REALTORS: Learn how to schedule your blog posts
This post comes to us from the BrokerageU blog: There are many REALTORS® who post new blogs on a very consistent schedule... How do they do it? Ideally, you will begin to gain a following of readers who will learn to await new content from you on your set schedule. Maybe you post once per week, maybe twice, or maybe you write one blog each day. How can you guarantee that you will be sitting in your office at the exact same time each day to make sure that post goes live on schedule? The good news is that with a WordPress blog, you can schedule posts for future. This means that you can knock out your whole entire month's worth of writing all in one sitting; or you can get to each post as you have time (I know there are times that I crank out a post or two at midnight). And the best news is that you can still be sure that all of your blogs go live on a schedule that makes sense to your business no matter when you actually wrote them.

Real Estate Technology: Taking Care of Our Peyton Mannings
Okay, so that’s a funny title to give a real estate blog post, huh? I’ve been watching the Peyton Manning drama unfold with great awe. As a San Diego Charger fan (yes, my heart stays forever broken) – it causes me great pause to see him find his way to the Denver Broncos. But what really fascinates me is the media feeding frenzy surrounding his every move. I guess that happens when you’re a four-time MVP, eleven-time Pro Bowler, and vie for nearly every passing record in the books. What’s quite interesting is how teams competed for him – the most talented free agent arguably ever. They rolled out red carpets, dispatched team planes, served up finest brandies, and lit up their fattest Cuban cigars. That’s what you do for the best talent out there. Those owners know Peyton Manning is worth tens of millions of dollars in new gate receipts, merchandise sales, and team value appreciation. It’s a tiny investment for the payoff he’ll certainly bring. The observation translates to attracting (or keeping) the best agents out there. In my neighborhood of Scripps Ranch, I see the same guy’s name up on almost every sign. He sells the entire area. Over the past decade or so, he has become the Peyton Manning of my little suburban town. I can only imagine what his brokerage does to keep him. His glass is probably never empty. He probably gets the very best support and technology investment the brokerage offers. And, if he doesn’t, then someone else is going to lure him with it.

WordPress security – Ignore at your peril
Ever looked at your WordPress site and had this reaction? Hopefully you haven't, but if you are not paying attention to routine maintenance you really can't complain if some nasty hacker destroys all your hard work and expense. Last October famous real estate blogger Jay Thompson got hacked and spent 60 hours trying to sort it all out icon sad WordPress security Ignore at your peril Now that WordPress is powering 14.7% of the top million websites in the world as of last August, there are more targets for those hackers. So be sure that WordPress core developers take security very seriously and they regularly update the core software at the first sign of trouble. WordPress have also made it much easier to install updates with just a couple of clicks. There are some very simple WordPress security steps to follow:

Create a Disclosure Policy in 5 Easy Steps
Guest Contributor Ricardo Bueno of Diverse Solutions Says: Everyone needs a disclosure policy. By disclosing the purpose of your blog/website, you’re letting readers know more about the information that they will be reviewing. With DisclosurePolicy.org, it’s never been easier to create a disclosure policy for your site. If you’re a Real Estate Agent for example, you might create a policy to disclose your relationship to your Broker.  

Beware: Three Vices to Effective Blogging!
I stumbled across a local real estate broker's website today. It took about 30 seconds to notice three fundamental issues with the site. And before anyone gets twisted out of shape and thinks I'm just dissing someone's site, keep this in mind... One can learn by watching the good things other people do. But you can also learn by observing what not to do. This particular site is not alone, there are countless examples just like it scattered all across the Internet. LOTS of real estate practitioners have websites. There are many brilliant sites out there, and many that are not-so-swift. Be brilliant. What were the three glaring errors I saw?

The Two Best Tools for Blogging
Yeah, I know. At the end of my last post, What to write about on your real estate blog, I promised an article on blogging time management. That article is 90% complete. But as I was writing it, I got to thinking (uh oh). There are tons of tools out there that help make blogging more efficient. Do a Google search and you’ll find them. But that’s not the point in this article. The point here is to present you with the two best tools you can use for your real estate blogging adventure. Ready?  

Power Up Your Blog with New PowerPoint Web App!
We are happy to anounce that Microsoft has jumped on the web apps bandwagon, and have provided a cool new way for real estate professionals to embed their PowerPoint® listing presentations or open house schedules into their blogs!  Add professionalism and color to your blog by inserting the full presentation right into the blog! Microsoft's messgae to the world is, "Every blog tells a story.  Let yours put on a show."  Love the tagline! Consider this cool new app if you have ever... Delivered a presentation you wanted to share with a wider audience? Needed an easier way to distribute a team schedule or checklist? Or, just wanted a better way to illustrate a point in your blog? Now you can make your ideas speak even louder by embedding Microsoft PowerPoint® or Excel® files right into your blog.

Set Blog Goals, Set Traffic Records!
One fundamental thing that is missing for many real estate bloggers is having a defined goal for their blog. Believe me, I talk to a lot of bloggers. When I ask them, “What is your goal for the blog?” I am often met with a blank stare, a puzzled expression, a shameful nod of the head. Sometimes I will hear, “I want more business”, or “Duh, commission checks”. While those are lofty goals, the problem is they aren’t good goals. Your goals need to be SMART — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

Tech-ing It To the Next Level
Branded web site. Check. Facebook fan page. Check. Document management solution. Check. Featured listings and listing syndication. Check. WordPress blog. Check. If you currently have a technology list like the one above, instead of adding the latest and greatest technologies, perhaps the best way to spend your time is to educate yourself on the technologies you already have.  With technology, consider the old adage "Less is more".  It is better to become an expert in a few technologies, than someone who uses dozens of technologies to half of their potential.  Maybe it's time to take it to the next level. REALTOR® Magazine recently posted a helpful article detailing nine strategies real estate agents can employ to do more with the technology they already have in their arsenal.

Building a Strong Brand
The best thing to do when the economy slows, is to focus on building your brand. The real estate industry has a number of technology products and services to help position your brand in front of potential home buyers. Products categorized as lead generation, online marketing and advertising all provide your brokerage the exposure you need to ensure your brand gets visibility. But before it comes to using technology to market your brand, there are a few underlying principals to consider to make sure your brand is strong. The best brands focus on building value and tying that to a brand. Only after your brand has been thoughtfully developed should it be sent out in various media channels. Jean-Claude Saade is a brand strategist living and working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Saade publishes branding articles and marketing strategies in many publications. We thought his insight into real estate branding was poignant for this economic low. Although the core underlying principles are always the same, branding in the real estate business is facing its own challenges and has found special creative ways to deal with them. In certain markets where this sector is now developing in an unprecedented way due to a number of economic and conjuncture reasons, being aware of certain concepts and dynamics about real estate branding might be priceless to real estate developers. At a time where the effects of the US credit crunch have not reached all markets, being prepared by building a strong brand could be the best strategy facing any possible real estate recession.