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Our job description as an active real estate professional keeps growing and changing every day, making our full time job even more challenging! The latest twist in this already full agenda is this "Internet thing," adding a brand new dimension to our marketing, one that must be integrated into our existing overburdened list of things to do. The very first step comes even before buying hardware, software, modems and discs. We need to accept the fact that the Internet is here and growing astronomically! The real estate brokerage business is embracing this new communication and information system, requiring that we, as practitioners, accept it, master it, and move on. With REALTOR.com generating over a million consumer visits per month, it is apparent that our consumer is ready, willing and quite able to use this system, and we need to get with it. The Internet facilitates the communication and organization of our once proprietary information… very convenient way to send real estate information globally for the price of a local phone call. Federal Express may not be thrilled, but streamlining the communication and information systems becomes the function of a single keystroke, transmitted at the speed of light, and at a very affordable cost. The first real step to getting connected deals with obtaining the actual hardware and software to facilitate getting on-line. Start with a minimum Pentium 133 processor, with no less than 16 megabytes of RAM (Random Access Memory) and a modem that operates at 28.8 or more. Your services appear quite valuable when a buyer inquires about properties you’ve not previously selected. An easy opportunity to demonstrate value added service by having information at your command, any minute of any day, anywhere. In addition, local information, like schools and maps becomes the function of a simple keystroke, eliminating countless phone calls and requests for often-outdated information. Our gift in this shift is that we have always had this information available, and now it is all in one place. We emerge as the information providers, as not every homebuyer or seller is willing or capable of searching the net, or is knowledgeable about what to look for. The software you will need becomes a personal preference issue. A word processing program like Word or Word Perfect, a personal scheduler, like Outlook or Microsoft’s Schedule Plus and an Agent Productivity Software such as Top Producer to manage client and customer information are necessary. As a business professional, start using a good financial software package like Quicken to make record keeping a simple and effortless system for monthly printouts of income and expenditures. Our team has a great philosophy on which is the best software package, and our answer is always the same…"the one you will use". The next question posed by agents after acquiring all this hardware and software, the next step, is "How do we get connected?" A good Internet Service Provider is your answer. Know the difference between a business oriented Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as Global Center or Earthlink and a content provider like America On-Line. Both providers get you connected to the Internet, but for business purposes, an ISP that is dependable and quick should be your choice. For most practical purposes, your main use of the Internet will deal with the Electronic Messaging medium or E-mail. If you choose America Online, you may soon tire of endless "junk" mail and difficulties in retrieving and sending your mail during AOL’s heavy use hours. The costs for AOL and a true business ISP such as Global Center are relatively the same. You can continue to enjoy your content provider as well, but should seriously consider a service provider that offers simple connect service anywhere and at anytime. A provider that allows multiple attachments, and does not encode documents (making it difficult for the receiver of your E-mail to read) is what you should be looking for. Since E-mail messaging is currently the most prominent use of the Internet, you will need an Internet "phone number" or E-Mail address. The biggest mistake most newcomers make is not understanding the value of getting a permanent E-mail address right from the beginning. For $70 for a 2-year period, (plus a small processing fee) your can secure your own name as your E-mail address, regardless of company offerings or screen names offered on a service or content provider. The problems come later should you choose to change your ISP to a cheaper and faster dial-up service, or when changing brokerage firms. If your E-mail address is not a permanent one, changing providers will cause you to lose your E-mail address. This translates to countless lost leads, dead mail, and reprinting of business cards and marketing materials. In the age of electronic communication, changing addresses becomes an awesome job, as distribution lists and electronic address books will all need notification globally. There is a gigantic value in your securing your own permanent E-Mail address, both personally and professionally. Investigate this fully before making a commitment to just any address. Additionally, when choosing an E-mail address, remember that this address should fit in to your full on-line marketing presence. People are much more likely to remember your name, like Terri@TerriMurphy.com than Isellhouses@aol.com. No matter what company you choose to work for, or whether the messaging is personal or professional, your name carries a marketing presence that is undeniably you! Contact Internic.Net and check out if your name is available. Although you can register your name yourself, be faster and more efficient to use the services of a professional. You want to know all the details to keep your E-mail address yours! Once you have an E-mail address, start notifying everyone that you are connected. Your Internet Address must be placed on your business cards, stationery, advertising, signs, and brochures to let the world know you are connected to the Internet Community. Once the word is out, you will begin using the E-mail system for communication with your clients, customers, affiliates, brokers, title companies, etc. Join an on-line mail list. Most are free and offer information and answers to questions from some of the top agents and personalities in our field…All this for the price of a local phone call! If you are a little nervous about jumping right in, it is okay to "lurk" or just read some of the "postings" until you feel more comfortable about responding or requesting information. Either way, it’s a winning situation to get global experience and expertise for pennies. As you begin to accumulate electronic mail, you will see a need to organize those transmissions, which can be done using a software package known as a Mail Manager. This wonderful piece of software allows us to create folders to "save" these messages for future reference. One of the best features is that there is a version of this software shipped free with Windows95 and is one of the easiest to learn and to use. With a simple click of a mouse, you can store messages; build distribution lists, and adds addresses easily to your electronic address book and forward mail in seconds. This series of articles will offer you simple, effective
strategies to begin and expand your on-line presence, including the next steps, like
securing your own domain, electronic newsletters, important components of a viable website
and integrating this new medium in to the marketing presence you already have. |
