[originally posted on REtechy.com]
Advances in technology make using a smartphone a requisite for any real estate agent worth her/his weight. Many options are available, but two phones have risen to the top of the smartphone food-chain.
Is the Blackberry Bold or iPhone better for business?
How the heck can I answer that without subjecting myself to hostility? I can tell you this though - the Blackberry Bold is the best Blackberry ever created. The Bold was designed for business use and boasts features the iPhone does not have including: ability to edit documents & video recording. The Blackberry Bold’s security also makes a compelling argument. The Blackberry is a preferred phone for Supra eKEY (GE Security); BlackBerry users can now join the thousands of real estate professionals already enjoying the timesaving benefits of eKEY service on their Palm and Windows smartphones.
Before you go buying a Blackberry Bold let’s talk about the iPhone. Apple’s iPhone is the 2nd sexiest thing I have ever held (1st is you honey). The UI is beautiful, the web browser blows Blackberry out of the water, and did I mention it was sexy? Apple’s App store for the iPhone holds many great real estate related applications, with new ones churned out all the time.
Let’s remember the iPhone is designed for the consumer; you can hail cabs, order groceries, make fart sounds all from your iPhone. The developer community supporting iPhone applications is large and active. If you fall in love with an application, or two, the iPhone may prove to be the best phone for your needs.
Blackberry Bold versus iPhone for Real Estate
1 comment • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • July 10 2009 01:20PMThe 4 Stages of a Typical Twitter User
I have received numerous comments on my Twitter posts with Rainers saying "I don't get it", to "I just generated my first Twitter deal!" Some of you asked me what I get from Twitter. Today I came across an article by Jason Hiner from a Twitter_Tips tweet that put my personal experience into focus: Sanity Check: The four stages of a typical Twitter user. How long you stay in each of these stages varies from user to user. Where are You?
Stage 1 Confusion and Indignation. This is certainly where I began. I logged on and, being obcessive, read every word or every post I followed. Soon I began to be frustrated as this is a different media than email. What really got me to thinking about Twitter was a Rainer I respect, Debra Drummond, Michigan Moves Real Estate, who did a series of posts on Twitter for beginners. Shortly after that, Active Rain radio had a program that grabbed my attention featuring Rich Jacobson, Paul Chaney, Kim Wood, and Jeremy Blanton called Twitter Gone Wild. I have gone back and listened to it several times! Now Active Rain radio features Twitter Tuesday Radio with different guests. Are you guys aware of what a great resource we have right here on Active Rain to make Twitter an effective tool?
Stage 2: The first "Aha!" moment The second week I was on Twitter Baton Rouge had it's first Tweetup. I went and met 20 people I would never have connected with anywhere else! Then that week I needed a photo editor to do a feature my photo editors couldn't handle, so I sent a Twitter to my 40 followers. Aha! Two of them (LSU techies) sent me links to free software that did just what I needed. I was sold that this had value if I could just figure out how to manate it with the 1000 other things I had to do each day! About week 2 into my experience I began to notice that news about Baton Rouge appeared before it even hit the tv or newspapers. For example, closing of roads or local events and activities in the area. I began to use websites like Twilert and Nearbytweets and LocalTweeps to find local Twitterers. They begin to follwo Twitter_Tips and localtweeps and social media experts like Mashable and other Twitter learning tools.
Stage 3: Remembering to tweet Here a user begins to check more often. They find news links and local and special interest groups to connect with. They begin to find information and think "I'll post that on Twitter". Others begin to follow their psots. They begin to interact with friends, and national interest groups, and news. When they are creating blogs and find other news, they begin in think "I'll post that on Twitter". I created a "Technology Blog" and included articles by myself and others to help agents get into Twitter and other technology to improve their business. Here the Twitter user is primarily using Twitter.com
Stage 4: Thinking in 140 characters By now the user is a daily Twitterer. Posts come daily or more frequently. They learn tricks like using url shorteners such as "is.gd" or "tinyurl" to shorten URL's so they can share information in 140 characters or less. Now their sphere of people they follow is expanding and those following them is expanding too. They are hooked on Twitter and begin to look for an iPhone or Blackberry to more easily interact with Twitter during the day. They link to Twitter improving tools like Twitpic so they can enrich their Tweets for their followers. Some create and share music or videos. They move "out of the box" and begin to interact with humorous posts, self-transparancy posts, and begin to embrace their online presence. This is the stage where they add Twitter inks to their FaceBook pages, their blogs, and websites. They Tweet at events and take pictures of restaurants and events they attend and post an ongoing stream of their life. They associate with Social Media experts like Paul Chaney here on Twitter. They join Active Rain groups like Social Media Marketing and Twitter and others.
What stage of Twitter are you in????
4 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • May 12 2009 03:58PM20 Great iPhone Tips and Tricks
I was struggling with moving around apps when I came across an article with just the tip I needed. You can Force quit an app by holding the Home button for 4-8 seconds while in an application. Ever needed a screen shop? Ever need to change your iPod default icons? Yappler gives 20 Great iPhone Tipws and Tricks you can use:
3 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • May 06 2009 03:51PMiPhone lockbox app on the way
iPhone is becoming a serious contender as an alternative to Blackberry with new apps for realtors and homebuyers. This recent post by Chris Johnston points out one of the potential uses for Realtors.
For those of you that are iPhone users, I'm sure that you know that yesterday Apple released some info about the upcoming iPhone OS version 3.0.
There are many new features and you can watch the video over on the Apple site and get great reviews all over the web. My favorite is Ryan Block's at GDGT.com. The two things that I think are important for Realtors are:
1. Apple will now allow developers to access bluetooth to communicate with external devices
2. Turn by Turn directions
The first one has been what has kept Supra from being able to develop an application similar to the one on the Blackberry. I have spoken to (name withheld) at Supra and they have assured me that the app was being developed and wold be released pending Apple allowing this functionality. The iPhone 3.0 release will not be out until summer (hopefully June and not August) so I expect this app to follow shortly.
The second option is great for those of us who do not have navigation installed in our vehicles. Since the economy is not getting better quickly I'm not buying a car anytime soon. Garmin and TomTom have been developing proof of concept applications for the iPhone so I can assume they will be releasing apps this summer also. The one caveat here is, because of licensing issues these applications will have to provide their own maps. An entire map of the US stored locally could take up 750MB - 1GB of space. I have an 8GB version so this takes up as much as 12.5% of my storage.
2 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • March 30 2009 10:42AMThe iPhone Real Estate app Showdown
In this ever changing technology market, agents must be aware of exactly where their internet-marketed homes are showing up.
Back in early August 2008 iPhone had a home app called Puluwai, a location-based, mobile real estate search. This type of search is where the future of internet listings are headed. Later in August Trulia announced it's iPhone app and has seen some steady growth in the free iPhone apps. Others clammored into the market: New York Times, StreetEasy Real Estate, Coldwell Banker, In March 2009, Homes.com launched It's Real Estate Search on iPhone. While features vary, some of the most sought after ones are finding nearby homes or rentals, viewing Google Maps of neighborhoods, bookmarking favorite homes, sharing properties, getting driving directions, searching MLS numbers, etc.
While iPhne users don't constitute 100% of all mobile users, this growing user base is a signifigant presence. Have you checked recently to see if your listings are showing up on the iPhone home searches?
7 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • March 22 2009 05:48PMTechnology Plan, Part 2, Virtual Assistants and Virtual Client Presentations
Since we are now "one the road" and not in the office, the usual support one takes for granted in an office environment is gone.
Virtual assistants can maintain websites, do follow-up for client transactions, and handle mail outs. We have been using a local virtual assitant for the past 2 years, but with techology that wouldn't be necessary. For example by maintaining an online copy of all contracts anyone in the team can have access to the progress or to any corrections. Locally our Board of Realtors has provided "Transaction Desk" technology
which stores all contract forms needed for listings, disclosures, purchase agreements, and a section to create custom in-house forms. Access can be granted to clients, assistants, and cooperating brokers. Each client can be granted permission to change the form, or can be given a "read only" copy.
With a tablet pc, we can sit in a client's home and do a presentation from prepared format, pull up contracts and have them signed while there, load pictures from a digital camera and print brochures and copies of contracts before we leave a client counseling session.
Using a portable printer, a scanner, and eFAX, these documents can be sent to the office files and to all parties.
1 comment • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • February 12 2009 05:05PM2008 Social Media Statistics by New Media Lab
The Twitter phenomena is on us! Thanks to Active Rain blogs from so many of you, I joined this month. My first impressions are:
1. Whee..... I never saw so much information explode in front of my screen and I only follow 72 people! Imagine the information explosion for guys like our governor Bobby Jindal who follows 3,071 folks. Or Barak Obama who follows 168,024 folks.
2. I gathered information and valuable links I never knew I needed like the statistics below from Brian Castillo, a fellow Active Rainer and local Tweeter.
3. I attended a Tweetup and met some local folks who are really neat, and very different from me and have a collective knowledge I didn't know was available locally.
4. I'm creatively reflecting on how to do this and tie it into my warm market marketing which is where my business is primarily generated.
Here are the latest statistice on Twitter, Facebook, and other Social Media from Austin's New Media Lab nmlab.com . Look at the explosion for twitter and the user profile:
*Grew 752% in 2008, 4.4 million unique monthly visitors *1,128,618,000 tweets so far *60% of users are male, 40% are female *45% have a college degree, 15% have a graduate degree *50% have household incomes over $75,000 *20% are under 35, 40% are aged 35-44, 40% are 45 and older Are some of you having success with this Social Media? Share your experience and thoughts.
3 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • January 27 2009 02:32PMFifteen Twitter follow dos and don'ts
Fifteen Twitter follow dos and dont's
There are two schools of thought pertaining to who to follow on Twitter. One is what I refer to as the Guy Kawasaki method which says, "forget the influentials," "defocus your efforts," and "get as many followers as you can." It's more of a mass marketing approach.Up and until Twitter imposed limits on the number of people that I could follow in a given 24-hour period, that's pretty much the school to which I subscribed and just about anyone and everyone qualified (minus the spammers of course).
Since then, I've had to be more discerning and have actually found that to be a good thing. So, here are fifteen suggested Twitter follow dos and don'ts based on my current Twitter follow modus operandi:
Dos...
1. Focus your efforts - If you're in sales and marketing, hopefully you've outlined specific target markets based on demographic, psychographic and technographic profiles. Maybe you've even created a persona of the ideal client or customer. Find those folks and follow them.
One good way to do that is by using Twellow, which is a Twitter "yellow pages." It categorizes Twitter followers based on geography and industry and covers everything from aerospace to Web development.
For example, a search on my city, Lafayette, LA, brought five pages of returns totaling 100 people. Not a lot, but consider that a) Lafayette is a small city by comparison and b) it's in the deep south which is often the last to catch on to new trends. If you're in a more metro area, chances are your returns will be manifold times this.
What might be more relevant is search by category. For example, Bizzuka, the company I serve as marketing director, is targeting the legal industry. A search for lawyers brought over 930 returns. We are also targeting healthcare. A search returned almost 100 hospitals.
Apply that same methodology to your own situation and see what comes of it.
Twellow defaults to ranking returns based on number of followers, but you can also sort by
recent activity and/or whether the person has verified their Twellow account.Each person listed has a profile associated with their entry which, depending on whether they've verified their account or not, could contain lots of information, including a bio, latest Twitter updates (good for knowing whether they're an active user or not), and link to their Web site or blog.
2. Follow those with real names - That's one way to know it's a genuine account. (It's always a good practice when setting up a Twitter account to use your real name.)
3. Follow those who follow you - In most cases it's a common courtesy. Chances are they're in the same industry or have some relevance to you.
4. Follow those following the people who are following you - Same rationale as #3, just once removed.
5. Follow those following the people you are following - If you've chosen to follow a particular individual for whatever reason (maybe they fit the profile mentioned in #1), there's a good likelihood at least some of the people following them would be relevant for you as well.
6. Follow those in your industry - Obviously, one of the best uses for Twitter is as a vehicle for networking, gathering feedback and getting advice. It's a great tool for meeting others in your industry or discipline.
7. Follow those you find interesting and/or entertaining - In all the mad rush to turn Twitter into a business communications and marketing tool, leave a little for pure fun. If you find someone's posts interesting, maybe they're worth following as well.
8. Follow those who use the same hashtags (ex. #nms08) to follow a conversation - Again, if they're interested in the same things as you, consider following them.
9. Follow those who @reply you - @replies can be sent into the public timeline addressed to people you're not following. If a user has addressed you in that way, might be fruitful to add them.
10. Follow those interacting with people you follow - If you see a tweet with an @reply addressing someone you're following that comes from someone you're not, they may be worth following. Check em out!
Don'ts...
11. Don't follow those with numbers behind their names - This is a technique often used by spammers (Twammers) due to the fact that have multiple accounts. It's a dead give-away. (One word of caution: When setting up your Twitter handle, don't use numbers. Your real name will do nicely.)
12. Don't follow those with no avatar - If you can't see their face, company logo or some sort of avatar, don't follow.
13. Don't follow those who only broadcast - Unless you know it's an account set up strictly for that purpose - a news, shopping or "tips" type account - don't follow. If they don't participate in conversations with anyone else, they won't with you either.
14. Don't follow those who aren't active - I don't know the number or percentage, but I bet the number of people who've subscribed to Twitter and aren't actively using it is sizable. If a user is not actively maintaining the account, chances are it's dead.
15. Don't follow users based on their follower count - In social media, it's not necessarily how many eyeballs that count but who those eyeballs belong to. There are some very influential people who may not have huge numbers of followers.
There you have it - 15 tips for know who to follow and who not to. That's my list at least for now, though I'm sure I'll add to it. BTW, you can too! What criteria do you use in determining who to follow. Please share it in a comment. Thanks!
Finally, if you're not following me, please do. My Twitter handle is @pchaney.
Get the Complete Guide to Twitter for Business, only $9.95. This 35-page ebook equips you with everything you need to know to begin using Twitter to grow your business. Order today!
1 comment • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • January 19 2009 01:46PMTwitter for Beginners
While I was out there Twittering this morning, one of the Tweets I was following posted a good article for those of you who are like me,...just trying to figure out how to do this and what it's value is. Justin Seeley Seeley Media. in Baton Rouge shared this article from the New York Times. Twittering Tips for Beginners. One of the examples that was used got me started thinking that it's all in the way we apply Twitter. 
In the example a legal group sent out a Twitter asking if anyone had done something before. They got back 2 responses of examples where it had been done. I think our challenge in real estate is to use Twitter as a powerful tool to tap in on the knowledge and resources in our community and even out world at large!
6 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • January 16 2009 10:54AMTechnology Plan, Part 1 Developing a Mobile Office
As we are moving into an era that demands that top agents and companies are proficient at both real estate marketing and sales and in technology to support those efforts, I am including the development of a technology plan as part of my goal setting in 2009. There are five parts to that plan 1)Developing a Mobile Office, 2) Evlauation of Using Virtual Assistants, 3) Development of Mobile Listing Presentations, 4) Developing Technical Tools for Warm Market and Social Networking, and 5) Websites.
My plan spans a 5 year period, not just one year, as cost of technology is expensive. Also, after completing the ePRO course, I decided to put to full use what I already have as part of the time investment required to be effective.
I started developing a mobile office 2 years ago. My first goal was to become a Mobile Agent. Then second goal was to connect with my company team. The ultimate goal was to sit in a clients home and conduct Seller Consultation, close the deal, write up contracts and sign on the pc screen, put signs in yard immediately, put brochures in the home, and have a listings ready to show in the 2-4 hour period needed for the Seller Consultation. Once this capability exists for a Seller, it contains all the components needed for Buyer Contracts. Also, being in a car a lot, I wanted to be able to check & respond to emails and texts frequently during the day, which I'll cover in Part 4 Developing Technical Tools for Warm Market and Social Networking.
Summarizing what I've Done so Far...To achieve first goal of being a Moblie Agent. Your mobile office plan involves both hardware and software choices. My first purchase was a PC with docking station for autobackup. After evaluating the RedTablet, approach, I opted for a Hewlett Packard Tablet PC to allow for future ideas I planned to develop, even though I initially used it just like any PC. 
The case studies given in this link will help you visualize where you want to go. Tablets allow signing on the screen and printing handwritten documents. It was self-contained and not internet dependent. If your interested in Tablet PC, join the Active Rain Group Tablet PC's, the New Age or a Dinasour? I selected a Verizon Wireless card so I wouldn't be dependent on free wireless networks not always available. For software I added Office Pro 2003, which contained Outlook for integrating my emails, Publisher and Word and Power point for presentations and e-broadcasts and newsletters. Active Rain has an Outlook group where you can pick up all kinds of ideas. I also added Hewlett Packard's HP Real Estate Marketing Assistant to allow me to sit with a client and create brochures from photos I took while at their home. 
Then with a mobile printer HP Deskjet 460, I had brochures ready to leave at the end of the listing presentation. This printer operates on battery and blue tooth so I can print in my car or in a clients home.
Finally adding an eFax service I could send documents out of town and out all over the world. These were items I accomplished in 2007 and 2008. Plug into some of the Active Rain technology groups that have a wealth of information...e-PRO Internet Technology, Making Real Estate Better with Technology, Technology,
My next 3 year plan includes connecting with other agents and my team. We are evaluating mobile sales meetings using systems such as CallWave that connects BlackBerry, iPhone, Windows Mobile and Nokia, with Apple Fuze Conferencing. We all have different PDA's and it would be desirable for us NOT to have to be in any office for a meeting. (Maybe we'd be on vacation in Hawaii) :-)
Also in the next 2year plan is evaluating online notary services like the one used by USPS, that authenticates online signatures on contracts, as cut and paste causes legal issues in many states.
Now the last step will be to find creative, interactive virtual tours that will allow us to "show" homes online without stepping a foot in the door. So far nothing quite replaces that in person visit.
I'd be interested in knowing what others of you in the Active Rain are doing to create a Mobile Office.
10 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • January 03 2009 05:06PMTechnology Plan While You're Setting goals
We are moving into a new era in real estate where marketing and sales is dominated and driven by the internet and technology. As agents we need a good Technology Plan as part of our Goal Setting. My Technology Plan includes these components:
1. Developing a Mobile Office
2. Evaluation of Virtual Assistants
3. Development of Mobile Listing Presentations
4. Develop Technical Tools to Support Social Networking and Warm Markets
5. Websites
Are other of you Rainers developing a Technology Plan to support your Goals?
I'll share a little more about each of these categories in future posts.
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • January 02 2009 12:15PMTwitter Gone Wild
If you are using Twitter, have been wondering about Twitter, reflecting on how Twitter fits with FaceBook & Flicker & other social networking tools, want to get a wealth of links to ways to use Twitter, or wondering if Twitter is a serious business tool, then tune in and listen to one of the recent Rain Raido broadcasts "Twitter Gone Wild". I hadn't planned to listen today, but got so fascinated, that I stayed for the whole hour!
You can also tune in today Dec. 2nd at 1pm CST and learn about "What Is the Future of Lead Generation", a radio interview with Reply.com hosted by Rich Jacobson & Brad Andersohn
Follow this link to Rain Radio.
2 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • December 02 2008 10:41AMPOEM: I AM YOUR REALTOR
The following poem by Baton Rouge Realtor, Bridget Fredericks lists just a few of many more responsibilities a Realtor provides their client:
Via Bridget Fredericks:
"I am Your REALTOR" by Bridget Fredericds
I am your REALTOR.
I list your property when you want to sell.
I put a sign in your yard.
I put it in MLS.
I market...your real estate.
I find you a home when you want to buy.
I help you negotiate your contract.
I help you deal with the lender.
I help you with your inspections.
And when all that fails, I put out the fires, because I am your REALTOR.
I am your confidant.
I am your investment addvisor.
I am your closing coordinator.
I am your strength when you start to wonder if it's worth it. I am your REALTOR.
I am your liason to the builder
To the lender.
To the title compnay.
To the insurance company.
And even to your mother-in-law if you ask.
I am the buffer that helps it all make sense, and I do it all for YOU.
I do this and more because I am your REALTOR and you deserve the very best!
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • November 29 2008 11:10AMTwitter for Business: How Does It Work and What's the Value? Part 1
Nice overview and history.
(First, sorry for my latency in posting of late. Was away with my wife Amie on the trip of a lifetime to NYC! Travels are over; getting back to business.)
One of the questions I'm getting A LOT is "What's up with Twitter?" and "How do I use Twitter for business?" Let me say at the outset it is an amazing app with manifold uses. Companies as large as Dell have created a business model around it and solo entrepreneurs (real estate agents included) are proving its case as another channel for business development.
It's my aim to answer the above questions, at least in part, by not only sharing my own thoughts, but providing links to others who've addressed these as well. It will take me far more than the 140 character limit Twitter allows. :-) In fact, this will be a multi-part series.
Let's start by attempting to define Twitter.
Wikipedia Definition
First, the wikipedia definition: Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (otherwise known as tweets), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length.
OK, stop right there! What the heck is "micro-blogging?" While I don't know who cooked up the term, it's a suggestion that Twitter is a blogging tool, one limited to 140 characters. Hence, "micro" blogging.
Why 140 characters? Because the guys who dreamed up Twitter (Biz Stone and Evan Williams, the same guys who created Blogger) saw it as an SMS (text messaging) tool. In other words, it was first conceived as an application for mobile devices, but one with a web-based interface.
Even though it started that way, Twitter's user-base largely ignored the SMS side of things in favor of the web-based version. At one point, due to bandwidth and thru-put demands on Twitter's servers, SMS capabilities were actually shut off. Essentially, Twitter started out as one thing and became something else. (More on that in a moment.)
Better Definition
A better explanation was one given to me by a gentleman (whose name I don't recall) I met at a social media conference in Houston a few month back. He referred to Twitter as a "high latency instant messaging application."Huh?
Twitter is like Yahoo! Messenger or AIM or any number of instant messaging applications, only you aren't compelled to respond immediately, if at all. Hence the term, "high latency."
Best Definition
In my opinion, Twitter is best defined as a social instant messaging application. "Social" in that you friend others who then see your posts and follow them (the term in Twitterese is, in fact, "follow," though it means the same thing), and "instant messaging" in the sense that it has that feel to it.
What it really is is a conversation stream that you jump into at any given moment in time and start talking. Participation is the price of entry. (More on that in a later post.)
More from Wikipedia
"Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them," says wikipedia. "The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends (delivery to everyone being the default). Users can receive updates via the Twitter website, SMS, RSS, email or through an application such as Twitterrific or Facebook."
Twitter's Evolution
As mentioned above, Twitter started out as a mobile application, but morphed to something that was largely web-based, thanks to its users. And, I mean, let's face it, if you're following a few hundred people, do you really want to get text messages from everyone of them? You can pick and choose who to receive such messages from of course, but even if you've limited it to a handful, if they're avid Twitter users, you're phone will still be dinging all the time. In my view, it's overkill. If you like the SMS component, that's fine, but I'd limit it to a select few.
Back to the evolution...
Speaking of the user-base, Twitter's founders have been fairly well-receptive to the way Twits (one term for Twitter users) are using the app. For example, at some point people started using the "@" symbol to address a single individual via their Twitter handle (e.g. @pchaney). It was a way to delineate that the message wasn't for everyone, but for that specific person.
It wasn't long until Twitter incorporated the activity as part of its functionality. Not only that, they added a direct messaging capability enabling users to send private messages to individual users.
That's enough for this post. I'll be back tomorrow soon with another talking about how to use Twitter, explaining proper "Twittiquette" and sharing the rules of the road.
In part 3 (yes, there will be a part 3 and a part 4; I told you it would take more than one post.) I plan to delve into some of the applications that have developed around Twitter thanks to its API (A geeky acronym which stands for Application Programming Interface. It's a way for one application to be used by or integrated into another.)
Part 4 is where the water really meets the road in terms of how to use Twitter for business. I'll provide some practical, real life examples, including some from fellow agents. Look for that early next week.
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • November 12 2008 03:58PMThe Social Networking Buzz: Twitter Synchronicity
Fresh off the buzz of attending my first tweet-up, I noticed a tweet about a blogging class being given the next morning by Missy Caulk, Michigan's own online real estate superstar. Plus special ActiveRain guest Bob Stewart was going to be speaking. This was something not to be missed.
The next morning, the room was packed and overflowing. Not only were agents from her company there, but several of us from the Twitterverse were as well, including Edward Vielmetti, a well-known local blogger who 'live-blogged' the session. He had found out about it by reading a tweet just that morning!
The two hours went by quickly with everyone furiously taking notes and a few of us tweeting (including the photo to the left which appeared on my photo blog).
Many of those in attendance were just getting started and Missy's message was to be authentic, transparent, and personal. Bob demonstrated how easy it is to get started on ActiveRain.
From Edward's precise notes and real-time tweets to Missy's sage advice, the seminar was a "happening". The icing on the cake was meeting people face-to-face for the first time.The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started, Twitterland, TweetBeeps & Tweet-Ups
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • October 30 2008 12:45PMThe Social Networking Buzz: TweetBeeps & Tweet-Ups
Once I mastered the Twitter basics, I set up TweetBeep (kinda like Google alerts) to email me when someone wrote a tweet on something that interested me. For example, any time someone wrote a tweet including the word "Plymouth", I'd get an email. Do you know how many cities are named Plymouth in the world? Lots.
Next, I noticed people talking about "tweet-ups". I had no idea what they meant, but had a hunch it might have something to do with getting together.
As luck would have it, one of the local agents I was following organized one last week and five people showed up. We met at a pub, enjoyed food & drinks, and shared real estate war stories and tech tips.
It was great to be in the company of others who "get" and embrace the same technology instead of looking at you with a blank stare when trying to explain..Next, a little Twitter synchronicity.
The Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started, Twitterland, Twitter Synchronicity
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • October 30 2008 12:45PMThe Social Networking Buzz: Twitterland
I signed up for Twitter this Summer after reading about it on ActiveRain. With only 140 characters and chatty conversations between people that seemed to know each other, I totally didn't get it.
As part of the social media webinar assignment, our homework was to log in Twitter and get our feet wet. I was ready to dive in.
First, here's a quick explanation from CommonCraft:
I started slowly by searching for and following real estate agents (including Missy Caulk from Ann Arbor and Teresa Boardman from St. Paul), real estate techies and local folks.
Gradually I started participating by "tweeting" (posting) some of my daily activities and people started following me (BTW, my Twitter ID is @MichiganMoves).
The more time I spent on Twitter, the more sucked in and addicted I became. I even found an application for my Blackberry (Twitterberry) as well as as another website where I could post status updates to multiple networking websites (Ping.fm).
Soon I built up a network of local "tweeps" and was ready to take Twitter and social networking to the next level...a "tweet up" (meeting face to face).
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • October 30 2008 12:43PMThe Social Networking Buzz: Getting Started
Where in Baton Rouge are people Twittering?
Last month I signed up for the first Social Media webinar series from the Domus Consulting Group mentioned on the ActiveRain network.
I had a website, I'd been blogging over the years, and even had profiles on Facebook and LinkedIn. What I didn't get was how to leverage that presence and take it to the next level...Web 2.0 or social networking.
What is social networking? Here's a quick Common Craft video overview:
So the shocking thing I learned in the first class? Email is for people over 30. That made me feel really old.
I was even more surprised to talk to a couple of 20-somethings and find out they don't even have email. The MySpace generation primarily relies on text mesages and notes on a friend's online wall.
First assignment: sign in and check out Twitter, something else I just didn't get
0 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • October 30 2008 12:42PMFree posting with photos... Where!!!
Another place to get listing exposure. Check it out!
Hi Everyone, I'm always looking for additional places to post listings on the web using different sites to increase exposure to the homes we have available. I'm sure most of you who handle advertising for your companies end up doing the same thing... The best bang for thebuck ad is what we are all looking for to make the inquiries come in. I have come across one that may be of interest to some of you. It is for properties where the owners will consider either owner financing or rent to own contracts. You can post the listings FREE that's right FREE with Photos and gain valuable exposure. The site is www.nestery.com I hope this will help some of you promote those types of properties... Good luck and best wished... Diane
1 comment • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • October 16 2008 04:39PMInternet and Email Are Great....When They're Working!
We sort thru 300 emails at the speed of lightning, we access multiple websites on our dual or multiple monitors, but, oh my, when things arent' working right....
I spent a lot of time this week figuring out why I got a "Trojan Horse" in my firewall. And why my internet explorer browser wasn't working. Being a scientist by training in college, I analyze and try to figure out things for myself first... OUCH. I am my own worst enemy. I use Zone Alarm firewall and AVG antivirus software. Well, after 2 days of not being able to access emails on my own computer, calling my fellow Realtors for info. having no internet explorer access to the web (our MLS requires it), and reaching the total frustration point, then and only then, I called my technical consultant.
To my amazement I had no Trojan Horse at all, but a "false" antivirus alert. If any of you out there are suffering from the same frustration, I wanted to let you know that these firewalls and antivirus programs aren't perfect. Now by this time I had deleted the "bad" files, which were really good ones my computer needed. Luckily, with a little coaching I've restored my Internet Explorer and am awaiting the arrival of my Technical guru to fully restore the firewall functions. So my weekly advice to all you Active Rainers: Before you panic, call your technical person.
The best of surfing and emailing to you all! From one frustrated Louisiana Realtor.
4 comments • Ann Dail, Broker, ePRO, SRS, B.A.Chem, • October 16 2008 04:19PMContent © 2009 'Frequent Contributors'. Design © 2009 ActiveRain Corp.
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