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Craig's Week in Tech 7/16/11

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Education & Training with Tech Training for You!

Craig's Week in Tech - Newsletter

July 16, 2011 - Volume 1, Issue 7

Welcome

Welcome to the Seventh Issue of my weekly newsletter. I've been getting great feedback and so glad that you are all enjoying it. I've got my radar up all week for interesting stories. I monitor twitter, RSS, FB, and now Google+! Don't worry you don't have to digest it all in one setting. Pick the interesting links, come back for more later if you need more time :) Here's previous five issues in case you missed...
Issue 2 :: Issue 3 :: Issue 4 :: Issue 5 :: Issue 6

Google +

Google+ is still by invite only (but invites are easy to get now). This week they just passed the 10 Million members mark. Many ARs are there and really starting to get the hang of it! Circles, and Hangouts, and Photos, and Videos and Conversations! Are you in yet??
(Getting Started Guide By SocialMediaExaminer)

School Zone

We had another great webinar yesterday with several modules ranging from outside blogs, to google analytics to google+. Be sure to sign up for future webinar notiifcations, if you want to catch future ones (I'm covering all sorts of themes). I will record the classes at some point soon as I know it is hard for everyone to attend at the time that works for me. Meanwhile, the interaction of the live sessions I do like very much. The hours go so fast, wish we had more time!

Inman Next

A BIG news story of last week was the launch of the InmanNext channel (next.inman.com)). This is an all-star team of bloggers that are sharing all sorts of industry insights and tips as regards technology in the real estate business. I know you are interested in that! You are here reading my blog aren't you?? :) schedule a block of time for this site, you'll need it!

Spotify

This streaming music service in Europe has been extremely popular and it is very soon coming to the US. Imagine just searching for an album, song title, or artist and then just playing it! (and not just the first 30 seconds) I just downloaded and can see myself lost in the catalog for way too long! :) If you are familiar with Klout Perks , and you qualify, you can also get the early invite to try before general release. Otherwise, stay tuned...

20 Social Media Tips

I've followed Pam Moore on Twitter for a while, she has good marketing tips always. This past week she focused an article for real estate agents titled If I Were a Social Realtor – 20 Social Media Success Tips for Realtors - She gives many great suggestions and lots of food for thought.

Mobile Apps - Expenses

Tracking expenses is a necessary chore and can get out of hand quickly if you don't stay on top of it. A fellow tech blogger, Greg Grospitch, this week wrote a post recommending the app Mobile Receipt (for iPhone). I asked Greg his recommendation for android and otherwise, and he suggested Expensify. Take a peek at these different apps and see if you could use something like that.

Rain Radio

Maybe you have heard some of the web rainradio episodes where Bob Stewart interviews many familiar rainmakers. Maybe you missed one or two? You can go back and play (or download mp3 for podcasts). Did you hear Ben, Brad, Jay, Katerina, Phil, Russel, Craig Rutman? Follow that link, what are you waiting for??!

Have You Even Broken Ground?

Chris Smith, many of you know as co-founder of TechSavvyAgent website speaks at all sorts of events. I rediscovered this recording from my bookmarks archive this week. Chris had a presentation at Xplode Austin and you can play it back. It is 20 minutes well spent! Chris at Xplode: Have You Even Broken Ground?

Recent Classroom Posts

If you missed them, here are my most recent classroom-type (teaching) posts:
Google Flight Information
Getting Points for Comments
Where is that Blog Post? I Know I Wrote it!!!
Using Google Bookmarks [tutorial video]
Customizing and Embedding Google Maps [video]
Graphics For Bloggers [#6] - ActiveRain Math
iGoogle - Dashboard to Your Digital Life

Thanks for joining me in another issue of my Craig's Week in Tech Newsletter :)
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Craig Daniels
This blog is all about technology and helping you to use it smarter! Your digital footprint is your chance to attract new clients. What kind of impression are you making via your website, blog, and social media? We’ll be talking about that! Are you as productive as you can be? What apps might help you out? Do you know how to use all the best tools inside the apps? I enjoy photography and videography, you can expect to see those topics also on this blog.
Are you ready to learn?
Welcome to Craig’s Classroom!

PS - get ready for some homework… :) 

Comments(59)

Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

I also look forward to the post every week. It provides valuable information in a fraction of the time it would take me to find it.

Jul 17, 2011 02:58 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Technical Ignorance (TI) runs for the hills when your post is sighted....good stuff and thank you Craig

Jul 17, 2011 02:58 AM
Robert Courtney
Lihue, HI
Century 21 All Islands, RA, CDPE, MCRE, CIAS

Craig - Great topics!  Have this bookmarked so have it close to read all the information.

Jul 17, 2011 05:48 AM
Dagny Eason
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
Fairfield County CT, CDPE Homes For Sale and Condo

Thanks sooo much, Craig!   It does make our lives easier to know folks like you are helping us out ...

Jul 17, 2011 07:15 AM
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Dear Techno Craig:  I am in need of help so possibly you can do a 'how to' on posting videos side by side so they don't take up that much space in my AR profile.  I've tried Iframes, a few other unsuccessful tricks.  I could use your (lots) help & I'm sure others would find this useful also. Maybe even for subdivision videos side by side.

Jul 17, 2011 09:24 AM
Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

great blog, this is the first that I have seen it and will definitely follow you...a lot of useful information...which is increasingly RARE on here!!

Jul 17, 2011 09:48 AM
Bruce Fecteau
Century21 Beachside MV - Mission Viejo, CA

Great, usefull info here. Thanks for taking the time to collect, organize and post this fairly wide variety of info, especially on a regular basis.

How about a software section specifically geared towards the novice pc user.

I'm constantly having to work around, walk thru and instruct people on very basic things like email, links, favorites, "where the address bar is in IE. You name it.

Thanks and best of luck this year.

Jul 17, 2011 01:14 PM
Scotti Jowers
CENTURY 21 Shackelford French, Search West Monroe Homes - West Monroe, LA
Realtor - West Monroe, Louisiana Homes for Sale

Great stuff, Craig! Keep the useful tech info coming. Some of us are incredibly inept or, at best, slow with these types of things. Thanks for helping us to wade through the tangled web.

Jul 17, 2011 02:31 PM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Craig,

Thanks for this it is very helpful. I bookmark all of these.

Brian

Jul 17, 2011 03:53 PM
Christine Hooks
Pino Agency - Pennsville, NJ
Celebrating 25 Years in Real Estate!

Another GREAT job, Craig.  Thank you so very much. I guess I'm not 'in'.....10 million people on google+, but no invite for me yet. 

Jul 17, 2011 03:58 PM
Steven Pahl
Keller Williams Tampa Properties - Tampa, FL
Real Estate Consultant Tampa, FL 813-319-6423

Thanks Craig, apparently I am now 6 weeks behind.  That's the problem with Social Media, as soon as you start in one direction, something new pops up to steal even more time out of our day!

Jul 17, 2011 04:21 PM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Craig, I really like your newsletter and hope to attend some of the classes.

Jul 17, 2011 04:50 PM
Gordon W. Miller
Green Mountain Real Estate - Burlington, VT

Great resource, thanks for the info.

Jul 18, 2011 04:10 AM
Loreena and Michael Yeo
3:16 team REALTY ~ Locally-owned Prosper TX Real Estate Co. - Prosper, TX
Real Estate Agents

Thank you for your list of resources. I just got my google + account and have much to learn.

Jul 18, 2011 04:58 PM
Surprise Arizona Realtor Jim Braun Sun City Grand Active Adult Communities
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Jim Braun Sun City Grand Az - Surprise, AZ
Surprise AZ real estate Phoenix West Valley

Craig: Thanks for all the good info. I am going to have to go back and read the prior newsletters.

Jul 21, 2011 01:36 AM
Doug Bullwinkel
E Mortgage Capital, Inc. NMLS 1416824 - Roseville, CA
Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS #281609

Great stuff Craig.  Thanks for offering these classes and providing the newsletter with good information.  I'm looking forward to your upcoming classes and newsletters.

Jul 22, 2011 01:55 AM
Peggy Chirico
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

Thanks for the link to Getting Started on Google+.  It was very clear and I have bookmarked it.

Jul 23, 2011 02:50 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous

Craig, I agree with everyone. Thanks for taking the time and energy to write your newsletter. It's so much information that I bookmarked it to read later.

Jul 25, 2011 09:16 PM
#57
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Craig - Thank you for the detailed quality blog about Craig's week in tech for July 16, 2011.

Jul 26, 2011 05:02 PM
Thomas Haught
The Russell Realty Group - Saugus, MA

Thomas Haught

Great information!  Sorry about the late response, I'm trying to catch up on emails.

I've only used a handful of the above applications you discussed, but I am trying my best to keep up.

Jul 29, 2011 02:52 PM