Virtual Views - The View From Here : June 2009

In the real estate business, whether you are a real estate agent, broker, mortgage lender, home stager, title rep, home inspector or virtual assistant, you're only as good as your word.  We rely very heavily on "word-of-mouth" advertising in our respective businesses.  So, it's very important that we can back that up with a reliable and honest work ethic. 

I started Second Self Virtual Assistance in 1997 at my kitchen table because real estate professionals in my little town asked me for their help.  I have built a reputation over the years of reliable service and integrity.  Because of that reputation, my little company has grown from serving a few agents in a small town to serving a large group of real estate professionals across the nation.  I am very proud to say that 95% of my business is referral-based.

As professionals, I believe that we should simply follow "The Golden Rule": Do Unto Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You.  When a client comes to you and speaks ill of another professional, the best way to handle yourself with class and dignity is to listen to your client's concerns and offer them advice on how they can resolve their issue.  A client who is already in distress over another real estate professional's treatment of them will be grateful to have a level-headed individual helping them out.  We need not resort to tearing down our colleagues in order to get ahead.  There is plenty of business for everybody.

In the end, as service professionals, we only have our reputations and that is it.  If we work hard and provide the absolute best service we possibly can, that's all we can do.  And what if we happen to build work relationships that ultimately become long lasting friendships?  Well, that's the icing on the cake.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas

I recently read that only 5% of real estate agents post a formal Privacy Policy on their websites.  So, I did a little test of my own.  I randomly searched the Internet for real estate agent websites which asked for information from their website visitors.  I found that not one of them had a "privacy policy" posted anywhere on their site.

You would think that, since internet users are willing to share some very personal information via social networks, privacy would not be an issue.  However, these same internet users get very wary when asked for any personal information, even when it is just their email address.  Strange, but true.  They are willing to put family photos on My Space and let you know where they are having dinner on Twitter, but ask them for an email address and the sweat-beads begin to pop out on their forehead.

Why is this so?  Because they don't know you and you are the dreaded salesman/woman.  Sellers are afraid of you because you may make them sell their house and they know you will sell it for less than it's worth.  Buyers are afraid of you because, once you get their contact information, they will never be free of the "hound from h#!!".

Just as you must overcome these fears in the real world, you must overcome them in the virtual world.  But, how do you do that when you can't meet with them face-to-face?  You give them what they are looking for: a little reassurance.  You give them a Privacy Policy.  It does not have to be long or complicated.  As a matter of fact, you should keep it as simple as possible.  I found a great online privacy policy statement generator that was easy to use and only took a few minutes to complete.

7 Privacy Policy Tips:

   1. Start with a "thank you".
   2. Let your visitor know that their privacy is important to you and will be respected by you.
   3. Explain how their information will be used.  If you are adding them to your contact database, then disclose it.
   4. Give visitors an "opt-out" option.
   5. Ask the visitor to contact you by phone if they are still uneasy.
   6. Keep your Privacy Policy short, clear and simple.
   7. Link your Privacy Policy to every page on your website.

If you are asking website visitors to share personal information, even if it is only their email address, then consider putting your visitors at ease by posting a "privacy policy" on your website.  At the very least, include a simple statement such as "We will never share your information with anyone - ever!" and place it on every page that asks your website visitor for personal information.

Taking this little extra step may convert your next visitor into a prospect, who could then convert into a life long client.

Online Privacy Policy Statement Generator:
http://www.dmaresponsibility.org/PPG/

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Real estate is very local.  Over 70% of users search for real estate by city and most use search engines when performing their search.  But, there is a growing number of users who are using local sites for searching businesses in their area.  The popularity of mobile phone apps is one of the reasons that local sites are gaining ground.

Google Local

• You can put your business on Google Maps for free! 
• List your business name, address, phone number and a description.
• Provides a link to your website.
• Display your photo (up to 10).  You can even upload a videos.
• Place your business in more than one category.
• Reporting system: I think the real power of Google local is their reporting system. G oogle supplies reports so that you can see where your "hits" are coming from and what search terms were used.
• Validation required: Google will contact you by phone or snail mail (your choice) to validate the request.  By the way, they call immediately, so keep the line clear.  If you miss it, just click Validate by Phone and Google will call again.
• Your business will appear within one day.

Yahoo Local

• You can put your name on Yahoo Maps for free!
• List your business name, address, phone number and a description.
• Provides a link to your website.
• List your business in up to five categories - must match categories listed in Yahoo Local.
• User Reviews: Users may click on your business and submit a text review of your business, as well as a 1 - 5 star rating.
• You can upgrade your free business listing to a paid listing - Compare plans.
• Validate the request with the code provided by Yahoo upon submission.
• Yahoo will review the request before adding to Yahoo Local.

Yelp!

• More than a local search site, it also performs as a social network.  You must participate in the Yelp community by posting reviews.
• List your business name, address, phone number and a description.
• Provides a link to your website.
• Place your business in more than one category.
• User Reviews: Users may click on your business and submit a text review of your business, as well as a 1 - 5 star rating.
• Reviews can become a conversation.  Users are able to comment on other users' reviews.
• Negative reviews can be rebutted.  The best rebuttal is to get more positive reviews and remember to keep your chin up.
• The Yelp community has doubled in the past year.  Yelppers love yelppers, just as Twitters love Tweeters.

Other Local Search Sites

• CitySearch - many sites (Expedia, Ask.com) pull their data from here, so you definitely want to be listed in City Search.
• InfoUSA - Pulls business listings from various sources.  You may be listed but, if not, just fill out the form - InfoUSA online form.
• Insider Pages -Insider Pages rate card.
• Local.com claims over 10,000 visitors a month.  Features free and premium listings.

My Thoughts:

• Be sure to take advantage of multiple categories.  I searched real estate in my city and got one group of matches.  Then I searched homes for sale and got a different set of hits.
• Forms were easy to fill out and submission only took a few minutes.
• No keywords to manage.
• Edits are easy and available 24/7.
• Testimonials are good, but reviews are considered more trustworthy by users.
• Reviews cannot be spammed; there are safeguards.
• Reviews can be positive or negative.  The good side of that is, it will keep you on your toes.
• Most sites are free, but some do charge a monthly fee.
• SEO advantage - links point to your site.

Become a Local Yokel and get your name out there for all the world to see.  You will be all over the map and all over the web in your locale.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas

Don't you love it when you can get expert advice from an expert, especially when the advice is free?  If your answer is yes, then you are just like millions of other people.  Included among those millions are people seeking real estate advice.  I believe when people have questions, they want to come to a real estate professional.  But (and it's a big one) they are afraid of you.  The fear of being "SOLD" keeps them away.  So, how do you combat that fear?  By becoming an expert in their eyes, an expert that only wants to provide them with helpful information and advice for free.
 
Here are ways that you can establish yourself as an expert while giving the public what they want:

* Website

~ Allow website visitors to ask questions via a no obligation and free information "ASK ME" page.
~ Allow website visitors to ask questions via a "CHAT WITH ME" widget.

* Email Campaigns

~ Create a Buyer Tips email campaign with just one tip in each mailing.
~ Create a Seller Tips email campaign with just one tip in each mailing.
~ Create a Hot News email campaign and send your contacts the hottest and newest real estate news (just one per email).
~ Remember to ask at the end of each email if they have a particular real estate question or problem that you can help them with.
~ Remind them that you are always available by email and always respond within 24 hours.  The sooner, the better.

* Blogs

~ End your blog with an invitation for users to submit questions regarding the subject of the blog or anything else that may be of importance to them.
~ Create an "ASK ME" page on your blog site (many sites allow you to create and customize pages).
~ Create a link from your blog site to your website "ASK ME" page.

* Articles and eBooks

~ Experts write articles.  It is only a little more detailed than a blog, after all.
~ Experts write books.  Create an eBooklet in a PDF format and place it on your website as a free download.

* Authority Sites

~ Posting on authority sites establishes you as an expert in your field and in the community you serve.
~ Posting on authority sites maximizes exposure.
~ Sites such as RealtyTimes.com need and want Realtors to post the current market conditions in their area.
   * RealtyTimes allows several Realtors to represent an area.
   * RealtyTimes allows you to post as often or as little as you like.
~ Sites such as Trulia and Zillow allow you to answer questions posted by their users.
   * Trulia introduces you as an expert. (Trulia quote: "Browse answers and get advice by thousands of locals and experts")
   * Just answer one question and you are established as an expert.
   * The more you respond, the more you are viewed as an expert.
   * The more you are viewed, the more likelihood that you will generate leads from your expert opinions.
   * A response to a question can result in hundreds of views and all those viewers view you as an expert. This question "Buying an as-is foreclosed home, needs repairs.  FHA?  What's the best negotiation method?" received 5 responses, only one of which was a real estate agent.  The question received 101 views in less than 24 hours.

Answering questions and giving real estate advice comes naturally to real estate professionals.  They are asked questions on a daily basis by their peers and by the public in their offline world, so it is only natural that a real estate professional should establish themselves as an expert online as well.

Ask me how you can become an expert in your field and I'll show you how I became an expert in mine.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas