The In the Loop with DotLoop blog is all about marrying the real estate industry with the technology of the 21st Century. However, some of you out there may still be asking yourself: what do I care? Why do I need to change and adapt to this new social paradigm?
The answer is simple: you don't. You don't need to have a web presence as long as you're comfortable with losing current--and more importantly--future clients. The fact is, a web presence is needed by almost everyone in almost every industry and the real estate industry is no different.
According to the 2007 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, a full 84 percent of buyers use the Internet to search for a new home. So, when 84% of all home buyers start the real estate transaction process with a click of a button, you had better be accessible via the same means.
Luckily, it’s never been easier to gain a web presence! Sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are a great way to get started, and all are as easy to use as e-mail. You can also ask your broker if they have a web page available just for you, although you may need some technical help to fully utilize its potential.
I don’t know technology at all
Most social media sites are designed with the layman in mind. If you know how to e-mail, you know how to use social media. Most sites allow for easy creation of profiles by simply uploading a (professional) picture and writing some information about yourself. Make sure you add contact information, including e-mail, of course.
What do I do with it?
Think of your site as not just a brochure, but a way to interact and communicate with your clients on their level. No, you don’t have to dress up your site or try out the latest jargon, just be yourself and let your (potential) clients know your areas of expertise. Are you a seasoned condo agent? Do you know farm houses like the back of your hand? Are you apt at apartment buildings? Let the world know what you can offer!
How do I do this?
Oftentimes, the best way to connect with a customer is to offer them something of value, and then see if there is a need for your services. Blog about the latest real estate trends, offer up advice on selecting the perfect home, or even details such as how best to landscape a barren yard. When potential buyers find your blog of interest, you have that much more opportunity to acquire their services. Dotloop.com offers the latest in technology to assist the real estate industry, but our blog is about giving agents useful information that may not relate directly to our site.
Tips and Suggestions: Social Media as a Business Tool
Yes, social media sites are fun and free, but if you are using them as a business tool, you need to be cautious. Below are some tips to help you keep your focus while blogging, updating your Facebook or Twitter pages, and connecting with other professionals online:
No one cares what you had for dinner...
Unless that juicy porterhouse steak you ate last night was near a property you are listing and you are trying to trump up how accessible it is to delicious culinary treats, don’t use your social media accounts to announce mundane, uninteresting details about your life.
Instead, use the tools to bring more interest to your business. “Another day, another house sold!” or “Had a fantastic closing with a great client who absolutely loves her new home” are both perfect examples of how to use social media sites to your business’ advantage.
Remember: keep it conversational, fun, and informative. Interact with your customers online just as you would face to face.
Complaining doesn’t attract customers…
“@ TGIF’s…been waiting for an hour to get a seat…ugh”; “I don’t feel so good today…”; “Eww!”
Eww indeed. Nobody wants to hear people complaining about seemingly trivial issues, and your business account should be no exception. When you act on behalf of your company, what you put on the Internet should be a reflection of the company and not of you. Target doesn’t get sick, the bakery around the corner doesn’t complain, and neither should your business.
If bad news happens, especially within the industry, use it as a catalyst to showcase your knowledge on how you can help your customers navigate the murky waters of real estate.
Showcase links that discuss housing options for post-graduates, that give handy how-to advice on lawn care, that help people decide what type of housing is right for them. If you can turn an interest upswing into an educational opportunity, then you’re using social media to its best capacity.
Remember: no one cares about your bad day, but they do care about the industry’s bad day. Again, don’t confuse your personal issues with your business when it comes to what you put out on social media sites.
Keep your political views to yourself
Again, you are acting on behalf of your business, not yourself. If the president’s new plan will affect housing, a positive, neutral comment is fine, but a snide partisan remark may turn off some potential clients. Sex, politics, religion. Don’t mix them with your business’ message.
Educate your clients
Have a great link you want to share? Excellent! If it’s related to the real estate market, make a comment on what you think of it (but avoid controversial comments) and post it. Make sure you read all articles you link to; lest you link to some article that can make you look incompetent.
Linking to smart, intriguing articles focused on your business or industry can only help your business’ image. It shows you are involved in the industry and it lends you credibility with your clients.
Summing Up Social Media
Social media can help you reach clients and can help strengthen relationships with existing clients. Be smart about what you put on the Internet, be involved with your customers, and be ready to connect to a whole new audience in a whole new way. We hope these tips help make your web presence easier to navigate.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Friday, September 18, 2009
Your Home and Your Wallet
Waste costs money. Regardless of your social or political leanings, we can all agree that the costs associated with energy waste hurt individuals, businesses, our nation, and ultimately the world. It hurts us in many ways, the most prominent of which is our wallets.
Most home buyers today, especially those younger, first-time home buyers, are well aware that drafty windows and inefficient appliances only add more expense to what is already probably the largest purchase of their lives.
As a real estate expert, you can help guide such clients in helping them choose a home that not only fits their budgets, but also fits their lifestyles and energy-usage.
LEEDing The Way
With the cold months coming soon, now is the perfect time to brush up on your LEED knowledge. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and has become the standard by which all design, construction and operation of green buildings is based. The system was designed to give architects, planners, and building owners the information and tools needed to gauge a building’s energy performance.
You can find more information here, here, and here.
The more knowledge you have about how your clients can save money and time by using LEED techniques, the better. Homebuyers today are more conscious about the “hidden costs” of owning a home and with your guidance, they will make better decisions about which home to buy. This can only help your real estate business and your reputation as being the LEED agent in your area.
Hybrids Hog the Headlines
Most people, when they discuss environmental concerns, focus heavily on the transportation sector; mainly, hybrid cars. But did you know that more energy is wasted by poorly-ventilated or designed buildings? It’s true; almost 40% of all energy consumption in the US is consumed by buildings. Not only do poor insulation and old windows add hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in energy costs to a home every year, they also may end up harming the condition of the home itself. When we discuss energy savings, we must discuss buildings.
Location, Location, Location
Building or renovating a home or business to make it more energy-efficient is very important, but all the LEED codes and solar panels in the world won’t help you save any money (or energy) if the building is in a bad location. In fact, some research has even shown that most people waste more energy commuting to work than the building they work in uses.
So, if your clients want to make the most of their energy consumption, make sure they are looking at homes that offer a more walkable environment and easier access to areas like grocery stores or business centers.
Save Paper, Save Costs – How YOU Can Save Money Yourself
As a real estate professional, you can help yourself to many time and energy-saving techniques. Of course, the DotLoop system allows transactions and negotiations online, thus saving paper costs and waste, but there are other ways in which you can help your business expand while lessening your energy consumption.
Desktop Vs. Laptop
By simply switching from a desktop computer to a laptop (or notebook) computer, you can save up to 80% of the energy costs.
Public Transportation/Combining Trips
Meeting a client? Take a bus or streetcar to get there. Even if you do take a car, you can meet your clients close to a business district, so you can get more than just one thing done at a time. Saving money at the pump saves money for your business.
Being energy-efficient is not just about saving the trees (although it’s a great side effect), but also about saving money. If you can help guide your clients to homes that meet their needs and help them save energy costs, not only will you most likely gain a client for life, but you’ll help solidify your reputation as the “green” real estate agent.
Most home buyers today, especially those younger, first-time home buyers, are well aware that drafty windows and inefficient appliances only add more expense to what is already probably the largest purchase of their lives.
As a real estate expert, you can help guide such clients in helping them choose a home that not only fits their budgets, but also fits their lifestyles and energy-usage.
LEEDing The Way
With the cold months coming soon, now is the perfect time to brush up on your LEED knowledge. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a third-party certification program and has become the standard by which all design, construction and operation of green buildings is based. The system was designed to give architects, planners, and building owners the information and tools needed to gauge a building’s energy performance.
You can find more information here, here, and here.
The more knowledge you have about how your clients can save money and time by using LEED techniques, the better. Homebuyers today are more conscious about the “hidden costs” of owning a home and with your guidance, they will make better decisions about which home to buy. This can only help your real estate business and your reputation as being the LEED agent in your area.
Hybrids Hog the Headlines
Most people, when they discuss environmental concerns, focus heavily on the transportation sector; mainly, hybrid cars. But did you know that more energy is wasted by poorly-ventilated or designed buildings? It’s true; almost 40% of all energy consumption in the US is consumed by buildings. Not only do poor insulation and old windows add hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in energy costs to a home every year, they also may end up harming the condition of the home itself. When we discuss energy savings, we must discuss buildings.
Location, Location, Location
Building or renovating a home or business to make it more energy-efficient is very important, but all the LEED codes and solar panels in the world won’t help you save any money (or energy) if the building is in a bad location. In fact, some research has even shown that most people waste more energy commuting to work than the building they work in uses.
So, if your clients want to make the most of their energy consumption, make sure they are looking at homes that offer a more walkable environment and easier access to areas like grocery stores or business centers.
Save Paper, Save Costs – How YOU Can Save Money Yourself
As a real estate professional, you can help yourself to many time and energy-saving techniques. Of course, the DotLoop system allows transactions and negotiations online, thus saving paper costs and waste, but there are other ways in which you can help your business expand while lessening your energy consumption.
Desktop Vs. Laptop
By simply switching from a desktop computer to a laptop (or notebook) computer, you can save up to 80% of the energy costs.
Public Transportation/Combining Trips
Meeting a client? Take a bus or streetcar to get there. Even if you do take a car, you can meet your clients close to a business district, so you can get more than just one thing done at a time. Saving money at the pump saves money for your business.
Being energy-efficient is not just about saving the trees (although it’s a great side effect), but also about saving money. If you can help guide your clients to homes that meet their needs and help them save energy costs, not only will you most likely gain a client for life, but you’ll help solidify your reputation as the “green” real estate agent.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
"The Times They Are A-Changin’…"
Welcome! We hope that this blog will give you insight into bringing your real estate business into the online era as well as showcase news and innovation within the industry. With today’s fast-paced world, time can become your greatest adversary. With the right tools, however, time can be your greatest ally, and can give you that competitive edge to advance your business.
Condense For Your Business To Expand
The Internet can give you time, or take it away. Anyone who’s ever read comments sections or watched a cat play piano on Youtube knows how easy it is to lose time when using the Internet. But tools such as e-mail, customer integration, and online chats all help businesses condense the time it takes to complete certain tasks, allowing them to expand their business in other areas.
Spend More Time Helping Your Customers
When you use the Internet to your advantage, you can spend more time of the people that really matter to your business: your customers. Most customers today are mobile, always connected, and e-mail accessible. With the DotLoop System, you can tap into this same mindset, not only saving you and your clients’ time, but also meeting your clients on their level.
Get Connected With DotLoop
We hope that this blog can provide you with information not only about the real estate industry, but about how technology can help you navigate this ever-changing field.
With DotLoop, formerly MLS Contracts, we have created a system to help you free up time to focus on expanding your business and really connecting with your clients. Find out more at http://dotloop.com!
Condense For Your Business To Expand
The Internet can give you time, or take it away. Anyone who’s ever read comments sections or watched a cat play piano on Youtube knows how easy it is to lose time when using the Internet. But tools such as e-mail, customer integration, and online chats all help businesses condense the time it takes to complete certain tasks, allowing them to expand their business in other areas.
Spend More Time Helping Your Customers
When you use the Internet to your advantage, you can spend more time of the people that really matter to your business: your customers. Most customers today are mobile, always connected, and e-mail accessible. With the DotLoop System, you can tap into this same mindset, not only saving you and your clients’ time, but also meeting your clients on their level.
Get Connected With DotLoop
We hope that this blog can provide you with information not only about the real estate industry, but about how technology can help you navigate this ever-changing field.
With DotLoop, formerly MLS Contracts, we have created a system to help you free up time to focus on expanding your business and really connecting with your clients. Find out more at http://dotloop.com!
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