Top 10 Articles from January

If we had only this list of top articles from last month to judge by, we'd say that RE Technology readers stand a great chance of keeping their resolutions to better their real estate businesses in 2013. From real estate signs to iPad listing presentations to improving your property photos, agents and brokers were hungry for some meaty topics.

Read on to see what articles piqued the most interest in January.

1. 5 Awesomely Bad Listing Photos - by Point2
We all know that great photos help sell homes. But how about really bad photos? Today for a laugh, we're going to share with you five truly terrible real estate photos. And we'll tell you how they could've been avoided.

2. Top 13 Apps to Start Your New Year Off Right - by Homes.com
This past November, Homes.com's Joe Sesso presented the "Top 13 Apps for Success in 2013" at the National Association of REALTORS® Expo in Orlando. The presentation was a huge hit among real estate professionals. If you were unable to attend, don't worry — we've got a video for you, as well as the links to download all of these apps! Get your iPhone, iPad or Android device handy and start installing these as you watch!

3. 4 Steps to Becoming a Stronger Listing Agent - by Kelly Phelan
A healthy real estate strategy includes cultivating both buyers and sellers. After all, the two groups have a symbiotic relationship with each other. A robust pool of buyers to market to enables you to sell listings faster, while a set of solid listings helps you attract higher quality buyers. Growing both sides makes for a stronger, more well-rounded business.

4. 10 Daily Steps to Becoming Incredible in Real Estate - by BrokerageU
A "credible" agent knows the market. An "incredible" agent not only knows the market better than their competition, they share that knowledge with every prospect, every day. It all starts when you wake up every morning and commit to being "credible." Here are 10 steps to kick your real estate business in gear today.

5. Real Estate Yard Signs: Breathing New Life Into an Old Friend - by MarketLeader
When one considers how much business we get from that thing sticking in the front lawn of our listings, it's amazing how we take them for granted. One phone call and the sign is installed to our specifications. Another one and it's taken down and stored. Most agents never touch their signs unless it's to re-attach a wind-blown rider. Like most aspects of the real estate industry, real estate yard signage is changing.

6. The GoodLife Team's 5-Step Listing Presentation for iPad - by Kelly Phelan
Did you miss our iPad webinar with the GoodLife Team? No worries--we recorded it for you! The webinar featured a live iPad demonstration of the GoodLife Team's 5-step listing presentation. Watch the recording for complete details, then follow along with our notes.

7. 4 Ideas for Better Exterior Listing Photos - by Kelly Phelan
There's one photo that the majority of MLSs require of listings. Known as the "primary exterior shot," this all-important photo is the first thing potential buyers see--and your first opportunity to convert browsers into leads. If this picture is too grainy, too dark, or just badly composed, property searchers may simply pass your listing on by. There's good news, though: bad photos are preventable! Here are a four tips to make the most of this crucial shot.

8. 6 Web Properties You Need to Own Now - by Kelly Phelan
You know all about real estate, but what do you know about digital property? When it comes to building an effective internet presence, there are a handful of online "places" that you must leverage.

9. Never Show Property Alone With Agents Armor Real Estate Mobile App - by Showing Suite
When showing homes and hosting an open house, safety has always been a serious concern among real estate agents. Fatal injuries among real estate professionals while working on the job reached their highest level in 2010. ... With safety being such an important issue in recent year, a new real estate mobile app has been recently developed to help agents safely protect themselves.

10. The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Facebook and Twitter - by My Computer Works
Don't know the difference between hash tag and a timeline? Don't worry. These two video tutorials from My Computer Works show you how to get up and running on Facebook and Twitter in less than five minutes.