day, make it a mix of fun and business. Think of it as the online cocktail party. You wouldn’t walk around a party asking everyone to list and sell, but you would network. That is what Facebook is for. People who are your friend will now see your daily updates. If you educate, and talk about real estate and have some fun you will be a connection they can count on for.
Video has consumed America. A tiny English woman sang herself into our hearts this week and convinced millions of the power of video.
Video allows an emotional connection with your friend or fans, you are able to communicate to more of the senses using video.
So we need to get started . . . now. Just play a little. Don’t be afraid – it is ONLY A CAMERA! Take Baby Steps!
So if you are really scared . . . think about using: Use your Virtual Tour Product.
Using your Virtual Tour Product ( I use and love Realestateshows) you can combine photos, text, music and voice to create a short video type experience for the consumer.
Some of the top ways I have seen agents use thes other than for their listings:
Just Moved – Buyer Video – For your next buyer closing, ttell them you will put together a few hots of the house and they can use it as a Just moved video to their sphere. Use 8 or 9 photos, and make sure that you include one of the happy family. Send them the link and viral marketing will take over. They will forward it on to their family and friends. There is usually a place for text in the tour where you can mention their new address and phone number and you were happy to help them with the move.
I like using a virtual tour for this because it sends a branded message of YOU.
Do and Don’ts of Staging. If you have been collecting photos of before and afters of staging that you have done, create a tour for your new prospects so they can see the power of staging to help get their home sold.
Vendor tours – We are working on one right now – What to expect on a home inspection. Our home inspector is putting together photos and text so we can send this out to buyers and sellers to set expectations.
Community Videos – Photos of a condominium area, a golf community, you get the picture.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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Using your device as a Tethered Modem for your laptop Blackberry requires a call to your provider to unlock the port. They software is on your laptop. Using your sync cord to connect your BB to your laptop, use the software to dial your laptop on to the internet. For all other devices, they let you use the data contract with your phone. Check out a website called uneFabrics.com. They have software to download for almost every model. Their software makes it easier to connect.
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