Mary Pope-Handy's Silicon Valley Real Estate Commentary

My friend Jerry Kidd wrote an excellent article “It’s no longer cool to not be technology literate” and I completely agree.  But then I started thinking (Danger Will Robinson!)

What would be the basic skill set a person who wants to actively engage in new media marketing need?  Here’s my short list in a reasonably organized format. (really)  Can you repeat after me?

As a modern day marketing professional I can aptly do the following…

Images

I can cut, paste, crop, resize, increase the canvas size, add watermarks, titles, annotations, drop shadows and borders using the photo editing software of my choice.  I know the difference between a .jpg, a .png and a .gif.  I know the difference between dpi and pixels and can adjust for both.  In using images, I either create my own or know where to find them and how to use them in a legal manner (Creative Commons).  When I’m seeing #FF0000 , I know what it means and how it’s used.

Blogging

I know what platform my blog is on.  I know what a dashboard is and how to log into it.  I know the difference between the WYSIWYG Editor and the HTML Editor and when to switch to each.  I can write a Post or a Page and can schedule them if I choose to.  Tags, Categories and Labels?  I know how to pick and chose the right ones for my post.  Not only can I inset a LINK anywhere I want, I use the right Anchor Text in doing so.  I know what a Permalink is.  I use different Meta Tags, Meta Keywords and Meta Descriptions to match the post.  I can insert pictures and video into my posts where I want them.  My pictures all have accurate titles, descriptions and tags for better seo.  Not only do I know what a plugin or widget is, I can add them at will.  I know what a comment management system is and have a profile on each.  Gravatar?  Oh, Puh-lease!

Facebook

I have a Profile, and I have a Page, and I belong to several Groups.  I know the difference between all three.  I can tag pictures, tag status updates, Chat or Message the right people.  I can add or block Applications.  I know where the 5 pictures at the top of my profile came from and can manage them in the way I want.  I know how to upload images to a particular photo album.  All my friends are in Lists.  I manage my privacy settings as well as my posts by using the Lists.  I know the difference between “Top News” and “Most Recent”.  I can switch easily between using Facebook as my Page or my Profile.  When I have a local event I don’t invite everyone (including those across the country).  I can comfortably use Facebook on my phone.  HTTP or HTTPS?  I can sign in with both and know when it’s actually a must.  On my Page I can add or remove Apps and Admins.  I have a LIKE Box on my website.  Monitoring Insights, Ad campaigns, Likes, Shares and Comments is “child’s play” to me.  If I wanted to, I could automate posting to my page from various sources   I don’t because I know better.

Twitter

I have a twitter Account and use it.  I use a twitter client, maybe not always but most of the time.  I know how to tweet, retweet, reply, quote and hashtag with the best of them.  I can tweet a picture, a link or a video.  I can send a DM and know that everyone isn’t going to see it.  I can tweet from my computer or my phone.   If someone sends me a DM or Reply – I’ll know about it and respond.  I can use a location based network to checkin and send it to Twitter.  I know how to use an URL shortener and track the clicks.  Klout? I have it.

Linkedin

I have a complete Linkedin Profile.  That includes a picture of me, my contact information, job history, education, recommendations and THREE links to my websites.  I have a vanity Linkedin Profile URL.  I belong to groups and answer questions.  My company also has a Linkedin Profile of it’s own (that I am linked to).  I know how to search Linkedin for the right people.  I know how to add them to my network without knowing their email  address.  I NEVER send the “I’d like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn.” message, ALWAYS a personalized one.

YouTube

I have a channel – not just an account but a nice looking channel with a complete profile and contact information.  I subscribe to other channels.  I can comment, Like or Favorite videos I like.  As for my videos, I know my .FLV from my .MOV from my 1080P.  Each video is edited, titled, tagged and has the correct privacy settings as applicable.  I can add Annotations, Captions and Subtitles.  I may have used music in my video but I know how to source and use legal sounds. I know how to get an embed code and how to manipulate it to fit.

Other Stuff

I know my username and password to each and every site (and it’s different on each).  If not, I know how to reset or recover it without calling customer service.  I’ve completed my profile on every site I’ve joined.  404, 301? Handled!  FTP?  I’ve got a client.  I know what a file permission of 777 is and how to change it.  The mention of H1, H2, and H3 doesn’t remind me of Hummers. “mailto:” doesn’t look like it’s missing a space.  CSS is not the beginning letters for the Starship Enterprise.  HREF, DIV and FONT all have a beginning, middle and end.

Speaking of end, I think I’ll end it here now.  I covered some, maybe most, surely not all.  I’m sure I missed something really important.  Let me know what that is.

Consider this a checklist of sorts (1,042 words worth).  As you read it, make a mental note of what you didn’t know.  Then go find out what they are.  We’re all always learning something.

photo credit: Ozone Ferd

 

 

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This post brought to you courtesy of Mike Mueller.
Feel free to ReBlog or ReTweet as you like as long as you credit the source (him).
Did you know?  He's for hire! He builds Blogs, Graphic Images and Widgets and Facebook Pages and besides… He knows lots of really cool stuff.

Hire Mike (925) 456-4567

Sample Facebook Pages: View on Flickr

Sponsored Links: (check these guys out!)

            

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Hi All,

Friday should have been a great day.  It really should have been.  Not just for me but for my client and also for another agent and their client's as well.  But it wasn't and here's why.  I took a listing for a condo in Ontario, CA in February 2008.  It was, is, and remains a Short Sale. And it is getting "shorter" by the minute. 

A brief recap for those who don't remember my speaking about this transaction before.  (And really, why would you since I started babbling about it when Barack Obama was still just a Senator from Chicago and the Octomom only had six kids.) I listed this home in February 2008, got our first offer in March, '08, the lender got an appraisal that wasn't worth the ink it was printed with let alone the paper it was written on which killed that deal.  Then, we got another offer in April '08 which was scuttled by the lender taking 6 months to respond (after bringing the old appraisal up again and making me pay for a new BPO, which I of course did despite the fact that it turned out they had done a BPO of their own but didn't remember it) so we lost 'um. 

We next received an offer which really was low at the time (but higher than the current value is now by some $40K) so they didn't respond... We then received another offer identical to the second offer which we again... wait for it... wait for it... Lost because the lender again took to long to respond. Bringing us up to date... err or rather to March '09 when we received our most recent offer. 

We should have been good to go here... astonishingly it was the highest valued offer to date and the buyer's said they were in it for the long haul... A slam dunk, right?  Well, the lender again took their own sweet time to respond and the value has continued to descend (shocking, I know), in fact it has deflated to the point that when the bank got yet another BPO done it came in at $147,500.  And the buyer's appraisal came in at that pricepoint as well. 

So, I dutifully submitted the revised HUD 1 and we were off to the races yet again.  That was back in May and today we FINALLY got approval for the sale.  But, here's the kicker, the approval is for the offer submitted on behalf of a different and long gone buyer ONE YEAR AGO!   (And we wonder why we are in the financial mess we are in... but as usual, I digress)

I am pretty much at my wits end and would consider pulling my hair out strand by strand, but I have a whole lot of hair and I don't have that much time so... I got on the phone and called the negotiator to let her know about the little "problem" we were now facing, namely that the payoff amount (which was accurate way back when) was $40,000 over the current market value and it was based upon the WRONG DANGED HUD1!

I know they are busy, I know their desks are piled higher than straw in the story Rumplestiltskin, and I know that they have to serve many masters, but I really don't think it is asking too much to read something like the  date on the top of a document now and then.  My negotiator couldn't have been nicer (helpfully unhelpful is how I have always described them :-) and she said she was training new people and thought they might be getting the files messed up... Um... Ya think?  Geez, I even spoke... personally spoke, to one of her assistants before the offending document was issued and we went over the details of the deal to make sure they had all that they needed.  Lot of good that did, I should have just talked to my cat about the deal, it would have been about as useful and a whole lot more fulfilling. 

I shall keep you posted as to the outcome here.  I tend to believe that Realtor is a synonym for optimist and that is what I am to the core so I still have faith, hope and and undying need to believe that it will all work out in the end.  The entire kit and caboodle has been tossed back into the hopper and we are awaiting the result.  This should be interesting to say the least...

Take care all, help lots of people and have a wonderful day!

Tisza

Yesterday, I heard awful news about our friend and blogging pioneer Joe Ferrara via Facebook.

Jay Thompson The Phoenix Real Estate Guy posted – Joe Ferrara Needs Our Help. Jay reported that Joe was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and is currently in an Intensive Care Unit in a New York hospital.

My heart pours out to Joe and his family. He is such a great guy. I love Joe. A real estate broker, attorney and geek. Joe is always available to discuss business and to offer advice.

He needs our help. Donate to Joe’s Medical Expense Fund!

Right now we can all help Joe by donating what you can to help out his family from the incredible medical costs they are facing. Please help. Jay did a great job getting the word out through his blog and setting up the donation fund. I'm posting this on activerain to spread the word more.

 

 

 

I met Joe when I first started blogging. I remember meeting him at an activerain blogger party at a rooftop Garden on Fifth Avenue. I remember everyone at that party that night. I felt as if I knew Joe for ever. Joe and his business partner Rudy Bacharty (Trulia) co founded Sellsius real estate blog. After we enjoyed cocktails and schmoozed on the roof, Joe and Rudy invited me to their RV parked outside. It was awesome. They were heading for A BLOG USA tour right after the party.

They gave me a ride home to the Upper West Side in The Blog Tour RV. I think they slept for a few hours in the Blog Mobile on Riverside Drive before heading to Boston early in the morning with a stop in Connecticut to interview Jonathan Miller. They were crossing the country to meet real estate bloggers and to make blogging presentations. Rudy took great videos. It was a huge success. Blogging and social media pioneers!

I always enjoy hanging with Joe at the real estate conferences and parties. A true great guy. Hang in there Joe! We're all  praying for you.