New Technology for a New Year! The NEW e-PRO®!
One of the most exciting offerings at the NAR Convention in November, was the roll out of the new e-PRO® Certification program. The old course was created in 2002 and had been updated, but the time had come to completely re-invent the delivery & content.
Working together with the Social Media Marketing Institute (SMMI), the National Association of REALTORS® has redesigned the e-PRO® curriculum to meet the challenges of TODAY's real estate market.
The 2010 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found 89% of consumers start their search online! With today’s increasingly accessible technology, these savvy real estate consumers are able to find the information they need online, at any time. But, for many, it is more confusing than useful. I’ve been saying: “no longer is information power…it is the interpretation of information that is powerful these days.”
So….have you updated and re-invented your processes & systems? Do you know the best ways to use the latest real estate email marketing, web strategies, and social media to make sure they find you first?
The new e-PRO® certification is designed to connect you with consumers where they are already interacting: online. Today’s consumer spends time doing research before they contact a real estate agent and only those agents who have created a presence and strategy will capture their eyeballs. Learning how to extend & enhance your real estate marketing online, demonstrates to consumers that you are tuned in to their lifestyle needs, and gain their trust – and their business.
As I talk with agents, I find many know they need to be using these tools, but are confused about how to go about it so it isn’t a horrid waste of time. Has your business planning for 2011, included a technology plan?
Ask yourself these 4 questions:
1. Who is your target audience? Think location, income, age, lifestyle
2. Who do you already have existing relationships with? This is your “low-hanging fruit”
3. What tools and strategies do you need to add or tweak to impact reaching these people?
4. What amount of time and money will you need to budget for our 2011 goals?
These questions create the foundation for a workable technology plan that will create results and success in 2011.
Once you have the plan and strategies in place, you are ready to make some decisions about your tools.
Some topics worth considering:
· How close are you to having a paperless office? What new tools do you need? Are you using a tablet computer, digital signatures, efax?
· Do you understand and are you using cloud technology? Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendars all synch with your smartphone or computer!
HOT TIP: www.dropbox.com is a free utility that will allow you to store files in the cloud, automatically backing them up as well as giving you the ability to easily share large files.
· Are you creating video tours for all your properties? Do you have a Flip camera or Kodak Zi8?
Keeping up with the new technologies is no longer an option. It is a necessity for anyone who wants to thrive in the coming years.
The new e-PRO® certification will give you everything you need to not only create your strategy, but to also learn about the tools you need.
I am excited to be able to teach this in Scottsdale tomorrow and am booking the course around the country! Be among the first in the country to experience the NEW E-PRO!
Here are some specifics:
Benefits of the e-PRO® certification are:
Taking your real estate marketing online and taking advantage of social media technology to form new relationships with today’s consumer.
Showing consumers that you are up-to-date on the latest technologies and current real estate marketing trends in the industry.
Offering your customers the benefits of enhanced listings, video tours and immediately accessible information.
Giving your clients confidence that you have advanced training and a network of resources to guide them through a real estate transaction.
Making the most of today’s social media technologies, techniques and best practices
Implementing powerful real estate email marketing and electronic marketing initiatives
Employing efficient e-office strategies
Working effectively with rich media technologies
Identifying tools that fit your budget, resources and capabilities
Creating on online presence, and understanding the importance of real estate web site promotion
Learn the way you like! There are 2 options:
Day 1 is now offered in a live classroom setting, you not only receive individual attention, but you gain valuable networking opportunities as you navigate through the curriculum.
Or you still have the option to complete Day 1 online at your own convenience.
Then Day 2 of the course will be offered exclusively online in early 2011 through REALTOR® University,NAR's exclusive online desitination for official NAR designations. This lets you to put this new technology to test and helps you determine what electronic strategies will work to your advantage.
If you already have your e-PRO Designation, you will be offered a discount to take the new course online to update your skills, tools and knowledge! Technology and learning to be productive with it is one of the most important skills for working with the consumers of today and the future.
Don't be left behind!
Comments (6)Subscribe to CommentsComment