I know what you’re thinking…. What do I need a Podcast for or more likely, what is a Podcast?

Well, let me answer both. First a Podcast is a system that allows audio files (video too, but we’re sticking to audio for now) to be down loaded by a listener from a webpage. Typically these files are played in software called iTunes and on iPODs. It’s free (my favorite price) and very easy to get. It can be downloaded from www.iTunes.com. And no… you do not need an iPOD to listen to the broadcasts.

Once it’s installed it’ll open up to a very simple application interface.

There are a number of sites that have podcasts for real estate agents. A link can be added to the iTunes library that will search for any new posts. So if you like a particular broadcast, you can add that link to your iTunes software and anytime something new comes up, it’ll be updated on your computer.

There are many, many more aspects to this software, but I want to get to the good stuff…

So, why would a REALTOR or Brokerage Firm care about podcasts? Well, education and information for both consumers and REALTORS is a very important marketing venue. With the ubiquitous amount of information on the internet REALTORS need to be the source to bring order to chaos. You can do that by reaching out to consumers in a venue that they know and use. For Brokers, why not record your staff meetings or special training and put it on your webpage? This will allow agents who missed it, or wish to hear the information again, the ability to do so. Better yet, it might show how progressive you are as a company and help you with your recruitment efforts.

The era of static webpages is coming to an end. Today’s practitioner needs to ensure that there is an interactive resource for your web presence. The consumer needs a reason to come back and by giving them something new, it will help to encourage those returns and set you apart as the “expert”.

Now that you know it has value, your next question maybe ‘how hard is it’? It really isn’t hard at all and it’s practically free. You’ll need internet access and a microphone. A typical microphone for your computer (many are built in now) is as inexpensive as $10. For a nice headset with a mic, it could be more expensive, but the quality will be better.

Where to start? Visit http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and download the free recording software Audacity. This is very easy to use and it can be setup in minutes… You’ll be able to create an .mp3 file (which many, many devices can play) and save it.

Once you have the software and have recorded your first mini-seminar, you’ll need to put it somewhere to “host” it. This means that you’ll need to put it on-line, so that you can tell the consumer where to find your gold mine of information.

A good place for beginners to start is http://www.PodBean.com . Again, it’s free, it’s easy to use and has lots of help in case you get stuck.

Now, this is the very basic information; so of course there is much to learn from here, if you want to go further. This is quick and simply guide to getting started. Give it a try and see how you like it!

Have fun!!!

As an Educator, I feel that it’s important to look at today’s student, who is quickly becoming tomorrow’s buyer, seller, tenant, landlord etc… In short – your next client.  We know from information such as NAR’s Profile of Buyers and Sellers that the average on-line consumer takes between nine and 12 months before actually engaging in a real estate transaction. 

It’s important for you as a practitioner to know this, so that you can plan and know where to put your marketing investment.  The following is a glimpse of today’s college student and where they spend their time.  Whereas I don’t fully buy into their premise, you should concentrate on how they are learning.  A majority of what we’ll do with the up and coming consumer-group is education.  We are quickly losing the status of “keeper of the information” and are moving into the aggregator that will protect the consumer, by using our knowledge and wisdom to utilize data.

**This is solely the opinion of the author. I am not an attorney.**

By the very nature of being in real estate, practitioners find themselves in all sorts of litigious situations and many of these potential lawsuits can be avoided by using some basic common sense.

I love the RE.net and social media. I really enjoy reading the insight from others and have come to trust my micro-blogging group friends. However, I’ve found that some sites have been abused by “experts” and “professionals” with just bad information.

It’s difficult to write this post and pick out particular issues found in some REALTOR communities because I have to be careful to not provide legal advice and to be sensitive to the fact that not every state has the same marketing regulations. So, with the advice given on this blog, there are a few things to say. First I am not your Broker and all of your practices should be under the oversight or your Principal or Managing Broker. Second, I am not an attorney, but I am an instructor who gives consultations to attorneys on these matters.

With my own disclosures out of the way, let me mention a few things that I’ve seen routinely occurring by, what I must assume are rookie Web 2.0 Realtor practitioners; that may have the best of intent. Below are a few of my favorite (not) issues that I see over and over again.

Where did you get your law degree? More and more I see “helpful” practitioners with comments on a post giving really bad advice. I recently read a post where the agent was bemoaning the fact that REO sellers weren’t offering commissions. That’s a reasonable complaint; but the responses were horrible. They ranged from telling the blogger to simple not disclose his license status, but also to use his wife’s maiden name, etc… Obviously someone didn’t get the memo about Virginia’s disclosure laws or the REALTOR Code of Ethics (henceforth referred to as COE) Article 12 (disclosure of licensure) Article 13 (providing legal advise without a law license) or Article 1 (honesty and fair dealing).

If you’re going to give advice, copy or type the reference and source that backs up your opinion. Let folks understand where that information comes from so that they can draw their own conclusions – be the source of the source.

Moreover, if you’re going to practice law without a license, don’t be dumb enough to do it and do it wrong!

Sometimes it’s best to shut-up and keep it to yourself! I am amazed at some of the well… junk that comes out of some agent’s comments. One of sensitive spots is Fair Housing. It doesn’t matter my demographic. I feel VERY strongly that no one has the right to tell anyone what they can buy and where they can live if they are financially capable. Recently I was forwarded from a like-minded friend, a post where the agent was stating that she was tired of being afraid of a certain people group, and wish that they would all be forced back to their “native land.” First, let me ask the obvious – how knuckle-headed a comment is that to make in general, none-the-less from a person licensed to representative the best interest of all consumers and principals?!?! Regardless, this is an obvious pre-precursor to a Fair Housing lawsuit. If she were to ever get charged, exactly how long do you think it will take a para-legal doing research to find? Mommy always said, don’t write anything down that you wouldn’t want in the newspaper.

If it isn’t yours, ask permission to play with it. Another common problem is folks who just aren’t as creative as they’d like to be (I can relate) will actually copy posts from another author and display them as their own, this also occurs with pictures. When I create something, it’s mine and I can (and usually will) give permission for others to use it. Otherwise, plagiarism and copyright violations are dirty words. If you steal someone’s materials there are Blogger Posses that will come and make your content-stealing-butts miserable with comments about your cattle-rustling hides!

This is also important to remember when posting other people’s listings or information. Often I’ll see an agent making fun of another’s MLS entry. Remember that there are Sellers behind those listings and the last thing you’ll want to do is have them accusing you and your broker blackballing their ability to sell their home. If the listing isn’t yours, you don’t have permission to repost or marketing it unless empowered to do so by the Seller. Why would you want to help promote a property that you weren’t getting paid to promote, anyway?!?!

The Ninth Commandment: Thou shall not bear false witness! ‘Nuff said…

What have I told you about Sherman?!?! Remember that pesky anti-trust law? I’ve seen a lot of folks, proclaiming themselves “full service” brokers swearing that they just won’t work with those “limited services” guys. They will go out of their way to not show their property. Well, let set aside the obvious harm your poor practices present and linger on the federal lawsuit that could occur when you and your friends, from more than one company collude to boycott another practitioner from selling their listings… Think before you comment and post!

A few of my favorite things…. Code of Ethic and statutory violations run rampant on these sites, but aside from the ubiquitous violations that seem to be here, I have a few pet peeves, as well:

1. Don’t be mean! Just because you don’t agree, you don’t posses the right to “flame” the author or commenter. From great debate and rhetoric comes the truth. Try to find a respectful way to exchange ideas and teach someone if you feel they are incorrect.

2. Don’t, please don’t, really don’t post your new listing every five minutes. None of us read blogs to see your inventory. Most practitioners have MLS and if you’ve done a good job there, than the agent will find and show your property. It just seems that you’re bragging when you do this. You can see my previous post on this issue. I have removed many RSS feeds from folks who had good posts, but they were buried in listing posts.

3. If you’re going to reference a post you’re opposing, don’t be vague. Give the reference so that we can cross on over and visit your nemesis for a bit. Most of us like getting both sides of the story so that we can decide for ourselves where the truth lies. Only people who think they may be wrong hide the opposing arguments.

In conclusion, I’d like to say that Activerain and others like it can be a great way to learn from one another and I don’t think the “rules of engagement” are that difficult. Use some common sense and ask how this post or comment could harm someone. Be kind and as the foundation of almost all religions and the COE states: Do unto others, as you would have them to unto you.

This is not an all inclusive list, but certainly the issues I most commonly see. I am sure commenters will fill in any issues that I may have missed.

Let’s have fun, learn and share!

Recently I read a blogger who was upset that they were forced to market their listing in Facebook’s paid area.  They really wanted to be able to post them anywhere they desired.  Whereas I can see where the agent would like to push their listing information out to their Facebook friends, I’m left to ask if this is useful.

My intent when I log into Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or any of a 100 other social media applications to hang-out (virtually), share with friends and enjoy myself.  I think that most people are like me, in that they don’t want you to plaster everything I do with home for sale listings.  Isn’t MLS and your personal webpage the place to post your listings?  Listing information should be in places that are non-intrusive and where a consumer would actually go if they were interested in a specific property.

 I get the opportunity to interact with many agents and consumers, outside of an agency relationship, and all of them are tired of getting e-mails with listing information.   The more that I lecture on the topic of technology, the more I hear from agents wanting to know if ubiquitous “Broker Open, Open House and Just Listed” e-mails are considered junk mail under CANN SPAM.  My opinion is yes, but I say that only as a consumer who gets much, too much junk mail in my in-box. I didn’t want it, it’s commercial and you need to take me off your list if I request you to do so.  I know that there are others who agree.  For more information go to www.REALTOR.org and search for “Field Guide on CANN SPAM.”

Why would one wish to further frustrate the consumer by polluting their entertainment with yet more listing information?  Also, remember that you’re under a legal and ethical obligation to ensure all marketing pieces are up to date.  You can not leave a listing advertisement up, if the property is no longer active.   So, for those who like to put new listings on my “Wall”, please remember that you have to let everyone know that it’s also sold.  The more marketing you do, the more you increase your liability, so keep your marketing in the most effective and controlled environments possible.

I’ve recently had to go and clean out my blog reader, as I had way too many blogs to read daily and it was effecting my personal hygiene.  When I was trying to decides (in some cases what friends) blogs to take off the list, I quickly scanned and deleted anyone who had ever put listing information up as a post.   If I am a REALTOR® than I have MLS access and can find the homes my clients want there…  I added your blog in my reader for the information and your opinion, not your listings.

For those using Social Media outlets to find and work with clients, my advice is to work on the relationship side of the applications.  Become the expert and not the “sales guy or gal”.  There are great venues for building interactions with the potential clients of tomorrow, but not if you treat it as a lead generating tool.  None of us what to simply be treated as a “lead”   Remember why the individual is at this site, or in your sphere of influence, it’s not to become your customer, it’s to enjoy your company.  Anything else and you’ll miss the actual capability of the interaction.

I promise you, you’ll have better return on your investment if you consider what the consumer wants.