This was recently brought to my attention and I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you as well. Tavia Ritter of RE/MAX of Reading created this video tutorial on using a Real Estate Shows Flyer as an online greeting card for her clients. Tavia has creative ideas and shares her tips in an easy to understand step-by-step format.

Thank you, Tavia!

If you’re thinking of trying this yourself, why not test it on the new Instant Show about the spring time change? Your clients might appreciate the reminder!

There’s a phenomena popping up all around the country called Real Estate BarCamp. If you’ve been thinking you’d like some fresh ideas for marketing and managing your business online or maybe you don’t even know where to begin – this was created for you.

The way Real Estate BarCamps developed is very similar to the way they work: someone had a great idea and ran with it, others added their expertise and it became something really special. The inspiration for Real Estate BarCamp came from the tech barcamps and “unconferences” in the bay area where Andy Kaufman lives. Andy thought it would work well for real estate and decided to try one the day before Inman Connect San Francisco 2008. When he announced it on Daniel Rothamel’s Zebra talk radio show, Todd Carpenter immediately called with an offer to build a Real Estate BarCamp website. The rest of RE.net fell in love with the idea and here we are — Real Estate BarCamp has even become popular enough not to need the draw of a conference to draw attendees. In fact, I’ll be driving six hours myself to attend REBCVA and I can’t wait!

BarCamps are fast paced, fun and extremely educational. (And strangely enough, they don’t take place in bars, although you can usually find a few attendees who would be glad to help you find one afterward.) You’ll learn about the newest tools and fresh ways to make use of what you’ve already got. You’ll find a great mix of Real Estate Rock Stars and those just starting out, and the ideas from all blend and create something new we wouldn’t have had otherwise. It’s an amazing thing to take part in a BarCamp!

All this and they’re FREE to attend! I hope there’s one near you and that you’ll give it a try. Here’s a list of some upcoming BarCamps, please click for more details:

• Fredericksburg, VA March 3
• Los Angeles, CA April 2
• Portland, OR April 23
• Phoenix, AZ April 23
• Denver, CO May 22
• San Francisco, CA August 4

Each of these BarCamps will have a free Real Estate Shows subscription up for grabs! (It’s worth attending just for all you’ll learn, but a chance to win a year of free RES isn’t bad either.) If you win you’ll be given my contact information and I’ll personally help you set up your account and get you started.

Go, learn, have a great time and tell me all about it, OK?

Have you noticed the huge influx of new people to Facebook lately? If you’re connecting with more and more locals, old friends, family and even agents from across the country, you may have realized it’s not a bad idea to remind them that you’re still in real estate, actively marketing and selling homes and ready to help them with their own real estate needs.

Using your Real Estate Shows is an easy way to do just that. Real Estate Shows and Facebook get along beautifully, and you have a few choices in ways to share your Shows.

The first way is to turn on Social Bookmarking. To do that, go from your Manage page to Edit Show, then Edit Buttons. Scroll to the bottom of the page, click the box to Enable Social Bookmarking and submit. Watch your Show, and at the end click the Facebook button and follow the directions to upload to your Profile page. You’ll be able to choose from your agent photo, logo or no picture. Here’s how it looked on my page:

A bonus to this method is that ANYONE can use those Social Bookmarking buttons. If a buyer finds your Show while house hunting online and loves the house, it can be “saved” and shared via their Facebook page. Essentially, you’re allowing others to help you advertise the home.

To submit as I did above, you don’t have to convert your Show to video, as you will with the next two options. (Note: video is not available on trial accounts.) Converting your Show into a video format is easy – on the Manage page click Publish next to the Show you want, then click the Video tab to the upper left. If you have a YouTube account, you can enter in your log in information and we’ll upload your video directly to your account there. (I highly recommend sending your Shows to your own YouTube account, so that you’ll have your own branding and control of editing.) Video conversion takes anywhere from 10 minutes to several hours, depending on the number of requests we’re handling at the time. You’ll receive an email from us once it’s done.

If you decide you’d like to upload your video Real Estate Show directly to Facebook, which was my favorite option, go back to the Publish/Video page of Real Estate Shows and click the button you’ll find at the top of the page to download your video file to your computer. Unzip or extract the files and then you’re free to upload a video through the Add Video button on your Facebook profile. After my upload was complete, I edited and chose the “Full” option, which looked like this:

I really like the look of the larger picture representing the video, but the still shot was chosen for me from the middle of the Show. (I should mention that this larger version is the one that got a lot of a comments.  Since comments are the only gauge I have of traffic through a video sent this way, this was important to me.)

The third option is to simply link to YouTube after your Show has been uploaded there. To do this, just go to YouTube and grab the URL to your Show, then click on Post Link on your Facebook profile and paste. It looks like this:

Through your YouTube account, you can edit videos so that you can choose the sample photo that represents your video, but unfortunately you will only have a choice between three shots in the middle of the video, not at the beginning which would make the most sense for a listing. I’d have a lot more to tell you about using your Shows in YouTube … but that will have to wait for another post.

Any questions?

I’ve mentioned it here in our blog and it’s sitting right there on the Manage page, the “Connect Shows Together” button. And STILL, when I casually mentioned it to a friend of mine who is a long time fan of Real Estate Shows, she said, “What?”

Her next question was, “Why?”

That’s an easy one – imagine you’re a buyer. (You should be doing this all the time anyway.) You’ve just watched a Real Estate Show of a new listing, and that kitchen looked beautiful. You wish you could see more. NOW. If there were a button at the end of the Show that said, “View Related Shows”, would you click it? If you were really interested in the house, you would. And hopefully you’d see a new Show labeled “Kitchen” and experience some fabulous immediate gratification.

Oh, we know buyers LIKE immediate gratification. It’s why we create Shows in the first place! If the kitchen Show peaked their interest even more, you’ll likely earn a showing for your listing because of it. That’s good stuff.

You can even connect more than one Show together. Let’s say you’ve listed a beautiful home in a neighborhood that has special features, such a bicycle trials, community parks or a private golf course. Creating and connecting Shows for each of these will spotlight what sets this home apart. It’s a good idea to ask yourself, “What’s going to sell this house?” Then create a Show around the answer.

The Show below is by Ines Hegedus-Garcia in sun-drenched Miami, Florida. Ines takes many, many listing photos and graciously allowed me to use her Shows as an example. After you watch this Show, you’ll see buttons that will give you more information, including one for Related Shows. When you click that, you’ll have links to all the attached Shows, which in this case is one for the pool.

With your next listing, ask yourself what’s the most likely feature to sell this house and take enough extra pictures so that it can have a Show of it’s own. Giving buyers instant gratification and having sellers happy to see you going above and beyond expectations – for no additional cost – is not a bad thing.

Let’s pretend I’m a buyer, and I’m looking at a whole list of houses that meet my needs. Oh, I’m lucky — there are LOTS to choose from! Like most buyers, I’m skipping the houses with only one photo. (If the listing agent didn’t think it was worth a few pictures, I know it’s not worth my time.) And of course I prefer MORE information rather than less. By the time I actually talk to an agent, I’ve already eliminated a good deal of the available homes based on what I’ve seen online.

I’m picky, and with all that inventory, I can afford to be.

As you’re creating a Real Estate Show of your seller’s listing, keep me in mind. I’m going to be looking at a lot of houses online, aren’t I? How can you make this one stand out?

Easy. Tell me a story.

Each time I view a listing online, I’m picturing myself in that home. I’m wondering what it would be like to cook in that kitchen. I’m imagining all this fictional spare time I’d have to pamper myself in the posh master bath. (Yes, I know buying that house won’t give me spare time, but let me dream!) If you tell me the story of what my life might be like in this home, I am much more likely to remember it, to want to see it, and to already have warm fuzzy feelings before I’ve ever set foot in the door.

I am ready to fall in love with my next home. If you title your pictures with captions such as “Living Room”, will I be swept off my feet?

Lisa Sanderson of Better Homes & Gardens Wilkins & Associates has a perfect example of how a Show can tell a story about what a buyer’s life might be like in a new home. Can’t you just picture yourself here?

I realize it’s an online relationship, but I think I’m ready to take it to the next level and meet in real life. Something just feels very RIGHT about this one.

I learned a startling statistic yesterday. According to the National Association of Realtors, nearly half of clients will not hear from their real estate agents after their transaction closes. Think on that for a moment. Before closing, your client heard from you weekly if not daily (or even more often!) just before closing. And then *BAM!*

Nothing. Nada. Zilch.

::Insert sound of crickets here::

These are your precious, hard earned clients! Don’t just let them go – you worked hard for them! Here’s an easy way to keep your foot in the door just after close.

If you are the buyer’s agent, bring your camera to the final walk through. Take pictures of those empty rooms. I know it sounds kind of silly, but you’re creating a “Before” Show. Make sure to get a picture of the happy new home owners by the front door. Then create a Real Estate Show of the empty rooms and burn it to CD or DVD. Drop back by to see your clients a week or so later just to let them know you miss them and give them their CD. Let them know you’d be happy to create an “After” Show once they’re all moved in, and let them know you can connect the Before and After Shows together and that you can give them links online so that they can share with family and friends who want to see the new place.

If you’re working with the sellers, your job is even easier because you’ve already made a Show of their home looking it’s very best. Create a CD or DVD for them to keep and either stop in for a visit if they’re close by or mail it to them. (And remember, we don’t drop people just because they move away! They lived in the area and have friends and coworkers who still do, make sure they’re singing your praises!) Someday they’re going to feel nostalgic about the old place and pull out that CD and think good thoughts about you.

It’s easier to keep an existing client than to earn a new one. Don’t drop them!

We know that having stronger connections with the people around us does magical things. When you show people that you care about them, they feel better. They feel better about themselves and they feel better about you, too, just because they associate you with good things.

So let’s forget about the tangible benefit (more business) of regularly contacting our sphere of influence for the moment. Right now, we just want to concentrate on making sure that people know we’re thinking about them. And since we’re busy people, let’s make this easy, OK?

We’ve created a bunch of Instant Shows that you can add to your own Real Estate Shows account with just a click, then personalize in any way you see fit. Creating a Flyer from one of these Shows can make a beautiful presentation: Imagine this in place of an E-card. (Ah, but this E-Card has all of your contact information and subtly reminds people that you are their real estate agent… Oh wait, we aren’t thinking about that part!)

We have Shows for the holidays, of course, but you might like to try one that’s just plain inspirational. If you know someone is feeling under the weather, we even have a “get well soon” Show. (Remember, you can even Duplicate Shows, which allows you to copy a Show and change the title so that it can say, “Get Well Soon, Bob”, and maybe you can even use a title on a photo to say you’re sorry he got that nasty bug that’s going around. Make it personal!)

In a slow market, it’s good to remind people you’re still here, working away. It’s ALWAYS a good time to let people know you’re thinking of them. Your Instant Real Estate Shows are a FREE, easy way to stay in touch.

• Instant Shows are found through the Instant Shows button on the Main Menu.
• Click Import Show to add it to your account.
• Personalize in Edit Show if you desire, or use as is.
• Create a Flyer for a quick custom look.
• Use Show Links to copy link to your email program to send to your contacts.

Sending out an Instant Show to your contacts once or twice a month is just one more way to get incredible value from your Real Estate Shows. If you’d like to hear more ways to get more from you Real Estate Shows, keep reading the blog or call us at 888.580.7627, we’re happy to brainstorm with you.

The next time you’re taking photos of a new listing, turn around and shoot a few pictures of the neighborhood. On your way out, take a picture of the entrance and be sure to get shots of any special features such as a community pool or park.

Then make up a Real Estate Show of the neighborhood. You can attach the Show to your new listing through the “Connect Shows Together” link on your Manage & Edit page. After a potential buyer views the listing Show, they’ll get a prompt to view the connected neighborhood Show.

You can also download your neighborhood Show and burn it to CD to hand out at your first Open House, when all the neighbors drop in “just for a peek.” Hand them a CD of their own neighborhood looking totally fabulous — and suddenly you’re on your way to being the neighborhood expert!

Also be sure to file your new neighborhood Show under the Community tab. (From Manaage & Edit, use the drop down box that says “Move Show Into”.) Imagine what a resource this will be when you have buyers moving in from outside the area! The more you can show them, the better!

For inspiration, check out these Shows:

• Village Shops at the Landmark by Bob Schenkenberger
  
• Ruby Hills, Pleasanton by Laura Monroe
• Porches on the Point by Lisa Heindel

I was asked by Kayel Buffaline from our Linkedin group yesterday how she can use Real Estate Shows to promote her community when she doesn’t have a blog. There are so many free blogging opportunities that I hadn’t challenged myself to think in terms of not having one, but this is a great question. There are certainly plenty of people who get along fine without having a blog, now how do they get their Real Estate Shows in front of people so they can make a difference?

Without a blog, you can still use your Real Estate Shows to promote your community:

• If you have a website, you might want to make up a Community page and update it regularly.
• You can send out Flyers periodically to your contacts online.
• If you use social networks like FaceBook or Twitter, you can share you Shows there. In Twitter, just share a link. In Facebook and other Social Networking, there is a button in Edit Buttons that allows you to turn on the option to share this way, and then you can just click to add. (This also allows others to share your Shows if they want to spread your message!)
• You can also take the link to your Inventory List and add that to your email signature, so that every time you email someone there’s an opportunity to share your Shows. (Just make sure you’ve clicked “Viewable in Other Shows” on your Manage and Edit page for the Shows you want to appear in your list. You can get the link to your Inventory List at the bottom of any of your Show Links pages, also accessed from the Manage and Edit page.)
• Create a YouTube Page that focuses on your community. Setting up a YouTube page is easy and free, and you can send your Real Estate Shows there with just a *Click!*

Kayel, I hope this helps. And if you ARE using a blog … you do know that all of this would only increase your exposure and it’s pretty much all FREE, right? I think I just gave you a homework assignment.

Shutter speed is a really versatile setting to experiment with. You should find this setting labeled with Tv or S on your digital camera.

Adjusting the shutter speed is exactly what it sounds like — deciding how long the shutter will stay open, which dramatically changes the look of your picture. A faster shutter speed can freeze the motion of a hummingbird’s wings. A slower shutter speed can create a whole new world of motion and light.

You’ll get better result from a slower shutter speed in most cases by using a tripod or monopod. The slightest movement can blur a photo when you’re using a longer exposure time. (Tip: if you find that even snapping the picture on your camera causes a little wobble, you can get around this using the two second delay timer. You aren’t touching the camera by the time it takes the photo.)

If you’re trying to capture a unique look for a house, one that will stand out in a sea of similar listings, try taking the exterior pictures at dusk. Experiment with exposure times to find one that brings the house to life. You’ll get a sky rich with gradient blues and each light will bloom with a warm golden glow. It’s easy to imagine yourself going home to such a welcoming house after a long day. The fact that it’s obviously a little different from the average listing photo helps an online buyer slow their browsing enough to take a good long look.

The photos in the Real Estate Show below are City Lights and August Nights by Teresa Boardman, Clark County Fair After Dark, Shutter Speed Indoor Test – 1 Second and Shutter speed Indoor Test – No Flash by Dale Chumbley, Long Exposure Fourth of July Fireworks and Long Exposure Fourth of July Fireworks by Jeff Turner and Dancing Lights by Tall One and A Matter of Time by myself to illustrate some of the different looks you can achieve by adjusting the shutter speed on your camera.

Also in this series, see Learning Photography: Light Sources.