NikNik 's Blog

The Real Estate Tweet Plan That Won't Cramp Your Style

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:37:34 -0600

Now more than ever real estate twits are working twice as hard. Do you really have time to tweet all day while you’re showing 18 houses, writing multiple contracts, and consulting with your clients? If you do, great…don’t bother reading the rest of this article. The Real Estate Tweet Plan is only for twits looking to organize and better balance social media marketing strategies.

RE TWEET PLAN DISCLAIMER: This plan may work great for those with little time in their day to tweet. But for some, taking time to organize tweets may actually be more time consuming that just tweeting off the cuff. This is NOT a plan for spontaneous tweeters and those of us that have adopted Twitter as a member of the family. This plan is for twits that want to tweet but are finding it hard to do so during their work day. Just remember, this is one Real Estate Tweet Plan example, what does yours look like?

Real Estate Tweet Plan created for @RENonna:

(1) Choose Twitter Check-in Times - @RENonna checks in with Twitter every morning with her coffee from 6:30-7:00am and every evening after dinner with her glass of red wine from 7-8pm. During those times, she (1) learns about her followers and chooses to follow back or not, (2) selects new followers she’s interested in and can learn from, (3) updates her tweetlists, (4) looks for helpful resources/media, (5) schedules her Daily 5.

(2) Start w/ your Daily 5 - @RENonna’s Daily 5 (which are her interest & expertise topics) include: (1) short sale advice & tips, (2) Pleasanton (local) events, (3) seasonal homeowner tips, (4) great buys (deals uncovered while previewing), and (5) weekender attractions. Other real estate specific topics could include: neighborhood stats & info, local tax and legal updates, credit tips and advice, etc.

(3) Make a Tweetlist(s) - @RENonna creates a list of pre-planned tweets that she will either sporadically tweet or schedule throughout the day. Here’s her Tweetlist for a given day:

Tweet 1: Short sale tip: Remember to consult with your CPA - could make the difference between a tax consequence, or not.

Tweet 2: Pleasanton Holiday Food Drive, donations of non-perishables can be made here: http://budurl.com/tat5.

Tweet 3: Winter Weather Tips for Maintaining Curb Appeal: http://budurl.com/bjvl

Tweet 4: Local steal found on tour! Pleasanton charmer- 1234 Rose Ave, 4 bd 3 ba, 2450 sqft, .25 acre lot, walk to downtown, bank-owned $325,000!

Tweet 5: Ice skating in downtown Walnut Creek begins this weekend, check here for details: http://budurl.com/erdd

(4) Schedule Tweets – Keep your tweetlist at your desk or on you if you’re mobile. If you don’t want to manually tweet, use Tweetlater or Twuffer to schedule your tweets. Schedule them for time periods you will be focusing on work tasks only (or if you are on a business trip, vacation, etc). For example, @RENonna set up her Daily 5 to be tweeted from Tweetlater at: 9:00am, 10:30am, 1:15pm, 2:30pm, and 4:15pm. @RENonna also created Bud URLs for all the resource links she shares so she can track her follower activity. If she notices that she’s not getting much local traffic from the morning tweets, then she may choose to schedule more tweets in the afternoon.

(5) Create an auto-welcome message - @RENonna would like to personally review and choose her followers. But she won’t be able to do that working in the field showing homes most days. So she plans to investigate her new followers during her Twitter Check-in times. In the meantime, she would still like to send a basic ONE-TIME “thanks for following” or “welcome” message to her new interested party. So @RENonna composed a welcome message, “Thanks for following me. Nice to meet you, virtually!” and set it up as an auto-welcome message from Tweetlater to all new followers. NOTE: @RENonna is only sending a quick welcome message, NOT auto-following back. She waits until she can personally review new follower profiles, Websites, updates, etc. to make her choice on whether to follow back or not. OFF THE HOOK: Instead of just creating an auto message…include a “Welcome Video”.

(6) Supplement w/ spontaneous Tweets – In between your scheduled pre-planned Tweets, you may find yourself with an occasional opportunity to conversationally tweet. Do it! Or if you have an experience or current event that you want to share, by all means, share away. You can also use your Twitter Check-in times to converse and share your most recent thoughts, ideas, ramblings, or happenings. The point is, when you can and want to share, get back in the Twitter conversation. Twitter will be there…most times.

ONE LAST TIP: Be sure to aggregate your Tweets on your real estate blog and other social profiles. (my example)You can get more mileage out of your Tweets by sharing them beyond the Twitosphere –with your blog readers and other networks (Facebook, FriendFeed, etc.).

This post is dedicated to Jeremy Blanton...who never gives up! Seriously! You rock!

Would you be my...could you be my...won't you be my neighborhood expert?!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:18:49 -0500

Won't you be my neighbor?! Mr. Rogers had the right idea...get out there and get to know your neighbors! Help out, lend a hand, and get involved in neighborhood events. He made visits to local business owners and helpful neighborhood role models. Mr. Rogers always rallied his neighbors together. But what if Mr. Rogers doesn't live in your neighborhood? And for whatever reason your neighborhood doesn't have that one person that can bring the community together. That's where YOU come in!

If you are already farming a specific neighborhood, or preparing to, I suggest trying a Neighborhood Newsletter. Whether you walk it or send it, neighborhood news is a great way to reach out and market to your farm. What better way to get connected with a neighborhood than to share what's going on and take part in the action.

Getting started with a format: If you are working on a tight budget, I usually suggest starting with a Publisher template. You can easily customize a Publisher template by including your logo and brand, modifying the colors to match both, and even swapping out the banner image with your own design. If you have access to a graphics designer or other marketing specialist, you could always pay for a custom designed template that you can then reuse each week or month.

Content to include: The basics: your contact info and picture, industry or market updates, featured listings, comparables, local events, weather, interviews, etc. To find out what's going on in your area, visit local city Websites and blogs, check local papers and magazines, and visit local businesses. You'd be surprised how much info you can find on the bulletin board of your neighborhood Starbucks. Start walking your neighborhood and introducing yourself to those you meet. Visit local parks and recreation areas and talk with parents. At home moms are a great wealth of information. Also, drop by the local school offices, library and community center. All usually have monthly newsletters packed with local event dates and info for getting involved.

Leading the way: Let your offline marketing lead consumers to your online marketing. Make sure that you highlight your real estate blog or Website in your neighborhood newsletter. You can also provide limited listing info in your newsletter (as a teaser), but then link to your blog or Website....or even a MarketSite. Hold a weekly or monthly contest. Provide a link to your blog/Website for your neighborhood readers to enter for a chance to win dinner at a local restaurant or wine from a local winery, etc. There are a great many ways here for you to tie in local business promotion, as well as to promote yourself as the local neighborhood expert. Be sure to print extra copies of your neighborhood newsletters for distribution at neighborhood businesses.

Delivery options: Of course, printing and walking your farm is the greatest way to get to know your market area. Face to face meetings give you the opportunity to make real connections. However, mailing or sending your newsletters via email can also be very effective.

So, take a tip from Fred Rogers and make the most of this beautiful day! Start by taking a little time to create a neighborhood newsletter. If done correctly and sent consistently, your newsletter will be an invaluable resource to your farm, connect your offline and online marketing, and coin you as the neighborhood expert. Not bad for a day's work!

Easily Brand Your Online Single Property Showcase

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:50:24 -0500

Well, it's easy when you use MyMarketWare. We have expanded our selection of single property Website templates. Our current collection of branded single property Website designs include:

Advance Realty, Alain Pinel, Century 21, Coldwell Banker, Coldwell Banker Previews, Coldwell Banker Residential, Crye Leike, Empire, Envirian, ERA, Exit Realty, Frank Howard Allen, GMAC, Intero, Keller Willians, Long & Foster, Lyon, Pac Union, Prudential, Prudential Fine Homes, RE/MAX, RE/MAX Collection, Real Living, Realty Executives, Realty Experts, Sotheby's & Weichert.

If your franchise is not present, no worries. We also have several non-branded (classic) designs, as well as commercial headers. To brand a classic design, select your color and design preference and then add your company logo.

To get started creating a single property showcase for your listing, click here. It's free! Create a site and use it to win your next listing. Pay only when you publish a site and gain online exposure for your listing immediately!

MyMarketWare May Special…get the coupon code for ActiveRainers only!!!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:14:09 -0500

I love the month of May! Not just because I get super spoiled for Mother's Day and my birthday...wait, yes that's exactly why I love May. I actually claim the entire month for ME! I can do no wrong in May! Well, rather than hoarding all the treats to myself....I thought I'd spoil my rockin' rainer friends!

So, if you haven't tried creating a single property showcase for any of your listings yet....now is the time to give MyMarketWare a try! Our sites retail for just $39 each. But for the rest of May, ActiveRainers have their own coupon code discounting each site to only $32 each! The coupon code is "rainersrock". You will only be prompted to enter the code once you have created your site and are ready to PUBLISH.

If you are not already familiar with MyMarketWare, click here to visit and learn more. In a nutshell, we provide a premier single property Website solution coupled with a marketing blog. We give you a great way to market and syndicate all your listings, as well as support and marketing ideas. With MyMarketWare, YOU can easily create a single property Website dedicated toward showcasing a listing and the surrounding community. Check out these top 7 reasons for using MyMarketWare:

(1) 84% of buyers on are online and 68% of buyers are just as interested in the surrounding neighborhood as the home. So, we know buyers are (1) online and (2) want home and community info. MyMarketWare showcases your listing and syndicates it online, as well as includes a wealth of community info based on the property address.

(2) Sellers are greatly concerned over how long it will take to sell their home in this market. MyMarketWare sites will impress sellers and how that you know how to market innovatively.

(3) MarketSites provide you with all the features and details that can best showcase a listing: add up to 100 high resolutions pictures, video or virtual tours, link to your blog or Website, auto links to over 70 area amenities, RSS feed, etc.

(4) MyMarketWare provides support and cutting edge marketing tips on the MyMarketWare Blog. Check out the training tutorials and out helpful marketing solutions. Our videos can walk you through adding video and links to your site, as well as show you how to post your listings on Craigslist. More to come! We also have an 800 number for questions and online trainings available.

(5) Cost is only $32 (with the ActiveRain coupon: "rainersrock") for a single site (domain and hosting is for one year).

(6) NO RISK, create a free account and a site...publish only after you win the listing.

(7) The MyMarketWare bottomline:

Win more listings
Gain exposure for them
Distinguish yourself in your market

MyMarketWare May Special: Create a MarketSite for your listing for only $32! Use the ActiveRain coupon code: "rainersrock".

12 Quick Tips for Eco-Friendly Real Estate Marketing

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:11:10 -0500

You don't have to be inspired by Earth Day to make sustainable marketing choices! In fact, you can market yourself and your real estate business in several eco-friendly ways all year long! Here are 12 quick tips to get you started:

(1) Start a real estate blog. Market your expertise, highlight listings, and develop a community online.

(2) Send eNewsletters to your sphere with market updates, community and neighborhood info, etc.

(3) Use recycled paper for print marketing.

(4) Reuse paper in your office. Consider adding a recycle bin next to your office printer and reuse paper for your own use (comps, prospecting, etc.).

(5) Avoid printing large quantities of collateral that goes out of date frequently.

(6) Send thank-yous via email or flash animated eCards.

(7) Laminate open house signs (remove shoes, turn off lights, etc.) so they can be reused time and again.

(8) Utilize social networks to share your message, brand, blog articles, etc. (ActiveRain, RealTown, Zolve, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.)

(9) Become a paperless mobile agent with VREO Dashboard. Consider the referrals you can potentially obtain by providing great paperless service to your environmentally conscious clients.

(10) Refill ink cartridges. Just bring them to your local office supply store and they will refill them for you!

(11) Become an EcoBroker.

(12) Marketing your listings online with MyMarketWare! Create a Website dedicated to your listing and syndicate to Trulia, Google, Yahoo, Propsmart, Oodle, Craiglist and more!

A few ideas for an Eco-Friendly Office:

(1) Recycle old computers, mobile phones, printers, etc. Click here to learn more.

(2) Use a water service that will refill a large water jug vs. buying bulk water bottles.

(3) Caravan with others for Broker's Tours. Save $ on gas and act more sustainably at the same time!

Thanking Blog Commenters…Let Me Count the Ways!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:43 -0500

I love shopping at Nordstrom. I usually find exactly what I'm looking for there. And if not, their helpful staff will find what I need and ship it to me for free. I've never had an issue returning anything either! And after every good dose of retail therapy, I receive a personalized thank you card in the mail. Now that's service!

I'm taking note (literally) of the exceptional service and appreciation Nordstrom provides to its customers. And I'm applying it to my bag of blogging goodies! If Nordstrom can take the time to thank customers for purchasing items, then I can surely thank my blog readers that take time to leave thoughtful comments. Not the "great job" or "awesome post" kind of comments, but those rockin' ActiveRainers that take the extra time to give you some real feedback. Here is my new comment thank you policy that I will employ here at ActiveRain, and at MyTechOpinion and MyMarketWare.

Thanking Commenters:

(1) Reply back in a timely fashion to the thoughtful comments or real feedback made on posts. Same day is best!

(2) Send a personal thank you email. (Very easy to do within the ActiveRain network!)

(3) For those of you that have an additional Wordpress blog, use the Comment Relish Plug-in and set up your custom auto-email responder for all first time commenters on your blog.

(4) Be helpful. If someone asks you a question, provide an answer, reference, or resource.

(5) And make comments on your commenter's blog. The best form of thanking someone in my opinion, is to return the favor. So give real feedback to others.

Now get out there are thank your commenters! Because what goes around comes around....and a little comment karma never hurts!

Brand Every Email with eStationery: 2 Great Options

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:08:51 -0500

Do you take every opportunity to brand yourself? What about every email? If not, you should. Branding every email you send with custom eStationery is great way to promote yourself, your blog, and ultimately, your real estate business.

If you're not already familiar with eStationery, just take a look at the example up top. You'll notice that it looks just like letterhead. The only difference being, that this eStationery header is loaded with live links! I link to my blogs and social networks. But I know many agents that link to not only their blog or Website, but also include a map link to their office. Some title reps I work with link to helpful forms, office locations, and even a direct link to open an order.

eStationery can also come in the form of an email signature. Both are advantageous to real estate agents and both usually include contact info, a picture, and live links. It just depends on whether you prefer a letterhead layout or signature layout. Estationery innovators are popping up all the time with new ways to send eStationery, new features to include, and new designs. Two great options for creating eStationery include InboxFX and Blogsigs.

InboxFX can brand your eStationery to match your blog or Website. The designs are professional and the functions are even better. eStationery runs the risk of getting caught in spam filters and being truncated. With inboxFX, you never have to worry because it works every time! The InboxFX SMTP mail server will dynamically wrap every email with your custom template. And Webmail users are good to go too! Click here to learn more about InboxFX.

Blogsigs will link your latest blog post to your email signature. This is a great way to immediately share your best industry info and local content from your blog. Blogsigs is currently available for Windows, Firefox, and Mac users. To learn more about Blogsigs and to download for yourself, click here.

It's NOT MySpace. It's Just ActiveRain, Customized!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 15:49:42 -0500

You may have noticed a slight change in my ActiveRain blog. I have redesigned it to match MyTechOpinion. I love consistency and it's a difficult task to brand myself cleanly among all the social networks and blogs I manage. So when Brad Carroll posted his AR Custom Blog Generator I immediately went to work! Well, actually I turned my desk chair around and tapped Reggie until I could get him to fiddle with my CSS (get your minds out of the gutter). It's all tech all the time over here!

Anyway, Reggie has a bit of experience in the world of coding. I don't pretend to know what he does...but I definitely have an opinion about it. I sticky note him all the time with site maintenance ideas and improvements for our blogs and other online profiles. At any rate, I think he did a fabulous job and I'm happy with the results. I will NOT be adding any music or rotating GIFS....this is NOT MySpace. It's still ActiveRain...just customized for NikNik.

Happy Spring: Chicks Love MyTechOpinion

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:38:28 -0500

Chicks love the NEW MyTechOpinion...and we hope you will too!

Just a quick announcement! After several late nights, MyTechOpinion v2 has launched! We have infused our new design with more real estate technology content, better article organization, individual author pages, and new social media tools and video.

Please stop by and let us know YOUR OPINION of MTO v.2! And Happy Spring!

How to Add Your Real Estate Listing to Craigslist

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:19:51 -0500

Trying to add your property showcase flyer to Craigslist? If so, watch this quick video for instruction. Click here to create your online property showcase at MyMarketWare. For more helpful marketing advice visit the MyMarketWare Blog. To view all the current how-to videos, check out the Training section at MyMarketWare. If you have a question or a video request to help streamline your MarketSite user experience, email Nicole@MyMarketWare.com.

How to Embed Video in Your Online Property Showcase

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:14:25 -0500

Would you like to spice up your next online property showcase with Video? Watch this quick tutorial before getting started. Click here to create your online property showcase at MyMarketWare. For more helpful marketing advice visit the MyMarketWare Blog. To view all the current how-to videos, check out the Training section at MyMarketWare. If you have a question or a video request to help streamline your MarketSite user experience, email Nicole@MyMarketWare.com.

How to Add Website Links to Your Online Property Showcase

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:09:32 -0500

Add hyperlocal content to your online property showcase with links to community events, historical info, photo tours and more. Watch this video to learn how. Click here to create your online property showcase at MyMarketWare. For more helpful marketing advice visit the MyMarketWare Blog. To view all the current how-to videos, check out the Training section at MyMarketWare. If you have a question or a video request to help streamline your MarketSite user experience, email Nicole@MyMarketWare.com.

What is an RSS feed? And how do I make the most of them?

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:32:41 -0600

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication". You may notice the RSS symbol when visiting your favorite blogs and Websites. When you click on an RSS symbol, you will be prompted to obtain the feed for the blog or Website you have visited. You can streamline this process and make the most of your feeds by creating an iGoogle home page and/or for advanced users, a Google Reader. See examples:

iGoogle Home Page

Google Reader

Once you have set up your iGoogle home page or Google Reader, you will have a much easier time when collecting all your favorite feeds. Now when you click on the RSS feed, you will be prompted to add it to Google. Occasionally, you will need to copy and paste the feed URL into Google. Below are 2 recent screen shot examples of adding a feed:

There are many great benefits to adding and sharing RSS feeds. A major benefit of collecting all your favorite feeds is that you basically create a custom online newspaper with all your favorite news and industry sources. No more traipsing across the Internet to find all the best articles....they are delivered directly to you!

Real estate agents you know the importance of "location, location, location". There's no better location to market freely to your client sphere then on their own iGoogle home page or reader. So save your marketing budget and share your RSS feed with your clients, friends, and family. Encourage your blog visitors to subscribe to your RSS feed. By doing this, you've just become a staple on your visitors personal home page! Now that's one fabulous call to action: build your subscribers and lower marketing costs.

If you think RSS is not for you, I urge you to just give it a try. This is the future of content! And I'm afraid that with over 100 million blogs out there, we could all use a great tool for organizing the best Internet resources and weeding out all the useless crap you are bombarded with.

To better understand RSS, watch this rockin' video.

Get a FREE virtual assistant today!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:29:20 -0600

Virtual Assistants are gaining popularity as our business and home schedules are becoming exceedingly busier. Laura Monroe and Jen Wilson are 2 human virtual assistants offering great skills and services for real estate professionals. They can keep you organized and keep your real estate business on track with great marketing and technology assistance.

But we don't want to burden our skilled assistants with our barrage of "to-dos" when their efforts could be better focused on target marketing and other important tasks. So here's a way you can free your assistants of the mundane. Get yourself a FREE virtual assistant at IWantSandy.com.

You may be a master of your Google or Outlook calendar, but there are always items that don't make their way to your task list. IWantSandy is a FREE personal assistant system that works via your email. Need to be reminded to pick up your dry cleaning at 4:00? Send an email to your personal "Sandy" email address and "she" will send you a reminder. Have a work "to-do" to add to your task list? Simply email it to Sandy and she can add it to your task list for the day and even sync it with Outlook. Sandy will take your requests in plain English via email, SMS, Twitter or Jott.

Don't sweat the small stuff any longer! Get organized and get Sandy! She's got your back. To learn more about Sandy, visit her at IWantSandy.com.

Learn from the Longtail....and get Hyperlocal!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 14:58:17 -0600

Hyperlocal is a term referring to "news coverage of community-level events usually overlooked by mainstream media outlets." Basically all the other stuff people in a niche area want to know. And providing hyperlocal information within your real estate marketing can make you a sought after resource! Especially if you are sharing your hyperlocal content in the format buyers want it in...online! Does your real estate blog, Website, and/or single property Websites include hyperlocal content? If not, you could be missing a golden opportunity to market your expert niche knowledge!

And, I'm not talking school scores and your basic relocation guides here. But real pertinent information and events for your niche market. Restaurant and local business reviews are a good place to start. The options are numerous and depend on your area. And don't stop at links to helpful resources; be sure to include community pictures and video. You'd be surprised what you can find on YouTube when searching your niche area.

Hyperlocal Content - List of examples

How you choose to share your hyperlocal content and in what format are entirely up to you. Your blog or Website could have a community or neighborhood page with a description, pictures, links to resources, and even video. But you can get even more specific in your blog posts and by adding hyperlocal information to your single property Websites. For example, MarketSites already include over 70 links to nearby amenities, making adding a few hyperlocal bits and pieces a snap!

Update Your MyBlogLog "Recent Reader" Widget

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Sat, 16 Feb 2008 10:18:43 -0600

I'm sporting a shiny new "Recent Reader" widget today thanks to MyBlogLog. Not only is the look updated, but now we have features!

The new MyBlogLog Recent Reader widget comes in seven colors and 2 layouts. However, MyBlogLog has assured me that we will be able to apply custom skins in the near future.

There is a nifty new flyout box which appears when scrolling over a reader avatar. The flyout box provides additional details about the reader and allows you to add that person to your contacts via a quick link. You can also click through to visit a reader's profile or community. NOTE: You will need to adjust the flyout box depending on the layout of your blog.

MyBlogLog members can now easily add themselves to a site's community by clicking on the "add" button at the bottom of the widget.

To learn more about how to add this new widget to your blog and for information about known glitches, visit MyTechOpinion.

Love me...love me not! : A Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:25:18 -0600

Some of you may dismiss Valentine's Day as just another Hallmark holiday....but guys let's hope you're smarter than that. You do not want your wife or girlfriend calling her friends and telling them how poorly you rate on the romance meter! Instead, go for the gusto! We want to hear your mushy love thoughts whispered in our ears....but we'll also settle for a heartfelt card or email. Valentine's Day doesn't have to break the bank. After all, it is the thought that counts.....and if you put plenty of thoughts into your actions then you won't need this list. But for everyone else, here are a few gifts that are sure to make your sweetheart feel loved and adored this Valentine's Day!

For techies & music lovers: New Nano iPod

It's the newest addition to the Apple iPod family and it comes in a variety of cool colors, including pink. The Nano is available right now online and at your local Apple store. It features 8GB of storage and retails for $199. The two-inch display will allow users to take advantage of viewing the new iTunes movie rentals as well as television shows and music videos. Consider a pre-loaded the Nano with your special love songs.

For the chef in the family: Heart-shaped Cookware

This year, Williams-Sonoma outdid itself. New products on the shelves range from a hot pink fitted apron embroidered with your love phrase for $34, to heart-shaped cupcake molds and cookie cutters. And if you want to skip the kitchen altogether, try the Personalized Individual Heart Cupcake Boxes, Colossal Caramel Apple, or the Love Bug Truffles.

For the home: Heart-shaped Throw Pillows

These bright pastel pillows from SofaGarden were inspired by the small heart-shaped Necco sugar confections. Each pillow, which measures about 13-by-13 inches, holds a sweet message typically found on the confections, such as Hug Me, Kiss Me or Be Mine. Cyber shoppers can customize a message up to 10 characters. The pillows cost $35 each and come in green, orange, lavender, pink, white or yellow. Sofagarden.com also makes heart-shaped pillows covered in velvet swirl material for $55 each.

For the home or office: Flower or Cookie Arrangement

Surprise your sweetheart at home or work, or make a client's home smell sweet with a flower arrangement. 1-800-Flowers.com is offering a variety of specials on all their flower bouquets. Right now you can buy 1 dozen and get another free, with the vase included! Check out the "Romantic Rose" special and the "Reflections of Love" bouquet. If you're like me, you'd rather your bouquet be an edible selection. So also check out my favorite cookie bouquets by Cookies by Design.

For the Spicy or the Cozy: Pjs

Take your pick! Guys....we LOVE your attempts to get it right! And nothing makes a woman feel sexier than if her guy picks out a matching bra and panty set. Remember to try your best...and err on the side of small rather than large. Another option are the fabulous pajama sets from Pajama Gram. They come in the cutest hat boxes with "do not disturb" signs!

Market Your Listings Effectively with MyMarketware

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:57:30 -0600

In this competitive market it's important to utilize effective marketing strategies both online and offline. According to NAR, 84% of buyers on are searching for homes online and 68% of homebuyers are equally interested in the neighborhood as they are in the home. So, are you reaching your consumers and providing them with all the property details they are looking for in the format they want it in? If not, I have a suggestion for you....MyMarketWare. It's a brand new site that helps you effectively market your properties.

MyMarketWare provides single property sites coupled with marketing advice and resources. I believe our solution is the industry's best single property site platform set at a far more affordable price point. (Single for $39 each with packages as low as $32 a site.)

We call our solution "MarketSites" and they work similarly to other single property Website solutions, but I think you'll find our templates much more appealing and professional. We have beautiful generic and company branded static and flash designs. You can include up to 100 pictures, video, podcasts, and add your blog. We have incorporated all the major mapping engines as well as Microsoft's Live Earth with the bird's eye view. You can also create template pages that can be used over and over on all your sites (i.e. neighborhood profiles, bios, etc). Our "Push to Talk" feature allows your Website viewers to call you directly! And it's all risk free! Sign in and register for a free account, create your site for free, use it for your listing presentation and activate once you've won the listing.

In addition to the single property site solution, I will be blogging about marketing solutions, tips, tricks, resources and more! Along the way I'll be adding tutorials and offer free office and Web trainings. I think it's crucial to alert agents and brokers to all the best resources and provide assistance for implementation. So I hope to cover all things "real estate marketing" in an informational and educational way! I hope you'll stop by and let me know what you think.

Win listings, gain exposure for them, and distinguish yourself in your market area...with www.MyMarketWare.com .

Best of Inman NY- Marketing Your Blog!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:17:16 -0600

Recently MyTechOpinion traveled to New York to attend the Inman Real Estate Connect. Reggie was asked to speak on the expert panel entitled "Marketing Your Blog". Joel Burslem from Inman and FORUM, got me involved as well by handing me a Flip camera and sending me out to interview the masses! It was a blast! Not to mention a great opportunity to connect with other real estate professionals. Here are a few highlights from our trip!

Somehow I managed to get roped into being interviewed on Good Morning America...in my sweats!

Beers with Bloggers! Dustin Luther, NikNik, Joe Ferrara, Jonathan Washburn

Bloggers Connect! The Marketing Your Blog Panel included Reggie Nicolay, Joel Burslem, Brian Rothenberg, Eric Hersman, Drew Meyers Get the highlights and great tips: click here to watch the video.

The view from Google Headquarters! Those Googlers know how to party!

Did you go to Inman NY? If so, what did you enjoy most? Learn something new...tell me about?

Last Minute Holiday Greetings that ROCK!!!

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:05:45 -0600

Don't let snail mail stop you from sending last minute holiday greetings. I have compiled a short of list great e-greeting options as well as a bonus. All of the following sites are either free or have free options to choose from.

Online eCard solutions:

(1) American Greetings

(2) Blue Mountain Greeting Cards

(3) eGreetings

(4) Hallmark Online Greetings

(5) Smilebox

And now for the bonus. CAUTION: Send only to those people that can handle the hilarious, try JibJab. Check out my holiday JibJab greeting below.

Don't send a lame Holiday eCard. Try JibJab Sendables!

Create a Holiday Lights Slideshow of Your Market Area

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:21:15 -0600

Looking for a unique promotion that highlights YOU as your local market expert? Try a slideshow of holiday lights in your area. Grab your camera, load up the gang, and be sure to stop by your local Starbucks for a warm beverage of choice as you head out to capture your local holiday lights extravaganza.

Kids aren't the only ones mesmerized by the beautiful twinkling lights, buyers are too! And when they are searching online to learn more and see more about your market area, give them a show they'll remember.

Take pictures of homes that have done an extraordinary job of decorating their home for the holiday season. To create your slideshow, start by visiting Animoto.com. Create a free account and then choose the "create video" tab in the upper left corner. Follow the simple steps to upload your pictures and even add music. You can create a 30 second slideshow for free! Then add your slideshow to your blog or website to share the spirit of your local market area.

Thanks to Ted Barrow for this great holiday marketing idea. Check out his holiday lights slideshow.
Watch a 60 second "Learn More" video and a few sample Animoto videos.

Truth or Dare

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:55:58 -0600

What creatively odd things can you do with a skateboard and an octopus? Well, if it involves a certain meme, probably a lot. I was recently tagged by friend, Dave Sulvetta. The subject being "5 Dark & Daring Secrets from the Heart", but I save those for Margarita Mondays. So here are "5 Random NikNik Truths".

(1) I ride a long board (skateboard). Sector 9 preferably! It was the perfect transportation during college and saved me a lot of cash on parking passes.

(2) I've had an octopus stuck on my head. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm a certified Padi Rescue Diver and have encountered my share of sea-life. But nothing compares to getting a big fat tentacle kiss and being left in a cloud of ink. That's hot!

(3) I need a grande triple nonfat 2 pump mocha with whip to start my day off right! Whether I make it at home or visit my local Starbucks, it's a must! And the perfect accompaniment to my morning Google Reader extravaganza.

(4) I'm an iPod dance-aholic. Anytime, anywhere...I'm a dancing fool. But I usually get caught dancing in my gym locker room. Oops...didn't know you were in here, and I don't really care anyway.

(5) I'm clumsy! Yes, I may have all the right dance moves but when it comes to walking down the sidewalk I'd be safer on my skateboard. I once sprained my ankle while walking on the sidewalk after my aikido class. My toes are very tired from all the stubbing!

Oh, and don't think your getting off easy. Laura Monroe, Jennifer Wilson. and Jeff Belonger.....you've all been officially tagged. Deep secrets or random truths, you choose!

Santa’s Top 10 Holiday Marketing Ideas

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 16:07:18 -0600

There's no better time than the holidays to reach out to your client sphere and make valuable business connections. So what's in your holiday marketing bag? Don't be left sending out the same card, different color this year. Plan early and send now. Here is a list of 10 delicious marketing ideas that if served up properly will make Santa, his reindeer, and your client sphere very happy to hear from you this holiday season!

(1) Holiday Promotion: Send select clients a gift certificate for a local tree lot or ice skating rink. It can be an affordable option at $10 a pop.

(2) Santa or Family Photo Op: Send clients a date/time postcard with details for a Santa Picture Day, or even a Family Portrait Day. Hiring a professional photographer to take pictures of your clients for their holiday cards is well worth the lasting memories.

(3) Holiday Open House or Open Office: Whether you invite your clients to your home or office, hire a caterer and even server for drinks. Send holiday themed invitations via mail and keep it light and informal. Be sure to have coloring books, cookie decorating and other simple kid activities on hand for families with small children.

(4) Make a Donation (in your client's name): Whether it be a local or national charity, giving in someone else's name is sure to get you to the top of Santa's Good List. Just make sure to include the charity info on your marketing item so you're client can learn more about the organization or choose to give back in their own way.

(5) Hold a coat collection drive at your office. Send out a promotion to your clients letting them know that they can drop off their gently used coats at your office to be donated to your local homeless shelter. Specify a time frame so that you can be sure to meet with them and offer some holiday goodies and even a current personal promotion or market analysis report. Go the extra mile by offering to pick up the coats from their home, upon request. A little personal face time sure couldn't hurt!

(6) Holiday Card w/ YOUR Family Picture: Want to show your softer side? Send out holiday cards with your own family picture. Yes, being a real estate agent can be a 24 hour job, but you do have other interests....family, hobbies, etc. Choose a nice family portrait, exciting hobby action shot, or even a close up with you and your treasured family pet.

(7) Holiday Event Calendar: Research and collect the local holiday events and organize them on a calendar. Customize your calendar with your contact information, picture, and special client appreciation events of your own. Now you've secured a spot on your client's fridge for the holiday season!

(8) Holiday Recipe Cards: Share your own or pick a favorite from the Food Network. Whatever you choose, make sure it's a good one. Recipe cards make great mailers. If you are a stellar chef, then make a mini-recipe booklet to share and give out when farming. Go the extra mile for very special clients by inviting them to a gourmet holiday cooking class at your home hosted by you and a chef.

(9) Contest for Local Ski/Snowboard Weekend: What a fun way to get your sphere excited and help update your database at the same time! Whether you email or mail a postcard or newsletter promotion, make sure that your return entry form has all the fields necessary for updating your contact database.

(10) Holiday Safety Tips: Perfect as a mailer or for your farm. Whatever format you choose, make sure to include basic holiday safety tips, as well as a checklist of items to make your household safe. If you don't already have safety information, try Google...you'll get plenty of suggestions and resources to choose from. (National Safety Council)

What holiday marketing ideas work for you? Do you have a great idea to share? Tell me about it!

Do You Have A Content Posting Plan For Your Real Estate Blog?

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:42:17 -0600

Do you have a "content posting plan"? Teachers make the most of their time and resources with lesson plans. So why not take note of their organization and make your own "content posting plan" for your real estate blog. Make a list of all your content ideas or use mine. Then plug them into your monthly calendar according to your schedule. For more information on "content posting plans" and to see an example visit the HelpMyAgent Blog.

CONTENT IDEAS FOR YOUR POSTING PLAN:

(1) Community Events Update: Post a monthly event calendar or list of events with all the local event information and links.

(2) Local Market Update: Give us your forecast, graph the changes, share local statistics, and give us some tips for adapting to this changing market.

(3) Industry Article: Share the latest trends in real estate and highlight new products and services.

(4) Seasonal How-to: Post informative guides on how to clean out the gutters, winter prep your pool, holiday décor, spring cleaning, etc.

(5) Buyer Info: Provide helpful posts with tips and suggestions for buyers.

(6) Seller Info: Provide helpful posts with tips and suggestions for sellers.

(7) Client Q& A: How many questions are you asked during one transaction? Keep a list of all those questions and answers and share them one at a time with your readers.

(8) Community Focus: On a local business, restaurant, charity, historical facts

(9) Interview: Post short interviews with industry professionals, local business leaders, local heroes, etc. Include testimonials from past clients.

(10) School Scores & More: Post recent testing scores, school achievements (ex: Distinguished School), local benefits and fundraisers, and even sporting events for high schools and colleges in your area.

Click here to view 11-20 content ideas!

Social Networking for Real Estate Agents 101

Nicole Nicolay (MyTechOpinion) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 04:04:20 -0600

Social Networking is: Typical networking usually takes place at events, but we can accomplish the same goal of making connections with others-online, and even better. Online social networking websites show us the connections we have with people and make it much easier to communicate and stay connected. Think of your social network as a map of all the relevant ties between you and others (people, businesses, interests, etc).

Can it really help my real estate business? What are the real benefits?

Expose your RE blog to others & gain readership
Connect with past and current clients
Provide Transparency (people can relate or move on)
Motivates you to write better blog posts and stay focused
Brand yourself further as a niche expert/real estate expert
Learn new marketing/technology tips and resources
Easier and faster than working a party or event

Are there different types of social networking sites?

Yes, but all require the creation of a profile. After that, you participate using the tools or applications provided by the community. Some are more detailed than others, some stick to building business connections only (Linkedin), others invite you to share pictures and get more personal (Facebook, MyBlogLog), some are for real estate only (ActiveRain), some are used only for bookmarking your favorite sites and blog articles (StumbleUpon, Digg).

Which online communities should I join? And how can I start participating?

MyBlogLog:

create a profile
add your blog
choose your avatar wisely
add the "recent readers" widget to your blog
click around (avatar jumping and blog rolling)
tag yourself with your key words
use the search to find other "real estate" blogs,
make and return comments
become a "Hot Member"

Facebook:

create a profile
add friends (clients, past clients, bloggers, other professionals, etc)
add applications that interest you and pertain to your business (BlogFriends, iLike, FirstLookz, Hot Page, Maps, Gifts, Compliments, Business Cards, etc.)
activate Facebook Mobile
create a group page for your business
send email messages
add Linkedin contacts

ActiveRain:

Create a profile
add your blog address
make comments
add associations
join groups
post articles

Linkedin:

Create a profile, professional summary, & detailed resume
add your website and blog
add connections (business colleagues and professional friends/associates)
get recommendations
ask questions
send email messages, etc.

How to Stay Connected

Schedule at least 4 hours weekly blog time into your schedule (2 hours for reading and 2 hours writing)
Visit networks often
Make comments often
Return comments same/next day
Visit other blogs (visit favorites daily, click around at least once a week)
Cross-promote your networks by adding widgets to your blog
Join your niche/interest real estate groups on Facebook
Add all the blogs you like to your Google Reader and organize them in folders

Related Articles:

"3 Online Communities That Will Give Your Real Estate Business a Boost!" -HelpMyAgent Blog
"Interview: Brian Wilson of the Zolve Real Estate Network" - MyTechOpinion