Happy New Year Realtors! Get ready for THE Year of Social Network Ads!

Happy New Year Realtors!


Get ready for THE Year of Social Network Ads!



It’s happening whether you like it or not, fight it or not, deny it or not – Social Networking (and advertising) and the Real Estate industry are a perfect match and it’s here to stay and growing like a wildfire!


Social Network Ad Spending & Real Estate IndustryLast month (November 2009), Facebook had over 350 MILLION users and primed to move ahead of rival Myspace in their advertisement revenue this coming year, according to a report from research firm, eMarketer. The same research firm anticipates that Facebook will net $605 MILLION in ad spending next year!


As more Realtors look to increasing their online presence and revenue through social networking avenues such as Facebook Fan Pages, so will their social network ad spending. Alternate online ad spending within the real estate industry declined this year, setting the stage for Realtor’s increase in social network ad budgets for 2010.


Since now is the time that many Realtors are looking at their budget for 2010, I would highly recommend that you leave room for your social media marketing expenses. These can include:



When it comes to social networking and how it has advanced small businesses (such as Real Estate brokers and their Realtors), the following is what Ad-ology (known as “the science of customer insights for strategic advertising and marketing“), found from a survey they recently conducted:


According to the “Small Business Marketing Forecast 2010”, lead generation is the biggest benefit of social networking for US small businesses, cited by one-half of respondents.


The number 1 roadblock, however, was the perception that “our customers do not use social networks,” claimed by 31% of small businesses. Nearly as many complained that they did not have the time or staff available to do a good job with social network marketing.


Don’t let time or available staff hold you back from putting your stamp on the most dynamic, business generating tool out there. I am your time and staff (better known as a real estate virtual assistant) when you need it the most! Being cognizant of the evolution of social media and social networking within the Real Estate industry, I have equipped myself with the tools and know-how to make your Real Estate presence be known where it matters. Social Media and Social Networking, along with other real estate marketing projects, are my specialty. Find out how I can make your business better, virtually!







Real Estate Virtual Assistant says Blogging Is A Waste Of Time!

Real Estate Virtual Assistant says Blogging Is A Waste Of Time!



However, there is an “UNLESS” missing here…



And the “Unless” is the key to transforming your wasted time to massive changes in your traffic, leads, and sales.



As a Real Estate Virtual Assistant who specializes in working on Realtor’s websites and blogs on a daily basis, I know the many secrets that makes a blog work for your benefit and what makes them a complete waste of time, space and effort. One of the secrets that is so obvious it almost hurts, is where your blog is hosted. Do YOU know where your blog is hosted? This is a basic question that I would say many (dare I say most) Realtor’s would be completely unable to answer, but is VITALLY IMPORTANT!



But“, you ask, “how can I tell whether or not my blog is hosted on my website?



Right now, go to your website where your blog is being posted and see if it says either:



http://www.yourwebsite.com/blog (or something similiar), or
http://www.yourwebsite.com/blogger.com (or another blogging platform such as wordpress, blogspot etc.,)



If it is the former, then GREAT! You have your blog hosted on your own website. If it is the latter, then you’re in dire need of some changes, and quick!



Hosting your blog on your own website is so important because without your blog being hosted within your own website, the search engines are not going to be driving traffic to your website, and therefore you won’t be getting increased traffic, leads or sales. The attachment is not there between your unhosted blog page and your website, so search engines such as Google do not correlate the two as having anything to do with one another.



Hosting your blog page on your website costs just pennies (about $50/year through GoDaddy) and is an absolute must. So if you aren’t sure, go to your blog right now and see what your url says.



For more information on blogging and how you can make yours work for you, check out my previous post on Top Tips for Making Blogging Worthwhile.



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Real Estate Virtual Assistant How To Guide: Facebook Fan Page Research

Real Estate Virtual Assistant How To Guide


Facebook Fan Page Research



At some point in time, I am sure you, or someone you have paid (such as a Real Estate Virtual Assistant), has conducted some extensive research into how your competition is getting top page ranking on such search engines as Google.



But what about Facebook? Have you done any research to find out what your competition is, what your competition is doing and what your competition is not doing? If not, I would highly recommend that you do!



Following is a Real Estate Virtual Assistant How To Guide to conduct your own Facebook Fan Page Research:






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#1 Real Estate Virtual Assistant Tip of the Week

#1 Real Estate Virtual Assistant Tip of the Week


Getting Shoppers To Shop!



This morning I had a great conversation with a new connection I made directly through my social networking efforts. He gave me some wonderfully refreshing information that reminded me to remind you what the purpose of all this is:


What is Your Ultimate Goal?

To Make Money!



But how do you make money?



It’s a three step process:


  1. Get Traffic
  2. Get Leads
  3. Solidify Sales



Many Real Estate Virtual Assistants and their Real Estate Agent clients have #1 down with their blogging, online listing marketing, social networking, etc., but what about #2 (and subsequently #3)?  How are you getting those shoppers to shop?



You must incorporate opt-ins throughout your websites, which includes your social networking sites.


Here’s an example of an opt-in created within a Facebook Fan Page:



Real Estate Virtual Assistant Opt-In on Facebook Fan Page



By simply adding this embedded form on your Facebook Fan Page (remember, this is NOT your Facebook Profile – that is for your PERSONAL life!) you will gain leads instead of just browsers.



You will also notice at the bottom of this blog, another opt-in. This can be incorporated on any website or blog – you have to give your audience a way into your show! Have multiple doors in place and the higher the liklihood that they will enter. And the more that enters, the more shows (or in your case, Sales) you will be able to execute.



Now don’t be shy – opt-in!


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Real Estate Virtual Assistants and Social Networking

Real Estate Virtual Assistants and Social Networking

Real Estate Virtual Assistants and Social NetworkingThe times of snail mail, email and postcards are things of the past – social networking for your business growth and resilience is here to stay. But do you have time for it? Well, you should… and you shouldn’t.


It can’t (and shouldn’t!) be ignored – Real Estate Virtual Assistants and Social Networking is a perfect match! My business (and the business of my real estate client’s) has grown ten-fold over the past 6 months alone with the new niche’s of online marketing (via social networking) that I have learned and put into effect for my real estate agent clients. Here is a list of some of the immediate items that I recommend (and can also implement) for my clients when it comes to getting all the T’s crossed and I’s dotted in the real estate social networking and online marketing web of Internet:


  • Create at least one Fan Page on Facebook (use Facebook’s profile page for your PERSONAL use only!)
  • Register each blog website with Technorati
  • Each Blog Post must be added as bookmarks on Digg, Yahoo Buzz, StumbleUpon and Reddit
  • Utilize Ping.fm for mass updating to the top social networking sites
  • Add custom applications (such as RSS Feed, NetworkedBlogs, Market Snapshot, etc.,) to your Fan Page on Facebook
  • Update both Trulia and Zillow sites with Social Networking site links
  • Create a MyBlogLog account and add social networking site signatures to email account(s)
  • Add social networking widgets to all Blog Websites (including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo)
  • Search engine optimize blogs created with keyword/keyword phrases for consist crawling and increase in ranking


These are the basics that must be carried out (and consistently continued where applicable) when putting all the social networking and online presence into place – there of course is much more to be done all of which can be outsourced to a real estate virtual assistant. This coupled with your own 5-10 minutes a day of your personal input and touches will get you where you need to be and get you what you want to have – more time to make more money.


What has your Real Estate Virtual Assistant done for your Social Networking lately?