Top 10 Most Popular Articles of January

From trend pieces to business planning tips, making 2016 the best year it possibly can be is a theme that runs through our list of the most popular articles from January. It may (already!) be February, but don't think it's too late to put into practice the suggestions you'll encounter in the list below! 2016 is still young and you still have every opportunity to meet and exceed the goals you've set for yourself. Read on for some New(ish) Year's inspiration.

1. Top 8 Real Estate Gadgets for 2016
In 2015, technology became even more necessary, wearables more popular and smart phones got even smarter. We've reached the golden age of gadgets, and it's time to begin planning for what will come in the year ahead. We've made a list of the top gadgets that will help drive your business forward in 2016.

2. Messaging That Drives Lead Conversion
Gary Ashton of The Ashton Real Estate Group of RE/MAX Advantage knows a thing or two about online lead conversion. His team is killing it with a successful program that blends traditional, hard real estate work with online excellence. The team does a lot of things right, but the goal of our conversation was to learn a few of the top triggers that Mr. Ashton considers to be most effective.

3. Home Trends: What's In (and Out) for 2016
Break out the hammer and nails: 2016 is predicted to be a strong year for home remodeling, according to a Harvard study. Agents and brokers looking for potential listing leads can use this as an opportunity to connect. But how do you know what's "in" (and what's not) this season so that you can better engage consumers? A recent report from Zillow Digs, which factors what consumers are looking for with insight from home design experts, points to the following trends. You can use these ideas as a starting point when looking for content to share.

4. 3 Facebook Campaigns to Find New Leads and Promote Your Business
How do you reach consumers on Facebook? The best way we've found is by leveraging Facebook's advertising platform. If you're like a lot of agents, you already see the value in Facebook advertising, but you're just not sure where to get started. So here are three of our most effective, highest converting campaigns.

5. A New, More Efficient Way to Schedule Showings
Did you know that agents spend an average of six hours every week scheduling showings? It's not hard to imagine why that number is so high once you think of all the parties involved in scheduling just one showing, and the typically linear process involved. In this product review, we explore a new showing appointment solution that transforms the traditional, linear model to a streamlined, modern version.

6. 10 Ways Real Estate Agents Can Build a Strong Personal Brand
Anything you do demonstrates your personal brand. This can include ways in which you represent yourself in front of clients and even how you treat people every day. Creating your personal brand in the real estate market is an integral part of your success. Check out these ten tips to help you build a strong personal brand.

7. 3 Email Newsletter Topics to Hook Real Estate Prospects
When sending email newsletters, you should be specific and cater your message to your audience. For instance, prospects might not already own a home, and, therefore, they might not be interested in reading about home renovations or how to find and hire a reputable contractor. Here are three email newsletter topics that will help you hook prospects.

8. Security Alert: It's Time to Stop Using Internet Explorer!
Agents and brokers who are still using Internet Explorer (IE) will need to switch to a new web browser by next Tuesday, when Microsoft drops support for versions 8, 9 and 10 of its flagship browser. Fortunately, switching browsers is not a painful process. Here's how to choose the best browser for your needs.

9. Spending 5 Minutes with Your 2016 Business Plan
Goals give you focus, allow you to measure progress, keep you motivated and help you stay accountable for your business decisions. While there's no perfect recipe for success, outlining your business goals and how you plan to achieve them is the perfect way to analyze what worked in 2015 and what you're ready to achieve in 2016. Here are a few considerations that will help you better determine your priorities this New Year.

10. 5 Best Practices for Advertising on Property Portals
Husband-and-wife team Eric and Janelle Boyenga were among the very first agents to start advertising with Zillow. A decade ago, portals were still new and agents were beginning their first tenuous steps into online marketing. The Boyengas have perfected their Zillow game and now share their knowledge with other agents as trainers in Zillow's Accelerate Program. They shared their favorite best practices for leveraging Zillow during our interview.