Three Pendings in Three Weeks + Which Candidate Is Most Likely to Help the Housing Market? + much more...

885,391 daily readers and growing! February 20, 2016 Three Pendings in Three Weeks Dear Reader, Earlier this week I wrote an article featuring one of our Ultimate Website users named Blake. Blake is a seasoned agent and GRI in Central California and as such he’s been around long enough to see about every kind of market and every kind of technology offering for Realtors. Well, Blake read my daily training blast email that day and saw his email featured along with my disclaimer and afterwards he sent me another email that I will share with you in a minute, but first, by way of background, here is my disclaimer and his first email: Here is my disclaimer: "I personally hate to read salesy testimonials, so I am reluctant to even share this with you because it sounds as though it was solicited, and the fact is it wasn’t." Here is Blake’s first email: “Hey Matt, Having the Ultimate Website with LCM technology is making all the difference in the world for me. Every time I run Craigslist ads, I generate 4 to 6 new leads. Every single time! I read your article this morning about the consolidation of our industry and wanted to thank you for your LCM technology, which has allowed me the luxury of affiliating with a 100% office. I finally get to keep all my hard-earned commissions! _Finally, as a former agent with ZipRealty I wanted to comment on your numbers since it's even worse than you say it is. Zip charges a 20% referral fee for Zip-generated leads off the top, then gives agents a 50% split of what's left! _ Thanks for everything!” So after reading that daily training blast that featured him, Blake sent me a followup email that said the following: “Matt, After reading your comments on the note I sent you the other day, I realized that the way I expressed my enthusiasm did indeed sound a little like a "canned" recommendation, so I felt compelled to follow up. To everyone out there on the fence like I was for three years before finally pulling the trigger on the Ultimate Website, my comments were real! I have been in the business a long time, licensed in three different states and tried all types of lead generation programs. Nothing...let me repeat, NOTHING has worked for me as well as this program and it's not expensive! I can turn on the lead spigot any time I need more business and bingo, there it is! Finally, the thing that really impresses me is the phone numbers you get through the system are accurate at least 95% of the time and that is critical to your conversion success. Do yourselves a favor and "Just Do It!" You will never look back if you work the program. Thank you Matt for what you've done for the average agent out there struggling to make a living. You have changed my life and career. By the way, if you do end up using this email down the line you can add that in 3 weeks, running only Craigslist ads, I have picked up 15 new leads, 10 getting auto listings and 3 going to escrow! Warmest regards,” This email is so full of insight that I hardly know where to start, but I especially love the “faucet” metaphor because it shows that Blake truly understands the power of being in control of his lead generation. Many agents will work their entire careers under the constant anxiety of wondering when and where they will get their next client. You cannot fully understand the feeling of freedom you get when you have the power to generate new clients at will until you actually experience it for yourself. It’s incredible and it completely changed the trajectory of my career. I personally went from struggling to having a team of a dozen agents in about six months time… simply by having lots of opportunities. If you’re reading this and haven’t had a chance to check out my Ultimate Website with LCM technology, I urge you to take a moment to see what all the fuss is about. I think you will be very favorably impressed, and if you decide to try it today, I’ll give you a coupon code that will get you a $350 bonus today. Ultimate Website link: http://GuerillaRealty.com Discount code: “BLAKE” (all caps, no quotes) Thank you, Blake for your followup. I’m truly glad that you’ve discovered the secret of generating your own business when you need it -- on demand, so to speak. I’m confident that my readers will be glad hearing back from you both confirming that you are real and by your encouragement too. Also thank you for telling me, “You have changed my life and career.” I am both honored and humbled. It really means a lot to me. It’s very rewarding hearing from those readers whose life I have somehow impacted and I am glad I was able to help in some small way. But never forget that the real secret to your success is you -- your attitude and willingness to try new things until you finally found something that works. I’m happy that you tried my Ultimate Website. As always, thanks for reading. Matt Jones Broker/President/CEO FavoriteAgent.com Matt Jones is the founder and CEO of FavoriteAgent.com, nationally syndicated columnist, broker, and best selling author. He has been profiled by major media outlets as an innovator and a pioneer in the industry, and CNN's Pulse on America claimed he and his company were "changing the way real estate is done in America."

I did not sign up for this #TRENDING Which Candidate Is Most Likely to Help the Housing Market? » We surveyed home sellers in late January to get their take on the market. Because it's an election year, we also asked them a few questions about the presidential campaign. About 600 people Read more » Homebuying Could Become Unaffordable Within Two Years » With the right economic conditions, in two years, home affordability could get close to the same Read more » Should You Be Posting Your Listings on Social Media? » Social media is a great means of marketing your real estate listings. Unfortunately, not all real Read more » Mortgage Rates Fall to Lowest Level in Months » The normal long-term mortgage rate in the US fell for the current week for a fourth straight week in Read more » Customers-for-life Still Eluding Many Brokerages » One of the most common goals adopted almost universally by real estate brokerages is also the Read more » Homeowners Continue to Gain Equity » More home owners are unlocking equity, which has pushed the number of underwater properties Read more » ECONOMY More Homebuyers Don't Want to Work With Agents » A survey commissioned by online brokerage Redfin of 2,134 Americans finds one in five buyers made an offer on a home without having visited it in person. Read more » This Isn't the Next Housing Bubble » Home prices are rising rapidly, but economists are deflating concerns that another "housing bubble" Read more » Cities With the Biggest Rent Increases » Families are facing much bigger rent checks this year -- especially those living in cities in the Read more » Consumer Confidence Soars--Homes and Cars Reaping the Benefits » Consumer confidence surprises many and surges in August, according to today's report from the Read more » 30% of Homes Lost Value Over Last Year » Not all American homes are rising in value. Read more » Four Real Estate Trends for 2016 » Whether you are buying, selling, or renting, there's no escaping Federal Reserve's anticipated Read more » TECHNOLOGY » Read more » LAW Agent Accused of Extortion Gets Hired By Miami Beach Firm » Kevin Tomlinson, the Miami Beach real estate agent arrested this month for allegedly trying to blackmail two competitors, wasn't out of a job for long. Read more » Son of Murdered Agent Urging Safety for Others » The son of an Arkansas real estate agent who was kidnapped and murdered while showing a home nearly Read more » NewsCorp Spent $7M Suing Zillow » News Corp (NWSA) Earnings Report: Q4 2015 Conference Call Transcript Read more » Judge Admits New Evidence in Realtor Murder Case » A Pulaski County Circuit Court judge ruled Wednesday that prosecutors could submit evidence obtained Read more » Drone Laws Are Changing » Drone laws are not finalized, and they're changing Read more » Goldman Sachs Reaches $5B Settlement Amid Toxic Bonds Controversy » Goldman Sachs said Thursday that it reached a $5 billion settlement over claims related to toxic Read more » MARKETING 7 Ways Your Body Language Can Get People to Like You » Let your body do the talking Read more » Four Online Strategies to Sell Your Listing » Don't limit your home selling strategies to eye-catching signs and telling friends and family about Read more » Become a Better Communicator In Your Writing » There's no denying it. It doesn't matter who you are, the type of customer you're trying to reach Read more » Study Reveals Agents are Missing Opportunities in Commerical and Land » A recent survey of real estate purchases by The Entrust Group's self-directed IRA (SIDRA) clients Read more » Write a High Conversion Ad for Social Media » Let's play a game Read more » Write an Ad That Sells » Imagine sitting at your kitchen table, having your cup of coffee and you break open your laptop and Read more »

INVESTING Send Your Child to College By Investing in Rental Property » College fees have gone up to over $65,000 a year says Troy Onink, a contributor for Forbes. When planning for the future of your child, budgeting does not stop at tuition alone as there is still the Read more » Real Estate Tycoon in the Making » Danielle Moy loved to play Monopoly as a kid. Now, collecting as many properties as possible is more Read more » Best Investment of 2016? Global Real Estate » According to Forbes, 2016 will likely have equities flat to negative. There are many factors Read more » Invest in Real Estate to Decrease College Costs » Student loan debt approaching is 1.2 trillion dollars and the 2015 graduating class has a larger Read more » How to Start in Real Estate Investing » When brothers Kelly and Chris Edwards bought their first house in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 2002, Read more » 10 Common Mistakes Investors Make » Despite what you may watch on late night TV infomercials, don't expect to "get rich quick" in real Read more »

HOW-TO Home Selling Tips During a Divorce » Next to the possible arrangement for their children, a couple who has decided to live separate lives will definitely have to attend to their properties. Serena Elavia shares in FOX Business the Read more » Fatal Realtor Kidnapping Causes Agent Community to Change Safety Procedure » A year ago next week, the search for Beverly Carter, the Arkansas Realtor who had been missing since Read more » Dos and Don'ts of Appraiser Communication » Real estate professionals and appraisers both play an essential role in the process of buying or Read more » Avoid These Scams Targetting Real Estate Agents » Cybercrime is far more prevalent these days than its ever been before, and with the vast amounts of Read more » 5 Biggest Turnoffs for Homebuyers » If you are on the selling end, there is nothing more important than you need to know than what make Read more »

Three Ways You Can Pre-Qualify Your Buyers » As a real estate agent, you know that a large number of clients mean more chances of closing a deal Read more »

This is the NewsGeni.us e-Brief, a collection of the best real estate news and advice in one place. To cancel your subscription, follow this link http://www.newsgeni.us/unsub.php?email=dsoldit.blogpost@blogger.com&s=2074.

©2016 NewsGeni.us, 212 Northstone Pl, Fayetteville, NC 28314. All rights reserved.

Why Blogging is Like Flossing + Owners Overvaluing Their Homes + much more...

885,391 daily readers and growing! February 19, 2016 Why Blogging is Like Flossing Dear Reader, Let’s face it: Blogging is like flossing… Everyone knows they need to do it and yet nobody does it. I remember going to a seminar or training class and listening as some blogging guru got me all excited about starting my own blog and so I decided I would bite the bullet and do it. While I waited for my blog website to be built I imagined filling it with all of the real estate wisdom that so unceasingly flows from my vast wells of experience (sarcasm). I pondered that first, all-important blog post and rolled a few ideas around in my mind and finally landed on my opening topic. Finally the blog was ready so I sat down at my desk and began to write. I not only wanted to articulate my topic, but I wanted my magnetic personality, sharp wit, my passion and zeal, and of course, my expertise to literally ooze from the article. When I eventually and mercifully finished that first “masterpiece” a wave of emotion flooded over me. I felt elated, mostly just because I finally finished. I felt excitement because I’d officially begun my new blog. I felt anticipation wondering what my readers would say and think. And after a few days, I felt underwhelmed. Why? Nothing happened. No comments. No calls or emails. Nothing. That was a lot of work for nothing to happen. Okay, maybe I didn’t expect Simon & Schuster to offer me a book deal, but I sort of expected something and yet absolutely nothing happened. And that was my best stuff. So after an article or two, the blog just sort of died on the vine with nothing new being added. Sound familiar? Let me guess -- you’ve been there, done that. The reason I bring this up is that last week I had nearly identical conversations with two different agents -- both about this very topic. In fact, it's a conversation I have with agents virtually every month. And it reminds me that, in an effort to not constantly pitch my readers on all of features of my Ultimate Website, I have completely failed at telling my readers about one of the coolest things I’ve stumbled across in a long time. This short article is an attempt to correct that oversight. Let’s start with what may be the most unasked question in real estate: Why do I need a blog? Many of us have built or purchased a blog without ever even asking the question. We bought a blog because we were told by the experts that we needed one. We never gave it a second thought. But seriously, why do we need one? I believe there are two reasons every agent needs his or her own blog. Reason One: Blogging gives you the opportunity to set yourself apart as an expert or as the “go-to” agent in your sphere of influence and beyond. The problem with typical sphere of influence marketing is that you are continually calling your circle of 50 or so people. If you are organized about it, you typically call two or three every day, and if and when you reach them, you small talk about them for 10-25 minutes before “getting around to business”. Eventually you work the conversation around to the age-old, “Who do you know right now that is thinking about buying or selling real estate that maybe I could help?” If not that, then some variation of it. Every month you hound your sphere of influence until they get sick of hearing from you. I still remember one Sunday at church seeing a friend out of the corner of my eye. I hadn’t made eye contact yet and when he saw me, he turned and walked the other direction. Sad, but true. That was the day I quit hounding my friends and family for business. Never again. Blogging allows you to put good real estate related content out on a regular basis and your friends see it and over time begin to associate you with being the real estate expert without you having to blow your own horn. It’s perfect. It’s what I call "pull" marketing versus "push" marketing. Reason Two: Blogging is great for organic ranking in the search engines. Unlike years ago when search engines looked for keywords in your meta tags, today’s search algorithms are much more sophisticated. They can easily determine which sites have real content and which ones have been artificially stuffed with keywords so as to manipulate the search engine rankings. The simplest way to rank high in search engines today is to have fresh, recently updated, always changing, keyword-rich content. Nothing moves a site up in the organic search results faster than new, relevant content. If you continue to post fresh content to your blog, you will watch it move up and up in the search results. So blogging is important for those two reasons: positioning you as an expert and helping your search engine rankings. The problem is that blogging is hard to keep up with. Unless you're a retired novelist, the blog posts probably don't flow effortlessly from your fingertips. They require time you don't have and effort that would be better spent elsewhere in your business, and therefore, most blogs eventually die. And nothing is worse than a blog with only one or two old and stale posts. It’s like the old saying, “Nodunk is better than podunk.” You’re better off not having a blog than having a bad one. Blogging Made Easy... So let me introduce you to my Ultimate Blog. Many of you know that last year we introduced the Ultimate Website, and many of you rushed to get one. What many of you don’t know is that my Ultimate Website has the Ultimate Blog built right in. Why do I call it the “Ultimate Blog”? I’ll show you and when you see why, you’ll agree that it’s the ultimate blog as well. My Ultimate Blog does the blogging for you. Several days a week we automatically post relevant, consumer-oriented real estate content for you. If you don’t like some post, no problem. With a click of your mouse you can remove it. If you feel particularly inspired and want to write your own post, you can do that too. Simple. Some of our agents use the blog to create free one-page mini websites for their new listings, complete with photos or a virtual tour. Better yet it doesn’t cost much to make your seller happy with his own property website. Spend $8-10 and buy a domain name like 1234MapleStreet.com and you have a website. Better yet, when people go to visit that site, they are captured with your LCM technology and the lead is sent to you by email and text message so you can immediately follow up on the lead wherever you are. How cool is that?! But that's not even the coolest feature -- it just solves your content problem. Arguably the most important feature is that it allows you to effectively work your sphere of influence without becoming "that guy" people start avoiding at social functions. Because it’s integrated with social media like Twitter and Facebook, with one click, you can share any blog post on Facebook or Twitter and publish it to your entire sphere of influence for free. It doesn’t get any easier than that. For example, here’s what I like to do with mine. About once a week, I’ll find an article that’s been automatically posted for me, and one that I particularly like. I’ll reread the article and click the Facebook share button. With one click I share that article on my Facebook timeline and invariably I have friends who click to read the article and many times share it on their own timelines as well. What’s really cool is that when they go to read it, they have to register on my LCM and I get a notification. Now, without making a single call, or without ever becoming a nuisance, I can immediately identify which of my sphere of influence are interested in buying or selling real estate, and best of all they’ve been slowly programmed over time to see me as the “go-to” guy for real estate in the area. I don’t have to send out newsletters, postcards, or other junk mail. I don’t have to waste an hour a day trying to keep up with my sphere of influence. I don’t have them running the other way when I approach them at church. It is the Ultimate Blog. And there’s one more thing I haven’t mentioned yet. While my blog is slowly positioning me as the market expert, it is also moving my website up in the organic search engine rankings because every day or two, more fresh, timely, real estate content is being published under my name without my doing a single thing to make it happen. I still have my time and I haven’t had to pay some company thousands of dollars for search engine optimization. And because my blog is a part of my Ultimate Website, the organic rankings are good for my website as well. I mean, what’s the point of having a great search engine ranking on your blog if your blog doesn’t produce you any business. By having the two integrated you have the best of both worlds. So if you haven’t had a chance to check out my Ultimate Website, I urge you to make the time. I think you’ll be blown away at how great the Ultimate Blog is. Imagine what it would do for your practice -- you’ll have an up to the minute, incredible looking blog without having to spend hundreds of hours blogging. You just blog when the spirit moves you, so to speak. No self-imposed publication deadline hanging over your head. And you reap the benefits of having a great blog -- you’re positioning yourself as the market expert and you’re gaining in organic search ranking for your website -- all without spending any additional time or money. But if you’re thinking about getting this blog for free, you need to act soon. There is no guarantee we will continue to offer it free of charge with the Ultimate Website. But if you sign up now it will remain free forever. And today’s discount pricing will be locked in forever too -- as long as you own your Ultimate Website. So whether you get my Ultimate Blog or you build or buy another, you need to start blogging today. If you don't, you're ignoring one of the biggest sources of high quality customers. If you haven’t yet tried my Ultimate Website (with LCM technology), I’d encourage you to check it out. Agents who use it are generating an average of 2-3 new inbound leads every day without spending additional money on advertising. It costs less than most websites and there is no long-term commitment or activation fee. Here is a link: http://GuerillaRealty.com. Get My Ultimate Website Now » As always, thanks for reading. Matt Jones Broker/President/CEO FavoriteAgent.com Matt Jones is the founder and CEO of FavoriteAgent.com, nationally syndicated columnist, broker, and best selling author. He has been profiled by major media outlets as an innovator and a pioneer in the industry, and CNN's Pulse on America claimed he and his company were "changing the way real estate is done in America."

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For real estate agents, Read more » Goldman Sachs Reaches $5B Settlement Amid Toxic Bonds Controversy » Goldman Sachs said Thursday that it reached a $5 billion settlement over claims related to toxic Read more » U.S. to Track Secret Luxury Buyers » The US Treasury Department has unveiled plans to keep track of so-called "secret buyers" of luxury Read more » ECONOMY More Homebuyers Don't Want to Work With Agents » A survey commissioned by online brokerage Redfin of 2,134 Americans finds one in five buyers made an offer on a home without having visited it in person. 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Read more » 7 Ways Your Body Language Can Get People to Like You » Let your body do the talking Read more » Become a Better Communicator In Your Writing » There's no denying it. It doesn't matter who you are, the type of customer you're trying to reach Read more » Study Reveals Agents are Missing Opportunities in Commerical and Land » A recent survey of real estate purchases by The Entrust Group's self-directed IRA (SIDRA) clients Read more » Write a High Conversion Ad for Social Media » Let's play a game Read more » Write an Ad That Sells » Imagine sitting at your kitchen table, having your cup of coffee and you break open your laptop and Read more » INVESTING Send Your Child to College By Investing in Rental Property » College fees have gone up to over $65,000 a year says Troy Onink, a contributor for Forbes. 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Avoid These Scams Targetting Real Estate Agents » Cybercrime is far more prevalent these days than its ever been before, and with the vast amounts of Read more » 5 Biggest Turnoffs for Homebuyers » If you are on the selling end, there is nothing more important than you need to know than what make Read more » Home Selling Tips During a Divorce » Next to the possible arrangement for their children, a couple who has decided to live separate lives Read more »

Three Ways You Can Pre-Qualify Your Buyers » As a real estate agent, you know that a large number of clients mean more chances of closing a deal Read more »

This is the NewsGeni.us e-Brief, a collection of the best real estate news and advice in one place. To cancel your subscription, follow this link http://www.newsgeni.us/unsub.php?email=dsoldit.blogpost@blogger.com&s=2073.

©2016 NewsGeni.us, 212 Northstone Pl, Fayetteville, NC 28314. All rights reserved.