Real Clues

[RealClues] #296: Widgets

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This week at www.LuxuryClues.com: Custom Building Series: "From Dirt
to Finish, Week 2: Welcome to the Sandbox." Follow the step-by-step
construction each week in pictures of two custom homes. Terrific
News from the California Association of Realtors about the Luxury
Market; The Haunted Pool House: A True Scary Tale from Bernice (If
you have a good tale, post it in the comments on LuxuryClues.com or
e-mail me at Bernice@RealEstateCoach.com and we'll post it for
Halloween.)

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Table of Contents
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1. CoachingClues: Mashups, Widgets, and Clicky--Is Your Website
Optimized for Today's Tech Savvy User?
2. Welcome Notes: It's Time for Some Positive Real Estate News
3. Reprise: Hot Tips for Handling Shifting Markets: (Part 4 of 4)
4. Create a Better Life: Internal and External Anchors: What's
Holding Your Business Back?
5. Special Article: A Great New Strategy for Converting FSBOs
6. Increase Your Production with Personal Coaching
7. Give Us Your Feedback on this Newsletter
8. How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe

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1. CoachingClues: Mashups, Widgets, and Clicky--Is Your Website
Optimized for Today's Tech Savvy User?
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Virtually all real estate professionals have a website--what can you
do to make your website stand out from the crowd?

Many agent websites already use "mashups." According to Wikipedia, a
mashup "is a web application that combines data and/or functionality
from more than one source." In other words, if you have multiple
photos on your website, a virtual tour, and mapping, you already are
using a mashup. If you lack these features, it's important to add
them to your existing site if you want to truly stand out from the
competition.

Widgets are also important in helping you stand out from competitors.
A web widget is a short chunk of "ready-to-use" HTML code that can be
copied on a webpage or blog to provide a specific function. Examples
include video, mortgage calculators, or streaming news data from
sources such as Inman News. Widgets make your website or blog more
interesting for the consumer. They also add useful functionality
without having to spend extra money for special programming.

Optimizing your website is also critical. With the release of the
iPhone, it will become increasingly important to optimize your
website for iPhone users. Without optimization, your listing data
appears as a tiny postage size image.

The folks at RealBird have a suite of solutions that address each of
these issues. In addition to their mapping, social book marking, and
syndication to eight other listing portals, RealBird property
websites are also optimized for the new Apple iPhone and iPod Touch.
Instead of a postage size image, the RealBird solution displays your
listings on a full screen. Your phone number is also automatically
converted to a hotlink. By tapping on it, iPhone users can call you
directly from your listing presentation page.

According to Gabe Gross of RealBird, you can increase how long
consumers stay on your site by incorporating a number of the RealBird
widgets. Their "featured listing map widget" provides a map showing
the agent's featured listings. The "listing slide show widget" allows
you to embed an automated slideshow of a featured listing in your
website or blog. They also have widgets that allow you to embed
aerial photos, local points of interest, as well as printable driving
directions private labeled with your contact information.

To reach more consumers in their native language, RealBird provides a
built-in translation feature that translates listing data into 10
different languages. Additional features include a solution that
displays listings on Facebook, as well as information about local
schools. They also have a feature that allows you to post open house
data.

One of the most intriguing solutions available to agents through
RealBird is access to a site called Clicky (http://getclicky.com).
Very few agents track where their web leads originate. They also do
not know which pages on their site receive the most traffic. By
tracking web analytics, agents can better target their client base.
They can also monitor which aspects of their web marketing campaign
are working and which are not. While Google and other companies
provide some web analytics, Clicky's web analytics are much more
robust.

One challenge many agents face is accurately tracking the number of
people visiting their blog. For example, Typepad blogs provide page
view data daily. They don't display how many unique visitors you have
nor do they show how much traffic you receive from their RSS feed.
With Clicky you get "juicy details" about each visitor to your site
including their location, their operating system, and a host of other
data. Clicky also lets you see exactly where visitors click while
visiting your site.

Another important service that Clicky provides is a "Tag Cloud."
Instead of showing you the most highly searched terms in a table, a
"tag cloud" shows you the terms in a group. The more searches a term
receives, the larger the size of the term will be in the tag cloud.
This is important because it lets you track which search terms
generate the most traffic. As a result, you can target your
advertising more accurately. In the past, you would have to pay
someone who specializes in search engine optimization to discover
this data.

Clicky also allows you to "spy" on exactly what web visitors are
doing on your website in real time. You can track which sites refer
you business, integrate Google Maps, plus select from a host of other
solutions. Best of all, their premium service is less than $2.00 per
month.

If you're not taking advantage of these services, you're missing a
huge opportunity to better serve your current web visitors plus
making your site more viral (i.e. attractive enough that your users
will tell others about it). Furthermore, monitoring your web traffic
is one of the best ways to keep your web business strong.

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2. Welcome Notes
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Welcome to our new subscribers this week. Each week RealClues
provides you with great strategies to improve both your business and
your life. If you find this issue of RealClues helpful, take a moment
to hit the "forward" button and send it to another friend in the
business.

Need some good news? If so, visit www.ListenandLearnRealEstate.com
and click on the Good News portion on the tool bar to hear what's
positive in today's real estate market. We're actively building our
library so that you can have the best real estate information at your
finger tips 24-7. Rather than waiting a year to the next conference,
we're providing this to you for only pennies a day. In this difficult
market we're facing, one of the biggest challenges is staying
positive. We'll be sharing positive information with you every week.
Forget listening to the nay-sayers in the press and on television and
radio. Tune in with us and keep your focus on what matters--closing
deals while your competitors whine about how bad the market is.

If you do nothing else this fall, now is the time to become a
training junkie. Attend conferences, local board training sessions,
or tune in with us. The skills you acquire will keep your business
strong for years to come, regardless of what the market does. If
you're serious about making money in today's challenging market,
order now. Visit www.ListenAndLearnRealEstate.com.

Have a great week!

Warmly, Bernice Ross, MCC, and Byron Van Arsdale, MCC
www.RealEstateCoach.com, www.LuxuryClues.com, www.RossdalePress.com,
www.ConferenceCallTraining.com, and www.TeleconferenceLine.com

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3. Reprise: Hot Tips for Handling Shifting Markets:
Face-to-face is still the Name of the Game (Part 4 of 4)
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Our previous articles looked at strategies for surviving shifting
markets, i.e. creating a three level business plan and guerilla
marketing. Bottom line, however, is that face-to-face is still the
name of the game. Click below to learn more:

http://www.realestatecoach.com/articles_archive/200605_4tips.html

In case you missed parts 1, 2, or 3:

http://www.realestatecoach.com/articles_archive/200605_1tips.html
http://www.realestatecoach.com/articles_archive/200605_2tips.html
http://www.realestatecoach.com/articles_archive/200605_3tips.html

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4. Create a Better Life: Where's Your Anchor?
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Want to increase your productivity? If so, understanding your
personal anchors can help you leverage your strengths as well as
providing you with a strategy for overcoming your weaknesses. Tony
Robbins has popularized the notion of having internal and external
anchors. In actuality, the psychological research dates back to the
1960s and is known as locus of control. For real estate sales people,
understanding how anchors work can unlock your personal potential as
well as helping you to better serve your clientele. Click below to
read more:

http://www.realestatecoach.com/articles_archive/art20021014.html

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5. SPECIAL ARTICLE: A New Strategy for Converting More FSBO Listings
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One of the best strategies for converting FSBOs is to use what is
known as an "Oh-by-the-Way Kit." The strategy is to avoid asking the
seller for the listing. Instead, your goal is to earn the right to
receive the seller's referral business by providing them with tools
that can help them sell their property. Since 87 percent of all
sellers eventually list with an agent, you want to be the agent who
is there the day they decide to put their property on the market. The
Oh-by-the-Way Kit, which is included in our Market and Prospect for
Real Estate Like Crazy audio CD program, consists of a number of
handouts and strategies that you can use to convert FSBOs into signed
listings. Today's article focuses on the most powerful piece in the
entire package--"Who's the Best Person to Sell Your House?"

"Who's the Best Person to Sell Your House?" is an excellent tool to
include as an item in your "Oh by the Way Kit." Obtain an appointment
to preview the property, preferably when the seller is not showing it
to a buyer. Once you have finished walking through the property and
taking notes, thank the seller for showing you their home. As you are
ready to walk out the door, use the following script.

Agent: Oh by the way, would you like a copy of a Seller's guide
called "Who's the Best Person to Sell My House?" In this guide, you
will find a list of 29 key decisions all For-Sale-by-Owners must make
when marketing their property. There's also a list of eleven pitfalls
to avoid. Using this guide can help you obtain the highest possible
price in the shortest time. I could drop off a copy at 3:00 PM
tomorrow or would Thursday morning at 10:00 AM be better?

Prospect: Tomorrow at 3:00 PM would work, but why are you being so
helpful?

Agent: As I mentioned to you on the phone, I will never ask you for
the listing on your home. What I would like to do, however, is to
earn the right to receive your referral business.

Prospect: All right, I'll see you tomorrow at 3:00 PM

Agent: Thank you. I think you will find the information in "Who's the
Best Person to Sell My house?" to be very helpful. I look forward to
seeing you tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM.

Before you give "Who's the Best Person" to any seller, be sure you
have read it. The seller may ask you about the content or may use it
to compare your services to those of a competitor. Offer as many of
the key services listed in the guide just in case the FSBO decides
it's time to list their property with an agent.
Here's a slightly different script for FSBOs who not only want to
sell their own property direct, but who also want to find their new
home without using a broker. You can still offer them a copy of
"Who's the Best Person to Sell My House?" as a way to open the door
to building a relationship.

Agent: Good morning. My name is Bernice Ross with ABC Realty. I
noticed your house was listed for sale in the paper. Once you sell
your home, will you be staying in our area or will you be relocating
elsewhere?

Prospect: We'll be staying in the area.

Agent: Most people who sell their homes for sale by owner usually
work with an agent to locate their next property because there is no
additional cost. I specialize in assisting people who have sold their
home for sale by owner in finding their next home. Once you sell your
home, would you like assistance in locating your next home?

Prospect: I've been doing my own searches on the Internet. I don't
need the help of an agent.

Agent: Mr. Seller, with your permission, I would be happy to provide
you with a complimentary copy of "Who's the Best Person to Sell Your
House." In this guide, you will find a list of 29 key decisions all
FSBOs must make when marketing their property. There's also a list of
eleven pitfalls to avoid. Using this guide can help you obtain the
highest possible price in the shortest time. I could drop off a copy
at 3:00 PM tomorrow or would Thursday morning at 10:00 AM be better?

Prospect: Tomorrow at 3:00 PM would work, but why are you being so
helpful?

Agent: As I mentioned to you on the phone, I will never ask you for
the listing on your home. What I would like to do, however, is to
earn the right to receive your referral business.

Prospect: All right, I'll see you tomorrow at 3:00 PM. What's your
name again?

Agent: My name is Bernice Ross with ABC Realty. I think you will find
the information in "Who's the Best Person to Sell My house?" to be
very helpful. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow afternoon at 3:00
PM.

If the sellers say NO they don't want your assistance, use this
script to close the call if you don't want to continue the
conversation:

Agent: Mr. Seller, thank you for your time. I wish you the best in
selling your home. Again my name is Bernice Ross of ABC Realty

Most FSBOs are testing the market to see whether they can sell
without the assistance of an agent. Some want nothing to do with
agents, no matter what. This script will give you a pretty good idea
whether the FSBO may be a potential lead for future business or if
the FSBO is someone who will never work with an agent. Ultimately,
being of service while the seller attempts to sell without an agent
and using WTBP is one of the best ways to make sure that the FSBO
calls you when he or she decides to list.

To order Who's the Best Person to Sell My House, click here:

http://www.profcs.com/app/netcart.asp?MerchantID=35347&ProductID=2447447

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6. Increase Your Production with Personal Coaching
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looking for a well-trained coach who knows the real estate business?
Our coaching team can help you increase your production and make your
dreams come true! Send an e-mail to Shane@RealEstateCoach.com and
we'll help find the right coach for you.

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7. Give Us Your Feedback On This Newsletter
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We want your feedback-to share your thoughts and suggestions, please
e-mail us at Shane@RealEstateCoach.com.

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8. How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit our Web site, http://www.RealEstateCoach.com to
subscribe/unsubscribe to RealClues.

Copyright (c) 1996-2007, RealEstateCoach.com and Teleclass4U.com,
LLC. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce, copy or
distribute RealClues as long as this copyright notice and full
information about contacting the contributors to this newsletter is
attached.

Contributors to this newsletter:
Bernice Ross, MCC, and Byron Van Arsdale, MCC, Owners,
www.RealEstateCoach.com, www.LuxuryClues.com,
www.ConferenceCallTraining.com; www.RossdalePress.com; and
www.TeleconferenceLine.com
Shane Bowlin, REC General Manager

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