There are so many social media sites available today.  God knows I am probably on 100 different sites.  Being on so many sites can be difficult to track your success rate.

A few google searches and taking the time to find out how people found you will always be a guiding light in which what social networking sites to be active on.

Naymz.com is so under rated…if only people knew the true value.  I can attest to this since I recently changed the way I do business and have added additional services.  Naymz.com gets the word out…..

With endorsements, testimonials and a point system that allows active members to be found on the top of the search engines a true benefit for your online presence and SEO.

Check it out and let me know what you think.  If you are there  why not connect with me!

Read what KillerStartUps.com has to say!

When tracking marketing it is extremely important to know where your leads are coming from.  I often wonder when someone calls to utilize your services do you remember to think about…

Lead Generation | How did they find me?

Often times when I pose this question to someone they are not sure…either somewhere online or so and so referred me.  I don’t know about you…but I really appreciate specifics.   I want to know is my marketing working for me and what marketing specifically?

Yes I know more than likely most track where their leads come from but I wonder when someone asks you, how did you find me…do you remember or are you toooooo busy to provide it? I’m not being a jerk here just trying to make a point.

Everyone in business want to to track their marketing….any business and you should!

This doesn’t pertain to just real estate but to all businesses that would include mortgage brokers | insurance agents | doctors | lawyers | webmasters…etc. etc.  To me we have to help each other and by providing this courtesy to your personal service providers may very well help you to remember to ask that very important question yourself.

How did you find me?

Thank you Hubspot!  You guys rock….

Put Your Business on the Map…

Are you a Miami Club or Bar owner?  We want you…No not to buy your bar…but we would like to use your bar for a daytime event…one that represents Miami in its truest form…Where possibly 200 Real Estate Industry professionals…can learn during the day and party the night away in true Miami fashion!

I’m Attending are you?

I’m talking RE BarCamp…Miami…

If you are a bar or club owner…and are looking for…

• Free P.R.
• Lots of world wide web exposure in blog articles, facebook, twitter and photos over the course of the next few months.  This event will take place September 14th, 2009.
• These events have many many after parties which means people spending $$$$.

We are looking for a facility that we can use during the day..for FREE or at a nominal cost.  An atmosphere that represents Miami..you know hot … hot ..hot…

Caliente!

If you are interested please contact Ines at Miamism dot com or visit the RE BarCamp/Miami site for additional details.   If you are reading this and know someone who owns a bar or nightclub in Miami we would love to hear from you too!

About The Author: Midori Miller is a Real Estate Trainer and writes and trains Real Estate Training and assists sellers in short sale situations. Midori is a Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker , License # BK645709 and a member of the Daytona Area Association of REALTORS. Contact midorimiller@yahoo.com or (386)453-3236.

Sometimes I lack discipline in regards to writing..can’t stand talking to myself but more importantly I have something to say and I want it to be heard…I admit I like an audience and the interaction.

I long for more connections…prefer word of mouth marketing over the hard sell and that is a big reason why I love social networking.

For many of my brilliant real estate friends..they started their own blogs years ago…and I stuck with social networking.   Some questioned…some shook their heads and some thought maybe she doesn’t have a clue.

Little did people know..I trained agents just the opposite…get your own blog going...even if its just photos… because the down side of social networking sites are:

• You can spend countless hours of socializing without making a dime.
• There is sometimes too much drama on social networks
• Eventually you will have to pay and it will be difficult to give up.
• You are creating additional traffic to a site that does not belong to you.
• For some social networks… there seems to be a certain mindset and if you do not agree…you can and will get into heated battles.

I didn’t really look at it in this light…because I love people!

The upside of social networking sites are tremendous if you are social and many of these benefits would include:

• Growing your sphere of influence
• Referral Business
• Like Minds
• Several pats on the back and sometimes several slaps.
• Endless Opportunities

I can’t say that I have been anti-social these days…just socializing very different.  I admit…time is money…including the time I spend on social network sites and the time I spend in my business.

For the past few months I have been working on my own blog…its just little Ole me and the computer scientist honoring my request for changes in my template…added tools and features.

I can honestly say…I really love my own personal blog even if it gets a little lonely…but it hasn’t been lonely at all.  It’s a myth…there is the big bold blogosphere out there…and many people globally want to connect.  I admit its an amazing feeling…when someone contacts to me outside of my social network sites and social circles.

Now with the responsibility to drive traffic to my own site..I am working quite differently..

• Studying SEO and using the correct tags and key words.
• With moderating every one of my comments
• And watching the numbers closely on technorati and alexa
• Posting more frequently here than anywhere else
• Managing my time it takes to write each post

So in comparing social network sites vs. my own blog…the social network sites that I belong to are just that...my social network sites…

As for my own blog…its really not that different as a matter of fact it has become quite social…..it seems to generate more emails…phone calls from total strangers outside of the real estate realm.

I admit I got another call from a first time homebuyer today..yeah baby..I’m on a roll!  And when I asked them where did they find me…it wasn’t my social networks it wasn’t my site…

It was google…and my own personal map using the words..Daytona Beach Real Estate Agent..and then it lead them to my real estate website…my social networks…and then to this blog… and the proof is in the pudding…by connecting all of these sources my little blog…has become quite a social network and very social!

Contributing Writer: Midori Miller is a Real Estate Trainer and writes and trains Real Estate Training and assists sellers in short sale situations.  Midori is a Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker , License # BK645709 at CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty and a member of the Daytona Area Association of REALTORS.

Sammy jailed at the Vet! Midori Miller

Sammy had surgery almost a year ago and we have  the best vet in town.

If you are looking for affordable prices, exceptional services and experience excellent customer service and a very personable staff.

Val-U-Vet in Daytona Beach, Florida is who I recommend!

Dr. Needham has the most gentle manner about him and is very skilled in his craft.  In Sammy’s case…so skilled its saved his life.

In most cases they will see you the same day and don’t forget to pick up the discount coupons in various local publications!  I love ValuVet.

Sammy the cat is not a paid actor in his mind he is a prisoner…. in my mind…in good hands !  Check out their site..and tell them Sammy the siamese cat sent ya…don’t worry… more than likely they’ll remember him! 

The year has flown by and we are about to enter the 2nd half of the year.  For financial purposes..its time to take a look at your numbers.   Mid-year is a good time to give you business a once over.

If you are  commissioned based it would be smart to take a look at your numbers and ask yourself a few questions:

Are my numbers where they are supposed to be year to date?

• Expenses
• Budget
  
• Income
• Inventory
• Services

If not, now is the time to make adjustments and adjust your goals and as you look at these important aspects of business, ask yourself

Am I offering…

• Value
• Quality
• Incredible Service

What are my weaknesses and strengths?

Now is the time to review your goals and make adjustments accordingly.  The biggest budget doesn’t necessarily generate the most revenue..if you want people to keep coming back and recommending your services via word of mouth..I wouldn’t review just the numbers.   The most valuable and effective form of marketing…is word of mouth!

When a transaction goes bad and I get involved, the trainer seems to come out in me!  As a trainer I do pick apart a dead deal to see where we have gone wrong.

REALTOR Logo-Midori Miller-Daytona Beach Florida

In most cases agents simply need to get back to basics to help prevent dead deals.   In most cases they were never transactions to begin with.

Certain steps were missed, yes let me say that again, “Certain steps were missed and in most cases the dead deals were never transactions to begin with”.

To me the most important step when dealing with the consumer is screening of leads.

It’s too many times I can be in any real estate office in any given time and I overhear (ok, I listen) a conversation with a Realtor and a potential customer.

The value of each lead that calls the office….don’t they get it!  If you are going to just give information rather than screen that lead.  Don’t Answer the Phone!

It’s better to lose them today rather than 6 months down the road wasting your time, money and expertise on someone who is unable to buy or sell today or ever for that matter.

Doesn’t matter if you are face to face or over the phone, the bottom line….listen to the consumer…you’ll know if they are a true buyer or seller...if you listen..you will learn.

Listen to their words

• Need and want are two different things!  “I want a million dollar home but I need a $1000.00 payment because that is all I can afford.”
• “I am approved for a mortgage.” (Have you ever heard of a person who gets approved for a mortgage and they do not want to buy?  They may wait…but they want to buy!)
• “I have been getting listings in my e-mail for over a year!”  Who sent the listings and why are they still waiting?

Most sales people spend most of the conversation selling their services rather than determining whether they are dealing with a potential customer.

Most agents lose the customer because they spoke at the customer rather than asking questions and really listening to the customer’s needs.

By listening they will give you hints on whether they have the ABILITY to buy or sell real estate.

Probe

• Every-time they ask you a question answer and then respond with a question. It’s simple like tennis, let the conversation bounce back and forth.   Allow them to answer and then you ask another question.  You’ll get the info you need to determine if they are a ready, willing and able buyer or seller.
• Use a lead sheet regardless of how seasoned you are.  A  lead sheet will help the conversation flow and increase the odds of the customer communicating the truth with you.
• Probe until you get the information you need to get them into the office.  Once in the office you have a better shot in building rapport and creating a bond.

When you probe you learn.  When you probe you have to listen. The more questions you ask the more open the prospect becomes.  The more open the prospect becomes easier it becomes to be a little more open yourself.  The more open your questions become the more likely the truth will be revealed.

How long should you screen a lead?  As long as it takes…I would rather spend an hour or two on the phone in advance than spend 6 months in my car to find out they were not buyers.

10 serious offenses that  occur in real estate blogging everyday..watch your back..your words are cached on the net forever!

• Talking real estate commissions-Sherman AntiTrust Act
• Fair Housing Violations in words
  
• Defamation of Character
  
• Inaccurate Information without a retraction or correction!
• Code of Ethics Violations
• Real Estate Marketing rules
  
• Libel
• Violation of your own company policy and procedure manual
• Corporate Violation such as using incorrect logo’s or abbreviations of company name.
• Plagiarism
  

Ask yourself a few questions?

• Would you say or do this to someone in the same room?
• What would your broker say about what you write if you are not a broker yourself?
• If someone googled your name would you be proud of what you have placed on the net?

Are you blogging for notoriety or are you blogging for business?  You might gain a few fans but you also may lose some..can you afford to any business?