Entries from January 2008 ↓

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I have been totally overwhelmed by the amount of the social network invites that I received lately. There is no way you can actively participate on all of these networks, be effective and actually get work outside of the internet done. I have never had the time to really just work one and create an actual plan to make it effective. It seems that I have just been following the flock to the next new network. So, as part of my 2008 New Year’s resolution…manage the social networks, before they get the better part of me.

I plan on focusing on less than 6 networks in 2008. I intend on building a plan for each one on how I will market myself…truthfully that is what it is all about, marketing yourself. Just as in real life, you cannot be everywhere all the time. You are going to drop one of those balls eventually. I feel that also applies with the cyber-world. You have to tend to each of these sites in order to be effective.

I am always asked about internet technology in the office. I tend to gravitate to all of the technology mumbo jumbo and then it’s followed with “do you make money on it?” Actually no, but I know my time spent here and there and over there is money in the bank, but only if I use my time and effort wisely. I plan on creating a series of my thoughts and plans the whole Social Networking idea.

Avoiding the MySpace Mistake - MySpace has been the pioneer in the Social networking sites. If you haven’t been part of all of the other networking scenes, you have at least heard of MySpace. The netiquitte that is recommended here can be extended into any of the social networks. I think one of the biggest problems with new people jumping into the social network scene as a business…they immediately want to push their goods on you. You have seen it and still see it on Active Rain. (one of the most popular Real Estate Networks)

“This isn’t a direct marketing tool, this is human communication,” says Rob Key, chief executive officer of social marketing firm Converseon. “You don’t have to beat people over the head.”

How many times have you seen the copy and paste of every advertisement the author has in his arsenal? My friend Jeff Turner said it best and it has really stuck with me. When you are on the internet you are constantly thinking about SEO, but it is much bigger than that. It’s about YEO!!! My social network needs to go face to face more aggressively this year.

My 2008 Social Media Plans:

Facebook. Update and network on it at least once a week. Dump all the garbage applications - don’t poke me, don’t buy me drinks, and don’t throw sheep. I want to see what you have to offer and read your blog post. I do want to get to know you, but lets keep it somewhat professional until we get to know each other a little better.

LinkedIn. Is one of the more professional networks that I have found. Build on the idea of Six degrees of separation. I have been building a network of past collegues, friends, and industry experts. But one problem is that I have not been using all of the features and functions it has to offer. The Answer section helps you build a reputation of an industry expert. Utilize this once a week.

ActiveRain Post once a week and comment more on new members post. It is about building relationships. My issue here has been it lost the pizzazz that it once had and I lost the desire to network here. It used to be fun and engaging with people until the whining starts. If you don’t like what someone has to say or do, stop following or commenting on their blogs. Don’t whine about it. Just let it go and move on, life’s too short to be miserable. This blogging platform has all the right tools to let the newest of Real Estate Professionals to be found on the internet.

Blogs

Focus On Frederick - I currently write 3 times a week here. This one needs more Real Estate information. I currently post Market Updates on Monday, Wednesday has been Industry related, and Fridays have been fun. One more day of Industry related content needs to be added. I also intend on removing the Adsense on this blog. I experimented with it for a while and feel it’s distracting in its current format. If I can find the right app to implement cohesive ads, then I might continue. The question about the local competitor ads on adsense…they should be scared that their ad was found on my site. I have been to their sites and I’m not concerned, consumers click away. Customers are finding my site for free…it just cost you a buck and I still get the customer.

Focus On Mt Airy - Office blog - This one I am teaching a group of agents on the blogging basics, the mechanics of Wordpress.com, and the basics of blogging SEO. Google seems to love Wordpress if you manage to talk to it right. The idea is to make it invisible to the reader. (I am still learning this one)

Bob’s Brain Dump - This is where I will post my thoughts on technical mumbo jumbo. This is the place where I can say what’s on my mind. I want to stay focused here for the web stuff…but not exclusive. If it doesn’t fit anywhere else…it’s dumped here. I need to grow this one adfasfd

2 other blog in the making and they not ready for publication

Twitter - Microblogging (aka chatroom) but its more fulfilling. You can Twitterfeed your blogs for everyone to read. With Shareaholic Plugin you can share what you are reading on the internet. Right now, I am finding this to be a very viral form of marketing. But I must caution you, it is addicting. What I like about this is also, you have the choice of who is allowed to follow you and who you follow. You don’t like what you’re reading just stop following. It is great to follow some of the major players in Web 2.o, makes it easy to keep up with the latest information.

Flickr has to be top with me. They say you hobby should make you money…I am far from making money at it. But truly enjoy it. Flickr is not only a storage place for photos, but it is also a social network. I have met quite a few people just from finding some great local pictures and people finding my photos. Photography has been a hobby for me…now it’s a way to meet people in my area. Flickr has a great interface that lets you also post to your blogs. I specifically use it for a Mobile Phone Blog. It’s just a creative release for me….or simple acts of geekdom.

www.flickr.com gotbob’s Frederick Community photoset

Plaxo Pulse. This has to be my last one for the year. This decision was made today after seeing all the hubbub on Twitter about Robert Scoble “scraping” data from facebook. I admire his insight and expertise on the whole internet convergence ideas. I have been following him for sometime now and actually have one of his books…just haven’t started to read it yet. This is only the beginning of my research of him. There’s a variety of opinions on him…but isn’t there about everyone?

Now will I really just stop at joining networks...probably not, but I do need a plan in order regain control of my time. I need to utilize each of these social networks to the best of their ability. And then taking that time to actually relate to new people…and that’s what it’s all about!

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I had a quick question from Pamela LeBlanc today about Mail Merge and Publisher. She is creating a post card for a neighborhood.  She needs to pull the tax records from our MLS and merge that file onto her postcard. I thought I had already wrote about this, but I was wrong. I did one on Using Mail Merge on Microsoft Outlook.

So here’s how you use Mail Merge on Microsoft Publisher…

First you will need to get your data file. If you have a mail list already, you won’t need to build one from the tax records. This is also a good way to build your farm list. In Pamela’s instance, this is only going to be a one time use and she can delete the data file after she is done. Her Sellers want to offer a bounty to the neighborhood to bring a bona fide buyer (and close on the property.) It’s time to think outside the box! (she knows and I know it’s still in the price and condition that is the magic combination.)

Search for your neighborhood in the tax records for the homes you want in your mailing. I did a search for Wormans Mills but only found a few homes. Looks like the majority are called Park Place on the Tuscarora now.

Now you are ready for exporting the file. I leave it as “Tax Default” This way all the data fields are in the file for you to use. You might want a part of the tax record included in your mail merge like the transaction date to remind the buyer how long they had the house. (Not in Pamela’s use)

Now you have your data file. Remember where you saved it.

NOTE: If you are using one of the Workstations in one of the Long & Foster workrooms, you will not be able to merge this file to Publisher. You will need to save it, open MS Excel and then open that txt file. If it doesn’t automatically place all the fields into columns, Click on Data and then “Text to columns”. Save this file as excel workbook. This will be your new data file.

Open up your Publisher file (the postcard.) I prefer the postcard to be broken into two files one for the front and one for the back. Otherwise it is more difficult to print. So I will refer to the back of the postcard only.

• Now under tools is the Mail Merge and Catalog Merge. Click and follow the series of questions. You are going to click next at the bottom after each step.
• First you will add your data file that you saved earlier. The file will be “tab deliminated”
• Next… Here you will set up your card. You will have a selection of fields to place on your card.
• I sometimes just Use “Current Resident” instead of the homeowners name.
• “Property Address” is the whole street address
• Then the TaxParcelCity, state and zip
• Notice the illustration below. I pushed enter after “property address” and Taxparcel zip only. It doesn’t look that way because the field title is longer than the actual data it is replacing.
• Next will show you a preview of what your data looks like with real information. Needs formatting? Just click “previous” on the mail merge tool.
• Now you are done. Print your mail merge document.

Budget tip: I usually print on 110 lb cardstock full sheets not the perforated type. It cost about $6 at Sam’s Club for 250 sheets (1000 postcards) After that I take my completed merge to Kinkos. They will 1/4 sheet cut them perfectly for less than $4. The post office won’t kick them back for not being uneven. One last thing, make sure you have your Presorted Permit stamp printed on the corner.

There you go you have your postcards with all addresses in place, and cut perfectly.

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