...it's not over yet.
It's just moved a bit downstream.
Everyone is going to need help.
Last week I went out to check out where
the sandbags and sand were-this is the sign I saw:
I got out and did what I could.
The rest of the story is here-a long week in the flood!
...It's not over yet.
Steve
Obeoman
For a limited time,
Obeo is offering free virtual tours
to ALL REALTORS!
Here. There. EVERYWHERE and Anywhere to ANYONE
in the afterlife.
Because we know
FREE IS GOOD
and REALTORS LIKE FREE!
In fact,
WE WILL BUY YOUR LISTING
IF IT IS NEVER-EVER SOLD BY ANY ONE, FOREVER!
SO-
in the time it took you to read this,
the offer expired.
But hey-APRIL FOOLS DAY
only comes once a year.
So, now you get to leave a comment.
I promise not to moderate it!
(...April Fools 2x!)
Steve
(These links below are REAL, OK-no foolin')
ONE MILLION buyers a month are here!
Obeo Homesite - New and FREE!
Obeo SpaceDesigner-Interactive floorplan.
Obeo StyleDesigner-Redecorate your home on line!
ObeoConnect-Bilingual call capture, lead generator and listing tool.
Obeoman in WI-262-325-8687
Obeo National: 1-800-729-6236
(Test pattern found in Google image search)
...of the current real estate market.
It is only a test.
The market has done this before, and will do it again.
If this were a complete disaster,
we would all be in a lot worse shape.
True, there are those in tough times.
They should call their banker, communicate with them
and work with them.
Realtors experiencing distress
should take a hard look at their marketing program:
prepare to get your listings on line,
join social networks,
and begin blogging immediately.
This is only a test.
If it were a complete disaster,
you would not be reading this blog.
Steve
Hard Knowledge for Soft Skills
(Madison, WI Skyline-seen from Lake Monona)
?
(Urban Outfitters is selling a Charlie Brown Christmas tree.)
Sellsius offers up a late serving of turkey with a video from Brian Copeland , a Realtor in Nashville. (His blog, Nashville and Beyond, has decent content and some pretty funny and fun things things to know about the area.)
Even though the market forces have virtual tours as the leading form of RE marketing-over a million buyers a month visit Obeo-once more we have to hear how RE web video is the way to go.
My reply at Sellsius:
Brian,
Virtual tours are the most widely used form of web RE marketing; this is what the consumer wants because this is where the consumer money is being spent.
Video tours do not work for most listings because:
-Video tours are not aggregated or distributed effectively on the web.
-Video tours lack visual quality: most RE video is poor to average.
-Video tours are not cost effective for most listings.
Obeoman
steven.stearns@obeo.com
Virtual tours are the leading form of marketing properties on the web:
Sellers list with Realtors who sell,and Realtors who sell are using millions-perhaps billions, worldwide - virtual tours to market listings.
Because it is cost and labor intensive, RE web video remains a niche tool for luxury listings, unique locations and as a marketing tool for funny, charismatic or extremely dynamic Relators or agencies.
By the way, keep an eye on the blog here - in the coming weeks, Obeo will be showing you why virtual tours are and will remain the best way to market any property on line or anywhere. How buyers love virtual tours, and sellers love them, too.
Buyers want to own their home when they see it on line.
Obeo will help them do that, and more.
I gotta go sell something!
Obeoman
steven.stearns@obeo.com
Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.
(Photo borrowed from Ontario Archives)In China, if you are one in a million, there are 1,300 of you.
Today, we are going to talk about why you milk the cow, get the cream and
how this keeps you moooovin' in the market.
Where to start?
Break out!
Of the old marketing habits. Remember, this market moves so fast, you have to ! Take a look at what you are doing and turn it upside down and shake it out!
Review your budget today and put your money where the consumer is: Better put most of it into your website, virtual tours and if you do use print, make sure you have your website featured prominently in your newspaper ad. Eight out of ten buyers are looking online for their home - realign you budget to reflect that reality! Use some of that money to make sure you can get and send email from where you are and capture client information for leads.
Standout!
Redo your biz card: so they are consistent and high quality. CD business cards with your listings on them? A great way to replace the old biz cards - and keep the Internet empowered consumer engaged.
Renew your information, news and industry education: Be an E PRO - run, do not walk to this Realtor designation! Remember, you have to be ready for the on line consumer and they are going to prefer the E Pro because that's basically where they learn, look and live with their information - on line! YOu should be reading Inman News and RISMedia every day - delivered to your email and for FREE!
And again-Get your BLOG on, and join an online community: Get started by reading blogs! Remember, a blog is a conversation you have with the readers. Respond to blogs-anyone who has one is dying for a comment! Join a community like activerain.com or wannanetwork.com - post in the forums, ask questions and learn from your peers. This is the leading edge of the future, and those who choose not to participate in social media do so at their own risk.
NOW, MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Watch this REMAX realtor Powerpoint - all the reasons and everything you need to know is right here!
Well, call me on my jaxtr at the top of the page if you have any questions, and I will get back to you!
Shake it up and have fun!
Obeoman
(Free Cash Cow ! - found at istockphotodotcom)Okay, ReMax North Central and all other Realtors: for the next couple of days, the blog here will offer a summary of great ways to get your marketing program moving - all crazy and most for FREE!
Start out knowing if you want the cream, ya gotta milk the cow:
-8 out of 10 buyers are on line;
-10-12 months-the amount of time people spend looking on line when they are getting ready to move;
-Right now - 2 hours from now-the amount of time the empowered Internet consumer will expect to hear from you, the Realtor when they find you on line.
-Realtors are Number One - with the Internet consumer - 80% of on line consumers will use the first real estate professional they talk to
Be ready for the empowered Internet consumer:
First, get your listings online at Obeo: 1 million visitors a month can't be beat - the first-class on line statistical reporting and photos you can keep using! -And don't forget to link your own website to Obeo for maximum traffic!
Second, distribute your tours on free sites using postlets : create a flyer with your great Obeo photos and spread the word about your listings at these other key sites for FREE:
backpage.com
craigslist
edgeio
Google Base
HotPads
LiveDeal
Oodle
Propsmart
Trulia
Vast
Third, start blogging and be the neighborhood expert: for free at blogger.com .
Blogging is how you tell your buyers about where you live, the fun you have there, who else lives there, where they can live around where you are and why they should buy a home there. Blogging is a conversation - so talk to these people in your blog like neighbors over the fence about what is going on where you live - after all, they will be your neighbors.
Fourth, get in an online community and get engaged : like activerain or wannanetwork. You'll find other Realtors at these sites, ideas for your blog and better yet, buyers and sellers looking for information from Realtors!
Get another bucket-this one is full - and check back tomorrow and the day after for more FREE marketing tools and ways to make the market happen for YOU!
Obeoman
...a total no-brainer and a great idea to share with everyone!
Anyway, on with the Monday Mashup:
REAL ESTATE IS STILL KING:
Nice little piece from the Birmingham Business Journal - according to a survey by the Guidant Financial Group, the majority of those folks holding money and looking towards their retirement saw real estate as a secure and worthy investment - despite the obvious market issues right now.
There are always peaks and valleys, but if you connect all the high points, the curve still goes up. Tell that to your lookie-loos on Sunday!
...c'mon, get your blog on - watch this:
And since we are all counting on the value of homes, why not add to your value as an agent by being more 2.0? Get started by watching Eric Hersman of Realty Thoughts at Inman TV. Blogging, social networking, being in online communities for Realtors, like Wannanetwork or activerain - all can lead to offline connections that can help you grow your sales. Eight out of ten consumers are online - where are you on that "X"?
...still on the fence? Don't think that all this webby stuff will work for you? :
Better read the Reno Realty Blog by Diane Cohn - she dishes on what is up with real estate in her neck of the woods, how the professional Realtors won't starve and says her blog is helping - so they are spreading the word with blogging classes.
As for me, I am working on a blogger meet-up sometime in the next three weeks for bloggers in Madison and Milwaukee- if you wanna come, just call me or drop me a line!
Obeoman
steven.stearns@obeo.com
Posts
All Comments
