From Buyer's Agent to Listing Agent: One Realtor's Story
It's no secret that being a listing agent is potentially more lucrative than being a buyer's agent. You don't have to accompany clients to multiple properties for showings, or submit bids that may be lost to cash offers — and if you have a listing, there's an excellent chance it will sell for asking or above in today's competitive market. But being a listing agent is no walk in the park, especially with fewer homeowners willing to enter the market at all. So how do you transition to working with sellers rather than buyers — and do it successfully? Brandon Watts, a Realtor from Gainesville, Georgia, knows exactly how, and he shared his story in a recent video interview with real estate broker and coach Brandon Mulrenin. Early challenges Watts entered the real estate industry in 2016, and initially focused on buying leads from Realtor.com and Zillow, and "working mainly just a lot of buyer business, running like crazy, all kinds of hours working seven days a week. I mean, I'd get a lead [when] I'd be in the shower — I'd jump out of the shower and call them." Watts then joined a team where he worked mostly Zillow leads, but says he was met with a lack of direction on listing appointments, and struggled to acquire clients and close deals. "I remember going to [my team lead] one time and saying, 'Hey, what do I do for my listing presentation?' and he pretty much didn't have an answer. He was just like, 'You know, hey, if they want to list with us, it's great — or not, that's okay too. Just go to the next one.' And I'm like, 'Wow, okay, I gotta do something different here.'" That's when Watts began shifting his focus. The game plan Watts quit taking online buyer leads and joined a coaching program, which improved his sales and lead communication skills. In the past six months, Watts says that this coaching has resulted in 12 transactions and $78,000 in earnings. So what does achieving this kind of success entail? Watts says he uses Vulcan 7 for prospecting. His primary lead sources are FSBOs and expired listings. The heart of his success, however, is discipline. His lead acquisition strategy includes direct outbound prospecting from 8 AM to 12 PM every day. He averages around seven prospects per hour, totaling 25-30 leads per week. Thanks to consistent effort, Watts no longer needs to buy leads, which also results in increased profit margins. His lead follow-up process is equally regimented. He leans on a folder system to classify leads: nurture (6-12 months), warm (90-120 days), and hot (within the next week or two). He then follows up on hot leads almost daily, warm leads weekly, and nurture leads monthly. To make him stand out in the minds of those leads, he sends them personalized thank-you cards and $1 lottery tickets. Advice from a goal-getter While Watts ended 2023 with 25 closings, generating approximately $150,000, he's aiming even higher for 2024. His goal is to net $300,000 in 2024 via 50 transactions, with a gross target of $416,000. Here are his takeaways for those looking to achieve a similar level of success: Consistency is key: Stay focused and committed to the daily process. Mindset shift: Success takes time and often requires a shift in perspective towards the process. Daily routine: Approach each day with a commitment to the process, rather than worrying about immediate outcomes. Coaching and mentoring: Get a coach or mentor for guidance and structured planning. Related reading How to Turn Your Real Estate Buyers into Seller Leads Tips for Growing the Listing Side of Your Real Estate Business Be a Better Realtor: 36 Tips and Tricks on Productivity, Goal Setting, and Self Improvement

Realtor Market Expert Q&A: Scarlett Green and Josh Taylor
In the spring of 2022, RPR's Broker Services Team put together a special training series for Howard Hanna agents. To receive their "RPR-Howard Hanna Market Expert" certificates, the agents were required to complete four classes on four different topics (available in an on-demand video webinar format available to them via the RPR blog). After each session, they were also asked to complete a "homework" assignment to get full credit. After four lessons and completed "homework," the agents received their certificate. They were also asked to fill out a survey, where they were asked to "Share Their Story" about their RPR training experience. In this Q&A, we speak to two RPR Howard Hanna Market Experts about their experiences taking the training, what they learned, and how they plan to apply their new RPR skills to their business. Scarlet Green Here's what Scarlet Green from Allen Tate Realtors, North Carolina had to say about the training sessions: I have been using RPR for months now and I love it!! Reasons why: 1) the more you use it, the easier and faster it becomes as the best and latest tool in real estate 2) the simplicity of RPR, user friendly 3) RPR offers so much info that you are able to choose exactly what you want/need so you may customize the reports/info for your client(s) 4) RPR offers material and info that are appropriate for both buyers and sellers! 5) Love having a mobile app that actually works! This app was well planned out and created to be user friendly. I also love that you are able to send the info the way your clients like to receive it; example, by text, email, airdrop, etc. I plan on continuing using RPR and appreciate all those who were involved in creating this. Thank you! Q. Hi Scarlett, thanks for joining us. How long have you been in real estate and what area do you specialize in? Ten years, I'm a residential agent, and I mostly work with sellers. A few buyers here and there… Q. How did you get introduced to RPR? Another agent in my office uses it. I heard that doorbell "ding," the sound effect from the reports being generated, and I wanted that! (LAUGHS) I love that doorbell chime of the notification. It's brilliant. It's the small things, you know? Then I started using it for doing comps. I love (and hate) doing comps, but RPR makes it easy. You can't go rogue, the program keeps you right on target. For clients, buying or selling a home is a milestone in life. And they trust us to watch their wallet through the process. I appreciate RPR for helping me create CMAs. Q. In the testimonial you sent us, you mentioned that RPR is simple. Can you give me an example? Sure, I was messing around in RPR last night… and I started looking into Opportunity Zones. As I started, these little prompts came up and I was able to follow along with the pink boxes. So helpful! It's a wizard/teacher to help and guide you. It helps me not waste time! Every time you get on RPR you learn something new, and the more you use it, the more knowledge you get for your clients. Q. You also mentioned the RPR app; how do you like using it? I love it. Whoever came up with it should teach other programmers how to create user friendly tech. I use it in the field all the time, because I can easily pull stuff up. I can instantly send reports and answers to my customers. I have the tech in my hands and it works every time. Tech that works makes me a huge RPR advocate! Q. We love hearing that! What else did you get from the training? Basically, I felt refreshed about navigating the comps and it gave me more confidence. I now tell other agents that I can't believe they're not using RPR. It's a whole different level of experience in real estate. Josh Taylor Josh Taylor from Howard Hanna Pennsylvania had this to say about his Market Expert training series: I'm a newer agent and still learning and growing everyday. I have really enjoyed this series as an introduction to getting more in-depth with RPR. I have used the research pieces and some of the reports already, but I have many new ideas now. I have learned how to drill down in a much better and more efficient way. I love the micro-neighborhood reports to really have that access to learning about even the smaller neighborhoods in my area. RPR helps me to present my expertise and show clients the knowledge base that I have access to in order to show my value add for them. Thank you for this learning opportunity and I look forward to learning more! Q. How long have you been practicing real estate Josh, and what area do you work in? Just over a year and a half, and I work in residential. Q. How did you get introduced to RPR? I had used it on my own a bit, and I was getting monthly emails about the training and webinars from my brokerage, NAR, etc. But I must admit, this Market Expert series was more of an incentive, the certificate was appealing. As a new agent I need help learning CMAs and RPR helps with that in a lot of ways. Q. You mentioned new ideas for using RPR, how are you doing that? So many! I didn't know about mailing labels, or how to search neighborhoods and subdivisions for specific owners. It's great for direct mailings and new listings. Drilling down into neighborhoods and uncovering the demographics, that stuff is really helpful. I like using the neighborhood search and the neighborhood reports. And the maps are great for prospecting. I've used that a few times since the training took place. Q. How does RPR help you in your business? I like that the CMA has different ways to achieve the goal to get the right pricing. Some info is outdated and you can add updates to the home using the Refine Value tool. That gives me a framework to the price, and then I can pull up really specific values and features, like a pool. The flexibility is controlled, and I get more accurate results using RPR than just my MLS. The other thing I really like is when you print something from RPR, the branding and the cleanliness of the report is important. And that it looks like it comes from me! Having my picture and my information in the reports makes it well branded. To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

New Agent Maps out a Promising Future With an Assist From RPR
RPR (Realtors Property Resource) success stories are examples of how Realtors are using their NAR member benefit to "wow" their clients and close more deals. RPR can really help newer agents get up to speed in their skills and everyday transactional tasks. That's why we were so glad to see the following email from Michela Navarria: Hi RPR, I'm a huge fan of RPR because it's very user friendly and it has a neat layout. And of course, with the huge amounts of data, RPR makes my job easier and my clients happier. If I can be efficient in pulling data and analyzing it, I have more time to focus on customer care, moving transactions forward and delivering results by using advanced communication tools. -Michela Navarria Now that's a well-thought out take: use RPR as a tool to crunch data, send reports, create CMAs and prospect, while freeing yourself up to focus on taking care of your clients. Here's our Q&A with new(er) agent Michela Navarria. Q. How long have you been a REALTOR® and what area do you specialize in? I've been a REALTOR® for one year. I do residential mostly, and I also help buyers find second homes and vacation type of properties in Central Oregon. Q. How did you get started using RPR? Well, as a new REALTOR®, I did and still do a lot of research. During one of my Code of Ethics classes, I heard someone mention "RPR," so I decided to check it out. I couldn't believe we had access to this for free! The layout is clean, easy to understand and I just love it! Especially the maps—they are great! I'm really into using the maps to search for properties, boundaries and locations. Q. Well, the next question is what is your favorite, "go-to" feature in RPR? I guess we know the answer! Maps! I can look at one house for sale and use the RVM® (Realtor Valuation Model®) to see the estimated value. Then I can see every lot and every property around it. I like to play around with them. I also see great value in doing a radius search. For example, if someone is looking for land, which is common here in Portland, I can easily expand my search. I can use the map to see what's a 90-minute drive from the location because the distance and driving tool is really amazing! I can also do a center point search and see all the land listings. It's just so easy and user friendly. Oh, and I also really like the Neighborhood reports, the School reports, and the Market Activity report. Q. You said that "being efficient in pulling and analyzing data" helps you focus on your customers. Tell me more about that. I feel like I can give a better quality service when I don't have to mine for data. RPR is easy to digest, it makes it so much easier. It's very transparent. It's a value that I know my clients appreciate. And it really represents my style of how I want to work: to be fast, more efficient, and not waste time. It helps free me up to focus on the client and the job. Q. What else are you using in RPR? I really like the ClimateCheck feature, that is awesome. AARP Livability™ Index is really neat, too. Those quality of life stats, those are great to show to clients, especially those that don't know a neighborhood. Because what's around a house is very important and it's not always clear. Walkability and livability play a big role. Michela sure doesn't sound like a rookie agent! She's using RPR data and reports to help support just about every facet of her business. We really appreciate hearing new agent stories like hers and hope you'll use RPR to do the same. If you're a new or new-ish agent, be sure to check out our free webinars that are designed to help agents get started in RPR and get their career going in the right direction. Check out and save your seat for "RPR For New Members" and "New to RPR? Start Here to Boost Your Business." To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

Realtor Sees RPR Commercial as a 'Game Changer' Based on the Size of His Market
This month's installment of RPR's (Realtors Property Resource) Success Stories welcomes Dave Ferro. Dave is the Managing Broker and Vice President of Watson Realty Corp in Gainesville, Florida. Dave is a REALTOR®, a practicing commercial practitioner, and an investment real estate specialist. He's also been active in leadership roles, including being the past President of the Gainesville Alachua County Association of REALTORS®, and the past District Vice President of Florida REALTORS®. He is currently the Florida REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Committee Council Chair. This latest role is how we heard his story. The RPR Member Experience team recently attended (via Zoom) one of those Florida REALTORS® Commercial Alliance Committee meetings and heard some eye-opening tidbits about RPR from Mr. Ferro. When it came to discussing using RPR Commercial as a resource, he said, "RPR reports really 'wow' my clients. I see RPR as a game changer based on the size of my market." Speaking to him about using RPR in his commercial business seemed like a no-brainer! Here's our Q&A with Dave Ferro... Q. How long have you been a REALTOR®? And what area do you specialize in? I've been a REALTOR® since 2004. I'm a broker and manage an office, but I also do deals myself, both commercial and residential. Q. How were you introduced to RPR? I'd heard about it, but I wasn't exactly aware of what it could do for me, as far as my commercial needs. But then I found out that RPR had collaborated with and was receiving listing info from CREXi and other listing sites. That access really got me to pay attention. For me, I use RPR to see stuff in the market. Not just MLS stuff, but everything. The commercial members of our board wanted better exposure nationally, and they were paying for third party services. I advocated for our users to use RPR and integrate with RPR. I said, "Let's keep our commercial guys happy and adopt RPR. It's free!" I also run three offices that are residential, and they all use RPR, too. The reports are really impressing all the sellers that we work with. Q. How are the reports doing that exactly? Well, in our offices, we really support, nurture and encourage old school farming. We like to canvas an area or neighborhood, do a quick intro, and then provide some info for the homeowner. The leave-behind we hand them is an RPR Seller's Report. They just make us look so smart! They're beautifully packaged and it looks like you spent a ton of time on them–but you really don't. It's a huge time saver and gives us a bunch of credibility. They're especially great for newcomers and really make the practitioner look brilliant! Q. What are some of your go-to features or tools? I use the property reports a lot. For a listing appointment, I come in with the property report, I personalize it, and it gives them something to chew on and read. It's a great leave-behind. And when it comes to property valuations and that type of thing, I usually know the number in my head because I know my local area so well. But when I present this data as backup to show I know what I'm doing, it's proof! The reports show I'm informed and I'm credible. All of it makes me look professional: "Here's info you may not have seen." I have to admit, sometimes commercial guys don't always put together the best presentation packages. We just don't have the time. And most smaller mom and pops don't always have that ability either. But RPR Commercial gives you that quality. It's very useful to small and mid size shops, that's for sure. Q. Does RPR relieve any commercial pain points for you? Search! RPR Commercial allows me to do a quick and dirty report for listing appointments. Sometimes it goes like this: I get a call and someone says, "I want to sell my building. Can you swing by this afternoon?" So now the pressure is on me and I don't have a lot of time. That's when RPR comes through. It shortens the amount of prep time I need. When there's zero time for a fancy presentation, I can create a report on the fly. And I come off as relatable and informed. I do them on my desktop in the office right before I head over. Then I bind them, show up and present them to the potential client. It makes for a really impressive deliverable. Q. How do you use RPR in regards to the current market? Where do you find yourself most when you're on the site these days? Again, it's searching for properties and listings. RPR really simplifies my search. We have a lot of partners, all these websites, and it just takes up a lot of time. I go to RPR Commercial to save time and simplify. That perfectly sums it up for me. I don't have to go to each individual's website for listing info. RPR Commercial gives me a head start. I can see all my properties and deals in one location. It's such a great place to search, every commercial agent should try it. Q. Knowing what you know now about RPR, how would you have integrated it into your workflow back when you were running a small commercial brokerage? I would probably base all my decisions on what I get from RPR. It would've saved me a lot of time back then. If I had to go back, I would've pushed for RPR sooner in my market. I'd go to the board and explain that the flexibility to go from these other sites to RPR is unreal. There's just too many benefits to not utilize it. Q. Any good RPR "wow" stories? I have some customers who are really analytical types and they just love the reports. It's perfect for people who are data driven. They love it. Detailed folks, it gives them so much to chew on, it really satisfies their need to back up a decision with data. That certainly "wows" them and appeals to their personality. Detailed property data "wows" is something we always like to hear! Great insight Dave, and thanks for sharing. RPR Commercial: big, small and everything in between As you can tell, RPR can help commercial practitioners in so many different ways. Whether it's searching over 800,000 listings, researching over 56 million properties, creating property reports for presentations or tapping into site selection and trade area tools, RPR can help you and help your business grow. Try it today at RPR or sign up for this free webinar to learn more and see RPR Commercial in action. To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

6 Ways Agents Use Elevate CRM for Business Success
Words like "technology" and "CRM" can evoke fear in even the most seasoned real estate professional. But with the launch of Elm Street's Elevate CRM a few years ago, agents can enjoy an easy, intuitive experience designed to streamline daily activities and help prioritize what's most important for business success. Read on to meet some agents using Elevate, and to hear their tips for making the most of all of the tools available. Elevate CRM | Intuitive Dashboard [featuring Jennifer M. from Tulsa, OK] "I was a typical agent using a bunch of different technology products for my business. I was stressed and frustrated because I felt like I had to spend hours every week moving leads around and trying to focus on my follow-up. Elevate CRM has this really slick dashboard that provides me an at-a-glance snapshot of all of my daily activities…who I need to contact, what outreach is being automated, and all of my marketing activities. I was able to cancel four other products, which helped me save money, but it's the intelligent insight and time saved that has turned me into a loyal fan!" Jennifer's Tip: Invest the time to learn about ALL of the features of your Elevate CRM and how you can consolidate and automate a lot of your daily activities. The Elevate coaches are great at helping new users get the most of their experience, as well as helping educate you on what matters most. Struggling with prioritizing daily tasks? Schedule your Elevate tour today and take back control of your time. Elevate CRM | Lead Nurturing Concierge [featuring Jason T. from Los Angeles, CA] "Elevate's Concierge service has literally changed my life! I spend about $1,600 a month on Elevate leads in my market and the Concierge service is converting an average of 12% of them to conversations for me. That's the highest return I've experienced from my lead gen investments. What's even better is that I'm provided an entire transcript of the conversation, which gives me valuable information about my prospect. And…the fact that my prospects think that I have a personal assistant in the L.A. market is priceless!" Jason's Tip: Invest in the follow-up and let someone else do the work. Agents spend a lot on lead gen but then fall short once they've captured the lead—but that's when the work REALLY begins. Using a service like Elevate's Concierge provides prompt, professional follow-up and feeds you the lead at the point of engagement. Not getting the results you want from your lead gen? Connect with an Elevate Success Coach and turn those leads into cha-ching! Elevate CRM | Easy, Professional CMA [featuring Sonja P. from Fort Lauderdale, FL] "Developing a comprehensive CMA can be really time-consuming. One thing that attracted me to Elevate CRM was that they have one of the easiest CMA wizards I've ever used. I can create a gorgeous, professional CMA in minutes, share it with a client, and move on with my day! My clients are always impressed with how quickly I can respond to their need for information." Sonja's Tip: Take advantage of the templates and workflows inside of Elevate CRM. You can automate a bunch of your daily busywork, which allows you to be more responsive to your clients. Wasting too much time creating the perfect CMA? Let Elevate CRM do the heavy lifting for you. Elevate CRM | Social Media Marketing [featuring Lisa L. from Syracuse, NY] "I knew I needed to be on social media, but finding the time to commit to Facebook and other channels was overwhelming to me, plus I had no idea what kind of content to create for my business. Elevate CRM automatically posts all of my listings to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn AND YouTube, plus other great content that my audience likes. I look like a social media rockstar and only have to lift a finger when I want to post something about my personal life. I love how Elevate CRM automatically creates YouTube videos for me of each listing. I would never be able to do that myself!" Lisa's Tip: Let Elevate's social media marketing tools do the work for you, especially if social media isn't one of your strengths, or if you don't want to dedicate the time to creating weekly content. Unsure what content to post on social? Schedule a demo to see how Elevate can automate meaningful content. Elevate CRM | Daily Market Reports [featuring Danielle T. from Colorado Springs, CO] "My favorite feature in Elevate is the daily market reports for my buyers. Any time a listing hits the market that matches their interests, my clients receive an automatically generated email with all of the details, and I am also alerted. In today's low inventory market, we need to move quickly if we want to pursue opportunities, and this tool ensures that my clients are the first to know about exciting new listings or updates on listings of interest." Danielle's Tip: It's hard to always be responsive in a competitive market. Being able to automate important outreach as soon as it hits the MLS gives your clients the advantage they need. Want to be more responsive to your client's needs? Elevate CRM has you covered. Explore today. Elevate CRM | Training and Education [featuring Jeff W. from Dallas, TX] "Sometimes I feel like, after the sale, I'm on my own with my software, but that's not my Elevate experience. It's easy for me to connect with the Elevate Coaching Team, and I really enjoy the level of service I receive. I feel like there are real people who want to help me build my business, and they provide lots of great ongoing training to help me make the most of everything Elevate has to offer." Jeff's Tip: Sign up for Elevate's training webinars and get to know your support team. It helps you make the most out of your experience. Tired of feeling like you're on your own with your technology? Let us show you a better way. Elevate CRM | The Bottom Line A good CRM should save an agent time, money and frustration by providing intelligent, thoughtful tools. Too often, agents are left on their own without the knowledge and expertise to succeed with their marketing and technology. The team behind Elevate CRM are hyper-focused on solving for this issue by providing ongoing training, support and insight into the best practices to drive marketing and business success. Schedule your tour of Elevate CRM today and take back control of your precious time.

Agent with a Can-do Attitude Uses RPR to Build Skills and Crush Goals
REALTORS who use RPR (Realtors Property Resource) to elevate and accelerate their business have some great stories to tell. We've featured quite a few of these in our Q&A "Success Stories" content series. This month's spotlight is on Trevia Ivey-Ojajuni, who has one of the best attitudes we've ever seen in the real estate business. Her hustle and glass half-full outlook is truly inspirational. We first crossed paths with Trevia on our RPR Facebook Connect group, where she is very active and a helpful motivator within the group. We reached out to ask about her RPR success story, and she responded with this: "We don't always have success stories, but that doesn't stop us from doing what is beneficial. I send out reports for sellers and some listed, but with another agent. I like to think I had something to do with that. I didn't get that listing, but I'm persistent. It gets rough with no immediate results, but I'm successful because I know the reports are beneficial, and I'm working on my marketing plan. For me, that builds skills! It feels good to crush personal goals by doing so." Wow! A success story based on the process, not necessarily the results (which will come!). We're so impressed with Trevia's take, we just had to speak with her. How long have you been a REALTOR® and what area do you specialize in? Since 2016, and I specialize in residential: listing, buying and I also work with renters. How were you first introduced to RPR? First, I just want to say that I love the RPR Connect Facebook network and I really appreciate how engaged the admins in RPR Connect are. It really makes a difference to know that people are actively looking to help and support us—you don't see that from too many real estate tech sites. My first experience with RPR was actually when I googled "RPR CMA," and the results came up: "a tool for REALTORS® to help with a CMA." It was so helpful! This is what they should mention in those new agent training classes! RPR is online and available to every REALTOR® through NAR. Everyone should use it! I lean on RPR for everything I do. I give my clients more data, more options, more market info. They can then look at all these options and make an offer or determine list prices. I promote it to everyone I talk to, especially newer members. Trevia, your posts on the RPR Connect Facebook page are so positive and helpful to members. Tell me about your great attitude towards prospecting. I was trying to determine what my niche was, and I wanted a way to find sellers. So I decided to focus on an area that isn't as popular in this market: distressed owners, with pre and foreclosure citations. I was doing normal prospecting through postcard mailings, but I switched it up because I wanted to do something with my SFR (Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource). It's a designation available through NAR, and it focuses on various home seller skills, including short sales and foreclosures. I focus on people who are going through the foreclosure or pre-foreclosure process and help them list their homes. And you're using RPR to do that? Yes, my brokerage, Coldwell Banker, has a program called SAFAssist, which provides legal assistance for CB agents and customers, to help them understand and complete the process. So, first I find the distressed properties and owners in RPR through the mapping and prospecting tools. Then, I create a Property Report and a Seller's Report, each modified with just one page each, and show the RVM® (Realtor Valuation Model®) for the property and then provide a personal note via the "Add a personal page" feature in RPR Reports. I draft a letter that puts people at ease to let them know what I'm trying to do to help them. And I offer assistance to help them list their home. I follow up with the SAFAssist flyer, which explains the program. I send the first page of the property report, with the RVM, to hook them. They see what their property is worth. I let them know that they have equity and it might not have to be a short sale. Then I follow up with the complete report when they respond (none have yet, but I'm sure it will work if I stick to it!). Niche prospecting plans like yours are a long run game. At the end of the day, I feel confident in my process. I'll continue to crush my own goals. This is what I want to do and focus on. Positive vibes, not negative. Sure, I post on social media the successes I've had. I got into this business to help first-time buyers achieve a home. I walk them through the process, and I get them to the lenders, and I love posting those stories to social media. I love helping people get to a goal they thought they couldn't achieve. I post on Nextdoor a lot. And of course, there's friends, family, word of mouth. That's my regular marketing sphere. This niche target of distressed homes is a whole different focus and side project. But I'm committed to it and products from my brokerage and NAR are helping me. What's one of your favorite or go-to features of RPR? My favorite is the mobile app. When I'm out and my location picks up what's going on in that area automatically—Boom! I know what's going on. When I'm on the go with buyers, I pull up RPR and just like that, I know everything about the area. I also really like how the app and the desktop version are in sync—I love that. I also appreciate the RPR Learning Center, all the free classes and training. The prospecting webinar and the farming eBook, I love the formulas in there. It really helped me see what I was capable of doing with tools from RPR. Any stories about how you've used RPR to "wow" a client? (laughs) Oh yeah, when I was working with clients last year, they were first-time homebuyers, and they found a place and wanted to put in an offer. I pulled the CMA right there in front of them and they were impressed! They had previously worked with another agent, and they said, "You're really impressing us, because our last agent had to leave all the time. She had to go to her laptop at her office…" That delayed their opportunity to put in an offer. We did the offer right there at the showing! That data I shared with them really made an impression. I couldn't have done it without my RPR app. As you can see, Trevia is really working hard to make a difference in real estate and to help her clients achieve their dreams. And she's using RPR to cast an even wider net and market herself to a specific, niche group of homeowners. You can learn more about the tools and features that RPR offers by visiting the Learning Center. There are on-demand videos, live webinar sign-ups, and printable guides to help you sharpen your skills. Good luck Trevia, and thanks for spreading those positive vibes! To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

New Agent Stands Out and Finds Real Estate Success with RPR
The National Association of REALTORS is the country's largest trade group. And it's only getting larger! It is now well over 1.5 million members as a whole, an all-time high. While more REALTORS is good for the industry and for consumers, it can also equate to more competition amongst agents. So how does a new agent stand out, gain an edge and get ahead? One solid way is by taking advantage of NAR's membership benefits, including RPR (Realtors Property Resource). New NAR member takes advantage of a major benefit Here's how Eliana Umanzor, a new REALTOR® from Houston, Texas, is doing just that. She got her start in real estate by assisting her husband, REALTOR® Cesar Umanzor, for six years. During this time, Eliana was able to use RPR by taking advantage of the Assistant User feature. With access to RPR, she was able to pull CMAs, create reports and prepare listings presentations, which really helped her become familiar and proficient in using RPR. And it helped prepare her for a new career in real estate. We spoke with Eliana to learn how she is using RPR to help her stand out and gain success. Hi Eliana! How long have you been a REALTOR® and why did you decide to start now? I started about three months ago. I decided to get into the business because the market is good right now! And I really love assisting people to find a home to fit their needs, their lifestyle and their milestones in life. As a new agent, how have you used RPR to help get your business going? Oh, in so many ways. The market is constantly changing, and I'm committed to studying the neighborhoods I specialize in and keep an eye on trends, so I can inform my clients. RPR helps me do all of that! The reports are very useful, especially the Neighborhood Reports and School Reports. My clients are very impressed with them. Most buyers with school children prioritize schools, and RPR School Reports are perfect for that. They love being able to see the nearby properties to the schools they want their kids in. Supplying them with that information and data shows them that I'm a neighborhood expert. What other takeaways do you have in using RPR? I use it so much, both the mobile app and the desktop version. The mobile app is so convenient when you're on the go. There's a variety of clients in the market: some clients want detailed analytics, data and numbers, etc., while another group finds that all too overwhelming, and simply wants a brief summary. With RPR, I can satisfy both of those types of clients in a matter of minutes. I'm really impressed with the variety of reporting, which can be modified to fit the needs and expectations of my clients. Nowadays, clients are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to home buying, so they expect info rapidly. RPR helps me stay informed and take care of clients' questions and concerns in a timely manner. New agents often find it hard to get up to speed and get going. Does RPR help alleviate any of those types of roadblocks? Absolutely. When you're new, there's all this pressure to learn as much as you can. RPR is very resourceful when it comes to learning and education. I recently signed up for the new member webinar series, that's just for new agents. And I find the RPR Learning Center to be really helpful. I love the short videos that help you navigate around the RPR site—those are my go-to's! I also like how you can schedule live webinars, but also watch on-demand tutorial videos. And it's so cool how they send you a recording of the webinar you attended for future viewings and reference. Your website bio reads: "Eliana loves helping others by empowering and enriching her clients with dynamic market intelligence and insightful information…" Tell us more about that. I just love houses! And helping people find the right one. I actually get a thrill from touring properties and imagining how to transform spaces and how to build lives within them. I know what families are looking for in a home. So when you combine that passion with the data and info that I get from RPR, it's a successful combo. The big question: how's it going so far? Pretty well! I closed on my first house at the end of my second month, and I have four more listings coming soon. Way to go, Eliana! As you can tell, having passion for and some previous experience in real estate is really helping her jump start her career. And taking advantage of RPR's tools, data and reports doesn't hurt, either. Get your real estate career into high gear with RPR RPR provides new agents with learning resources such as live webinars, video tutorials, printable guides, downloadable eBooks and so much more. Plus the ability to search properties, create reports, build CMAs, put together listing presentations, prospect for clients, market themselves, and the list goes on. If you're a new agent, create your RPR account today, and be sure to sign up for your new member webinar series. Good luck out there! To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

Mother/Daughter Real Estate Team Lean on RPR to Build Their Business
Mary Ann Baunach has been a REALTOR for 24 years and has been an RPR user since it was launched. She consistently uses it for "fast, accurate comps." Elizabeth Cogley, her daughter, has been a REALTOR since May and is helping her mom close deals as she learns the business. Elizabeth is also furthering her education by taking advantage of RPR webinars and tutorials. Together, this mother-daughter real estate team represent two distinct types of REALTORS®: a seasoned vet and the new, up and comer. And each one knows how to use RPR to their advantage. This Q&A will show you how you can use RPR to solve real estate problems and better your business, no matter your current experience level. Hello Mary Ann. How long have you been a REALTOR® and what area do you specialize in? MA: I've been a REALTOR® for 24 years this past July. I work mostly in residential, but I do some commercial deals every now and then. How did you find out about RPR? MA: Oh, I've been on RPR since the beginning, since Twitter was new! Back then, my local and state association announced that this new tool was now available, a national property database from NAR. I got right into it full time with no brakes. What are some of your favorite, go-to features in RPR? MA: First off, I love how I can use it with my MLS data, that integration is perfect. I also really find the five star rating in the RVM to be so helpful. Oh, and the app. It's a strong app, definitely my favorite real estate app. I use it all the time with clients when we're out in neighborhoods. I just pull up properties right there on the spot; things like distressed properties or other comps in the area. Do you use RPR to market yourself? MA: Absolutely. I use RPR reports and flyers and I send them out to an area after I've sold a house. I also walk door to door with flyers from RPR. They look so professional! It really impresses prospective clients. Any good RPR "Wow" moment stories? MA: Not one in particular, because it honestly happens all the time! I make a point of sitting down with people and I share with them all this data and these great tools about their property or a property they're interested in. It's kind of a "under the hood" moment, where I let them see how much info is available to me through RPR. They're always very impressed with the data and how easy it is to digest. If you met a new REALTOR® that didn't know about RPR, what would you tell them about it? MA: Well, I've trained new agents on RPR for years. And I always encourage them to take the live webinars, the Zoom classes. In fact, my daughter Elizabeth is a new REALTOR® and we're now working together as a team. One of the first things I told her was "get going in RPR"! Well, let's talk to her! Hi Elizabeth, how long have you been an agent? E: I started in May of 2021, so I'm pretty new. I've been helping my mom with her deals while I get used to the business. As a new agent starting out and juggling new mom life and a second part-time job, I've been learning through assisting my mom with her transactions. I have not yet had clients of my own, but I'm looking forward to learning the ins and outs and being able to utilize RPR to its full potential with my future clients. She's been training you on how to use RPR? E: Oh yeah, with over 20 years of experience in real estate, I fully trust her judgement and recommendations. She uses RPR on a regular basis and raves about how helpful RPR has been in her business. What's your take on RPR so far? E: As a new agent, all the tools offered can be somewhat overwhelming. It's difficult to navigate which are the top tools that should be used/learned off the bat. RPR stands out for me for being one of the more user-friendly resources, which is really important to me as a new agent trying to find my way. The footprint pop-ups are great if you're trying to put something together quickly and don't have the time to sit down and learn all the great features RPR has to offer. Pro Tip: The "footprint pop-ups" Elizabeth is referring to are RPR "Shortcuts" and they greet you right in the middle of the RPR homepage and take users on guided tours of popular RPR features. Try one out for yourself. Are you familiar with the RPR Learning Center on our blog? E: I am! The learning center is great for new agents. I especially like the option to pick your skill level. This option highlights all the features I should know so that I don't get overwhelmed trying to learn it all at once. There's always something in RPR you could be learning; the options are endless. And I love that we can reach member support though a 24-hour call center, live chat or email. Wrapping up As you can see, RPR has something for everyone at every level, such as the RVM® for spot-on home valuations and marketing materials for prospecting, as well as guided "Shortcuts" to help agents learn new skills and a special Learning Center that can be tailored to experience levels. If you're new to the business, check out this webinar series created just for you. And if you're an experienced pro, check out these intermediate/advanced RPR classes to help further your skills and career. REALTORS® Mary Ann Baunach and Elizabeth CogleyRE/MAX Central, Allentown, PA To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

4 New Year's Marketing Resolutions from Top Real Estate Agents
December is typically a time to take stock of what's working and what isn't and make a plan for the new year. For real estate agents, end-of-year reflection and planning is especially important. Busy season is over but also only a few months from resuming. Buyers and sellers are occupied with holidays, friends and family, but may also be making decisions about their real estate goals. Agents may not be closing as many deals, but are probably laying the groundwork for the marketing efforts that will rack up leads and clients come spring. We asked five top agents how they're working to improve their marketing in 2022. We found that many agents plan to expand their digital advertising strategies by posting more videos or advertisements on Google, Facebook or Instagram. Other agents aim to work with expert marketing teams, or improve their reputation by handwriting postcards or centering their personality in their marketing materials. Overall, top agents' 2022 marketing resolutions indicate that in order to compete for leads and clients, you should commit to improving your marketing strategy and execution every year. 1. Celebrate What Makes You Unique and Recognizable When it comes to marketing, many agents like to think they have a trick up their sleeve. Paul Bauer, an Omaha, Nebraska-based real estate agent at Pinnacle Commercial Group of kwELITE, takes a different tack: an affectation around his neck. Bauer started wearing a bow tie to weddings and formal events before becoming a real estate agent. By the time he became an agent, bow ties were a part of his professional dress — and his marketing materials. Bauer brands his social media pages and business cards with images bearing the tagline, "The Bow Tie Realtor." "It's a quick way in with potential clients because it's something they can remember or bring up with me," Bauer said. "A bow tie in any situation stands out." Bauer wants to continue building a unique, recognizable brand, and says he plans to do more advertising featuring his real estate savvy and his bow tie on social media sites such as Google and Facebook by using Homesnap Pro Ads. "I'm going to be a lot more hands-on," Bauer said. "The priority is using ads and my brand to book more appointments and meet new clients." 2. Try New Marketing Platforms — With Expert Help Sara Ghodsi, an agent at Keller Williams in San Diego, plans to kick off 2022 by trying new marketing platforms. In Ghodsi's case, that involves developing a digital presence through a host of activities, including: Email marketing campaigns Advertising for the first time on an online platform such as Facebook or Google Sending personal, handwritten cards to past clients on their purchase anniversaries Researching and improving her search engine optimization (SEO) Ghodsi is excited to try new marketing platforms and expects to see results, but says that she does not want marketing to become her main — or only — professional focus. "I'm just one girl," Ghodsi said. "The goal is to hire a small team to help me with marketing so I can focus on building relationships." 3. Bolster Your Social Media Presence With Videos Some agents are already advertising on a host of social media platforms. Two of our top agents told us that their resolution for 2022 was to improve their presence on these social media sites through videos. "Keeping up with the newest real estate marketing ideas and trends is crucial," said Christopher Robles, a Coldwell Banker agent in Chicago. "For 2022, I feel that trend is video creation." Robles says that video tours of homes capture leads' attention and can help them envision themselves in their next home. Robles plans to also incorporate videos featuring testimonials and client reviews. Mickey Wright of Triumph Realty in Virginia Beach, VA has already been incorporating videos by posting listings to her social media pages, Facebook Reels, and Instagram Stories. She plans to professionalize her videos this year by hiring a videographer. "These videos will include details about myself, the services that I offer, the areas that I cover, and how I'm able to assist clients," Wright said. "Every year, I take a look at what I've spent and determine return on investment." With their plans for 2022, Wright and Robles both indicate that videos, when informative and well-produced, provide a return on agents' investment. 4. Stay True to Yourself and Your Clients For some agents, deciding on a 2022 marketing resolution hasn't been difficult. Maurice Richardson, of Realty Mark Associates in Philadelphia, said making a 2022 marketing resolution wasn't difficult. "I'll try to keep my marketing plan mostly the same and fine tune a few things," Richardson said. Richardson has had a strong 2021, and says he currently has 12 pending closings for the month of December alone. Richardson attributes his success to tapping into a large, local network of friends and family and being an authentic, regional expert on real estate. Richardson is a Pro+ member, and says Homesnap has been an "amazing asset" to his marketing. "More than anything, I'll just stay true to myself and bust my butt for my clients," Richardson said. Every time one of Richardson's clients closes on a home, he gives them a nice bottle of champagne. By resolving to fine tune his marketing strategy , Richardson should have more bottles to pop in 2022. To view the original article, visit the Homesnap blog.

New Agent Makes RPR Her 'One-Stop-Shop' for Success
At RPR (Realtors Property Resource), our number one priority is your success. We strive for you to be more productive, more efficient and better equipped to solve all types of real estate business problems. And we love helping new agents get their feet wet! Here's a note we recently received from Shikha Mehra, a new RPR user and active member of our Facebook Connect group. It's feedback such as this that lets us know just how helpful RPR can be for new agents. Good morning, For me, RPR has become a one-stop-shop! RPR equips you with everything: from building your SOI (sphere of influence) to then farming that area. From creating Market Activity Reports to executing sellers disclosures. I can even create and execute contracts thanks to the connection with my zipForm. It sounds cliche when you hear a website mention that they provide tools and resources for every situation. But RPR literally does it! Thank you. Shikha Mehra, REALTOR®Dream J.P. Pirtle Realtors, Louisville, Kentucky Thanks, Shikha! And of course, we had to hear more. Here's a Q&A with a new user who discovered RPR within the past year: Q. How long have you been a REALTOR® and what area do you specialize in? I got into residential real estate just over one year ago, during the pandemic. I pivoted from my own catering business, and before that I was a regional loan officer. I was always interested in real estate and being my own boss. Plus, I'm a people person! I can communicate with a total stranger at a comfortable level. Q. How were you first introduced to RPR? I first heard of RPR through Coldwell Banker. It sounded interesting, but I didn't know all about it. Then I found the RPR Facebook Connect Group. That made me want to learn more about it and explore it. I clicked on it and noticed so much information and exposure. It was easy to use and not overwhelming. The way the group welcomes new agents is awesome. The guidance, the knowledge, there's no end! Q. What's one of your favorite features of RPR? I love using the RPR app. It makes it so easy to deal with clients right on the spot. I don't have to wait to respond to clients, I just do it—boom! One-stop-shop! Q. You mentioned RPR being a "one-stop-shop," which we really appreciate. Can you elaborate on that? From the beginning to end of the transaction, I use RPR the entire time. All the reports, market trends, graphs, charts, distressed property info, home values, CMAs right on the spot, the list goes on and on. From one end to the other, it encompasses everything in a real estate transaction to get the job done right. Q. Wow, great answer! Which reports are your go-to's? The Market Activity Report for sure. The beautiful part is RPR also created a window for us to fill in little blanks for a personal note to our clients. It adds a little spunk to it! I love that, my clients go "Wow!" And it's easy to learn, even a newbie can figure it out. RPR helps you broaden your horizons and to embrace new info, existing info, and tech. You put it all together and make it functional for your client. Q. What are some pain points for new agents like yourself? Anything that RPR helps or alleviates? Your first CMA is kind of tough when you start out. But I got feedback and guidance from the Facebook Connect group and there are so many videos in the Learning Center. I dedicated myself to watching those. I created my first CMA with help from RPR and I was so freaking psyched! New members can get started with RPR in just a few steps As you can see, RPR can go a long way in helping new agents get up to speed and into the groove of the real estate business. Creating your account and getting started with RPR is a breeze. Simply click the link and follow the easy steps to activate your exclusive National Association of REALTORS® benefit today. To kickstart your RPR journey, there's a brand-new webinar series that's been tailor-made for new REALTORS®. The five-part series includes: RPR for New Agents Ins-and-Outs of Your Exclusive Member Benefit Find Your Buyer's Dream Home Perfectly Price Your Next Listing Build Your Pipeline and Farm for Prospects To view the original article, visit the RPR blog.

5 Agents Share Tips for Finding Success in a Seller's Market
With low inventory across the country, real estate agents face an uphill battle when trying to win deals for their buyers. That's why we asked several agents to share how they're successfully helping their buyers stand out in tight negotiations and navigate this highly competitive market. Be flexible with sellers and think creatively Matthew Koch, Realty ONE Group Unlimited (Bright MLS), Lancaster, PA "I think in today's market, buyer's agents need to think creatively and try to build a rapport with the selling side. Having an A+ reputation in the industry is a great first start, as is offering the seller what some buyers can't — time and flexibility. A lot of sellers want to sell, but they also are buying. Allowing flexibility with the seller can ease a lot of the apprehension they have when they are thinking about selling. We all know it's a seller's market, but sellers have to buy too, right? There are a few things buyers can do to make their offer stronger: offering to pay the seller's transfer tax, bringing additional cash to the table to help offset an appraisal issue, and even covering some of the seller expenses like an HOA resale certification fee, just to name a few. Knowing your marketplace and being available for your clients can go a long way in today's market!" No matter how busy you are, follow up quickly Emily Sinclair, ACME Real Estate (TheMLS), Los Angeles, CA "My tip would be to simply follow up, follow up, follow up. We all are busy these days, but I find that simply following up with people and getting their questions/concerns answered in a more-than-timely manner sets me apart from the rest. My clients know that I make them a priority, and it shows with how I prioritize their needs and concerns. No one likes someone with empty promises or who doesn't deliver what they say they will, and thus this little thing I have learned sets me apart from the rest. My clients know I follow up, and therefore they can depend on me to deliver in this crazy aggressive market." Be nimble and adjust your approach to fit the current moment Harrison Beacher, Keller Williams Capital Properties (Bright MLS), Washington, DC "The biggest thing we're doing is communicating the realities of the market, and focusing our outward-facing marketing on some of the details of what selling your home in this market looks like and trying to share some of the most up-to-date data on what's happening right now because of how fast the market is moving. Like last week, I released one of the videos we recorded that explains how open houses work and how we're doing them safely in COVID. I had another one a few weeks back that talked about getting your home photo-ready so that it looks good online, and helps convince the buyers who are browsing to want to come see it in person and schedule a tour. We are also adding in for the next couple months a postcard/door-to-door flyer campaign for the homes around any home that our buyer clients compete for and lose." Make sure you and your clients are prepared to move quickly Giusseppe Battista, RE/MAX Destiny (MRED), Elk Grove Village, IL "Prep your buyers about the fast-paced market. Make sure they are ready to view the home as soon as it's available. Try to be the first showing and try to be the first offer in. I have started bringing my laptop with me so the offer can be written up immediately. I always message the listing agent (through the Homesnap app of course) during the showing to begin immediate conversation and get a better understanding of the home or seller's needs/terms. As a listing agent, in the Agent Remarks, set the expectation of how offers will be reviewed and when — it will help prevent the flood of calls and questions." It's simple: Be consistent Matt Cheney, Washington Fine Properties, LLC (Bright MLS), Washington DC "The key to success as a great real estate agent is like any business: It's consistency. You need to consistently make your calls, create great marketing, evolve, and most importantly, serve the customer." To view the original article, visit the Homesnap blog.

It's All in the Details: Florida Agent Kaisen Mitchell on Standing Out in Today's Hot Market
With its beautiful beaches and endless sunshine, Sarasota remains one of the most competitive housing markets in the country. This means that having an excellent real estate agent is more important than ever. Sarasota agent Kaisen Mitchell shares tips on how to win offers and secure more listing clients. Mitchell says that most houses in his market are getting 5+ offers—one even received 12 offers in just a few hours of being listed! He also adds that the highest offer doesn't always win and encourages agents and buyers to do the following when submitting an offer: "Think outside the box" - While many people are waiving contingencies and appraisals, offering a short inspection period better protects the buyer and often yields the same result. Reach out to the listing agent - Ask what the seller is looking for and what's going to help them during the transition. Figure out what's important to the seller and then cater to that. Set realistic expectations with buyers - If houses in their preferred area are receiving multiple offers above the listing price, prepare them to bid accordingly and be aware that they might have to make up the difference if the house appraises below the selling price. Know your market and be prepared to act quickly - It's critical to be aware of what's happening in your market and be prepared to immediately go see a property and alert your clients. Stay in touch with everyone - Constantly communicate with your clients and agents. Provide your clients with frequent updates, and let other agents know what listings are coming up or what type of properties your clients are interested in. Use tools to help you stand out from the competition - Mitchell uses smart presentation platform HighNote and believes it helped him beat out 37 other offers in a recent property bidding war. He used the Offer Template that HighNote provides and included a video of himself presenting highlights of the offer. He was able to view the analytics and knew that the agent/sellers were reviewing the offer. And, even though his clients didn't have the highest bid, they still won the deal. Mitchell uses HighNote for sellers as well. When a seller contacts him, he sends out a presentation that includes information about him, the power of his brokerage, stats and what they've recently sold in the area, and a marketing timeline that he created from another HighNote template (HighNote offers a variety of free sample presentation templates and marketing tools). He also sends a sample of the professionally-produced video that they do for every listing. Finally, he includes sample marketing pieces. "HighNote is an extremely powerful tool. I use it every single day now," says Mitchell. "Thanks to the analytics, I can see when someone is opening the presentation, and what they're looking at. So I know I'm not just throwing it out into the wind and hoping for something to happen." Be sure to check out Kaisen's brokerage, Nest Group with Coldwell Banker Realty, and follow them on Facebook. And if you're a real estate agent looking to take your business to the next level, click here to get started with HighNote!

Beg, Borrow and Ditch the Rent: Why Today's Sellers' Market Is Also Good for Buyers
If you're a real estate agent, you've probably used the term "sellers' market'' multiple times this week. Sure, the market is favorable for sellers right now -- but that doesn't mean that buyers can't benefit as well. Maryland and Washington, D.C.-based real estate agent Gregory Ireland says that renters should "scratch, kick, beg, and borrow" to get on the property ladder, even in today's market conditions. Gregory tells his clients that it's also a very strong buyers' market because interest rates are extremely low now and rents are increasing faster than mortgages, so buyers should take advantage of it if they're able. "We're very honest and we make sure they make smart decisions. It's important to remember that when everything settles, it's just going to be the buyer and that property. So they have to be happy about the decisions they've made," says Gregory. He holds "Ask Me Anything" sessions, online seller and buyer seminars, and virtual happy hours that enable him to have conversations with people who have lots of questions but feel they have nowhere to ask them. He also uses the presentation application, HighNote, to further inform buyers on what's happening in the market. "We send them a buyer's consultation package on HighNote. It has information in there that can really educate them and then when I follow up, I can refer back to the material in that presentation and answer any questions," says Gregory. Gregory uses HighNote presentations for home valuations and listing pitches as well, and loves the analytics it provides. "I spoke to a person on the phone and I told her I would send a package of information. I received an email saying she had opened up the presentation, and it was so great to see that. Then I saw that she was looking at it a second time. The analytics told me the two areas where she looked the most. So I knew I would focus on those areas the next time I spoke to her," he says. "She said the presentation was excellent and I won the listing! It was like magic. I was so excited." Gregory says that technology like HighNote not only helps attract new clients, but to simplify and streamline processes as well. He also believes that his company's use of technology, coupled with marketing and great communication will continue to be a powerful differentiator moving forward -- helping him continue to grow and be a top-of-mind resource even if the market starts to shift. Gregory emphasizes that it doesn't matter what kind of market it is, your client still deserves your best. "While we definitely want them to select us and show that we're qualified, we make it clear that it's really not about us – it's about the buyers and sellers. We love educating people about the value of home ownership and how it's 100% attainable," he says. Learn more about HighNote at HighNote.io.

How One Email Generated $2 Million in New Business in One Day
We love to learn about the nitty gritty details that go into a successful real estate marketing campaign. Our inquiring minds want to know all about what technology the agent used, how they set up their campaigns, the messaging that brought them success, and beyond. That's why we were so excited to hear about Randall Martin, owner of the Martin Group with CB&A Realtors in Greater Houston, who generated $2 million in new business with a single email using a Chirp, a new communication platform from Happy Grasshopper that makes it easy to engage with your sphere via email, text messages, and voicemail. Randall shared the secrets to his success with us in a webinar last fall, and now Happy Grasshopper has bundled that webinar into a FREE Success Kit for RE Technology readers. Click here to get access to all of these goodies: Case study detailing Randall's success with Chirp Webinar recording that shows exactly how Randall uses Chirp to engage his sphere and win more business An example email that Randall sent out with Chirp in September An actual response that Randall's email received A peek at the performance metrics of that email Text and voicemail scripts that you can use ASAP An exclusive offer to get Revaluate, a tool that predicts when your contacts are likely to move, for FREE And more! Get the Success Kit now!

REALTOR Uses RPR Commercial to Conduct Business and Break Down Barriers
Charlondra Thompson is a Realtor and Associate Broker with KW Commercial/Keller Williams Urban in Dallas. She started out as a residential agent, but quickly made the transition to the commercial side of real estate because of her business connections and corporate network. She was introduced to RPR about a year and a half ago through her local and state association, where she was encouraged to take some beginner classes and learn about the available reporting tools. This is where she learned that she can access RPR (through Deep Links) when she logs on to her MLS. "It just pops up!" says Charlondra.

Applying RPR Learning to Today's Revamped Market
Back in March, RPR began to offer even more blog articles, videos, webinars, tips and how-to's than ever before. The idea was that although REALTORS couldn't be in the field and working, they could at least be at home working on their business. And it worked! We know that plenty of agents took advantage of the time to learn new skills, explore helpful features and up their RPR game. Here's one story of a REALTOR who did exactly that, and how it's now paying off.

Successful Realtor Uses RPR to 'Wow' Her Clients and Answer the 'Why'
As the business of real estate ramps up and takes off across the country, many REALTORS are looking to stand out and get an edge. And RPR is just the ticket. With it, you can deliver data and market information to potential clients on a dime. One RPR user recently reached out to us to explain how she's leveraging this NAR member benefit to her advantage as she successfully tackles the uptick of the delayed spring market. RPR: From "Wows" to "Why"

REALTORS Making a Difference in Their Neighborhood
I recently wrote an article, "Are you a REALTOR? Time to Step Up," and the response has been great. I discussed that, during these times with so many fear and needs, the real estate community should step up in our local community and find ways to make a difference. I believe now is the time to put being a giving, caring resource in your community before being a REALTOR. I'm sure this will help you when we return to business as normal.

New Social Advertising Tool Lets Realtor Expand Her Reach from Coast to Coast
Realtor Ariana Loucas has long used social media as a tool for connecting with her sphere, but she was unhappy with her options for advertising on social networks. You see, Ariana operates in Washington, D.C., a market with a lot of relocating real estate consumers, but her social advertising options didn't let her cast as wide of a net as she needed. "They'd offer a 15 to 25 mile radius, and certainly not an option that could go coast-to-coast or globally," she says. That all changed recently when Ariana signed up for realtor.com's new marketing program, Market Reach. "They've been able to put my listings in front of someone coming from Minnesota or currently in California who want to move to the DC area." In the interview below, Ariana shares the success she's had in reaching out of area real estate prospects. From video ads to impressing sellers during listing presentations, read on to find how you, too, can increase the reach of your business. Some use social media successfully to generate leads – others have tried it but did not keep it going. What's been your experience? I use social media and I actively communicate through it. I find it very effective so I haven't abandoned it as a business tool. But I did stop the ads as a lead source until recently. What is your social media lead source now? I started using realtor.com®'s new program Market Reach. It's very easy to initiate. Also, I like that realtor.com has already targeted the audience. Realtor.com is very good at just reaching the people who have been to their site so we know it's for a true audience of people looking at real estate. It's a much wider audience than what I could have done on my own. I'm casting a net for people interested in moving to the area where I'm working, even if they are coming from another city or state. I could only get so many people within my local area when I did the ads myself. They've been able to put my listings in front of someone coming from Minnesota or currently in California who want to move to the DC area. How does this compare to the ads you stopped doing? In the past I've tried making my own ads on social media and picking a range—it would give me so many miles out of where I'm located that I can advertise in. The same thing with follow-me ads that exist out there with various companies. They'd offer a 15 to 25 mile radius, and certainly not an option that could go coast-to-coast or globally in front of an audience that I can now do with the realtor.com product. They are now combing the country and beyond to have those people that are searching for real estate matching exactly where I'm marketing. They're showing them the house or my video or the community; whatever it is that I have put into that slot or my audience. Why do you feel compelled to reach buyers coming from out of the area? I'm in a transient area with people moving in and out all the time all year long with military and federal government and contractors. This allows me to tell the seller that no matter where the person is moving from—whether they're being relocated here from Germany, whether they're being relocated here from Texas—I'm going to be one of the few agents that's going to be able to have their home front and center. Do you use this on listing presentations? Yes, I can tell my sellers that because I invest in the marketing specific to their home's location it really will give them more clicks, more views, and that all drives more foot traffic and tours to the home to generate offers. You mentioned that realtor.com can assist in preparing and placing a video. Why use that particular form of content? In today's world, everyone is scrolling quickly through social media, whether it's Instagram or Facebook or Twitter. Images capture their attention. Moving images such as video will capture it even more. The eyes are drawn to those videos first, and they're going to produce more clicks and more interest. Plus the seller now gets to see how you market your listings. I use the realtor.com video content. It helps me be able to talk about how many homes are on a market in a particular neighborhood or what the community offers for amenities and commute time and restaurants, and all of those things are part of this video they provide. It takes the guesswork out of it for me and simplifies it, and then I can get back to doing what it is I need to do—and that is to sell more homes. Learn more about Market Reach here.

2 Secrets to More Lead Conversions, Straight from a Top Team's Playbook
Lauren Bowen leads one of the most productive real estate teams at Robert Slack. She's increased conversion rates and productivity while the company nearly doubled in size. The secret to her team's success? They stalk their real estate leads... or, more accurately, they let their lead generation solution do it for them. Targeting the Most Likely Buyers Anyone who has spent any time on the internet has been "stalked" by an online ad. You visit a site once, and for days or weeks after, an ad from that site follows you around the web. This is called "ad retargeting," and marketers love this advertising strategy because it is so effective. The Lauren Bowen Team employs this strategy to great success via realtor.com's Local Expert program. Local Expert users can create three types of ads: For Sale ads, Just Sold ads, and Branding ads. Those ads are then displayed to buyers in your chosen area on realtor.com. Once they leave the site, those same ads are displayed in their Facebook feed. "This not only helps bring a buyer to the house, it also shows the seller that we are putting it in front of numerous buyers for them," Lauren says. Tip: Because Local Expert offers detailed campaign analytics, you can impress your sellers by telling them exactly how many people have seen their home's ad. Dialing Up Lead Volume for a Higher Conversion Ratio Lauren's team may have stumbled on another secret to improved conversion rates when, thanks to the success of their realtor.com program, they decided to increase their volume of leads. This lead to a curious phenomenon. The team's number of lead conversions not only increased—as expected with more overall leads coming in—but their conversion ratio increased as well. That means the team is converting a higher percentage of leads than they were at their previous lead volume. "We've almost doubled our conversion ratio with the same leads," says Lauren. See Lauren THIS THURSDAY at Inman Connect NY Want to hear more real estate lead wisdom from Lauren? On Thursday, she'll be sharing her expertise during a panel discussion on the Team Track at Inman Connect New York. Check out her panel, Lead Distribution: Who Gets What?, on January 30!

Success Story: "Nightmare" Breakup Leads to Happy Ending
This week's Success Story has a plotline like a romantic comedy: it involves a breakup, the realization of a mistake, and a happy ending. Our hero in this week's story is Veronica Figueroa, leader of top Orlando real estate team The Figueroa Team. Find out how she met her ideal real estate match, what happened when she left that real estate platform to try something new, and how a reunion got her business back on track. Playing the Field Veronica partnered with real estate CRM and marketing platform BoomTown in 2012. After five years, she decided to leave BoomTown to try something new—and to make sure she was providing her team with the best technology possible. At the time, she was seeing new features, like text message marketing, crop up in other CRMs across the industry. But communication is important in any relationship, and rather than checking to see if these new features were in development at BoomTown (which they were), she moved her team to a new platform. In fact, BoomTown had recently released two game-changing new features. Success Assurance offers the perfect mix of tools and services to handle lead generation, expert lead qualification, and lead management, serving conversation-ready prospects to agents. Additionally, Marketing Central allows clients to generate more leads and listing opportunities through a self-serve advertising portal. "I didn't dive deep enough to say, 'When is it coming? How do we make this still a part of our future even though we don't have it now?' I was impatient. I fell victim to just chasing that shiny object," she says. The Grass Isn't Always Greener Unfortunately for Veronica's bottom line, those shiny objects didn't do her team any favors. Rather than the 500-600 transactions they typically completed in a year, The Figueroa Team plateaued at just 300-350 transactions after the technology change. "I didn't realize how much we damaged our business by making the switch. I mean, it meant removing everyone off our website—people that we have been nurturing for so many years. It meant disrupting my team. It meant losing the opportunity to stay connected with consumers—trying to shift them over to another platform," she says. Not only that, Veronica couldn't help but compare the new platform to her ex-platform—and the comparison didn't leave the new platform looking so good. "I was basically measuring them to the standard of BoomTown and that's when I knew instantly. This is a nightmare," she says. "We could have done so much more, and how many lives could we have impacted? How many more careers could we have helped if we would have stayed put?" Returning "Home" to the Right Partner "Partner" is the key word in Veronica's reunion with BoomTown. Rather than just being a useful technology tool, BoomTown acts as a partner that offers support services, success management, coaching, and more. "That's why we chose to go back to BoomTown. We knew we needed a system we trusted. We needed to feel protected and safe in that area of our business with our team, making sure that business was just flowing naturally, organically with the new changes that we were going to make," Veronica says. "I guess I felt like I had to be doing something new and fresh at all times, but I realized that can be a part of our business, but it can't be a part of disrupting our systems, because our systems are the foundation of our business. We came back to BoomTown because BoomTown was a solution for me to be able to run my business with ease, and for me BoomTown is home." Watch this product tour to learn how BoomTown can become your partner in success. Can't decide which BoomTown product is right for you? Compare packages.

Success Story: How One Agent Knew It Was Time to 'Level Up'
Realtor Don Harkins took his business to the next level—twice. Like other agents, Don realized he was "leaving money on the table," and decided to take steps to maximize his profits. Find out how in this week's Success Story. Taking His Business to the Next Level Don's journey to the next level began when he decided his real estate technology stack needed an upgrade. His list of marketing tools was almost as long as a drugstore receipt—and the costs were adding up quick: Landing pages for $99 per month Facebook ads for $200 per month A CRM for $60 per month "A couple hundred bucks for Zillow" And even more "We were already spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on all these different, random tools and pieces. None of them were playing together. There was no accountability for the dollars spent. There were just, like, surprises when somebody actually called on one of them," says Don. "We were being pulled into a lot of different, more affordable, but less effective solutions." So Don began to search for an integrated platform that offered everything he needed in one place. He landed on BoomTown. "As soon as BoomTown got up and running, I could drop off all those other expenses," says Don. "And I had higher conversion rates, tracking and accountability, a way to communicate and follow up with these leads I was generating, and we could spend more time talking to people about real estate." Within his first 90 days, Don had already seen a profitable return-on-investment (ROI). Within a few months, he saw an $11,000 commission close. It was a lead who registered on his website within 30 days, and who he began showing listings to within 50 days—much faster than what he had been averaging. But there were more commissions to be had, as Don was about to learn. Teamwork Makes the Dream Work Don wanted to be sure he was taking full advantage of his new technology platform, so he went to Unite, BoomTown's annual user conference. But while he "learned a lot of stuff," it was who he talked to that really helped him understand his next step towards success. "I felt like I was the only single agent at Unite," says Don. "Everybody I talked to had a team. I didn't meet one single agent there. That's when I started seeing agents, for the first time, that are doing 100 homes a year, 200 homes a year, 400 homes a year." That's when something clicked for Don. "I think being in that room, being around those people, hearing what they were doing, how they were doing it, and realizing, like, dang, I'm sitting on this platform; [I've] really underutilized it. I have the lead flow. I have the platform. I have the ability to train and coach them. The only thing I'm missing are the team members." The month after Don went home from Unite, he brought on his first buyer's agent. "Having BoomTown gave me the value to go out and get that agent. I'm just focused on growing my business. I don't want to do trial and error. I just want to find out what the best is and put it in place and start working with it." Technology that Grows with You As Don grew his team, he switched to from BoomTown's Launch version to their Core version, the next step up. Here are some of the features Don took advantage of as he transitioned from single agent to small team: Seller Lead Suite - Drive more seller lead traffic, capture their information, and manage the conversations. Community and Sharing Library - An online network of agents and brokers, working together and sharing knowledge. Accountability and Reporting Dashboards - Insight into agent performance and opportunities for improvement. Best-Fit Leads - Expertly match leads to their ideal properties. Advanced Lead Filters - Know exactly who is who, and which leads you need to talk to so no opportunities fall through the cracks. Bulk Texting - Send personalized communication to a large pool of leads in seconds. Watch this product tour to learn how BoomTown can help you "level up" your profits. Can't decide which BoomTown product is right for you? Compare packages.

Success Story: Exploring How Agents Choose Real Estate Technology
Selecting a new real estate technology product can be intimidating. In addition to a dizzying array of apps and platforms to choose from, agents and brokers have to evaluate if a product has the features they need, if it fits their budget, if it can adapt easily to their workflow, among other criteria. Helping real estate pros find the right technology for their business is our mission here at RE Technology. It's why we created our Product and Company Directories, and why we publish helpful, educational content every weekday. Today, we're introducing a new weekly feature to further help our readers decide if a technology product is right for them. "Success Story" highlights the real-life stories of agents and brokers who found the technology that fits their business. Each week, we'll explore how and why they made their decision, and how the tech they chose transformed their business. Our series kicks off with a deep, multi-week look into BoomTown, a CRM and marketing automation platform, through the eyes of its real-life customers. Want to see how BoomTown works for yourself? Check out the product tour here. Introducing Brandon Prewitt Our first Success Story starts with an age-old problem in real estate tech: software that's feature-dense, but difficult to use. In 2011, Columbus, Ohio-based Realtor Brandon Prewitt was searching for a real estate technology platform that would help him scale his business and manage his rapidly growing database of leads. He eventually settled on Commissions, INC. (CINC) because it fit his budget and had a lot of "bells and whistles" that he was excited to try. But Brandon only ended up using about 10% of the system's features because the user interface was clunky and a struggle to use. CINC's lackluster support only compounded the problem—there was nowhere for Brandon to learn how to use the system even though he wanted to. "With Commissions INC., support was really lacking. When I signed on with them, there was no onboarding. There was no, 'Here's what you do to be successful using our system.' It was, 'Here's your username. Here's your password. Good luck,'" says Brandon. Making the Switch to a New Platform Frustrated by the user experience and lack of support, Brandon sought out another technology platform. He eventually decided on BoomTown. Why? "It comes down to simplicity," says Brandon. "BoomTown is easier to navigate, and it's just all around more user-friendly. At the end of the day, all of those buttons that CINC had were just noise." Here's a look at the specific features of BoomTown that changed the game for Brandon: Advanced Lead Filters Brandon needed a way to categorize his leads, not just get them all into one spot. For a busy agent, ease of use is important. Brandon wanted to sort through leads by simply clicking a button and seeing which leads are 3-6 months out from buying a home or 6+ months out. "I don't need to have all of these complicated algorithms or labeling mechanisms to be able to filter down all this information," says Brandon. "I just want to click a button and see all those people. That's it." BoomTown made this possible. Brandon finally had a system that could turn his 4,000+ leads into workable lists. In addition, BoomTown's expert support staff and user-friendly platform meant that Brandon had a technology partner that would help him drive the success of his business. Mobile App As an agent who's always on the go, Brandon finds that BoomTown's Now Mobile App is an invaluable tool. "I like to be able to just see who's on there. Who's on the site? Who do I need to call? What are my to-dos for the day? I appreciate the simplicity. It's not just a ton of information in your face. It's just: call, email, or leave a note on their profile." Success Achieved: The Results of Switching Platforms Ease-of-use is one thing, but how did switching platforms actually improve Brandon's business? Well, since signing up with BoomTown, Brandon has: Increased his follow-up with leads Increased his lead conversions Stayed on top of conversations with leads that may have previously fallen through the cracks Regular phone calls with a BoomTown success manager have kept Brandon focused on his business goals. During his onboarding, the "bulk import" of his 4,000+ lead database was naturally a stressful day. "But I knew I had someone, a live person, my own specialist that I could call and talk to. We were in it together." Want to see which BoomTown product is right for you? Compare packages.

Digital Marketing Strategy Wins Agent 3 Transactions from 1 Inquiry
How would you like to win multiple transactions from a single online inquiry? That's what happened to Realtor Terry Grayson of The Grayson Group when a lead from realtor.com referred him to family members who owned a construction company. And although those referrals already had a decades-long relationship with another agent, they decided to transact with Terry because of the online exposure they knew their listing would get. We recently spoke with Terry to learn how he differentiates himself online, his secrets to converting more leads, and more. Today's topic is multiple transactions from one inquiry. Apparently, you have been able to make this happen with your online leads? How did you get started with this and what triggers the "extra business" from your online marketing? In 2014, I started off with purchasing leads from two of the national websites. Also, the company I was with at the time would send me their brokerage overflow leads if the listing agent did not pick up. This introduced me to the whole concept of online advertising and reaching out to clients when they have an inquiry about a property. When I switched over to realtor.com, I could just see a difference in the quality of the lead. The others were not as serious or as ready to engage immediately. As an example, I have a realtor.com customer right now that I'm working on. This one realtor.com lead turned into three transactions so far because he was not only a buyer looking for property; his parents have a construction company that does concrete work and they met me at the showing. They came along just to make sure that my buyer made the right decision and they were looking at the structure of the property. Six months after we closed, his parents reached out to me and they went forward with me to list their property based off of that relationship. It was an interview process because I was competing with a more well-established real estate agent that had a 25-year track record in the community. And yet they felt that I would do a better job listing their house and selling it—just due to the fact that they knew they would get online exposure. What is it that you can offer your buying customers on the listing side to facilitate double-ended transactions? The likelihood of the house selling would be better than if it were just to be put online because I have the realtor.com branding. With this new Local Expert product, we are coming up 50% of the time in local home searches. I own market share in ten different markets, and I'm showing up in the fourth position on the front page for all of them—and so are my sellers' properties. This is really awesome because they can see that they're going to get that exposure where the other competing real estate agents wouldn't. I've already have used it for listing presentations, and it worked out perfectly. It's quite impressive that you can just show up 50% of the time in somebody's neighborhood. Do your clients take notice of your branding? Yes, and if they're using, for instance, Facebook, it attaches itself to that and all of a sudden my ad pops up. I've had customers come back to me that are still actively looking for homes (they like to do their own house search even though I send them listings through the MLS). They come back to me and say, "Terry I see your face all over the internet—you're everywhere." Since you have closed an abundance of customers you met online, how does this position you to get additional listing business, repeat sales and referrals? It really is pretty impressive. I feel very confident that the past clients that I serviced realize that I am the agent of choice in the area because my face just continually pops up everywhere they're looking. When they come back in the market to move again, they're the ones really looking online on a daily basis and they see us over and over and over again. Sample of a flyer that Terry uses in his business:

How Kyle Whissel became the #1 Team in San Diego
Kyle Whissel, with The Whissel Realty Group, is doing something right. Actually, he's doing a lot of things right. His business, The Whissel Realty Group, has been ranked the #1 team in San Diego and #76 team in the country! So what is the secret sauce behind this success? Step 1: invest in real estate technology that functions as a partner in your success. For Kyle Whissel, BoomTown is the only choice. "We initially got BoomTown in 2012. That first year that we implemented BoomTown, we went from 82 to 242 transactions... so that was a huge quantum leap for us!" A System that's Scalable The most successful businesses are built from a model that is (A) repeatable and (B) scalable. When Kyle's team began to see more and more listings, they knew that they had to take advantage of those listings to generate leads. But without a technology system in place that could support the level of transactions they were hoping to reach, they were leaving money on the table. "We needed to leverage those listings to get more leads. And then when we had more leads, we needed more people. The system we were on previously was not built to scale that up… so we went to BoomTown." With BoomTown, Whissel Realty Group was able to: Manage a large database of leads Generate a healthy pipeline of new leads Manage follow-up and long-term lead nurture Hold agents accountable and track performance "When you take a business that's on the right track, but when you actually implement systems in place that help you manage all of that, that's what takes you to the next level." The Best of the Best in Technology Think about your favorite car. Or the toothpaste brand you use. Those names (Mercedes, Ford, Crest, Colgate), they evoke a sense of familiarity and trust because they've been around for decades. BoomTown has been powering real estate professionals for over 10 years. With its beginnings in the Great Recession in 2008, BoomTown's technology and people have proven that they can adapt, grow, and continue to drive success for real estate teams. (And we're not slowing down!) For Kyle, it's all about working with a leader in technology. He doesn't have time for a platform that is playing "catch up" and working out the kinks. He trusts the company that powers 40% of the REAL Trends top 250 teams. "You can't catch up to what BoomTown has done in 10+ years. They are innovating at a really fast pace at BoomTown and you don't want to get left in the dust with something that's behind the times, because it's probably never going to catch up." Let's Talk Dollars and Sense Kyle Whissel is great at selling real estate. And he's even better at running a business. He knows that if you want to run a business that is scalable, efficient, and built for long-term success, you need to invest in the right infrastructure and processes. Sometimes that means not cutting corners and using the best possible technology available. "The saying holds true… you get what you pay for. You can get produce from a 99¢ store, but do you?" He compares it to when his team works with a FSBO. They let the seller know that the reason they should work with the Whissel Realty Group is that they're going to put the most money possible in your pocket. It takes more of an investment up front, but at the end of the day what matters is the "money in the pocket" AKA the ROI. Choosing the Right CRM So what should you consider when investing in a real estate technology partner? Your CRM should do the following: Hold Agents Accountable: For brokers, the accountability tools in a CRM can be invaluable. Track agent performance by making sure they're staying on top of lead follow-up and prospecting. Capture More Opportunities: With an organized database of leads (tags and segments), it is easier to keep track of where your leads are in the pipeline. Agents are alerted when follow-ups are needed, so no lead gets left behind. Generate More Leads: With a team of expert digital marketers, your brand is highlighted in the best quality advertisements on Google and Facebook, generating high-quality leads. Reduce Busy Work: One of the most important benefits of a CRM is that it can automate busy work, like emailing and texting new prospects. This frees up time for agents to expand their sphere, spend more quality time with clients, or even just take a vacation. Be Smarter with Prospecting: At BoomTown, we like to encourage "Smart Prospecting." This means organizing your lead database into workable lists. You're not just blindly scrolling through a Rolodex of numbers; you're working with targeted leads and you know what they want. Sync with Other Tools: There is no "one size fits all" tool in real estate. The best CRM will offer different packages that can better fit your needs, but even then, there are other tools outside of the CRM that you'll likely still want to use. This is why it's important to have a CRM that integrates with other technology. BoomTown seamlessly integrates with companies like dotloop (transaction management software). Improve Agent Experience: At the end of the day, real estate is all about providing an excellent customer experience. A good CRM will assist agents in providing this experience, but will go even further and improve the agent experience as well. A CRM should be intuitive, easy and enjoyable to use. And the provider should include excellent training as well as customer support. To view the original article, visit the BoomTown blog.

Mission Focused: Behind the Scenes of a Top Team
The Nick Shivers Team is mission-driven, dynamic and red hot. What's their secret? Peek behind the curtain of one of the most successful teams in the Pacific Northwest. Nick Shivers Team, Keller Williams Realty Portland Central Building a Culture In real estate, we talk a lot about culture — and culture seems especially important when it comes to building, growing and sustaining a team. How would you describe the culture of the Nick Shivers team? Our team culture is about giving back, through our Sell a Home, Save a Child initiative. So at the core of it, we all believe in trying to help people; that's the basis of the team and the business. But as the team leader, I know that if my agents don't have business opportunities, they can't help clients or give back. So, we recruit with a combination of making sure the culture fits, but also by feeding them high-quality business opportunities and leads so they can better jumpstart their businesses. Extending Your Brand Online and Listings Statistically, sellers list with someone they know and trust. How do you carry your brand over to online to start building trust with those who don't know you and your team? The Local Expert™ product from realtor.com® really helps us in our listing presentations. It's an online ads solution that targets buyers and sellers with ads on realtor.com® and Facebook. And I know it works because my agents are using it to win the listing. The biggest thing that I've seen my agents do there is show sellers, "When people click in your area, you can have your open house advertised right there." It's massive exposure and I know that sellers, who are really interested in their house being seen by as many buyers as possible, are impressed. I can tell without having a lot of data (because we're in the early stages), that it is working right now. We also have our rocket listing, which is our instant buy program that I run on radio and billboards and advertise on realtor.com®. Lead Nurture, Persistence and Conversion If you meet a potential seller online, they may be months away from making a decision to sell. How do you keep the relationship fresh? To be successful, you need to be structurally able to follow up immediately. We offer new agents a 90-day ramp up where they're trained on scripts, dialogue and follow-ups for leads. The key is the follow-up and how they can use our technology to do that. We also focus a lot on staying the course. When I started in the business, I was really good at working with the leads who were interested in transacting in the next 30 to 60 days. I was not so good at the longer-term prospects and that's where the gold is. The sale might come after seven, eight or nine follow-ups. That is where you're going to get a lot of those deals, but it is in those repeat contacts that a lot of agents will give up. So we are laser-focused on training our agents not to give up too soon. Retention Once your agents "get it" and start using these guidelines, do they stick around? If I get my agents on the system, my retention improves. I suggest agents stick with me for a minimum of three years and then if they decide to start their own team, that is completely all right with me. I had an example in 2018, my number one producer decided to go out on his own. We are really good friends and I said, Great, go for it. He made less money this year and admitted that it's a lot easier to think about it and talk about it than to actually do it. Final Thoughts from Nick What defines your company? What are the main reasons that should someone consider joining your brokerage? Our big mission statement is about serving people — saving kids by selling real estate. Everything that we do is based on how we can give back to underprivileged children around the world, so that's number one. If that strikes a chord with you, then you're going to get past the first layer. The second thing is we love the underdog. I don't care where you have been. I want to see that you've had success, but I also believe that it doesn't matter where you start, it's where you're going. Last, it's about our systems and our lead generation and solutions and their long-lasting impact. And from this, we've built a tribe of loyal clients. In today's market, that's so important for agents. And of course, a big part of that is that our followers and clients know what we stand for. Because when you can literally say that your industry has helped — our Sell a home, Save a Child movement has raised over a million dollars to help kids — I think that makes a point where people go, "Wow, I'm not going anywhere else but with these guys and gals."    

Kendrick Realty Clones Business Model to New Locations
At RE Technology, we love to bring you success stories from fellow real estate professionals. Kendrick Realty has a GREAT story about how they were able to significantly dial up the success on their lead gen efforts in 2018. Check it out! In early 2018, the founders of Kendrick Realty, Lucas Monroe and Dan Sundberg, started to expand their lead program with realtor.com. At year-end, we checked in on their progress to see what they learned while driving agent- and office-expansion through their realtor.com lead solution.

Boyenga Team Delivers Online Excellence through Chime
Eric and Janelle Boyenga are a husband and wife real estate team working with buyers and sellers in one of the most technology focused markets in the world for two decades. California's Silicon Valley is not only the epicenter of global technology, but also real estate technology. To position their company, the Boyenga Team comfortably promotes themselves as Property Nerds. They aim to deliver the best digital experience to their clients with an abundance of software applications. They target their services to engineers and other employees of companies like Google, Facebook, Sun Microsystems, Apple, and many of the leading technology firms in the Silicon Valley. "You cannot grow a successful real estate team in the Silicon Valley without a constant investment in cutting edge technology," says Eric Boyenga.

20 Years of Staying in Touch Leads to Multiple Transactions
Leah Goldstein is a successful agent with Ebby Halliday Realtors in Dallas, Texas. She's been in the real estate game for 20 years and has been using Top Producer CRM for each and every one of those years. We asked Leah to reflect on the long term implications of having the discipline to keep up with customers in this system and whether this translated into bigger rewards over time.

Agent tried online leads and received a lead that closed on day one!
RDC: We know this is not always going to be the case – but we heard you signed up for realtor.com leads and immediately received an inquiry that went to contract – can you tell us about your experience? JP: I received my very first realtor.com® lead the same day I signed up for realtor.com®, from a gentleman out of Oklahoma looking at properties in Carillon Beach in Panama City Beach Florida. We toured four homes and we made an offer on a home listed at $1,175,000 on May 19th, just ten days after I signed up for realtor.com® leads. We closed on that home on June 6th, less than six weeks after the initial contact. It was a cash purchase and it went fast. I am very happy for him and his family and I was glad to be a part of the transaction.

How Digital Ads Helped a Rookie Realtor Sell 100 Homes in 2 Years
Realtor Kevin Johnson has never held an open house, never mailed a postcard, and never door knocked--yet he's closed nearly 100 homes since he started selling real estate in August of 2014. "I've never done any of the things that all the training programs tell you that you should do," Johnson says. "When I first got into real estate, I was like, why would I do that? The largest block of buyers is Millennials and they're not going to open houses, they're not checking their mail, right?" Rather than rely on traditional real estate marketing practices, Johnson leverages a more modern form of lead generation to grow his business--digital advertising. He says that this method brings him three to four leads per day. Johnson used digital advertising in his previous career in hospitality, and was already familiar with its benefits. But it was serendipity that introduced him to the advertising tool that he uses in his real estate practice. "When I came into real estate, Century 21 had just started their partnership with Adwerx," he says. "I remember getting an email from Century 21 about it and thinking, 'God, this is ridiculously cheap compared to what it takes to go out and hire a digital agency.' So I started with them and it has worked out amazingly well." Lead Generation Success with Adwerx So what is Adwerx, the tool that Johnson attributes his success to? Well, perhaps you've noticed that certain ads seem to follow you online. You visit a website once, and then you see that brand's ad on various places across the web for days or weeks after. This is called retargeting and it's one of the most effective forms of online advertising available today. Adwerx offers this kind of advertising to real estate pros. Adwerx offers four types of retargeting ad campaigns--listing ads, zip code-based branding ads, sphere ads, and agent recruitment ads for brokers. Johnson utilizes all four for different purposes, and estimates that he has a total of 10 to 12 different Adwerx campaigns running at any given moment. "I use the zip code ads to generate initial interest in an area that I'm trying to farm," he says. Next, Johnson uses Adwerx sphere-of-influence campaign to target his database of 6,000 people. "I take my sphere campaign a step further by breaking up my database into buckets of buyers, sellers, and rent-to-own leads. Then I target those people with different ads and different calls-to-action based on which bucket I've put them in." He updates the contact list he uses in his sphere campaigns every week, and adds tracking codes to the URLs so he can better measure his results, which, according to Johnson, "have been great." And though Johnson is mostly a buyer's agent, "for the listings I have had, I've used the listing campaign, which is an awesome tool," he says. Johnson also recently started his own brokerage with United Real Estate, and has been using Adwerx's recruiting ads to market to top performing agents in his area (see his sample ad below). The ads are targeted only to agents whose contact information Johnson uploads to the Adwerx platform. Best Practices for Effective Campaigns During our interview, we got Johnson to spill a few of the secrets he employs to get the most ROI out of his Adwerx campaigns. Here are his top tips. Keep an eye on your visuals and call-to-action. "This is so critical," Johnson says. "Realize that your ad is going to appear on a website like CNN or MSNBC or Forbes where it's going to blend with a lot of other things. So think about what color will make your ad pop yet not be offensive." Once your ad has caught the attention of a lead, it's crucial that it tells the viewer then next step they should take--whether that's checking out a listing, searching for homes on your website, or downloading a free buyer's or seller's guide. "Make sure that your ad sends consumers to a specific landing page--not the homepage on your site, but a clear, concise landing page that's tailored to the ad's call to action." Realize that your landing pages are the difference between success and failure. Is your ad getting clicks but no leads? That may be a sign that "your landing page sucks," according to Johnson. "Your landing page should allow visitors to do only one thing--and that's give you their email address." Johnson uses a psychological design trick to help make sure this happens. "On my landing pages, I've removed the navigation on the top and the bottom so literally the only thing you can do is sign up or search for homes." As we mentioned above, Johnson sends consumers who click on his ads to a landing page tailored to that specific ad's call-to-action. "My 'search homes' ad takes them to the IDX sign-up form, so they actually have to sign up to search homes on my website," he says. Another landing page offers bullets summarizing his rent-to-own program and a short form that leads can fill out to see if they're qualified. "It's little things like that--download my seller guide, download the buyer guide, etc.--that make all the difference." For landing pages that offer a free download, Johnson recommends displaying a message after leads submit their information that tells them to check their email for a download link. "That way, you know you're getting a valid email," he says. "If you just say, 'Okay, great, here's a download now,' there's no incentive for them to give you a correct email address." Johnson says it doesn't matter to him whether or not he can get a lead to respond to an email. His main purpose in collecting email addresses is being able to remarket to them via Adwerx sphere ads in the future. "I have a separate sphere ad campaign running just for people who downloaded the buyer guide." Periodically update your ads to optimize performance. Johnson scrutinizes his ads after a month. "Am I getting the right clicks to impression ratio that I want to see?" he asks. "If not, I need to tweak my ad, and keep tweaking it until it works. And I refresh them; it helps a lot." From CNN to Starbucks--and beyond! Johnson has simple advice to agents and broker who may be considering Adwerx for lead generation: Just do it. "It's the easiest thing ever," he says. "In all seriousness, you can't afford not to do it. Think about running one Adwerx campaign. It's 10,000 impressions per month. Can you, for that $50, $60, or $70 per month that it costs, mail that many postcards out? You can't, that's the answer. Even if you could, there's no way to track anything. With Adwerx, you can track your messaging instantly." But perhaps the most profitable thing that Adwerx does for agents is increase the visibility and prestige of their personal brand at an affordable price point. "I had someone at Starbucks just a couple of weeks ago, go 'You're Kevin Johnson, right?' I've seen your ads. You're always on CNN. You must be really successful to be able to advertise on CNN.com,'" Johnson says, laughing. "I said, 'Why, yes, I am.' "A lot of people think that running your Adwerx campaigns on sites like CNN is really expensive, so that adds to your stature as an agent." Johnson says that Adwerx is a 24/7 reminder to your audience of who you are. Even if a prospect is not ready to buy now, that consistent exposure to you and your brand will ensure that you're top of mind when the time comes for them to choose a Realtor. "That's truly the key to it," says Johnson. "If you want to capture mindshare, stay top of mind. I was top of mind with that gentleman at Starbucks. He saw my face, my face was in my ad, and he knew who I was because he sees me on CNN all the time." Johnson has one final piece of advice for his fellow agents: "If you want to be successful in the future, you cannot do what agents have done all these years. Rick Davis at Century 21 said that the next super agent wasn't in our business two years ago. And the reason being is that they're not hindered by the rearview mirror. They don't know how it's supposed to be done. They're going to go out and chart new paths, and it's going to be successful," he says. "And that's what I've tried to do. If I want to stand out, if I want to be above average in my income, I can't do what everyone else is doing. I've got to make my own swim lane and do my own thing--and Adwerx has helped me do just that."

How Technology Training Revolutionized One Realtor's Business
It was a fluke that led John Diaz to the training program that changed the direction of his real estate career. In August of 2013, he had been in real estate for over a decade, and a broker since 2005. Diaz already knew that leveraging technology was important for success in real estate, but he struggled with how to implement it. He planned to get an iPad, but hadn't yet. He had also tried Evernote, but "could never put my arm around how to use it for my business." That all changed when he travelled from California to Chicago for a conference hosted by his franchise. There, he hoped to learn how to better use technology in his business, but was largely disappointed—with the exception of one fleeting moment. "What I had flown to Chicago for I didn't really find," said Diaz. "But what's interesting is that the speaker I went to listen to briefly mentioned The Paperless Agent. He's actually the one who pointed me in their direction." The Paperless Agent is a training program owned and operated by the leaders of GoodLife Realty. GoodLife is an independent brokerage in Austin, Texas that's well known for driving sales through their innovative use of technology. Through The Paperless Agent, they share the technology systems and best practices they successfully use at GoodLife Realty with other real estate agents and brokers. On his flight home, Diaz took advantage of the onboard wi-fi to work through the first training session of The Paperless Agent. He was so impressed with what he saw, that he immediately went out and bought his first iPad and started implementing what he had learned.

How RPR Covers Every Angle of Buyer-Realtor® Relationship
Know the market Anticipate objections Find a match Close the deal Wish it were that simple? Of course, but we know it's not. Being a buyer's agent in the information age has challenges probably not worth repeating here. Rather, here at RPR, we offer solutions—simple, reliable, and accurate tools that help REALTORS® successfully execute every step of the home buying process. We were recently reintroduced to a REALTOR® from the Boston area who, along with all 240 of his agents, use RPR in every facet of his operation, notably when working with buyers. "Buyer expectations come in all shapes and sizes but one thing is for sure: they all expect accurate, timely information," says John Connolly, Vice President of SUCCESS! Real Estate, Boston, Mass. "From basic characteristics of the home to a thorough analysis of local market conditions, REALTORS® really need to be on their game." Here, John shares how RPR helps his entire team remain relevant when working with buyers.

What's behind this agency's successful farming strategy? Relationship building
Belly-to-belly are some of the wisest words ever spoken about real estate marketing strategy, according to broker Claire Bisignano Chesnoff. A master salesperson, broker/owner, and founder of a two-office, 10 agent operation based in Staten Island and now in Brooklyn, NY, Chesnoff says one of her most successful strategies for earning new business is farming neighborhoods. Her technique is succinct, safe, and proven. Dominating much of the Staten Island market, Claire Properties, LLC is now setting its sights on opportunities in Brooklyn. Their farming strategy includes identifying potential neighborhoods and then sending a team of up to three agents to go, as Chesnoff says, "belly to belly" with homeowners. "Telephone solicitations are no longer effective," claims Chesnoff. "And marketing pieces, such as postcards, can be valuable, but our greatest reward comes from establishing relationships in neighborhoods, by meeting people on their sidewalks and in their living rooms." In this instance, a team of three agents descends upon a potential market area—a neighborhood known for its rich Italian heritage. The area is chosen specifically to take advantage of Santina's bilingual skills. She is a Realtor®, fluent in Italian, who has built relationships with homeowners and shopkeepers in the area. Yet, each agent, according to Chesnoff, plays a critical role in the pursuit she calls "our newest challenge." Santina is accompanied by Raymond, a techie who loves data; and Frank, a people person whose presence also provides a sense of security for both the agents and homeowners.

A New REALTOR® Shares 3 Ways RPR Helps Her Business Grow
If you've attended a real estate conference in the last ten years, you probably know of Nicole Nicolay or "NikNik." She spent over a decade speaking to agents about how to leverage technology at events like Inman Connect, NAR Annual, REtechSouth, ReMax R4, Century 21 Annual, BHGRE Fusion and launched Inman's popular conference series Agent Reboot. But more recently, you may not have realized that she has become a licensed REALTOR®, joining the family business after her second startup company, Agent Evolution, was acquired. For Nicole, the transition has been all about family. Not only has becoming a REALTOR® afforded her the opportunity to spend more time with her husband and kids, but she also gets to work with her parents. "Real estate's been in my blood because my parents have been REALTORS® for most of my life, and so I've witnessed their hard work and their business from a wide range of angles over the last 30 years--from answering phones at their office, to walking their geographical farm, building their website and developing their digital marketing strategy," she says. When it comes to selecting tools to help her run her business, Nicole's background in training agents gives her a distinct advantage. "When I stepped into my own business, I wasn't swayed by the shiny objects or applications out there. Although I see some great advantages to using certain vendors and tools, I'm really able to pick and choose the ones that fit my business." One of those tools is Realtors Property Resource® (RPR). In a recent interview, we asked Nicole how she leverages NAR's free member benefit in her business. She offered so much wonderful information that we had to split this article into two parts. In part one, Nicole shares three ways that RPR's desktop application has helped her as a new agent.

Building Trust and Business with RPR®
We have been publishing a series of case studies that profile actual real estate professionals using Realtors Property Resource® (RPR®) to be more successful. The REALTOR® profiled in today's article is Garnett Sailor, a broker and investor from Arizona. Busy Agent Summary We understand that you're busy, so we're going to provide a quick summary here. In one minute or less, these are the things you can take away from Garnett's success with RPR®: Use RPR® to familiarize yourself with an area you've never visited for investments or out-of-town clients. Use RPR®'s star ratings to establish a level of confidence with the RVM®. Use RPR® as a resource when creating a CMA. If the property has a four or five-star rating, aim to value the property within a few thousand dollars of the RVM®. Use RPR® reports to guide pricing discussions when your sellers have a higher idea of a property's value than you do. First Boots on the Ground In addition to working as a real estate broker, Garnett also runs a note investing business. "Oftentimes, the notes I'm considering are for properties in areas I've never visited," he says. "When that's the case, RPR® is my first – and only – 'boots on the ground.' I've discovered that I can trust their data and reports completely in guiding my decisions about which properties to invest in."

Commercial Real Estate Success, Courtesy of RPR®
We have been publishing a series of articles that profile how real estate professionals are leveraging Realtors Property Resource® (RPR®) to be more successful. Today, our article focuses on a commercial REALTOR®, Paul Martis. Busy Agent Summary We understand that you're busy, so we're going to provide a quick summary here. In one minute or less, these are the things you can take away from Paul's success with RPR®: Don't wait until your MLS signs up for RPR® before taking a look at it, because there's actually some value you can take advantage of without an MLS agreement. Visual representation of data is an important way to communicate with clients and can help get them more excited about their real estate transaction. RPR® can help provide highly visual reports that enhance clients' understanding and enthusiasm. Mention RPR® tools, and the opportunities they open up, to clients during a listing presentation to help win the listing.

A Brokerage Can’t Do for You What You Can
Guest contributor Graham Wood of REALTOR®Mag says: By the end of his first year in real estate, Curt Whitesell quit his job. It wasn't because he didn't like being an agent or that he wasn't good at it. It was that the prevailing business model of real estate brokerages just didn't work for him. He needed to break off and become a broker himself — and build an office that runs things totally differently. "I truly believe that the broker-owner plays little, if any, role in the business success of an agent today," says Whitesell, who started his real estate career in 2007 at the age of 30, working as an agent for a brokerage in Indianapolis. "I bought into the old theory that brokers were a truly marketable brand." What he discovered was that the brokerage wasn't giving him the tools he really needed to succeed. "I listened to them tell me about all the great marketing initiatives, training, and tools available to agents that were going to help make my business a success," Whitesell says. "Frankly, it was all junk." The Web site he was supplied was difficult to use and inflexible, and the print marketing materials he was given were outdated and overpriced, he says. "No leads, no cool new tools — just an expensive cubicle in a big building," Whitesell laments. He decided to use his time at that firm more wisely: He started tuning out what the brokerage was telling him to do and went with his heart.

Beyond Residential: Commercial Agents Can Use RPR, Too!
Making the transition to commercial real estate can be challenging for agents who come from a residential background. Transactions take longer to close, appraisals are more complicated, and agents must learn to grasp the finer points of zoning in the areas they serve. On top of that, novice commercial agents need to embrace new technology tools in order to be successful. RPR Commercial is one of those tools. Launched in 2012, the application gives commercial agents access to dynamic search and reporting features, demographic and zoning information, and beyond. We recently spoke with Sydney Machat, CCIM, CRE, a veteran small town commercial broker and consultant in Maryland. As one of the earliest adopters of the solution, Machat is well versed in its many uses. He shared how RPR helps his real estate practice thrive. One User's Story RPR Commercial helps Machat support buyers in a transaction by enabling him to send comps to financing institutions and banks. "Banks want BPO-type information for real estate counseling assignments. I support seller and landlord brokerage clients with current market data initially from RPR."

Do you use a Client Relationship Management Product? Tell us all about it!
RE Technology would love to have our subscribers that use Client Relationship Management or "CRM" products visit our site and leave a review. It's always better to get product information and reviews from fellow agents rather than reading about a product or listening to a sales pitch. Wouldn't you want to know the hands-on details about a company or product before purchasing it? Help your fellow real estate professionals decide what CRM tools works best for their business by taking a moment to post a review of your current CRM or programs that you've used in the past. Don't use a CRM? Read our articles about Client Relationship Management (CRM) tools to learn more about how they can benefit your business. Just visit the CRM category in our product directory, find a CRM solution that you use or have used, scroll to the bottom of that product's page and write a little about your experience.

7 Things I’ve Learned in a Year of Real Estate Technology
Today I realized that I have been writing about real estate technology for one year. As cliché as it sounds, time truly has flown by; it seems like only yesterday that I was sitting down with Victor Lund and trying desperately to understand this mysterious thing called "IDX." Being the sentimental fool that I am, anniversaries like this always cause me to reflect back on the things I've learned. Considering I came into this job with literally ZERO real estate experience, I've learned a lot. Here are some of the things that stand out to me the most. Please keep in mind that these are my own, personal perceptions and do not necessarily reflect the views of RE Technology. 1) Digital signatures are the future, baby. Everybody needs to get on board, because this trend isn't going anywhere. They make life easier for agents, provide a better experience for consumers, and are kinder to the environment. 2) Listing syndication is broken. I don't know how to fix it, although I think that there are some people with great ideas. But it seems enough momentum is building that I'm optimistic things will get better.

9 Easy Ways to Get Unfollowed on Twitter
Ever since the birth of paper.li and my obsession with aggregating all the content-sharing tweets in my Twitter stream, I have been very aware of annoying Tweeters. Why?  If I don't clean out my Twitter stream every now and then, my paper.li gets overwhelmed with stories I do not want to read about. (To view an example of a paper.li Twitter e-newspaper I manage, check out RE Technology, Inc.'s) Ironically, one of the articles I found interesting, while peeling through my RETechnologyInc Daily was on the very topic of pitfalls of Tweeting that will result in getting people to un-follow you.  In the world of social media, being un-followed is almost equivalent to being virtually told you are annoying or you like things that aren't cool.  It brings many of us back to school yard drama. Jason Yormark, social media marketer, sympathizes to a degree with people who unwittingly abuse common Twitter faux pas. In a recent post he outlines his top 9 Twitter annoyances.  I definitely agree with most. (I still un-follow people who flood my stream with nonsense, but that is due to my paper.li love as stated above.) Here are his top 9 ways to get unfollowed on Twitter:

You Tweet, But Do You Know How to Measure Twitter Success?
Guest Contributor Chris Brogan says: I’ve been using Hootsuite (affiliate link) for a while now, and have really been interested in a few things more than other parts: scheduled tweets and stats. I want to talk about the latter today. (Note: I’m an affiliate for this product because I really appreciate what it does for me.) Checking Stats I became interested in which of my tweets with links were successful or not, so I started looking at the details of what Hootsuite provided. For the picture above at the top of the post, I was surprised that so many people clicked the link about how introverts view confidence, but also not surprised that there weren't a lot of retweets.

Want an Easy New Way to Share Your Expertise Online?
Real estate agents are constantly seeing things with their eyes that has value for building relationships with consumers. Agents go to open houses, talk with buyers and sellers, talk with other agents about the market, and attend seminars and other forums to collect information that makes them better professionals. In the recent surge to adopt social media, Twitter has become a tool used by REALTORS® to share real estate information with consumers. This is done in short sentences or with link sharing to blog posts or other news that they find on the Internet. Using your video enabled cell phone, you can now extend your content gathering to your real life using twitvid.

Ethel's First... What's the Word?... Online Video!
As real estate professionals, the use of video to portray your image, professionalism and even intelect is powerful.  The topics you choose to center your videos around, your attention span in those videos and the level of viewer engagement within your video can make or break your audience's faith in you. Don't believe me, well... apparently neither did Ethel. Karel Murray, a professional speaker and humorist, created a funny sketch about Ethel's first adventure with video technology. Ethel is one of Karel Murray's favorite characters.  In her words, "Ethel is a clueless woman who has exceptional self-esteem and a heart for adventure." Enjoy her first video blunder... and maybe in the process pick up a few hints on what not to do in your own real estate videos.  Happy Friday to you all! The above video can be found on YouTube.com, by clicking here.

A Customer Service Confluence
There has been this weird confluence of customer service experiences for me over the last few days. It’s like a disturbance in the nexus of the customer service universe. I’m a big fan of great customer service. I love being on the receiving end of it, and I try to make premium customer service the primary focus of our real estate brokerage. There are several stories of customer service experiences strewn about this blog, from the great — the Broadmoor Hotel and a mattress store — to the not so swift horrific at Nationwide Vision. And then there was this…

Generate Leads with Texts!
Wouldn’t it be nice to know that no matter if your flyer box was empty, that potential home buyers can still learn more about your property while they’re in front of it? Sure, the Internet helps home buyers learn and even visualize the property. But what about the stream of potential leads who drive by your property, stop, look for information, but move on in seconds. The front of a house can only tell you so much. So the question is: what else is there?

Using Technology
The history of the Internet is a story of inverse proportion; as technology accelerates, the barriers to it—both monetary and technological—shrink. During one of my CRT presentations, I lead off by asking, “Who has been using email since 1971?” Only once has someone raised their hand. And while you may be wondering who would be naive enough to think that they could have been emailing since then, the lore of the Internet traces the first use of email back to the summer of 1971. So now, I ask you, "Why weren’t you using email back then, or even in 1991?" I lead off with that example because it clearly demonstrates what I’m discussing: technically, there was nothing to prevent people from sending email back in 1971. If you look at a timeline of the Internet, you can see that many of the services that we take for granted today and which we often perceive as only a couple of years old have actually been around for quite some time. Many times, a “new” technology merely refers to an old technology with a new label, a sign that it has reached the mainstream. But because technology takes some time to enter the mainstream, most people either aren’t aware of what’s possible or consider the cost too unreasonable.