Agnes's Blog

Web Directories Submission

2008-05-26T09:53:59Z

I in the last six months, got into the habit of submitting my website to web directories and then got the idea to build (partially) my own web directory, thus enhancing my skills. I would recommend at the minimal for those that don't already make the time to submit to directories, to do so at least two hours a week and then see the different it would make in traffic and conversion.

Come and submit your website(s) at my new directory at www.sengalist.com

Promotional Rates-- Don't Miss It!!!!

2007-09-04T09:58:21Z

In the bid to take our Virtual Assisting services to the next level, we decided to do some in house business re-engineering and one of our latest development is our brand new Website.

We also have an offer of 20% off our hourly rates for any new service request, please mention the code: AR20%. This promotional rate expires on September 10th, 2007.

Using Time Effectively

2007-08-16T13:26:31Z

How many roles do you occupy in your business? Are you the real estate professional? what about the marketer? what about the techie? what about the database manager and the assistant? With all the hats you are wearing do you honestly think you are the best real estate professional you can be? Are you able to prioritize and do the things that work to dynamically increase your output?

Are you focused on the most important activities in your business and making the best use of your time?

Maybe its time to delegate.

Remember- Time is money!!!

Rainmaker Lead Management Tool

2007-07-30T13:45:37Z

I took the Rainmaker training course earlier in the day and wanted to share it with people don't already know about this tool. Its great when vendors include Virtual Assistants in their model.

RAINMAKER E-CENTRAL®

Take your online marketing to the next level.

At last, there is a three-in-one integrated system that includes lead-capture web forms, plug-in website content and automated drip e-mail all in one easy-to-use system you can plug into as many websites as you have. RAINMAKER E-CENTRAL® helps you generate more leads...enrich all your websites...and follow up every prospect without lifting a finger. All this, PLUS unlimited Rainmaker Microsites^TM included. Maximizing referrals and generating repeat business now is as easy as 1 - 2 - 3.

Lead-Capture Web Forms . RAINMAKER E-CENTRAL® captures hot prospects and vital information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Plug-In Website Content. RAINMAKER E-CENTRAL® features 875+ pages of web content updated weekly, including two monthly E-Newsletters to keep your websites fresh for new and return visitors.
Automated "Drip" E-Mail. 800+ pre-written e-mails in 100+ Action Plans and Campaigns bursting with buying, selling, financing, relocating, homeowning and first-time buyer information, consumer articles and free E-Reports.
NEW! Unlimited Branded Microsites. Use the Internet to capture local neighborhood prospects using the hottest new e-marketing technique: Microsites.

Only this Complete Online Marketing System contains 1800+ pages of content:

2 monthly newsletters for real estate prospects and homeowners!
168+ plug-in or standalone lead capture forms to generate more prospects, and create unlimited Rainmaker Microsites!
875+ pages of consumer content for as many websites as you have!
Instant auto-registration of prospects and automatic endless response follow-up!
100+ e-mail Action Plans and Campaigns that target specific consumer needs!
800+ professional-written text and HTML e-mails that you can edit and customize to maximize prospect conversion!
Instant auto-registration of prospects in Top Producer 7i and automatic daily call lists generated for personal follow-up!
140+ response offer graphics and icons ready for your websites!
FREE, personalized QuickStart training to get you up and using the system in under an hour!
Easy pay-as-you-go monthly subscription with no long-term contract!

Visit Rainmaker website.

Hiring An Assistant

2007-07-30T13:26:07Z

For People who are trying to decide which way to go: whether with a licensed or unlicensed assistant? One who is physically present or a virtual assistant? and other questions. Here is a great article by James Kimmons at about.com that is worth reading.

The Decision Steps and Considerations for Comparison

The growth of your real estate business will at some point require a decision as to how to leverage yourself and get more done. In particular, most real estate professionals want to keep that personal touch in serving their clients. But there comes a time when the mundane and repetitive administrative functions are stealing time from more important client interaction.

Usually, the decision of whether to hire help or not is the easy part. Once you're there, it's about how to get the right person(s) for the job at the right cost. The choice of an in-house employee or a real estate virtual assistant is often the next step. Here are some things to consider:

Read whole article.

Don't Give Up

2007-07-28T20:37:23Z

I heard very sad news about a neighbor of ours that committed suicide last weekend and I felt very sad for him and his family that he gave up. We all go through very tough times in life and I believe that challenges are there to help us grow. People have experienced some awful and beyond awful times, but I know that having hope and faith would see us through the times of adversity. If you are going through a tough time, be it in your personal life or with business, seek God and He would give you the strength to overcome the storm. Please don't give up as you might just be a few steps away from your breakthrough.

Psalms 46:1 says

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Less Than Perfect Credit

2007-07-17T11:32:31Z

I caught this article on CNN Money by Gerri Willis and I'm thinking.....

**********************************************************

How the subprime woes affect you

The impact of rising defaults is already being felt on Wall Street. Here's the impact on home buyers and sellers.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stock markets have been struggling because of worries about lenders who underwrite mortgages for people with bad credit. Some two dozen companies have been affected.

Worse, the crisis is also hitting better known banks and Wall Street brokerages that invested in these loans. The reverberations are being felt from Tokoyo to London.

A recent study predicted that one in five subprime mortgages issued in 2005-2006 will fail.

For home buyers...

For this consumer, this means, there will probably be a tightening of credit.

It will be harder for you to get a mortgage, if you have less - than - perfect credit.

And if you do, the terms won't be as favorable (think higher rates and more money down).

In addition, It could be harder to get an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) because it can be seen as risky.

For home sellers...

If you're trying to sell your home, there will be fewer buyers out there - and those buyers may have less to spend because they have less favorable mortgages. All that could lead to a lower selling price for your home.

The Mortgage Bankers Association predicts that housing won't even regain its footing until near the end of 2007.

And there is an impact beyond the housing market. Remember, people don't just borrow to buy homes. They take out home equity loans to pay for college education for their kids. Or home repairs, or to buy a new car.

*******************************************************************************************

What is going on with our financial lives? why are we living beyond our means? are we not been educated about financial freedom? or are we not just paying attention to all the information and resources available and just living for the moments?

Are we more concerned about what others think and focusing on fitting into a stereotype of what success should be?

I look around and many live in fancy homes, drive very nice cars and send their kids to very good schools plus many other great things in between.

What Is Going On?????

I would appreciate hearing what you think!

Being Organized

2007-07-12T08:09:02Z

I wrote about being organized yesterday in my other blog and decided to focus on a different aspect of business organization as a tip for the day at AR.

A larger number of people on this forum are self-employed and thus perform many different tasks in the daily operations of their businesses. So getting and staying organized is vital, without organization very little will be accomplished and this will leave little room for success.

An important aspect of organization is Delegation - As business owners we have to determine what portion of tasks, especially those not central to the growth of our business that should handed over to someone else to complete in a competent manner. There are a variety of ways to outsource if you tremble at the thought of hiring a full or part-time employee. Especially if you are concerned with training, taxes, insurance and all the other expenses that would be attached to it.

Fear not! Have you looked into partnering with a Real Estate Virtual Assistant (REVA)?

Visit the prominent Virtual Assistant Networking Association and ever on this forum to get started on Delegating and further success!

Have a great day!!

Good or Bad Market Climate??

2007-07-04T09:10:26Z

Does it really matter if the real estate market is not as it was five years ago? One thing for sure is that the market has not crashed! I hear such negative remarks about the state of real estate and choose not to get dragged down that road. Its unbelievable how a negative report spreads like wild fire and good report not so swift.

The market can be in whatever state its in but are you as a REP giving it your all? Are you being proactive, on schedule, keeping your word- returning calls when you say will, following up and delegating tasks not central to generating business? Are you committed to your daily business activities 100%?

This can make a huge difference in how you do no matter what state the market finds itself.

This article by Denise Lones elaborates: The Key to Being Predictably Lucrative

What's the Number One thing real estate agents don't like about the business? Time and again I hear the same answer: The unpredictability of income.

But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a rampant delusion out there that real estate is a "feast or famine" business. Every day agents say, "I don't know if I'll be making any money in March because of the fluctuations in the market." If you've ever said anything even remotely similar, I have a question for you:

If this is true, then how is it that I know many agents who turn business away because they don't have time to handle it all? It's not market conditions. Up or down, these agents have a steady stream of buyers and sellers. And no matter where the market is this time next year, I guarantee it will be the same for them.

So what's their secret? Is it a "killer" marketing software program? Is it "power" sales tactics that use verbal mastery to sweet talk people? Is it tons of expensive advertising?

It's none of these things. But its power is so amazing that universities should offer degrees in how to master it. What is it?

Self-Control!

The most successful agents are not necessarily the best salespeople, or the most outgoing. They are the ones with the most self-control. Self-control governs success. It ensures you do things consistently over time. The size of your goals doesn't matter. The length of your business plan doesn't matter. What you do is what matters.

So what are the keys to Self-Control?

1. Say YES.

Self-control means saying "yes." "Yes" to sending monthly mailings on a regular basis. "Yes" to implementing systems that put your daily tasks on "autopilot." "Yes" to education. "Yes" to your annual client appreciation party. "Yes" to only sending out the very best marketing. "Yes" to sending out an Annual Client Review.

2. Say NO.

But mastering self-control also means saying "no." "No" to clients that waste your time. "No" to ridiculous offers. "No" to people who treat you with disrespect. "No" to scams, gimmicks, and unethical advertising. "No" to CUTTING YOUR COMMISSION!!!

3. Do what you say you'll do.

I'm always amazed that I have to mention this, but the business world is riddled with people who say they'll do something and then don't do it. If you return phone calls the exact minute you promise to, keep appointments on-time, and provide exactly what you promise when you promise it—you're already ahead of 90% of businesspeople out there!

4. Follow-Up and Follow-Through.

Do you return phone calls faster than any other agent? Do you send requested information the very same day? Do you make additional phone calls to verify the information was received? Do you provide extra service touches both before and after the sale?

5. Adaptability.

Self-control also means you don't "freak out" when something is not working. You just drop it and quickly do more of what is working. This doesn't mean that your emotions aren't important. They are. But you cannot be a successful businessperson if you are a frenzied wreck every time something goes wrong. Things happen. Life is unpredictable. Plan on unpredictability. Practice in your mind how you'll react on the day when everything falls apart. See yourself with "grace under pressure" as you pick up the pieces and begin to rebuild.

One of the best ways to implement self-control is accountability. I have clients who call me just to tell me what they're committing to accomplishing by the end of the week. Don't ever underestimate the power of just telling someone what you will do. This means you can't use excuses to yourself—because you've already promised someone you'll do it.

Another helpful measure is to manage your time. And I really mean, manage your time. Schedule phone time. Schedule road time. Schedule lunch. Heck, schedule 15 minutes of goof-off time. I know it's impossible to predict every minute of every day, but at least have a solid plan of what you're doing—even if circumstances prevent you from doing the task.

So if you've ever complained about the unpredictability of your income, take heart! You can have more business than you can handle if only you commit to self-control and all its responsibilities. The road to self-control may be rough at times, but the rewards of implementing it are worth it!

Cautionary Tale

2007-07-02T13:01:38Z

Has anyone heard or read about the story of Alan Jacobson and Fred Rhyne.

How awful!!!!

I would not wish this on anyone!!!

Sellers and buyers alike are given the impression that FSBO is the easiest and by far the least expensive route to go and this story is just an example of why its not best to go it alone. This must be so tough for the families involved.

I'm quite sure with the market climate right now, we'll be hearing and reading more stories like this.

Link: FSBO Gone Wrong

Hire a Virtual Assistant

2007-07-02T11:09:06Z

I read an informative article about my profession and i would like to share it.

Blanche Evans put in very simple terms the reasons to join forces with a VA.

Its from Realty Times: Hire a VA

Outsourcing

2007-06-30T10:41:52Z

Outsourcing can be an immeasurable tool in making a business more successful, but only when you make the most of it. A number of things have to be taken into account when deciding to outsource:

    * Is the task central to the success of the business? If not, it can be outsourced.
    * Would it be cheaper to hire an employee? If not, then outsource the tasks.
    * Would it free up valuable time to pursue more profitable activities?

These are just a few of the factors to take into consideration.

Check out the link below from About.com.

Informative article on outsourcing Top 10 Tips for Outsourcing Success

Your True Character

2007-06-28T08:40:52Z

I joined the community yesterday and i know it would impact my business in a very positive way...I'm glad to be here! and its great to be in a place with like-minded people.

I have spent some time thinking about what my first post would be about. I know what I didn't want it to be: "What is a Virtual Assistant?" or some back door article to advertise myself...like I'm not doing that now *chuckle*.

I have decided for my first post to be about what i feel CHARACTER is.

In my 30-something years of been around, i've met many people with very different personalities. I have come to the conclusion that we all have a mixture of some positive and negative attributes. But ones character makes a huge difference in how the world (people) relates to or perceives us. A person could be very talented, educated, beautiful with huge opportunities and lots of potential thrown into the mix; but if their true character is lacking then everything else means absolutely NOTHING.

So I'm looking inwardly and asking myself, is my true character going to impact my live and others in a positive or negative manner? Well, I've decided to go with the positive as I don't to be a waste of space, air and time.

Thus my goal for today, is for every word that i speak be truthful and not harm another.

I would love hear what your goals are for today.