Realtors we love to hate...

Brilliant...Not sure about you lot, but I think I'm more of a Bob Bleanblossom character. What do you lot think?

http://www.mortgageloan.com/real-estate-agents-we-love-to-hate

The Top Ten Internet Skills You Need as a REALTOR - 1998 article (10 years on)

Came across this classic piece from the Realty times while trying to gain further insight into skills relevant to today's Realtor. What do you guys think? Am I right with my suggestions or have you got better suggestions for a self confessed tech head. I do have to point out my suggestions are mine alone and once I believe are very relevant to my interests. 

http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/19980916_netskills.htm

Invest in a website

More than merely a place to showcase you and your properties, an effective REALTOR^® web site will provide the Internet community with needed resources such as school reports, city comparisons, and more. The more value you add, the more reasons potential buyers will have to remember your name.

For blogs, check out Active Rain and TomatoBlogs, whilst RSS Pieces are solution providers. For value, look no further than these guys and their plethora of mortgage and finance tools.

Embrace the good points of email.

Email can be used to facilitate communications with clients, personalize a "Happy birthday" note, establish meetings and much much more. If you add your own personal signature that includes your business contact information, you are ensured that your recipients always know how to contact you.

All you really need is a blackberry or an iphone and you’ll always be accessible to clients, friends and naturally some undesirables.

Discard the bad points of email.

Never never never never never never mass-mail business offerings to untargeted audiences! Resist the urge to buy "over 5 million email addresses for only $99!" Mass commercial email simply does not work because today's Internet surfer is already bombarded by dozens of SPAMMED messages already. It bestows upon you a very negative impression.

See above.

Join a REALTORS^® mailing list.

With all the advances of technology, you would require seventy-three hours each day to absorb every bit of information. Instead, join an electronic mailing list of your peers! Many individuals enjoy helping out fellow professionals. You can find excellent lists at http://www.property.com/dm-tools.html and http://www.recyber.com/listserve.html.

You can now add once again Active Rain, Zillow and Real Estate Connect from Inman to that list.

Request a REALTORS^® newsletter.

Newsletters are generally put out by individuals who want to pass along pertinent information. Many exist, targeting sales, Internet, and other topics. They include Tony Martinez (Is no longer active), Karen Stafani (A shadow of what it once was), and The Real Estate Law Newsletter (Do Agents still receive newsletters in paper form?).

An updated list should include The Realty Times, Real Estate ABC (will compile a 150 page newsletter and content for your site for $149 per year. Mortgage Loan (Though not as in-depth as Real Estate ABC will provide free content to your site.)

Produce your own newsletter!

Who said anything about newsletters being just a passive form of communication? You can keep your name out in front of your audience by starting a newsletter and offering visitors the ability to subscribe. Do you want to keep your clients appraised of housing trends? Hot properties? Alan Hainge has a great overview of this important marketing device at http://www.afhseminars.com

Email thank you cards!

Have you recently received a great lead from a colleague or customer, remembered a friends' birthday, celebrated a landmark event? You can visit http://www.bluemountain.com and http://www.hallmarkconnections.com and email out free electronic cards.

Still relevant today

Improve your website rankings in search engines.

Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT need to wear a beanie propeller cap to understand these beasties! http://www.virtualpromote.com/ provides great discussion forums on how to up those rankings.

Check out this brilliant post.

Stay on top of daily real estate news.

You can subscribe to Real Times. This will ensure you receive the current important headlines about Real Estate every day.

Still very true today, but you can also include Mortgage Loan (through RSS feeds) and Mortgage News Daily (through subscription) to your list.

Think outside the box.

The incredible opportunity the Internet offers is that there is always more than one way to locate the resources you need or provide the services you want. If one thing doesn't work, don't get hung up! For example, if your web site isn't bringing in the business you expected, don't be afraid to invest in a qualified consultant to analyze why. If you would like answers to important questions such as "What software should I use to track my web leads", join a REALTOR newsletter and ask! Take advantage of the bounty out there.

All in all sound advice.