So What Exactly Does a Real Estate Virtual Assistant DO?

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I get a lot of email from Real Estate Agents, Coaches, Brokers, aspiring Virtual Assistants and other small business owners.  Some of them want free information (usually just the aspiring VA’s), some just want to know my rates, some want to complain about my rates.  Most are just curious:  ”So what exactly does a Real Estate Virtual Assistant DO?”

I can picture them on the other end of their computer with that glazed over, deer in the headlights look.  It sounds cool, but what the heck can you do for me?

I’d like to show them the 208 tasks that we added to our project management system this month!  But no, it’s a legitimate question that I often begin to answer with some questions of my own:

  • What is it that you do?
  • Who do you prefer to sell real estate to?  Yes, your target market.
  • Do you like working with buyers or sellers? (This question usually knocks them off balance a little.  I think they aren’t used to somebody caring).
  • Where are you stuck right now, this very moment.

That’s where we stop and I can start to get a feel for what their problem is.  This is where my wheels start turning and I’ve already half-way formulated a plan to un-stick them from this position.  I’m also going through my roster of amazing Virtual Assitants who I call my team members.  My chicks.

You see, I like to solve problems.  I want to find out what your biggest problem is and get it solved for you as quickly as possible so that when you’re finally free of that burden you feel as if you can take on anything.  When you’ve dumped some of your “tolerations” you are much more ready to start implementing a new marketing plan, or shifting your focus on more pressing matters, delegating more items to my team, and seeing more clients.

And in case you’re wondering, here is a list of “what we do”:

  • Listing Coordination
    • Add to MLS
    • Create Virtual Tour
    • Create syndicated flyer, QR Code, etc.
    • Create CL ads that drive traffic to website
    • Create new listing flyer, postcard, etc.
    • Reverse Prospecting
    • Post new listing to all social media networks
    • Make all necessary updates to online listings
    • Incorporate client’s existing listing plan
  • Transaction Management
    • “In the Cloud” file management
    • Work directly with clients, escrow, agents
    • Complete all disclosures & docs per broker’s  list
    • Coordinate with escrow, title and lenders
    • Schedule all needed appointments & inspections
    • Obtain signatures via DocuSign, fax or postal mail
  • Social Media for Real Estate Agents
    • Market to new clientso Protect your brand
    • Test new marketing ideas
    • Track all Social Media Metrics
    • Custom backgrounds and landing pages
    • Add new contacts systematically
    • Create professionally branded fan page
    • Post local content daily/weekly
    • Set up auto/semi-auto postingo Reply to DM’s on your behalf
    • Create events, invite contactso Pre-schedule tweets for max exposure
    • Geo-target people to follow
    • Add listing s to fan pageo Incorporate client’s existing social media plan
  • Blogging & Ghost Writing for Real Estate Agents
    • Creation of hyper-local content that you own
    • Creation of real estate content that you own
    • Repurposing previous blog posts
      • Other blogs
      • Social media networks
      • Newsletter or e-zineo
    • All post included pictures, keywords, approx. 300 words and are posted on your site
  • Market Updates, Flyers & Other Print Media
    • Creation of flyer template by former Senior Graphic Designer of the LA Times Real Estate
    • Creation of MLS search templates
    • Add a featured listing at the top of each flyer
    • All market activity is added to the flyer and set up for monthly delivery
    • Professionally printed and delivered to you
  • Database Management
    • Top Producer/Market Snapshot
    • Wise Agent, Ixact Contact, MLS Office, etc.
    • Strategize to find the best possible CRM
    • Creation of new drip campaigns/autoresponders
    • Categorize and assign all contacts
    • Create and maintain clear follow-up plan
    • Sync database w/ client & mobile devices
    • Link social networks to database if possible
    • Use database to build fan/friend/follower base
  • Miscellaneous Services
    • Business Strategizing
    • Full Bookkeeping
    • Calendar management
    • Phone answering
    • WordPress
      • Installation
      • Update
      • Customization
      • Anything!  We have dedicated pros!
    • Lead tracking/management
    • Newsletter creation & management
    • Update listings on websites
    • Photo enhancement
    • Systems & Processes development
    • Vendor management
    • List buildingo SEO/backlinking

 

Filed Under: Client Creations, Coffee with a VA, Ditch Your Desk, Escape the Paper, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M, Templates, Transaction Management Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Knowing Your Social Media ROI

March 14, 2011 By 1 Comment

Do you know what your Social Media ROI is? Most people don’t, but we can help you track it. Our monthly Social Media Metrics package can help you determine what works, where to spend, what to dump and how to move forward.

Here is a clip of Gary Vaynerchuk talking about how it’s all going to be based on your Social Graph:

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Social Media Marketing Rap!!

March 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Facebook Marketing Giveaway Report

February 15, 2011 By 1 Comment

Facebook Marketing Secrets - April Sullivan

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How to Use Facebook – 12 Tech Savvy Agent Tips

January 12, 2011 By 1 Comment

Tech Savvy Agent has been an amazing resource for me over the past year, and I’ve introduced many of my clients to them as well.  They always share the best of the best when it comes to real estate “stuff”.

Today they posted 12 ways to use facebook properly as an agent.  I’m going to go through each of these to make sure that I’m not missing any thing myself!

Facebook.  It’s a whole world of it’s own, isn’t it?!  I could honestly spend 4 hours a day working on articles and videos on how to make the most of it within your Real Estate business!  But alas, I do actually do other things than just post a blog or two on our site…   :O)

It’s always a good idea to take a look back and make sure that the items we have covered up until now have been put into practice – so with that said, here are 10 posts that you may have actually missed that you should really dive into before you start reading our next 10 articles we write!  Chances are, we won’t be writing about the same things again for quite some time!

1.   How to Add Contact Forms in Real Estate Facebook Fan Pages

2.   ROI and Real Estate Facebook Fan Pages

3.  Top 3 Facebook Apps for Real Estate Business Pages

4.   HOW TO: Create a Facebook List Real Estate Edition

5.   The Purpose Driven Strategy Test – Facebook Lead Generation

6.   Advanced Facebook for Real Estate Agents Webinar

7.   Top 3 Tips on How To Get More Fans on your Facebook Fan Page

8.    Why Is Adidas Doing That?

9.   How To Add the Facebook Like Box to your Blog

10.   How To:  Be Notified When Someone Posts on your Facebook Page

11.   Facebook Business Page Auto Notifications

12.  Facebook Messages Review

Here’s to another year of outstanding implementation and superb results from the business use of Facebook (and beyond)!

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Adding Real Estate Search to Your Facebook Page

December 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This was originally posted by Ross Hair and is titled The Cheap & Easy Way to Add Real Estate Search to Your Fan Page. I didn’t want to copy.  I learned a lot from Ross, as usual, durring SMMCamp last week.  A lot of it can be viewed on my Facebook Page.

Here’s the cheap and easy way to add real estate search to your Facebook Fan Page – and you don’t need to hire a developer.

This technique needs zero technical skills. It’s not quite as good as a full blown real estate search box application but it works almost as well and it has the advantage of getting the visitor to your website and not a general listing site.

I created a short report to give you a step-by-step guide - download the report here! (Please post a comment below if you like the report)

First let me tell you that there are a number of good search apps that you can use to show listings on your Facebook Fan page. Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Roost, Altos Research and a number of other large listing sites all have a Facebook app. The problem is that they take your visitor to their site and then poach your business by showing advertising from your competitors. Read more..

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

7 Ways a Virtual Assistant Can Boost a Real Estate Agent’s Business

November 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I Need a Virtual Assistant!We post it on our blogs, we tweet about it on Twitter, we write about it on our Facebook walls – all the ways that a Real Estate Virtual Assistant can help a Realtor® boost their business.   (Update:  You should also read my post titled Partnering with a VA to Grow Your Real Estate Business.

Here are my top 7:

  1. A Real Estate Virtual Assistant can help an agent appear to be more efficient. Yes, I said “appear”.  I know you’re already efficient, and most likely effective as well, but when you’re busy you can’t be in more than one place at a time.  A VA can help give your clients the illusion that you can do it all.
  2. A Real Estate Virtual Assistant can help you become more consistent. A good VA puts new systems into place in order to get all of your work done.  A great VA will also teach you these systems (if you’re willing to learn) and show you how to implement them.
  3. A Real Estate Virtual Assistant will show you what other agents are doing. We’re surrounded by different agents and VA’s all day long.  We know what other people are doing, what works for them and what has failed miserably.  We also take a look at your individual market to determine which programs will work best for you and your clientele.
  4. A Real Estate Virtual Assistant will help you keep in touch with your contacts and SOI. That being said, we can lead the proverbial horse to water but we can’t make the damn thing drink.  There WILL be work on your part to get this done properly (your voice) and consistently.
  5. A Real Estate Virtual Assistant will help to keep you relevant in this ever-changing online world. Blogging, tweeting, Facebooking, LinkedInning, Active Raining, webinaring, Googling, whatever, it’s important that you stay on top of it all.  Why?  Because home buyers and sellers are online A LOT and they want to learn something.  And they want to learn it from someone as tech savvy as they are.  Maybe that’s not you, but it’s a VA’s job to be on top of the latest trends and pushing gently guiding you toward them.
  6. A Real Estate Virtual Assistant does not require training. Period.  The end.  If you hire a VA that doesn’t already come with an entire tool box and tricks up their sleeve, move on.  They haven’t been around long enough to help in the way that a great VA should, and they shouldn’t be charging very much either.  That being said, if you’re using some outlandish program or are doing something new, then yes, expect to need to teach your VA how you are using it.  But most VA’s “get” programs very quickly, and are often the go-to person when someone has a question.
  7. Virtual Assistant’s (not just Real Estate VA’s) are generally lifelong learners and will enjoy teaching you what they know. My work is my absolute passion, and {when I have the time} I absolutely enjoy teaching my craft to my clients.  I learn from attending seminars, other VA’s, other agents, and just from life in general.  I am constantly looking at new and innovative ways to do things and love to pass on this information to others.
Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Auto Post Real Estate Listings To Your Facebook Business Page

November 29, 2010 By 4 Comments

I have for you today, step by step instructions on placing the “See My Listings” tab from Realtor.com on to your Facebook business page.

The tutorial is fairly simple, but if you just don’t have the time it takes to take care of it yourself, my chicks and I are happy to help!  Just fill out this Online Facebook Listing App order form and consider it done!

The finished product will look like this:

Step 1:  Go to http://apps.facebook.com/SeeMyListings

Step 2:  I’m going to assume that you already have a Business Page.  Click “configure” on the one you’d like your listings to show up on

Step 3:  Select your MLS, add your MLS ID and click “Add”.  If you are a member of more than one board, repeat these steps until you’ve added all boards.

Step 4:  Fill in your information and then click “Save and Configure Another Page”

Step 5:  Check it out!  If you see this page with the green check mark, you’ve done it correctly!  Go ahead and click on the name of your business page to view your listings.  If you’re still confused about how to create a
business page, click the bottom link.

Step 6:  Once you click the link to your business page, you’ll need to configure that properly as well.  Click “Edit Page” under the main picture.

Step 7:   In the tabs area, click on the double arrow tab so that it opens up and shows you the new “See My Listings” tab.  Click and hold it to drag it over just to the right of the “Info” tab.

{I’m sorry, I don’t have a picture for this right now.  When I tried to drag it, the tabs created 3 separate lines of tabs.  I have a feeling this is because Facebook has been changing tabs lately. }

Here is a picture of another completed Facebook Business Page that we did, with the tab in the correct place:

If you just don’t have the time it takes to take care of it yourself, my chicks and I are happy to help!  Just fill out this Online Facebook Listing App order form and consider it done!

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

My {Short} Review of RockMelt

November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment

From my Facebook business page

I finally got a chance to use the new browser RockMelt for a little while. First thoughts:

1) It’s cool if you don’t have work to do and you WANT to be distracted
2) It never properly imported my bookmarks
3) I couldn’t add an attachment in Gmail
4) It looks like Facebook tried to remake Chrome

I’m sticking with Chrome for now. I’ll mess with it a bit more to see if I can find actual benefits for Realtors to use.

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA, Real Estate Info, Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,