Are you able to remember and keep track of everything? The 1 “Must have” Tool that Can Do it All!

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:15:40 -0700

Don’t we all love finding that magical tool – you know the one tool that makes all the difference to your organization and staying on track? The tool that makes everything work. I almost love this tool as much as I love the Magic Eraser!

If you’re like me, you’re

reading a lot all over the internet

you’re keeping track of projects and “to do” items

organizing thoughts and ideas for future blogs

or just investigating tools and resources to tap into now and in the future

How do you keep track of everything for that rainy Saturday that you designate to tackle some of the projects and tasks you need to get accomplished? Printing articles, searching through your bookmarks, looking through a notebook can be a very tedious task not to mention not a very effective use of your time.

If you’re anything like Suzanne McLaughlin who recently posted a blog about her next big project of clearing out her bookmarks and what she’ll be tackling next – I thought it was a good idea to share my favorite tool that I know will help Suzanne and all of my AR friends.

I have found that Evernote is a tool that can help you do all that and more.

I’ve been using this tool for awhile now and it seems like almost weekly I’m finding a new use for it, so I thought I’d share some of the great uses with a specific highlight on how it can benefit you in the “work” aspect of your life.

Some Key Highlights of the Tool:

One Account – Connect from Anywhere - another computer (Windows &; Mac) or mobile device (iphone, ipod touch, ipad, android, blackberry, palm, and more)

Desktop – download the desktop version – has some great features that are not necessarily available via mobile devices. (anything you do in Evernote does synch up so that if you need to access via your mobile while on the go – it’s in there!)

WebClipper – while you’re scouring the web – save the page to your Evernote and be sure to categorize it and tag so that when you search for the topic it comes up. This could be a cool new tool you found that you need to read more about before you start using it or maybe a new site that you still need to determine if it will fit into your business plan – it’s endless really.

Connect &; Share – Connect your Evernote with social media sites (FB, Twitter, Google) and email. Start sharing a note or notebook with your connections.

Free & Paid Account Options – The free account is what I have been using so far and it’s working out great. For only $5/mo or $45/yr for a premium account, if you need more functionality and space – this is so affordable. Check out the details/comparisons for free vs. premimum

What can you organize in Evernote?

Ideas (marketing, newsletter topics)
Notes (from a seminar or webinar you attended, conversation you had with a client)
Business and Marketing Plans
Photos (organize blog photos, or take a photo with your mobile device and send it to Evernote – it’s there when you need it)
Blogs (Organize blog topics/ideas, gather up research on a particular topic)
Tools (ever come across a tool whether on the web, a social media site or blog and think – I need to know more before I decide if that will work for me – now you can save the page to Evernote as a “marketing tool” topic and come back and research it more.
Research
SEO Tips
Scan Business Cards to keep them organized in 1 file
Keep track of expenses or receipts

There are tons more but I think I captured the major ones as it applies to “work” life. There is really no end to the usefulness and ease of this tool. One of my particularly favorite things to do is create “to do” lists. You can easily create them (with check boxes) and categorize them by client, day, week, month or task type. No matter what you name your list you will easily be able to use the search feature in Evernote to find the task/list.

Gather your thoughts, ideas, things you need to remember whether for work or fun and free up the time you would spend trying to organize these items or searching for them when you need them.

I’ve only provided you with a brief highlight of functions and uses for business. Just imagine having all the other aspects of your life organized in this handy tool that you can access at any time from anywhere.

More things to capture:

Shopping Lists
Gift Giving Ideas
Recipes
Trip Planning
Talk about Work/Life Balance!
Do you see this as a tool you would incorporate into your life?
Capture inspirational quotes (don’t we all share them on social sites?)
Searching for a Job – keep track of where you sent resumes
Organize deals and offers – promo codes, etc that you come across on twitter, facebook, in magazines, when you’re out and about.

All I know is that after just using this tool for a short time I’ve said:

Goodbye: HELLO:

What’s your opinion of this tool? Is this a “must have” tool for you and something you would incorporate into your arsenal of tools to keep your work/personal life in order?

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If it's not evident to you by now, consumers are very knowledgeable and computer savvy and are using the Internet to not only search for homes but for real estate agents and real estate professionals who they feel are like minded and can lead them to the results they are looking for.

As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Remembering 9-11 at the Garden of Reflection in Bucks County PA - A Beautiful Memorial

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 11:07:50 -0700

As soon as anyone says 9-11 you automatically hear someone recount where they were and what they felt when they heard and watched the devastating news about the attacks in New York, the Pentagon and Pennsylvania.

I live in Yardley (Lower Makefield), Bucks County PA in which 18 people who worked in the World Trade Center lost their lives.

The Garden of Reflection (just 1.5 miles from my home) is the official Pennsylvania Memorial to the Victims of Sepetember 11, 2011 terrorist attacks created to remember and honor loved ones and all 2,973 killed with a walking journey that symbolizes “After Darkness…Light.”

It truly is a place of beauty and hope that people throughout Bucks County and those visiting our area love to come and pay tribute to all those who lost their lives and simply remember not just on the anniversary of September 11th but often. Drive by any day of the week and you will find people sitting, walking and remembering.

One section of the memorial has all 2,973 names of those that died and another area of the garden is dedicated to the 18 Bucks County residents who lost their lives.

Just some of the names of victims etched into glass.

Here’s the video courtesy of Action News 6 capturing last night’s events. My neighbor, who lost her husband describes her feelings 10 years later.

I invite you to take a virtual tour of the garden and see some of the pictures I took last night at the Candlelight Vigil in which Bucks County residents held lighted candles, said prayers, honored victims and families and simply remembered.

Steel Fragments from the World Trade Center

2,973 hearts surrounded the entire entrance and all around the memorial

Photos Capturing the Candlelight Vigil

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims and their families. We will always remember…and never forget.

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Are you INVITING customers in or TURNING them away?

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:01:25 -0700

Take a look at this photo. Notice anything?

The motto of this business is "Its all about the bread"

Yet the message on the window says "Sorry out of bread"

Hmmm…Just a fluke for that particular day? Actually no. I see this sign up often and think to myself:

Poor planning on their part (someone is not very good with ordering the necessary product to deliver to consumers)
Consumers are left with a poor image of this business
Consumers going elsewhere to another establishment that can deliver (I bet the other businesses in this shopping center love it!)

This business is looking at Loss of: Revenue, Reputation and Consumer Confidence – key ingredients for a business to exist and grow.

I honestly have a hard time wrapping my head around why a business would allow this to happen once never mind a lot. This is especially mind boggling to me at a time when businesses are struggling to survive in this economy and great service is paramount.

Think about your business. Things happen that are out of your control even when we have a plan in place – deals fall apart, clients change their minds, situations change, and so on…Our ability to handle those challenges and be a solution oriented business is part of the overall experience and service we offer our clients, isn’t it?

I think there are a few things this business could be doing to ensure they are meeting their customers needs:

Plan Ahead – look at demand of your product and adjust the bread/product order. If necessary work with another vendor if their schedule doesn’t work for your business.

Have a Plan & A Backup Plan - If something happens where you run out of product – have solutions and resources to tap into.

If necessary and after all avenues have been explored you might just have to:

Adjust your motto so it more accurately reflects what you truly have to offer and you can continue operating your business vs. shutting the doors and giving consumers a bad taste in their mouth about you and your business.

Think of your website, your blog, profiles and social media sites as your storefront.

Are you offering services that you can actually deliver on? Are you able to meet the consumer’s needs in a way that creates confidence in you and your services?

Will you have people talking about your business in a way that helps you grow your business? (referrals and testimonials)

will someone be posting a blog or leaving a comment somewhere on the internet about how you can’t deliver what you promise?

Put messages and content out there that truly reflects you, your company, your services and ones that you can be proud of!

Ask yourself – Am I inviting consumers in or turning them away?

What are your thoughts about portraying the right image for your business?

(Note: This blog post is not intended to pick on or make fun of a particular business but as an illustration (to learn from) on how to portray the right image for your business.)

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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One Simple Task to Getting a High Grade from Clients - What's Your Grade?

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 18:05:35 -0700

Remember when you were in school and you received extra credit for showing your work?

Same holds true for business. Almost every day I receive an email from a client in which their client is requesting something or checking on why they’re listing appears in a particular neighborhood when they’re right on the border, and so on.

The point I’m trying to make – they’re checking on all that you promised in that listing appointment.

So, instead of getting those emails or forgetting what marketing has been done for your listings, be ahead of the inquiries and do the one simple task to get you a high grade from your client: share your efforts with them.

Here are some of the things to remember to share and send to your clients (ideally before they ask):

Just Listed Cards – make sure one goes to their address
Open House Materials – whether it's a book all about the home, Open House Flyers and promotion of the Open House, Brokers Open, etc.
Advertising – if you’re still advertising in newspapers and real estate magazines – scan and pdf the ad and send or use the cool advertising tool I recently mentioned
Marketing Reports – this is essential in my eyes to be accountable for all the things you promised the client initially. This should have all the sites you are currently marketing their listing (hyperlinked) with an explanation of the site and it’s capabilities/reach for their listing. This should be updated monthly with new sites, links to blog posts and any new resources you have added to your marketing toolkit. If you don't have the ability to make these updates on a monthly basis, at the very least provide a 1 pager of all the sites you have their listing (hyperlinked) and update if you add any new marketing tools/sites.
Emailflyers – Often we send them to the agents in our area hoping they will have qualified buyers but sellers like them too – copy or pdf the flyer and send.
Showing reports - feedback is important especially if a price change talk needs to happen based on feedback. Sharing this means they're not as surprised when you approach the topic.
Social Media Sites – Facebook and Twitter – this can serve 2 purposes: clients are seeing your mentions of their listings whether it’s a blog link, postlets, realbird, trulia or zillow, etc. You can also share a link to the listings and add the @customername so that it also feeds to their facebook profile. Now you’re advertising on 2 pages and the client again sees you’re working for them to market their home.

Do you have any other places you would mention/copy your client to show them your work?

When it comes down to all the marketing activities you’re doing for your listings the sellers want 1 important thing: Qualified Buyers.

It’s your job to make sure you’re doing all you can to provide those opportunities for their listing. Look again at your presentation and marketing plan – has everything been done? Anything missing? Have you started working with a new marketing tool? Is there more you can be doing?

Even in today’s tough market, by showing sellers your work you’re at least assuring them that you’re a person of your word and someone that deserves their trust and their business. Don’t leave them wondering did I hire the right person? If they see your work, they will at least know you were the right person for the job even if the outcome is not exactly what they hoped for.

How do you involve your clients in the marketing process?

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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A Tool to Share Your Message and Extend Your Reach - The Possibilities are Endless!

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 07:43:57 -0700

Hi, it’s me again…I know I’ve regrettably been missing from this great network and if you like I can provide a list of my clients that you can talk to! Truthfully I've been busier than I ever imagined I could be (a great problem to have!) and so grateful for all the opportunities since so much of my business success has come from the Reach of Activerain. (Take note: blogging on AR works!) All kidding aside, I wanted to bring your attention to a new tool I’ve been using that has so many great uses and it’s easy to use.

Allow me to share some of the cool things that can be done with this online tool GoGoPin:

Create countless ads for printing or web posting (here’s a sample page I did for real estate or you can view below)
- Note: With the Basic (free account) Ads stay active for 3 days unless you decide to upgrade for $8/mo then it will remain active for 30 days. The basic account seems ideal for Open Houses or advertising upcoming events that you post a day or two before the event.

So easy to use just drag and drop.
Upload images from your computer, Flickr, or Picasa.
Save as HTML, PNG, and PDF (great to embed into your blog)

Here’s a sample of how it looks in your blog

Note: when you create your ad and get ready to save it, you can add a link to your ad - ideally this would be your website to drive traffic to a particular lisiting or area. Where I said "Your Logo Here" you can have a picture of the property and add "click here for more details and photos" which is a call to action to get more information on the listing or you can simply add the link to the ad and the entire page becomes a clickable link to your website, et.

Post to Craigslist, eBay, Twitter, and Facebook (extending your reach)
After your ad has been created you are ready to export and here's the screen that comes up to give you publishing options:

From your online ad via Go you can also Share it with countless social networks (341+) (I love this feature)

Get a dedicated landing page for each of your ads.
Use QR Codes to make your ad mobile-friendly (especially helpful for the ads you print.)

I see these ads being a way to bring true focus to your business. Just think you can have ads and dedicated pages for:

New Construction
Luxury Homes
Developments, Areas or Neighborhoods
Price Points
Rentals
Open Houses
Need I go on?

You can also use GoGoPin to create your very own facebook page.

Facebook Business Page Options include:

Pictures & Text
Video & Slideshows
Gallery
Audio
Maps
Social Plugins
Property Showcase

I know for a fact that clients are checking on their agents to ensure they are marketing their listings as promised. This is just another way to show them your efforts and it certainly could be appealing to your prospects looking for an agent who employs creative and innovative marketing strategies.

I challenge you today to approach your marketing efforts with creativity. Find new ways to either create or spice up your marketing efforts that leave your prospects and clients with a very satisfied feeling and the feeling of wanting more not to mention the great benefits of extending your reach both online and offline.

Is this a tool that you would find useful in your business?

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Marketing is a lot like exercising...tone and see results

Fri, 03 Apr 2009 09:57:20 -0700

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner, and I don't know about you, but right now I'm dreading seeing my body in a bathing suit. Yes, the effects of the winter and not closely paying attention to my diet and exercise routine are clearly evident to me.

So why am I sharing that with you? I strongly believe that marketing and exercise can be very closely related and will show how when you think of your commitment to exercise and all the benefits it provides you, you will realize the same thinking can be applied to your marketing. Who knows, perhaps I'll even inspire you to focus on exercising too?

To start, let's talk about what exercise means:

It's when a person pushes themself, increases their stamina, builds muscle, establishes a solid regular routine in order to reach new limits to obtain their maximum health and fitness goals.

So how can you exercise and flex your marketing muscles?

Plan of Action

I think anyone who has decided to make a commitment to exercise knows you need to have a plan and fully commit to it. You typically would establish what kind of exercises you're going to do, how often you will work out, perhaps you'll track it in a journal and tell people or even ask someone to work out with you to help you keep accountable. You also understand that you're not going to see actual results by just having a plan but actually following and committing to that plan.

The same goes for a marketing plan. You need to establish one, you need to commit to it, not just create it, but doing it every day. You can exercise your marketing skills by creating a master plan and breaking it down into small manageable pieces. This way it's not too overwhelming and you will actually be able to not only feel like you're accomplishing your goals but actually seeing the results. I invite you to read a previous post in which I describe simple things you do can each day to improve your marketing efforts.

Additionally, have a daily routine of sharing and acquiring knowledge (blogging, social networking, marketing in all forms) and practice those techniques. Whether you have 20 minutes or an hour for your exercise and marketing routine - do it - it will put you that much closer to your goals and the end results you are looking for.

Repetition

Once you make the commitment to your exercise action plan, you know you must pay attention to it on a regular basis, repetition is a good thing! You can't expect to see results by just looking at your workout clothes, your equipment and stuffing another morsel of food into your mouth without doing some sort of physical activity. Ever notice when you skip a few workouts that it's often hard to get back on track? You often feel like you're starting all over again.

Yes, the same goes for your marketing efforts. Skipping days and putting our marketing off to the side will have the same sad results. Ever hear the phrase "when you don't promote yourself a funny things happens...nothing!"

Now that you have a solid action plan in place, look at it and do something from your list daily. Are the areas you've identified leading you closer to your goals? Continue to reevaluate those goals and make the necessary changes - if it's not working why keep doing it?

One of the most important things to remember when it comes to our exercise and marketing routines - don't give up. Sure the results may be slow or sometimes feel as they are non existent but keep these words at the front of your thinking - stay focused, do something daily, success will come.

The Results

If you've committed yourself to exercise before you will know that hard work, commitment and seeing it through provided great results. It didn't happen overnight and without significant effort and commitment. Even on those days that you didn't feel like working out, you pushed yourself and look where it got you.

When you first commit to marketing you may feel overwhelmed, you can't do and you will especially feel that way if you're not seeing results. Maybe you feel that you've tried everything and it's still not happening. True success does not just come with hard work but with time. Create marketing solutions, commit to them, track them, change them after you've given them some time to truly evaluate their worth and don't give up.

By making a daily, strong and lasting commitment to your marketing, you are toning your skills, increasing your knowledge, becoming a skillful marketer and you will get the results that both you and your clients need. In the end, you will realize it was so worth the commitment you made - hard work, effort and time does truly payoff whether it's in exercising or marketing.

Have you committed to your marketing efforts the same way you have your exercise routine?

Perhaps this post inspired you to make a stronger commitment to both?

Where do you find your motivation to commit to exercise and marketing?

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Are you an "ACE" when it comes to giving great customer service?

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 10:39:42 -0800

Unlike our computer keyboards there are no shortcuts to great customer service. Here's a recent experience I had that I hope will remind us all that customer loyalty is all about earning trust and building relationships that will go beyond just one transaction.

As many of my family and friends know, I recently purchased a snow blower to help me endure the tough weather we were experiencing in Bucks County, PA. Not only would it help me to move the snow more easily but it would help me reduce the amount of time spent away from conducting business and meeting my client's needs.

After speaking with an expert (my dad who lives in Boston and knows bad winters and enormous snow falls) I called and visited several local stores to inquire about their products asking them the capabilities and features of the machine as well as price and availability of what they had in stock to take with me that day.

Mind you, all the stores I called were large retail stores that you think would not only have an abundance of products but would offer you knowledgeable members of their team to discuss the products and the capabilities of each machine with the customers.

I did not find that - it was quite the opposite until...

I called and met with Doug Smith, the Manager of Smith's Ace Hardware of Newtown. He not only took the time to discuss the machines he had in stock, the features and price but when I came to the store several hours later he said "I spoke with you earlier, let me show me the machines I discussed with you."

He then proceeded to give me a demonstration of the equipment and ensure I would have the knowledge of how to use it and the accessories (gas, oil) to use the equipment. He and another staff member got it into my SUV and secured it (as it was rather large) into my vehicle to get it home.

The point I'm really trying to share it that - all the advertising, promises you make to consumers, and the name/brand recognition won't get you anywhere unless you have the great customer service to back it all up and you provide that service to each and every one of your customers.

This concept applies for all companies and individuals offering services to consumers and should be a part of every interaction you have with your prospects and clients. If clients don't see the value in the services you are providing they will move on to find someone that will provide them with what they need and are looking for. In a split second, you can change someone's impression of you, your company and your services - for the good or the bad.

What are the benefits of providing great customer service?

In one word - LOYALTY.

And the benefits of having loyal customers to your business is:

Word of mouth marketing
Repeat clients
Competitive Edge

Think about it, Ace Hardware now has me talking about them. I am a repeat client and they do have a competitive edge over other stores when it comes to where I will go to purchase products I need for my home.

My advice to you is simple:

Don't forget your customers after their transaction is done
Don't make promises in your listing presentations that you can't keep
Have regular and consistent contact with your prospects and clients

Thank you ACE Hardware of Newtown - you officially have a new loyal customer!

What kind of great personal experience are you offering your clients when they call or meet you?

Has any business recently "wowed" you with their service - share the love!

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Are you afraid of taking risks because of the risk of failure?

Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:15:47 -0800

Are you afraid of taking risks because of the risk of failure?

Within all our business models, there’s a need to wear a sales hat. But what if you took off that "sales hat" and instead wore a "service provider hat"?

Stay with me on this. Almost every client and prospect you come into contact with has at some point been mislead, misinformed maybe even blatantly lied to. Maybe they heard idle promises and this left them with a feeling of mistrust of all “sales” people. I know I encountered this quite a bit when I sold temporary staffing services.

How did I become someone that my clients and prospects could trust? I stopped selling them to them and simply pointed out real ways I could help them. I uncovered the pains they were experiencing and helped them find solutions even if it meant that I did not get their business. I took the "risk" factor away for them and simply offered my knowledge and ideas without expected anything in return. Risky - you bet. Just think about the time spent without any guarantee of a possible sale. But in reality isn't that the chance we all take? We are never really guaranteed the sale or opportunity simple because a prospect agreed to meet with us.

So why on earth would I do all that? Because I become a valuable and trusted resource for them and almost every single client I did this with eventually became a client of mine and one of them was my largest and most profitable account I ever brought in.

The same applies in the real estate business. You’ve heard it from sellers who were promised the moon and the stars only to have their home not get one offer and they pull it off the market – maybe even try to sell it themselves as a FSBO. Perhaps you have a prospect you’re meeting with that comes across as very demanding – wanting soup to nuts because they were promised things and they were never delivered from a previous agent.

So how do you go about this?

First know what you’re capable of delivering – don’t make promises you can’t keep
Listen to what your prospect is saying (don't speak)
After they are done - offer a solution that addresses their biggest problem while at the same showcasing how you can be of the greatest benefit to them
Develop a customized plan - talking directly to a prospect about their individual nees - make it personal (for clients this will be more involved)
Monitor and share feedback with prospect/client regularly (check in with prospect to see how things are going - make a call, drop by - you may just have a new client ready to work with you.)
Think outside the box and do something different - each client is unique so make their solution unique.

The key is to find ways to make your clients and prospects feel safe – take away the risk and watch what happens. I look forward to hearing your results after you adopt this practice because I know it works – I did it.

How do you make your clients and prospects feel "safe" and have you ever had a prospect come back to you based on taking this kind of approach?

In the meantime, enjoy this quick video that I hope inspires you to take more risks and not accept failure as an option.

Coming up…Stay tuned for more on Giving Your Clients What They Want & Need: Extra Credit for Showing Your Work

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Is your work week missing this important day?

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:30:50 -0800

Have you ever said to yourself “I’ll do that when I have more money” or “when I have more time?” I think we’ve all been there – overwhelmed, wanting to do everything we can to grow our business and opportunities but finding roadblocks – lack of time, lack of resources and just plain uncertain of how to get started.

Instead of putting off those projects and tasks and talking yourself into the fact that you just can’t accomplish something challenge yourself to say I can do it, I want to do, I need to do it and I WILL do it. With the New Year underway perhaps you’ve already started on this great way of thinking - maybe it was starting your diet, training for a triathlon, donating your time to an important cause, doing something new for your business – the list could go on. That day for all of us is known as TODAY.

The definition of today is:

This day

Distinctive from yesterday or tomorrow

Present time

Today should be known as the day that you said you would do something and you actually did!

I come across countless prospects who tell me they want it all – the perfect website, marketing tools, great SEO, etc and they long for the day when they can barely handle all the client calls wanting them to list or stage their home. Problem is most of the prospects I’m talking to don’t have a clear vision of what they want and despite my efforts to help them come up with a working plan that has stages of progress, (we all know Rome wasn’t built in a day) they give up and feel defeated before they even began. They allow that doubt, that I can’t do it right now attitude to creep in and take over.

Instead of focusing on having every new tool known to mankind, every resource and gadget – research a handful and figure out what will help YOU be successful. Set yourself up for success by taking those handful of tools and resources (your website, blog, social media site, resource, online tool) and give them your full attention. Become savvy in how they work best for you – become your own expert in using these tools or find someone who can help you.

Here are a few resources I've compiled to get you started in the right direction:

By doing this you’ll gain real focus. You will find what's working/not working and you’ll be able to develop a realistic and attainable plan that you can actually measure the results. Keep this in mind; just because a tool is working for your friend in Texas, it does not mean it will work for you or your market, especially if you’re juggling 10 things at once and can barely focus on at least one of them for more than a few minutes a week. You see I’ve seen great success with clients who choose a handful of areas to focus on and becoming really great in those areas. The key is to develop your business in a way that makes sense and that you can sustain for the long term.

I’ll ask you this – do you want to be really great at a few things (and I mean REALLY great) or mediocre at many things?

I’m of the mindset that there’s no better time to start then right now. You don’t need tons of money and time. There are so many free tools out there that can do amazing things for your business if you work them the right way. There are resources out there – colleagues willing to share their knowledge on their blog, virtual assistants that you can hire to work certain aspects of your business, and countless sites that might just give you your next BIG idea.

Listen

Observe

And most importantly - Take Action

Not tomorrow, not next month, not when you have more time, not when you have more money, not when you think that prospect will give you a chance, not when you feel its safe and you won’t risk failing, not when you’re not so busy.

The day is here my friends and it’s called TODAY.

The day when you say you're going to do something and you do. Make any day YOUR today!

Feel free to share any new strategies and ways of thinking you’re working on to make this year one of your greatest years.

At the very least I hope this post has inspired you to take action and make 2011 one of your best years yet!

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

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Beware: Being on ActiveRain causes Growing Pains

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:25:40 -0700

Beware: Being on ActiveRain causes Growing Pains

This statement couldn't be more true!

Warning: If you're not prepared for a huge increase in connections, contacts, inquiries, business opportunities, friendships and more - then this is not the place for you.

If you're interested in writing about topics that will strike a cord with someone, if you speak from the heart and have knowledge about a particular subject matter and are interested in connecting with possible clients and colleagues to develop relationships that will not only benefit your business but you personally - then this IS the place for you.

This picture is a very accurate portrayal of what life has been like for me the past few months and believe me I'm not complaining. At a time when many people are losing their jobs and struggling, I find myself and my business at an amazing place.

I have never been one to brag and I'm not about to start now but I did feel it was important to share, based on first hand experience, with ActiveRain newcomers and those who are lurking around the network wondering if this is the network/community for them and if it really will benefit their business - it is, it does, it will!

I also felt that I owed the many great friends and blog subscribers that I have here on ActiveRain an apology for not being active with my commenting and blogging. While I have tried my best to stay in contact with many of you via social networking sites, there is simply no comparison or replacement for the interactions and connections that I have and can continue to make in this community. My first priority has been and will always be to my clients (I think everyone can understand/respect that commitment) and of course to my family as striking that balance with work/life is so important.

I have worked hard the last few months to get my business to where it needs to be in order to continue to grow and get back to something I love doing - writing, blogging, sharing and connecting with this great community. So while I can't say you'll see a blog from me every day I can promise that you will see me more on your blogs commenting and sharing and hopefully I will see you on mine if something I've shared strikes a cord with you. I look forward to reconnecting and connecting with many of the new members I have yet to meet.

Wow, it feels great to be back - I've missed this place. I'll let you in on a little secret...I was sorting through some things in my office and came across a handwritten note from a fellow ActiveRain member who had taken the time to reach out to me to thank me for comments left on her blog and how happy she was to know me and have a friend in Bucks County PA.

That's what I'm talking about - Connections - afterall my success and growth of my business is without a doubt due to ActiveRain. I can't think of any other place to spend my time when not working on client projects and spending time with my family, then with my ActiveRain family.

Have you found the right balance in all things needing your attention - your business, your family, your connections and friendships? Needing some inspiration? Visit Kate Elim's Post and Get Inspired - I did in more ways than one!

Feel free to share:

How ActiveRain or a special person or experience has inspired you and impacted your business.

Stay Tuned for an upcoming blog that will guarantee to make a mega splash.

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

Lets Connect and Stay Connected:

Real Estate is a "Contact" Sport...Do you have a Game Plan?

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:16:31 -0700

I think we can all agree that our clients all want to feel special, whether they are new or they have been working with us for months or even years. They will also continue to go to where they feel they are wanted and appreciated.

Think about it from your own personal experience. Would you continue to go to a restaurant or service provider that didn’t make you feel invited or special? If they didn’t recognize you or provide you with an exceptional customer service experience would you return, mention them to others or would you simply move on?

Have you ever given thought to whether "new" clients are more important than "existing" clients? I think they are both important and each of them needs to feel that way. Surely we all want to grow our businesses and working with new prospects is an essential part of growing our business but just as essential is in how we treat our “existing” clients.

It comes down to having a system in place to stay in contact with both existing and new clients to ensure everyone's needs are being met.

In a previous blog I wrote about how you can categorize your clients in your database to ensure you’re providing them with information that is relevant to them. Feel free to review that information and at the end I will give you a few simple ways to go about establishing ways to stay in touch with both new and existing clients.

Here are 3 Rules to follow to help you stay on the mind of your existing clients. (this will become important for your “new” prospects and clients as you start working with them and establish a good practice for staying in touch with them.)

Rule #1

Call Them. Yes, in this day of technology – emails, social networking and text messages – we often use our phone less to reach out to clients. It could be that we’re busy and multi tasking, possibly we’ve been out of touch with a former client and we’re afraid to pick up the phone and call them or we’re not sure what we should be calling them about. Whatever the reason, we need to let those existing clients know they are “still” important to us. Try it, you may be surprised to hear a happy tone in their voice that they’re hearing from you or what if they know someone that is possibly in the market to buy or sell a home?

Rule #2

Recognize them. There are numerous ways to go about this. A few off the top of my head – invite them to a client event, seminar you know they will find interesting, local events that you are blogging about, blog about their business, refer people you know to their business. The important thing to remember with this one is you have be listening to know your clients and prospects to know what’s important to them – what they are interested in otherwise you are sending them info they don’t have an interest in and that can be a turn off. You want to engage with them and be seen as a valuable resource.

Rule #3

Stay in Contact. This does not mean only when you have work with them, but especially when you don’t! No one likes to be forgotten. Send a personal note, forward an email that you know they will find helpful, follow Rule #1 – the point is just stay in contact.

So how do you go about staying in touch? While it may seem simple – it’s often the simple things that get overlooked.

Create a schedule of contact in your database or email – once a month (your newsletter – be sure to get their permission), once a quarter (an email, or a call.) Once you put a plan together you won’t have to think when did I last contact that client or you won’t let too much time pass without letting them know they’re important to you.

While it’s important to contact them, it’s also important to make a note about why you contacted them. Perhaps you sent them a note to remind them of an upcoming event or you forwarded an email and they loved receiving it. This way you will be able to note something that is important to THIS client. Don’t rely on your memory – jot a note in their file or your database.

Invite them to your social networking – invite them to participate and engage with you and your contacts – connections can be made and enhanced.

Invite them to your blog. Often they will discover you’re writing something of interest to them that you might not know is a “hot” button for them – it could initiate a call or email from this client and you’ve got contact. Especially do this if you’re going to blog about their business or a recent interaction you’ve had with them.

The possibilities are endless so feel free to share other ways you have for staying in touch with your clients?

My final point is this: Put a system in place, whatever works for you and your clients, to make this happen regularly and consistently.

Establishing a good system for contact with existing clients and prospects is a good practice to follow if you’re interested in growing your business. A trust already exists with your existing clients and that has the potential for growth of your business by way of referrals. If you establish this practice your new prospects and clients will also benefit because you will have an established method of contact from them beginning and won’t have to be focused on playing catch up with them to reestablish that trust.

Don’t let so much time pass that your clients and prospects feel forgotten and then ultimately YOU are the one that becomes forgotten.

What Rules do you follow when it comes to maintaining your “existing” client relationships vs. only being focused on the "new"? Are they different or the same?

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

Lets Connect and Stay Connected:

Connecting to your local community gives you something very important...visibility...visibility...visibility

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:19:03 -0700

Connecting to your local community gives you something very important...visibility.

As a business owner you know the importance of keeping your prospective customers and clients informed about your organization's activities easily and consistently.

I love looking at community calendars especially on a weekend that we don't have any plans (rare but it does happen) as well as subscribing to many rss feeds for local community pages so that I'm aware of all the local events going on in my area and I don't think I'm alone in this when I look at all the people commenting on many of the local event pages.

Trulia, Realbird, your blog, website and social networking sites - are all places you should be advertising your listings but also add to that your open houses and local community events.

But you might be missing out on reaching people from your local community that don't know you yet. (I know it sounds practically impossible with all the opportunities for reaching out to your communities, but why take the chance? Who knows you might just make a connection and gain a new customer!

Another great way in addition to the above to promote your:

local Open Houses
Seminars
and Local Events

is to become a regular on your local community websites and calendars:

Perhaps you have some local community pages that you use for linking purposes in your blogs - many of these sites have advertising and forum sections where you can advertise your next open house, seminar, and local event that you're hosting for free. (many also have feeds where you can submit your blog for even more local exposure)

The fact is, community websites and community calendars are becoming very popular.

So if you're active in your local community and looking for another way to get better visibility for your business and services, why not connect with the people who live, work, eat (you get the picture) in your community and let them know about the things you're doing and offering to their community.

Be the Local Realtor/Real Estate Resource!

If you've experienced more visibility by using this medium I would love to hear about your experience.

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

Lets Connect and Stay Connected:

What does complaining get us? Isn’t it better to simply work harder and smarter?

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 11:02:54 -0800

Think about the energy it takes to fret, complain and worry about problems.

Have you ever encountered someone that complained about everything under the sun? Did you purposely seek them out to have another conversation or interaction with them? Probably not - you probably thought "what a downer" and "I hope I don't have to talk to them again."

I've often noticed that I'm drawn to people who don't complain but instead are proactive and look for ways to fix a problem or create a solution. I also think they are highly successful and productive because they are always looking for ways to create opportunity, success and growth.

Imagine taking that energy and applying it to solving problems and creating solutions and how it will affect the growth your business not to mention the great benefit of being a great person to be around.

"If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.

~ Maya Angelou

This quote provides great advice for how we should look at our business. When you think about it don't most of our customers (our employers) want to work with someone that looks for and creates solutions? Isn't that one of the reasons they seek us out online? Most are reading our blog posts and watching on social media networks(not to mention all the Google indexing that happens with every thing we put on the Internet) and determining is this person someone that will work for me, have my best interests at heart and will be someone I can work with? Do they have the right skills, knowledge and positive attitude that would be a reason for me to hire them?

Below are what I feel are 5 great attitudes to have that will take you far both personally and professionally:

Can vs. Can't

Having a "Can do" attitude vs. a "this will never work or it can't be done" attitude gives you a competitive advantage. Sure there may be setbacks and failures (opportunities to learn) along the way but the true success comes when we don't give up.

Work Smart but also Work Hard

I've often thought it's more important to work smarter not harder but I'd like to change that slightly. I say this because while I think it's important to work smarter I also think you can't discount the necessity to work hard - there are simply no shortcuts when it comes to success. It could mean doing something extra and pushing yourself to reach outside the norm and try something new. Think about it - everything you do has your reputation attached to it - isn't it worth the extra effort?

Have a an Attitude for Gratitude

Ever notice then when you're focused on something you're grateful for that your whole attitude is boosted, positive and you have an energy that others want to be around? The brain has the ability to think about one thing at a time and if we are more focused on the positive there is less room for the negative.

Catch others doing something right

I learned this lesson not only as a manager for a very large staff but as a mom - focus on what my employees and my child is doing right more than what they are doing wrong. Sharing praise and compliments with others will not only encourage them to find ways to be successful but will do wonders for your attitude as well.

Let Go and Focus on Success

Spend your time and energy focused on changing things that can be changed. Some things are simply beyond our control - accept it. Find time each day to focus on the great things you accomplished in your day - perhaps it was a conversation you had with someone, something new you tried that worked and gave you the results you were looking for or having an opportunity come your way that you didn't expect because of all your hard work. Taking time to reflect on your accomplishments will be the fuel to keep you motivated and you'll find yourself looking forward to tomorrow and the challenges that await you.

Sometimes we simply get in our own way and can get caught up in that trap of complaining and feeling badly about a situation, but complaining should not be part of your overall business and life strategy. All it does is drain us of our energy and will only stand in our way of being happy and in achieving our goals. Being a "fixer" vs. a "complainer" will give you an outlook that will enable you to be more productive, creative and effective for everyone that interacts with you.

The next time something happens that makes you feel you want to complain about it think to yourself:

What will I get from complaining?
Can I fix the problem?
Think about or seek out others to come up with some solutions (ActiveRain is FULL of real life examples of how to handle so many issues - read, seek and search - in addition to the help you may find, you may also discover another great resource and friend in the process.)
Get busy making changes and creating solutions that will work.

I think this quote sums up my attitude about complaining best:

"I had no shoes and complained, until I met a man who had no feet." Indian Proverb

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I always love to interact with my readers so feel free to share your thoughts on the questions below or bring up something not mentioned above that you feel is worth discussing.

Feel free to share how you handle complainers?

What things do you do to maintain a positive attitude to attract more people and opportunities to you?

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

Lets Connect and Stay Connected:

A tool that will help you Stay Up to Date and Engage with Your Connections on Social Media Sites and Save Time!

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 12:56:25 -0700

You’ve heard the saying “Just give it to me in a nutshell.”

So many of us have a limited amount of time for working and knowing all that's going on with our associates, clients and friends. So here’s a way to catch up and find ways to engage with your connections on some of your favorite social media sites if you’re pressed for time or even if you’ve missed something that you would like to comment on.

It's Nutshell and It's easy to setup!

Simply visit this link, enter the email you want to receive your updates and a password.

Then you will connect your accounts:

Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
MySpace

and then you can customize the things you want to receive updates on.

Here are some examples of how you can customize your Facebook updates. The sections page will allow you to select the items you want included in your email. Perhaps you want a quick snapshot of birthdays, your wall posts which includes comments left by your connections, etc.

You can also setup filters for your Facebook Updates. You can select how many pages (and in the pages section determine the pages you want updates for), status updates, news feeds, etc.

On Twitter you can customize the sections page to receive updates on your @replies, etc and you can also put in search terms say for your company or an organization you're following.

I think there are many possibilities for using a tool like Nutshell:

Monitoring all that's being said about your company, organization and you.
It's a great way to share information with your clients (maybe one of their listings you posted on your wall received some great comments that you can share) or perhaps a topic or blog you posted had some comments and you can share that snapshot with your newsletter subscribers.
Time saver - yes, social media is about engaging and I highly recommend being on these sites to do just that but when your schedule doesn't permit you to engage the way you normally would this is a great way to still feel connected and then go back and connect.

What I also like about this tool is that you can engage directly from the email you receive. Below is a snapshot of my email from this morning.

In this example (below), I could easily:

send Jay McGillicuddy a Birthday message right from my nutshell email

or I can respond to Clint Miller's status update about following up

Learn that Coach Katerina has an upcoming Expired Listing Bootcamp

or leave Bill Gassett a comment or "like" his update on "Should I move or improve my Massachusetts home?"

So there you have it, another tool that will keep you in the know, help you engage and stay engaged with your connections and save you time.

Feel free to share how are you staying on top of your work while still engaging with your connections.

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

Lets Connect and Stay Connected:

Ever think of showing up to your next client appointment in your birthday suit?

Thu, 27 May 2010 19:42:37 -0700

Ever think of showing up to your next client appointment in your birthday suit?

I don’t mean this literally, although it would make for some interesting reading. I’m talking about showing your clients and potential clients who you really are –human, vulnerable and worthy of their trust.

Sure it’s easier to be real, honest and vulnerable with people we really know and who we’ve built a trust with.

But how can we take on business so important to our clients (their home and money, etc.) if we aren’t human and real with them?

The key is to show them that you’re hardworking, capable, honest and will do your absolute best for them.

Yes, mistakes will occur – some small, some even big and out of your control – but being someone that will not only acknowledge them but correct them will speak volumes about who you are and the services you provide.

It’s when we are the “real us” (human, vulnerable, competent, and yes even capable of mistakes)that we build trust, customer loyalty and our business will just naturally grow.

I often think back to my experience of my first sales appointment with a client and all the the fears associated with it. I couldn’t get it out of my head:

Will the client like me?
Will they engage with me?
Will they see me as an expert and someone that can provide value to them?

Or will I simply hear crickets and have the experience leaving me with the feeling that I’m not capable and I can’t wait for this appointment to be over.

Perhaps you’ve been there too?

Being vulnerable in the business world is SCARY.

So lets look at some things that stand in our way and actions that can be taken to get us the results we need to be successful and easily grow our business.

We may/may not get hired by the client…so don’t just sell - give.

Share your expertise – tell them what you’ll do for them. Share your knowledge without the expectation that you’re going to get the business. Give advice even if it’s not the most popular answer but you know it’s the truth. Acknowledge and tackle the difficult and uncomfortable situations – don’t pretend they don’t exist.

In the end, whether you get the business or not, you will be seen as valuable and that will be remembered by the client. I’m sure many of you can relate to having a former prospect call on you months down the road or receiving referrals because of the impression you left on someone?

Putting our clients First…it’s about them, not us.

You’ve heard the saying, “there are no dumb questions.” Have the courage to ask without fear – you may just uncover something very important to your client that you might not otherwise have found out unless you asked. After asking the questions, be prepared to make recommendations. Go into your client interactions knowing not ALL your suggestions and recommendations will be seen by the client as good or something that they feel will work for them.

It comes down to putting the client and their needs first. They want this. They are hiring you to provide this along with your expertise. Sometimes it just takes time to circle back around and try something new (that goes for us as well as our clients) and if you’re showing them you’re willing to put their needs and interests first from the beginning they are more willing to trust you and your suggestions. They will feel this dedication.

Making mistakes and all that comes with it…it's ok to admit you have limitations.

This is not saying to a client“I’m not competent.” We all have areas of weakness but pretending we can do something and do it well when we can't makes us look – limited and weak. Focus on your strengths and bring someone in to assist you if you need to offer and provide a service that’s not your strength.

I have never met the perfect person or come across the perfect business. What I, and I believe most people are looking for from service providers is – honesty. Someone who will honestly lead and support their customers. Who will take responsibility and will work to meet their clients needs and expectations.

Final thought:

I believe when we all decided to be in our chosen fields of customer service – we made the decision to be honest and hardworking for our clients. Being vulnerable in all areas of our work can create some long lasting advantages:

Trust
Recommendations
Long Term Clients
Reputation
Growth
and so much more!

So with all that said, put on your birthday suit and really show your clients you are ready to work for them!

What is the purpose of your business?

How have you shown the real you to your clients and what were the results?

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As we all know, there are only 24 hours in a day to get it all done...are you focusing on the right stuff to grow your business and meet your client's needs? Contact us today to get started!

Lets Connect and Stay Connected: