I hope you have seen my posts on the need to network with other real estate agents here before. Real estate networking with others both in and out of your market area, not only gets you referrals but also helps you learn new techniques and strategies that definitely help you build your business….and inprove your personal life. GoToMeeting (fee), Google Groups (free) , conference calls (free services available) and in-person meetings such as our 2-day CyberStar(r) Summit are all tools that can help you build and implement a dynamic network of fellow real estate agents.
As for me, my lucky day was the day I founded the CyberStars(r) networking group after teaching a seminar at the NAR Convention in San Francisco in 1995. All three of my panelists that day, Alice Held, Wynne Achatz and Judy McCutchin are still CyberStars(r). Thanks to the input and energy of these three and now of our 200+ members from the US, Canada, Australia and the Bahamas, it has become my primary source of “how to to real estate right,” especially in the area of using today’s tehcnology to meet the needs of today’s consumers.
We held this year’s CyberStar(r) Summit in Scottsdale earlier this month. It included a number of panels by members who excelled in some area of technology, marketing or customer service. We also had breakout “special interest” sessions for users of such technology as RealProSystems, blogging, marketing to a small market, etc. One of the sessions was for iPhone users and those interested in learning more about it.
Apple iPhone
Am I glad I sat in on the iPhone breakout! CyberStars(r) who used the iPhone effectively, such as Glen Gill, Peter Sajovich and others, showed us what the iPhone could do for our businesses….amazing! Mine was delivered 2 days ago, and I’m getting up to speed on it….after staying up much later than I usually do two nights in a row!
I have asked my CyberStars(r) to tell me what apps (downloadable utilities and programs for the iPhone, most free, some for a small fee) they use, and I will list them in a future post. For now, I’ll just mention a couple of of business uses that jump out at me as a new real estate user:
- Instantly pull up maps and get driving directions (free app).
- Show prospects virtual tours, Animoto presentations or YouTube videos on my listings (iPhone has a brilliant screen for doing so!)
- Get instant updates from social networking groups (free apps).
- Instantly accesss the MLS when not at my computer.
- Using PocketExpress (free app), I can quickly look up phone numbers, show times, news, sports, weather, flight status and more.
- Using Sly Dial (free app), I can call someone and have the call go directly to their voicemail, saving me lots of time when I don’t want to get engaged in a long conversation.
- Download my favorite “motivational” tunes from iTunes and hear them in brilliant sound when I need a lift!
As mentioned, I will put together a list of real estate uses and apps provided by my CyberStars(r) and report on them. For now, however, put me down in the confirmed iPhone user column!
It’s a great day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a great day whever you are, too!
