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It’s easy to get in a rut when writing copy for blogs or even articles for your real estate website, but have you considered writing on a topic with the intent of causing a specific emotional response? I took a lot of sociology classes in college and the basic motivations of human beings are quite simplistic. We want money and prestige. Every nuance of the human response falls under those two categories including beauty, love, sex, respect, power, conquering fear, jealousy…you name it…it all comes back to money and prestige. So how can we capture attention (and customers) by focusing on emotional hot topics?
Real-Estate-MarketingThink about why a person might be interested in short selling their home. Try to relate to and reference the issues that may have caused them to be in their current position. Was it the government, the ex-wife, the boss man? Who cares as long as you identify some possible reasons for the situation and sooth some of the emotional upset, of course you must also transition into how you can help them and what makes your expertise different than others. How about lifestyle envy-that always makes me look-and even if your target audience is buyers in the mid-range, we still like to look at the luxury property on the market…oooohh…aaaahh. Now transition that copy and make sure you give the buyer some really nice alternatives to million dollar homes…new homes are usually nice…so give me the cheap alternative down the block (or maybe a little farther).
Capitalize on trends! If the media is noting that this year more baby boomers will be retiring than ever before, it’s time to focus on the wonders of living in a golf community or the vast leisure opportunities available at the retirement community in your market. How about Green? If you know of a particular builder that’s developed a community based upon green conservation, play up to that group of buyers. They are out there and they’re waiting for you to enthrall them.
Make sure that you keep the thought process narrow because if you target too many emotions at once it really dilutes the intention of the article. Some examples that I’ve thought of for real estate website posts are below and note that each require a geo-specific reference, this is for the search engines to help bring the potential client to your post or page.
Prestige Top 10 Neighborhoods in [YourCityNameHere]
Fear Worst Mistakes [Bostonians] can make While Buying a Home
Respect Most Affluent Luxury Communities in [YourCityNameHere]
Money How to Avoid Foreclosure in [YourCityNameHere]
Security Best Reasons to Live in a [YourCityNameHere] Gated Community
Pleasure Best Retirement Communities in [YourCityNameHere]
Leisure Benefits of Living in a [YourCityNameHere] Golf Community
Pride Exclusive Downtown Hi Rise Living in [YourCityNameHere]
Concern Why Buying a [YourCityNameHere] Green Home Can Make a Difference
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I just wanted to make this post short and sweet because sometimes when we get ready to write a blog or explore some new faction of social media, we get hung up on making it perfect or profound or understanding it inside and out. We always want to be and sound like the expert and that is certainly a good thing but it can also be stifling to creativity. As I’ve been sitting here anxiously thinking about what I’m going to write about, it dawned on me that I’m causing the problem by over analyzing. I’m not suggesting we should just say or write whatever is on our minds because that may be off topic and at times a little crazy, but letting a little personality show may be endearing to some readers.
I speak to a lot of real estate agents that are overly concerned with getting it just right and looking for a specific recipe for online success in social media. Certainly there are some social media experts that would say, yes, there is a specific recipe and I’d like to sell it to you, but approaching the idea of online engagement like a soldier can be the death of your muse. It’s a lot less intimating to get out there and DO if we’re not stuck obsessing over the perfect length of a blog post or the precise number of links to use in that blog post and is my anchor text matching precisely with my page title.
Creative Writing
The same can be said for social media. I guess you can break your Facebook page, but not really to my knowledge unless you delete it, so get gutsy and explore the different options. Likewise for Twitter or any other social media accounts you may have. The web is a constantly evolving realm so most of us are learning and stumbling as new things develop right along with you. The worst case scenario is that you may have to start something over but you will have learned something new about marketing yourself online as a real estate agent and will hopefully have developed more confidence in your abilities to engage online.
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Greenacres Fl waterfront home / house for sale in NAUTICA ISLES WEST 02 – This is A Short Sale – 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 half bath, with roman tub, walk in closet, pantry, den, french door, lanai, lake view, two-car garage,& access to amenities.
See all 16 large pictures in the photos gallery
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There are plenty of people in the real estate industry that do a lot to provide support to local, national and global causes simply because it’s a good thing to do and it makes the world a better place. Since I have SEO hard-coded into my brain, a recent email from a colleague of mine sparked a memory about a post I had read a while ago about using sponsorships to get valuable links. Yes, yes, yes, it’s not about the links, it’s about the cause, but if you’re doing it anyway, you might as well make the most of the opportunity.
The cause of choice is the Wounded Warriors Project which is a rehabilitative project to help servicemen ease back into civilian life after service and/or injury while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Anyone can donate at any time, but specifically, on October 22, 2011 Jennifer Westlake of Dynamic Page Solutions is participating in Soldier Ride Phoenix, a 21 mile bicycle ride starting in Apache Junction. Soldier Ride is a WWP initiative that provides rehabilitative cycling opportunities across the country to help wounded warriors restore their physical and emotional well-being. You can help Jennifer Westlake and the Wounded Warrior’s Project here: http://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=447737&lis=0&kntae447737=740EBA56D0934C50A45CA9B3B2A0B0FC&supId=342532595 .
On this website, you can see a page for corporate sponsors and this is an example of how you can get some valuable PR and Google Link Juice. Wounded Warrior’s Project specifically has been overwhelmed with corporate sponsors and is not currently seeking more collaboration but the idea I am trying to get across is – ask YOUR cause or charity if there is an opportunity to have YOUR website address or business name hyperlinked to your website from a sponsor page. This is a fantastic way to build links from diverse locations on the web (Google likes).
Some other ideas on how to work the advertising angle when sponsoring or participating in an event is to take pictures of the movers-and-shakers, post them on your Facebook Business Page and tag them to let them know. You might strike up a relationship or you may get a link back to your page. You can also use the opportunity to tweet it up using hash tags related to the event. You might pick up some extra followers or get a retweet if you mention another tweeps. So next time you’re getting involved to help out a cause – don’t feel guilty about asking if there is a possible bonus that might get you some Google Lovin’ or just a little notoriety.
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In this video, Garry explains how the low prices and interest rates create an ideal condition for home buyers in Austin.
View the original article here
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Green is a great color, especially when you are talking about the efficiency of your Austin home. The Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) Single-Family Home Rating was put in place by the City of Austin, as the first successful program of its kind in the Nation. The rating system is on a 150 point scale, with 150 points or more equaling the highest rating of 5 stars. What does it take to reach 5 stars, and what does that mean?
I know a 5 star green rated home in Austin, and I have seen it in action. There is a home on the east side of Austin, with easy access to both Highway 71 and Highway 183, at 1403 Brandt Drive. It is literally 8 minutes from Downtown Austin, a stone’s throw from the Colorado River, and it’s 5 star Green rated!
What does it take to be a 5 star green rated home? Each home is inspected, and then verified by an independent third party, along several metrics: Energy use and efficiency, Water usage and conservation, Materials used, Health and safety in the environment, and Community and neighborhood context. Every home must meet these requirements:
Maximum of 1 ton of cooling per 500 square feet of living spaceMinimum of 14 SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) cooling equipmentEnergy efficient windows, <0.55 U Factor (thermal conductance)Access to sturdy grab bars for showers and tubs (safety)Gas water heater efficiencyVented fireplacesExterior venting for cooktops and bathrooms with tubs/showersMinimum of 2 ceiling fansMinimum of 75% Energy star compliant light bulbsLow VOC (volatile organic component) interior paintMinimum of 2 toilets selected from a preset list of efficient appliancesPlanting beds outside have a minimum depth and compositionMinimum of 90% of exterior plants from a Native Texas plant listMeeting all current City codes regardless of location
This list goes beyond pure “energy efficiency” to include safety elements, design factors, and community considerations. Number and location of windows, floor plan and overall layout of the home, type of building materials, pest control systems, landscaping, and location of the home in reference to community resources are all additional graded components. The points are received for each requirement that is met, and no single or group of factors will amount to a considerable gain. The home must be well-rounded and contain all of the components to reach the highest star-rating.
A specific example of a 5 star rating, 1403 Brandt Drive has a long list of achievements. The home is brand new (completed in 2009), has utility bills that are under $50 a month, and is designed to last longer than a typical home. Coupled with the energy efficiency is the fact that it’s a gorgeous home nestled in a quiet community on a big backyard with a creek. Designed for someone who loves nature and wants a secluded setting but also wants the urban lifestyle through easy access to Downtown…this home has it all!
This entry was posted on Friday, September 23rd, 2011 at 7:31 am and is filed under East Austin Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.View the original article here
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Waterfront Boynton Beach Fl home / house for sale in Coquina Cove – This Is Not A Short Sale – 6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, 2 partial bathrooms, with split bedrooms, roman tub, vaulted ceiling, walk in closet, cook island, pantry, fire place, covered patio, upstairs living room, pool, automatic driveway,two-car garage, and dock. Boynton Beach Florida. This is NOT a short sale. Deep Lot with Dock- Boynton Beach Boaters Paradise! South Florida Waterfront living at it’s best. Waterfront home for sale in Waterfront deep canal home for sale complete with double dock with plenty of room to dock you
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Lake Worth Fl home / house for sale in Homeland – This Is Not A Short Sale – 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, with split bedrooms, roman tub, vaulted ceiling, walk in closet, cook island, pantry, bar, fire place, wet bar, pool, covered patio, and three-car garage. Equestrian property on 5 acres near wellington in gated Homeland community. Bring your horses!! There is plenty of room for your horses on this 5 acre lot with a spacious home, 3400 square feet of living space under air. This home was built in 2007.
See all 14 large pictures in the photos gallery
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by Steve Pacinelli
in Tags: blogs, changes, control, Facebook, hosted, hub, Twitter
Posted in Facebook, Home Page Slider, Social Media, Twitter
They are all great for connecting with people, but you shouldn’t use just one and they should never be your home on the web.
I don’t even think the term “light speed” correctly assesses the velocity in which things change with technology. In a blink of an eye something beyond your control can affect the way you reach your target audience…. when you are playing by someone else’s rules. Case in point – Facebook.
Facebook basically just dropped a bombshell and instantly changed the way we communicate online with their new newsfeed, timelines, subscriptions and a myriad of other enhancements and updates. BTW, if you need help or want an overview of these changes Chris Smith and Jimmy Mackin did a wonderful job of detailing them in this post Facebook Changes Everything Are You Ready?.
For the most part, I love the new features! However, if you have a fan page, you might have noticed a drop off in the amount of interaction you are getting on it. Facebook said they want to make it easier for people to connect on the web. Great, what about businesses? If you are a consistent reader of Tech Savvy Agent chances are you may have missed our last couples posts due to “pages” not appearing in the news feed with the same consistency. I am not getting the same amount of impressions right now and have to work a little harder to figure out the new lay of the land. Here are a few posts that talk about the same topic with the last post being an interesting read due to their optimism (I share the same optimism in the end).
1. Recent Facebook Updates Cripple Pages
2. Why Is Facebook Punishing Highly Engaging Brands?
3. What Brands and Marketers Should Pay Attention To on the New Facebook
If your Facebook page was your pseudo website and the main way you communicated with your clients because you haven’t diversified enough, these changes could really hurt your business. Email, Twitter, Facebook, RSS feeds, Google, SEM, SEO, phone calls, QR codes, texting and print (yes I said it) all need to be used in conjunction with one another to drive people to your home base, which is your self-hosted blog. That is the only thing that you control! If Twitter goes away tomorrow and you use other mediums to communicate with your audience, you will still be fine. If email communication stops working because people are sick and tired of being “dripped on” you’ll be ok. You cannot afford to put all of your eggs in one basket. I know there are some really cool Facebook page creation programs out there that do some amazing things, but if your website doesn’t look and perform up to snuff, you need to start there first! Mark Z. can make any change he wants at anytime and this could negatively impact your business if you are running it off of your fanpage.
Your main objective in your marketing has to be to drive people to your site and give supply them with a ton of quality content that will make them want to come back. Real estate is no longer a short term transactional game, but a long term relationship building process that relies on your web presence more than ever. Your self hosted blog is the only thing that you can have almost 100% control over. That is where your time needs to be spent first.
I don’t doubt everything is going to be ok for Facebook pages and Mark Zuckerberg will come out with a cool timeline feature for pages too, but it just goes to show you how little control you have in this platform or any other one for that matter. Long live your self hosted blog! 
Related posts:
50 Social Media Tools Live3 Tools to Help You Increase Engagement On Facebook and TwitterCan Google+ Compete With Facebook and Twitter – YupSocial Media and Real Estate: 2010 PredictionsSyndicate to Google+ Facebook and Twitter the Easy WayView the original article here
New!! visit Visit My Real Estate Buddy.comCategory : Blog
by Steve Pacinelli
in Tags: Blog, Facebook, Grader, Pages, social, Starting Point, Twitter, website
Posted in Blogging, Facebook, Social Media, Text
Real Estate is more confusing than ever these days. With so many places to spend your time and money, it’s a wonder you have time to sell homes! Should you be on Twitter? Should you delete your Facebook business page because it’s a giant time suck and not making you any money? Website or blog….or both? When should you throw in the towel on some of these newer forms of exposure (notice I didn’t say marketing).
To understand which mediums are actually working for us or at least moving in the right direction, we need to set a baseline metric for each to start from. I found a website that can help! Check out the video to learn more.
Related posts:
Can Google+ Compete With Facebook and Twitter – YupSocial NOTworking? Here’s 2 Reasons WhyCheck Please! – [INFOGRAPHIC]View the original article here
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by Steve Pacinelli
in Tags: Analytics, online, powerpoint, presentations, sliderocket, tracking
Posted in marketing, Product Reviews, Text
I’m not going to rehash everything I’ve said in this previous post about people making a “buying” decision without the need to talk to a human, but I will give you a glimpse of what I think the future of a real estate agent’s online marketing may look like.
Presentation programs have been stuck in the stone age with a limited amount of options to truly express yourself in a professional manner online. Powerpoint was created over 20 years ago and is still only designed to be effective in a face to face environment. Prezi is a wonderful program – It can create unique online presentations, but lacks a depth in the analytics department and it’s time consuming if you really want that “wow” factor.
Enter SlideRocket.
Related posts:
SMM Camp Mobile Presentation101 Online Marketing Strategies for REALTORSReal Estate Brokers – What Does Your Online Reputation Say About You?Floor Plan Online Review – A Tech Savvy OptionOnline Documents – Central Management for Real Estate Agents – Dot LoopView the original article here
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by Steve Pacinelli on Sep 27th, 2011
in Tags: Camera, Features, Real Estate
Posted in Hardware, Home Page Slider
What is the best camera for real estate? Well, there definitely isn’t an answer to that question because there isn’t one perfect camera for everyone. What I will do is try and help you decide which camera model might be best for you and give you the knowledge to research them on your own.
I wrote this quick little post a few months back about my favorite website for camera reviews called DPReview. It’s an excellent website with all the info you need to make a smart decision in your camera purchase, but if you don’t know the things to look for in a camera for a real estate, you still might get stuck! So, I thought I would do a quick video and give you some tips in selecting a great camera to fit your budget….. if you have one 
Related posts:
What Video Camera Should I Buy For Real Estate Home Tours?Best Website For Camera ReviewsSony HX-1 Video Review – Great Camera for Real Estate Agents3 Crucial Tips For Better Real Estate PhotographyPhotography and Real Estate (Part 1 Cameras)View the original article here
New!! visit Visit My Real Estate Buddy.comCategory : Blog