Sharing: 7 Reasons to Start Blogging More Now

November 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Read it on Jimmy Mackin’s site, TheMLSApp.com to read his comments.

Hubspot’s 100 Awesome Marketing Stats, Charts, & Graphs highlights statistics on why every business should be blogging early and often.

Here are my favorites

#1. More Traffic

#2.  More Leads

#3 – Frequency Matters

 

#4.  Volume Matters

 

#5. Get Found on Google

 

#6.  More Indexed Pages = More Leads

 

#7.  Save Money!

 

 

This guide was packed full of AWESOME statistics on Blogging, Social Media, and SEO.  I highly recommend downloading it.

 

 

Filed Under: Facebook Marketing ·

Filed Under: Real Estate S & M Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Working Smarter Works for Me

April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Over the years of being in business for myself, and before that with my husband, I’ve had to develop a whole lot of systems and processes in order to get things done.  Some have worked and some have failed miserably, but they’ve all taught me something.

Recently, I took my business which had been running smoothly for the last 3 years, and decided to:

  1. Hire a bunch more VA’s
  2. Take on a few more clients
  3. Change my project management system AND my invoicing system

1 and 2 went great.  I bet a bunch of VA’s who were extremely talented in their chosen fields (social media, databases, accounting, design, etc.) and a lot of awesome Realtors.

#3 just about killed me and made me want to shut my doors.  I had take tons of information from Basecamp and just dumped it all in Google Docs.  Needless to say, I drove everyone on my team nuts.  And while I don’t have a specific way to fix all that just yet, I can share some other ways to work smarter:

  1. Batch your time.  If you’re going to write,  block off a few hours and do nothing but write.  If you’re going to schedule some tweets, utilize HootSuite, or my new favorite, Timely.is  When I do this, I can get a week or two worth of blog posts and twitter updates.  You should also use time batching for running errands – schedule everything at once and just go!
  2. Work that calendar!  I have about 6 or 7 Google Calendars that I use on a daily basis.  I don’t schedule in everything, but I do make sure that I’ve blocked off time for myself each day (lunch break!) and then I also use it to batch time with clients by the type of work that needs to be done.  I’ll schedule in calls one right after the other in order to save time, and everything of course syncs with my Android phone.
  3. Goals & Purpose.  I no longer do any work or take on clients that don’t align me with my goals and my purpose.  It’s been tough to learn how to say no, and to turn down money but it’s been better in the long run for my business, my family and myself.
  4. I teach and live by the 80/20 rule.  {80% of my results come from 20% of my efforts}.  I try my best to focus on that 20%, and delegate the rest.  I encourage my clients to find that 20%, and send the 80% to my team.  I encourage my team to find their 20%, and only take work from me that is in alignment with that.  The result?  More efficiency, and easier people to deal with.
  5. Make lists – and use them!  I love making lists, but I rarely ever look at them again.  I now have 4 lists that I maintain:  My master list of everything: projects, articles, content ideas,etc., my weekly priority list where I plan out my week each Monday (this ends up on my Google calendars), my daily priority list of things that I check off as I go along, and a dreams & goals notebook.

What kinds of systems have you put in place that have allowed you to work smarter?

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

What is Your Why?

April 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

What is your why?Why do you sell Real Estate?  Is it because you like helping people, do you love the money (when its good) or is it all about the flexibility of your time?

In order to be successful in ANY part of life, including your career, you’ll need to have a clear purpose, a compelling reason that drives you.

Think about it for a little while, and dig a little deeper than you normally do.  Figure out what your “why” really is – not just what you tell people.  In an age when Realtors are deemed almost as untrustworthy as an attorney, you’ll need to feel your passion in order to project that out to your clients and prospective clients.

For me, I’ve always loved to create things.  I’ve always had HUGE ideas, and I’ve always tried to find a better way to do things.  I never did well in the traditional work environment, as I have always questioned the systems, or lack thereof, that were forced upon me.  So for me, my “why” is about freedom.

I’ve also never been able to put my children on the back burner so that I could slave away for another person – one who didn’t care if I missed any milestones in my children’s lives.  That would make another “why” family.

And finally, if I may continue with the “F” theme, Fortune.  I make my own fortune.  Large or small, it’s mine and I made it through my own blood, sweat and tears.  Never again will I work from sun up to sun down, barely seeing my husband or kids, working to pay someone else’s mortgage.  Even on the days when I want to crawl back in bed and never read another email again, I am still truly grateful and truly happy.

So what is your why?  What drives you to keep plugging along day in and day out?  What makes you still want it even through the really tough times?  What is your purpose?

Filed Under: Coffee with a VA Tagged With: , , , , ,