Hello Friends,

I have a friend that asked if I could do her a little favor so I said I'd try.

My friend is completely computer illiterate and wants to stay that way.  Sometimes I can't blame her for feeling the way she does. (ha ha)

Anyways, she likes the idea of using surveys to gather consumer data but needed a way to get as large of a sample as possible, ie something on the Internet.  We did a little poking around and found a sight where I could construct a survey for her for free.  The problem is that she needs lots of responses to get a better idea of how to invest her money and she's not getting much at the moment.

So I'm asking if you could spare just one minute out of your busy schedule to answer a few simple questions on my friend's survey?  It really would mean the world to her (and me too) if you could.

You can find the survey at  hxxp://www.misterpoll.com/polls/457612  Just replace the 'xx' with 'tt'.  My apologies but I didn't want to post a live, outside link.

Thanks for your time,
TPL

PS...Let me know what you think about the wording of the questions.  Good, bad or ugly?

Greetings Fellow Active Rainers,

I'm really hoping that some of you will be able to provide some insight into my dilema.

I am a sole-proprieter business owner with services that I would like to offer to real estate agents. I have an extensive background in construction, drafting, architectural design and photography. I also have a good working knowledge of graphic & web design.

My business plan is to provide these services to local agents, in various creative methods to help them attract more potential buyers. I think there's a lot of really cool things that could be done (with my experience) to help with the marketing efforts. More prospects = greater chance for a sale, right?

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't having something different (floor plans, virtual tours, etc.) else a good thing? Especially, if not many others are doing these things? I guess that's kind of the angle I'm taking in my marketing.

So here's the thing. My cashflow has been way too slow lately as I'm guessing it has for many of you as well. I'd really like to change that trend. If I can make a little money helping somebody else make money, I think that would be a good thing.

Will you give me some input please? I'm looking juice things up a little bit.
- Have you had any experience using unique marketing tactics and were they beneficial to you? Any experiences you'd be willing to share would be helpful too.

- How do you like to be contacted (mail, phone calls, Internet, etc.) regarding potential products & services you might be intereted in? Personally, if I don't recognize the number on caller ID, they have to leave a message.

- Would any type of special or introductory offer influence you to try something new? If not, what would get your interest in something different?

Your answers to these questions would be a tremendous use to help me tune my message. I'm just hoping to create some professional relationships that can be profitable for everyone.

Again, thank you for your insight and assistance. I hope you can shed some new light on my path.

Wishing you much success,
Tom

Do you use floor plans as part of your marketing materials for existing homes/buildings? Can you share how use them (ie print materials, online, etc.)?

If so, who provided the plans and did you locate this type of service? If you hire some one to do this, how were you charged?

In general, do you feel that including floor plans is a benefit to your overall marketing plan? If you were going to hire some one, what would be the fairest/most convenient way to be charged?

Thank you for your time and participation.

Nothing to purchase here.  Just a tip to get better pictures at your holiday get-togethers.

Many of us now own digital, point & shoot cameras since the prices have become very reasonable.  I think this is great because photography is not only part of my profession, but is also a hobby near & dear.  I hope that everyone can experience the thrill that comes from getting one of those really "great shots". 

So here's the tip.

Most cameras have several different "shooting modes" that the user can select from.  One of these will be called something along the lines of "Sports" or "Action" or something similar.  When you use this mode, the camera will adjust itself to use a higher shutter speed to catch action clearly.  What this means is that the camera must also open the aperature to get more light in for proper exposure.  A larger aperature means that the focal range is narrower.  In other words, there is less distance in front of and behind the subject that will be in focus.  This means that your background will be blurred and simplified.  The subjects in your picture will be more prominent, not whats going on behind them.  Having a clearly defined subject is one of the elements that makes up a great shot.

Try this and I guarentee you'll get better pictures of your friends & loved ones.

Happy Holidays,
Tom

My business requires that I spend a fair amount of time researching products & solutions for my clients.  I've decided that I should probably start sharing this information.  I hope you find them useful.

A lot of these are really neat ideas that can help save time & money.  Who wouldn't want more of those? 

In the interest of full disclosure please note, all of the links below are for e-books which must be purchased and for which I do receive a small commission.  If this is type of posting is against the rules, please let me know & I will remove it. 

If you're tired of constantly moving stuff to make room for more stuff, then you might want to check this book out.  It's got tons of tips for reducing the clutter.  Please see this site for more info.

Are you into do-it-yourself projects?  If you enjoy the satisfaction and are considering a tiling project, then you really should check this out.  For "the" complete guide to setting tile like a pro, visit this site.

If you're planning a kitchen remodel, then I would highly recommend this.  Learn from the pros to get it right the first time.

We all want to have a beautiful spread of lush green grass.  Here's a little item that will make your yard the envy of your neighbors.  Don't be the deperate landscape on your block.  Visit here for the secrets.

Did you just purchase a new home & need help with decorating?  Even if you've never had a bit of experience, this definitive guide will show you all the secrets to a completing a successful project.

Well that's all for today.  I'll keep adding more valuable resources in the near future.

Cheers & good luck,
Tom

Hello everyone,

This is my first blog entry so I'm going to ask for something a little bit different.

You see, I started my company almost 5 years ago & things aren't where they need to be for me to be financially self-sufficient.

I think the problem is that I'm not getting the right message out to the people I'd like to work with, home builders & their real estate agents.  The visualization service I offer is really innovative & I'm concerned that I'm just not getting the exposure to show the benefits.

So what I'm looking for is simple.  I want to get to know you better. 

If you're an agent or builder, I'd really appreciate your spending a couple minutes to check out my web site & give me your feeback.  Is this really a service that's useful & a benefit to your sales or am I looking for something that isn't going to be there?

Thanks in advance,
TPL