R TEAM

Do You Use Dropbox?

Dropbox has to be one of my favorite discoveries over the past year.  It is essentially an online secure storage system that works seemlessly with your computer system and smart phone.   When I purchased my last lap top, I used Dropbox to upload the information that I still want access too.  Some of that content has been downloaded to my computer but most has remained on Dropbox.

Since Dropbox is on the internet (cloud computing), I have access to anything I store on Dropbox as long as I have access to the internet.  I simply log into my account and there are my files, photos, videos...everything I'm storing there.

What's also cool is that you can share specific folders.   The Planning Committee for Seattle reBarCamp has a shared folder on Dropbox.  One spot is the keeper of the documents we all view and use.  I appreciate this because we can be very organized and it doesn't junk up our email with attachments.  Our documents are automatically synced when something is added or changed in our shared folder.  We're also using Facebook groups with planning -- that may have to be another post!  I also share a folder with my husband and I have another folder for my sisters and I to share photos.

Guess what?  Dropbox is FREE with up to 2G of storage!   They do have additional storage available (up to 100GB) for a fee... so far, I haven't needed to do that.   Dropbox also rewards you with some additional storage when you refer your friends and contacts to their service.  

FULL DISCLOSURE: if you click this link to sign up, I will get some extra storage.  If you do sign up, I thank you!  And, I bet after you try Dropbox, you'll be thanking me too.

Don't Miss Seattle RE BarCamp or the NW Video Marketing Summit

In just one month from today, you'll have two fantastic opportunities to learn more about social media, tech and important real estate trends.  Both events take place at the Seattle Center NW Rooms (by the Key Arena).

On March 2, 2011, Frank Garay and Brian Stevens of Think Big Work Small fame will be at the Seattle Center with the Northwest Video Marketing Summit.  This is an all day event where Frank and Brian will teach you how to have a video blog - who better to learn from?   I understand this is an interactive class and you will leave with your own functional video blog.  The cost is $100 and real estate agents can receive 4 clock hours.  RSVP or learn more at www.videomarketingsummit.tv. 

On March 3, 2011, we have the 4th annual Seattle reBarCamp.  This is an event that's close to my heart as I've been involved with planning for the last three.  This event is free, there are no clock hours and no lectures.  Learning is "peer to peer".  You can learn more and rsvp at www.rebarcamp.com/seattle

Here is a video where Darin Parsinger of Productivity Junkies interviews me about 2011 Seattle reBarCamp.

 

What a Social Media Strategy is NOT

I'm not posting a ton here at R TEAM... I've been pretty busy keeping up with Mortgage Porter...but something that really gets my goat is when I feel people are being sold a bunch of hooey.   I did not go to Inman's Agent Reboot today...(1) it's focused mostly on agents and the agenda did not seem to have much to offer me, a mortgage originator (2) who's been up to her eyeballs (successfully) in social media for the past for years.  I did, however, follow as much as I could via #agentrb. 

One of the sponsors of this event is a title company who is schlepping social media to real estate and mortgage people who don't want to assert the time or effort.  Let me tell you something, if that person is you, DON'T TO IT...YOU DON'T HAVE TO.  I think you're missing out, but hiring someone to pretend to be you in an industry where you need trust is being A TOTAL FAKE... and guess what, most everyone can tell that you're faking it.

I saw a couple tweets from this title company that just made me want to...well...I won't go there...

"Social media strategy: it's about your time and budget.  Where are you spending your time and money"

I'm not going to include their hash-tag, I don't think they deserve any recognition.   I will tell you this, social media is NOT about your time and budget.  It's about being you.  And if you don't have time to adapt or to be you, if you must hire it out, then please DON'T DO IT. 

If you're just doing "it" to have stuff appear on a Twitter feed or Facebook, fine...but realize that you look like a fool and hardly anyone's reading it.  You've accomplished having "stuff" automated on a Twitter, Facebook and/or blog--but is it YOU? 

Back to this tweet:  your time--yes, please be sure to budget a certain percentage of your time to social media if this is a venue that you want to explore.  I'd say give it six months to a year of YOUR time and decide how much time during your day...can you give up 15 minutes?  How about an hour?  This is up to you.   Your budget:  Social media can be FREE!!  Twitter and Facebook are free and there are many blog platforms that are free. 

You don't need to pay someone to be you.  If you don't have the time and you don't care to put the effort into it (and it does take some effort) then please don't do it because stuff that is not sincere is really just spam. 

Do you want to be a spammer?  I hope not.

 

Social Media will not bring you hoards of Clients

I love social media, I do...but social media "coaches" (I'm using that word loosely), guru's or anyone should not promise real estate agents that if they get a blog and do Twitter or Facebook, they'll attract buyers or sellers.  It's not that easy. 

Back to loving social media.  

Social media has been very beneficial to my career and I'm grateful.  I write all my own content and tweet my own tweets and update my Facebook status myself.  You cannot farm your life or personality out to someone else.  I don't believe that you can find success if you automate and outsource social media like a local title company is promoting--all you do then is increase "the noise". 

If I were a real estate agent interested in growing my social media presence today, here's what I'd do.  NOTE: this may or may not work for you...it's simply what "I" would do.

Get on Facebook.  Facebook is about connecting with people you know.  I have really enjoyed connecting with my clients.  I do have a personal profile which I try to not have too much business on but my blog, The Mortgage Porter, does automatically post to it.  I also have a professional page where I share articles that I find interesting (from newspapers, competitors--it doesn't have to be me).   They're very easy to set up and manage from  your profile.

I used Facebook's tools to find my clients, friends and family to connect with them.  It's been fun to get to know my clients on a more long term basis instead of just when they need a mortgage...and they've been referring their friends and family to me too. 

Twitter is questionable.  This is just my opinion for folks who are getting started...I would probably stick with Facebook over Twitter as someone just digging into social media.  Twitter has a lot of noise and in fact, it's simply "broadcasting" your message.  Yes, you can have dialog but I think you have higher odds of "connecting" with people on Facebook.  

If you are going to do Twitter, it's important to have conversations and be engaging.  Attend "Tweet-Ups" in your area or create one (I recommend attending one first)!  Twtvite makes it really easy to do--be sure to have other area "peeps" on Twitter help you coordinate this. 

Yelp.  I love using Yelp to find restaurants or services...I'm also an active reviewer.  As a real estate agent, I would be reviewing neighborhood businesses and following up with the business owners to let them know you've reviewed them.   You can also add your business on Yelp to be reviewed.

Do let your sphere knowthat you have a Facebook profile and business page and invite them to like or friend you.  I would do this by all the mediums you currently use (newsletter, email, post cards, etc.).  

Do take the next step beyond sitting behind your computer and blogging, updating, tweeting or yelping--get out and meet these people.  There are a lot of great social media clubs where you can learn a ton and meet fellow professionals from all sorts of businesses.  Check out Seattle Social Media Club and Tacoma Social Media Club's calendars just for starters.

I wouldn't do "everything"...and there is so much social media "stuff" out there...the latest and greatest something new is popping up everyday.  You have to stay focused.  You have to keep doing what works for your business and social media may or may not be it and that's okay. 

PS: I'm not a social media coach...I'm not even an "expert"...I'm just someone who is passionate about social media who happens to be in the real estate biz and sharing my opinions.   I highly recommend getting out to events like RE Barcamps to learn more from "real people" (non-coaches) to learn more.

Please Don't Outsource Your Tweets and Facebook Updates

It's been a long time since I've written on this blog...but I'm so bothered by a recent trend that needs to stop.  I'm noticing many local real estate agents who are outsourcing their status updates on Twitter and/or Facebook.   The also have the same blog posts.  This is NOT what social media is about.

I'm afraid that a company or person who is promoting themselves as social media experts has sold these folks on an "easy button" and social media isn't easy (and it's really not that hard either).   The real trick is that you need to be you--you need to be real.  If you can't take 15 seconds to type 140 characters or less from your mobile phone when you're waiting for a client or at lunch--maybe you shouldn't be doing Facebook or Twitter right now...it's okay.  Not everybody has to be on Facebook or Twitter or have a blog to be successful.  Social media is far more than "just being there" or gaming for SEO (search engine optimization). 

So please don't pay to have your personal status updated... Twitter prompts YOU to answer "What's Happening?" and Facebook asks "Whats on YOUR mind?"   Neither platform is encouraging your updates to be artificial or "not YOU". 

I'm sure these agents don't mean to be phony, insincere or spammy--this is the risk they're taking when you farm out your "personality".  

In the great words of Oscar Wilde, "Be yourself, everyone else is all ready taken". 

Two MUST ATTEND Events coming to Seattle this March

Both events are at the Seattle Center:

March 18, 2010 - Pacific Northwest Housing Summit  
March 19, 2010 - RE Barcamp Seattle

The panelist for the Summit continue to grow and we anticipate quite a turn out from across the country at both events.  Sponsorship opportunities are still available and start at $250.  

Of course there will be "tweet-ups" and social hours following both days.

Be there!  Follow both events on Twitter: @pnwhs #pnwhs and @REbarcampSEA #rebcsea

PS:  Space is limited to the first 700 registered attendees for the PNWHS...and there's a "sweet heart deal" for pre-registrations by Valentines Day.  

 

Happy New Year and Happy R TEAM

R TEAM will be having our first meeting in a very long time.  I can't remember the last time our group met at Marie Calanders in Federal Way deciding to take the winter off and never getting back together again.   Well, I think the time for R TEAM is here again and yes, I've been saying that and my last post here was in October...I've been a little busy keeping up with all our changing guidelines.  And it's important that I share them with you.

 R TEAM's history is one I'm proud of.  I really did start this group back in 1992 to help agents network together and to share the latest information or helpful tips. 

Our first meeting will take place the morning of Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at The Talon Group in Seattle and will cover the new Good Faith Estimate by yours truly.  Space is limited to real estate agents only please...you can RSVP and get the nitty gritty here or by logging into the Forums at the top of this page.

I hope to see you then!  

Just in time for Halloween... a Resurrection of R TEAM

This past month has been a whirlwind of speaking engagements--traveling around to speak to fellow real estate professionals about social media.  I'm pleased to say...I'm done with that for a while.  Don't get me wrong--it's a lot of fun to network and learn.  But it's time to stay closer to home and it's a great opportunity to re-launch R TEAM.

Some of you may remember R TEAM as the network group I created when I was in title insurance back in 1992.  Real estate agents would have an opportunity to promote listings and buyers needs during half of the meeting and the second half would typically feature a timely topic for discussion.

My plans are to start holding R TEAM meetings again once a month where real estate agents can attend...the focus will be on social media (unless there is another pressing topic).

Meetings will be posted on the R TEAM ning site (click the Forums tab above).   I have polished up the R TEAM group in Facebook...however, I'm leaning towards just using the Ning site.  The fewer places I need to keep updated the better...as much as I love social media and all the benefits that go with it, I do have a day job too!

If you're interested in being a part of R TEAM, please be sure to sign up in the Forums.  More info to follow.  

I'm Speaking at (re)Blogworld in Vegas this week!

I'm truly excited for this event and all that I will learn about social media.  Here's a quick article I wrote about this at Rain City Guide...and here is a recent interview introducing me as a panelist at RE Blogworld. 

I will be out of the office starting Wednesday, October 14 and returning back to the "real world" and my day-job as your Washington State Mortgage Professional on Monday, October 19.

Seattle RE Barcamp is NEXT WEEK!

I'm totally excited for next week's RE Barcamp in Seattle.   If you didn't go to the February event down town (or even if you did) I highly recommend attending and participating.  In fact, if you're planning on going to the Bellevue RE Barcamp, if you've never gone before, you'll especially want to attend Seattle's REBC next Tuesday.   Why?  RE Barcamp's are not your typical planned conference...some would call it an "un"conference...it can take a little bit for your brain to get used to the free-flowing thoughts and sharing of information. 

For more information about the Seattle event, which takes place on Tuesday, September 8, 2009: click here.

For more info on the Bellevue RE Barcamp coming on October 6, 2009: click here.