The Places You’ll Go – Google Places Uses Momentum To Grow

Do you use Google Places? Chances are, if you have ever looked up a business listing through Google, you’ve landed on Google Places. Also known as the Google Local Business Center, Google Places gives local business owners the opportunity to list address, phone, hours of operation and brief snippets about their business, as well as link to Google Maps.

Businesses can also show photos, respond to reviews and offer coupons, all for free. All that is required to get started is setting up a free Google account. For a flat fee of $25 per month, businesses can also participate in an advertising program called Google Tags that provides a way to call attention to the listing.

Google Places has more than 4 million local business using its service; Google sees more than 100 million visitors each month to Google Maps.

Enter Facebook Places. Facebook Places is a location-based platform that lets Facebook members check in from a local business and then tag friends to let them know where they are. Both services seek to connect local businesses with consumers.

So far, Google is all about the business, with no social connection; and Facebook is all about the user connection. As more businesses start to register with Facebook Places, expect to see advertising come into play. Google has strong momentum on its side, and analysts expect to see the search giant add social content before long. Social tools should create an interesting competition between Google and Facebook for small business ad share and consumer mindshare.

How to…Vyoo.it – Real Estate Listings Go Mobile

We all know how the iPhone and other mobile computing devices have changed the way we use the Internet. Did you know that Web (HTML) traffic visible through a browser is now only a quarter of all Internet traffic? That’s half of what it was ten years ago. The app rules, and we have the latest cool find in real estate apps.

If you’ve tried to read real estate listings on the Web with your mobile device, you know how hard it is to view on a small screen. Enter Vyoo.it, a new mobile marketing app that is designed to give you online listings via the mobile Web.

Your buyers are mobile. You want them to be able to get all the information they could possibly need on your property on the spot. The Vyoo.it app optimizes listing information, Web sites and virtual tours for a four inch screen. It can optimize any exiting listing and give it mobile ready landing page.

Vyoo.it also provides a short link and a QR code (a two-dimensional bar code) that you can post on Facebook, Twitter and other social media accounts with just a couple of clicks.

And the best part – it’s free. Expect to pay for advanced features down the road, but the standard app is free for now. Upcoming features include customized URLs and traffic analytics –be prepared to pay for those upgrades.

Vyoo.it uses Facebook’s single sign-on to register and log in. From there, all you have to do is provide a valid property address, a link to the online listing and some basic property information. Vyoo.it does the rest. Vyoo.it works best for iPhone and Android devices and they are creating optimized versions for Blackberry, Nokia and other smartphones.

Social Networking – How Sociable Are You?

As you read this, more than 10,000 Tweets just went out. According to the Social Computing Journal, social media grew more in 2009 than all previous years combined. Social networking sites have rapidly evolved into much more than a way to connect with family and friends – social media has become the channel for interactive, digital marketing and communications that brings businesses, consumers and communities around the world together as collaborators.

A recent article on the web describes this amazing tool, HowSociable.com. This tool is fun, easy and informative. Just enter the brand name of any business you’d like to track (including your own) on the HowSociable? home page. The tool will query a number of the top social networking sites and then display the results for the number of times the brand or business name showed up on each site. To see more detail about the visibility on a specific site, like Facebook People, you can click on the results icon and get additional information, even specific posts or comments.

You can use the tools to measure where you are with your social media plan, or give you a beginning baseline for measurement if you are just getting started. It also provides an easy interface to see collective results. Give HowSociable? your email address and the brand you want to track, and they can email you the results on an ongoing basis.

You can also use the tool to study the success of highly rated brands and check in on how your competitors are faring in the social landscape. HowSociable? is fun, it’s free and it’s a way to measure your social success stories. Try it, we think you’ll like it.

Build Your Campaign with Traffic in Mind – Try Google Analytics URL Builder

We all want to drive traffic to our Web sites, and search engine ranking and indexing has become an important part of our marketing efforts. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing) are hot topics, with keywords, meta tags, description lines part of our daily marketing vocabulary. We also want to track traffic, and many of us are use site analytics tools to determine where the Internet traffic goes to and where it comes from.

In making your site friendlier to organic (not paid) search results, don’t forget to improve the structure of the site URLs. We think carefully about the primary site URL and pay to procure domain names for our sites. But the URLs within the site are important too – each page has a unique one, and Google offers opportunities for you to better organize your site and make it easier for Internet ‘robots’ and ‘spiders’ to crawl the pages. In particular, Google has a great tool to help you manage promotional campaigns through Google Analytics URL Builder. You have to be a current user of Google Analytics to use the tool.

The free URL builder uses a simple online form to help you create and track URLs for the landing pages of your latest marketing campaign. Just enter in the primary URL (domain name) of your site and follow the easy steps on the form. Be clear and specific on each descriptive title you add to the builder – Google uses these titles to help you identify the traffic once the campaign is launched.

When you’ve completed each field, just click on the “Generate URL” button and the tool will create a tracking URL that you will use as the page link for the banner ads specific to this campaign.

To measure the traffic results of your campaign, log into Google Analytics and click on “Traffic Sources,” followed by “Campaigns.” Google then displays your traffic by each marketing campaign.

As with most things Google, we love that it’s free, simple and highly effective!

Heard About SikkU? Check Out This Mobile Information Tool for Home Buying…

SikkU is a home buying/selling information tool that brings together mobile devices, online search and social networks for buyers, sellers and other real estate and mortgage professionals.

Here are just a few of its great features:

• Free to join
• Access to live real estate data.
• Check prices and other home information with your mobile device
• Get real estate information and listings
• Listings are complete: price, square footage, rooms/baths amenities and more.
• Change your search location to search other areas in the country
• Share your favorites and ideas with your family and your realtor
• Get real-time alerts for listings that match your criteria

SikkU also provides a dashboard tool that lets you customize your own personal tracker. The registration process is fast and simple – you can sign up in seconds. SikkU offers an SMS text service that sends info to mobile phones in seconds, 24x7 (where there is wireless coverage). With basic text keywords, users can search local homes for sale, request property information, get home values, property details and payment amounts. If you have a smartphone, you can use your Web browser to get instant information.

You can access SikkU’s home shopping tools from your home or office computers, from your mobile phone through SMS Text or through your mobile Web browser. The tools not only give you instant data and dashboard reporting, but they also work together to create a unique social networking site for the home buying and selling community. Check it out today at www.sikku.com.

Protect Your Privacy From Data Mining

By now, we’ve all been conditioned to protect our Internet privacy when we make purchases online. Most people know to only use reputable sites, make sure they use encryption software, don’t give out too much personal information at once, never give out your social security number – the list goes on and on.



We’re even becoming a little more aware (sometimes learning the hard way) that we should exercise some restraint on our social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter.


What you may not know is that consumer sales organizations, including retailers, insurance companies and lenders, are very interested in your social media habits, profiles, blog comments and your social network of ‘friends’. Many of them are data mining social media sites and blogs to get a full personal profile of you and learn about your buying behavior through your social behavior.


One of the most talked about data mining services is Rapleaf, who claims to give retailers the ultimate in customer insight – by crawling through the most popular newsgroups, blogs and social sites – all unknown to the individual consumer. While lending and credit agencies swear that they only use factual data to determine credit decisions and scores, they still use social data to understanding consumer profiles – even looking at the credit worthiness of your friends or your followers on Twitter. After all, Twitterers of a feather, flock together.


Here are three important tips to keep your social pages from undermining your consumer rights:
1) Absolutely EVERYTHING you put on the Internet is public information. Period. Don’t let strict ‘privacy settings’ give you a false sense of security.
2) Choose your friends wisely. Don’t accept ‘friend’ invitations from random people you have never heard of or know only through friends of friends of friends. Your circle is being watched and mined for your connections.
3) Monitor posts on your account frequently and remove anything offensive.

Social networking and blogging is fun, friendly and here to stay. Just be mindful that your online conversations are big business for big brother retailer.

Broker Brain

Broker Brain software was developed by brokers, for brokers with great tools and features that help you manage your REO business from A-Z! Here are just a few of the asset management tools you get with Broker Brain:

• Secure access from any location
• Daily task lists
• Auto generated forms
• Full Online Document Storage
• Photo Storage with Auto Resizing
• Mapping Integration
• Advanced reporting tools
• Consolidated property information
• Real-time property information to prospective buyers
• Public Web site

Broker Brain also offers great support – comprehensive online documentation, free Web-based support, fee-based (per incident) phone support and onsite training. Broker Brain also provides options for importing your property data into the system.

Pricing is based on the size of your portfolio, and starts at $145 per month for up to 50 properties. Whether you are an individual, small brokerage house or large management company, Broker Brain has tiered pricing model that fits your business. Also check out the 30 day risk free trial – no obligation and no setup fees.

This module based software set offers a wide range of services for the REO broker – everything from HOA and multi-market support to tracking expenses. Broker Brain encrypts all data traffic so that your sensitive information is secure. The service also uses multiple hosting servers and provides regular back-ups by location. Don’t rack your brain over REO complexities – see if the folks at Broker Brain can put your mind at ease.

Take Command of Your Short Sale Business – check out Short Sale Commander!

Trying to navigate through the uncharted territory of short selling? Are multiple deals slowing your workflow? We have a great new tool for you to check out – Short Sale Commander.

Short Sale Commander offers the following key features:

• Guest Access for non-users to view pertinent file information
• Centralized data access and a standardized process
• File sharing and document upload capabilities
• Automated document management and central storage
• Flexible reporting tools
• Time-stamped activity logs
• Paperless system

Whether you are a newcomer to the short sale market or an experienced pro tying to manage a short sale portfolio, Short Sale Commander offers an easy to use, easy to implement solution that helps agents, investors and brokers better manage the short sale business from a single, central system.

We also like that you can test drive the product yourself before committing – they are currently offering a 14 day free trial. Priced for all budgets and offices, we see this as a productivity tool that can’t miss for the price. They also offer a free demo video – all you have to do is complete a simple contact form.

Elk Software is a software development company that specializes in Web management platforms for professionals in the real estate and title industries. Their value prop states that Short Sale Commander is the first in the industry to focus on the internal organization and workforce collaboration for managing short sale negotiations.

If you’re ready to look at productivity tools for your distressed property and short sale business, then take command of the situation and visit www.shortsalecommander.com. Also be sure to check out their blog!

Zamzar

Are you tired of having different programs on your computer to convert your many different types of images, videos and files? One program to convert your .jpeg, one program to convert your videos and on, and on, and on. Wouldn’t it be great to have to go to just one place and not have to download anything? You bet it would! Why not try Zamzar?

Zamzar is a new program that coverts your files and videos all in one place and with just a couple clicks of the mouse.

Conversion Types
You would not believe the conversions that this program can do. Documents can be turned into thumbnails versions for websites, PowerPoint presentations can be converted into Macromedia Flash Format. Did someone send you a PC Paintbrush files and you don’t have that program? Convert it for easy access.

Pricing
Basic sign up costs around $7 a month and limits you to 200MB files a month. Bigger packages like PRO and Business let you download larger files and offer online storage.

Check out Zamzar today for all your file converting today and get rid of the extras. Your computer will thank you for it.

Biznik

Are you looking to connect with likeminded entrepreneurs who are sharing the same struggles you are? Do you need help with a project that is a little out of your realm of expertise? How about just wanting someone to share your triumphs and tribulations with? If so check out Biznik.

Here are just some of the things that make this new social site different.

“Community” Is Where You Are

Are you looking to grow your connections in Chicago? Have a client in Dallas that needs some graphic designs done?

You can also search for events that are being held in your city so you can mix and mingle in person.

Or It Can Be Online……

Don’t feel that you have to go to tons of events or gatherings to enjoy the benefits of this site because you don’t. Biznik is an online community too.

Great Resources

The site is packed with great articles which you have access to instantly, without even signing up. Learn about everything from fee strategies to selling a business.

Membership Types

Basic memberships for this service are free, which is great when you are just trying to feel out the program. A free membership allows you to create a profile, attend & host events and build your online relationship.

Pro ($10/month) and ProVIP ($24/month) give you even greater benefits such as broadcasting your latest promotion or even be able to charge for an event you’re hosting.

Biznik is a great community for the entrepreneur who doesn’t want to “go it alone”. Check the site out today to start connecting with entrepreneurs just like you.

Social Networking - Where You Need To Be NOW

All the buzz among today's conversations is social networking. Are you constantly being asked "What is your Twitter profile?, What is the link to your Facebook profile? Are you on LinkedIn?" You might answer yes to all these questions, but deep down thinking "I don't have a clue."

Everywhere you turn you are seeing the new term "Social Marketing Expert", but is anyone really an expert? The Social Networking phenomena is just now catching on and those like me who have been at it for months I suppose can be called the experts, but the question you should be asking is "What makes you a Social Marketing Expert?" "What can you do to help me get to the next level?"

The first thing you need to understand is by just setting up an account and a creating a profile does not do all that much for you. Sure, your on the network, but unless you really get involved it does not all that much for you in the way of search engine optimization, exposure, etc.

This is where you need someone that understands how to work each network for you and your business.

As a virtual assistant specializing in real estate assistance I have seen this new way of marketing work, but only if it is done correctly. It can be a very time consuming task if you don't know what you are doing, so you have to research each network to see how it will benefit you and what steps you should take to make that happen.

Because I am a virtual assistant my job is to stay on the leading edge of technology. As part of my services I offer today's business owner the help they need in setting up their social marketing action plan and making sure it is implemented to benefit you and the industry you work with.

If I may plug my services here - I think it is vital to your business to get on board with social networking even if you don't "get it" just yet. This is where I will help you and save you the trouble learning what I already know. Save time by having Kim Hughes & Company put in the forefront with your peers, industry leaders, clients, and more.

You can view my profiles on each one of the social networks in the left column to see I do know what I am doing and I do know how to help you.

So, get on the social networks today! My in-depth action plan is one that I have spent hours putting together and it is exclusively for my clients and know that your return on investment is unbelievable.