As I wrote about yesterday, I just finished my training for the CDPE. It was wonderful training and I really learned a great deal. I am making plans to implement this program into my company systems and procedures as just one additional benefit I can provide for my clients.

The first thing I did when we returned from training was to set up a google group. This group is for WI CDPEs only and is an invite/owner confirm group. You can check it out at http://groups.google.com/group/cdpe-wi or click on the icon below.

The next thing I did was to do some reserch on available domain names for my area of speciality. I recommend you look for domains that are consumer searchable phrases. Many times the consumer thinks their only option is foreclosure, so be sure to look for names that may include the word "foreclsoure" as well. Consumers don't typically know anything about CDPEs so they won't search for that name. (*TIP - It never hurts to purchase those domains that are local to you with CDPE-cityname.com to keep your competition from getting it, though!). Think like your target audience. What will the neighbor search for if they are in financial trouble. Then nab as many of those domains as you can afford (remember the tip above!).

Check back for our next helpful tip for establishing your new CDPE Business!

Go to http://www.CDPEassistance.com to see the Top 5 Foreclosure States and learn how you can put your CDPE to work for you.

I am sooo stoked! I took the CDPE training (Certified Distressed Property Expert) in Madison last week. What an amazing opportunity this was for me and for my clients! The class was perfect! Our Trainer was Jeff Firnstahl from Minneapolis, He was fantastic and patient and I think our class leared a great deal to help me

I'm very excited this morning. Had a wonderful 4th of July holiday. Spent time with my family. Grilled burgers. Saw the parade. Watched the fireworks! It was great. It's always hard to come back to the office after such a nice weekend! BUT!!! I have a lot of work to do before I leave for Denver!

I am really looking forward to the STAR POWER Conference. The full agenda has been posted on the Conference website now! There are dozens of great topics and speakers. I heard from Brett Ellis the other day and he is going to be there as an attendee and speaker. He is a social marketing guru so I can't wait to sit in on his session. You can check him out on Saturday at 11 a.m. Social Networking- Is it Working for You? Twitter, FaceBook, LinkedIn...Are you making the most of these zero-based marketing channels?Brett is co-hosting this panel with other social marketing experts Cathy Russell, Mike Parker and Mario Romero. If you are reading this blog, you are obviously using social marketing, but are you taking full advantage of the tools they offer? I'm sure we will find out!

As a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, I really look forward to the sessions that will help me support my clients better. Another session I am looking forward to is Listings: How to use Stats, Tracking and Fundamental Pricing Principles - Moderated by Sandra Nickel, panelists are Todd Buckley, John Bendall, Martin Bouma, Gail Bass and Heidi Hines.

It's important to track your stats so you know where your advertising efforts and dollars are paying off. If you set up a single property website for your listing, it's advisable to use several email addresses to track the listing better. So you might use info@123mainstreet.com for the main address. Now if you advertise the site in the newspaper, etc. you might want to use something like news@123mainstreet.com. This will help you decide if your advertising efforts are paying off. If you do a mailing or upload the listing to an online location on a certain day, check your website traffic after that effort. Did you see an increase? If not, you might be wasting time on locations that are not producing good results.

I'm also going to check out Web Leads: Generation and Conversion - Moderated by Galand Haas, Panelists are Rob Levy, Sam Miller and Tom Cain. Working leads is one of the most time consuming parts of your day. Knowing how to effectively convert these leads is paramount to your business. Rob Levy is an industry leader and I know he will have many tips that I can apply to my client's business platforms.

Of course, this post for suggested sessions would not be complete without a plug for our very own REVAs to the Rescue sessions! Join Kathy Goldman and Kim Hughes for a panel discussion on using Real Estate Assistants to grow and streamline your business. I know you will be getting many great ideas to implement into your business process' but your time is valuable too. This is how your Real Estate Assistant can help. REVAs to the Rescue is offering attendees a free 1-hour consultation following the Conference. It's simple to do! Get your code at the Conference, visit www.revastotherescue.com and enter your code. We will get back to you to schedule your appointment.

If you haven't already registered, go to REGISTER HERE you can use this code: HUGHES09 to receive a discount on your registration!

I hope to see you there!

I spent an hour or so this afternoon on Active Rain just reading about Social Networking policies, practices, marketing plans and Best Methods for effective Social Networking. I had to laugh at some of the comments and concerns but read many effective suggestions for making the most of your Social Networking.

These tips have been posted in different venues, but you can never repeat it enough so you do not waste your time in your Networking efforts and so you present the best image possible. Here are 8 Tips for Effective Social Networking.

1) What is your purpose for Networking? This will help you decide which networks to register with. Remember that any situation is a potential sale! If you like dogs and are networking with other dog owners, keeping the "relationship" 80% personal and 20% professional will allow your readers to get to know you on a personal level first and a professional level secondly. For example: I have two teenage boys. They are on summer vacation and taking advantage of Wisconsin's unusually hot weather with a Slip and Slide. Check out their video on YouTube and the Muddy Muddy Mess they made of themselves! Very funny and oh so "Boys"!!! www.YouTube.com/watch?v=oEGEWn5kEBY

2) What information will your readers find valuable and interesting? Obviously you should provide information that is helpful and pertinent to the group you are with. Again, personal then professional. Let people know who you are and what your areas of interest and expertise are.

3) How am I unique from my competition? What can I be telling readers that will set me apart from the typical "here's a new listing" post! It's okay to post listings, but you don't want to be the guy who only posts when they have a new listing or price change! Be yourself, be casual, but be knowledgeable and creative. This is what will set you apart.

4) How much information is too much? This really addresses the issue of what type of comments you can/should post to your main groups. It the information appropriate to the forum for which you are sharing?

5) Do you want your family and friends to be posting their personal information on your Facebook page? Remember that your associations are what your readers will remember. For instance, my nephew is in college. I ask him to "filter" his casual comments on my Facebook page because it's not necessary for my readers to know he was out late last night!!

6) Comment and remark on other posts. If all you do is spew your info, you don't form relationships. You lecture. So socialize in your networks and groups. Comment to let people know you are there. Comments that are controversial get you attention, but be sure it's the right kind of attention!

7) Align yourself with other Top Producers to gain credibility. Read their blogs and post comments accordingly. When you align yourself with these experts you gain additional exposure. Read and subscibe to the STAR POWER blog or the Cyber Star blog. These are just two organizations of the technology savvy people who will improve your image and give you lots of great ideas.

Finally, have a plan! Take the time to create a Marketing Plan. Know what you wamnt to accomplish, decide how often and where to post and be consistent! If you need help with this, hire a Real Estate Virtual Assistant. Visit www.REVAsToTheRescue.com to find a REVA who is able to help you with this or any other details of improving your business.

If you are interested in going to STAR POWER Conference in Denver, we can help you cut costs with this discount code:  Hughes09.

This was a great tip from a gentleman who is very familiar with SEO! I am going to be running this check on all my client's websites. Feel free to use this tool on your own site!

I have been a real estate assistant since about 2002. I have taken great pride in being able to niche so as to apply all my efforts in one specialty area. This gives me a great deal more focus and allows me to really take advantage of training and educational opportunities because I know they apply specifically to my areas of expertise.

This brings me to my point about staying on the cutting edge of real estate technology. The world is whizzing by daily. There are so many technology advances in all industries, but do you stay on top of what can help your clients? Do you have a website? Is it optimized? Do you take advantage of FREE Syndication opportunties for your client's listings? Are you utizing online Social Networking websites to grow your business? These are just a few of the resources that you should be on top of.

I am looking forward to attending the STAR POWER Annual Conference, in Denver, July 29 - Aug. 1,  to take advantage of the incredible opportunites provided there to learn more about all Social Networking, Growing Your Business, Taking Advantage of the Changing Real Estate Market and, my very own favorite, Doing More with Less (I will be speaking on this panel with my fellow Real Estate Assistant, Kim Hughes)! This is an incredible Real Estate Education oportunity 

If you are not already planning to attend, this would be an excellent opportunity for you to network and learn from the best! Go to STAR POWER Conference.com to register! Did you know you will also receive $4000 in free gifts?? Register now!

It is official and I am sooo excited to be part of the event! We at REVA Online have been preparing for this event for quite some time.

I am attending the 20th Anniversary Conference of STAR POWER to be held in Denver, CO July 28th - August 2nd! Talk about excited! If you don't know about STAR POWER, let me explain. The STAR POWER System is a time-proven idea sharing network that continuously offers cutting-edge systems and techniques from nearly 300 top working real estate agents from across the country. These are top producers who average more than 200 transactions per year.Members share their successes with other success-minded agents, from which they can choose those strategies and methods to implement into their own business that best fit their market, style, and personality. STAR POWER founder, Howard Brinton, offers practical and proven tips and techniques to help members succeed!

As a Real Estate Assistant who has several STAR Clients, it is so exciting to participate in this event on so many levels. I will be there as a guest AND as a Sponsor! Kim Hughes and Kathy Goldman are bringing exposure to the services of REVA Roundtable members by co-hosting two Breakout Sessions on Virtual Assistance. Participating REVA Roundtable members have offered to provide a Free One-hour Consultation to each STAR POWER attendee who would like to find out more about Virtual Assistance on a one-on-one basis.

Want to attend STAR POWER? Would you like to go for less money? Use the following code when you register and you will recieve our REVA Roundtable Discount! hughes09