At the recent Inman Connect, the keynote speaker was Gary Vaynerchuk who I personally thought was THE highlight of the entire convention.
Gary Vee (as he is known in the online world) is the founder of WineLibrary TV and is credited for bringing the love of wine to regular folk--you know, the people like you and I who don't necessarily buy $150 bottles of wine normally. In addition to promoting his wine store and wine reviews he has made an even larger name for himself as a social media and online marketing success. The man is brilliant and although he is "rough" at times with his language, he is simply being real and talking straight to you.
Jay Thompson (also a social media and online real estate marketing superstar) posted a video of Gary's speech at Inman. At the bottom of this post I will include that and a prior speech Gary did at a Web 2.0 seminar that originally got me hooked on Vaynerchuk. (That's Gary on the left and Jay on the right)
It seems that the business community is beginning to wake up to the power of social media but unfortunately there are still many in the real estate community that either don't understand it or don't WANT to understand it. That's a shame...and short sighted.
I live in a very small community (12,000 population) tucked away in the White Mountains of tiny New Hampshire. However, through the leverage and connections of social media, Jay Thompson in Phoenix will soon have a new listing because one of my good friends moved from the area to Phoenix and is now looking to move back (he must be missing the minus 29 degree temps we are having today!). My friend wants a referral and doesn't want to pick blind from an agency billboard or postcard.Since I know/follow Jay -through the various social media tools-he will get the referral. That is just a small example and certainly doesn't even touch on the other aspects of social media which is simply being real/authentic and available to your clients and customers. I have plenty more real world situations--as I am sure you all do as well.
I am "preaching to the choir" here because if you are on ActiveRain you are likely already into it all. I just needed to rant a bit because I came back enthusiastic and empowered and have since been deflated a tad. Just a tad. I will watch Gary again and remind myself to keep preaching...even if some of my choir ain't listening! ;)
~Sean
If you aren't comfortable with the occasional cuss word or a drop of the f-bomb then don't watch this one...he is speaking to a different audience here and cut loose a bit more....
North Conway Ski Conditions are perfect after the snowfall we received this weekend (over 12 inches!) and it came at a perfect time as Cranmore Mountain Resort gears up for it's annual Cranapalooza Event.
Cranmore Mountain is getting ready for it’s annual Cranapalooza Event and with all the new powder (and more expected through the week) it is going to be a fun time on the slopes. Here is a brief overview of the activities planned at Cranmore-Visit their website for more details.
Saturday January 17
2pm until 9pm
2:00 Trivia & Tee-shirt toss at the South Chair lift line 3:30 Face painting in the Penguin Den and s’mores with C More the Penguin 3:30-4:30 Bobo T. Clown entertains the kids 4:30 Raffle prizes in Schneider Square 5:00-9:00 Live Music by Dennis & Davey 7:30 Fireworks
Here is a recent video of the Cranmore Ski Report:
North Conway NH Homesare once again covered in a fresh layer of snow from the season's second snowstorm to hit the area. Although some locals may dislike the early snow, we ARE a snow sports destination area so it is good for business and to see the renewed activity on the mountains.
The White Mountains have always been known for it’s incredible skiing but the North Conway area of the Mt. Washington Valley holds a special spot for true alpine and nordic skiers due it’s proximity to all the area ski resorts. With seven Alpine resorts and nine cross country ski resorts, there are plenty of opportunities for the ski fan to explore!
Contact the following Mt. Washington Valley Skl resorts to get the current snow report and enjoy your day on the slopes!
Alpine Skiing in the North Conway New Hampshire Area
Do you remember when there used to be just TWO internet browsers in the world (three if you even knew what browser Apple computers used...)?
Microsoft's Internet Explorer dominated the marketplace and little Netscape (bought by AOL and recently shut down on March 1st, 2008) was always struggling to get marketshare. Today we have MANY browser options to choose from and if you have never tried any of the others you really should take them for a spin as they are all quite distinct and may offer you just what you hoped for in a browser.
I won't elaborate on the features of each browser as I am more curious what people here at AR are using and why.
If you do want more info just click the link to go directly to the site.
Google Chrome is the latest browser to hit the internet world and it already is making a huge splash. It is FAST, very sleek and takes a minimalist approach with none of the gazzilion buttons and search boxes that can end up on IE.
Firefox is the open source choice for many as it offers a huge amount of customized plug-in options for nearly anyone. I personally use this one for all my real estate related online work. The plug in's are great and offer loads of time saving applications.
Safari once exclusively for Mac's it is now available for Winows/PC users as well.This is my favorite browser for home use as it is very fast and intuitive to use.
Flock is the new rage for the social media world and I am curious if ActiveRainer's are playing with this browser due to it's heavy integration with all the social media sites. I find it a bit awkward and confusing but must admit I have only done a cursory review of it.
Opera has been around for awhile but seems to be getting more popular these days. They have a mobile phone version and also offer a social media tie-in relationship (Blogging via SMS even)
SeaMonkey was created by the same people that created FireFox (Mozilla open source) and apparently is trying to be the Swiss Army Knife of all browsers. They even include an HTML editor and IRC chat tools. Probably more of a true Geek-Browser but there is power under that hood.
There are more below but they are the lesser known "fringe" browsers...I have tried the above but can't say much about these below others...
Very well designed and maintained chalet with open kitchen, living area with brick facade fireplace, Anderson windows, Laminate exposed beams. A good quality home and priced right!!Access to nearby beaches and not far from shopping, skiing and other valley activities. Large deck for summer fun. Winter views too!!!
Recently I was visiting a good friend of mine, Dave Soucy, owner of Perfect Fit in Manchester, NH (Fitness Expert and author) and he shared with me this brainstorming tool called 'mind mapping'. Although the concept of mind mapping is not new, it seems to be finally getting mainstream attention in part due to the many software programs that are now available making the process fun and fast.
If you are like me you probably have used or still use planners, notebooks, post-it notes etc to organize your thoughts, to do's and projects. Doing things this way is a very linear approach--meaning each to-do, note or project sits by itself--disconnected from the others. This makes remembering them difficult as well as it being a constant effort flipping back and forth between your notes to try to put it all in context.
Mind mapping uses the right side of the brain and allows you to think without imposed structure or lists. You begin with a central concept and branch out from there building from that central idea. What happens is that you get a FULL PICTURE approach to a project or even a to do list that enables you to get things done faster--a side benefit is that because the "map" is now a visual reference you remember it better--far better in my experience. To the right is an example of using mind mapping to decide which mind map software to buy and below is an example of a basic mind map of using Web 2.0 for real estate:
it takes a little getting used to, but now that I have been doing it for a couple of weeks I find it incredibly helpful. Here are ways I have used it:
I created our company marketing plan as a mind map--this not only helps us understand where we are marketing but also provides our clients with an impressive graphic of all the ways we market their home.
We have a subdivision project that we wanted to create a stronger advertising campaign for so I mind mapped what we currently were doing and began to see other areas we had missed out on.
With all the social media commitments in this new Web 2.0 world of real estate, I sometimes get off track and find it has been more than a week since I blogged or a few days since I used twitter. I decided to make a 'tasks list' using the mind map method and I posted it on my office wall. It is a visual reminder to do certain things--far easier than a daily to-do list where each day my list gets longer from the undone tasks the day before! Plus as I mentioned, I remember the tasks better due to the "right brain thing". It is really wild how fast you can recall things that have a visual reference vs. a list.
In this age of info overload and the massive juggling of tasks, I found mind mapping to be a huge time saver and it just feels GOOD to have things organized now.
Here are some resources I played with if you consider trying it out:
FreeMind: Open Source FREE mind map software--Nice but I wanted a few more features it didn't have.
iMindmap.com: I ended up choosing this one...$99 bucks but it has many functions that I really liked. It was also mac compatible. Supposedly the maker of this software, Tony Buzan is the originator of mind mapping.
Mindmanager:A rather robust package here...probably more than the average user would use but if you want it all...this is good.
And not to forget the very new app for the iphone, Mindmaker. Take your mindmaps with you!
Mind mapping may sound "geeky" to you but if you dive in and try it I think you will see it actually appeals more to the creative/visual person and the bottom line is: IT WORKS. Give it a try!
This fantastic home in desirable Rockhouse Mountain in Conway, New Hampshire is an example of fine craftsmenship and attention to detail. Enjoy beautiful views of Mount Washington from this quality built 3 bedroom, 2 bath, custom contemporary home.Classy granite countertops in the kitchen and master bath (jacuzzi tub too!),cherry floors,quality composite decking,fiber cement siding,and real stone facade are just some on the upgrades in this fine quality water access home.You won't be dissapointed!
Although the question of using print advertising is a well worn topic in the real estate community, it is interesting to see the further changes in this traditional medium.
According to the latest edition of private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson's Communication Industry Forecast (USA Today) here is some compelling data:
NEWSPAPERS: Spending on dailies and weeklies will fall 2.4% a year to 55.3 billion by 2012. Digital will account for 14% of the total vs 5% last year. The biggest problem will continue to be Classified Ads moving to websites such as CraigsList and others. Newspaper classifieds will plummet and fall 11.3% a year through 2012 compared to previous declines of 2.3% a year from 2002-2007.
Cable TV and Satellite ad sales will grow 7.3% a year to 188.9 billion.
Music- Digital downloads will outsell CD's in 2010 leading the beleagured industry to an average increase of 0.9% a year.
The Los Angeles Times has ceased publication of its weekly real estate section--born more than a century ago--amid major staff cuts.
Richard Smith, President of Realogy, the largest residential real estate broker in the world ( and parent company of Coldwell Banker, Century 21, ERA, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate and Sotheby's) said that thier budget devoted to newspapers will shrink by as much as 2/3 next year as spending moves online. "it's going to be bloody", Smith said in an interview, " the newspaper industry is going to have to adjust".
Realtor Chris Iversons has a very interesting and compelling article, Are Newspapers Dead? over at 3 Oceans Real Estate blog. He took the time to track the results of newspaper advertising for open houses he conducted in the Palo Alto and Redwood City, CA markets and compared them to the results from online advertising and signs.
The outcome? Out of 52 groups that came through Johns open houses one weekend, none came because of the extensive advertising he had done with local newspapers.
Real estate sellers are becoming more demanding. A glossy magazine ad that has a month or two lead time for publication is likely not going to be the vehicle that will bring a buyer to the home. Neither will newspaper advertising. Both do little other than promote the real estate agent. By the NARs own estimate, over 84 percent of all home buyers are searching for their future residence online.
It's time for us to truly educate our sellers and stop wasting incredible amounts of money and resources on a medium that no longer provides the real estate industry any benefit.
It's hard to believe it is here already but it is- Labor Day Weekend in North Conway NH. The summer may be winding down but the events and activities this weekend are just gearing up!
The following are just a few of the events and activities going on in the Mt. Washington Valley area:
Sidewalk Sales at Settler's Green- August 29,30,31 Save even mor eon back to school apparel, gifts, housewares at over 50 brand name outlet stores.
Half Day Rock Climbing- August 29,30,31 Try something new with your family! Go Rock Climbing! Our half day family rock lessons give your family (up to 5 members per guide) an opportunity to get on the cliff to try the sport of rock climbing while having a good time with your family members.EMS Climbing School at Setllers Corssing. Call 800-310-4504 for more info
Crafts and Artisans Fair on the lawn of the Gibson Center, North Conway Village 10-5 daily. Incredible work by local talented artists and crafters!
Enchanted Evening at the Mt. Washington Hotel & Resort- An extended weekend to celebrate the summer season and the beauty of the White Mountains. Saturday evening is a black and white ball where women glow with gowns of grandeur and the gentlemen shine in coats of sophistication. Children enjoy the gaiety of dressing up and dancing with their parents in this family enchantment. Dance in the Grand Ballroom where Joseph and Carolyn Stickney once danced in the time honored guest experience. The remainder of the weekend offers adventure and activity for families and couples. Call 800-314-1752
Mt. Washington Auto Road Sunrise Opening- 4:30 am — 6:00 pm View the sunrise from the top of New England! The Mt. Washington Auto Road will open at 4:30am for you to drive yourself to the summit. Call 603-466-3988
Friday Painters' Group. The Mount Washington Valley Arts Association's Friday Painters' Group will be at Silver Lake Train Station in Madison at 9 a.m. All are welcome. In the event of rain meet at the Swift River Cover Bridge in Conway. Call 356-0764 for information and directions. This event is free.
'I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change'. The Barnstormers Theatre in Tamworth presents the smash hit musical "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" at 8 p.m. "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" includes everything you have ever secretly thought about dating, romance, marriage, lovers, husbands, wives and in-laws, but were afraid to admit. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 323-8500 or visit the Web site at www.barnstormerstheatre.org.
'Baby'. The Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company is presenting the musical "Baby" at the Eastern Slope Playhouse at 8 p.m. If you’ve ever had a baby, loved a baby, or been a baby, this charming modern tale of three couples at different stages of life facing parenthood is for you. Light rock score. Popular songs include “I Want it All” and “The Story Goes On.” Tickets are $27. Group rates are available. The playhouse is handicap accessible and air conditioned. For reservations call the box office at 356-5776, or visit the Web site at www.mwvtheatre.org.
'The Princess And The Pea'. The Mount Washington Valley Children's Museum will present a Children's Stage Adventure production of "The Princess and the Pea" at 3 p.m. This show is a musical performed by 50 local children between the ages of 5-13 years old. The show will be performed at the Lutheran Church of the Nativity at the corner of Grove Street in North Conway. The suggested donation at the door is $8 per person. Special group rates apply for preschools and day-care centers. Call the Mount Washington Valley Children's Museum at 356-2992 for more details or visit www.mwvchildrensmuseum.org.
Choral Singing Workshop. The World Fellowship Center in Conway is presenting a choral singing workshop with Bev Grant, founder and director of the Brooklyn Women's Chorus. There will be additional vocal workshops with Jon Arterton, founder and vocal arranger of The Flirtations, and creator with James Mack of "Just Married!" This safe gentle workshop will be fun for experienced and novice singers alike. All choruses, singing levels and genders welcome. Pre-registration required. Fee is $75. For more information call 447-2280 or visit www.worldfellowship.org.
'Papa Claude'. Mount Washington Valley Theatre Company at the Eastern Slope Inn Playhouse on Main Street in North Conway is presenting "Papa Claude," an original musical for children ages 2 to 12 (and their parents or grandparents) at 10 and 11:30 a.m. Tickets are $6. Group rates available. See the performance and meet the actors after the show. Call the box office for reservations at 356-5776.
'Peace, Love and BBQ'. Texas-born, Louisiana-raised pianist/vocalist/songwriter Marcia Ball celebrates the release of her new CD, "Peace, Love & BBQ" with a performance at the Stone Mountain Arts Center in Brownfield at 8 p.m. For more information on the Stone Mountain Arts Center call (866) 227-6523 or visit www.stonemountainartscenter.com.
Kennett Boosters Fund-Raiser. Today is the last day the Kennett High football team is selling Varsity Gold Cards, which can be used for discounts at participating businesses throughout Mount Washington Valley. The players, wearing their jerseys, will "Blitz the Town" for three hours, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., selling the cards, which are $10 each and are valid through Sept. 30, 2009. Proceeds help fund equipment and supplies for the football team.
Fuel For Neighbors Benefit Concert. The Denmark Lions are sponsoring a Fuel for Neighbors Benefit Concert featuring Johnathan Sarty and his White Mountain Boys as well as a barbecue at the Denmark Bicentennial Park. For more information call Fritz von Ulmer (207) 452-2239.
Knights Of Columbus Monthly Supper. Knights of Columbus of Our Lady of the Mountains Church in North Conway are holding their monthly supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Today's meal is roast pork with mashed potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, bread, garden salad, assorted homemade desserts and coffee, tea or punch. This will also be the kick off to the annual Tootsie Roll drive. Nick Fest. The Nick Fest at "The Nick" on Route 28 in Wolfeboro features 50 separate fun booths, food, music and awards. A family day for all ages. For more information call 569-2511.
Jackson Farmers' Market. The Jackson Farmers' Market runs every Saturday through Columbus Day weekend. The market is located on Route 16A next to the Snowflake Inn in downtown Jackson. The market provides fresh local produce, honey, maple syrup, artisans bread, baked goods, goats cheese, jewelry, pottery, quilts, photography and much more including live entertainment. Anyone wishing to participate in the Jackson Farmers Market can contact market managers Cathy Hendrickson at 383-9195 or Kathy Meyers at 383-4814.
'19th Century Music'. In partnership with the White Mountains Interpretive Association, the Saco Ranger District is offering natural and cultural history programs at the Russell-Colbath Historic Homestead every Saturday evening in July and August. These free interpretive programs will be held at 7 p.m. at the Russell-Colbath Historic Homestead Barn, 12 miles west of Conway on the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. Today's program is "19th Century Music." For more information, contact the Saco Ranger Station at 447-5448.
Helen and Walter Shields Memorial Concert. The ninth annual Helen and Walter Shields Memorial Concert is being held at The Mount Washington Hotel's Grand Ballroom from 1 to 2 p.m. For more information call 278-3305.
Would you like to live where you play? We are North Conway NH Real Estate Experts and would love to call you our neighbor! Browse our website ( no invasive sign up needed--call us ONLY when you want to go view one of the homes personally) to view ALL the homes for sale in the Mt. Washington Valley and North Conway NH area.
This beautiful log home is located in the desirable Rockhouse Mountain community in Conway NH. Located just minutes from Conway Village yet tucked away atop Rockhouse Mountain.
A
floor to ceiling stone fireplace is the focal point of this beautiful
log home. Sit and enjoy the gorgeous mountain views from your large
wrap around deck in the summer, or huddle around the fire and take
advantage of the unobstructed views that come with the season! An
open floor plan with cathedral ceilings and a master suite highlight this true White Mountain log home.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
At the recent 
Gary Vee (as he is known in the online world) is the founder of 
The White Mountains have always been known for it’s incredible skiing but the 
Do you remember when there used to be just TWO internet browsers in the world (three if you even knew what browser Apple computers used...)?
Safari
SeaMonkey
And not to forget the very new app for the iphone, 
This fantastic home 
Although the question of using print advertising is a well worn topic in the real estate community, it is interesting to see the further changes in this traditional medium.
21, ERA, Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate and Sotheby's) said that thier budget devoted to newspapers 
It's hard to believe it is here already but it is- Labor Day Weekend in North Conway NH. The summer may be winding down but the events and activities this weekend are just gearing up!
Enchanted Evening at the Mt. Washington Hotel & Resort- An extended weekend to celebrate the summer season and the beauty of the White Mountains. Saturday evening is a black and white ball where women glow with gowns of grandeur and the gentlemen shine in coats of sophistication. Children enjoy the gaiety of dressing up and dancing with their parents in this family enchantment. Dance in the Grand Ballroom where Joseph and Carolyn Stickney once danced in the time honored guest experience. The remainder of the weekend offers adventure and activity for families and couples. Call 800-314-1752
Would you like to live where you play? We are 
;)
;)
