Here is a juicy little tidbit you may not know. Unless you have edited your Facebook custom privacy settings someone can tag you at a “Place” without your permission. Think of the reputation nightmares that could create!! Say someone plays a bad practical joke and checks you in at a less than desirable location only to have it appear on your Facebook wall for all of your “friends” to see.  Not cool!

Change Your Facebook Custom Privacy Settings To Avoid Getting Tagged!

The slide presentation below will take you step by step so you can change the current default functionality to prevent other Facebook “friends” from tagging you without your permission.
Slide 1. Customizing Your Facebook Privacy Settings – Preventing False Places Tagging
Slide 2. Facebook Privacy Settings Must Be Changed to Avoid False Check Ins
Slide 3. Access Your Facebook Profile Privacy Settings
Slide 4. Click Customize Settings
Slide 5. The Default Facebook Places Privacy Setting is “Enabled”
Slide 6. Tagging Friends at Places with the iPhone App
Slide 7. Tagging Friends at Places in the iPhone App
Slide 8. iPhone App Reflects Brad has been Tagged
Slide 9. Brad’s Disabled Places Tagging Prevents Inclusion in Updates

Do you Check in with Facebook Places?

Let the rest of us know if you do use Facebook Places and what you think about this new Facebook functionality.

Helping keep your reputation safe online!

Bobby

Are you ready to take your real estate blogging efforts to new heights? Brad and I would like to say thanks to Hoboken Condo Specialist Walter Burns for his blog checklist. We did spice up his checklist a smidgen. We suggest you print this out, and have it at your side as you begin to write your next post. If you will pay close attention to these details you will see the payoff in the search rankings of your blog!

• Outline your blog post first
• Always strive to add geographical reference in your post headline
• Permalink-3 short descriptive words – Make it keyword rich
• Anchor Text / Deep linking to your internal pages on your website
• Title Tag  – keyword rich. Ensure it is different than post title and permalink
• Add tags (area, zipcode, etc)
• Add categories (but not too many-8-10 max)
• Add keyword-rich sub headlines – H3
• Add a photo – add alt text
• Add the “Read More” tag
• Ensure the blog post is scanner friendly
• Conclude with a call to action for comment generation

An Anatomy of a Real Estate Blog Post

What Other Components Would You Add?

I look forward to your comments!

Happy blogging!
Bobby

It’s amazing the simple things we learn when we go to real estate bar camps. I learn something new every time I attend a REBC. One cool idea I overheard at the recent Charlotte Real Estate Bar Camp hit me like a ton of bricks and it was so simple… are you ready for this? Create a targeted page on your website, designed and written just for your new (and existing) Twitter followers. Piece of cake!

Tips to Creating a Twitter Welcome Page

Once you create your “Welcome” page on your site, then make sure you “copy and paste” that link using a tracking URL shortener in your Twitter profile. The URL shortener allows you to see how often the Twitter profile link is clicked plus you can track the inbound traffic to your site using Google Analytics. By the way, the copy and paste URL tip helps you avoid uploading a bad link.

Here are few more suggested core ingredients in your Twitter welcome page:

1. Offer a little more about you but avoid sharing too much about your services
2. Share what you are passionate about… horses, tennis, wine tasting, scrape-booking… something beyond real estate.
3. Tell your followers what they can expect in your Tweets. It’s all about catering to their needs

By the way, if you can create a page on your website or blog for your Twitter welcome page, you can knock this task out in a jiffy! Dakno clients with their Agent Backdoor site editor will find this is so easy! On the other hand, if you can’t create a page on your website we all have pity on your poor soul!

Why Create a Targeted Page Geared for Your Twitter Followers?

When it comes to social media, the goal is to connect with your target audience. Once you have accomplished that, you will want to encourage your new friends and followers to leave your Twitter profile page and find their way over to your online hub – your website and your blog. Once your new friend clicks on your Twitter profile link they are on “your turf”. Warning! You must resist the urge to pull out the hard sale when they arrive. This is your opportunity to reveal a little more about yourself on your welcome page and then share what’s in it for your new follower to listen to you.

At the conclusion of your welcome page, that would be an appropriate time to subtly offer your services by offering your blog link, your search link and your market reports. Just do it in a low pressure manner.

Take a Peek at My Twitter Welcome Page

Take a look at my Twitter page on our Dakno site and then come back tell me how to improve mine by leaving a comment! We love comments!

Have a great day!
Bobby

P.S. This strategy also works for other social media sites where you invite friends and new followers to visit your “online hub”.

So the Charlotte Real Estate Bar Camp is next week (6-11-2010) and I’m pretty jazzed about going. The reason why I get so excited is because every real estate bar camp is different. They each have their own unique DNA. Sure there are some similarities but the way each REBC is run is different. And that’s actually pretty cool. It’s a whole new experience each time I attend one. The thing that still amazes me is the number of real estate professionals who still don’t what know what a real estate bar camp is.

Having attended a few in the past, I thought it might be helpful to offer a few tips to all the RE Bar Camp virgins who will attending their first REBC in Charlotte (or what ever REBC you attend)! So here goes my 5 tips you should know before you attend your first (or your 20th) real estate bar camp.

1. Be a Giver at Your First Real Estate Bar Camp

You’re probably scratching your head asking yourself, “how can I be a giver if this is my first REBC?“  First of all, giving is inherent to real estate bar camps. Because this is YOUR real estate bar camp, why not give by telling the organizers what it is you need to learn!

Do you need help with:

• how to blog
• how to Tweet
• why I should add another “bright shiny object” like a “Like” business page on Facebook (Do we need another 365 Blog?)
• what’s the difference between an IDX that is iFramed versus a RETS-based data feed on your website
• how to create a better listing presentation
• how do I manage time better
• is this mobile search thing here to stay and why should I care
• ideas on managing a short sale better
• how do I know why/when/how/where people go to my real estate website/blog

If you can help answer some of these burning questions (or any other topic related to life as a real estate pro), maybe you should be ready to lead a group discussion/session on a topic. If you can, try to share what you learn during your first REBCCLT with others by Tweeting updates tied to a hashtag #REBCCLT. Plus, typing what you’ve heard actually helps in the learning process.

2. Have Proper Expectations When You Arrive at Your First Real Estate Bar Camp

For the 1st timers, the amount of information you will receive at a real estate bar camp is like being fed with a fire-hose! Have a plan to walk away from your first REBC with 2 or 3 actionable ideas you can easily implement when you return to your office. Then set a goal to have your action items completed by one week after your first RE Bar Camp.

3. Have a Plan to Document What You Learn at Your First RE Bar Camp

I see all kinds of people using all manner of methods to take notes what they learn. Some are traditional and use pen and paper while others use a laptop. The point being come prepared to take a few notes, then the next day remember your “ah ha moments”. These “gold nuggets” will be your action items you will want to implement. Ideas without action are worthless!

4. Check Your Competitive Spirit at the Door!

Yes, real estate professionals are territorial animals and always at the ready to “protect their turf”. If you show up with an old school mentality that sharing information among your competitors is a bad thing, sorry Charlie, that sacred cow has been burned at the old “gate keepers of information” altar. Besides, that thought process is anathema to the goals of a real estate bar camp anyway! Why not embrace your first real estate bar camp as an opportunity to network with your peers. The friendships you create there will be priceless! Trust me, I speak from experience.

5. Be Ready to Implement the Law of Two Feet

You may have heard that a real estate bar camp is called “the un-conference”. That means, in most cases, there is no agenda until the attendees decide what topics will be covered on the day of the event. If you arrive in a session and you determine that “this session” isn’t for you, simply get up and go to your second choice for that time slot. That’s the law of two feet. The other choice is to “sit tight” maybe guide the discussion in a direction that might be more beneficial for all concerned. Be careful here. Egos could be bruised.

Bonus Tip – Lose the Suit!

Real estate bar camps are very relaxed to the point that, in most cases, the volunteers all wear t-shirts and jeans. Unless you wish to standout like a sore thumb in your coat, tie or dress, loss the suit and be casual.

If you’ve attended a real estate bar camp in the past, what tips would you offer to first-timers?

I look forward to your comments!

Bobby

P.S. Special thanks to Metro Charlotte REALTOR Lori Bee for this video recap of last years Charlotte Real Estate Bar Camp!

To be one of the most viable tools for real estate professionals who are engaged in social media, LinkedIn is often the most overlooked. I call it the “red headed ugly step-sister” of social media portals. It often gets very little respect! If you want more out of your LinkedIn profile, I encourage you to take a few minutes to easily implement these 4 action items to optimize it and you’ll gain more out of it.

By the way, like the other social media marketing tools available, it’s all about connecting and engaging with your target audience!

1. Are You at 100%?

If your LinkedIn profile status bar hasn’t reached 100%, you’ve got work to do. This is especially true if you want your profile to show up in the search results for your name. Why have a LinkedIn profile if no one is ever going to find it.

2. Use Your Targeted Area Keywords in Your LinkedIn Profile

It’s important to remember to use your area keyword references in your LinkedIn profile.

#3 How Compelling is “My Website”?

LinkedIn members frequently opt to simply upload their website or blog link and never click the edit button to add the actual name of their website/blog. It’s a mistake and missed opportunity to leave the default setting “My Website” or “My Blog”. How compelling is that?

What Lies Beyond?

Why not have the link say “Dakno Real Estate Marketing Blog“. Plus, who knows “what lies beyond the link” if the website link is not named? The question of the unknown might sway members from clicking the “unlabeled” link.

Use All Linking Opportunities

By the way, LinkedIn members are given 3 links. I suggest you use them all! You might say, “But Bobby, I only have one site.” If that is the case, link beyond your homepage. Link deeper into your site. Maybe link to your property search page, your client testimonial page or your contact page. Try to offer a page that gives the site visitor an opportunity to either engage with you or it offers them high value content. The point being, take advantage of all 3 link opportunities!!!

Bonus Tip!

When you do add your website or blog link, be sure to copy and paste the “full-path” link from your address bar to avoid typos and thus creating a “dead” link which is useless. Remember, the ultimate goal of your social media profiles is to guide visitors back to your online “hub” which is your website/blog.

#4 Give – Give – Give!

One last point. To really maximize your LinkedIn profile, be a giver!! Participate in groups. Answer questions from consumers and your peers about online marketing. You’ll gain some great knowledge too. Lastly, give honest, praise-worthy “Recommendations”.

When it comes to giving Recommendations, the law of reciprocity truly works. Not that LinkedIn members should be motivated to “give to get”, but I have found when you do provide a genuine, well-thought-out recommendation chances are the receiver of the recommendation will reciprocate! I suggest you give it a try. It will make you feel good about yourself when you do give. And if you don’t get a recommendation in return, no big deal!

Obviously, this is a really short list what one can do to enhance your LinkedIn profile. What optimization tip would you include to enhance LinkedIn as a social media marketing tool?

P.S. If we aren’t connected at LinkedIn, what are you waiting for? Connect with Bobby Carroll at LinkedIn!

Real estate agents understand the concepts that determine the value of a property. As a real estate agent since 1985, I can speak your language. So let’s have a conversation about the components of value. They include desirability of the location of the property. In fact, we should mention that two more times because isn’t that what we are taught to do - location – location. The next determining factors of value also include the overall condition of the property. Is it in a good state of repair (well maintained)? Does the property offer superior “curb appeal” – does it “show well“? What about the structural integrity of the home? In today’s vernacular – does the house have good bones? Is the property functional or is it functionally obsolete? All of these factors (and more) help determine the value of a property.

Think of Your Real Estate Website Like a Property

In this post you’ll need to think of your current real estate website as if it were a “property”. The question is would you “take that listing and market it” with all it’s positives and negatives? Some of you have cream puff web properties and many have dawgs!

When It Comes to Location – Your Web Property Needs Location – Location – Location!

Or as I like to say Google – Google – Google! If you are to realize a return on the investment of your website property, it must have location… or in this case – your website needs to be on Google and hopefully near the top of the homepage of Google for your keyword search terms. Otherwise, nobody is going to know your “address” and see your cream puff.

Do You Maintain Your Web Property?

Just like a home, if you fail to maintain your web property, it will not serve your needs. Ongoing maintenance means checking for:

• bad links
• incomplete pages that have no call to action
• dead-end pages that fail to take the visitor to another resource or article
• lack of area keywords
• lack of sub headlines tagged with an h tag
• bad title tags and incomplete meta data
• wall of words articles that frighten away visitors. Reformat these pages to make them reader-friendly so the visitor can easily scan the page

Does Your Web Property Have Great Curb Appeal?

When it comes to “curb appeal“, does your web property standout in the crowded field of other competing web properties? Is the “home“page inviting? Does it instantly connect with your potential buyer the moment they arrive at the curb? Does the landscape engage and connect  with the visitor by offering them easy access to the other “rooms” (pages) in the site? Is it cluttered with so many navigation click opportunities (doors) that confuse and ultimately drive your potential buyer away from your property before they even get out of the car? Don’t forget about the prime areas of the property:

• the kitchen – can your visitor easily “cook up” (AKA search) and create a list of favorite properties and save those properties with your property search tool and share their “favs” with their friends and family?
• the spa-like bath – are visitors able to “soak up” market information and neighborhood hyper-local information?
• the master suite – can the visitor rest easy with peace of mind knowing this is where they can access power-packed web articles about the home buying and selling journey
• the family room – here can your visitors relax knowing you’re the right area expert agent for them just by reading your blog. In the family room conversation is encouraged!

Does Your Web Property Have “Good Bones”?

It’s important to inspect the architectural structure of your web property. Is it built up to “code“? Is the code dated and based on obsolete programming? Does the architecture of the content management system even allow you to make unlimited changes to your web property? Did the builder “lock you out” so you can’t add more rooms (pages) to your web property? Does your web property allow you to manage and save the name (and email address) of every person that engages on your web property?

Functional Obsolescence – Does that Describe Your Web Property?

In case you may have forgotten what this concept means, functional obsolescence means your web property might be dated because of changes in style and taste. Yes, some of you guys have web properties with mated orange shag carpet, fake wood paneling and hideous flocked wallpaper. In some cases your functional obsolescence might be curable and you can retain the “existing” property. In some cases it’s incurable and it’s past time you purchased “new construction“.

Would You List Your Own Web Property?

Marketing your website is a pretty deal these days. Okay, that was the all time understatement but here’s the point. Would you take your own web property, list it and then market the heck out of it proudly?

Let me know your answer by leaving a comment.

Till next time,

Bobby

For those of you who have accepted our AllAccess 60 Day Blog Challenge, welcome aboard! In future AllAccess sessions Brad and I will be reviewing your blogs to ensure you are complying to the conditions of the challenge and to the best practices of blogging. If you are relatively new to real estate blogging or maybe you’re approaching blogging burnout, below are a few tips to help you avoid making several blogging mistakes. By the end of the post we trust you will even gain a new appreciation for blogging (for results).

Be Inspired – Read Other Real Estate Blogs

If you’re new to blogging or maybe you need to be inspired try reading other real estate blogs. Some of these I list below are agent blogs and some are tech blogs. Here are a few blogs you might want to check out:

1. Living on the Hudson Condo Blog
2. AgentGenius
3. Bloodhound Blog
4. Mashable
5. Future of Real Estate Marketing
6. The South Beach Real Estate Blog
7. Ann Arbor Real Estate Blog
8. Agent Applause
9. My Tech Opinion
10. The Tech Byte
11. The Phoenix Real Estate Guy

The Ying and Yang of Real Estate Blogging

Before you write it is recommended you read! That’s what I call the Ying and Yang of blogging. By reading other blogs you gain a sense of the bloggers voice and his/her true personalty. That’s a great benefit to blogging. Your readers can actually get to know you – if you will allow your personalty to pour out on the pages of your blog.

Comment on Other Blogs

Before writing your first post, try your hand at leaving comments on other blogs. Many times your comments will morph into a full blown post you can use for your own blog.

Know Your Audience

Who are you are writing for?  As a real estate blogger your blog content should speak to your past clients, potential clients, other bloggers and the news media. Don’t forget that your blog content should be hyper-local oriented! That way your blog “reaches” local readers and appeals to the search engines.

Who Cares About Your Content?

Before you push the publish button on a post make sure your post answers these questions:

1. Who cares about this information?
2. Does this information empower my reader?
3. Does my post create value and benefits. Remember, benefits are typically defined as helping someone make money, save them money, save them time, help make them more productive, help the reader feel better about themselves and give them peace of mind. Of course, every post you write may fall short of that objective but at least give it a try.
4. Does my blog help establish me as an area expert?

Notice that the first bullet points focus on your reader while the last focuses on you. That means strive to write high-value content. Starting to get the picture?

Establish Attainable Blogging Goals!

You can avoid blogging fatigue and even burnout if you will set attainable writing goals in your Outlook or Google calendar. It is suggested you be disciplined when you should write on your blog and when to promote your blog. In fact, we suggest you actually blog less and promote more. More on blog promotion in a future post!

Maximize Your Blogging Habits

Pay attention to the details and use these best practices. When blogging strive for these details:

1. create a unique perma link
2. write keyword-rich sub headlines and tag those sub heads with h3 tags
3. use the Headspace plugin for enhanced SEO
4. use tags
5. have a max of 8 categories so you are forced to write content that is thematic (about your real estate market)
6. deep link to your website pages and past posts from your post for SEO (I seldom see this! Plus, it’s another reason to have a website and a blog-more on that later.)
7. make the post easy to scan by incorporating bullets
8. add complimentary images to make the post more interesting and get the reader some time for their eyes to rest
9. use the read more tag. This helps organize your blog homepage plus it’s great for SEO.
10. encourage social reaction with Twitter and Facebook integration

Own Where You Blog

Unless you are cool with simply being a content generator on a portal you don’t actually own, it is in your best interest (in most cases) to actually own the platform you write on. The means you really should have a self hosted blog with your own domain name (preferably, a sub domain of your primary website URL). Here is an example of what I mean: http://blog.tylertxhomesearch.com/

Solicit a Reaction!

Before you conclude your post do you solicit a comment with a strong call to action? If you don’t ask for a comment chances are you won’t get one. One of the best examples of a blog that consistently ask for a comment is the Mashable blog. In case you didn’t know, the latest changes introduced with Google’s Caffeine, encouragement of reaction to your content is another measurement component to search engine optimization ranking.

Can a Guy Get a “Tweet”?

If you “like” this post, simply click the Tweet button. You can even leave a comment and tell me what best practice you use when writing your blog. I’m all ears!!

Happy blogging,

Bobby

What started as a vision by Dakno web design guy Brad Carroll to help our friends Rocky and Jeff Turner with their Mothers Fighting For Others charity has evolved into one incredible mission thanks to many generous individuals and companies throughout RE.net! The genesis of this project actually germinated at the San Diego Real Estate Bar Camp back in the fall of 2009.

Here’s the Need!

An urgent situation has led to the MFFO Board of Directors to decide to create a new home for 34 orphaned girls outside of Nairobi, Kenya. Experience has taught us the real estate industry is a very giving group of professionals and this is your opportunity to give knowing you are supporting people with a huge heart for these girls.

EXTREME “Bundling” of Real Estate Marketing Products and Services!

With the idea in mind to “bundle” the products and consultative services of real estate vendors and real estate professionals into one incredibly awesome real estate web marketing and social media package for auction has now blossomed into something far beyond Brad’s wildest dreams! Needless to say, if you are ready to “amp up” your online presence to a meteoric level, this is one can’t miss opportunity to help one of the absolute finest organizations plus obtain one kick-butt online marketing solution package! Time is running out so hurry to ebay today and place your bid for this most worthy cause!

It Keeps Getting Better!

To make this charity auction even better! Our buddy Mr. Bill Lublin, (Mr. Social Media Marketing Institute), has agreed to challenge others to help Mothers Fighting For Others raise funds to create a new home for 34 orphaned Kenyan girls. He has agreed to match funds contributed via this widget up to $2500.

The following services are being auctioned on eBay as one package right now.

ActiveRain – $715 Total Value
One Full Year Membership with the following:

• $348 – RainMaker
• $159 – RainCamp Ticket (closest Location to winner)
• $108 – Localism Sponsorship – 1 local community
• $100 – Outside Blog (includes support)
• Feature one post of choice – (complimentary

Mike Mueller – $500 Total Value

• One Custom Facebook Business Page (Includes 2 custom built tabs)

Dakno Marketing – $2682 Total Value

• SwiftSite with 5 hours additional design customization ($925)
• SwiftBlog ($550)
• 1 Year of Hosting both the website and blog ($708)
• Posterous Blog Customization (to match the design of the site/blog) ($199)
• 6 month membership to Dakno’s AllAccess Live Training

RealEstateShows – $1562 Total Values

• A whole office account up to 50 agents.

Nicole Nicolay – $2000 Total Value

• 2 hours of one-on-one social media coaching via phone/Webinar. Coaching can be used for a specific goal or project, OR a review of current social media strategies and Web presence. Nicole will also provide you with a custom social media plan, including revised/or new goals with recommended implementation tasks.

Altos Research – $960 Total Value

• One Altos report subscription one year (provided they are within their service area)

Diverse Solutions – Value Varies

• an IDX for a year (provided they are within their service area)

Drew Meyers – $150 Total Value

• 1 hour of consulting time  – SEO, Social Media Marketing, wordpress, or whatever the person wants to talk about.

WellcomeMat – $2100 Total Value

• A 10-Pack of WellcomeMat Pro for One Year

Jay Thompson – $300 Total Value

• 2 hours of 1-on-1 consulting

Total Value – Over $11,300

All proceeds benefit Mothers Fighting For Others. MFFO is a non-profit 501c3 organization (EIN/tax ID number: 26-0320699)

I agree with Jeff when he posted on his blog “This is a great package for a small real estate office as well.“

Place your bid today and help Jeff and Rocky as they fight the good fight for others!

Want to know how to get one of those custom “tabs” on your Facebook fan page? Just follow these simple steps. And if you get stuck, you can always hire us.

I am assuming that you already have a fan page. If you don’t then you can create a Facebook fan page by going here.

Creating a Custom Tab Within Your Fan Page

Step 1: Add the Static FBML Application to your page

The trick is in an app called Static FBML. Since your already here on Facebook, just go over to this page (don’t worry, it will open up in a new window so you can continue to follow the directions). Once your on the page, look for a link in the top left corner that says “Add to my page.”

Once you click the link, a popup window will appear that list all of your current apps and pages. Simply select the page you wish to have the custom tab and click the “Add to Page” button.

Once you have added the application to the appropriate page (or pages) simply click the close button. Once you have closed the pop up box, it’s time to jump over and edit your page. Simply click this link to see a list of all the pages you manage. On this page, click the “Edit Page” link beside the appropriate fan page that you wish to edit.

Next, scroll down until you see the FBML application and click the edit link.

Don’t worry, we are almost finished. When you click edit you will see two places to enter in content. The first is labeled “Box Title.” This is actually what site visitors will see as the tab name. The box below (FBML) is the contents of the tab. Now I know what you’re thinking. What the heck is FBML. Don’t worry, it’s very similar to HTML. Don’t know HTML? You still have a solution. We’ve created a simple page that will allow you to build your fan page and then convert it to HTML. You can then grab the code and paste that right into the FBML section. Of course, if you still need help, you can can always contact a professional.

Once you have the appropriate content for your custom tab. simply click save.

Now that you have your custom tab ready, you simply need to go to your fan page and activate it. To do that just go to your fan page, click the “plus” button to the right of your tabs, and then click your new custom tab.

Congratulations! You now have a custom tab! If you are not happy with the way it looks, simple click the “edit page” and follow these instructions to edit your tab. Keep editing until you have the desired content on your custom tab.

Fan Only Content

Now some may be wondering. “What if I want to have content on that tab that is only visible to fans?” After all, if you were not a fan of Dakno, then you wouldn’t even be seeing this content. Well, that’s possible, it just takes a little more code. Jump back into your edit screen where you edit the HTML contents of your fan. You will need to “wrap” your “fan only” content with the following code.

<fb:fbml version=”1.1″>
<fb:visible-to-connection>

</fb:visible-to-connection>
</fb:fbml>

Here is an example.

This content is visible to both fans and non-fans

<fb:fbml version="1.1">
<fb:visible-to-connection>

This content is only visible to fans!

</fb:visible-to-connection>
</fb:fbml>

Need inspiration?

Need inspirational ideas on what to include on your custom tab? Check out these Dakno fan pages with custom tabs!

Facebook Fan Page for Living on the Hudson

Facebook Fan Page for Linda Craft & Team

Facebook Fan Page for Miami Beach, FL Real Estate

Facebook Fan Page for Monica & Kevin McNamara

Facebook Fan Page for Heritage Wake Forest

Comment and Leave Your Facebook Fan Page Link!

Once you create your Facebook Fan page custom tab, be sure to leave a comment and include your link so we can all check it out!

Until next time,

Brad