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Laura Duggan & Patrick Birdsong Q & A Pt 1: “How much business do you recieve from social networking?”

Hi!  Top Selling Agents Laura and Patrick have answered some of your unanswered social media questions from their  February 25th live webinar.  Click here to see the archive .

Laura Duggan and Patrick Birdsong

Laura & Patrick

Jennifer wrote:

Q: Do you put all your work stuff alongside your personal stuff in Facebook? I was thinking this was the reason to create a Fan Page and use that for more work related stuff. Also, you aren’t limited in the number of fans as you are in a personal page. 

A: Work related stuff mostly goes on your fan page. I occasionally talk about a new listing, an open house or some compelling real estate related news on my Facebook page. Remember that Facebook is like a cocktail party. You are using it to build relationships with others just like you would the opportunity to go to a party. Keep it social. You are using it to create top of mind awareness and stay connected with those that you would not normally have easy access to.  Never “sell” on Facebook unless you are using targeted paid advertising there.

Pam wrote:

Q: Compared with other marketing methods, how much business do you receive from social networking

A: I get more touches with my database because of social networking. The more you touch your database, the more business you create.  I consider it prospecting and devote a set amount of time each day to “touch” folks.  The referrals come when you are touching people on a regular basis whether it is by phone, mail, in person, or through social networks.

Contact Patrick or me by clicking here!

Take care,

Laura.

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Brad Korn Video taken after a KW Social Media class New Orleans

Checkout Brad’s highly acclaimed webinar “Your Database Is a Lead Goldmine”

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Mariana Wagner Q & A Pt 4 “Do you post identical blog posts on multiple blog formats?

Mariana WagnerOur last set of great answers to unanswered questions from Mariana Wagner’s recent Webinar, Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging”. Want to watch the recorded Webinar?  View it here! 

Q: Do you post identical blog posts on multiple blog formats? i.e., Active Rain and Wordpress? Does that hurt your rankings?
A: I post my blog posts to my blog and then I post a truncated version on Active Rain with a link back to the original post – on my blog. Think of it this way, wherever you post it first will get the credit for the content.

Q: I have 3 niches, I market church buildings, foreclosures and short sales. Should I have 3 blogs? And can I blog once and have it fed to other blog locations automatically? thx.
A: Church buildings should be one blog and short sales and foreclosres should be another blog. Unless you have a custom/paid blog set up (ex: through the www.realestatetomato.com), you cannot automatically syndicate posts.
Q: when you enter the keywords in the SEO section of the website, do you put a comma between the phrases?
A: You would have to ask your website provider how that works for your particular site.

Q: what % of Mariana’s closings are foreclosures or short sales?
A: We no longer go after that market. In 2008/2009 about ¼-1/3 of our listing sales were short sales. Now we only have 2 short sales left on our books.

Q: How much time did it take you to set up your blog? Do you have assistants helping you?
A: A free blog (Featuredblog.com or wordpress.com) should take 1-2 hours to get fully set up. When it comes to writing real estate blog posts, I do that myself and it takes about 1 hour per post, and have www.bringtheblog.com help me with mortgage articles.
Q: so… what are some “calls to action” that would make someone call you after reading a blog,  rather than calling some other realtor
A:  The top 2 calls to action are:

  • Search all Homes for Sale in [your area] >> linking to your IDX solution
  • Find the Value of Your [area] Home >> linking to your CMA request page

Q: can a blog be used as a periodical newsletter to your sphere of influence?
A: Absolutely!
Q: if you use other folks videos and podcasts… can you do so if you reference where you got it from… that is, a NPR podcast about foreclosures… can you post that on your own blog, if properly credited?
A: If you find a video on YouTube and there is an active “embed” link next to it, then you are free to use that video on your site.

Q: What are “Tags” and why is important to use them?
A: TAGS are just a way to further categorize your blog posts. It is another way for people and search engines to know more about what your blog is about.

You can find me at:  http://coloradospringsrealestateconnection.com/

Enjoy!

Mariana.

 

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Laura Duggan & Patrick Birdsong’s Social Media Webinar!

Hi there.  Today Laura and Patrick told us all we needed to know and then some about Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn!  I have just now sent them the unanswered webinar questions, so we will have some of your answers up in the next few days or so.

IN the meantime here are a list of some of the sites recommended by Laura and Patrick.

TweetDeck.com

TweetLater.com

BackupMy.Net

TwitterFeed.com (feed your blog to twitter and more)

Ping.com

Google alerts

Twitpic.com (Lets you share photos on Twitter)

Hootsuite.com (Lets you manage your entire Twitter experience from one easy-to-use interface)

WeFollow.com

Budurl   (Shrink it.  Spread it.  Watch it Grow.)

Dropbox   (Sync your Files online and across computers

Tomorrow I will make these links live!

Got to go,

Have a great night,

Debra.

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Mariana Wagner Q&A Part 3: “What is a Widget & RSS Feed”

Here’s more Q&A from Mariana Wagner’s recent Webinar, “Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging”. Want to watch the recorded Webinar?  View it here!

Mariana WagnerQ: What is a widget and RSS feed?

A: A widget is just the bits of information on the sidebar of a website.  An RSS feed is a simple version of all the blog posts that you write. Read More: www.whatisrss.com

Q: If you are new to blogging how do you find another blogger?

Q: How do you link to a website?

A: When you are in the editor of your blog, and have written your blog post, highlight what words you want to link and click the “hyperlink” button in your editor toolbar.  In the pop up box type in the URL address for your website and click OK.  Now the words that you highlighted will be a link to your website.

Q: What are some types of sites you frequent to gather local research/updates?

A: LOCAL:  My MLS

National

  • Money.CNN.com
  • RealtyTimes.com
  • Inman.com
  • RISMedia.com
  • online.wsj.com/public/page/news-real-estate-homes.html
  • Realtor.org

Q: How do you fell about posting an article and quoting it correctly and then providing a reply to it?

A: I would never post an entire article that I did not write or purchase.  I would take an excerpt of the article, quote it correctly, link back to the original source and then make sure that 2/3 of my post was my reaction/response to that article.

Q: How are you organizing and planning all of your posts for each blog?  Do you have a list of items you update for each blog and a calendar for when/how you update it?

A: 

Roughly, this is what I try to do:

  • Monthly market reports for the areas that I work.
  • 1-2x monthly mortgage post
  • 1-2x monthly neighborhood report
  • 1x monthly buyer information
  • 1x monthly seller information
  • Featured listing posts as we take listings

Q: How do you bring traffic to your blog?

A: I promote my blog everywhere OFFLINE that I promote my wesite (business cards, flyers, postcards, newsletters …) and I have links to my blog on all my online social media profiles.

Q: How many blogs do you have?

A: 1 Active Rain blog, 3 active niche blogs and I am currently working on 3 more.

Q: So does your blog have a general “title” and each blogpost have a new title?

A: Your blog has a name and then each post has a title that defines what that post is about.

 You can find me at:  http://coloradospringsrealestateconnection.com/

Enjoy!

Mariana.

 

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Mariana Wagner Q&A Part 2: “Please give examples of realtor blogs” & More!

Here’s more Q&A from Mariana Wagner’s recent Webinar, “Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging”. Want to watch the recorded Webinar?  View it here!

Mariana WagnerQ: Please give examples of realtor blogs

Awww.Miamism.com
www.Housechick.com
www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com
www.LongBeachRealEstateHomes.com
MarchantTeam.featuredblog.com
www.BlogBytheBay.com
www.sanmateorealestateblog.com
www.ColoradoSpringsRealEstateConnection.com

Q: If you are new to blogging how do you find another blogger?

A: technorati.com/blogs/directory/business/realestate/ and www.activerain.com

Q: Do your blogs allow interaction by your readers?

A: Yes.  I have the ability for peole to leave comments on my blog posts.  However, most people are not “comment leavers” – which is fine.  Your goal is to educate them and get them to do business with you – not necessarily get them to leave a comment.

Q: What should your headspace say for the search engines to find.

A: Search engines will find you for whatever you consistently write about in your blog posts.  Your header is only of minimal importance.

 You can find me at:  http://coloradospringsrealestateconnection.com/

Enjoy!

 

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Mariana Wagner Q&A Pt 1. “Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging”

Mariana WagnerHi. Here are a few answers to some of your questions from Mariana’s Secrets Webinar.  Enjoy!

Q: Where do I find Google Analytics?

A: Click here for Google Analytics.

Q: What were the three blogging books Mariana recommended?

A: Realty Blogging by Paul Cheney

    The Weblog Handbook: Practical Advice on Creating and Maintaining Your Blog by Rebecca Blood

Social By Ben Kinney (the “a” in Social is actually @ but I had to leave it out to create a link for you all!)

Q: What camera does Mariana recommend for making video blogs?

A:  Mariana doesn’t use video at this point.  But Ian Watt uses a Flip camera.  As I said in one of last weeks posts: I think in-car video blogging is perfect for real estate agents. Don’t you always want to get leads in the car!  Now you can invite the world. All you need is a Flip camera (or something like it)  and a little tripod like this one from Joby.    

Q: How much does it cost to buy a Blog?

A: It is free! But there are add-ons you can buy once you have your blog up and running.  Mariana suggested WordPress.com.

View Mariana’s “Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging” Webinar anytime on SecretsWebinars.com!

Thanks for your questions.  Mariana will be responding to more questions over the next week!  Let me know if this was useful!

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Download a Copy of Mariana Wagner’s PowerPoint

Did you miss the last Secrets of Top Selling Agents Webinar?  Did you attend the Webinar and would like copies of the presentation slides for your reference? In addition to viewing a recording of the Webinar, you can also download and print out your own copy of the Webinar presentation slides!  Download the slides here (PDF)!

Want to download other Webinar slides?  If available, you can find these, as well as information about prior Webinars and recorded Webinars, on the “Previous Webinars” page on SecretsWebinars.com!

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Mariana Wagner, “Breaking Down the Barriers to Blogging” preview!

Mariana Wagner

Mariana Wagner

Mariana Wagner will be presenting a Free Webinar tomorrow with us on blogging.  Mel and I ran through her webinar slides today and I have to say she has much to teach us all tomorrow. 

Here are 3 of her 10 great ways to use blogging in real estate: 

1. Connecting with Your Niche Markets via blogging

 2.  Use blogging to rank high in search engines

3.  Use blogging to humanize the online experience.

As Mariana will tell us blogging does not just mean writing.  You can blog with video (vlogging), podcasts and pictures.  She will give some great examples of alternative blogging.  I think in-car video blogging is perfect for real estate agents. Don’t you always want to get leads in the car!  Now you can invite the world. All you need is a Flip camera (or something like it)  and a little tripod like this one from Joby.    

Join Mariana’s webinar tomorrow 12 noon PT, 1 pm MT, 2 pm CT & 3 pm ET. See you there!

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Larry Kendall Q&A “Thriving in Turbulent Times”

 

Larry Kendall

Larry

Larry Kendall will kick off  our first post-webinar Q & A  by answering the many questions that we didn’t get to during his webinar last Thursday.   There were 604 agents on the live call and 169 agents have viewed the archived webinar so far.

 If you haven’t seen the webinar yet you’ll want to, just click below,   http://www.secretsoftopsellingagents.com/previous.php 

Q: How does this work with a unique property that has limited comps, i.e a house with an in-law apartment?
A:You want to take the last 12 months of MLS data.  Your search criteria are properties that a buyer would consider looking at when they look at the subject property.  So, if they are looking at in-law apartment type properties, compare those if you can.  This system will work with most properties.  They key is to think like a buyer would think, i.e., what would they want to look at to compare with this property.

Q: Do you run into problems with getting appraisals to work out even though the absorption rate pricing indicates you should be fine?
A: Since April of 2009, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae appraisals require an addendum called “Market Conditions” which basically does what we just taught, so we are finding that appraisals now take absorption rate pricing into account.   Absorption rate pricing should help your properties appraise.

Q: When looking at absorption rate figures do you look at the entire MLS homes in that price point, or School district or subdivision or all of the above?
A: You define your MLS search criteria according to what you think a buyer (or their agent) would use to pick houses to look at.  That could be price point, neighborhood, or a combination of both.
Q: What boundary do you use for the absorption rate and pricing lines?  e.g. 1 mile radius,  “neighborhood”,  subdivision
A: The boundary is what you feel a buyer would use in picking houses to look at.  They key to picking the “Playing Field” is to think like you are working with a buyer – not a seller.  This entire process is through the “Buyer’s Eyes”.  How would a buyer look at the market?  How would they do an MLS search to pick houses to look at?  How would this house show up in that search?  How would it rank (on the 5 items – condition, location, size, amenities, and price) compared to the other houses?

Q: I’m slow with numbers. Where can I get more info on how to work the Absorption Rate Positioning
A: Recommend listening to this webinar a second time.  I believe it will become more clear for you the second time.

What a power packed webinar it was! One of our previous guests NUMBER1EXPERT Michael Maher commented:

Debra, great Webinar with Larry Kendall this week. Even after learning some of these lessons at Star Power and putting them into play in our business, I STILL learned a lot from the Webinar. Kudos for you for putting it together and kudos to Larry for giving again to our industry. +m2

So thank you Larry for sharing   the  “Pond, ”  “Absorption Rate Positioning” and your other Ninja Selling secrets…and for sticking around to answer questions here! (We’ll invite all our  future speakers to do so, because one hour is just too short!)

Comments?  First watch the webinar here.

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