Working on a story about what Realtors have on their tech “wish list” for next year. A couple have mentioned getting serious about a blog. It’s a lot of work, I advised, something that often gets pushed down the “to do” list as other responsibilities take precedence.(as here)
One reported the webmaster had it figured out, suggested entries and updates could be farmed out to overseas content creators. Cheaply too. If you can’t do it yourself, hire American, I say. As a freelancer, I’ve started to see overseas writers bid for work here for as little as $4 per hour on some of the freelance job boards.
A blog should be your voice, reflecting your unique understanding and insight into your market area. If you can’t pull it off yourself, find a professional writer to work with you and develop a voice for your blog. They need the work, and know enough to ask the right questions to make your blog speak for you. Just like your website, the best entries will be written by a professional who understands your business, your unique challenges.
You won’t get that by outsourcing....and if you can’t find someone in your area, hey, I’m available.
Shameless plug, sure. But having made writing my career, I just hate the thought of any of that work heading overseas, to the lowest bidder.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Odds and Ends
Another Video Hosting Site
If you’ve been thinking about using video tours to promote listings but have been put off by the cost or complication of pulling it off, take a look at Home On The Tube, a property marketing site. It provides members free video hosting and video streaming and can be used to promote homes, rentals and vacation properties.
Best, this service is aimed at those who want point and shoot simplicity. Here’s instructions to users, pulled from the website. “...pick up your digital camera, set it to "video mode" and begin to shoot the property you have listed. Just ‘walk and talk’ your way through the home; pointing out the best features. A couple of minutes of video is all you need. Then you simply upload your property videos to Home on the Tube for the world to see!”
Video can be that easy. Sample tours others have posted there and judge for yourself.
Mapping and Navigation
Your navigation system is only as good as its map database. If you live in an area where there’s significant development or construction, that digital atlas of streets should be updated annually, at least, Now that advice applies to anyone in an area where local post offices have closed or will be closing offices in the post offices nationwide efforts to streamline oprations.
That could mean zip code changes, and new addresses in rural areas, especially. Out in th country, the city part of an address may not reflect physical location as much as the location of the post office from which mail is delivered. If these changes could affect your market area, you may want to ask the provider of your navigation system if they will also impact your navigation system.
To my knowledge, Maponics is the first to address these changes with the latest release of its Zip Cod based mapping data, but the post office plans could impact all systems, so be vigilant in updating your map database.
While we’re on the subject of navigation, Navigon has added itsTrafficLive feature to its MobileNavigator iPhone application. It provides users with real time traffic alerts to help reduce commute times. It’s available for a one time purchase of $24.99, with no additional service charges. An introductory rate of $19.99 runs through next month.
Right name...
When I did the recent TechWatch column on brokerage management solutions, I tried googling different terms and keywords to find relevant products. Something I do for every story to make sure I don’t miss the obvious.
So you would think a company and website called Broker Office Solutions might pop in the results. Well it didn’t, and a contact there followed up to ask that I include their products in future articles. Click the links to see what they have to offer brokers and agents.
At the very least, this demonstrates the importance of search engine optimization, as the right name alone will not guarantee good ranking in search results.
If you’ve been thinking about using video tours to promote listings but have been put off by the cost or complication of pulling it off, take a look at Home On The Tube, a property marketing site. It provides members free video hosting and video streaming and can be used to promote homes, rentals and vacation properties.
Best, this service is aimed at those who want point and shoot simplicity. Here’s instructions to users, pulled from the website. “...pick up your digital camera, set it to "video mode" and begin to shoot the property you have listed. Just ‘walk and talk’ your way through the home; pointing out the best features. A couple of minutes of video is all you need. Then you simply upload your property videos to Home on the Tube for the world to see!”
Video can be that easy. Sample tours others have posted there and judge for yourself.
Mapping and Navigation
Your navigation system is only as good as its map database. If you live in an area where there’s significant development or construction, that digital atlas of streets should be updated annually, at least, Now that advice applies to anyone in an area where local post offices have closed or will be closing offices in the post offices nationwide efforts to streamline oprations.
That could mean zip code changes, and new addresses in rural areas, especially. Out in th country, the city part of an address may not reflect physical location as much as the location of the post office from which mail is delivered. If these changes could affect your market area, you may want to ask the provider of your navigation system if they will also impact your navigation system.
To my knowledge, Maponics is the first to address these changes with the latest release of its Zip Cod based mapping data, but the post office plans could impact all systems, so be vigilant in updating your map database.
While we’re on the subject of navigation, Navigon has added itsTrafficLive feature to its MobileNavigator iPhone application. It provides users with real time traffic alerts to help reduce commute times. It’s available for a one time purchase of $24.99, with no additional service charges. An introductory rate of $19.99 runs through next month.
Right name...
When I did the recent TechWatch column on brokerage management solutions, I tried googling different terms and keywords to find relevant products. Something I do for every story to make sure I don’t miss the obvious.
So you would think a company and website called Broker Office Solutions might pop in the results. Well it didn’t, and a contact there followed up to ask that I include their products in future articles. Click the links to see what they have to offer brokers and agents.
At the very least, this demonstrates the importance of search engine optimization, as the right name alone will not guarantee good ranking in search results.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Briefs: GPS Safety, Facebook App, Affordability....
Personal Security Locator: Often when I do the buying guides guides I’ve been writing for Realtor since the early 1990s, I’ll hear from companies about relevant products not included. Sometimes it’s purely an editorial decision,there’s only so much space. And sometimes, despite my relentless search for relevant items to include in the chart , things just don’t bubble to the cyber syrface. Case in point the September personal safety guide,
After the story appeared, the maker contacted me about his Personal Protection Locator. At $299 and $99/year for the service it’s may seem a little price little to some, but can you put a price on safety? The key-sized KeySmart transceiver is easily concealed. When activated, it sends out a signal to the response service pinpointing your location. The service then calls the desigated contact and guides them to wehre you are. It’s a new applicaiton for GPS, and a safety service/feature that could eventually find its way into other GPS devices.
ATT Facebook Users: Another reader contacted me to spread the word about a facebook app developed specifically for Realtors called CenterStage for Real Estate Agents from Clientopoly. It simplifies the process of adding info—text, price and pix—of current listings and home’s you’ve sold to your facebook profile. You can sample CenterStage with a 30-day free trial, after which it costs $8 per month with a year-long commitment.
Affordability Index: Want an idea how how your market racks up nationally, in terms of affordability? In Late September Coldwell Banker released the results of its annual home price comaprison index.The survey reviews pricing on comparable 2,200-square foot four bedroom homes in 310 U.S. housing markets, then ranks them from most expensive(La Jolla, CA) to most afforable(Grayling, MI).National average: $363,460.
Location means everything: a similar home would cost the buyer $2.125 million in La Jolla, but just $112,675. Click here to see this year’s home price comparison index for the U.S. and Canada. There’s a two-minute infomercial about the index on ColdWell Banker’s YouTube channel.
After the story appeared, the maker contacted me about his Personal Protection Locator. At $299 and $99/year for the service it’s may seem a little price little to some, but can you put a price on safety? The key-sized KeySmart transceiver is easily concealed. When activated, it sends out a signal to the response service pinpointing your location. The service then calls the desigated contact and guides them to wehre you are. It’s a new applicaiton for GPS, and a safety service/feature that could eventually find its way into other GPS devices.
ATT Facebook Users: Another reader contacted me to spread the word about a facebook app developed specifically for Realtors called CenterStage for Real Estate Agents from Clientopoly. It simplifies the process of adding info—text, price and pix—of current listings and home’s you’ve sold to your facebook profile. You can sample CenterStage with a 30-day free trial, after which it costs $8 per month with a year-long commitment.
Affordability Index: Want an idea how how your market racks up nationally, in terms of affordability? In Late September Coldwell Banker released the results of its annual home price comaprison index.The survey reviews pricing on comparable 2,200-square foot four bedroom homes in 310 U.S. housing markets, then ranks them from most expensive(La Jolla, CA) to most afforable(Grayling, MI).National average: $363,460.
Location means everything: a similar home would cost the buyer $2.125 million in La Jolla, but just $112,675. Click here to see this year’s home price comparison index for the U.S. and Canada. There’s a two-minute infomercial about the index on ColdWell Banker’s YouTube channel.
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