April 2012
A huge thank you to Bill Risser, VP/Director of New Media & Education for Chicago Title Agency. Jason Ake, Owner of Think Tank Solutions. Chris Boesel, REALTOR® United Brokers Group. (Below is the Prezi Presentation from the April Resource Meeting)
March 2012
Thanks to Marc Lemaire for sharing how to have your Facebook fanpage show up when someone is searching from a Google search and NOT logged into facebook. For additional information or help please call or email Marc at: (480) 242-2230 or Marc.Lemaire@ptaaz.com
February 2012
Have you started using Google Voice?
Google Voice basics
About Google Voice
Google Voice gives you one number for all your phones — a phone number that is tied to you, not to a device or a location. Use Google Voice to simplify the way you use phones, make using voicemail as easy as email, customize your callers’ experience, and more.
Google Voice isn’t a phone service, but it lets you manage all of your phones. Google Voice works with mobile phones, desk phones, work phones, and VoIP lines. There’s nothing to download, upload, or install, and you don’t have to make or take calls using a computer.
Google Voice will let you define which phones ring, based on who’s calling, and even let you ListenInTM on voicemail before answering the call. We use smart technology to route your calls. So, if you’re already on a Google Voice call, we’ll recognize it and use call waiting to reach you on the phone you’re on.
Note: At this time Google Voice is only available in theU.S.
Learn more about how Google Voice works.
Links shared from Google, Thanks to Sasha Lopez for Sharing
January 2012
Are you using Facebook efficiently? Do you post your “status” WITHOUT choosing a particular audience? Learn how to create lists and reach a more personalized audience by watching these videos on YouTube: http://youtu.be/F0DV32Vn5p0 and http://youtu.be/qA1b3gmZkVc. If you are not creating specific lists you are NOT reaching the audience you think!!! Links shared with permission by Bill Risser.
December 2011
Have you heard of Houselogic? It’s a public website that your clients can use. Affiliates can also use this version to assist your clients. However, the REALTOR Content Resource page is only available to REALTORS and is definitely a valuable benefit INCLUDED in your memberhsip to NAR. You will need your NRDS # to login and create a binder.
HouseLogic is a website with CURRENT articles, already written, that you can share on Facebook, Twitter, add to your newsletter or post on your own website or blog. You can also send them by email or print flyers to mail to clients. Awesome!
Articles include things like Home Improvement, Maintenance and Repair, Outdoors, Green Living, Protect Your Home, Home Taxes and Financing, Energy Rebates, tankless hot water heaters, etc. Very cool stuff!
For more info: visit http://www.houselogic.com/. REALTORS login to the REALTOR Content Resource page.
November 2011
Do you use Wise Agent? I have for years, but I hadn’t taken a review class for at least a year or more. So when I took one recently I learned what I’ve been missing! Thanks to a FREE class by American Title Service Agency and First American Home Buyers Protection Corporation, I learned that:
- Wise Agent will sync with Google calendars and contacts
- You can sort your databse now by A, B, C, D (no more creating separate categories)
- You can link your clients to their Facebook and Twitter accounts, and RSS feeds
- Add pictures to your clients
- Wise Agent is now partnered with MailChimp and Klout
- Track your transactions, store important documents
- Link other agents to your account to share calendars, to do lists, etc.
- Use updated checklists and create your own
And their marketing programs are better than ever! “Like” their FaceBook fan page and get all the updates as they happen. And take a class. It is definitely worth your time!
October 2011
Spruce up your website by adding the “widgets” below. Widgets are mini applications that can be added to any Web page or blog. By adding these useful tools to your site, you can increase the dynamic content you offer, allow users to interact with your site, and create enough curiosity for a visitor to request more information from you. For more info (and to find these widgets and apps) visit Ann Brown’s article at http://www.wcr.org/MemberCenter/eNewsletter/ArticleTheBestandFreeRealEstateWidgets/tabid/663/Default.aspx and click on the “live” links.
- Eppraisal.com (free): City Home Values, National Metro Are Rankings, Home Values, Home Affordability, Most expensive zipcodes, Least expensive zipcodes
- Trulia: TruliaSlideshow, TruliaMap, TruliaStats
- Mapvine
- HomeFinder.com
- HGTV Front Door
- Local Schools (Education.com)
- REALTOR.com: If you have a facebook page, this app will connect your listings on REALTOR.com to your business fan page
September 2011
Are you an iPad user? Be sure to read the WCR 3Q Newsletter (out soon) for iPad information! You can also download several different apps (for FREE) with Tips and Tricks. “AroundMe” is also a great app for finding businesses near you.
Blackberry users: Ever try to dial a phone number that is a word instead of numbers? Hold the “Alt” key and type on the letters. It will transcribe into numbers!
August 2011
Would you like to know how to make “inputting” a listing into the MLS easier? Log into the MLS. Create a new listing with your agent information and the property address. Click on “populate” to automatically add the tax info. (You may also add any other info you may have on hand.) Save the listing as INCOMPLETE. This will take you to the “incomplete listings” menu. Choose the listing you just created and click print (at the bottom of the page). Under “Generate Input Form” click on the “print input form”. If you don’t want the lists of counties, schools, and explanations of how to fill out the form, uncheck the box that says “print possible values for fields with lists”. This profile sheet will be the most CURRENT version of the MLS and will make inputting the information much easier. Print the form and fill in the missing info. You no longer have to go to ARMLS to print an OLD form!!!
July 2011
- Are you using Digital Ink yet? It’s FREE through AAR.
AAR now offers unlimited zipLogix® Digital Ink™ electronic signatures to AAR members included in your membership dues. ZipLogix® Digital Ink™ is a digital signature solution for signing transactional documents within zipForm® 6. Digital signatures improve your efficiency while reducing costs, saving time, eliminating delays, and better serving customers. They facilitate quick, easy interaction between REALTOR® and client, and encourage a paperless transaction. Digital signatures revolutionize the customer experience and offer your customer a truly paperless electronic process that can be trusted. Instantly e-mail real estate forms requiring signatures and eliminate the cost and time expense of printing, faxing, or cross-town meetings to get paper copies signed. Start planning for a more efficient 2011 by trying your zipLogix® Digital Ink™ member benefit today. (Copied from AAR website).
Go to: http://www.aaronline.com/BusinessServices/#digitalink for more information, FAQ, dowloadable documents, etc.
June 2011
Did you hear about the NEW FREE WCR Mobile App for IPhone, IPad, Android and Blackberry Storm 2? What does the Women’s Council’s new mobile app mean for you and your real estate business? It means the entire membership directory is conveniently available on your mobile device. It means free education tools, videos, how-to articles and more, right at your fingertips. You can even update your contact information and your Member Expertise Profile on the fly! If you are a chapter officer, you can also access the Chapter Management Center—all the functionality without being tied to your desk! Rosters, reports, even labels! To download, go to: http://www.wcr.org/AboutUs/BenefitsServices/MobileApp/tabid/569/Default.aspx
May 2011
Do you know how much Google can really do for you? For FREE?
- “Gmail” addresses allow you to share accounts (good tool for team members)
- Google Maps
- Google Calendar allows you to share your calendar appointments with others (FYI: you can load this calendar on your FLEXMLS home page!) Take an ARMLS class for more info on this
- Information (like Gmail and calendar) is automatically synced between your phone & Outlook
- Google allows you to create and store your real estate documents online. Travel and have all your client’s info at your fingertips online!
- Google Voice offers a free phone line, free online calls and really affordable international calling online
- And LOTS more!
April 2011
Are you a broker? ARMLS creates new classes for brokers once a quarter. They are designed around the most current issues, programs, events, technology, etc. The brokers are encouraged to take the class and then share what they’ve learned with their agents. The “2011 Broker Q2″ class is ALL about FREE technology for agents. Register at ARMLS today, classes fill up fast!
*FYI: Broker Connection classes are also offered to ALL brokers. They are held once a month at SEVRAR. They discuss things like MARS, E&O insurance, policy & procedure manuals, etc. Is YOUR broker attending these classes and sharing the information with you?
March 2011
When was the last time you checked out www.AARONLINE.com and searched the “business services” on the right side of the page? There are all kinds of new technology features already included in your fees for being a member of AAR. If you attended the Winter Conference in Prescott in March, you learned about a few of these. Including the newest version of Sureclose Transaction Management! It is called Advantage. It is an upgrade from the old system. And if you have used the old version (like me) this is SO MUCH EASIER!!! Not only will they retrain you on the new system but they will come out to your office to get you set up. They have designed new, helpful forms for inputting information & now accomodate short sales! Call (480) 304-8930 or email support@aaronline.com.
February 2011
This is to shorten a link which is generally used on twitter to save space. It can be used also to track how many people have opened a link on your facebook or in your email links. If you find a link you want to use open http://goo.gl/ and paste the link you find, and press the “shorten” button. You then take the shortened link and paste it wherever you would like to share it with people. Tracking links will help you see what items of value your sphere looks it and uses. http://goo.gl/
January 2011
Dropbox.com is a great resource to be able to back up documents and share folders with others that you choose. It is simple to download and can be accessed from any computer using your login infomation. This link will get you started and walk you through step by step. Dropbox
Questions about these tech tips? Call Sasha Lopez at 480.442.7584 or Marci Slater 602.738.9103.