business strategy: Yelp Can Help Boast Good Service and Reputation - 11/28/12 02:51 AM
The old adage that no news is good news doesn’t apply to online reviews. A real estate agent who has a site with no reviews is worse than one with 20 reviews, even if a couple are negative. That’s because no reviews might be perceived as inactivity or indifference.
 
Asking a client for a review can be awkward, but it’s becoming more common and seen as a good way to circulate positive testimonials. If you’re uncomfortable asking someone for a review, include it in your wrap-up session via a questionnaire or inform your client that you’ll be sending one in … (10 comments)

business strategy: Wrap Up the Year with Profitable Planning - 11/20/12 01:17 AM
 
Tis the season for debate on whether putting a house on the market is a good move or not. While it’s true that the time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day is stressful and busy regarding holiday functions, the same can’t be said for real estate agents who wonder what to do during this traditionally slow time for selling.
 
What to do? Glad you asked.
 
 
 
 
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business strategy: Don't be Shy on Social Networks - 11/15/12 12:28 AM
 
There were 300,000 tweets a minute during the recent election’s peak hours, which shows the power and scope of social media. Even President Barack Obama’s first message to the public after learning of his re-election was on Twitter to his 23 million followers. We mere mortals can’t possibly attract that much attention, but using every device at our fingertips to generate leads is something all agents should be doing. Concentrating on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedInis a good start, so here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to optimizing your profile on those sites.
 
 
 
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business strategy: Do Your Leads Have Baby Fat? - 10/30/12 01:17 AM
 
 So while I'm at the gym trying to work off the day's stress (and the last 18 pounds to my goal), I'm looking around my gym, watching how everyone is working super hard to achieve their goal—whether they're trying to lose their baby weight, prep for the next marathon, or are just trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle—and I can't help but wonder, "Are my agents doing the same thing?" Not working out, I mean, although I'm sure a lot of them are doing that too. I mean in the sense of cultivating and following up on their leads, farming … (4 comments)

business strategy: Getting Started with Google AdWords - 10/24/12 05:18 AM
 
Most real estate agents are searching for ways to get their message out faster and more frequently. Naturally, Google has a way to help with that. Google AdWords is a pay-for-performance product that lets you determine your costs based on objectives. You pay only when a prospect clicks on your ad to visit your website, which also enables you to track visits. Since Google can target users by location, it allows you to reach home buyers and sellers in your areas. Whether the service is right for you depends on numerous factors.
 
 
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business strategy: Speaking of Effective Communication… - 10/09/12 01:18 AM
We’re nearing the end of another year and if one of your goals (or resolutions; remember them?) was to be a more effective communicator, how’d that go? If it’s still something you’re leery to talk about, perhaps you should because it’s an intricate part of real estate. There are numerous ways to deal with prospects and clients but most successful agents have good communication skills and a consistent presence.

If you have a lead-generating system, a fast response is essential. You don’t want it to be pressurized but people expect quick acknowledgment these days, especially online. So an introductory reply … (34 comments)

business strategy: Surviving the Changing Consumer Climate - 10/05/12 10:12 AM
Twenty years ago, homebuyers sought our help for information on prices, neighborhoods, schools, ordinances, market conditions, inspections, lenders and other items. Today they are seeking the same thing, but the delivery system is vastly different. In the past, they called or had to come to our office; today the majority of people want to get their information online.
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business strategy: Snap Out of Listless Listing Presentations! - 10/03/12 07:25 AM
I used to get bummed out when a listing presentation didn’t land a new client, but after being told (again and again) not to take things personally I decided to detach myself from the outcome. Since that decision I’ve felt a renewed vitality and have a more upbeat attitude from the start of the process. I don’t win ’em all but I always give my best effort, which is all you can do, right?
But before breaking out the charts, graphs and scripts, there are things to do before embarking on a meeting, such as determining the motivation of the … (2 comments)

business strategy: Stellar Social Media Practices - 09/24/12 09:58 AM
There are a lot of social media networks available to promote you and your business. Some work better with real estate-related topics than others, but three of the biggies that work with anything are Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
One of the best things about those three is their versatility because you can you use them individually or jointly to engage your audience, build a community, generate leads, create business and stay in touch with current and past clients. In addition, Facebook and Twitter are great for letting people help you spread the word. A recent webinar touched on a few … (1 comments)

business strategy: Short Sales Grow Business for Phoenix Agent - 09/19/12 09:31 AM
Numbers are an important part of real estate, with prices, closings, commissions, fees, interest rates and the like adding up to potential angst. Sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to reach certain goals that we lose track of our main mission. So why not disregard the numbers and do what you do best? You might be surprised how quickly your transactions pile up without the added
Kathleen Bliss Porter, an agent in the Phoenix-Scottsdale area, decided about four years ago to start concentrating on short sales as her primary way of doing business. Part of that was reality because … (0 comments)

business strategy: Managing Your Online Reputation - 09/05/12 04:04 AM

Our reputation is on the line at all times in the real estate world. That’s even truer today with it being online in multiple platforms and being dissected in many formats. How we handle our business and conduct ourselves has always been scrutinized, but now it’s available to a wider audience with a simple click of a mouse. So it’s important to monitor our reputation and business and make sure both are displayed in the best light. Internet and blogging tools have made it easy for prospects and clients to voice their opinions, which could be aimed at us. A … (6 comments)

business strategy: 8 (More) Cool Apps for Real Estate Agents - 08/15/12 04:54 AM
There are apps available that produce farting noises or make it look like you’re drinking a beer. Those might be fun to break out at a frat party but not so cool to show prospects or clients. There are a lot of intriguing and inane technological options these days but lets focus on the former since we’re all responsible adults, right?
As real estate professionals we need to be mobile and accessible, which is where the following apps can be useful. Some are free and some have a fee. We’ll leave it up to you to decide which might or … (2 comments)

business strategy: 5 Ways to Save a Tree—Use an Apple - 08/13/12 07:47 AM
As agents we’re sort of new to the technology party and there’ll always be tweaking by agents who want to blend old-school touches with the rapid wonders of gadgetry. One thing we definitely need to be is mobile, and a recent Webinar touted the iPad as a must-have device. That was backed by a claim from Mobile Peek that said mobile Internet usage will bypass desktop Internet usage by 2014.
Broker Krisstina Wise of The GoodLife Team in Austin, Texas, said that the 25 agents in her office are required to invest in an iPad and that her office, which has … (7 comments)

business strategy: Make a List, Check it Twice - 08/06/12 01:58 AM

I know the phrase “sphere of influence” has been around for a while but I never felt like it applied to me. It always sounded so empirical, like it only pertained to politicians, leaders of industry or celebrities. I work in real estate, so other than trying to convince someone to use my services, how much influence do I have? Do I even have a sphere?
As it turns out, yes. And you have one too, even if you might not know it. So it’s time to dig in and use it, because statistics show that a sphere of … (2 comments)

business strategy: Merge Highlights Your Value to Clients - 08/03/12 05:07 AM

What have you done for me lately? If you get tired of clients asking you what you’ve been doing in the last week, day or hour to sell their house, there’s something you can do other than scream or try to recall from memory all the work you’ve put into the effort.
A recent Webinar touted Merge, a new app that has practical uses for Realtors. Much of the activity we do is behind the scenes, so the perception remains that we don’t work hard enough for our commission. Using the Merge app, however, would enable us to report … (1 comments)

business strategy: Do Something Extra - 07/27/12 07:35 AM

The best things in life are free. Or so I’ve heard. The past few years we’ve all probably felt like we worked for nothing because of the economic downturn. But if you’re handed lemons, you might as well make lemonade, and sometimes gestures big and small can make the difference in whether or not we attract clients or seal the deals.
Reports from HouseHunt agents and real estate tracking agencies are showing an uptick in activity in 2012, so more people are getting off the sidelines and entering the market. Are you prepared to do all you can – … (2 comments)

business strategy: Are You an Eeyore or a Tigger? - 07/16/12 02:11 AM
Dead men tell no tales but they can provide inspiration long after they’re gone. Such is the case with Dr. Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh who died four years ago this month. But the message he delivered after being given a terminal diagnosis of pancreatic cancer 11 months before he died lives on thanks to videos and a book he co-authored on achieving dreams.
One such message came on “Oprah” during his final months. Paush, whose inspirational spirit became public after he delivered “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” made it clear to … (2 comments)

business strategy: Posting on Google+ - 06/25/12 04:07 AM
Our circle of friends expands and tightens over time, from childhood, high school and college to new neighbors, friends and business colleagues. Google Plus has a way for you to keep up and modify that circle with a feature called – drum roll, please – circles. The feature is intended for you to share content with the right people and follow content posted by people you find interesting or are familiar with.
No one in a circle can see who else is in the circle, and they also don’t know what you’ve named the circle or how many other people are … (4 comments)

business strategy: Who ya gonna call? Ghostwriters! - 06/22/12 01:46 AM

I’ve always liked to write and, even though I have the gift for gab (or so I’m told), I’m comfortable expressing myself via the written word. But some people aren’t so they shun that type of communication, which can really stifle your business message in today’s texting, blogging and social media world.
While it’s important to get out in public and display your people skills whenever possible, social media is here to stay so developing a knack for blogging or electronic communication is crucial to stay ahead – or at least keep pace – with the competition.
Blogging is another … (6 comments)

business strategy: Pretty Woman - 06/20/12 02:58 AM
There’s a good chance Julia Roberts won’t be one of your real estate clients. If she was, though, you’d likely go to great lengths to secure – and keep – her business. A scene from one of her movies points out, however, that you should treat all potential clients the same because you never know what could happen. Remember the portion of “Pretty Woman” when Roberts’ character was snubbed by a clerk at a high-end boutique because of her appearance and unpolished dialogue? That clerk was later embarrassed when Roberts returned to the store carrying shopping bags with a few thousand … (2 comments)