Dave's Blog

Need Tips on What to Blog? Try Google Reader

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:03:56 -0500

If you are new to blogging or find yourself struggling to come up with something interesting to write about, this blog is for you. I was doing some research for a blogging class that we teach and as I was surfing I could hear the same question that most new “Bloggers” ask, “What am I going to blog about?” Blogging is an outlet for some people, while others view it as a necessary evil. The truth is, finding interesting information to write about is not that hard. Google Reader is an extremely robust tool that allows you to search, categorize and utilize up to date articles being posted about areas that you are interested in. Here is how it works:

Google Reader is FREE and it works with most browsers. Better yet, you don’t have to install any software or toolbars. Google Reader constantly checks the web sites and blogs that you tell it to track and lets you know when new content is posted. This allows you to stay up to date with areas that you find interesting and provides plenty of ideas for your personal blog too. You can share interesting articles and blog posts by utilizing Google Reader’s built-in public page. With just one click you can share interesting articles with your social networks and potential customers, by sending them to relevant links. Some people have coined the product as, “a personalized inbox for the entire web.”

Looking for content is made easy with Google Reader’s integrated feed search. This helpful feature allows you to enter keywords on topics that you want to research. You can even add a customizable clip that displays your latest blog in your site’s sidebar. You can access your Google Reader account from any computer with online access, most mobile phone browsers and you can add a Google Reader gadget to your iGoogle account and see updates when they occur.

It takes less than two minutes to Register, Log In and start using Google Reader. This incredible organizational tool is both convenient and informative and will get you working smarter instead of harder.

Listing Solutions is laser focused on helping our clients achieve the success online needed to compete in today’s challenging market. We are one of St. Augustine web designs emerging companies and a Full Service Dealer with Realtourvision®, specializing in Jacksonville virtual tours. We are one of the premier virtual tour providers in St. Augustine. Our online real estate marketing skills allow us to help our clients dominate the search engines. We would love the opportunity to help you. Call us today!

Dave Hall,
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions
(904) 540-9962
Visit Our Web Site
View Our Blog
Email Me

Create Buyer Curiosity With Listing Solutions' Hot Spots

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:48:04 -0500

I believe in competition. I believe that it makes people work harder to provide quality products and incredible services. That is why Listing Solutions is proud to be a Full Service Provider for Realtourvision, the World’s largest network of Virtual Tour Providers. Our amazing technology allows us to create a unique perspective of homes for sale in St Augustine.

There are a number of companies and a few new ones (your welcome for the plug Chris) that are selling “slideshows” under the guise of virtual tours. This method of marketing your property online does not allow the potential Home Buyer to see the actual layout of the home.

Listing Solutions’ virtual tours feature “Hot Spots.” These carefully placed icons appear on the virtual tour and when clicked on, take the viewer to what is behind the door. Kind of like Christmas! Our virtual tours are loaded with features that enable you to professionally market your property and promote yourself online. Contact us today and I will give you 31 Reasons Why Listing Solutions Should Be Part of Your Online Marketing Strategies.

Dave Hall

Marketing Director

Listing Solutions

(904) 540-9962

Visit Our Web Site

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Listing Solutions’ Anniversary Sale

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:03:54 -0500

Listing Solutions’ Anniversary Sale

It is our 2 Year Anniversary and we have a gift for you!

We are entering our 3rd year of service to the real estate community in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida. Our virtual tours and real estate photography have been instrumental in many Realtor’s® marketing campaigns and our new text messaging service, Text Connect, promises to be just as successful. Listing Solutions is pleased to announce the following sale in celebration of our anniversary:

Pick Up A Five Pack Purchase and pay for 4 Standard Virtual Tour Packages and receive a Full House Package (valued at $199.00) for FREE! Hurry though this offer expires October 31st, 2009.

Our virtual tours and real estate photography are chosen over the competition daily by business professionals who demand the very best exposure for their listings. We are a Full Service Provider with Realtourvision®, the World’s largest network of Virtual Tour Providers and an Approved Vendor with Realtor.com. Our online marketing strategies are guaranteed to get you the exposure needed to compete in today’s challenging market. With 86% of current Home Buyers utilizing the internet to assist in their search, don’t you owe it to yourself to explore our Results Driven online marketing tools? Take a look at some of our features that come standard with every virtual tour:

• Agent or Owner contact information as well as links to their E-mail and Web site.
• Slide Show feature will showcase your listing within the virtual tour in a slide by slide presentation.
• E-mail button allows viewers to E-mail a link of the virtual tour to family and friends.
• Detailed information on public libraries as well as local and private schools is included with every virtual tour.
• An overhead aerial and satellite view is placed on every virtual tour.
• Detailed MLS information is included with every virtual tour.
• Navigation buttons give viewers control over turning left, right, up, down, and zoom in or out.
• Hit Counter - This button allows the Realtor or the home seller to run virtual tour hit traffic reports anytime!

Listing Solutions is laser – focused on helping our clients achieve the success online needed to compete in today’s challenging market. We are one of St. Augustine web designs emerging companies and a Full Service Dealer with Realtourvision®, specializing in Jacksonville virtual tours. We are one of the premier virtual tour providers in St. Augustine. Our online real estate marketing skills allow us to help our clients dominate the search engines. We would love the opportunity to help you. Call us today!

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions
(904) 540-9962
Visit Our Web Site
View Our Blog
Email Me

The Perfect Online Marketing Mix

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:04:06 -0500

I had the good fortune of being invited to the StomperNet Live 8 Event last weekend in Atlanta, Ga. (Thanks Mark). If you don’t know who StomperNet is, you should! These guys are simply put, The Master Minds of online marketing. I expected to pick up some good search engine optimization tips and from the minute I sat down, I was not disappointed. I can’t wait to start employing the techniques that I learned on my current and future projects. I have been compiling notes from the event all day.

I had a client tell me that someone told her that she should rely on social media and not have a web site. In order to be successful marketing yourself online you need to do a combination of the following:

1. Create and post your Blogs. You want to utilize keywords and phrases that you want to rank on within the content of your blogs. You should link keywords and phrases and direct them to different pages on your web site. By doing this, you are utilizing keywords, phrases and links to direct people to your web site. When they get to your web site, you can capture their information and convert them to a lead. You can allow them to learn more about you, earning you the right to ask for their business and you can have a Call to Action on your pages, giving them permission to make a decision to choose you. Blogs are your hooks in the water.

2. Utilize social networks to inform people of your blogs and other blogs that you find interesting. This allows you to start creating your “Expertise” in this field and generate conversations with people. As you build relationships through social networking, people become more comfortable with you. They must feel comfortable with you in order to business with you. Social Networks are hooks in the water too, but with YOUR personal “bait.”

3. Your Web Site is your online persona. With more and more buyers searching online and sellers demanding better results, you will have a difficult time competing without a web site. You want your Blog to be from your Web Site. This helps with ranking and at the end of the day ranking is what is going to get you business. Your web site is your store!

Blogs have a life span and you can not “OWN” a keyword or phrase through social networking. Those tools are used to build your web site’s organic ranking, allowing you to “OWN” that niche. I hope that this helps some of you and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.

Dave Hall

Marketing Director
Listing Solutions
(904) 540-9962
Visit Our Web Site
View Our Blog
Email Me

Geek Weekend

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:47:55 -0500

I recently attended a DotNetNuke convention in Tampa, Florida. The convention was held at Microsoft and promised to provide valuable information on new technology and techniques. I invited Dick Betts to come along and see first hand how dynamic and robust this platform is. Dick is a National Speaker and teaches classes for Realtors. I manage his Web Services Division and provide internet technology for him and his many clients. (I honestly could not tell you which one of us was "Oscar" and which one was "Felix" but, we were definitely the "Odd Couple")

As soon as we arrived in Tampa, we met up with some friends at PF Changs for a late dinner. Three of them are from Canada and focus their talents on the real estate industry there. It was interesting to hear the state of the real estate market in Canada and soon dinner turned in to beers back at the hotel. (Yeah, Geeks drink too!) We arrived at the Grand Hyatt, not your typical "Geek Pad", as you have to pay for the wireless connection. But, the beer was cold and it was nice catching up with friends that you only get to see once a year.

The next morning we got up and started preparing for our day of learning. I was so excited that I nearly forgot my "pocket protector" and where the hell did my "Spock ears" go? I searched everywhere for them, even the Moss Covered Three Handled Family Credenza. If Dick Betts thought he could steal my prized possession, he had another thing coming. I would not be upstaged by his trickery and decided on the "X-Ray vision glasses" that I purchased from the back of one of my Spiderman comics. "To Infinity And..." well, you get the picture.

We got there right as the Keynote Speaker was finishing up and I grabbed a cup of coffee. (Were you expecting Jolt or Vault?) I sat in on "Building Online Communities with DotNetNuke 5" and looked at Dick through my X-Ray Glasses. I still couldn't see the Spock ears but, I could read his thoughts through the amazing glasses..."I need more coffee"..."Where are the doughnuts?"..."I hope someone brought some breadcrumbs, because I am so lost." It was without a doubt the best $2.50 I have ever spent. They Worked!

When we were in the Search Engine Optimization class, I looked over and saw that Dick had started a game of "Tic Tac Toe" with one of the ladies from Canada. (Maybe he was going to fit in after all, I mean Tic Tac Toe is to Geeks what SuperBowl Sunday is to jocks.) I tried my best to study his technique, as I listened to the speaker explain new information and tips on making your web site search engine friendly. I secretly hoped that they would start playing "Hangman." I wanted to try out my new "Micro Thesaurus Casio G-Shock." No such luck.

We broke for lunch and I was a little disappointed that Dick was not willing to trade his Skittles for my chicken salad wrap. Oh well, it was time to see the Dynamic Registration Module. This module allows you to do many things but, creating and managing a database was by far the feature that I wanted to see. I have a lot of friends who are Realtors and I can definitely see the value of them having access to customers who come to their site. This module will allow you to stay in constant contact with your web site's visitors.

By the way Dick, I have heard the joke, "What do you get when you put 150 Geeks at an open bar?" I don't remember the punch line but, "Two More Hours Of Geek Talk" could use some work. How about, "You had to take away my calculator, because friends dont let friends DERIVE drunk." or "You had to explain to us that we can't set a laser printer to stun?" Now that would have been funnier.

The internet has changed the way that real estate is conducted in this country and promises to bring value to what Realtors do on a daily basis. "Geeks" can help you get your message out to arenas that were out of your reach until now. So, be nice to the "Geeks," we can be instrumental in helping you find your next buyer or seller. And remember, "computers can never replace human stupidity."

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
(904) 540-9962
dave@listingsolutions.net
www.ListingSolutions.net

Listing Solutions Launches Their News and Information Web Site

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 16:56:02 -0600

Listing Solutions is proud to announce the launch of their news and information web site, StAugustineFl.OurTown.com. This online news publication is a “One-Stop-Shop” for hyper-local, national and world news and events. Are you looking for St. Augustine information? Would you like to know about local events in St. Augustine? StAugustineFl.OurTown.com will keep you informed of local news that takes place in our community. News videos and featured articles will keep you informed of what is currently taking place on a local, national and world level. One place, one goal and keeping you informed.

StAugustineFl.OurTown.com provides a local events calendar that features concerts, community events and happenings around the nation’s oldest city. Unlike other community web sites, you and anyone in your neighborhood contribute to the news and information that is important to you. What is the most important part of any town? It is the people that live there and make it a community. Your interests, Your issues and Your points of view. StAugustineFl.OurTown.com lets people share, learn and meet with each other on a regular basis. As on Craig’s List, individual buyers and sellers are able to create classified ads for FREE. StAugustineFl.OurTown.com allows local buyers and sellers to access and search a detailed and easy to use Free Classified Ad System.

Take a look at some the features:

Local and Regional Weather

Calendars & Mapping Personalized for the Nation’s Oldest City

Hyper-Local News

Breaking News Headlines

FREE Local Classified Ads

Local Community Photos & Events

Local & Regional Sports

Community Forums & Polling

Local Commentary & Chat

So, what are you waiting for? Visit YOUR new web site today and make it your Home Page! StAugustineFl.OurTown.com is looking for contributing writers to share their events, stories and articles about this great community that we all love and live in. For information about advertising, contributing or opportunities, please call (904) 540-9962. The Local Editor can be reached via email at dhall@ourtown.com.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
(904) 540-9962
dave@listingsolutions.net
www.ListingSolutions.net
www.StAugustineFl.OurTown.com

Single Property Web Site Sale

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 18:07:34 -0500

Listing Solutions is pleased to offer 50% OFF of set up fees for the entire month of August. Our Single Property Web Sites will get you the exposure needed to compete in today's challenging market. Each web site is optimized for the search enginges ensuring you the exposure needed. 80% of current buyers utilize the internet when searching for a home and 67% of current buyers come from outside the state of Florida. We understand that our value is created by the level of service and support that we offer to you and your company. Allow us the opportunity to serve you and we are sure that you will agree, Listing Solutions is the difference between for sale and sold.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine, Florida
(904) 540-9962
Email Me At: dave@listingsolutions.net
Click Here To Visit Our Site
Click Here To View Our Blog

Welcome To The Latest In Online Marketing!

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:05:42 -0500

Are you tired of throwing your marketing dollars away on print advertising? Statistics continue to show that 80% of today's home buyers utilize the internet when searching for their home. Listing Solutions is proud to announce the Single Property Web Site. This web site is custom made for you with your logo, picture and contact information prominently displayed throughout the web site. The domain name is the actual property address. This allows you to drive traffic to your "single property web site" and your personal web site.
The web site showcases still shot photography of your home, as well as, a virtual tour. Need to get specific information out there about your beautiful home? No problem. Listing Solutions will custom create ways for you to get exactly what you want conveyed to your target audience. Affordable and effective, the single property web site will help you close more listing presentations. Sellers are impressed and you differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack. Allow us the opportunity to show you how these can benefit you and your seller and get you to the closing table more often.
Call Us Today To Order Your Single Property Web Site!

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
(904) 540-9962
Email: dave@listingsolutions.net
Click Here To Visit Our Web Site
Order A Virtual Tour Today!
Click Here To View Our Blog

I Need Your Opinion.

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:47:10 -0500

I have noticed a trend among Realtors over the last six months and I would appreciate your "professional" opinions. I am the Marketing Director for a web design and virtual tour company in St. Augustine, Florida and I have noticed that more Realtors are inquiring about our services. It is no secret that is a buyer's market and with 80% of those buyers utilizing the internet, your internet presence is extremely important. About 67% of the current home buyers in the state of Florida come from outside of the state. This is an impossible market to penetrate utilizing local advertising and a yard sign. So, my question is this: "Are you marketing your listings or yourself?" I have seen virtual tours that are full screen and virtual tours that are not. The tours that are full screen do a great job of showing the home. However, you don't see information regarding the Realtor, Listing Company or property information easily. The tours that are not full screen show more detailed information regarding the three areas mentioned above, but the tour is obviously smaller. What is more important to you? After all, the decisions that we make as virtual tour providers are based off of your wants and needs. Would you rather have your image and contact information visible during the tour? Would you rather see the home in a full screen window? Everyone has their own opinion and there is no right or wrong answer. I enjoy reading all of your blogs and would really appreciate your opinion on this subject.

Dave Hall

Marketing Director

Listing Solutions, Inc.

(904) 540-9962

Order A Virtual Tour Today

http://www.listingsolutions.net

mailto:dave@listingsolutions.net

Save Gas Money! Order A Virtual Tour.

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Fri, 02 May 2008 22:03:19 -0500

There is no question that recent gas prices have cut in to all of our earnings. As I write this blog, gas prices are at $3.64 per gallon. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? This is an expense that none of us could have prepared for but, here we are. Wouldn't it be great if your client purchased the first house that they saw? Wouldn't it be great if customers called you and said, "I have narrowed my search down to a couple of homes?" It can happen more often than you think.

80% of current buyers utilize the internet when searching for a home. Why not order a virtual tour today? On a typical day, more than five million people are taking virtual tours in cyberspace, up from roughly two million in 2004. Nearly 90% of internet searchers used a real estate professional, compared to 79% of non-internet users. The statistics definitely support the fact that the internet has and continues to change the way real estate is bought and sold in the United States. A virtual tour allows your customer to sell themselves on the house, before you spend endless hours and precious money on gas.

Listing Solutions is, a Certified Full Service Dealer with the world's largest network of virtual tour providers, Realtourvision. We can get you the internet exposure that you need, to compete and be successful in today's challenging market. Some of our most popular products include: 2D & 3D floor plans, single property websites, printable property flyers and elevated photography.

We know that our value is created by the level of service and support that we offer to you and your company. Complete customer satisfaction is our goal and your continued success is our main priority. Allow us the opportunity to serve you on your next virtual tour and show you a difference...the Listing Solutions difference.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour (904) 540-9962

Elevated Photography And The Capole

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:55:00 -0500

As the Marketing Director for a web design and virtual tour company, I see a lot of different marketing techniques and tools. When we first started Listing Solutions, Inc. we were primarily focused on providing virtual tours and custom web sites. Our business model has changed several times since then and one area that we immediately started to focus on was "elevated photography." I have a friend who owns a welding shop here in St. Augustine, Florida and he has developed an elevation pole that is both sturdy and portable, The Capole. I blogged about it a few months ago and was surprised at how many people were interested and actually responded. I have had home and business owners, Realtors® and virtual tour providers contact me about our project. So, here are some photographs of the Capole in action for those of you who have been so patient. The Capole is a little over 8 feet when it is collapsed and a little over 27 feet when fully extended. It is made out of aluminum which makes it extremely portable. It weighs a little over 50 pounds and can be carried on the shoulder with ease, for most people. The four legs that are attached to the base of the Capole extend, to further secure the elevation pole. We have placed a Manfrotto pan and tilt head at the top of the pole for complete control and added security for the camera. The camera is raised and lowered by the hand crank attached to the base of the pole. Currently, we are utilizing USB cables that allow us to use the remote capture function via a laptop. The pictures that are attached were taken with my friend's Nikon. Unfortunately, we didn't have the remote capture feature available to us on the day of the photos. So, these pictures were taken using an 11 second delay. He set the self timer and I cranked away. We were trying to get as high up as possible before the 11 second delay took the picture. I was very nervous about raising the pole as quickly as we were, while my friend's EXPENSIVE camera was attached to it. The Capole is very sturdy! We are working on a couple of accessories/attachments for the Capole. One attachment will allow you to place the wheel of your vehicle on a flat piece of metal and slide the pole into a sturdy sleeve. The other attachment will allow you to slide the Capole into a sturdy sleeve that is attached to your vehicle's trailer hitch. This attachment will get you another two feet in height. There is no denying that elevated photography is a unique way to take pictures. It can be the difference in effectively marketing real estate, business locations or events. This technique will differentiate you and your product from the competition. Contact us today to schedule your next elevation photography session or virtual tour.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour 904-540-9962
Dave@listingsolutions.net

What Is Your Message?

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:51:19 -0500

I have been in sales for all of my adult life. The funny thing about sales is, the more things change... the more things stay the same. For example, my main goal is to differentiate myself from other web design and virtual tour companies. I feel like we do a pretty good job of this. The real question is, "why would somebody choose Listing Solutions over the competition?" (I'm glad that you asked.)

First of all, we are laser-focused on our client's wants and needs. It doesn't matter how we think it went, it matters what they think. It is one thing to say this, (everybody does) it is something completely different to live it. We live in the community that we work in and we see our clients all of the time. It is more important to me, to be viewed as one of their valued business partners. I can't think of a situation where I would allow money to get in the way of that basic business philosophy.

Secondly, we are dealers in the world's largest virtual tour organization, Realtourvision. When we were in the process of researching virtual tour companies and software, we found them on the internet. Unfortunately, it was after 3 months of sadistic nights in front of Photoshop. We talked with Jason LaVenture and he explained how their process worked. I was thrilled to hear that I would not have to slave in front of Photoshop anymore and surprised at how he was talking. Jason sounded generally excited for us. He brought more value to us than the software stitching, which is why we contacted him in the first place. The products and services that Realtourvision makes available to us are invaluable. As a result, we are able to offer our clients much more than virtual tours. We offer 2D and 3D floor plans, single property websites, PanoRiders and too many other products to list here. (Guess where you can find the rest...lol) We are truly fortunate to have Realtourvision as one of our trusted business partners.

Last but not least, we support our clients. We make their concerns our concerns. We support and attend their functions and organizations. Our success is dependent on their success and we never forget that. We are in the relationship business. We have some great relationships here and we still have room for more. So, if you need a website or a virtual tour, please allow Listing Solutions to show you how we can help you get the exposure that you need. Order a website or virtual tour today.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour 904-540-9962
Dave@listingsolutions.net

rssHugger Is A Free Site That Helps Build Back Links For Search Engine Optimization

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:40:26 -0500

I have a colleague who sent me some information on a company named rssHugger. I followed her advice and checked out the site. It seems like a really good way to increase your internet presence. The site is very easy to read and has some good information about what their ideas and goals are. I signed up and you should check it out too. If you are interested in increasing viewers for your blog or building backlinks for search engine optimazation, give this site a look. I am the Marketing Director for a web design and virtual tour company and I appreciate innovative ideas that can help increase internet presence. Thanks Cheryl and thanks rssHugger.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour 904-540-9962
Info@listingsolutions.net

Aerial Photography

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:59:44 -0500

I am the Marketing Director for a virtual tour company in St. Augustine, Florida. Recently I have had several clients ask me about elevated photography. I started researching this field and found that there are a lot of different techniques used to accomplish this. There seems to be a lot of demand for this special photography and not that many providers. I tried to find a system that would fit into my budget and be mobile enough to be practical. That turned out to be a difficult task. Elevation poles are either too expensive or cumbersome to be practical. RC helicopters really caught my attention, but there were a lot of obstacles to this technique. First of all, the helicopters are several thousand dollars and then you have to learn how to fly the thing. After a couple of weeks of researching the helicopters I reluctantly gave up. The cost involved was too much and then there were the insurance and liability issues. It was fun being a kid for the two weeks. I was discussing my dilemma with a friend who owns and operates Capo Welding here in St. Augustine. He happens to be a photographer too. I showed him some pictures of a pole that I was considering and he told me that it didn't look sturdy enough to place a nice camera on. He was right. It looked like a telescopic pole used to clean a pool. We looked at a franchise opportunity and it was extremely expensive to buy in to. I thought to myself that maybe this isn't something that I want to pursue. Did I mention that my friend owns a welding company? J He told me that he would look into it and see if there was something that he could design for me. A couple of months passed and he invited me to come by the shop to take a look at a prototype that he had made. I was pleased with the design and functionality of this prototype. He said that he had some fine tuning to do and that he had to come up with a way to raise and lower the pole. If he was going to use a motor to extend and retract the pole, we would have to carry a battery around with us to operate the pole and that would cost us some mobility. There was also the base of the pole to consider and how he needed to make it sturdy and secure. I left his shop that day excited about the progress and started sharing the information with some of my clients. They were excited and ready to utilize this unique marketing strategy. A couple of weeks passed and my friend called me again. He told me that he wanted me to come by the shop and help sand down the legs of the elevation pole. (Nothing is free! J) When I got there I was surprised to see that he had everything measured, cut and even painted. It took me about an hour to perform the 15 minute task (my shop teacher would be very disappointed) and we were ready to assemble the pole. As we started putting it together, I was amazed at the detail and thought process that he had put into it. I told him about a conversation that I had with a virtual tour provider in another state. She said that she thought other virtual tour providers in the RTV network would be interested in hearing about our technology. So, I thought that I would take this opportunity to introduce my friend's latest invention to everyone. The pole extends to 27 feet and the camera is currently linked to the laptop via USB cords. This enables us to use the remote capture function and immediately see the shot that we have taken without retracting the pole to look at the camera. I am sure that we will eventually go to a wireless version. But for now, I have clients waiting and ready to schedule their aerial photography session. The pole weighs about 50 pounds and has a tripod base that is extremely secure. It features a hand crank that smoothly extends and retracts the pole. It has a pan and tilt head on the top, where the camera mounts to the pole. The elevation pole even has a name..."The Capole." I should be utilizing this new tool as early as next week. I will post our progress and pitfalls on our virtual tour blog in the coming weeks. If this is an area that you have been considering, I encourage you to contact either Byron or myself. Best of luck to everyone this year.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour 904-540-9962
Info@listingsolutions.net

Who Knew?

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:00:44 -0600

I am the Marketing Director for a virtual tour company in St. Augustine, Florida called Listing Solutions. I received a referral from a business partner last week. We have a deal worked out where he puts me in front of his clients, which are mostly Realtors. I met the Realtor at the location to take the pictures for the virtual tour. I asked him who had been doing his virtual tours and he told me that a good friend of his has a virtual tour company. It was not the response that I was hoping for. We chatted while I took the pictures and I found out that he has his own development company. I asked him if his friend had the ability to add floor plans to his virtual tours and he said no. I explained to him that we have the ability to add both 2D and 3D floor plans to his tours. We discussed aerial photography and I found out that he has a relationship with someone who produces very expensive aerial photos for him. I told him about our prices, which were significantly less than his friends and he seemed a little more open to learn more about our company and what we do. I think that the icing on the cake was our conversation regarding our distribution list. Our distribution list goes out to 85 more feeds than his friend's company. I told him about our participation with blogs and how it has helped our page ranking. By the time that I had finished taking the pictures, we had exchanged business cards and I believe that we will do business again together in the very near future. I followed up with him a few days after the virtual tour had been posted and he was happy and wanted a copy of the distribution list for his seller. I was prepared to let his friendship with another virtual tour provider prevent me from informing him of all of the tools that we have at our disposal. Who knew?

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour 904-540-9962
listingsolutions@comcast.net

St. Augustine Welcomes Listing Solutions Virtual Tours

Dave Hall (Listing Solutions, Inc.) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:00:55 -0600

It is no secret that we are in a tough market. Everyone can pick up a newspaper or tune in to their favorite news channel and get the gruesome details. This is a great opportunity for virtual tour providers. Why? Have you checked into local newspaper advertising lately? I am in a small market and the local newspaper here, charges around $56.00 for a four line advertisement, per week.

Local television and radio advertisements are quite a bit more than that. How can we differentiate ourselves from these competitors, other than price? We can be the good news! We can talk about the statistics. According to a recent profile of home buyers and sellers conducted by the National Association of Realtors®, 80% of current buyers use the internet when searching for a home.

We can talk about how we support their industry and promote them and their properties in a positive manner. Why would anyone in their right mind, pay someone to print negative advertisements and articles about them and their industry? It doesn't make sense to me either. I am new to the virtual tour industry.

However, I am and have been in the real estate market for several years. Realtors build their business the same way that we as virtual tour providers build ours, Business Partners and Referrals. I don't have a business partner that speaks in a negative manner about me or my product. Why do they pay their hard earned money to people who do this? It is mostly in part to a lack of knowledge.

Most realtors don't know how many places that Real Tour Vision sends their virtual tours to. We can effectively educate them on the benefits of using a Real Tour Vision Certified Full Service Dealer, while at the same time differentiating ourselves from some of their other choices. Statistically, WE ROCK! There are more people using the internet than ever before. We should focus on the positives and play more of a supporting role with our clients.

I "paint the picture" for a prospective realtor. I talk to them about the things that most of their customers are interested in: Confidence in the Realtor that they choose and results. I walk them through the scenario of giving a listing presentation and how impressive it is, to bring the virtual tour up during the initial visit. It shows a commitment on the Realtor's part. The results part is easy. I live in Florida, where 67% of home buyers here come from outside of the state. That is an impossible market for someone to penetrate using local advertising and a yard sign. (They are looking for what I have. They just don't know it yet). Finally, I share my experience with starting a new business and why I chose Real Tour Vision to be one of MY business partners.

I explain how I spent month after exhausting month, of researching my new endeavor and how Real Tour Vision has helped me achieve my goals. I tell them that Real Tour Vision has the largest dealer network in the industry and I tell them, "No Fisheye lens"! I let them know that I want to be one of their business partners. I explain how I bring value to them and that my success is dependent on their success. With the strength of the nation's largest dealer network in the industry and the distribution partners that they have in place, it's an easy choice. The only other question is, "would you like a 2D or 3D floor plan with your tour"?  Be the light in your market and leave the doom and gloom to those other guys. We at Listing Solutions, wish you all the very best of luck this year.

Dave Hall
Marketing Director
Listing Solutions, Inc.
St. Augustine Virtual Tour Provider
http://www.listingsolutions.net/
Order a Virtual Tour 904-540-9962
listingsolutions@comcast.net