Real Estate Virtual Assistant: Laura's VA Views

Don't Let 2008 Slip into the Blogosphere! 3 Ways to Use Your Blogs of 2008 to Revitalize Your Website!

Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 13:58:34 -0600

Happy New Year!

As I reflect on all that we have accomplished on ActiveRain in 2008, I have to sit back in awe of the amount of growth in members, and in blogging talent! So much hard work has taken place in this challenging year and I have still learned so much and am anxious to learn more in 2009!

With all the blogging-mania here on AR, don't let the awesome blog content you wrote in 2008 sit in the blogosphere! Re-organize it, summarize it, and FLAUNT it on your website in the form of new pages of content to target and attract your ideal clients!

Not only will it refresh your website and give you more Google-Cred, you will be creating a library of sights, sounds and information for your potential business!

I am sure that this year your blogs have provided great content to your readers, but what's happenning with your website..? Is it still just the same ol Home Page, About Me, Seller info, Buyer info, Listings etc?

Here are 3 ways to revitalize your content for your website to help you get started:

1. Re-organize your blogs into material for your "Ideal Client". Target the content to attract them at all stages of information gathering. Whether its First Time Home Buyers, Buyers or Sellers in your Farm, you can add a page or two that "speaks" to them, and direct them to other pages on your site.

Example: Attract buyers/sellers in/to a particular community by re-organizing community or event content. Use your videos, and photos to make it come alive.

2. Develop different pages for each type of media you use. Since clients are different in the way they organize and collect their information, make it easy for them to find the information they are seeking in the media that speaks to them. Take your Photos, videos, podcasts, and webinars and put them into "Collections" or albums on your website. Tip: you can also take your newsletters and create down-loadable and viewable PDF's. MyTechOpinion.com offered a great resource called Issu-Smartlook which allows a reader to open your documents from your website and see the pages in full color!

3. FLAUNT an on-line MEDIA Page, and have it ready for 2009! Did you speak at events, give any interviews in the newspaper or on TV? Travel to NAR, NYC Connect, or earn more certifications? Take those achievements and put them in the form of press releases, articles and create links to those events if you can. If you are an expert and growing and achieving don't be afraid to show that side of yourself. Your ideal clients want to trust you, get to know you, and your achievements are a large part of it.

Re-Charge, Re-define and Re-Vitalize your hard work in 2008! Wishing you all the best for a prosperous 2009!

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PROMO Alert! Real Estate Webographer & ZipForms Partner Together to Provide Technology Training!

Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:33:22 -0600

OK..so I just found this out! (Ok, I peeked at my present this year..:)

Real Estate Webographers is offering a promotion in partnership with ZipForms to become a certified Real Estate Webographer for only $49.00...that is $150 off the normal price!

If you have been looking for a program that details many of the technology programs used in real estate today, you need look no further than REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER . Whether you are getting up to speed yourself or are training an assistant, OR are a virtual assistant yourself, this program covers many of the technology platforms used in real estate:

ZipForms, Relay Transaction Management, AgencyLogic Single Property sites and more.

This technology program is the only platform that allows you to test drive the platforms while you are learning. As real estate virtual assistant and a visual learner these modules are invaluable to quickly learning and implementing these processes.

Just wanted to share and hope you take advantage of this promotion..its a great present to give yourself!

Re-Visiting the Real Estate Virtual Assistant and the Millionaire Real Estate Agent in a Shifting Market

Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:07:37 -0600

Hi Guys! Ok...couples of reason I wanted to re-post one of my older blogs..1- Streamlining your systems, your marketing, and increasing productivity is still a MUST even in this market. 2- Even if you are down-sizing there are ways in which a real estate virtual assistant can help you achieve this without getting too bogged down in admins tasks. Getting back to the basics and stenghtening your business model will have you all set up for 2009! I hope you enjoy this post from May 2007...

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As a Keller Williams assistant, I have written about the Three L's (Leads, Listings and Leverage) in a previous post, but because there are many new members seeking out options to grow, ...well...I just can't help myself. I'm blogging about something that I believe in. I've witnessed first hand here on Active Rain the success stories of using a real estate virtual assistant. (For those who still haven't heard of the concept of using a real estate "VA", and what type of services we offer, you may read more here)

In the book, The Millionaire Real Estate Agent, Gary Keller recommends utilizing Administrative/Marketing support before hiring other licensed agents for your team. Why? The foundation of your business model needs to be firm and strong, your systems for lead generation, database management and marketing need to be implemented and working consistently.

So, Lets' face it. At some point you will witness the first catch 22 of real estate: "I really need to grow my business, but can't really afford an assistant right now, but if I don't hire an assistant I will be stuck BEHIND THIS COMPUTER my whole life!"

It is a dilemma to be sure. Especially now. 4 years ago, not many of you were spending time blogging, managing 2-10 websites, learning SEO...I know why...you were too busy! Real estate was rocking, listings were turning fast, and there was no end in sight. But now, things are a bit different. The market has changed. You may be busier than ever, but in another way. There are new technologies to learn, sellers are antsy to get their homes sold, they want to know how that will happen. What are YOU doing to make it happen..? Prioritizing your time management on administrative tasks is essential. The hours spent on those tasks are "non income-producing" hours. Hiring administrative and marketing support to handle those many hours is the first step in the path to growing your business. Cost effectiveness is second.

In choosing to hire an assistant you are also taking on the challenge of hiring, training and delegating. If you have reached the point that it is now time to consider an assistant, you should know the advantages an virtual assistant may offer over an in-office employee. Many advantages are common knowledge, but many dynamics of a real estate VA are still largely unknown.

#1~ Real Estate Virtual Assistants are independent contractors who are only paid for time spent on tasks. VAs do not charge you for idle time, bathrooms breaks, lunch hours, sick days or personal time off. A 40 hour work week for a traditional employee can turn into a 15-20 hour a week with a VA. If your time is worth $100 an hour, you lose $400 each week doing administrative tasks.

#2~ REVAs are already trained in most of the most up to date software, technology and real estate marketing. We know what a blog is, we know about listing coordination, real estate marketing, branding, Internet marketing, online transaction management, CMA's,...in a word, we know about real estate. Not only that, but our continued training is on our dime...not yours.

#3~ A REVA is not in the business to become your competition. We will not take your database and run off with it. We will not share your wonderful new marketing secret. In short...we are business owners, who know about running a business, and want to see you succeed. Why?...it's in my business model.

#4~ Want to add 3 hours to your day? Hire a VA in another time zone. We can still be working, while your gearing up for tomorrow...or writing that Gold Star blog for Active Rain;)

#5~ A REVA can weather market shifts. Since we are not dependant on you and you alone, if your business needs change or slow down, we are OK with that.

#6~ Need to start slow? Not sure where to begin or how much to delegate right now? A VA can be your best partner in deciding what to delegate and when, to keep you on track with your goals.

#7~ REVAs are in business to support clients that are interested in a collaborative relationship, a partner.

#8~ Virtual Assistance is a supportive industry. We share resources, knowledge, experience and are a "Real Estate Geek Squad". If we don't know an answer to something, we know where to go to find it.

Once that support system is in place you are ready to move onto the next level, whatever that may be. But finding that special assistant is one task a real estate virtual assistant is up for. Active Rain now has 255 virtual assistants members listed. We have 100 members in our group Real Estate Virtual Assistants. If you want to learn more, have more questions...throw it out there...we will answer your questions.

And remember what Gary Keller said in his book..."If you don't have an assistant, you ARE one! (ok, I just had to throw that in...;)

4 Steps to Building Your Brand and Marketing Pieces for FREE!

Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 19:35:59 -0500

This one is a Doozie!! I know my past few posts have been about one cool tool or another, but trust me on this one too, as it is COOL!

As many businesses such as Stagers, and Real Estate Virtual Assistants know, one of the first priorities to getting off the ground is to create a "brand" for your company, and reflect that in your marketing pieces. From logos, to letterhead, envelopes, business cards and brochures, you name it, WE NEED IT! However, as talented as we are in our businesses, we are not all capable of being graphic designers and desktop publishers to create the "look" we would like. In comes Branddoozie!

This is a 4 step free online tool that will create all the marketing pieces I mentioned above, in a slick Web 2.0 interface that is so easy to use!! You can pick your color palette, fonts, design your logo, and with a click of the mouse your materials are all coordinated and ready to print. If you want to add your own photos, go ahead! Have fun and play with this CREATIVE, FUN, FREE online tool.

Creative Agent Solutions.com

FREE TOOL ALERT: All -In -One Video Converting Tool, Perfect For Beginners!

Laura Monroe- Real Estate Virtual Assistant (Creative Agent Solutions.com) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 12:26:50 -0500

OK, I don't know about the rest of you, but I am on a quest to learn more about all of these video trends we are learning about here on AR, because frankly I only see it becoming more and more valuable to our businesses. As a real estate virtual assistant, I'm always trying to keep myself educated so that I'm trained to provide the best assistance when new trends are arriving on our doorstep.

The video file formats can be a bit daunting, as they are all different. We have video from our cell phones, digital cameras, flip-videos, iMovies, webinars, downloaded from and to Youtube, our blogs etc, iPods, iPhones, and other video devices. To be able to use these files on the platforms that are most useful to our businesses, there will come a time when one format needs to be converted to another, especially MPEG 4.

Well, I stumbled upon a program that will allow even video newbies to convert almost any video format to another, and its called ANY VIDEO CONVERTER...great name huh?

To quote their website:

Any Video Converter (for PC) features include:

* User-friendly interface that is easy to use.
* Converts all video formats to Apple iPod Video, Sony PSP and more
* Batch convert any video formats including avi, wmv, asf, mpg, mp4, etc.
* Support DivX and Xvid avi format as importing and exporting video
* Support default video/audio settings or user customized parameters for video and audio.
* Has the option to preview the video in real-time before conversion .
* World's fastest video conversion speed with stunning video and audio quality.
* Supports adjust many video/audio options for MP4 files. For example, video/audio sample rate, bit rate, video size...

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around most of this, but this FREE program is a good place to start, and is a good tool to bookmark for future reference...as you may need it:)

Oh, yes...and for the MAC users out there...here ya go: There is an AVC for MAC!

Ok, I'm off to learn more stuff...but if you are trying to wrap your brain around this too, here are some great starter blogs:

How To Use the Flip Video Camera with Your Computer by Brad Andersohn

The Power of Using Video in Your Real Estate Business by Agent Stealth

Video is Now Searchable (and being Indexed) by Mike Mueller

And if you are a Do-it-Yourself type like me, and want video How To's and Ideas, check out: The Real Estate Video Marketing Group