Cathy 's Blog

Lets' keep Realtors working

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 10:37:28 -0600

Lets' keep Realtors working, lets help them think smarter.

You would think that Realtors are thinking smarter when it comes to marketing and cutting back on print ad and mailers, to redirect dollars to marketing that gives more for their investment. I continue to get just as many mailers and letters sent to my Jackson home, see ads in shopping guides for the Monmouth & Ocean Counties and other forms of local advertising that have no measureable ROI. Realtors could feel they have to action and when they do it needs to be a psychical thing so they are in control and are being proactive.

Virtual Tours are not a tangible item. Unless educated on how to get the most marketing out of each tour, they have no control over who will see it and there is no physical action that they can take to give them the sense of being proactive with their business. The explanation is any action is better than no action, but the wrong action could drive you out of business.

With this thinking we need to come up with a marketing concept that combines the tangible with the virtual. We need to promote and educate on the traceable ROI, on maximum exposure that each tour gets when its posted to all of the available sites. We need to demonstrate they can take a physical pro-action by emailing links, burning CD's sign riders and any other ideas to get the most out of the investment of a virtual tour. Also tell them how it's better for the environment too!

Lets keep them in business and all of us too!

Cathy

VIrtual Access Tours

888-565-1965

The Great Turkey Debate

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:01:55 -0600

The Great Turkey debate!

In our house every year we have a debate about what the correct temperature is when roasting a turkey. According to the Butter Ball turkey bag, it calls for 170, which some, in this house, feel is overcooked. But when researching other sources like Wegmans and the Food Network web sites, they call for 160 to 165.

This year it's "To stuff or not to stuff". According to Martha Staurt, it's ok to stuff as long as it's done right before you put it in the oven. Another good tip Martha gave is to put cheese cloth over the turkey. The cheese cloth will hold the basting juices on the turkey where you want it. Remove the cheese cloth when the turkey reaches 160 and continue roasting to 165.

Whatever your Thanksgiving dilemmas are, I hope they are shared with loved ones. Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving from Virtual Access Tours.

Virtual Access Tours. Your one stop, full service virtual tour company. Here when you need us. More than just tours, we are a part of your internet marketing team. We give you more exposure, more value and more views by potential buyers and future sellers.

Contact us today for a free SEO guide. Learn how to get more traffic to your listings. 888.565.1965

6 degrees of Kevin Bacon - Remember that game?

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:10:07 -0500

Its true that we are all connected in some way. We may never know how but the world being as small as it is and getting smaller everyday who wants to take a chance and creating bad press for ourselves. That's why I play the 6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon game.

When I go out to the mall and interact with sales people I think this young lady's father might be my next big sale, or the salesman who stopped in my office to give me information about his services might know 10 other people one might need my services and Viola I have a client.

That's why I practice "be nice and courteous to everyone" Handle disputes with tact. And just because someone is dressed like a slob doesn't mean they have not money and are a waste of my time. No, I take the attitude that they might be a millionaire in disguise.

Remember the urban legend where some guy stops to help a limo with a flat tire and it happens to be Donald Trump and pays off the guy's mortgage.

I'm not saying that I stop every time I see a car with a flat, but one never knows where the next opportunity comes from even if its just getting in the pearly gates, I'm not taking any chances.

Virtually Yours

Cathy

Its time to re-invent yourself

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:23:54 -0500

Are you feed up with hearing that the market has died and we are all doomed? Well I am. Now I know we have all seen better days, lower gas prices and more customers but those days are apparently gone and its time to re-invent ourselves to survive. As the season changes its an opportunity to recharge, and restart our businesses.

I took advantage of the summer slow down we have been busy launching a new virtual tour division: Jersey Girl Virtual Tours, building a new website and working on free to very low cost marketing plan. To pay for part of the marketing plan we bartered for services to get free banner ads, increase our exposure and to form new relationships. We have created a low cost solution by offering a slide show services. See our active rain ad on your home page, its a piggy bank about to be broken.

To further grow our company and expand our services we formed a partnership with a website design firm. This partnership will allow us to enlarge our scope of potential clients. Web designing will open the doors to many more that at first did not see the value in virtual tour marketing alone.

Well now that Fall is just about here I am confident that we all have a shot at ending 2008 in a positive note. We'll be able to say that we didn't go down without a fight.

I invite you to visit my re-invented business www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com

and our business partners www.NJYP.com

Shore Builder's takes on a new girl

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:05:33 -0500

New Member to the Shore Builders Association

Lakewood, NJ - August 11, 2008 -

Cathy Williams, owner of Jersey Girl Virtual Tours , is now a member of the Shore Builders Association of Central New Jersey.

"I applied for membership because Jersey Girl Virtual Tours and the Shore Builders could mutually benefit from the relationship" states Williams.

"I was happy to hear that the Shore Builders Association felt the same way and granted membership this July."

Jersey Girl Virtual Tours is a division of Virtual Access Tours. "We have been in business for 5 years. We started off photographing homes and then expanded our services, offering virtual tour marketing for a wide variety of industries" said Cathy Williams partner and owner of Jersey Girl Virtual Tours. Cathy handles the sales and marketing for both companies.
"We are excited about joining the Shore Builders Association . We hope to bring a new non-traditional form of marketing to the builder's industry. We are looking forward to working with the builders, assisting them with increasing web exposure, reducing sales cycle times and ultimately bringing them in more revenue."

Jersey Girl Virtual Tours creates virtual tour marketing programs for various industries, ultimately increasing their exposure, driving more traffic to their businesses. They have been commissioned for a wide range of projects and have custom-tailored their tours to fit within the tight budget constraints that exist in many of today's organizations. Their goal is to provide clients with a comprehensive virtual tour marketing program that exposes all of the exiting benefits and features found within their businesses.

A few of the industries we currently serve (click on any of the following for an example of our work): Wedding Halls, YMCA Centers, Senior Care Facilities, Bed & Breakfast, Towns, Builders, Restaurants and Retail Shops to name a few.

To learn more please visit www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com.

Belmar and Point Pleasant Beach - Visit them for free

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 15:22:59 -0500

That's right now you can visit Belmar, NJ and Point Pleasant Beach, NJ for FREE.

That is VIRTUALLY of coarse. We have been working with the Belmar Chamber of Commerce and the Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerceto help create more exposure for their Town and for their members.

Take a virtual tour of Belmar and Point Pleasant Beach

Feel free to use these links. If you're a Realtor in these areas - use the links .

Put them on your website or email them to potential candidates. Or use them in your blog!

Sincerely Cathy Williams Jersey Girl Virtual Tours 1-888-565-1965 x 702 732-534-0438 Cathy@JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com

Jersey Girl Virtual Tours website is live! - and you can have free town tour links

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:14:02 -0500

Now when you click on my links to go to my website it will send you to the official website of the Jersey Girl!

Previously it sent you to Virtual Access Tours,
Jersey Girl Virtual Tours is a division of Virtual Access Tours,
servicing the real estate industry with full service virtual tour photography.

Both companies have built our reputation on our outstanding value of high resolution 360 degree photography, combined with leading, state-of-the-art technology solutions. Our tools allow us to come up with custom, creative solutions.

Jersey Girl Virtual Tours handles all of the non-Real Estate virtual tour business.

Please visit my website andcheck out some of the great and interesting tours that we have created.

I will be more than happy to provide you with links to any of our town tours for use in your own business

Sincerely Cathy Williams Jersey Girl Virtual Tours 1-888-565-1965 x 702 732-534-0438 Cathy@JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com

Greetings from Asbury Park NJ - Jersey Girl is right at home

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:16:18 -0500

Asbury Park, NJ - July 23, 2008 - Jersey Girl Virtual Tours, a new member of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce has recently created a virtual tour, highlighting a few of the more prominent sites of Asbury Park. The tour has been created for the purposes of showing the public all the great new things that are currently available and developing in the town. Potential investors, restaurant goers and people looking to relocate to the area are just a few examples of people that can benefit from this new feature on the chamber's website (www.AsburyParkChamber.com).

"We hope our services can increase web exposure and help assist the Chamber build more town interest, ultimately bringing in more revenue for the chamber members."

"Asbury Park is a great town to live in, shop and visit" states Cathy. "I tried to capture that feeling when creating the Asbury Park Virtual Tour".

"Everyone has an Asbury Park story they can tell. I hope the virtual tour of Asbury Park will bring back many good memories for those who view it."

The company will be offering Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce members an opportunity to participate in the newly generated town tour. A virtual tour of the participating businesses will be created and placed on the chamber's site.

Jersey Girl Virtual Tours is a virtual tour marketing service that creates virtual tours for various industries, ultimately increasing exposure which drives more traffic to their businesses. We have been commissioned for a wide range of projects and have custom-tailored our tours to fit with organization's tight budget constraints.

Sincerely Cathy Williams Jersey Girl Virtual Tours 1-888-565-1965 x 702 732-534-0438 Cathy@JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com

Local new website helping Realtors -

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 16:15:12 -0500

Introducing - A great way to save gas and save money. It's an easy-to-use way of finding a business in your area. From Old Bridge down to Howell ( and currently expanding down to Toms River), Where On 9 brings you a very convenient universal way of finding what you want. Whether it's a description of services, operating hours, finding active deals for the moment, viewing the inside of an impressive gallery or restaurant - we provide a one stop solution for your shopping needs. Planning on going out to get your hair done and want to find a car wash nearby? Type it in and not only find the closest car wash, you can also find out which car wash is offering a deal that very day. Going out for a nosh, late with the ladies after a mah jong game. Look up RESTAURANTS and find out their operating hours. Need directions? One more click and you have a map right in front of you. No need to open up another window to search for directions. Need to know if it's a fancy schmancy restaurant? No problemo. Just click the VIRTUAL TOUR button and get an idea what to expect inside. Want to know more about a service or a more in depth idea of what the business has to offer? Just click on the VIDEO button and view their mini video or click on their website address. It will whisk you right to their website to give you a more in depth description of what you are looking for. No more hassles of finding them on the 24th page of GOOGLE. Their website address is RIGHT THERE and there's no question that it's the correct link!!! HERE's the TOPPER!!!!! You're sitting in front of 400 coupon clipping magazines, flyers, coupon packs. You decide ........ I'd like to treat myself to a nice piece of jewelry. Do you sort through all those flyers and magazines???? Are they the most current issues??? NO WAY!!!!!! WE OFFER YOU TWO (2) OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO FIND THE COUPONS THAT YOU NEED ............ INSTANTLY!!! 1) Go to the WHERE ON 9 site. Select "JEWELERS" in the CATEGORY field. Then hit SEARCH. A list of JEWELERS found on and around the surrounding Route 9 area will appear. Quickly scroll down the list. Any name that has a BRIGHT YELLOW "C" by their name has a currently active coupon. Click on their name and get directions, print out the coupon and make a B-LINE to their front door!!! 2) If you're not in a rush, just join our FREE "Alert Club" and click off "JEWELERS" and any other category you think you'll want to know when a sale becomes active. NOTE that you can always come back to this list and change your selections....... Don't want to know about JEWELERS' sales anymore? Want to know which RESTAURANTS have current deals? Uncheck JEWELERS and check off RESTAURANTS. Then hit SUBMIT and you're good to go. When new coupons become active, you will receive a summary sheet in the morning from WHERE ON 9. Just open up your email notification, click on the business you're interested in and you will be taken DIRECTLY to the coupon you've been waiting for.

Just CLICK ON THE COUPON and it will print to your printer. IT's THAT SIMPLE. Click on the following link if you have a few minutes. It's a short tutorial that is worth watching. A few minutes of your time will probably save you HUNDREDS of dollars!! http://www.whereon9online.com/tutorial/where_on_9_files/index.html

Small or Smugly listing? We can help - get a slide show for only $35.

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:26:32 -0500

We are doing our part to help Realtors during these tough times! We are now offering a Slide show service for only $35.00. These are for those small & smugly homes that really doesn't warrant a full virtual tour.

You take the pictures we create a professional slide show.

You'll still get the marketing benefits of a virtual tour just not the cost. You provide the pictures we create a professional slide show with all the bells and whistles of a full virtual tour.

Nothing can replace the impact of a comprehensive 360 degree virtual tour! But if the house and your budget just doesn't warrant it, here is a great alternative to solve both problems.

With our slide show service you'll be able to give your client the full service marketing as always!

Now with our new slide show service we can work with any Realtor no matter where you have listings!

Its all Virtual!!! We hope this new service will help you get more marketing, saves you money and stess!

Cathy

www.virtualaccesstours.com

Town virtual tour links - use them its free- Helps you sell the community

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 11:55:16 -0500

Now you can visit Asbury Park from the convenience of your home, office, star bucks, or where ever you connect to the internet. Just one click and you're there.

These links are great for area Realtors but also relocation specialist. Use them - show how great it is to be within minutes from the Jersey Shore.

We will be creating a virtual town tour for Belmar and Point Pleasant Beach. You'll be able to find these tours on the website of the local Chamber of Commerce later this summer and I'll post them here too.

Please feel free to use these links for your own website and/or share them.

Click the below link to view Asbury Park

http://tours.virtualaccesstours.com/public/vtour/display/1915/media?_a=1&_b=1&_l=1

This link was created for the Manchester Inn in of Ocean Grove. They wanted potential guest to get a being there view of the beach, the area and of coarse their inn.

http://tours.virtualaccesstours.com/public/vtour/display/1897

If you know of any local Chamber that might want to have a virtual tour created of their town, email the link to them.

Sincerely Cathy Williams Jersey Girl Virtual Tours 1-888-565-1965 x 702 732-534-0438 Cathy@JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com

Happy Long Weekend!

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:55:24 -0500

Happy Long weekend! Kick back and relax.

Take time to enjoy family, friends and summer. Try this to help..... ...a light refreshing cocktail recipe perfect for a hot summer day. Mojito cocktail recipe Its one of my favorites. 3 fresh mint sprigs
2 tsp sugar
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1 1/2 oz light rum
club soda
In a tall thin glass, crush part of the mint with a fork to coat the inside. Add the sugar and lime juice and stir thoroughly. Top with ice. Add rum and mix. Top off with *chilled* club soda (or seltzer). Add a lime slice and the remaining mint, and serve.

Happy 4th of July.

Jersey Girl Virtual Tours

www.jerseygirlvirtualtours.com

"Momma always told me to be nice." You never know who will be your next sale.

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:43:24 -0500

When a sales person contacts you do you simply blow them off,delete the email or voice mail message? You may want to reconsider as you never know where your next sale, referral or lead will come from.

I know that you may get inundated with solicitation, but you should be able to decipher which ones you should give a reply to. Like people you have meet in person, or you know run in the same business community circles.

I got advice from another active rain member that has changed my approach when making cold calls. This same advice can be applied in the reverse as well.

Here it is: The goal is to ask them may I send you information ONLY. 99% of the people you are contacting haven't even considered at the moment what you are selling or services being offered. So why force them to interrupt their day to consider you. Send info for them to review when they are ready.

So my response to cold calls or emails when I receive them is: "Can you please add me to your email list so that when we are ready to buy you will be fresh in our minds." Thanks again for contacting me. Later you can simply email back a no thank you or just allow the emails to continue as you have some interest.

My stories:

"Don't burn your bridges"

I got a call one day : We are having a meeting in 2 hours is there anyway that you can make it and give a presentation? Knowing the value of the possible sales I said yes . This was a committee meeting and the head of the committee did not prepare anything to present so I was saving his hide. I did the meeting and followed up a few days after to inquire of the level of interest, got voice mail, left about 8 messages with no call back, until I hear no I don't give up.

I finally did give up but I never forgot. The account was Morgan Stanley.

About 6 month later my financial planner advises me that he is now a division of Morgan Stanley. I told him the story and I asked him, why would I put my life savings with a company that cannot give the common courtesy of a return call?

Story#2

I have been looking into joining a Chamber in the area. I have made inquires to about 6 local Chambers emailing the president or director. To date I only got a response from 2. It's been 3 weeks from my first inquiry. Not a good sign. But it helped me to narrow down the choice.

I hope you find this info helpful in some way.

Cathy

Do you use chopsticks?

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 10:23:09 -0500

Chopsticks.

Why is it that my husbands will eat all other meals with a knife and a fork but put a plate of noodles that look a like spaghetti call it Lomain and he's gotta have chopsticks

So I asked why is this? " He said its having culture"

I call it being a follower, doing what everyone else dose and not knowing why or at the least not to ask why.

While sitting there at the local Chinese Restaurant I was handed chopsticks and they came in a wrapper with the history of chopsticks printed on them. It explained that eating with sticks was made popular when the Ruler of the Shang Dynasty in 1600 something BC claimed that eating with a knife was a sign of aggression.

Thus the sticks replace ancient knives and forks and a trend was set. (Key word Trend)

Of coarse my husband had no idea why he used the sticks, it was just what you do when you eat Chinese. So I ask you, do you eat with the sticks? Did you know why?

Trend followers - They are out there - the trick is to go against the trend and to stand out of the pack.

My blogs is like a scene from the movie "MY Big Fat Greek Wedding"

I can always equate everything back to why you should buy my virtual tours!!

I'm laughing at myself right now.

One of my biggest challenge is to convince Realtors that it's ok to divert some of their marketing dollars away from what all the other Realtors are doing and try something different.

Be a trend setter and don't follow the other lemmings as the fall off the cliff.

Its a party weekend - Can we expect anything less?

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Sat, 24 May 2008 08:53:27 -0500

We're have'in a party Everybody's grove'in.

Cathy & Mike are having a party and everyone is expecting nothing but a great time.

We are famous for throwing themed parties with fabulous food, fun and entertaining activates. Some of our themes have been Mardi Gras where the Hurricanes flow, beads fly and the Jumbolia is sizzling. Other parties have been St Patty's day , Halloween, Summer bash and Cabin Fever. Each time we out do ourselves with a exceptional menu, detailed decorations, prizes, and activities that are a hit. Our guest love our parties so much that they don't go home. In the morning the party continues. We all sit around sipping coffee while Mike cooks up a delicious breakfast.

So its no wonder as people arrive tonight they'll have their over night bags in hand asking which room can they take. We love it. We have the best of times and we wouldn't change a thing. But things have changed for us. With the slow down in the market and business not being what is was a year ago for us we have been feeling the pinch in the pocket book. As a result I had to cut back on my party decorations and menu. Breakfast won't be the elaborate feast and our activities will be minimal and no prizes.

My guest will be standing around tonight as they look at the cheesy paper fish cut-out decorations while eating pigs in a blanket and say " Remember the last party, the food was great and the place look wonderful, it WAS the best" (The kiss of death).

My friends love us so they won't hold it against us, but when the next invite comes their way they may say "Well their parties aren't as good as they use to be, may-be we'll skip this one." Soon there won't be any more parties and I won't have to worry about saving money any more.

So my question to you. When people have come to expect nothing but the best how can you give any less? ( I'm not fishing for party budget ideas or advise on how to save on entertaining here)

When the going gets tough do you give less service? Do you do less Marketing? How do you justify cutting back services in hard times? Is your business model different in lean times then in good?

Inquiring minds want to know.

The challenge to maintain the same level of service in bad times as in a good market is imperative to survival.

So in a minute I'm going to run out to the store and get all the food and decorations that I felt was out of budget and give my guest what they are expecting!! The best.

Cocktails and Cheers

Cathy

Andrew- Wish you were here

No Soliciting- Please!

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:18:32 -0500

I went to the Greater Ocean County Chamber Business Expo yesterday. I met a lot of business owners that paid good money to be there, plus shelled out more for their give always and any printed materials.

I always feel bad about taking the give away stuff when I have no intention of using their services. I have done many of various business shows myself and I refer to them as trick-r-treating for adults. They get their bags and then they take any thing that's not nailed down, and you know when they get home they'll chuck out most of the stuff. But the kick in the pants is they don't care what your services are or how you might be able to help them with a business need, they are there to sell you!!

For the first time that I've attended one of these events there was a sign on the door that read.

No soliciting - business card exchanges only. I though this was great and it was about time too.

I think they did everyone a big favor by doing this. When you take the time to listen and learn what others have to offer with no agenda it allows you to be seen in a light that a possible client may have never have gotten to see. The few cards that I did take was only from those I have interest in learning more, or they wanted to know what I did and they asked me to send them info. What a

difference.

Congrats to the Greater Ocean County Chamber for pulling off a great event. I

This Jersey Girl knows where the burgers are sizzling hot!

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:49:47 -0500

I've got a secret and I'm going to spill the beans. But first the story. I love burgers. Fat juicy big ones that are flamed grilled topped with melted cheese, onions, and a nice think slice of Jersey tomato.
I am in constant search for the perfect burger. Here are a few places. If you love a good burger you'll love these places.

Scooters in Lakewood on Rt 9, has a great Beefy Burger. Better yet on Mondays its a 2 for 1 special.
Idle Hour Point Pleasant Tues-Wed 2 for 1
Bar-A in Belmar Great burger just the way I like it also on Monday a 2-for-1 deal.
Connely Station, Belmar - Monday 2 for one burger buy
Ivy League in Howell on Rt 9 has a really good flame broiled burger (no specials)

I know there is a great Irish pub on the main drag of Belmar that also had a 2 for one burger on Mondays and they made the best Margarita I ever had. It's a small bar with tables and a pool table in the back. If you know please write to me.

Well Thats is for my burger obsession. Hey did I mention I create virtual tours for your business visit me at www.JerseyGirlVirtualTours.com Tell them Sal sent you

Connect the community to your chamber businesses

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:31:20 -0500

Here is a web based application that can help your Chamber members reach more of those seeking fast real time information about the community you serve.

Go online with live up to date information and save hundreds on printing. Brochures, Guides and flyers get tossed loss and forgotten. 86% of America are on line and they want to know before they go. Check out the Downtown Connector.

Show them a reason to visit your District! Connect the public with the history and businesses of your district. Give them a one stop, all inclusive informational website. The Downtown Connector enables your downtown to promote each local merchant, service provider and professional. Problem: Todays public does not take the time to sit and read long descriptive narratives. They want a real-time, one-stop website that provides the information they want fast with money saving opportunities.

Solution: The Downtown Connector provides information of your memberships businesses and the historic sites that are eye catching, interactive and detailed. Members have the option to provide printable coupons for money saving opportunities. It gives the consumer what they are looking for fast, in an easy to use, interactive map!

The Downtown Connector is a web-based informational system that combines the history of your district with the businesses on a web-based mapping system through virtual tours, business listings and printable online coupons. It provide viewers with a one-stop informational website.

The Downtown Connector is a tool designed to increase inquiries, create awareness and bring business to your district. It's a 24 hour, 7 day a week selling tool. It gives your district exposure to 1000s of views daily.

giiving the customer "a reason to come back."

The Downtown Connector will give people a reason to bookmark your site and return again and again. The site will publish and manage a critical set of up-to-the-minute-accurate, integrated, high quality, high value website features such as Interactive Local Maps, Searchable Business Categories, Virtual Tours and an Address Locator.

77% of consumers turn to the internet first to obtain information. They want to know before they go. The more time spent on your website, the more information they will learn about your downtown district, resulting in more business for your downtown members.

Click HERE to learn more about The Downtown Connector

1-888-565-1965

Contratulations You Won.

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:25:46 -0500

Click here to view Crossroads Realty Virtual Tour

Congratulations Patricia Allen of Crossroads Realty Jackson NJ office. She was the winner of a free virtual tour.

Patricia won the virtual tour as part of our Month of May promotion. We are launching our new virtual tour technology. n Click on the link above to view the largest viewing window possible. Your New Jersey Realtor office can participate in the free tour promotion by contacting Virtual Access Tours 1-888-565-1965

We' re going Retro! Check us out!

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:01:27 -0500

We are launching a new website, new logo and new name. Let me Us know what you think! Thanks in advance for your kind replies.

Cathy

Too close for comfort. Your imput needed.

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Fri, 02 May 2008 11:23:03 -0500

In the state of New Jersey, we have more people than we do square feet. As a result , we tend to trip over each other quite a bit on the Turnpike, Parkway and the lovely back roads too. New Jersey tends to get a bad wrap for not being too friendly. Everybody seems to be related to Tony Soprano in some way. Another thing about New Jersey is if you don't know Bruce Springsteen, you do know someone who is a Real Tour Vision dealer. We seem to have an overabundance for such a small state. You may think that we have a lot of Realtors, but if you actually research the list from the Multiple Listing Services, you'll find that there is a large percent age of members that are inactive . You also need to take in to account all or the non Real Tour Vision virtual tour / slide show providers. A recent survey was sent out about a code of ethics . The survey did not mention anything about territories. I don't know about you, but I would have liked the option to have requested a territory, even if I had to pay a premium for it. Free range can make marketing and growing my business a bit frustrating. I would have liked to work together with other Real Tour Vision dealers and not compete for the same business. It's hard enough to compete with other providers such as CirclePix, Tour Factory, etc. It would be nice to be able to share trade show tables, refer overflow business and joint market together . Unfortunately, without protected territories, it seems improbable.

Your input may help to create the option to bid on protected territories either monetarily or by guaranteeing a volume commitment. This way we can truly network to increase business for Real Tour Vision dealers wherever you are. Please let RTV know how you feel about this topic.

Where on 9

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:22:11 -0500

I want to share with you a new website and opportunity to get local exposure. For a limited time you can get your add on Where on 9 for free. They are offering a trail run. The site is all about business located on US 9 from Old Bridge to Lakewood and business that are within 5 miles from 9. Contact them by going to www.whereon9.com

The Big Picture

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:42:37 -0500

Do you list 3000 sq-ft homes or larger Standard slideshow and tradition virtual tours cannot captor the true beauty of the larger homes. Check out this new technology that we have added to our product line. Design to captor all the grandeur of the spaces home.

Your feed back would be most appreciated. Thanks in advance for taking the time to review the below links.

172 Palm Desert Court

BRANDED Virtual Tour

http://tours.virtualaccesstours.com/public/vtour/display/1469

SLIDE SHOW

http://tours.virtualaccesstours.com/public/vtour/slideshow/1469

33 Clover Hill

BRANDED Virtual Tour

http://tours.virtualaccesstours.com/public/vtour/display/1419

SLIDE SHOW

http://tours.virtualaccesstours.com/public/vtour/slideshow/1419

Regards,

Cathy

www.virtualaccesstours.com

When to turn down a listing.

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:24:21 -0500

I was reading an article in Realtor magazine a few months back, the title was something like "keeping afloat in a declining market". The author suggested that in a declined market that you need to be very choosy of the listings you take on or better yet what kind of sellers. A few of the questions they suggested to ask : 1.) Are they able to reduce the price if needed. 2.)Are they motivated to move and not just wait it out. 3.)How marketable is the house against all the other inventory, 4.)Is the home a white elephant or a gem. are the sellers willing to invest to fix up the home so it is marketable. They suggested that you only take the marketable gem's with sellers willing an able to do what it takes to move the home. Keep your listing inventory light and move on to the next gem.

What do you think about this ? Is this unrealistic? Can you become a Realtor that only works with high-end listings or easy to market listings? Are you already following the advice of the author and are successful ?

I wonder if this can be done and if you think its good advice.

In my line of work it gets very frustrating to deal with Realtors who worry about the cost of a virtual tour when they stand to make at minimum 5000 in commission. I'd like to work exclusively with those who understand the value of a professional virtual tour photographer and do not have a problem investing a very small fee for a very large commission. My wish for the day!

Is this your frustration with sellers too?

Inquiring minds want to know

Have a nice day!

Tell it like it is. Thanks

Cathy Williams (Virtual Access Tours Monmouth and Ocean County NJ) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:18:19 -0500

The other day we went to do a virtual tour for our number 1 client who also happens to be the #1 Agent for Middlesex County NJ. He uses our services because he knows that his clients use the internet and appreciate the differences made between a fade in/out slide show and a real 360 degree virtual tour.

When we entered the home, the homeowner asked if we were creating a full 360 tour or just a fancy slide show. She wrote up the following quote for us.

"When I am looking for homes, I want to view the full interior of the house. Pretty slide shows don't do it for me unless I'm looking for decorating tips. All they do is show me what furniture the homeowner owns. It doesn't give me the clear picture of how the rooms flow. When doing my research, I mainly use the internet and only look at the homes that have the full 360 degree views presented."

Nancy Cohen

Home seller / buyer

For the sake of the professional virtual tour provider, tell it like it is. If you're giving them a slide show, then stop calling it a virtual tour. They know the difference.

Cathy Williams

Sales & Marketing Director

Cathy@virtualaccesstours.com

cell - 732-513-4967

toll free -1-888-565-1965 x702

Virtual Access Tours - Virtual Tour Marketing

"One Call Does it All virtual tour service"