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This is really bad and I hate to admit it – I just killed 2.5 minutes watching a video posted on Facebook by the National Women’s Council of Realtors - it was cute and in the holiday spirit. Singing pets – with over 2 million viewers! So, there were more than just me who killed 2.5 minutes this afternoon …. but it got me to thinking – how could you use video to spice up your holidays? or selling season for that matter. Video cameras are inexpensive (bet most of you have them on your phone). And YouTube is free! WIN-WIN!!

Your YouTube account can also have your own customized channel  page to house all your videos!Which makes it very easy to link into your site and blog.

So, what kind of movie magic could you make?

• Activities in and of your communities to entice buyers to come to your area.
• Developments you want to invite potential clients to look at.
• How to’s … instead of having people land on your site and click a print out – go through the steps in a video. For first time home buyers, this could be extremely helpful. Also, for sellers – how to stage their own property.
• Also, if you don’t want to do a movie video, there are free programs that will put together a movie of still photos. Instead of a virtual tour of a home, it could be of your community. Then post it on your website or blog to show off your town(s)!

The possibilities are endless and would show why you’re the agent to use! Oh, you can still use pets in your videos, but have them sign your praises!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Getting ready for Christmas – Lights are on the house and the tree sparking and shining a warm glow. Presents are either wrapped and under the lit tree or on a list of to do’s – either way, great thought is given to make sure the recipient is extremely pleased. Holiday Cards are carefully chosen with personal notes carefully handwritten. Delicate cookies are baked weeks in advance only to be gobbled down within minutes. Delicaceys are prepared. Christmas Stockings are hung ever so gently over the fireplace. Everything is in it’s place and you are beaming – it will be a wonderful Holiday for your family and friends.

Have you put this much thought and calculation into next year’s business plan? Have you made a list and checked it twice to make sure which marketing tactic is naughty or nice? Have you calculated what you can or cannot afford to do this next year? Have you carefully planned each client contact/campaign for the next year?

“Tis the most wonderful time of the year!! You CAN make plans to start fresh in 2011! It’s a New Year! It’s a New Tax Season!! It’s a NEW SELLING SEASON!!

I have hit a blogging dry spell …. well, actually – I have been busy and my thoughts have gone to assisting agents than writing. Which is a good situation to be in. But, the blogging has helped my business. And ActiveRain has helped my blogging. I have used Social Media to build my presence on the web and it is paying off. I am doing for myself what I do and will do for my clients and it’s paying off. I’m getting hits, calls and referals …. AND CLIENTS! My clients are getting busier and I’m getting busier. It’s Win-Win and I’m having the time of my life!

If you haven’t started using Social Media yet, now’s the time! If you want some help, contact me.

I need to get back to blogging – it works!!

The Holidays are here and year end is looming ahead. What are you doing to prepare for 2011? It is so easy to take a little bit of really needed time off and enjoy the season. While that is extremely tempting, is it good for your business?

If your business is a little slack, NOW is the time to get organized, find out what you need to put in place and start working it.

• Do you have your blog up and going?
• Are subscribed to all the major Social Media groups? Are these icons on EVERYTHING?
• Do you have a squeeze page? and is it where it will actually WORK for you?
• Do you have a 2011 Marketing campaign written out – AND A MARKETING BUDGET?
• Do you have an outline of what you need to do if the year is lean? if 2011 year has moderate sales? and the wish list of 2011 is a gang buster of a year?
• Have you looked over what marketing is done now, reviewing if it is working or should it be scraped for something more effective?Are you just renewing the same old thing for a lack of anything new? Is the old marketing working for you?
• Have you opened yourself up for new and different ideas for the New Year?

Now is the time to get a plan in place, work out the cobwebs and start working it. Before the spring rush.

Also, if you’d rather NOT be doing all the marketing plan yourself or have no idea where to start, you are not alone. There is help. Hire a part-time virtual assistant who will guide you to making your real estate business profitable and a working machine.

Give me a call – I’m here to help!

We have gone over what to post on your blog and possible ideas of where to get content.

Are there things you shouldn’t post on your blog?

I have mentioned several times –

DO NOT POST YOUR REAL ESTATE LISTINGS TO YOUR BLOG.

That is NOT what your blog is for. You have your listings on your website, MLS and Realtor.com ®. And it is FINE to point them to your listing web pages. However, Blogs are used to show your human side and your expertise. Facebook has a way to have a listings tab on your Business Page (which is different than your personal page). But don’t inundate your audience with your listings, price reductions, solds or new lists on your blog. There are better places than your blog.

Don’t post other people’s content or articles without their permission. That is Copyright infringement. As I mentioned before, do a “book report” of an article you read and give credit to the source of your book report. Don’t forget to hyperlink their article back to where you found it.

I know this seems OBVIOUS, but sometimes it seems you have an audience and get a little familiar with them and you start spouting about something that happened either with another agent or client. STOP. What goes on the world wide web stays on the world wide web – FOREVER. And as a Realtor® you cannot say anything inflammatory or degrading or erroneous about a fellow Realtor®. Also, if you post about a client (even if you don’t blatantly identify them), do you want your clients or potential clients fear they may show up on your blog sometime? That is not what you want your blog to be about. You have much more useful and interesting content to post about.

Have fun with your blog! It’s a great tool to add to your real estate marketing.