So without further ado…let’s get started!

Point2: What would you consider your most valuable online marketing initiative? (Blog, Video, Website, Syndicate Listings, etc)

Cam: I wish I had more time to blog to enhance the site even further and increase traffic counts. As you know Blogging with “fresh” content pushes your site to top of the charts in the search engines. However, I am guilty of not doing that very often but I am in the market to hire that out (under investigation now to sub that out). The best thing we have done is the video of our listings whereby we either use a little flip camera and do our own thing, or on the larger more elaborate homes we have hired that out and found a great photographer that does exceptional work.

Point2 is to be commended for the quality of the pictures that get posted at amazing speeds. The syndicate listing program is very beneficial as I constantly get people visiting my site through the extensive radio and TV advertising I do, and for those that have accepted me in handshake agreements – I guarantee their listings get tons of exposure via this form of advertising so why not syndicate with most of your colleagues?? In fact, just today I had another inquiry from someone who is asking me questions from the IDX program she had signed up for and is asking about one of my handshake agent’s listings… so everyone benefits from the system… the consumer, the seller and the agents involved.

Point2: Which online marketing activities do you find produce the best results?

Cam: My best results for online marketing is the lead generation that is built into my Point2 site. People who visit the site and enter their names get emailed automatically each home that matches their criteria…. I then get these emails from the customer thanking me for keeping them so well informed. The letters that are created and sent automatically are great and well worded so I just thank them for their business and sell them the house they have emailed me that they want to see… its all good.

Point2: What percentage of your business do you think is generated by your online marketing activities?

Cam: Considering I have not held a Public Open House or ran an ad in newsprint for the past 4 -5 years, I would say that 100% of my business is derived from online activities. Again I touch about the need to drive people to my site via the radio and TV ads, but when they get there they do get the help they are looking for… at the end of the day it spins off into buyers who have come to the site.

Point2: How much time do you spend on SEO and/or social networking?

Cam: Other than Facebooking and spending social time on there I don’t get a lot of business on Facebook. We do post our listings on Facebook (my son who works with me does this)… however, there is plenty of opportunity to promote the site and do more things on  Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, etc that we can all and should all be on. It’s the time factor to be everywhere that makes it difficult to do all this… show and list homes and have somewhat of a social life… it’s tough to get the perfect blend in lifestyle, however, the site has allowed me to make more money and when its time to take a break… it’s a good one.

Point2: Do you keep accurate traffic data of your online marketing initiatives?

Cam: This is just something that we stumbled across within Point2 – the availability to see where all you’re your leads are coming from and what works and what doesn’t. I find this now to be a great way to source my business and do the proper investing to get the best ROI.

Point2: We all struggle to balance the time between being out in the field and finding time to update our website/blog/engage in social media/marketing. What tips would you give to those looking to find a balance between all of these?

Cam: That’s a great question… If anyone reading this has a great answer – would love to hear from them. In the event that I arrive at an appointment early (which seldom happens), I will use my Blackberry and go online and do some little posts just to keep in peoples faces. I do believe too much is bad, as overkill on Facebook can be hard on one’s reputation. The little status updates that say, “Up at 7am sipping on coffee having a left over donut,” are a waste of time for me to even read, and I find them very annoying. So I don’t want to be one of those that give every breath I take as part of my day and post it on Facebook.

Point2: In terms of the conditions of the real estate industry (especially in the United States), what would you say is the most vital thing a real estate professional can do to ensure success during unstable economic conditions?

Cam: We here in Saskatchewan feel we are in an incubator and have been doing very well economically versus other parts of the world, with our rich resources we are fortunate to have.  I have great friends to the south of me in the USA, and for the most part those that stay the course and stay focused on the issues at hand learn to deal with real estate the way it unfolds. We, as REALTORS, did not create the market place but we get to deal with it, and it’s important for us as REALTORS to not take it personally when prices dip below what people paid for the home. There are people still buying homes in the most depressed locations throughout the US, and it all depends on proper pricing.

In 1991, our market was in turmoil and I had to resort to wining and dining bankers. I began to work that angle but one has to adapt and stay updated on the Short sales, and learn the way to win them and get the short sale for their Buyers… that, I understand is quite a technique to pull that off – and for those who have taken the time to read this, and are having problems learning the proper way, ask others in your market on the do’s and don’ts of a short sale. There are still the same number of houses and people… they all need a place to live, so either an investor is going to be buying them and renting them back to the people who have lost them, or the end user -  the owner occupier will be buying them. Everything will sell given enough time to sell!! The Point2 lead generation and drip mail programs are a huge factor to keeping in front of people and showing them you are there to help them buy or sell.

Moral of the story –stick with it, those of us who do come through will be that much better off when things do turn around and they will turn around!

Point2: Where do you see the real estate industry in the next 5-10 years?

Cam: Newspapers will be used to put in your canary cage – they are a thing of the past. I always tell sellers there was a time and a place for a telex machine. When I started in 1985, I had to have the ‘Vendors’ as they were called back than to send me a telex saying that they would take the price or whatever the case, and that little ticker tape type of paper formed part of the offer. In 1986, was the first time I had witnessed a fax machine -so my question to the seller is how many telex machines do you think were sold once the fax machine was created? Not many.

The purpose of my point is the same scenario for the newspaper – it is a dying business yet they wont truly admit it. I have not ran an print ad for 4-5 years, and yet am doing just fine selling my 100+ ends per year here in my market.  How? Its so easy that everyone who has cash has a computer and shops online – that simple! We will have to continue to adjust  and rely on improving technology to keep ahead of the times or stay up with the times, but do I feel that the REALTOR is going to dry up like a leaf and blow away? ABSOLULTLEY NOT! Buying a home is the largest single investment anyone makes in their entire life, to attempt to buy a home without the services of a REALTOR makes no sense. After all, its usually the Seller who pays the fees so why would anyone want to be a buyer and do this on their own? Makes no sense to me, so it always has been and always will be a people business – but for those not willing to adapt to the new technology,  sorry to say but I will be taking your business away from you in a matter of time! All the Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin… plus whatever lies ahead, we had better adapt and accept it – as it is coming, so either adapt or get off the bus.

Point2: Lastly, just for fun… Favorite new home feature? New home ‘style’ and why?

Cam: To save some face, by the time I get this to you and out to the agents my “like” will be old news, so better keep with basics. The technology of being able to adjust the temperature of your home from a cell phone and turn on your surround sound from a cell amazes me… but like I stated, that is old news. I will wait for the robot to be sitting there with my rum and coke when I get home, and I can just dictate to it to do my blogging for me!! My dream home will be backing a golf course in Phoenix, but for style and plans, as long as I can still swing a golf club I will be a happy camper!

Do you have a website you want to show off? Or maybe some useful marketing tips you would like to share with the real estate community? Let us know!

Two key companies have a number of VA’s trained and skilled not only with Point2 Agent, but a plethora of other softwares, tools, and skills.  Contact them for full details and special pricing for members of the Point2 community:

REVStaffing
(404) 819-2933
Point2Support@revstaffing.com
www.REVStaffing.com

RealSupport, Inc.
(847) 705-1655. ext. 201
Info@RealSupportInc.com
www.RealSupportInc.com

Since you’ve been loyally reading all the bran posts up till now you probably already know this.

Your blog is the center of the universe.

Well your universe.

The epicenter or hub of your social media and community building strategy should be your blog.  (Not sure what to do with social media?  You’re not alone.  But, that’s a topic for another post, or two, or ten.)

People may think that with the rise in social media tools like Facebook and Twitter – you know, the ‘big ones’ – means that blogging has gone the way of the dodo bird.  Extinct.  Pointless.  Done.

Not true.

Blogging works alongside your other social media efforts, and is not replaced by them.

Consider this.  Blogging allows you to carry on a conversation more in depth than what may be possible with something like Twitter.  It’s a lot harder to give a complete explanation or opinion in just 140 characters.  But, blog about it and you can easily condense the gist of the post (say, the title, for example) and a link to it in 140 characters or less.

See how they work hand-in-hand?

More importantly, people are still reading blogs.  By blogging for your business, you  have the potential to make contact with people that you might otherwise not have done through other more traditional or not-so-traditional mediums.

Read This:

• Are Blogging and Commenting Still Important Tools in Social Media?

But wait, there’s more!

S to the E to the O

Search engines love blogs.

Why?

Basically, for the same reasons people do. Because there is always new, fresh, and very relevant content being added to a blog.  Search engines love that stuff.

I’m going to keep it short and sweet and list off just a few points.  Click through to the links for the expert explanations.

• Keyword-rich content.
• Fresh and frequently updated content.
• Lots of links – of all kinds.

Read This:

• Six Reasons SEO’s Love Blogs
• SEO Benefits from Blogs

There you have it.  Bran is good for you, and now you know blogging is too.

How else is blogging like bran?

Well, let’s recap…

It’s 100% Natural, Full of Fiber, Keeps You Regular, Tastes Good, and It’s Good For You!

Well that’s the end of this (not-so-)little mini-series.  I hope it was as informative and fun for you to read along, as it was for me writing it.

I’m not going to lie, I probably could have come up with 10 Ways Blogging Is Like Bran – bran is just that good.  But, hopefully these 5 tips will stick with you (just like a good bowl of bran gets you through the day) and help you craft the next great blog post.

Have you put these tips into action?  I’d love to see some of your new and improved blog posts.  Send them my way: blogging@point2.com.

So you like Facebook.  You’re on it all the time but you just can’t get enough.  Facebook Places is here for you!

Now, on top of changing your status updates, checking out your friends’ new photos, and seeing what pages you can ‘Like’, you can check-in on your iPhone to Facebook Places wherever you go.  (Only iPhone for now, Blackberry and Android phones soon to come.)

With Facebook Places you can show your friends exactly where you are, and when you arrived there.  This is an application that allows you to show and share your physical location.  Some may call this just another way for others to stalk you, but most of us don’t think about that.  If it’s new, and it has to do with Facebook, we’re in!

Decided to hit up that trendy new restaurant everyone’s been talking about?  Don’t just tell them, show them!  You can add comments about the Places you visit, and view your friend’s comments to see what they thought of the Place.

Now, some people would rather just bring their friends along and discuss the Place in person, but I have a feeling people are going to be checking in and adding comments anyway.  In this day and age, children (yes, children), will text each other even if they are in the same room as one another!  When did texting become more fun than having an actual conversation with the person right across from you?  But perhaps I’m just old fashioned that way.  But I seem to be getting off topic here.

Right now, Facebook Places is available in the United States only.  When you check-in to your destination, a Place page shows you a map of where that Place is located, a list of friends who are currently checked in at the Place, and a list of your friends that have checked into the Place in the past.  You can post a story about the Place to your Facebook profile by clicking on “Share”.

If you’re familiar with FourSquare, it’s essentially the same thing, but with Facebook running the show.  The big question right now is, how can Facebook Places benefit you.  The Places application gives you a way to promote and grow your business on Facebook.  You can give your customers the ability to check-in at your business, giving them the power to tell their friends about your business.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Launch the Facebook app on your iPhone and click on Places.  Remember, if you do not have an iPhone, Blackberry and Android users will soon have access to Facebook Places.
2. Click on the ‘Check In’ button in the top right of the screen.
3. Facebook uses your GPS location to find nearby Places.  A list of Places will appear and you can click on the desired Place and check-in.  Now if you want to add your own business, click on the + button at the top right of the screen.  This is how you add a Place.
4. Type in your information.  When your done typing in your details and you’re happy with what you have, click ‘Add’ in the top right of the screen.

Your Place is now available for everyone to check-in and tell their friends that they have arrived at your Place.  I mean really, who doesn’t want one person to check in, and now their 482 Facebook friends all see that they are there, at your business.  It’s like letting everyone promote your business just by showing up.

Happy networking!  I think I’ll go ‘check-in’ somewhere with an ice cold refreshment.

by Ryan Martens, Education Specialist

Agent Reboot is a one-day power session of hands-on learning about the latest in business development, technology, and marketing.  It’s a must-attend event for both new and seasoned real estate professionals alike.

With sessions discussing social media, how to market your listings online, killer business strategies, lead generation from your website, and much more; you will come away from Agent Reboot with an arsenal of tools to command your business and take it to the next level.

The Agent Reboot 12-city tour will be hosted by two emcees – Nicole Nicolay and Daniel Rothamel.

Hosted in cities all across the United States, you can find an Agent Reboot session near you.  The first two sessions have already taken place but there’s still time to register for and attend upcoming sessions.

Register today for $79 (regular price $149) Use Promo Code: POINT2

Register online at www.agentreboot.com

“How do I use all this Facebook and Twitter and stuff to sell my product/service?”

In the end it turns out it’s not a complicated answer:

“Don’t.”

And the conversation continues:

“But I want to sell stuff.  Selling stuff is what I do.  When I sell more stuff it makes it easier to pay my mortgage and buy the good brand of underwear made from Silkistasium™.  I can’t go back to wearing regular underwear now, so I need to sell stuff – and I want to use social media because I hear that it can be a really effective sales tool.”

“It is. It can be.  The internet is the most powerful medium in history.  It will help you sell a great deal more product, so long as you stop disingenuously selling and start having a genuine conversation with your audience.”

Of Diapers, DryMax and Dining

Pampers is using online advertising and social media to counteract potential fallout from suggestions that their new DryMax formula is causing severe rashes for some babies.  And this may well turn out to be a lesson for them in how badly it can backfire when a company uses social media improperly.

Mistake #1:  Tell People They’re Wrong

Neanderthal YouTube comments notwithstanding, when folks gather online around a particular subject of interest, say parenting, there tends to develop a fairly remarkable level of knowledge and varied expertise in those communities.  Some of the ‘Mommy boards’ for example have a collective level of sophistication in issues affecting children that is staggering.

So if (hypothetically, of course) a social media marketer were to approach such a board, and in response to the allegations of DryMax causing problems, posts some information about what diaper rashes are, how common they are, and how often they occur, diaper brand notwithstanding, suggesting that what these babies are experiencing is perfectly normal, happens to every baby, and has nothing to do with any products . . . well, what that person is unintentionally doing is saying “you don’t know your own children.  You believe that this product is causing a problem but you are mistaken.  These are not the droids you are looking for.”

(Okay, maybe not exactly that last bit.)

If a guest of mine said something like this to me at a dinner party I’d likely tell him not to let the door hit him in the rear on the way out of my home.

And this is my essential point – the social web is a whole bunch of big dinner parties.  If you want the other guests to consider buying your products, don’t walk in, introduce yourself, and pull out a vacuum cleaner and start espousing its patented Monsoon Sucker™ whirlwind action.  You won’t sell any and you won’t be invited back.

And guess what?  This is great news for good marketers.

Why?  Because if you genuinely join the dinner party, and you genuinely are interested in the subject matter and you throw in a few jokes here and there and you genuinely have good stuff to offer, you will form real relationships with the other guests, and real relationships are pretty much the most powerful force on earth.

(Aside from Monsoon Sucker™ whirlwind action, naturally.)

Pampers DryMax may well be an exceptional product.  These rashes on babies may well have been a coincidence.  Even if they were not, and Pampers made a mistake, that’s okay!  Every human and every company makes ‘em.

But if you spill a glass of wine at a dinner party, unintentionally of course, and then respond by saying that ‘dining room tables are often subject to wine spills and it cannot be known whether it was I who spilled the wine or not’ . . . well, it was really swell, had lots of fun, don’t hold your breath for an invitation to the next one.