This week I discovered a simple tip to use Outlook Flags.
I have been using Outook now for about 5 years. I receive about 500 emails a day from 4 web-based email servers. Early on I set up folders for auto-sorting routine broadcasts like newsletters sos I can scan at leisure. I got comfortable and began using folders by client names so things got easier managing incoming mail. I synced with my blackberry and use Outlook as my primary storage. I can transfer back up copy to client folders for permanent archive, that incudes copies of final contracts, etc.
But this week I discovered a simple feature for outlook flags I haven't used before. Now many of you will laugh at my ignorance, but I really didn't get the "flags". Oh I received messages marked high priority from others and occasionally marked one myself. But that was it. Then this week I discovered a use for flags I never knew before: you can sort your inbox by flags and then date. Wow. I leave emails in my Outlook Inbox until I complete an action. Sometimes the Board of Realtors sends a reminder that dues be paid in 3 weeks. It's not time with my monthly budget to pay, so I leave them hovering in InBox. Then 2 weeks later frantically try to find them. The beauty of flags is that you can pull those future action items to the top with a priority.
I LOVE flags now. And you can even create a custom name for your flags.
So, if you are using Outlook and are not using flags, go learn about them right away!
This week I had a very frustrating experience. My internet and email quit working right as I switched ISP providers and am still working out the bugs! Email won't send any emails, but I can download from my email POP providers. Printer won't print. Outlook closes unexpectedly in middle of a task. *!@*!@*!@*!@
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Ryan Texting Before Fatal Crash
2. From the beginning my focus has been relationship building, not broadcast promotion. That's what works for me to sustain long term steady real estate business. My friends and associates become my clients or refer clients to me they know. Warm market is what works best for me. I even cultivate internet and other cold leads into "friends". Often I stay in touch with people for months or years before they do business with me or refer someone to me. I use Twitter the same way. Now my challenge as I have grown to following more than 400 people, that I nee some tool to manage that stream of tweets. I'm considering adding Tweetdeck or some other software. Any suggestions from those of you more experednced? I have a PC and Blackberry, not Mac and iPhone. 
4. It's valuable to integrate your Social Media into your business plan. Initially in my learning stage I spent several hours a day connected to Twitter. In the beginning I tweeted several times a day; but have cut back to once or twice a day avaerage. I schedule a time for it just like phone messages, emails, etc. I use my blackberry and check tweets while I'm waiting in lines, etc. I try to balance social media with warm market prospecting and servicing present contracts and clients. I try to include interesting information in my Tweet stream with a variety of humor, real estate knowledge, my Active Rain blog posts, local area inoformation, etc. I try to get to know my followers. I don't necessarily post just for them but I do try to understand the kinds of information they like to read. I use Tweets and FaceBook as tools for those who want to know me better to learn a little more about me. Now I use links on my webpage to both my company Twitter account where I extract just the real estate information that others might find valuable plus a link to my personal account under "Meet Our Team". It's one more way to build a presence.
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Back in early August 2008 iPhone had a home app called 