Realty World Northern California & Nevada

I’ve been wrestling with a moral and business dilemma the past few weeks as I’ve prepared to go out into the world and teach people social media and technology tips for free. Oddly enough, the dilemma didn’t begin while planning the course, it’s locations or logistics… it began when I saw that people who needed this information to propel their real estate business weren’t jumping at the chance to come to a session in their own backyard to learn how to implement this stuff.

I brought up the question to my colleagues, “Is it because it’s free?” – Do people not perceive value in what is free? Do people believe that there are strings attached? If I charged $100 per person would things be different?

I was increasingly puzzled because of the number of free services we depend on each day – you have a Gmail account that you don’t pay for, yet you use it to store your emails. You Google things to find answers and do not pay for the service, yet it’s always there and used by billions. You have a Facebook account that doesn’t require money be transacted when you log on daily, there’s no meter running. What’s up with free? I needed to know. And I think I found the answer.

Yesterday, while waiting for my hotel room in New York to be available (I arrived at 6am on a red eye flight from San Francisco to be told I would not be permitted into the room until after 3pm) so after a long walk through Central Park I settled my exhausted body into a chair at a Border’s bookstore and went searching for books that might be interesting. By some stroke of luck, fate, whatever you call it, I came across Chris Anderson’s newest book, Free: The Future of a Radical Price on a shelf and began thumbing through it. Chris had wrestled with much the same questions I had about an economy that offers so much that is, in essence, “free” that we wondered how it is that there’s not more of a stir about it.

My key takeaway from Anderson’s book (for those of you that don’t have nine hours to kill in a Borders book store on a Thursday afternoon) is this:

(The following is paraphrased from Anderson’s book)

Everyone has doubts about free. People, without trying to sound ageist, are split into two camps: Those who are over 30 and those are 30 and younger.

Those who are over 30 grew up with the 20th century version of free – that being that free was limited to marketing gimmicks, prizes, or as ploys to get you somewhere then rope you in once you were a captive audience. These people are rightfully skeptical, as their experience with free is that it is nothing of the sort – we all pay sooner or later. Free is a gimmick, a marketing ploy, and when you hear “free” – be prepared to reach into your wallet.

The younger critics have a different response, that of, “Duh, of course it’s free.” This is the Google Generation – the generation that has grown up online assuming that everything digital is free. They have internalized the subtle marketing dynamic of near-zero marginal cost economics in the same way people internalize Newtonian mechanics when learning to catch a ball – you’re not thinking about it, it just happens. Creating a global economy around “free” seems too self-evident to be of note. To this generation, many things are accepted as free, so shouting out “free!” constantly is annoying because of the “duh” factor that exists already.

My thoughts: Good things can be free. Many more things will become free in years to come. Everything does not need to be free, nor should it be – but the share and spread of knowledge around topics of social media, online marketing and industry should be. If you’re paying someone hundreds or thousands of dollars to teach you this – I’d suggest paying them (or someone) to actually do the work of creating and maintaining your social media instead. Or, go online and find a free resource – there are plenty of blogs, articles and how-to guides out there available at the click of your free Google browser.

Microsoft Corp has launched its newest operating system, Windows 7 yesterday. Many PC users had decided to wait on pulling the trigger on moving away from their trusty Windows XP to Windows Vista. Some waited due to the lack of “polish” Windows Vista sported and others waited due to the rather tall price tag that came along with. The question now is whether it is time to upgrade to Windows 7.

Most of you that know me know that I have been a “PC guy” for many years. Its only been within the last several years that I began looking closer at Macs. While there is much that can be said on that topic, I will try to keep focussed on the subject at hand. I upgraded from Windows XP to Windows Vista and was expecting a lot and therefore disappointed when I finally got up and running. When I began running an evaluation copy of Windows 7 back in April of 2009, again, I had high hopes. Only this time I was very impressed!

Windows 7 picks off right where Windows Vista fell short. The interface is similar to Windows Vista. The Start menu has a comprehensive search for programs and files and there are links to everything you need in an organized fashion. The Taskbar has been redesigned to increase the size of icons and displays a thumbnail windows view called “Live Preview.” One of my favorite features is the ability to drag a window to the left or right side of the desktop (shortcut keys are “Windows + Left Arrow” and “Windows + Right Arrow”) and it will automatically resize to one half of the width of the screen. This allows for you to have two windows side-by-side without the hassle of manually resizing each window.

So after a quick few paragraphs of my thoughts I am sure all of you want to go out and immediately purchase your own copy of Windows 7. Okay, that probably isn’t exactly the case. However, if you are pondering the idea I suggest you start by looking through the Windows 7 Frequently Asked Questions and the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The REvolution is here! The REvolution tour that is… and I’m excited to be hitting the road this coming weekend to start talking to people in Northern California and Nevada about how they can make the most of their social media, technology and online experience.

After attending ReBarCamp San Francisco at the Inman Conference, I found myself inundated with questions about social media, technology and other online issues that people were having. Concerns about how much time this takes, skill levels, and how to keep up with it all were top order in phone calls, emails and face-to-face nervous conversations. I offered to a few people to hold an informal group discussion on social media and soon the “informal group” had progressed into more than 50 people. We’d need something other than a coffee house!

There’s no better time than NOW to get started on the right foot or to reboot to square one and get reinvigorated for this exciting e-lifestyle that’s upon us. With all of the information flying around in the webosphere about needing to be on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs, podcasting and more – it’s no wonder people are confused and frustrated with the list of “must-dos” and rules.

I want to help. I hate that people are having such a frustrating experience with something that I love, and that is meant to help them have MORE free time, not take it away! I’m not a Realtor, I’m a technology and social media professional and I’ve worked with companies like Cisco, Adobe and Silicon Valley social media start-up ShareThis.

So I decided to travel around the Bay Area and do a half day course that would cover social media, technology and how to be sure you stay in control of it, instead of the other way around! Now the first course date is upon us and I’m excited about heading up to Angels Camp, California, meeting a bunch of Realtors who want to learn more about what I’m so passionate about, and seeing a part of California that I don’t get to visit often.

If you’re in the area and want to stop by the tour and learn a bit more about making the technology you work with more manageable – we welcome everyone! If you want to get registered, check it out here.

Recently I’ve been asked for my two cents on the matter of selecting a new notebook computer. I am partial to two laptops – Dell for PCs and MacBook Pros from Apple. I don’t tend to care for other manufacturers for a variety of reasons.

Right off the bat you may decide to go with one or the other simply because of the operating system choice of Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X. One advantage with the Mac OS X is that you have the capability of installing Windows on the Mac using VMWare or Parallels. This requires a bit more of technical knowledge in being able to setup but it enables you to run your Windows applications on a Mac. Another main difference between the two of them is their price. Often times, Dell will offer notebooks starting at $499. The starting price point for a Macbook is $999. One can make the argument that the two prices are not comparing apples to apples (no pun intended). Pound for pound, I feel that the Macbook Pro is a better machine (hardware and software).

Dell offers a phenomenal warranty program with next (business) day and onsite repair for hardware issues with your computer. Apple does not offer that, but instead requires that you bring your laptop to an Apple store. Any issues found may be resolved at the Apple store while other repairs could take several weeks to resolve.

• In selecting the specific model I would recommend thinking seriously about which what types of things are most important to you. Some things to consider are:
• Size of screen
• Screen resolution
• Weight
• Ports (DVI / USB / Firewire, etc.)
• CPU speed
• Memory capacity
• Misc. Items (Onboard WWAN / Bluetooth, etc.)

For the Apple products, it is relatively easy to select your choice. You are fairly limited with choices between two models (Macbook and Macbook Pro) both of which come with many items such as wireless, ports, etc. as standard items while they may be considered “add-ons” by other computer makers. The Apple stores are a great place to see and hold the models first hand. The Apple store staff is usually very helpful and knowledgeable. The Dell site offers roughly a dozen models, all of which allow for customizations.

I hope this helps in your notebook search!

After a full week of CAR Conference related activities in San Jose, I left feeling exhausted and quite honestly a bit weary about the road ahead. I visited ReBarCamp Silicon Valley, Tech Tuesday, the CAR Expo and a number of networking events where the talk often turned to the economy, questions about how to implement the vast array of “must have” technologies” touted by “gurus” and the dwindling attendance at this year’s event.

I began to feel a sense of despair… we had so far to go through a rough economic climate, how would we survive and, moreover, how would we thrive? I decided to take a step back and to regroup, so I headed out to find a cup of coffee and my sanity.

While I sat there thinking over the hurdles we have yet to clear – getting everyone a base level of online training, integrating existing marketing practices with the new ones to come, and creating a solid focus for the industry to foster a high standard of excellence for the real estate profession – I found hope. I looked around at the people that had taken the time and money to come to the conference, the fervor of agents of all ages to learn new things, and the mentoring of generations throughout the field, and thought, at least we’re on the track and getting into the race.

So, how can we get things running smoothly? Here are some things I would recommend for conferences and any other training:

1. Know what you know, and make sure others know it too. One of the biggest frustrations I hear (at CAR and beyond) is that courses are either too hard or too easy for the audience attending. Be sure to research what sessions will cover and see if you have the skills/technology necessary to participate. If the course is too basic look for something advanced or attend a session on a topic that you haven’t tried and discover something new! Don’t be afraid to let conference or training officials know what you want from your experience. They don’t know what we don’t tell them!
2. Participate. You will only get out of a learning opportunity what you’re willing to put in. If you have questions, would like to participate in a discussion or feel confused – raise your hand, send an email or get in touch with the presenter to be sure your concerns are met.
3. Be in the moment. This means turning off and putting away your cell phone, computer, etc. Putting any preconceived notions aside and really listening to speakers – if you still don’t agree or don’t learn something of value at least you’ve done all you can!

People love seeing people, places and things they recognize on film. This isn’t a groundbreaking statement, yet most Realtors still aren’t integrating video with their home listings.

WHY NOT!? (Sorry, I’m just shocked by it.)

Video cameras are too expensive? – False. You can get a FlipCam for under $200 and it plugs straight into your computer, shoots in high definition, and will take up to two hours of filming.

You think it won’t work. – False. Being able to virtually walk through a property gives potential buyers a stronger sense of the home than seeing static pictures. This also means they know more about the home before contacting you, fewer unqualified leads.

Sellers don’t care. - False. You tell people that you’ll be featuring their home listing on a video and syndicating it out on YouTube, Dailymotion, and MetaCafe – which can provide billions of views per day – they will be excited to work with you. They’ll want to pass out the video to friends, family and colleagues!

At Realty World NCA, we provide a professional, full service video team that will come to your town, property and/or office and create videos for you. The kinds of videos we offer include: listing videos where you can be on camera or simply tell the videographer what you may like and they will narrate, city videos where you show off your community and provide it to incoming buyers to get them acquainted with the area, and office videos that serve to allow new recruits and potential clients to get to know you and your staff a bit better.

If you don’t have these services, consider investing in a FlipCam by Flip Video. The tool is easy to use, smaller than most cell phones, and makes videos on the go a cinch.

Got questions about videos? Contact me and I’ll answer your questions or put you in touch with our video professionals for more technical issues.

I’ve found that my mother’s old adage that things find you when you stop looking for them is true in my personal and professional life. When I cease to focus on making the right connections, impressing people, etc. and just focus on DOING what I love to do – it happens. A good example – I didn’t have a lot in common with a prospective agent recently until I mentioned I would be out of town coming for a social media tour, NAR Conference and the NYMarathon. Her eyes lit up at the mention of the marathon, as she’s been an avid runner for years and had some great tips for me. That opened up a great conversation! Below is my list of some things you can do to get out and about – but don’t join/start doing all these things – pick something you really love – because the magic will happen when you focus on bettering your life and the lives of others.

“Always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end.” – Immanuel Kant

Places to go:

1. Charity/Volunteer Work – Nothing makes us feel better about ourselves than helping someone less fortunate. There are causes for a variety of diseases, eco-friendly issues and much more – you can find something that fits. There are lots of ways to help too – write blog posts, organize or bake for bake sales, help at events, etc. Bonus – you really get to know your community, it’s members and you are seen giving back.
2. Exercise - Notice I didn’t just say the gym – the gym is good but there are also recreational sports leagues, running groups, run/walk for charity (there’s two in one!) and so many other ways to get out and get healthy while meeting other people. Bonus – Add years to your life by being in better shape.
3. Pets - Have a dog? Go to a dog park in your area. Look at ways to help beautify or preserve local dog parks, etc. Have an exotic pet? Look for online forums for others with the same type of pet. Bonus – Your pet will be grateful for the extra time together.
4. Schools - This can be at your child’s school, your alma mater or just a school in your community – they ALL need helping hands for an array of activities. Bonus – You’ll feel like a kid again!
5. Mentor – Find someone that has a similar interest as you but not the expertise and become a mentor. If you want more guidance join a Boys and Girls Club or similar program. Ask local schools if there are children in need of mentors. Bonus – You get to pass on some wisdom and affect someone’s future.
6. Classes – Want to learn another language, how to cook, knitting, tennis, anything??? Take a class to learn something new and share the excitement with others. Bonus – You’ll have a new skill that’s also a great conversation starter.

There’s no reason to not get involved and if you’ve checked out the blog post on time management then you have the time to close your laptop, shut off your phone and get out there!

Erin Robbins
Social Media & Marketing Director
erin.robbins@rwnc.net

So, as I’ve said before – I’m not a Realtor… but at least I know that… I wonder if the rest of the population does at times. It seems as though I can’t make it through a day without hearing so much conflicting information – a few examples:

“Now is the perfect time to buy, prices are so low, even California is affordable! Don’t miss out!”
“The market will really bottom out in a year or two when the next crash happens. Just wait til then.”
“No one can get approved – not even people with great credit.”

The list goes on and on – people everywhere spreading misinformation, propaganda and recycling news they’ve heard from others on the hot topic of the real estate market.

The fact of the situation is: Everyone’s situation is different – and only a Realtor can assess your situation and help you figure out the options that work best for you. If you’re thinking about buying, selling, staying put or just plain curious – contact a trusted Realtor to get some facts. Most are more than happy to talk shop with you and want to keep the public (even those of us not buying or selling right now) informed, because no one wins when you make a transaction you’re unhappy with.

So, stop listening to Suzie down the street; find a Realtor and ask away!

Erin Robbins
Social Media & Marketing Director
erin.robbins@rwnc.net

We all want to do well in life. We want to be successful at something (even thought we each define success differently) and that is a lifelong journey for many. Doing well can be defined as money, recognition, fancy things, a family or any combination of those and other things.

There is also doing good, and if you’re a grammar stickler like I am, you know that these are not the same thing. Doing good means doing the right thing for yourself, your colleagues and your community. This could mean ensuring that you are providing a safe and productive work environment, setting up recycling in your office, being a mentor to staff or others in your community or a myriad of other things.

As Realtors, we have the ability to do well and do good each day. We can close deals while providing honest information about schools, neighborhoods, resources and how a home will fit into someone’s budget all at the same time. We can make recommendations about what will fit in well with the lifestyle that buyers have said they are looking for and work to find sellers a pricing compromise that leaves everyone feeling fulfilled.

If doing well doesn’t also include doing good, take a second look at what you’re doing… maybe there’s a way to do both and if not, should you be doing it at all?

Erin Robbins
Social Media & Marketing Director
erin.robbins@rwnc.net

ReBarCamp Silicon Valley attendee, Guy Berry, recently asked me a question that I’m sure is on the minds of many in the real estate profession, “Where should my emphasis be in social media? Do I do Facebook, blogging, Twitter, everything?!?!”

Just like one size truly doesn’t fit all, neither does one social media site/solution. While many will tell you that you “need” to be participating in certain sites, I’d like to propose a different idea – that you participate in the sites that you will really participate in not just participating in what you’re told.

I would also recommend, especially if you’re new to online communities, building a real foundation in one, maybe two, online communities before branching out into more. This will ensure that the people you do interact with online find you engaging, consistent and meaningful.

Here are a few ways to tell what forums may be good for you:

• Blogging: You actually like to write. You can (and will) post three or four blog posts per week (more on how easy this can be in a later blog post.) You have a reasonable grasp of grammar, punctuation and the English language (this really is important – people are weary of someone handling their money and contracts that consistently misspells words or uses bad punctuation.)
• Facebook: You like to be online. You are into posting pictures, events, and things about YOU. You like to comment and check out what’s going on in other people’s lives, and you won’t use it to sell them on first contact. (Your first response to your best friend announcing her pregnancy should not be a suggestion and listing posted to her Facebook wall that you know of a great place with an extra bedroom and backyard for she and her growing family. That can come later…) You want control over people that can be friends with you and how much they see.
• Twitter: You own a smartphone and aren’t afraid to use it. You like to be in touch and are out and about with real stuff to be in touch about. You have a camera phone and will post pictures via TwitPic or other posting service. You can be concise, pithy even, with the ability to engage people in one to two sentences. You don’t mind not having control over everyone that follows/friends you.
• LinkedIn: You are just in it for professional contacts. You like networking and groups that are business-oriented. You want to post an online resume to showcase credentials and organizational memberships.

Now these certainly aren’t the only tools in the social media arsenal, but they’re a good starting point.

Realty World NCA offers its agents free blog websites through WordPress, but if you’re not a Realty World NCA agent you can get a free blog through WordPress.org (more on the difference between the two in an upcoming post), Blogger (a tool from Google) or TypePad. Realty World NCA also offers Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn training to its members, but if you are looking for a good training session on any of these tools, take a look at a free social media tour that I’m doing around eight cities in Northern California or catch up with me on my Facebook page, Twitter or LinkedIn for more information.

Erin Robbins
Social Media & Marketing Director
erin.robbins@rwnc.net