According to the AP this morning, this is the state of foreclosures in the US:

“The number of homeowners caught in the wave of foreclosures in October grew 25 percent nationally over the same month in 2007, data released Thursday showed.  More than 279,500 U.S. homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice in October, an increase of 5 percent over September, according to RealtyTrac Inc. One in every 452 housing units received a foreclosure filing, such as a default notice, auction sale notice or bankrepossession.”

My question to you is twofold:

1. What are you doing to get up to speed on REO’s and short sales so that you can help today’s consumer?
2. What are you doing to get up to speed on REO’s and short sales so that you can help your business?

In a recent post, I touted a terrific money-making, time-saving use that CyberStar(tm) Sven Andersen has using his Dash GPS.  Alas, we received this from Dash yesterday:

“On Monday we announced that we are shifting our business focus from direct-to-consumer hardware to licensing our application and service to other device manufacturers.”

Dash went on to say that they would support the units already out there, so you might want to see if you can find one on Amazon quickly and use the marketing strategy I recommended.

It’s a great evening here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a wonderful day wherever you are, too!

Good morning, all….I hope you make today a wonderful day!

Breaking from tradition, today’s entry doesn’t focus on technology. Rather, it attempts to make a point about interruptions, those tiny time killers.

This morning, as I do many mornings, I listened to “The Writer’s Alamanac,” Garrison Keillor’s peaceful, informative program on my local PBS station. He featured a poem, “Lessons,” by Pat Schneider, and the poem spoke to me on several levels. The third stanza compares interruptions to “tiny grain moths or mice” and goes on to speak of the consequences of allowing them into our day.

I don’t know about you, but that certainly speaks to me! I am easily distracted, and allowing interruptions has been a favorite passtime. There is one particular “mouse” (I think of it more as a moose!) that easily interrupts me: email! I love email, and I can’t imagine life without it. Unless I do something to tame it, however, it is my #1 source of interruptions, my #1 productivity slayer.

If email is a constant source of interruption for you, too, here are the two biggest tools I use to tame it:

Rules. Rules allow you to divert messages with certain subjects, messages from certain persons, etc., directly to a folder, keeping them out of your inbox until you are ready to look at them. I do this with messages from my assistant, Heather. Her messages automatically go into a certain folder, I check it twice a day, and I save time.

Check email as frequently as possible. I check email at noon and 4 p.m. This works for my business and saves me many interruptions. Set a schedule that works for you, but stop checking emails everytime one comes in. Then….then try to stick to it!

BTW: The rest of the poem is worth reading, too….hope it is meaningful to you. Remember: “moments are as precious as nutmeg.”

It’s a beautiful day here on the lake in Reston (fall is in full bloom!)…I hope it’s a beautiful day wherever you are, too!

Regards,

Allen
————————————–

Lessons,” by Pat Schneider
I have learned
that life goes on,
or doesn’t.
That days are measured out
in tiny increments
as a woman in a kitchen
measures teaspoons
of cinnamon, vanilla,
or half a cup of sugar
into a bowl.

I have learned
that moments are as precious as nutmeg,
and it has occurred to me
that busy interruptions
are like tiny grain moths,
or mice.
They nibble, pee, and poop,
or make their little worms and webs
until you have to throw out the good stuff
with the bad.

It took two deaths
and coming close myself
for me to learn
that there is not an infinite supply
of good things in the pantry.

Join me as I give a free, one hour Webinar this Thursday, October 30th, 1 PM Eastern Top = The Top Ten Money Making Tech Tools of Today’s Top Agents. Sponsored by Cyberhomes. Specific tips & strategies from my CyberStars(tm).

Here’s a testimonial from a previous attendee:
“Allen! I updated my web site, started blogging and got price reductions on two of my listings after attending your class! I can’t wait for the next one! Your ideas will save me thousands of dollars and help me increase my listing effectiveness - one of my listsings is now in escrow. Thank you!”
Dana Lisa Young
Agent Pasadena, CA

You can register at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/938348453.
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Hope you’ll join me!

Allen

I just finished teaching the CRS 206 course in Columbia, SC.  As usual, we covered a number of today’s best tech tools, tools that meet the needs of today’s consumers.  One of the tools I demonstrated was Issuu.com.  You can visit it here.

 Issuu is a free upload site…but one with a difference.  Files saved in PDF format, such as PowerPoint, Excel, Word files and more saved as PDF’s, can be shown on Issuu as ebooks, emagazines or more.  It is a simple process: create your document or presentation, save it as a PDF, go to Issuu.com and click on "Upload."  Couldn’t be easier, and the results are really amazing.

I have posted a number of presentations to Issuu and will continue to do so.  You can see the slides I did for my presentation for the Texas Assn. of REALTORS(r) here.  CyberStar(tm) James Nellis of the Nellis Group here in Northern Virginia has a number of presentations on Issuu including their listing presentation, eflyers and more.

If you use PowerPoint, use Issuu as a point of difference for showing your presentations in a very "with it" way…you’ll be glad you did!

We are having a discussion on what tech tools we should use on our private CyberStar(tm) Google Group. Lots of ideas flying around from these tech-savy top producers. Here’s the list that CyberStar(tm) Sam Miller of RE/MAX Stars, Mt. Vernon, OH, shared with us today:

• Web cam
• MPEG video
• FLIP digital video camera
• Zip Forms
• Call transfer on office phones
• S300 Fujitsu ScanSnap
• TREO or Blackberry Smart Phone
• Skills of photo stitching, batch resizing and text messaging

There are many other tools, of course.  I have covered many of them in this blog.  The point, however, is that through Sam’s list and my tips, you have a pretty good shopping list by now.  Hopefully, you’re adding the right tools to your marketing arsenal…one at a time!

It’s a great day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a great day wherever you are, too!

Growing children are famous for saying, “I can do it myself!”  At a young age, they are learning independence, and that is a good thing.  As adults, however, we still fall back on that phrase, thinking that we can do everything all by ourselves.

For years, I thought that I, too, could do it “all by myself” when it came to my business.  I was wrong.  My business only began to reach its potential when I began to network, to share ideas with those with similar aims.  I think this applies to every agent who wants to succeed.

I firmly believe that networking is the key to growth when it comes to ones business.  Getting together with others, both over the Web and in person, exposes one to the ideas of others.  We can learn from the experiences (both good and bad) of others and apply them to our businesses.

A number of networking opportunities are already in place for you, should you decide to expand your horizons.  ActiveRain, Jack Peckham’s CyberSpace Society and other groups are tailor-made for learning and expanding one’s horizons.

In my case, my greatest networking group is the Allen F. Hainge CyberStars™.  We are a group of 200+ members from around the world who share ideas, tech tips and marketing strategies through face-to-face meetings and online through our private Google Group.

We recently completed our annual two-day CyberStar™ Summit in Orlando, and here are only a few of the hundreds of ideas I took away from our session:

• New uses for my FlipVideo camera
• New strategies for SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
• The right way to organize the splash page on my site
• Blog strategies
• Lots of ideas for taking advantage of various social media sites
• Great examples of marketing on YouTube
• Tips for action plans in my real estate database
• Pretty much eliminating taking buyers around through use of the DASH GPS
• The value of striving for excellence in my business
• More applications for the iPhone
• An in-depth look at companies marketing virtual tours
• Going paperless with the Fujitsu ScanSnap
• Putting PowerPoint presentations on Issuu.com
• WalkScore.com, a great add on for agent Web sites

I could go on, but you get the idea.  Networking works, especially if you implement the ideas you are exposed to! However you do it, get involved with your own networking group….and grow your business!

NOTE: If you are interested in exploring membership in our CyberStar™ networking group, go here to see our current members and for membership requirements and an application.  We are currently looking for new members who use technology to make money, save money and save time in their business!

It’s a great day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a great day wherever you are, too!

I just received this message from Allen F. CyberStar(tm) Pete Doty of Denver, CO (www.DenverRelocation.com):

"Just wanted you to know that 50% of my business this year has come from the Web & 50% from friends, family & referrals, both broker and past clients."

Now that’s running a business!  I asked Pete to give me some background as to what he did over the years to achieve this balance.  I hope his response can help you build a better business!

"Here’s a rough view of what I’ve done.  I used SEO ("Search Engine Optimization) to bring my site from page 47 to a 3rd or 5th spot on page #1.  Also,  everyone I have ever come in contact with is on a drip email campaign.  I use RealProSystem’s  drip  campaign and stealth Web sites and swear by them.  I only had to do minor editing on RealProSystem’s pre-planned emails…they are terrific!  I duplicated one of these drip emails and put it on my 3 IDX follow up programs.

 "I have 4 major Web sites plus some minor ones:

• www.DenverRelocation.com, done by myself and a Web coach
• www.PeteDoty.com, my RealProSystem stealth site
• www.DenverHomeSource.net, self-published
• www.DenverHomeSource.com, self published
• www.SuburbanDenver.com, template from my franchise

"I have to emphasize that my membership in your CyberStar(tm) networking group has had a huge impact on my success.  The techniques I learn and the tools recommended by others, such as RealProSystems, are priceless!"

NOTE: After investigating RealProSystems, you can order it at a discount from www.AFHSeminars.com or by calling us at 800-695-3794.

It’s a great (hot!) day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a great day wherever you are, too!

I asked my fellow CRS 206 instructor, Mike Selvaggio, to contribute his Ten Top Tips for the revision of my best-selling book, "Dominate! Capturing Your Market With Today’s Technology."  The CRS 206 course is the Council of Residential Specialist’s 2-day technology course, the best course, in my opinion, for learning how to market with today’s technology.  Mike does a superb job on the digital photography module of the course, and he’s my "go to" guy when I want to learn more in this area.

Here are Mike’s top ideas…Top 10 + a bonus #11:

1.       Shoot lots of shots

2.       Shoot bedroom shots 4 feet off the ground

3.       Buy a wide angle camera like the Canon sd800

4.       Have at least a 512 mb card for storing your photos

5.       Reformat your card while in the camera at least once a month

6.       Always have your camera ready for that great shot

7.       Shoot kitchens by holding your camera over your head and if possible, stand on a chair

8.       Shoot exterior front shots at ¾ angle, not straight ahead. Stand on the non-garage side.

9.       Best shots are on cloudy days, not bright sunshine. Avoid harsh shadows.

10.   Take your best shot in the field so you do not have to work it over in your computer

11.   Set the resolution of your camera BEFORE you shoot so it matches the ultimate use (bonus tip)

It’s a great day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a great day wherever you are, too!

I am so blessed to be associated with my CyberStars(tm), nearly 200 top agents from the US, Canada, Australia and The Bahamas!  The are a constant vein of marketing and technology ideas that show me how successful agents dominate their markets.
 

I recently received another example of their marketing prowess to today’s consumer, this time from CyberStar(tm) Allyson Hoffman of RE/MAX North, Chicago, IL.  Ally sent me a copy of her Mother’s Day mailout, containing a one page message and 10 1 cent stamps.  The message noted the recent postage increase and suggested that the recipient use the 1 cent stamps together with the "old" postage to send a greeting to one’s mother, grandmother or any mom who is special to the recipient.

That, of course, was traditional marketing with a twist, the attention getting stamps.

Ally didn’t stop there, however.  She made sure that the recipient knew where to find a variety of information she provides.  At the bottom of her message was the following:

• Buying/Selling & Area Information: www.Allyson.com or www.AllysonHoffman.com
• Homes For Sale: www.PropertySearchNorthernIllinois.com or www.PropertySearchChicagoArea.com
• What’s Sold & For How Much: www.HomeValuesChicagoArea.com
• Sharing Thoughts:www.RealEstateNorthernIllinois.com/blog

Think about the number of today’s marketing methods Ally used in her message:

• Traditional ("snail mail")
• Traditional (marketing "pizazz" with 1 cent stamps)
• Custom Web site (Allyson.com)
• Customized template site (AllysonHoffman.com from #1 Expert)
• Stealth sites (property search and home value sites from RealProSystems)
• Real estate blog (RealProSystems)
• Numerous domain names for target marketing

Ally accumulated these tools over the years.  The point is that she, unlike the majority of agents out there, invests in the tools needed to build her business, always being alert to the needs of today’s consumer and adapting to them.

BTW:  If your organization would benefit from a technology/marketing seminar focusing on the ideas of the CyberStars(tm) and examples of tools they use, I’d love to hear from you.  Email me and we’ll check for open dates!

It’s a beautiful day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a beautiful day wherever you are, too!