R TEAM

My Notes from Seattle's Agent Reboot

 
Yesterday I left my lap top at home and brought my Livescribe Pulse Pen (which I love!!) to take notes.  I will write a follow up post on all the reasons why I love this pen soon... meanwhile, if you would like to read my notes from Seattle Agent Reboot, click here.

photo credit:  Stephanie Baldwin

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.

Long Time No Post

It happens.  I've been busy with my day job, family, talking to Real Estate Professionals about social media...just returned from RE Bar Camp in Chicago... I've been a little busy but I don't want to neglect this blog and my two or three readers. 

So here's a quick update of what's going on... I've recently accepted the opportunity to Chair the (newly created) Social Media Committee for the Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals.   I'm hoping to help my competitionlocal mortgage professionals survive thrive in this market by learning about some tools to stay connected with their clients.  So far, I've built a social intra-net (a Ning) for WAMP and I recently did a presentation at Safeco Field on Social Media along with David Gibbons of Zillow and Adam Stein.   It's flattering and if I can help my mortgage brothers and sisters, I'm happy. 

RE Bar Camp in Chicago was great.  What an amazing city.  Right now, one of my favorite bits I learned at this event was get clicky.  It's a tool that analyzes your blog/website -- it's free and very easy to use.  Check it out!

Some ideas at Bar Camp caused me to make some minor tweaks... with my blog, I moved my greeting video up to the right corner and removed my static photo...the video is getting more comments and activity all ready.  I also used my www.rhondaporter.com url which I had pointed to my blog, redirected to my Facebook page (not to be confused with the profile).  My blog still has the url www.mortgageporter.com.   We'll see how this experiment pans out.

I also decided to pick up a "netbook".  I wanted a mini-computer to use for presentations--I don't like lugging my laptop around.   For under $300, you can get a mini-computer that's lighter; less fussy than  a computer and bigger than trying to type on your super smart cell phone.   I'm writing this post from this new toy....just another tool to stay connected.

Tokbox and the Rebirth of R TEAM

I'm pretty excited about a new FREE social media tool that you use with your web cam: TokBox.  Don't stop reading here...if your lap top doesn't have a web cam...you can pick one up for less than $100.

TokBox allows you to do:

• Free video email--the recipient does not need to join to see your message.

• Free video conferencing--if your recipeint also has a web cam.

• Drum roll... free video web conferencing!  I'm thinking this will be an incredible way to re-launch R TEAM meetings!   No driving...make your own coffee and breakfast...log in and we're talking about the subject du jour.  I believe (but I'm not certain) that if someone doesn't have a webcam, they may be able to log in and view our conference and chat via text.

Cool, huh?  So if you're interested in getting R TEAM going again, sign up for TokBox at www.tokbox.com.   Check out my TokBox at www.tokbox.com/mortgageporter

Last, read this Sellsius article about TokBox and be sure to click on the video link.

I really see this as an easy to use tool that will set you apart from your competitors. 

Turn Your Blog Posts into Podcasts

First of all, I want to let  you know that I learned about this feature by subscribing to The Real Estate Tomato.  Subscribing to  your favorite blogs is a great way to keep up with what that they're blogging about.  All you have to do (with most blogs) is enter your email address (hint: see upper right corner for both R TEAM and Mortgage Porter), respond to the confirmation email and voila!  Whenever a new post is written, you'll receive an email with the article.  It's real simple. 

Back to my original topic: I'm using Odiogo, a free service, to convert the articles I've written on Mortgage Porter into a podcast.  Why?  Now readers who are "on the go" and would rather download posts to their iPod or MP3 player can do just that.  Or perhaps someone would prefer to listen to the articles while they're working instead of reading them.  It's all about providing options and convenience so that your readers will revisit your blog again and again.

Don't just take my word on the values of adding podcasts to your blog, read Real Estate Tomato's post that inspired me.

Now you can learn about blogging while listening to R TEAM by clicking the "listen now" button under each title.   And you can tune in to Mortgage Porter by clicking the "Odiogo" button in the top right corner of this blog.

Cool New Feature at Talon Title

Okay...so I'm biased, my husband does work for The Talon Group.  But this is pretty darn cool.  The Talon Group just released helpful videos for consumers featuing common title questions. 

How many times have your clients asked about vesting, ID affidavits or what happens after signing (when do we close)?   Now you can have their videos embedded on your blog or website or just send them to Talons. 

How cool is that?  Contact your Talon Group rep for more information or visit their website.

Did you catch King 5 News this morning?

Here's a link to this morning's Homefront Report on how on-line marketing aka "Web 2.0" is impacting our local markets.   Get over Redfin being discussed right off the bat, there's an important message that you need to hear.

Home buyers are shopping for homes using the internet by using blogs, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube or Viddler (vlogging = video blogging). 

In fact, most of the transactions I have right now are from people who found me via my blogging efforts.  There are buyers out there who want to participate in this market...will they find you?   

• Having a blog increases your odds.  Search engines prefer an active blog over a static website. 
• Blogs allow you to demonstrate your expertise and to have conversations--interaction.
• Twitter is like a mini-blog and probably my favorite form of "social networking".

What are you waiting for?   There is no shortage of topics these days. Just do it!

Update: it was brought to my attention that at 0:56 into the video, one of my post from The Mortgage Porter is in the screenshot.   What a bonus!

How to Fix the Long Web Site Addresses

Have you ever commented on a post or email for reference and wondered how to make a big long obtrusive web link shorter?  I use Tiny URL.   Tiny URL (www.tinyurl.com) takes your long web addresses (url's) and converts them to smaller ones.   It's presto magic!  What's really cool is that recently, Tiny URL has added a new feature to where you can decide what your tiny url address will be.  (Before, it was their assigned code).

For example, if I wanted to use a link on for this article you can find in the Seattle PI: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/369902_interest08.html  I would do this:

1. Copy the link to the article from my browser
2. Go to www.tinyurl.com
3. Paste the long web address into the blank box (it's real easy to figure out on their site).
4. Enter what you would like the address to be (remember, the idea is to keep it short).
5. Click the "Make TinyURL" button
6. Copy and paste your cute, petite URL

Voila: http://tinyurl.com/buynowSeattle

Both links will take you to the same place except, the tiny link is better and you have some control (except for the tinyurl.com portion) of controlling what it is called.   This is especially useful for your Twitter comments where you are only allowed 140 characters per post.

10/24/2008 UPDATE:  I now prefer www.budurl.com over tinyurl.com... why?  At this time, www.budurl.com provides tracking information.  You can see how many clicks you received on the long web address you shrank.  I'm just trying this out...so if I change my mind, I'll let you know.  For now, I think it's pretty sweet!

Testing Out Something New at RCG

Dustin Luther is trying out something new for Rain City Guide: SocialNotes.  The post directly below this one is from me testing out SocialNotes and easily adding the post below...the only thing I see is that I thought the link would be to that specific post and not to the the general blog.    More to follow...I love trying this stuff out and I do have a lot of trust in Dustin.   

What new social media or blog tools do you recommend?

Adding Video and Video Comments to Your Blog

Okay...this is beyond RE Blogging 101...sorry Class!  However, I want you to see what's possible in the bloggosphere.  Imagine doing videos between you and your clients.   This is beyond texting, Twitter and commenting on blogs.  When you hear someone say your name and address your issue, question or comment, it's a entirely different experience.   With this post, I'm talking with Dustin who is in California.  I've met Dustin once and now we're "video-ing" back and forth via comments in a post a Rain City Guide...just how cool is that?