Mr. R.E.'s Blog

Agent Assist - Realtor Software

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:22:47 -0500

The reblog tool is very cool, Mr. Scribble learns to drool. Let's try it shall we?

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain):

Sometime around 1998, I went to a business planning seminar for Realtors in San Francisco. The guest speaker and presenter was Mike Ferry. Agents spent alot of money to come see how to create an effective business plan and set their goals to be successful in Real Estate. Over 350 agents attended this Goal Planning seminar. Many bought books, videos, tapes, visual aids, cassettes and other stuff to help them with their Real Estate Business.

While at this seminar, I had what I call a BFO! (Blinding Flash of the Obvious) I realized that every agent in that room and every agent here online all have one thing in common! We ALL NEED TO MAKE MONEY! Some a little more, some a little less, so I started developing my own software application that would help Brokers and Agents determine their goals based on specific desired incomes. I know that we all want to make a million dollars, but this program is designed to help you make what you need to survive, and then some. It's called Agent Assist.

It started as a planner, then I added income and expense tracking. It grew to include sellers and buyers net sheets, progress analysis, title and escrow fees, mortgage calculator, renters chart and more. Now it has resource tracking, transaction tracking, charts and production graphs and a lot of tools to assist agents with their business. Hence, the programs name Agent Assist. I am now up to version 5.0. This program has become what it is today primarily because I have listened to my clients and their needs. It has a great, non-threatening look and feel driven by a basic flat file menu system.

Agent Assist 5.0 is The Premier Real Estate Program Designed and created to assist you with many important segments of your Business. This is possibly one of the most practical applications and easiest to use programs in the Real Estate Industry. I want you to check out the program and let me know what you think? I will provide it to you for reading this post for just $29.99 and in exchange, I just want you to post your comments and feedback. I want your opinion.

The software was written in excel so you will need to have Microsoft Excel installed on your PC. (Works on the Mac if you can run windows). If you search www.google.com, just type Agent Assist 5.0 and you'll find it. You can also get it from my website, AGENTASSIST. No gimics, no expirations, no ploys or spoofs. This is just my way of giving back to my industry, my customers, and my fellow ActiveRain bloggers.

If you are interested in getting/purchasing a copy, post your comment and let me know. If you already have a copy, please post your thoughts and comments. Lastly, after trying the application, if there is something you would like to see me add or take away, please let me know. I appreciate your comments and help.

Whether you are brand new in the business, or have 20 years experience, I know you'll love this program. By the Way...every penny earned from Agent Assist goes to feed starving Children in California.......MINE!!

ActiveBlogs - 5 Suggested Ways To Maximize Your New Group Blogs

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:15:54 -0600

Now my friends eraser, pencil, and white-out can Blog with me on the same Blog. Way to go ActiveRain, and Welcome to New York ActiveBrad!!! We're creating a NEW Group Blog called "Mr. Scribble Going Green!"

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder (ActiveRain):

Today, ActiveRain Launched ActiveBlogs for our members. I have been hinting that this was coming the past couple weeks and now it's finally live! Jeff Corbett just sent out the global press release which you can read here: ActiveRain Launches ActiveBlogs, a Multi-Author Blogging Platform for Real Estate Industry Professionals. Jorgen Hahn also posted Winning Wednesday: Introducing New Team and Individual Blogs. Although I am in NYC right now enjoying the Inman Connect Conference, I just had to break away and take a minute to share a few suggestions and ideas with you on how you might possibly use these new ActiveBlogs to benefit you and your business.

In literally minutes, I was able to create and setup a "TEAM" or "Group" Blog without ever leaving the AR Network. You can register, choose themes, create domain names, invite contributors, and more all from a (simple to use) interface. It was created and setup in a way to minimize the hassle of setting up a new Blog. Check out ActiveRainTeam.com. It's just the skeleton right now, but we'll be using it to "TeamBlog" more in the days ahead. To see how others are using Team or Group Blogs, check out GeekEstateBlog, RainCityGuide, or MyTechOpinion. You will also notice changes and improvements in the formatting of your existing individual Outside AR Blogs. I am totally jazzed about our new ActiveBlogs

5 Suggested Ways To Maximize Your New Group Blogs

1. Brokers, Companies and Franchises - Promote your company and agents.

This group or team Blog would work well for ANY Brokerage or Franchise that wants to add the power of multiple contributors and content from agents located and working in that office. Maybe a Broker that has 20-100 agents, and wants to create an environment where each of them can add their expertise and experience. This one will be a winner!

2. Hyper-Localized - The Neighborhood Bullhorn

This group Blog would be focused on Local area content whether by demographic or geography. You can invite others to contribute and share information with the sole purpose of providing Hyper Localized content to your community. Being in control of what gets posted and who has editing, authoring and contributing rights makes managing the group blogs easy and effective. I love these features.

3. The Power TEAM - Your affiliates who contribute to your business and success.

This was hinted about vaguely in the "New Years Membership Drive" when I mentioned to invite others from your team that help make you and your business successful. Your Lender, Title Company, Stager, Inspector, Attorney etc. Having a team or group Blog with all these affiliates contributing relative content to their fields, makes for a very powerful resource to your clients and readers. This one is my personal favorite.

4. ActiveRain Groups - Founders, Administrators & Moderators

There are over 5000 Groups on ActiveRain. Why not consider an SEO packed group Blog from your best members, subscribers and contributors. I can see this becoming a very popular way for our Groups to utilize ActiveBlogs. You are likely to see many of these created early on. It's a great way of taking our groups and content beyond the AR walls.

5. Specialty Properties - Niche and Target Markets

Every Real Estate Office has individual professionals that focus on niche and targeted markets. Vacant Land, Horse Property, Commercial, Relocation, Million Dollar Homes, WaterFront Properties etc. This group could focus on one type or all types of specialty properties. The sky is the limit when it comes to target and niche marketing using a group or team Blog. Check out the links I provided in the second paragraph of this post, they're a good example of what others have done with target and niche Blog Marketing.

Hopefully this will give you some ideas and creative ways to consider maximizing the potential of your New ActiveBlogs. I am really looking forward to supporting and seeing our members get the most out of these Group and Team Blogs, both personally and for business. How would you use a Team or Group Blog for your Business?

Copyright Laws and You - Here's All You'll EVER Need To Know

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 14:32:07 -0600

I want to endorse the Copyright program that my West Coast Friend, Active Brad is doing this Thursday, I'll be there for sure. You know, I'm copyright protected too, and I want to know my rights if someone copies me, or my material, or graphics here. Better mark your calendars and not miss this one if you're not absolutely positive about all the aspects of copyright, plagiarism, etc. or if you just don't understand them thoroughly.

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder:

I just got off the phone with Lenn Harley, one of our ActiveRain resident members and experts on the topic of Copyright, and I am excited to tell you, she'll be joining us, (The AR Staff) "Live" this Thursday on R.A.I.N Radio. Lenn has even contacted her attorney, Paul Theyer, ESQ. from International Square in Washington DC to join us. We'll have as many answers as we can, to as many of the questions you may have. Copyright, plagiarism, cut and paste emails, screen captures, jokes, recipes, clip-art, logos, cartoon photos, and anything else you can possibly think of. This is a rare, one time shot to get your questions answered by an Attorney, and an expert who know the laws, and your rights.

I hope ALL our members will participate by either listening in, or calling in to learn and discuss this really important topic. We are trying to clean up the community and at the same time, help protect our members and friends. After an extensive conversation with Lenn just the other day, I can't begin to tell you how important this is to us all. Lenn made it a point to contact Paul to clarify a few questions we both had regarding email, screen shots, and photos, I was shocked by some of the copyright laws. You might be too. :-O We'll be sharing ALL of this information with anyone who is interested. It's important to know how this can, and will affect you NOW, and in the future. I know for a few members, it already ha$.

The AR RAIN RADIO Broadcast is this Thursday, November 13th, at 11:00am PDT. It's a one hour Talk-Show, and it will cover everything you ever wanted to know about the Copyright Laws, violations, and the repercussions of what happens if or when you get caught. You can either use the "Live" chat, you can phone in and ask questions, or you can just listen in as we breakdown these COPYRIGHT LAWS into bite size and understandable pieces. What questions are most important to YOU, I'd love to share them on the air? If you have to miss this broadcast, I'll try and post the show here after, as I'm sure we'll be referring many here in the future.

The phone number to call in is:

Call-in Number: (347) 677-1643

Here's the Website To Chat or Just Listen In

About Paul Thaler:

"In 2000, Mr. Thaler successfully litigated a case of first impression in the Commonwealth of Virginia concerning the ownership of an Internet domain name." This was Lenn's case. Thank you Lenn and Paul for doing this for us, and for helping out the ActiveRain Community and the On-Line Internet World. I'm Looking forward to a fantastic hour with you both, and finally bringing some clarity to this very hot topic. We're honored that you would both take the time out of your busy day to share this hour with us. Thanks.

Copyright Image Source: Courtesy of UTMEM

ActiveRain "Live Talk Show" on BlogTalkRadio

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:55:43 -0500

I'm hoping one of the AR Gods will have me on the show to talk about Video? Maybe if I ReBlog this, one of the community builders will have me as a guest, let's find out....

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder:

Yes, It's True. ActiveBrad is Hosting a "Talk Show" on BlogTalkRadio. Get Read, Get Seen, Be Heard! Great content gets read, Viral Video gets seen, and Quality Radio gets heard. The media has done it this way for years.
Well, we're finally there!

ActiveRain now has our own little corner of the Internet Radio World, and we're looking forward to sharing it with all of you. We will have special guests, trainers and instructors, coaches, guest speakers, along with members and ActiveRain Staff. We'll be sharing ideas, challenges, solutions, and success stories from all over the Country. My first guest will be Rich Jacobson, this Thursday at 11:00am PDT for a 15 minute show. The topic this week is "How to Get Featured on ActiveRain." Rich is one of ActiveRain's Community Builders, and moderators, who has years of experience in Real Estate and Social Networking.

Our shows will be a lot of fun. We welcome you to listen in. Our special upcoming "Open Mic Night" will be a blast! You can also check out our "Audio Library" if you miss a show, (which is currently under construction.) Come join us for the kick-off debut with Rich on BlogTalkRadio. You can register by CLICKING HERE, it's FREE. Or just call the number below, it's that easy, we'd love to have you "On The Air" with us. The phone number is (347) 677-1643. "Making a Difference, One Voice at a Time!"

"BlogTalkRadio is an award winning media platform that gives us the ability to broadcast live. They host millions of conversations and connect like-minded individuals and their content with diverse communities. Since their launch nearly two years ago, BlogTalkRadio has hosted over 115,000 shows and they generate a monthly audience of about three and a half million listeners."

All Rights Reserved! Copyright Protected by those who love going after individuals breaking these laws!

Getting to #1 on Google

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:20:20 -0500

Reblogging makes it real easy for me to share great content with my other readers and lets the original author benefit from their hard work too. This Google information provided by Mary and Brad is invaluable. I was erased from Google long ago, but Mr. Scribble is back now thanks to Active rain.

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder:

This was the topic of discussion on a Webinar I attended last night with Mary McNight. Known also as "REBlogGirl." She shared some of the following information and tidbits. If you missed this, I took some notes to "pay it forward." Here's some interesting concepts and tools that were presented.

Titled: The On-line Shock & Awe Campaign For Google

How do you get to #1 on Google? This is relating to "Organic" position and not "Paid" position. Organic meaning it shows up #1 on Google underneath the "Paid" sponsorships. FREE is GOOD. Nobody clicks on those top links anyway, or at least very few. It was noted that 42% ofclicks go to the #1 Organic page. Here's the shocker, only 11% go to the #2 Link or page. I think showing in both positions would be best. :-)

Google searches sites and content for indexing by the following criteria and typically in this order:

Domain Names:
Be sure to include key tag words in the name.

Your Titles:
Same thing here, include relevant keywords and catchy search-able titles.
*Most Important: Include Keywords for Google and Keywords for people.

Meta-tag Keywords:
Make sure that keywords are relevant, practical, and search-able.

Page Content:
This is what was referred to as Google Food, and that's exactly what it is. So Feed it.
Keywords through-out. Adding Personality is important. Vary your keywords, use longer terms and mix them up. note: 500 words on the splash-page of a website is good.

Linking out to others:
Select power sites to link to. Don't always link to yourself and your own pages or posts.
Use an internal and external linking structure.

The Internal and External Link Structure
Use Links to 1 of your pages for every 2 links to other popular websites or Blogs.
(I like to link to Google, Yahoo, and the other Big Dogs when I can...hint hint )

Registering Domain Names:
Tip: Be sure to register domain names for at least 5-10 years, if you do it one year
at a time, Google might not think you're serious or going to be around very long.

Update 5 old Pages or Posts once a month:
Go into your older pages on your site or your Blog posts, and update with new
keywords and link structure updates. Don't erase, just add.

What is a reciprocal link?
You link to me, I link to you. If you have your own website or Blog, create an orphan page to link out to your competitors. These "orphan" pages cannot be found or indexed by Google. You can also use "no follow" tags if you're familiar how.

Duplicate Content:
If you're going to duplicate content, be sure to create it first in the location you want to get the Google juice. Wait 2-3 days and then you can duplicate it on other sites. The first page gets the google worm bots. Link back to your original from all the secondary pages, they should all point back to your original source. Learn more here.

Some Valuable Tips and Resource Sites

Get SEO for Firefox, Here's the video on How and Why

Use Websitegrader.com

Get into as many directories as you can. DMOZ.org and Joeant.com

SEODigger.com - Search Rankings

SEOBook.com - The Best Keywords Available

Know Your Site & What's Going On

Use Google Tools to help you be #1 in their search engine. Go to google.com, use the search box and type (Site:YourURL) and (Link:YourURL) to find out more about your own Webpage or Blog. Be sure to try it with the (www) and without. You'll Get Different results. Here's other stuff Google offers as well.

These were my notes: The overall message I came away with is that Being #1 in Google is everything, that is if you want to get the kind of new traffic and hits that generate leads and business. The people who know you can find you, but can those who don't? Thanks Mary for the webinar and your time. :-)

Social Media Marketing - A Webinar Series for Members

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:29:26 -0500

What about Pencil and the Paper??!!??

I like this new idea of Reblogging. I think this would be a good Blog post to try it out. When I was just an eraser, we didn't even have computers.

We had to go to school in the mud, rain, and snow. When Mr. Scribble became a full grown pencil, well, I was the chit!! The greatest technology known to man. The Pencil and the Paper.

Now look what the world has come to, you can learn everything on your computer using a keyboard and a mouse. This Webinar is fantastic idea, but.....

WHAT ABOUT ME???

Via Brad Andersohn ~ Community Builder:

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to speak on a Blogging panel in Monterey, CA for CRS members. Specifically, I was asked to discuss ActiveRain and Localism. This all came about thanks to Pam Winterbauer who connected me with Mike Kelly, one of the panel moderators.

The guest speaker was Pat Kitano, from Domus consulting, also a fellow ActiveRain member. I've been following Pats Blog at Transparent Real Estate for quite some time now, and finally had the privilege of meeting him in person at the Inman Real Estate Connect in San Francisco.

During our break at CRS, I had the chance to talk to Pat in detail about what he's doing with Domus and what I've been doing at ActiveRain. Ironically, our conversation led to something that I have wanted to do here since I joined AR, Training and Coaching via Web-conferences and Webinars.

Well, before the CRS meeting and lunch were over, Pat and I had come up with a plan that could benefit many new members here that are just getting into Social Media Marketing and WEB 2.0. Here's what we have come up with for the upcoming Webinar Series.

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Weekly Topics and Outline:

Preview
Social Media Marketing - Why an Online Presence is Critical to your Future Career in Real Estate

Week 1
Defining your Online Presence Strategy - Benchmarking

Week 2
First Practical Steps - Five Steps to Setting up your Social Network

Week 3
Understanding the Strict Protocols of Social Media and the Content You Deliver - Don’t Blow it!

Week 4
Defining the Social Media Space - What is Necessary and What is Fluff

Week 5
Setting up the Tools to Monitor the Social Media - FeedReaders, Social Bookmarking, Social News, Twitter

Week 6
First Steps in Participating in the Social Media - Your Network is Set Up and it’s Time to Leverage It

Week 7
Explaining Active Rain and Blogging - You’ll Soon Figure Out that the Blog will be your Central Marketing Tool

Week 8
The Online Land Grab - Get Your Name Out There - Five Online Services You Must Be On Before Your Competition

Week 9
How to Attract Online Traffic - How Search Engines Work and Why the Social Media is Quantum Leaps more Powerful than a Static Website

Week 10
The New Society - Changing your Sales and Marketing Strategies to Fit with your Online Presence - Retooling your Spammy Email Marketing to be Effective

Week 11
The Secret Nobody Knows - Mass Media is Converging with the Social Media - How to Position Yourself to Access Mass Media Traffic

Week 12
Your Newest Online Resume - Twitter and Friendfeed Strategies

Week 13
Putting it All Together - Integrating Your Offline Real Estate Practice with your Online Presence

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

The amount of emails and questions I get from members everyday is what motivated and inspired me to help provide this program. Since Pat has all the tools and pieces in place, he's allowing me to join forces with him and put this on at a minimal price for ActiveRain members ONLY. It will average out to about $12.00 per webinar which will run for 1 hour on Friday mornings at 9:00am pst. We have setup a registration page just for AR members.

You'll learn some great information and come away with the tools and knowledge to be a WEB 2.0 Social Media Marketing expert. This will be a great road map to managing your time more effectively on the WEB. Reasons you should consider this opportunity:

It's half price to all ActiveRain members

You get recorded copies of ALL the webinars, even if you can't make it to some

It's only one hour per week at an average of 12.00 per webinar

You'll receive online support, manuals, instructions etc.

I'll be one of your follow-up trainers and support consultants

90+ tutorials providing step-by-step instructions on the techniques of blogging and social media

I'm excited about joining Pat to provide these webinars to our members. They will become more popular as Industry Professionals try to gain the edge and obtain more knowledge about Social Media and Social Networking. With the cost of travel expenses, gas, hotel accommodations all going up, this only makes sense. Twelve bucks will barely get you three gallons of gas these days. This IS a great deal!

You can register below and join us this Friday for an online orientation. The Webinar series will start Next Friday. I'm really not trying to sell you anything, honestly, it's just an awesome opportunity to bring education and value to the community and to our industry. This WEB 2.0 stuff and Social Media Marketing is not going away. Come join us, you won't regret it. :-))

Member Discount and Registration

Video - It's Not For Everyone

Mr. R.E. Scribble (ScribblerBlog) — Fri, 30 May 2008 01:03:29 -0500

Preview	Social Media Marketing - Why an Online Presence is Critical to your Future Career in Real Estate
Week 1	Defining your Online Presence Strategy - Benchmarking
Week 2	First Practical Steps - Five Steps to Setting up your Social Network
Week 3	Understanding the Strict Protocols of Social Media and the Content You Deliver - Don’t Blow it!
Week 4	Defining the Social Media Space - What is Necessary and What is Fluff
Week 5	Setting up the Tools to Monitor the Social Media - FeedReaders, Social Bookmarking, Social News, Twitter
Week 6	First Steps in Participating in the Social Media - Your Network is Set Up and it’s Time to Leverage It
Week 7	Explaining Active Rain and Blogging - You’ll Soon Figure Out that the Blog will be your Central Marketing Tool
Week 8	The Online Land Grab - Get Your Name Out There - Five Online Services You Must Be On Before Your Competition
Week 9	How to Attract Online Traffic - How Search Engines Work and Why the Social Media is Quantum Leaps more Powerful than a Static Website
Week 10	The New Society - Changing your Sales and Marketing Strategies to Fit with your Online Presence - Retooling your Spammy Email Marketing to be Effective
Week 11	The Secret Nobody Knows - Mass Media is Converging with the Social Media - How to Position Yourself to Access Mass Media Traffic
Week 12	Your Newest Online Resume - Twitter and Friendfeed Strategies
Week 13	Putting it All Together - Integrating Your Offline Real Estate Practice with your Online Presence

Mr. R.E.'s Blog

Agent Assist - Realtor Software

ActiveBlogs - 5 Suggested Ways To Maximize Your New Group Blogs

5 Suggested Ways To Maximize Your New Group Blogs

Copyright Laws and You - Here's All You'll EVER Need To Know

Call-in Number: (347) 677-1643

Here's the Website To Chat or Just Listen In

ActiveRain "Live Talk Show" on BlogTalkRadio

Getting to #1 on Google

Titled: The On-line Shock & Awe Campaign For Google

Some Valuable Tips and Resource Sites

Know Your Site & What's Going On

Social Media Marketing - A Webinar Series for Members

What about Pencil and the Paper??!!??

WHAT ABOUT ME???

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Weekly Topics and Outline:

~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~ o ~

Video - It's Not For Everyone