real estate virtual assistant: One of my Real Estate Virtual Assistant clients wrote a blog today... - 02/08/11 07:48 AM
Best Real Estate Virtual Assistant He took the time to write some nice things...but even nicer than what he wrote, was the fact that he took the time to do a video testimonial - my first ever - and I am honored.
 
Thanks so much to: Cory Barbee - best real estate team leader and trainer ever!!!
… (7 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Active Rain Members...I Challenge You!!! For the next week... - 02/06/11 03:26 PM

Active Rain Members...I Challenge You!!!  For the next week...

I really didn't get as much accomplished here in the rain as I would have liked... and I am sure that many of you didn't either!  So, I challenge you all to go to my post from last week where I announced the free printable weekly task list / bookmark that I designed for all of us to use to get the most out of our Active Rain Experience and download the bookmark if you haven't already done so.  Then print it out and put it in your binder, tape … (14 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: FREE Gift for YOU! Active Rain Weekly Tasks Bookmark / Tasklist - 02/02/11 05:12 PM
Being a slightly in-denial over-achiever, I have a task sheet / list that I write out every week and stick in my work notebook...to remind me and help me keep track of making the most of my experience at Active Rain.  Granted, I don't always follow through and do all the tasks...but I wanted to share it with all of you, for all of the motivation and encouragement that you all give to all of us every day!  This is an ideal / optimum task list to achieve the maximum points in Active Rain each week...as well as spread some goodwill.
… (24 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Just a Blogging Brag! - 02/02/11 03:37 PM
I am listed as a contributing author over at RealBlogging.com...I thought this was a pretty cool honor all on its own.  But if you visit the site and scroll down to the bottom of the page...there is a block that lists the most viewed posts on their site.  Guess who is #2!?!

 
I am not as active there as I should be, and I have decided to make it a priority for me to get at least one post up there per week in 2011...I am about 4 behind! But I need the incentive to get back at it...can … (11 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Google Love or SPAM? Keyword Targeted Link Anchor Text - 02/02/11 07:40 AM
Google Love or SPAM?  Keyword Targeted Link Anchor Text I wrote a post this morning over on my  Real Estate Virtual Assistant website after I read the article that is linked to the thumbnail image at the left.  
Watch the video below where I go over that article with you...and then feel free to head over to read my Real Estate Virtual Assistant article on Real Estate SEO  and leave a comment at the bottom...if you insert your keyword search term as your name and then your link as your URL...and a relevant comment to the article...I will quickly approve … (7 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Video on Video Marketing Tips for Real Estate - 02/01/11 07:05 AM
Video on Video Marketing Tips for Real Estate!
 
Most of the info shared in this video is courtesy of the education that I received by attending SMM Camp#7 :-)
 
Video marketing is becoming very important in real estate...but only 1% of agents are using it as a listing tool...that's crazy!

 
Know you need to utilize video in your real estate marketing efforts, but don't know where to start?  Then you need to work with a Real Estate Virtual Assistant...you know what I always say, "Do what you do BEST and OUTSOURCE the rest!"
… (8 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: The Statistics Link is Great in AR, But Don't You Want More?!? - 01/30/11 11:36 AM
I obsess over that "Statistics" link on the left side on My Home in Active Rain after I post a blog article...but I would like to know more...like how people are finding my blog articles, how they came to my profile page, etc...wouldn't you? 
I know you can install Google Analytics on your outside blog, but what about your regular old blog and profile page?  Now there is an option.  You can install Stat Counter!  Here are the steps...I was going to do a video...but the family is just too loud today!
 
Set up or login to your Stat Counter … (3 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: If you could ask Active Rain for ONE feature...what would it be? - 01/30/11 10:57 AM
If you could ask Active Rain for ONE feature...what would it be?


No, I don't mean "feature" like - I mean like if you could change one thing or improve one thing on Active Rain...what would it be?


I have two...and I know they are sick of hearing me ask for the first one...so I am going to pretend I only have one...and that one thing would be if our blog posts could have threaded comments!!!  That way when we are replying to someone's specific comment...it could stay with that comment...rather than being all the way down … (5 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: BlockShopper - Anyone a paid participant? - 01/30/11 06:51 AM

 
I recently had one of my Real Estate Virtual Assistant clients ask me about BlockShopper and if I thought it was worth it or not.  I honestly have no prior experience with the site...so thought I would take the question to the experts.  Do you feel that the Blockshopper "Active Agent" or "Ultimate Agent" are worth shelling out the bucks for?  What have been your experiences generating leads from this site, etc...
 
According to their site, the Active Agent package is $295/yr. and the Ultimate Agent package is $990/yr. - not cheap - but could they be worth … (2 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Cell Service on Gopher Canyon in Vista CA...FINALLY!!! - 01/26/11 02:57 PM
Cell Service on Gopher Canyon in Vista CA...FINALLY!!!

I have noticed something fabulous over the last week or so...I tested it on day one...made it all the way through.  I tested it on day two...made it all the way through.  I tested it on day three...made it all the way through yet again!!! 
I am talking about Gopher Canyon in Vista, people...there must be a new cell tower or something - because as one of the few "holes" left in cell service in North San Diego County - it was a constant thorn in my side. 
I drive that road … (2 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: I Need Marketing Help - What Can You Do For Me? - 01/26/11 02:22 PM
I Need Marketing Help - What Can You Do For Me?
One of the most frequently asked questions that I get as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant , is how can I help a real estate professional with their marketing efforts? 

 
 Here is how I answer that question:
 
Dear Joe:
There are many ways that I can help you with your marketing efforts. 
If we are talking offline marketing, I can help you with direct marketing campaigns, listing presentation design, flyer design, postcard design, print ad design, etc... 
If we are talking online marketing, the list … (5 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: You offer lots of great services, but do I have to use ALL of them? - 01/26/11 02:00 PM
You offer lots of great services, but do I have to use ALL of them?
As a Real Estate Virtual Assistant  I often see emails such as the one below come through my potential client inquiry form:

 
"I went through your website and I’ll be honest, your services appear to be stupendous!!!  It’s everything I need except I don’t need everything right now.  My search for a virtual assistant began because I have secured the listing for XYZ project which entails a great deal of details and every time I try to sit down and get started on it … (2 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Are You Hiring? - 01/26/11 01:28 PM
Are You Hiring?
As a Real Estate Virtual Assistant I have built contact forms and encrypted email links into my websites to enable potential clients to contact me quickly and efficiently.  I spent my time and money on that.  I have certain filters set up so that if a message comes in from one of these forms or links I can respond quickly...my thought behind this of course, is that if I don't answer the potential client quickly, they might go on to the next Real Estate Virtual Assistant down on the list and I will have missed out.  I love … (0 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Can You Show Me How to Do "X" Service So That I Can Do It Myself? - 01/25/11 09:39 AM
Can You Show Me How to Do "X" Service So That I Can Do It Myself?
Seriously...I cannot tell you how many times in my 10+ years as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant that a potential client (not really...there's not usually a lot of potential in these inquiries.) has asked me to teach them how to do something that I have taken a great deal of time to learn and research and build up an expertise in...and they want me to work with them for an hour and magically show them everything I know...so that they no longer would need to … (0 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Do You Offer A Discount? - 01/25/11 09:03 AM
Do You Offer A Discount?
I have gotten asked this question many times over my 10+ years as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant. Luckily, I have also logged some time as a real estate agent here in North San Diego County...so I have the perfect answer ready...aim....FIRE!!! (you agents will be so proud of me...unless of course you are the ones asking me this question...)
 
Dear John:
Discount?  Sure...which of the hours that I work for you would you like me to use less of my brain, do a poor job, achieve less results to generate less leads and ultimately … (5 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: You Know You're a Soccer Mom When... - 01/21/11 12:09 PM

 
 You Know You're a Soccer Mom When...
No...it's not when you drive a mini van like the one to the left...even  though that is the typical answer.
Look at the back door carefully...see that smudge above the body  molding but below the window???
 
Look closely...
Look very closely...
 
OK - did you figure out what it was yet?
Does this help?

 
Yes - you guessed it...apparently, my child rolled the soccer ball in dusty sand and then rolled it up on my car...I almost hate to wash it off.  ALMOST!  Sun just went down...off to … (8 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: This Real Estate Virtual Assistant Went to Camp Today! - 01/20/11 10:19 AM
This Real Estate Virtual Assistant Went to Camp Today!

SMM Camp #7 that is!!!  This was a fabulous event, focused on video blogging, put on by Ross Hair, AKA: "The Baldest Man In Real Estate Social Media"!
There were several great presenters at this event, and as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, I know that I came away with lots of great ideas and resources to implement for my clients. I am not kidding...I took 7 pages (written with a fat pen and lots of bullet points, but still 7 pages!) of notes during this info-packed 3 hour webinar!
Here's … (0 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Real Estate Virtual Assistant Shares Tips/Resource on Blog Optimization For Google - 01/19/11 07:48 AM
Real Estate Virtual Assistant Shares Tips/Resource on Blog Optimization For Google
Earlier this am, I posted here on Active Rain an article about how a well-known SEO Consultant thought Google was playing favorites to the PPC content and not enough love to quality organic content.
Then, as I was continuing to read through my morning email, I came across another newsletter from Social Media Marketing...now as a real estate virtual assistant...I LOVE social media...and this company is great!  So, if you would be so kind as to click below and read my "ray of sunshine" below, I would be ever so … (0 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: SEO Consultant Publishes Article That Says, Google Sucks All the Way to the Bank! - 01/19/11 04:27 AM
SEO Consultant Publishes Article That Says, Google Sucks All the Way to the Bank!

I have mentioned Jill Whalen of HighRankings.com before.  I have subscribed to her newsletter for quite awhile now...but this morning's newsletter really got my attention!
In a nutshell, she is saying that since Google went public back in 2003, that their algorithms have been somewhat self-serving...providing not necessarily the highest quality results...thus forcing searchers to click on those paid links to find what they are actually seeking.  Really?  That really would suck...but that's the way business is done...I was just really hoping that Google was "above" … (2 comments)

real estate virtual assistant: Real Estate Virtual Assistant says, "Do what you do best and outsource the rest!" - 01/18/11 05:16 AM
That's right, as a real estate virtual assistant, I always tell my clients to do what they do best and outsource the rest...it's just smart business.
Celebrate your  own skills and accomplishments (hopefully selling real estate is a biggy), don't wast time doing the mundane stuff that needs to be done to run your business...just get out there and do business!  The rest of this stuff, the admin, marketing, bookkeeping, listing management, listing coordination, etc...these are all real estate support services that can be done by your real estate virtual assistant. You get out there and sell real estate!  You're a … (4 comments)