RET ALL Technology Feed

Article: Mobile App MiFunnel Lets Agents Track Commissions

guest@retechnology.com (Guest Contributor) — 2013-06-19 13:59:28

Brokers, help your agents stay on track with the following app. It tracks commissions, monitors leads, and more:

MiFunnel is an easy-to-use sales and commission tracking app for real estate agents, built by agents.

According to their website:

Our mission is overtly simple: to empower both new and seasoned real estate professionals, and help them become immensely successful business owners, by providing them dynamic tools to manage their sales business in the mobile space, in a way that is meaningful to them.

Using the native features of mobile devices, MiFunnel streamlines lead in-take and provides a means to perform quick commission calculations, so that agents never feel lost about what is happening in their business again. By monitoring and measuring the metrics of their business, we believe that what gets measured, will more than likely be improved.

[...]

Tagged: Mobile Applications

Webinar: Webinar: iPad for Real Estate (6/26)

guest@retechnology.com (Guest Contributor) — 2013-06-19 13:33:39

Wednesday June 26, 2013 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Garry Wise, GoodLife Team's Paperless Agent, will show you how he saves 5 hours on every transaction, which apps to use, how to use them and what sequence (this is CRUCIAL), and how to do everything wherever you are... you'll never have to go back to the office again!

To see more webinars:

Tagged: Webinar

Article: The Top 4 Steps to Improving Lead Conversions

guest@retechnology.com (Guest Contributor) — 2013-06-19 12:30:36

Guest contributor Delta Media Group says:

Last week, we showed you The Top 4 Steps to Increase Your Real Estate Leads. This week, we're going to look at what to do with those leads once you receive them.

Just a few years ago, the toughest part of real estate seemed to be managing all the leads a real estate brokerage would receive every month. Since then, the market hit rock bottom and monthly lead totals took a nose dive.

The good news is we have all noticed a strong rebound in recent months. In fact, this year is off to a booming start for many of the brokerages and agents we work with. Now that we are seeing increased leads in our respective pipelines, we need to reacquaint ourselves with how to manage those leads more effectively and efficiently.

Your conversion rate is one of the most important elements of your business because it's turning your leads[...]

Tagged: Advice Lead Generation Lead Management

Article: The Service Renaissance and the New Compass

kevin@qualitycertified.org (Kevin Romito) — 2013-06-19 11:57:35

Leonardo da Vinci observed nearly 800 years ago that the practice of art, philosophy or trade, without an understanding of the science associated with it, is a world of darkness. He went on to observe that certain principles and forces (key variables) underlie every serious enterprise. The understanding and study of key variables enable us to master, manage and replicate actions and outcomes. Through science, humankind can understand the order of things and translate seeming randomness into processes with predictable and controlled results.

Service without science is like navigation without a compass.

As the quality and value of manufactured goods (hard products) have reached an all-time high, their place in the global economy has reached an all-time low. Service industries now dominate world economics, ironically, with quality, consistency and reliability that have reached an all time low.

Will these times one day be viewed as the Dark Ages of Service--that strange in-between period in history following the height of the manufacturing age and before the rebirth of service? Where (too often) the marketing of "Great Service" is a more common[...]

Tagged: Editorial Service

Column: Point2 Provides MLS and Association Consumer Sites

ret@retechnology.com (RET Staff) — 2013-06-19 11:26:32

Point2 continues to impress many in our industry as they roll out new products and product updates under the stable financial support of their parent company Yardi, and the guidance of industry veteran Saul Klein. In the latest chapter of their development, we find them launching a very nice consumer property search portal.

Point2 stands behind a three-prong mantra – Protect Broker Data, Control Syndication, and Monetize if you want. Protecting Broker Data is all about developing fair data licensing agreements with any party that is given access to the listing database. Controlling Syndication is the monitoring of those data licenses along with a dashboard for selecting publishers and reporting on the effectiveness of each publisher at advertising listings. The third prong of monetization is one of local preference. Some MLSs or Associations are looking for non-dues revenue, others are not. Point2 supports both.

I was given a preview of the websites that they are launching for the San Francisco Association of REALTORS® and the soon to be released site for El Paso Association of REALTORS®. They are both excellent sites[...]

Tagged: Recommendation Evaluation Website Design MLS / Association Website

Article: Real Estate Software/ Technology: What to Invest In

matthew.collis@ixactcontact.com (IXACT Contact) — 2013-06-19 11:03:40

A common question many REALTORS® grapple with is which real estate software / technology tools to invest in and which ones to, well, leave on the sidelines.

Technology perhaps hasn't been a focal component of your business and you may not be very tech savvy. But you know that social media and real estate software, such as real estate CRMs, have emerged and have proven themselves vital to running a business in a competitive marketplace.

Important tools for your business can include a social media management dashboard, such as Hootsuite, a digital document signature service, such a DocuSign, a blog, a powerful IDX, and/ or a tablet, such as an iPad.

However, one of the most important pieces of technology for an agent is a Read more...

Webinar: Webinar: Google Tools for Real Estate (6/26)

guest@retechnology.com (Guest Contributor) — 2013-06-19 08:10:51

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM MDT

Join Obeo's Director of Marketing, Marci James to learn about her 12 favorite Google Tools for Real Estate. These are all FREE tools that you can start using immediately to boost your visibility online, enhance your marketing, and make your business easier to manage! Marci will show you how to use tools like Google Docs, Google Voice, Google+, and more.

To see more webinars:

Tagged: Webinar

Webinar: Webinar: Brad Korn presents Capture More Leads with Social Media

patty@homes.com (Homes.com) — 2013-06-19 08:04:13

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

What you will discover:

What is the difference between a website and a micro-site (how do you get your "WEB" connected)?
How to leverage all your social media sites to capture more business
How a Blog and your Website can become a goldmine for leads
Bring more traffic to your website and get you in front of more buyers and sellers
The proper structure to capture more business using social media
Turning on a funnel of leads that never stops
Creating an automated system to stay consistent with postings on your social media sites
How to find content that matters
...and much more!

This is going to be an incredible hour full of information...so be prepared! This webinar will show you one simple strategy to take all your great ideas and put them into action.

To see more webinars:

Tagged: Webinar

Article: Targeting The Third Circle With Your Content

marketing@lwolf.com (Lone Wolf) — 2013-06-18 12:11:49

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit in on a webinar offered by OfferPop featuring Scott Stratten, more popularly known on Twitter as @Unmarketing. I've had the good fortune of seeing Scott speak on a couple of occasions at Tweetstock and he is definitely one of the best out there when it comes to doing content marketing online.

During his webinar, he had one point that he really managed articulate better than I had ever seen before, the concept of "going viral." While this is definitely a buzz term when it comes to creating and sharing content online, what does it actually mean? What is the process beyond the idea of just getting lots of views, hits, likes, and retweets? In this blog I wanted to share Scott's insight on this topic.

You

You are the origin of the content, whether you're an individual or a brand sharing this content. Be it a blog post, video, picture or tweet, all of this is considered[...]

Tagged: Communication Social Media Online Marketing

Article: Local is Best: Portals vs. Brokerages

ret@retechnology.com (RET Staff) — 2013-06-18 11:58:02

Let's face it--consumers love the big listing portals. Maybe they heard about Trulia from a friend, or stumbled across Zillow while searching for properties online.

Whatever the case, chances are that home buyers--especially those early in the search process--are using the portals over your brokerage's website. It's not because the portals are better (as you well know), it's because consumers don't know any better.

That's why we're delighted to share the infographic on the next page. Based on research conducted last fall by the WAV Group, the infographic underscores the advantages of using broker websites in a way that's easy for consumers to understand. Highlights include:

Local broker sites have 20% more listings
A lesson on why broker websites are more complete, timely, and accurate
Broker sites get listings 7-9 days ahead of portals

Feel free to share this infographic with clients, your website, blog, or social media accounts. It's a simple[...]

Tagged: Broker Property Search Portal Website Design

Article: Off MLS Marketing: From Pocket Listing to Industry Tsunami

jeremy.conaway@reconis.com (Jeremy Conway) — 2013-06-18 11:17:31

A seller retains an agent to sell a property and a listing agreement is executed. If it is a classic "Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement," the broker has already executed a MLS subscriber document specifying that unless certain conditions are met, the listing will be entered into the MLS within 48 hours, the agent will share information (cooperation) with other MLS subscribers and will share a portion of the total real estate commission (compensation) paid by the seller to the agent who brings forth a buyer (collaboration). This marketing standard, which has been the centerpiece of the American real estate market for almost fifty years, is approaching extinction in the face of a rapidly expanding market segment known as the "off MLS listing."

The Changing Scope of Pocket Listings

The "pocket listing," which is a listing that is kept off the MLS for a variety of reasons, has had a lengthy and illustrious history, though it has been a rare exception to 'normal' practice, and has been, almost universally, questionable.

From a listing agent's perspective, the rationale for a pocket listing[...]

Tagged: MLS Editorial

Article: Market Walkability to Add Value to Your Properties

wbaczkowski@point2.com (Point2Agent) — 2013-06-18 11:03:31

Pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods are worth their weight in gold. Today's buyers and renters seek properties that are within walking distance of their favorite restaurants, bars and shops. This trend springs from a raising awareness of environmental stewardship, personal health and hyper-local pride.

Check out five tips that will help real estate professionals get the most out of their walk-friendly listings.

1. Targeted Learning

Agents should learn as much as possible about clients' interests and daily routines. When pursuing listings, target properties that are surrounded by the amenities, shops and businesses that your clients are most likely to use. There is no need to make numerous lengthy trips to properties. Get a head start use Google's Around Me app or Street View to find what you're looking for with less travel.

2. Show, Don't Tell

It's not enough to simply state that your listed property provides easy access to shopping and dining. Create a screen shot of the neighborhood's Walk Score page and include[...]

Tagged: Advice Online Marketing Showing Appointment Mobile Applications

Webinar: Webinar: Learn how to create a Facebook business page and make basic edits (6/25)

guest@retechnology.com (Guest Contributor) — 2013-06-18 10:37:05

Tuesday, June 25, 2013 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM PDT

This webinar will go over how to create a business page step by step. We will also cover how to make basic edits and discuss your Timeline. Did you know that your real estate website comes with a Facebook App? You will be able to jazz up your page like a pro.

To see more webinars:

Tagged: Webinar

Webinar: AnnounceMyListing Webinar: Basic Orientation and Creating A Listing Announcement (6/26)

guest@retechnology.com (Guest Contributor) — 2013-06-18 10:34:33

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT

You are welcome to join us for a basic orientation to your AnnounceMyListing marketing tool! Although online tutorials are available for you to access on your member dashboard, you may prefer the "personal touch" and to have someone walk you through it live.

We will orient you on the basics of our system and how to get the best results from the Client and Agent version of the Listing Announcement.

We will discuss the power of social media and show you how an announcement is posted onto social media sites. Lastly, we will give you some marketing tips and show you several creative ways to use AnnounceMyNews during and in between transactions to help you grow your referral business.

Article: Product Tour: Turnkey Video Content from MarketVideos.com

kelly@retechnology.com (Kelly Phelan) — 2013-06-18 07:40:47

Referrals and repeat business are the lifeblood of any healthy real estate practice. So it's disheartening to hear that nearly 70% of consumers forget the name of their real estate agent within a year of purchasing their home.

It's a statistic that underscores how vital it is to keep in touch with former clients. By staying in regular contact, you help ensure that your customers not only remember your name, but that you're the first agent they call when it's time to sell their home.

Sending an annual holiday card or fridge calendar won't cut it these days, though. Social media and drip marketing solutions are far more dynamic options, but their success depends on the quality of the content that you're sharing. Constant emails about your latest listings, for example, bores everyone except those actively looking for homes. Instead, provide content that's useful to as much of your sphere as possible. Keep people engaged and you're well on the road to developing long-term relationships.

VScreen, Century 21's official Read more...

Article: Secrets of the Internet REVEALED: The Best Time to Send an E-Mail

celeste@happygrasshopper.com (Celeste Grupman) — 2013-06-17 20:56:07

We've DONE IT.

We've uncovered THE TRUTH.

We've unlocked THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE.

We've discovered THE BEST TIME TO SEND AN E-MAIL.

Really. It's true.

Or not.

Look. There are gajillion "studies" out there, performed by people with impressive-sounding job titles like, "social scientist" (and so on and so forth), that talk about the precise study of when to send an email for maximum effectiveness.

Wanna know something?

It's all a lot of bunk. Crap. Detritus. Excrement.

When's the best time to send an email? WHEN YOU DECIDE TO SEND IT. Sure, test out different times to see when YOU get the best results, but honestly. There is no "best time" to send an email. To assert otherwise is to spout a lot of hooey.

[...]

Tagged: Communication Drip Marketing Online Marketing

Article: 5 Ways to Make Your Real Estate Pinterest Page Work for You

beth@rismedia.com (RISMedia) — 2013-06-17 20:39:17

If you've considered jumping on the Pinterest bandwagon, wait no more. Although Facebook is still the leading social media network with 67 percent of American Internet users, Pinterest is currently in third – and climbing. Users spend an average of one hour and 17 minutes on the social network, leading Facebook and Twitter by more than double.

So why should real estate professionals join Pinterest?

There are many valuable ways that REALTORS® can use Pinterest to help better brand themselves and help build business. Taking the time to strategize on how and what to pin can put you ahead of the pack.

Create boards. Creating a variety of boards will help keep followers interested. A few examples could include homes that you sold last year, homes that are currently for sale, interior design tips, home staging advice, landscaping trends, local attractions in your area and neighborhoods that[...]

Tagged: Social Media Online Marketing

Article: Consumer Education: The Why

maya311@gmail.com (Maya Paveza) — 2013-06-17 20:25:26

RE Technology's resident video blogger, Maya Paveza, continues her series on the importance of consumer education. See part one (intro) and part two (the "what") here.

Determining motivation can make all the difference in the customer service you provide, and the value the consumer receives. It should always be a top priority to understand your clients needs, and especially their motivation to buy or sell.

Tagged: Agent Advice Education

Article: More MLSs launch FIND search from MOVE

info@wavgroup.com (WAV Group) — 2013-06-17 19:53:58

Move spread the news this morning that MRED (Chicago), MLS PIN (Boston and most of Massachusetts), and SFAR (San Francisco) have all entered into agreements to offer their FIND product. If you are not familiar with FIND, it is a product that was the early candidate for the National Association of REALTOR®'s Property Library. It ties all of the active listing data on realtor.com® to a suite of extensive property attributes ranging from demographic data to flood maps to airplane fly-over zones and noise.

The FIND product sits at the top of the page when the agent is logged into the MLS, extending data access nationwide. The two cornerstones that agents love about FIND include a Google-like natural language search bar and blazing speed.

If you are interested in learning more about FIND for your MLS, reach out to your realtor.com® representative or Curt Beardsley. My understanding is that Move provides the product for free in exchange for a data license[...]

Tagged: Reporting Strategic Planning MLS System

Article: 5 Reasons why your next listing presentation should feature RPR

infocentral@realtors.org (National Association of REALTORS®) — 2013-06-17 15:36:13

You know that old saying, "You only have one chance to make a first impression"? Well, it couldn't be truer than when describing a listing presentation appointment. You must show up prepared. You need to stand out from all the other agents the sellers are interviewing. You must prove your local market expertise. Without a doubt, you know you're the best REALTOR® for the job, but you must convince the sellers.

You need a comprehensive, yet easy-to-understand report. You want something impressive, something to make you stand out. Enter Realtors Property Resource, NAR's national parcel-centric database containing over 150 million properties. As a member benefit exclusively for REALTORS®, not only does RPR has all the data you need, but in a format sure to impress even the most picky client. Consider this:

1. An RPR Seller's Report can be quickly run on over 150 million properties in the country and includes data such as mortgage information, distressed information, tax[...]

Tagged: CMA Listing Presentation