Tyra asks:  Can you give us an idea of what you see as some of the most $ productive activities?

Michael:  Phone calls, Events & Seminars (attending and Hosting), and One-on-One Meetings are most productive activieties by far.

Max asks:  Farming with mail or internet farming which is the way to go for a new agent?

Michael:  Farming with your feet – get out there and get people on the phone.

Jaynie asks:  Do you recommend any particular database for Realtors?

Michael: Agent Online/Agent Office/Agent 2000 is the one both Allan and I use.

Click here to watch the Allan Domb & Michael Maher archived webinar!

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!

Q: Please give examples of realtor blogs

A: www.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!

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!

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!

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!

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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