Social Media Do's and Don'ts

Your Favorite Free (or Almost Free) Online Tools

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:35:18 -0600

I'm excited to announce that I will be presenting at the upcoming Virtual Real Estate BarCamp on November 17. My presentation is called "The Best Free (And Nearly Free) Online Tools for Your Real Estate Business"

Now I've got a whole bunch of my favorites in my $1,000,000 Rolodex, but I'd like to ask your help in sharing with me what you think are the best of the best!

Go ahead! Leave me a comment with your favorite tools and software.

P.S. Don't Miss Me at the Virtual Real Estate Bar Camp November 17 at 3:15PM EST.

Virtual Real Estate Seminar Preview Call - Mike Mueller

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:47:52 -0600

Social Media "Expert" (He loves it when I call him that!) Mike Mueller talks about the "Red Headed Step Child"... LinkedIn.

Mike works closely with real estate professionals and other businesses and teaches them efficient social media strategies to improve their business. If you've never heard Mike speak before, you'll want to listen to "brass tacks" interview.

If you have heard Mike before... then you know you are in for a treat! The preview call is for registered guests only of Social Media Do's and Don'ts.

Don't Miss the Virtual Real Estate BarCamp. 27 Social Media Real Estate Experts – LIVE - ONE DAY ONLY!!!

Proof: Blogging Gets You Excellent SEO Ranking

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:52:41 -0500

This Spring, Jay Thompson's PhoenixRealEstateGuy took home Inman's Most Innovative Blog Award. It turns out that Inman is not Thompson's only fan... so is Google!

The web is amuck with "SEO Experts" touting ways to manipulate the system to improve your search engine rankings. Thompson proves theres no trickery needed. The best way to consistently come out on top for important search terms is to provide good, timely, relevant content and become the trusted authority in your field.

Here's an incredible example of how powerful and quickly good blogging can get you top search engine results.

On July 28, 2009, Horizon Realty in Chicago caused a buzz in the social media world when they announced that they were suing one of their tenants for making a negative tweet to her 22 followers. [caption id="attachment_200" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Click to Enlarge"][/caption]

This caused an immediate backlash. Thousands of people blogged, tweeted and retweeted lethal attacks on Horizon ranging from the humorous to the rediculous.

Amazingly, the search term "Horizon Realty" skyrocketed from next to nothing to Number 66 on the Google Hot Trends... That's right 66 on all of Google!

PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com did what it does best. It reported on important relevant news that effected it's industry, as it happened.

And Google LOVED IT! [caption id="attachment_206" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Click to Enlarge"][/caption]

So much so, that Google rewarded PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com with the number 3 blog post return and high ranking on it's regular search.

Think about that.

In the course of a few hours an event happened that causes a search term to become one of the hottest on the web, and Jay Thompson, because of the trust and authority he had built up, was able to capture those eyeballs and bring them to his site.

How valuable is that?

News events happen all the time. You need to earn Google's trust over time by being a consistent and reputable reporter. When you do, Google will reward you for your efforts.

Congrats to you Jay, and thank you for being a leader in the social media movement.

Want to see my live presentation and learn how to make social media work for you?

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:03:54 -0500

Hey, let's have some fun, while we learn more about social media! Join me Friday, September 25, 2009 at the Williamson County Association of Realtors for my Free presentation:

"How Do These Crazy Little Tweets, Facebook Friends, & Blog Posts Help Me Find More Clients, Sell More Real Estate and Make More Money?"

The world is abuzz with social media fever. Millions of people spend several hours each day “tweeting”, “texting”, “blogging” and posting pictures and videos. Is this a colossal waste of time… or is there really a strategy to harness the power of this marketing and communication paradigm shift?

I will demonstrates successful social media strategies, tailored to help your real estate business leverage the power of social media. This introductory discussion is suitable for all, regardless of your computer/technology prowess. You will leave this program with a step by step plan to improve your social media marketing. Best of all... it's FREE! Please RSVP at http://bit.ly/graog

We're Live right Now! Be a Part of Today's Home Energy Solutions Radio Program

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 11:02:38 -0500

We're live right now on ESPN Austin. You can be a part of America's first radio show dedicated to helping homeowners make their homes more comfortable and more energy efficient.

Tune in now to ESPN Austin (there will be a brief delay for the audio to start streaming)

Welcome to Get Rated Now... the official fan page for the Home Energy Solutions Radio show!

Listen live to the Home Energy Solutions Radio on 1530 ESPN Austin, or listen to the archives on the Get Rated Now blog.

Home Energy Solutions is committed to helping you learn about the latest technology to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient. We present the facts and debunk the myths. Best of all, we give you, the homeowner, a place to ask your questions and speak to the experts.

Be a part of Home Energy Solutions. Become a fan today. Subscribe to our blog and follow us on twitter.

Most of all, please tell your friends and family about us.

Craig Bushon and Steve Rosenbaum are your hosts of the Home Energy Solutions Radio Show.

Tune in now to ESPN Austin (there will be a brief delay for the audio to start streaming)

Thank you Chicago Cubs for Keeping Grandpa Around Another Year!

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:03:42 -0500

My grandfather is a rock. This man has seen so much in his 94 years. Years ago, I found a copy of the ship's passenger log bearing his signature, from when he came here in 1934. He was 19 years old and didn't like what was happening in Germany, so he had the foresight to come to America with very little money or family.

And he's seen it all since then. He's seen 18 US Presidents. He's seen the discovery of penicillin and countless medical breakthroughs. He's seen unbelievable advances in communication including the development of radio, television, movies, and now the cell phone, computer and the internet. He's seen the construction of a national highway system and transportation break-throughs that make his long journey by ship a short jaunt by airplane. And he's seen us build buildings that stretch to the sky.

But there's still one thing Grandpa Heinz has never seen... A Chicago Cubs championship.

Yes, Grandpa is a die-hard Cubs fan. He can tell you what Ryan Theriot had for breakfast. Or he'll complain about Lou Piniella going to Kevin Gregg again, after several blown saves. He'll let you know that Geovany Soto has a tough time hitting with men in scoring positions on Wednesday day games after a travel day.

Grandpa will even reminisce about past Cubs, like Jerry Morales making "hot dog" basket catches in center field, or Dave Kingman hitting the ball on the porch of the house "3 houses down Kenmore!"

It's been a rough few years for Grandpa, especially with the White Sox winning their championship and Boston ending their mild drought. And Grandpa is not too happy.

But I'm pretty good with it. Because, despite an amazing 14,800 odd games since their last championship (and grandpa has seen most of them), the Chicago Cubs have squandered another chance to break all the curses, and have assured themselves that 2009, like the previous 101 years, will not be their year.

And of course that means just one thing: I can thank the Chicago Cubs for keeping Grandpa around for another year!

Paul Made It!!!

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:44:33 -0500

Just go word from my brother, Paul. You will recall that he went on a JDRF bike ride in VT to raise money to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.

Well, Paul made it! He completed the trekdespite having to ride through rain, cold weather and high winds. He even got some more donations the past few days and ended up collecting over $6,000!

I want to thank everybody for your well-wishes and support. I know he saw all the comments here and on my blog, facebook and twitter pages.

Thank you again everybody.

Go Paul Go!

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:19:29 -0500

My brother Paul leaves today for the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes.
He is going to ride his bike 105 miles in VT. He's been preparing for a year and a half and has raised over $5000!

I love you, Paul, and we're all very proud of you!

How to Build the Perfect Video Squeeze Page

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:55:39 -0500

My friend Armand Morin is the master of the video squeeze page. I made this video to show everybody how Armand uses powerful persuasive techniques and very valuable content on his "Become an Authority" video squeeze page.

Watch this video, and then visit the actual video squeeze page. This technique can be used in any business. Whether you're a realtor, a lawyer, a builder, remodeler, or any type of professional, I'd love to hear your comments below, about how you would use this technique to promote your business. Share it with your friends!

My Big Announcement - Would YOU like a chance to be published? An opportunity for my ActiveRain friends

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 16:51:40 -0500

Via Jason Crouch, Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653) (Austin Texas Homes, LLC):

A couple of days ago, I wrote this post, which got some people interested in what the heck I was doing: I should have a very interesting announcement soon (and no, my wife and I are not expecting another baby)!

Some of the guesses in the comments there were funny to me, and some of them actually gave me some new ideas that I might need to pursue on some level. I just wanted to experiment to see if I could generate a bit of advance buzz before I wrote this post. Interestingly, we had some friends over to our house last night, and one of them asked me what this announcement would be, because she had seen my post on Facebook. That is the power of social media!

So, without further ado:

We are writing a book! The best part: YOU can help

My friend Steve Rosenbaum and I have been in touch with a New York publisher who is interested in the book already. In fact, Steve had a previous book contract with the same company.

How much additional business could you generate if you could truthfully tell clients that you are a published author in your industry? In my humble opinion, this equals INSTANT credibility!

What is the topic?

We are putting together a collection of success stories about using blogging and social media tools in the real estate industry. This includes mortgages, too! If you have a unique marketing idea or an anecdote that illustrates how ActiveRain, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, or any other internet tool has been a game-changer for you, please submit it! This type of opportunity doesn't come around that often, at least in my opinion.

If you would like to participate, you would have an opportunity to be published in a book that should appear on the shelves at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and on the virtual shelves of Amazon.

We will probably need 12-15 chapters or thereabouts, and there is a panel in charge of selecting which content makes it into the book we submit.

"But Jason, I am not really a great writer."

If the topic/idea is solid, don't worry too much about the writing quality. We have a couple of professional editors who can polish things up if needed. We are primarily looking for examples of how social networking has helped your business. If you have already written about this in the past, we would just need you to flesh out the story beyond the confines of a blog post in order to make it a reasonably-sized chapter.

There is no risk here. If your story doesn't make it into the book, it will probably be used as part of a website that we are currently developing. Either way, it's a chance for you to get national exposure as a marketing genius. :)

I should mention that there is no guarantee that this will be published, but I feel good about our odds, since the publisher has already expressed interest. If accepted by the publisher, the book would likely be on the shelves within about 6 months' time. Who knows? This might become the seminal book on the topic, or it could lead to bigger and better things. If there is one thing I have learned from my time blogging, it is to seize opportunities when they arise.

"Alright already. How do I submit my chapter for consideration?"

I'm so glad you asked. That's the easy part. Just email it to me at jason@austintexashomes.com. After I gather the stories, I will submit them to our panel (yes, I am part of the panel, but there are other people, too). If your story/idea is selected for inclusion in the book OR the website, you will be required to sign a basic release so that we can use it.

Based on our conversations with the publisher, each chapter should run about 3500-5000 words in length. We will probably end up with 12-15 chapters total. So, if you are interested, that should give you a good guideline to shoot for. Again, don't get too tied up with the length - if we need to increase or decrease the size of the chapter, we can do that with you later.

I would like to have all of the chapters in hand by the end of this month if possible, so please try to get me your stuff by August 31st. If you have an outstanding idea or success story to share, I would consider waiting if you contact me. Otherwise, please do your best to honor the deadline, and I will do my best to get you published.

If you have ANY questions at all, please feel free to call or email me. My cell phone number is 512-796-7653 and my email again is jason@austintexashomes.com. I hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks for reading (and writing!).

Photo by this is your brain on lithium via Flickr.com.

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Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:14:00 -0500

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What does everybody think about the new green energy bill (Part 2)?

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:28:34 -0500

OK, let's here what everybody thinks. This post is TX Congressman John Carters views on the energy bill that passed the house. Post your comments below, and then visit my previous post where I posted Obama's Weekly Address about the same energy bill and post your comments there as well.

From TX Congressman John Carter

Democrats Pass Bill to Raise Gas Prices and Consumer Power Bills, Ship Millions of American Jobs to China

House Democrats today voted to raise gas prices to $4 a gallon, nearly double consumer electric bills, and to ship 2 million American jobs a year to China and India with passage of the environmental extremist national energy tax bill. Congressman John Carter (R-TX) voted against the measure, which passed the House by a strictly partisan 219-212 margin, with 211 Democrats and 8 Republicans voting for the bill. 168 Republicans and 44 Democrats voted against it.

"Based on this vote alone, the American people need to replace this House with a new conservative majority, whose first priority in January 2011 should be a repeal of this fraudulent monstrosity," says Carter. "Today, the Democrats told the public they don't care what voters think, they will ignore the majority and continue taxing, spending, and regulating the country into bankruptcy."

Congressman John Carter fought the Democrat majority national energy tax bill all week in the House. Early this week, in an effort to protect the budget of working families in the middle of a serious recession, Carter introduced amendments to HR 2454, the Democrats' national energy tax bill.

Carter's twin amendments would have automatically repealed the energy tax, also known as the "cap and trade" bill, if the U.S. Department of Energy confirmed the bill raised gas or diesel prices by more than 10 cents a gallon, or home electric bills by more than $20 a month.

"The debate over this bill is how much it will raise prices for consumers," said Carter, House Republican Conference Secretary. "Democrats contend the effect will be minimal, so they should have no problem adding these two amendments just to make sure. A vote against either will therefore be a recorded vote to raise energy prices on consumers."

The latest version of the national energy tax places the price hikes almost entirely on the backs of middle-income Americans, who make up around 70% of the nation's population. Low income families, those making less than $33,000 a year per family, would receive new federal "energy stamps", the energy equivalent of food stamps, to "render harmless" all but middle-income Americans.

"The current bill will do nothing to reduce carbon emissions, will increase energy prices on working Americans, and will cost us over 2 million jobs a year for years to come," said Carter. "These amendments will hopefully wake up some folks on the other side of the aisle as to what they are doing to their constituents."

The Carter Amendments were submitted to the House Rules Committee Wednesday, for consideration as part of floor debate. But in late night action Thursday, Democrat House leaders voted to refuse to allow consideration of Carter's amendments during Friday's debate on the bill. Democrats instead allowed a late night 309-page amendment by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) that was brought to the floor for a vote before House Members had time to read it.

"If this bill passes, it will devastate Texas working families trying to fight their way out of this recession, and not reduce one iota of carbon emissions," said Carter. "The overwhelming majority of Americans oppose this bill, which explains why Democrats have chosen to ram it through on a strictly partisan vote then get out of town for a week. If they succeed, repeal of this bill and passage of a real energy bill that lowers consumer costs should be a top priority for the new Congress in January 2011 when conservatives re-take the House."

The Democrat energy tax bill is estimated by Heritage Foundation to cost 3,312 jobs in Central Texas through 2012, and another 2,427 jobs thereafter. The study predicts a 58% increase in gasoline and diesel prices, a 90% increase in home power bills, and will cost a total of over 2 million jobs a year over the next decade as U.S. manufacturers move to China and India to avoid the tax, or are forced out of business by foreign competitors who are not required to comply. The bill also gives over $300 billion to foreign governments such as Brazil.

Central Texas Congressmen split their early votes on the energy tax bill, according to KWTX TV. "Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, and Rep. John Carter, R-Round Rock, came down on opposite sides Friday as the U.S. House voted 217-205 to advance a controversial White House-backed climate bill to the House floor. The 1,200-page climate measure would impose a so-called cap and trade system that would raise energy costs, but by how much is the subject of some debate."

Remember, This post is TX Congressman John Carters views on the energy bill that passed the house. Post your comments below, and then visit my previous post where I posted Obama's Weekly Address about the same energy bill and post your comments there as well.

What does everybody think about the new green energy bill (Part 1)?

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:22:19 -0500

OK, let's here what everybody thinks. This post is Obama's weekly address about the passage in the House of the new energy bill. Post your comments below, and then visit my next post where I will posting TX Congressman John Carter's view of the same bill.

Prepared Remarks of President Barack Obama
Weekly Address
The White House
June 27, 2009

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed a historic piece of legislation that will open the door to a clean energy economy and a better future for America.

For more than three decades, we have talked about our dependence on foreign oil. And for more than three decades, we have seen that dependence grow. We have seen our reliance on fossil fuels jeopardize our national security. We have seen it pollute the air we breathe and endanger our planet. And most of all, we have seen other countries realize a critical truth: the nation that leads in the creation of a clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy.

Now is the time for the United States of America to realize this too. Now is the time for us to lead.

The energy bill that passed the House will finally create a set of incentives that will spark a clean energy transformation in our economy. It will spur the development of low carbon sources of energy - everything from wind, solar, and geothermal power to safer nuclear energy and cleaner coal. It will spur new energy savings, like the efficient windows and other materials that reduce heating costs in the winter and cooling costs in the summer. And most importantly, it will make possible the creation of millions of new jobs.

Make no mistake: this is a jobs bill. We're already seeing why this is true in the clean energy investments we're making through the Recovery Act. In California, 3000 people will be employed to build a new solar plant that will create 1000 permanent jobs. In Michigan, investment in wind turbines and wind technology is expected to create over 2,600 jobs. In Florida, three new solar projects are expected to employ 1400 people.

The list goes on and on, but the point is this: this legislation will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy. That will lead to the creation of new businesses and entire new industries. And that will lead to American jobs that pay well and cannot be outsourced. I have often talked about the need to build a new foundation for economic growth so that we do not return to the endless cycle of bubble and bust that led us to this recession. Clean energy and the jobs it creates will be absolutely critical to this new foundation.

This legislation has also been written carefully to address the concerns that many have expressed in the past. Instead of increasing the deficit, it is paid for by the polluters who currently emit dangerous carbon emissions. It provides assistance to businesses and families as they make the gradual transition to clean energy technologies. It gives rural communities and farmers the opportunity to participate in climate solutions and generate new income. And above all, it will protect consumers from the costs of this transition, so that in a decade, the price to the average American will be just about a postage stamp a day.

Because this legislation is so balanced and sensible, it has already attracted a remarkable coalition of consumer and environmental groups; labor and business leaders; Democrats and Republicans. And I want to thank every Member of Congress who put politics aside to support this bill on Friday.

Now my call to every Senator, as well as to every American, is this: We cannot be afraid of the future. And we must not be prisoners of the past. Don't believe the misinformation out there that suggests there is somehow a contradiction between investing in clean energy and economic growth. It's just not true.

We have been talking about energy for decades. But there is no longer a disagreement over whether our dependence on foreign oil is endangering our security. It is. There is no longer a debate about whether carbon pollution is placing our planet in jeopardy. It's happening. And there is no longer a question about whether the jobs and industries of the 21st century will be centered around clean, renewable energy. The question is, which country will create these jobs and these industries? I want that answer to be the United States of America. And I believe that the American people and the men and women they sent to Congress share that view. So I want to congratulate the House for passing this bill, and I want to urge the Senate to take this opportunity to come together and meet our obligations - to our constituents, to our children, to God's creation, and to future generations.

Thanks for listening.

Remember, go visit on TX Congressman John Carter's views and post your comments as well.

Obama Video: What New Legislation Means for Green Homes

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 00:13:19 -0500

The House just passed important legislation that will have a big impact on green homes, energy efficiency and jobs. There were a couple mentions of work that we have been doing, including a reference to an event we attended with Mrs. Obama.

You can see the video on my facebook page . While you're there, please become a fan of our new page and we'll keep you up to date on all the work we are doing, including my meeting tomorrow with Congressman Carter from Texas.

Automatic Twitter posts for your real estate listings

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sat, 30 May 2009 10:22:52 -0500

This looks like an excellent service for realtors using twitter!

Via Riel Roussopoulos - SEO & Web Strategy Expert (StrataXL Software Inc.):

This is an interesting new service that I thought you'd like to check out. It's called TweetLister.com and it helps you automate your twitter posts about specific listings.

You can set up multiple listings and schedule them to tweet on auto pilot for you, good idea.

What can realtors learn from "Yucky Nasty Bugs"?

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 22:17:53 -0500

Well the first episode of Flip Video Secrets is in the can! If you missed the call, I'll tell you how you can listen to the replay for the next few days.

But first let me tell you the highlights:

We had Mike Stewart, who travels the world teaching business professionals how to use audio and video to build their business, with us for over 60 minutes.

I'm really thrilled about all the great content we covered, but the true magic came at the end of the call! Mike and I spent about 10 minutes brainstorming specifically about how realtors can use video in creative ways to enhance their listings. We're not just talking about pointing the camera at the living room and narrating the colors of the walls... We're talking about innovative, creative uses of the Flip Video camcorder that will truly differentiate yourself from everybody else.

There was also some great examples that Mike relayed of how professionals from other industries use blogging to kick the pants off the competition. You have to hear the story about Mike's friend, the exterminator and his blogs "Yucky Nasty Bug Facts" and "Possum Skinnin Secrets".

See how a little creativity, sincerety and humor can help you establish credibility and build rapport with people? Who do you think people call when they need an exterminator in Atlanta??!!

This was a fantastic call, and it will shortly end up behind the gates of my member area. But I'm going to leave it up for the next few days because I want ActiveRain members to benefit from the great content. It's about 60 minutes long, and there is great stuff right up until the end. So grab a seat in your favorite chair, pour yourself your favorite drink and listen to the entire program. You'll be glad you did!

Listen to the replay here (remember, this replay will be taken down in a few days!)

3 More Flip Video Secrets Divulged!

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 07:31:52 -0500

Thank you everybody so much for the great emails, and comments to my posts. Tonight is the night! We are just hours away from the start of the free teleseminar. The call starts at 9PM EST, 8PM CST, and 6PM PST. Typically I record these calls and put them in our member’s area, but you can listen for free tonight.

Register now and I will send you information on how you can listen tonight by phone or by webcast.

(if you've already registered, check your welcome message for the details. I will also send out a reminder to everybody 2 hours before the call with the info)

Here are a few of your questions I've received this week that will be answered on the call:

What's the best way to host my videos to show on ActiveRain? Mike Stewart has developed some software that makes it very, very simple for you to host your own videos. He'll show you how. If you don't host your sites, I'll also show you my favorite video hosting service that has some very cool extra tools you can use every day in your business.
Does this work on ActiveRain, or do I need my own site? You will learn great video strategies that will you can use on your ActiveRain Blog or on your own site, or on both! I personally maintain several blogs outside of ActiveRain and use some of these cool strategies so that I can create
awesome posts and pages in just minutes. Of course, you've seen my ActiveRain video posts!

3. "I loved that video of you on the Flip Video Screen! How'd you do that?" That took a bit of editing! We'll tell you tonight our favorite video editing package.

Join us tonight on the call. If you haven't registered yet, do so now. Remember the teleseminar is free and I promise you will get a bunch of great tips that you can immediately use to use and improve video on your site.

Tell your friends!

Flip Video Secrets - How to record yourself

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:41:24 -0500

The most common question I've gotten this week at Flip Video Secrets was how to record yourself and make sure you are framed in the viewer. I do believe that one of the biggest shortcomings of the Flip Video is it's lack of a swivel screen (so you can see yourself).

No matter in this VERY ROUGH video, you get to see my solution.

P.S. My makeup artist already went home, so you get to see me warts and all, at the end of a long day! This is Cinéma Vérité at it's absolute finest!

Here are some pictures Sherri took of me making the video. Notice the position of the camera 30% angle above the center of my face. (you want the camera above you angling down). Also note the mirror positioned behind the flip video to show me the screen while recording.

We'll give you more great tips Thursday night on the Flip Video Secrets Teleseminar.

It takes more than the MLS and Flyers: Improving your marketing image

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:28:52 -0500

One of the things I love about ActiveRain is seeing all the creative ways that real estate professionals market themselves and their clients's homes.

Marketing is in my blood... It always has been. I created and sold a board game, promoting my business nationwide, while just a teenager. Now, 25 (or so!) years later, I'm still at it; helping my clients learn the powerful strategies that make people want to buy from them, instead of the competition.

That's why I cringe when I think of the traditional notions about real estate marketing. Putting a home on the MLS, a sign in the yard, flyers in the info box, and a small ad in the paper is not marketing... It is the price of admission. You get to be in the game when you do those things.

But the people winning the game in today's tough market, and getting their homes sold, are the ones that put the time and effort into developing new skills. New skills like blogging, using video, search engine optimization and more.

Last year, I sold my home in less than 3 weeks. I know some people sell homes quicker, but I'm pretty happy with my results. I never doubted for a moment that I would sell it in 3 weeks. The reason why is because I had a marketing strategy that created awareness for my home... and then engaged my prospects in a follow up campaign consisting of emails, blog posts, video messages and culminating in a huge event (like an open house). We packed the home with 35 prospects, received 2 offers and were able to negotiate a great price.

Done, sold, closed... all within a total of 6 weeks.

The formula is simple:

Create Awareness
Capture Contact Information
Build Rapport With Your Prospects
Ask For Feedback

These steps will help you find and address your prospects needs and position your home (or your clients' homes) as the one and only solution.

Being here on ActiveRain, already elevates you above yesterday's agents. Challenge yourself today to try something new and different (I know Bob Stewart is still waiting for that Flip Video interview with a school principal!)

Learn how to use videos in your blog and real estate marketing

Do you know how to make your Flip Video do this.....

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 08:28:02 -0500

Response to our new teleseminar Flip Video Secrets has been so
great, that I wanted to get up early this morning and give you some
more information.

Here are some of the most frequent questions we have heard from you
so far:

"How do I set it up? The instructions in the box are pretty vague."
"How do I get my videos to play automatically on my blog?"
"How can I use videos to improve my business?"
"How can I edit my videos?
"How do I add music to my videos?

Get the picture??!!

People are flocking to the stores to buy the
Flip Video (Google has over 4 million results to the "Flip Video"search!).

Many think it's a cute little camera.

Thursday night, Mike Stewart and I will uncover the secrets that
will make your Flip Video a Powerful Business Tool. Find out more at
http://FlipVideoSecrets.com/today

Mark your calendar. Learn the Secrets to use your Flip Video
camcorder, this Thursday, April 17. 9:00 EST, 8:00 CST, 6:00 PST.
Watch your email box for the call in information later this week.

Steve Rosenbaum

P.S. Set a bookmark for FlipVideoReview for the latest
information about Flip Video cameras.

P.S.S. Ask me your questions about Flip Video to in the comment section.
We'll to answer as many as we can Thursday night.

Free Flip Video Ultra Digital Secrets for Real Estate Professionals

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:08:44 -0500

There have been a ton of posts on ActiveRain about the Flip Video...
some good, some not so good.

Make no mistake... this little camera is a weapon that can make the
difference in whether your site or blog is a pit-stop or a destination
on the information superhighway.

But it can be a bit tricky out of the box.

If you're a Real Estate professional, you will want to learn how the
Flip Video can literally change the way you sell homes.

Next Thursday, April 17, Internet Video expert Mike Stewart (internetvideoguy.com)
and Steve Rosenbaum (BigBadHomeSale.com) will teach Realtors how
they can use the Flip Video to:

Gain Clients
Improve Listings
Improve the "Stickiness" of your website/blog
Increase Traffic
Sell Homes Faster

You won't want to miss it. Visit http://FlipVideoSecrets.com/today right now for more information.

P.S. He you have a question about using the Flip Video, post it below. We'll try to address it on the call.
P.S.S. Did I mention that the FlipVideoSecrets Teleseminar is free. Tell all your friends and co-workers!

The Easiest Way to Use Video to Attract Clients... WordpressVideoSalesLetter.com Preview Special

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:35:15 -0500

Using video on your Wordpress blog, on your property pages, on your personal website and on your salesletters is the fastest and easiest way to convert traffic into new clients.

My tests have shown that I more than tripled my conversion rate after I added video to my optin page at http://bigbadhomesale.com/optin.htm! Also, my video, "My Neighbors Are A Bunch of Asses!", was by far, my most read blog post and was responsible for bringing dozens of prospects to my home.

I get asked all the time how I put video on my WordPress blog and on my sales page. It's one of the things I cover in the Big Bad Home Sale system.

But, when it comes to using audio and video on the internet, Mike Stewart is the undisputed King! Mike is my mentor (and personal friend), so he let me in on the preview launch of his newest product by offering a WordpressVideoSalesLetter.com / BigBadHomeSale.com Special.

Mike is the master at breaking down the complex and making it super-simple. Wordpress Video Sales Letter is going to show you how you can put up high-quality video pages in less than 15 minutes! That's right, in less time than it takes to watch that Seinfeld episode for the 12th time, you can put up 2 professional quality, traffic generating, web sites!

Take a moment to think about all the great ways you can use video sales letters to grow your business.

Pretty awesome, right?

So, now let me tell you how you can immediately benefit from this product, and then I'm going to tell you about the special pre-launch offer that Mike is extending to my friends. Remember, if you have a short 15 minutes, Mike will show you how you can use video to:

Attract traffic like a magnet to your site
Capture your visitors attention so they listen to your entire message
Convert your visitor into a paying client or customer

Mike doesn't just tell you why video is the secret weapon that can differentiate you from your competition, but he shows you step by step how you can create your very own video landing page. Call your webmaster today and ask him how much he would charge you for this. For a fraction of the cost, Mike will teach you how you can do it yourself. It's so easy, you will want to duplicate your success over, and over, and over again.

So here's the deal... I promised Mike that I would forego my commission, if he would let me give my friends a chance to buy Wordpress Video Sales Letter before the official launch on April 9, 2008. That means that I will give you $100 right out of my pocket if you act right now.

This is by far the simplest step-by-step process of how to put up Wordpress Video Sales Letters that I have ever seen. Take a look for yourself. In just over 3 minutes, Mike can demonstrate for you the power of his process. Just think how you can use this knowledge to benefit your own clients and help them make their home stand out from all the others trying to sell their home.

Remember, the price goes up $100 on Thursday. Take a look right now at what a real video sales letter should look like!

P.S. I have one more bonus to sweeten the pot. It's a special 60+ minute recording of Mike Stewart from the Big Seminar 9 Preview Calls. Mike explains all the ways that he uses audio and video to increase internet business for him and his clients. (Yes, Mike has 2 Real Estate clients that both earn more than $1 million in commission each year!) Email me a copy of your receipt to steve {at} bigbadhomesale {dot} com and I will send you the recording.

P.S.S. It's not too late to see Mike Stewart speak live at Big Seminar. I'll be there, too. Come join Mike and me at what I believe is absolutely the greatest place to find and create internet marketing opportunities for your business.

P.S.S.S. I have read some posts about people having problems with Flip Video cameras. You need to see this course to see just how easy it is to put up videol

Texas Cities Top Relocations. 7 Ways to Capture New Relocation Clients

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:38:35 -0500

Once again, Austin, Tx, is a favorite destination for people migrating from other states. Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio also landed in the top ten.

"People are running away from unaffordable housing, from the economic slowdown," said Karl Eschbach, a state demographer in Texas. "I would expect Texas to stay at the top of a slowing game."

With scores of people arriving into our city, it's important that you position yourself so that they easily find you when doing their research. Here are seven things you can do to capture new clients relocating to Austin

Pick a Niche, Become and Expert - The market is full of agents, but how many of them are "Experts". Pick something you're passionate about, and market yourself as the authority on the subject (of course, you do have to know what you're talking about!) You can be an expert on "Living on the Lake", Corporate Relocation, Dell, UT, Medical, Hiking and Biking, Green Building...
Search Engine Optimizaion - SEO is much easier when you market yourself as an expert. Do your keyword research on your field of choice and add the word "Austin" to your keywords. You can also select only to advertise on Google in our geographic area. Both these strategies will help you achieve top rankings easier than promoting yourself simply as a real estate agent... Lots of people are doing that.
Blogging - People love Blogs, and so do search engines. Use your keywords in your blog title and also in your posts. I recently received #1 rankings on Google in less than 30 minutes after posting a blog post! (Yes, It can be done and I'll demonstrate that on a future post!) 20 years ago, I did research on Compuserve before moving to Savannah, GA. Obviously the web is much more prevalent and has much more information today.
Write Articles - Another strategy to position yourself as the expert and get the search engines to fall in love with you. Make sure to use your keywords in the headline and sprinkled throughout the article. Make an offer in the Bio section that brings people to your squeeze page and captures their email address so you can follow up with an autoresponder, for instance "7 Great Places to Hike and Bike When you Relocate to Austin"
Post Videos - Break out your camera and shoot these beautiful surroundings. Post your videos on YouTube and include a call to action at the end of your video that drives people to your squeeze page.
Take out a Toll Free Number - People still like to use the phone. They're cheap and it's easy to put up a message that drives people to your blog 24/7. Follow it up with a free DVD offer (all they pay is shipping) that tells all about relocating to Austin (and of course all about your services and your areas of expertise!)
Network and promote - Where do people go when they come to town? They go to new jobs, churches, temples and other places of worship. Welcome Wagon, Chamber of Commerce, Hair Salons, Rudy's for Breakfast Tacos! Get to know people at all these places and let them know that you specialize in helping people relocating from other areas.

Any of these strategies will help people find you while they're researching their relocation. But if you do them all, you will position yourself as the expert! Watch the leads pour in!

Tuesday only! Be part of a special event and reap valuable unpublicized rewards from Joe Vitale and Craig Perrine Inspired Marketing

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:16:37 -0500

"Inspired Marketing," a book written by two very dear friends, Craig Perrine and Joe Vitale, is launching today. Please join me in helping "Inspired Marketing" become a number 1 Amazon best seller, right now. I'll tell you how you can help in a moment, but first let me explain why this book is so important, and what it can do for you. Many of you know Joe Vitale. He has written dozens of best selling books such as "The Attractor Factor" and "Hypnotic Writing". He is also one of the featured experts in the mega best-selling book and DVD "The Secret". You have probably seen him on TV on Larry King and Donnie Deutsch. Craig Perrine is part of Joe's mastermind group and a masterful and highly sought-after business builder... He is also my personal mentor.  Joe and Craig's teachings have made a huge impact on the success of my business. Here are some of my accomplishments in the past 6 months that I attribute to what I have learned from Joe and Craig:

Developed and launched an innovative home selling business called BigBadHomeSale.com.
Received recognition from respected business publications such as The Wall Street Journal Online and the Austin Business Journal.
Have sold our product and consulted with home sellers around the world.
Worked with at least a dozen noted authors and business leaders.

But that's not all. In fact, one of the things that I am most proud of is that Joe and Craig selected our story, about how we used "Inspired Marketing" to sell our home and create a business, to be part of their InspiredMarketing.com web site. They even gave me an advance copy of the book and feature my testimonial in the front of the "Inspired Marketing" book and on their Amazon book listing. Now you understand why "Inspired Marketing" is so near and dear to me. So, here's how you can help "Inspired Marketing" become an Amazon Best Seller today (and this has to be done right now to help Joe and Craig): Go right now to http://inspiredmarketing.com/invitation and place your order. Joe and Craig will have many unpublicized offers on this page. These are bonuses that you cannot get anywhere else. But I'm going to sweeten the pot even more for my friends. If you buy 1 copy of "Inspired Marketing", today March 25, 2008, I will give you my personal bonus recording of an interview that I made with Craig where he uncovers marketing secrets that he uses to build business. His clients pay him thousands of dollars per day for this information, but I'm going to give it to you for free (I hope Craig doesn't see this!) If you buy 5 copies of "Inspired Marketing" (keep 1 and give the rest to your friends and clients), I will give you a complete package of my Big Bad Home Sale Gold program. This is a $297 package that includes our book, over 4 hours of audio recordings (some featuring Craig Perrine) and lots of other bonuses. It's a great example of "Inspired Marketing" that will inspire you to grow your business... whatever business you're in. Of course, if you have a house to sell, you'll learn how you can sell it for top price in 21 days or less! To take advantage of my gifts, all you have to do is buy your books from http://inspiredmarketing.com/invitation , today, March 25, 2008, and email me a copy of your Amazon receipt to steve {at} bigbadhomesale {dot} com. Please send me your receipt no later than April 4, 2008. Thank you very much. http://BigBadHomeSale.com P.S. With your help, we can make Joe Vitale and Craig Perrine's Inspired Marketing an Amazon Best Seller today.

Meet me in person at the worlds greatest internet marketing event

Steve Rosenbaum (Social Media Do's and Don'ts ) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:43:22 -0500

Agents pay me top dollar to create marketing strategies that attract more business for them. But truthfully, I'd much rather teach somebody new skills, than do the work for them.

That's why I want to share with you my absolute favorite internet marketing event. Watch this video and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about.

This April will mark the third time I've attended Armand Morins Big Seminar. Last year I generated over $250,000 in revenue within the first 6 weeks. In fact, the principles l Iearned were a big influence on our entire BigBadHomeSale.com business model that was written about in the Wall Street Journal online and also the Austin Business Journal. So mark your calendar now, and meet me in Atlanta for Armand Morins Big Seminar 11.

So, if you're coming, drop me an email. I'd love to meet you and discuss how we can help you improve your internet marketing strategies.