20 Ways to Touch Your Database This Year!

Don’t lose another opportunity to touch your database this year. Trying figure out how to keep your database thriving? Use these great holidays as a chance to stay in front of your clients all year long!

Call AnotherMe Virtual Assistants today to find out how we can help you with marketing!

New Year’s Day – January 1st, 2018                    Independence Day – July 4th, 2018 

Valentine’s Day – February 14th, 2018               Halloween – October 31st, 2018 

Daylight Savings – March 11th, 2018                   Thanksgiving – November 22nd, 2018 

Memorial Day – May 28th, 2018                           Christmas – December 25th, 2018 

Tired of the traditional holiday postcards & emails? Here are a few interesting  and fun holidays that your clients will enjoy! Get specific- if you have a client who loves beer, send them something funny they will relate to and remember. Not creative? Let AnotherMe help you design a postcard/email!

National Margarita Day – Feb. 22nd, 2018          National Dog Day – August 26th, 2018

Pi Day – March 14th, 2018                                     Drink Beer Day – Sept. 28th, 2018 

Earth Day – April 22nd, 2018                                  Make a Difference Day – Oct. 27th, 2018

Cinco De Mayo – May 5th, 2018                            Veteran’s Day – November 11th, 2018

National Donut Day – June 1st, 2018                  Small Business Saturday – Nov. 24th, 2018

National Ice Cream Day – July 15th, 2018              Ugly Sweater Day – December 21st, 2018

Want more holiday ideas? Check out http://www.holidayscalendar.com/

What are you waiting for? Your clients want to hear from you!

Don’t have the time? Call today!

Realtors Beware – Sellers Are Watching and Listening! 

With today’s technology advancements, there are many ways to keep an eye on your home while your away. However, many sellers are using new technology to listen in on buyers while their home is being shown. If you search for hidden cameras on Amazon.com, I am sure you will be stunned at the variety of options there are. From phone chargers to picture frames, it’s safe to say you are possibly being watched during your next showing!

Here are a few ways to tell if there are cameras in the home you are showing to your clients:

1. Use a RF detector.

These detection devices are pretty neat! They can pick up on active recording devices in a home. AKA, if you are being watched or recorded in real time, this device will know! They run around $100 and you can easily purchase one on Amazon. Keep in mind, if there is a recording device that runs off of a SD card instead of Wi-Fi, it won’t pick that device up.

2. Use your eyes!

This is one of your easiest options. A lot of homeowners have devices that stand out in plain sight or they are very obvious. Keep this in mind when showing that perfect house to your buyer and remind them to take the negotiation conversation outside!

3. Use a flashlight

Most of us have flashlights on our phones and they are a great way to look for cameras as well. Turn your flashlight on and pan around the house with it. You’ll be looking for a reflection. If you find one, you may have just found a hidden camera lens.

So, your best bet to protect your buyers interest when showing homes is to keep quiet when you are inside! You never know if you are being watched. Remind your clients to keep their comments to themselves when they are looking around and once you’re outside, let the comments flow!

Top 5 Reasons Realtors® should recommend Simplisafe!

Here at AnotherME our clients and their customers are very important to us and that includes your safety!                                                      Recently, we’ve been hearing amazing reviews about the company SimpliSafe and their DIY Home Security System. With even more bells and whistles than the top security companies out there, SimpliSafe is a product we highly recommend to our clients and here are the top five reasons why!  

1. No Contracts

With SimpliSafe, you are not locked in to a contract. You have the option to cancel your $14.99 monthly subscription to their 24/7 Home Security Monitoring at any time! Plus, they are so confident you’ll love your new DIY Security System, they will give you a full refund including return shipping within the first 60 days if you don’t!

2. Easy Setup

Unlike the security system industry competitors, SimpliSafe comes in a box shipped directly to your home for you to set up in minutes! That’s right, no annoying appointments with pushy salesmen, no tools and no stress! All you have to do is open the box, plug in the base station, mount the sensors and you are ready to protect your home!

3. 24/7 Alarm System Monitoring

With your monthly subscription, your home is protected around the clock! When a sensor detects a possible break-in, your system will sound off and alert SimpliSafe’s 24/7 Security Monitoring Center. Unless you cancel the alarm when the security specialist calls you, the police will be sent to your home right away!

4. Top Notch Technology

From water sensors that alert you of potential leaks to freeze sensors that tell you when your homes temperature has dropped below 41 degrees, you choose to protect your home in any way imaginable! You can also control your system from your phone, your computer, or a key fob! SimpliSafe products auto-update, work on wi-fi and the batteries hardly ever need to be replaced. The sensors are even pet-friendly; you seriously can’t go wrong with a system like this!

5. A la Carte Components

While you can choose from their pre-built packages ranging from basic ($229) to the all-inclusive “Haven” package ($489), you have the option to customize your own system! You’re required to have the base station and the wireless keypad and from there it’s up to you to add the features you want and need. Whether you have a tiny house or a mansion, SimpliSafe’s Build a System option is perfect for you! 

To learn more about the SimpliSafe DIY Home Security System, check out their website for reviews and more details at https://simplisafe.com/

Top 5 Reasons We Recommend MileIQ!

At AnotherME, we’re always looking out for busy real estate agents and their expenses. With MileIQ, it is now easier than ever to track your mileage to and from appointments. This app is a game changer for real estate agents. We know that you are always on the go and you need to track those miles! Here are the top 5 reasons why you should download MileIQ (https://www.mileiq.com/invite/DZFFD) smartphone today:

1. Tax Deductions!
While MileIQ tracks your miles to and from showings, it is creating a record perfect for tax deductions! No more worrying about writing down the miles, your mileage is automatically recorded for you into a secure cloud that is ready for your accountant.

2. Price!
MileIQ has a few pricing options. While there is a free plan with 40 trips per month, you’re going to want to pay the minimal monthly cost for their premium plan! You get unlimited trips and it cost the same as one of those fancy coffees except it’s monthly! And don’t forget, you get to write it off on your taxes too!

3. Simplicity!
Once you have the app setup, it is so simple! Taking your kid to soccer practice? Swipe left on the trip and mark it as a personal errand. Headed to a closing? Swipe left and it is in now in your tax deductible business category. Categorizing your trips will take you less than 30 seconds!

4. It runs in the background!
Not only does MileIQ take up very little space on your phone, it runs in the background! There is no need to worry about starting up the tracker every time you get in your car. Just make sure you have your GPS on & let MileIQ do the work!

5. Easy Customization!
MileIQ is tailored to fit every individual’s needs. Use the category customization feature to your advantage and you’ll have your very own organized record of every trip you’ve taken. Whether you’re headed to the office or meeting a client for lunch, the more you customize MileIQ, the easier your life will be!

It’s time to get organized and stop guesstimating your mileage! At AnotherME, we highly suggest this app to our clients!

To download MileIQ for free on your Android or iPhone, go to https://www.mileiq.com/invite/KECHL and start tracking your miles today!

Grow Your Social Media Presence With These 5 Tips

A strong social media presence is imperative these days as everyone relies on his or her smartphone, mobile device or computer to stay connected to the world. With a couple quick taps on the keyboard, you can access anything in mere seconds. Through social media, agents can acquire leads and referrals quickly but it is imperative to understand its power and capability in order for it to be a benefit.

With its ability to connect people worldwide, social media marketing is a smart move for real estate agents to make. Real-time communication makes social media platforms extremely helpful to both businesses and individuals. According to Inman News, to professionally promote yourself and your business, keep the following elements in mind when developing your social media presence.social-media-search

1.   Keep it professional.

Be careful not to overload your followers with updates, whether they are personal or professional. Make sure that everything you and others post to your various pages is appropriate. In an age where nothing is private once placed somewhere online, it takes only one inappropriate or offensive comment to damage a reputation or relationship. While it is important in this industry to maintain an online presence, one wrong move could cost you vital referrals. Word spreads quickly, especially online, and you do not want to ruin your name or professional reputation by posting inappropriate content.

Proofread before posting to any and all of your social media platforms.

2.   Maintain a personal connection.

People often feel a disconnect when communicating solely online; actively pursue a robust online presence that gives people the instant comfort of knowing that an actual person is behind these posts (and not just an automated system). Even if you decide to schedule regular uploads on your various social media platforms, I cannot stress enough the importance of tailoring these posts to your particular clientele. Don’t make the mistake of focusing too heavily on generic postings only to increase your daily or weekly numbers — people will notice that the quality of your posts decreases as the quantity increases.

3.   Increase reach.

When it comes to social media, your success relies on the scope of your online reach. This means more than just the number of friends you have on Facebook or the number of followers you have on Twitter.

Reach includes how often your friends and followers share your profile or content with other online viewers. Encourage your contacts to spread the word about you and your business; social media allows the concept of word of mouth to escalate into a viral spread of information — in a much shorter timespan.

Think about how you make a big decision in your own life. We ask people we know and respect for their opinions, and we take both their recommendations and their warnings seriously. Make sure to get your information out through social media in order to increase the number of people who have connections to you.

Social-Media-Management4.   Focus on visuals.

The adage “a picture is worth a thousand words” also applies to social media. To have a strong social media platform, the use of photos is essential. Visual marketing is taking hold and growing rapidly. People do not always take the time to read much when scrolling through their online feeds; pictures stand the best chance at capturing your audience’s attention. When posting to sites like Facebook and Twitter, keep in mind that a post with a photo and a small caption is more likely to be shared than text alone.

Diligence is essential to the successful development of your various social media platforms. A strong online presence takes time; do not be discouraged if your sites do not take off immediately. Continue to work at these social media marketing elements and keep the big picture in mind. Over time, your online presence will grow, and you can better refine it to meet the needs and desires of your specific target audiences.

5.   Utilize the scheduling features.

Scheduling regular posting times on your social media platforms does not mean you have to sacrifice a personal touch in these posts. It is beneficial, to both you and your online viewers, to maintain a sense of regularity in terms of posting to your social media profiles. Time management is essential, especially as duties continue to pile up. Take advantage of the newer scheduling options available to you and your business’s social media platforms; schedule specific dates and times for certain posts to go out.

Keep holidays in mind; the scheduling features make it very easy for you to create posts tailored to each holiday and then focus more intently on developing your more elaborate posts.

Are you ready to increase your social media presence? At AnotherME, our virtual assistants can help you grow your online reach. Call us today at (770) 414-9393 for more information.

 

More Tips on How to Grow Your Database in 2015

So perhaps you have tried some of our tips from our last segment on “How to Grow Your Database in 2015” and now you are ready for more suggestions on how to reach out to your sphere of influence and remain relevant to them. Well, here are five more creative strategies that are not only effective, but also fun. By creating a lasting relationship with your clients, you are opening the door to easier prospecting, endless referrals and repeat business, which translates to listings, closings and success!

Here are 5 more creative strategies to help you take excellent care of your clients:

  1. Need to figure out a way to entice past customers back to your business? A good old-fashioned phone call with a follow up handwritten note can do the trick. Once you’ve reignited the connection, continue the engagement with consistent communication that keeps the connection warm such as setting up a marketing calendar for monthly contact. Offer reports, fun gift certificates for coffee or free gas
  1. Be visible in the community. Set up a charity event for your local town or community. Think: Toys for Tots, Coats for the Cold, Thanksgiving Dinners or other holiday drives will all help to contribute to having your name at top of mind.tree
  1. Save 5 times the marketing dollars. In today’s market, it can cost up to five times more to acquire a customer than it does to keep current ones. Retaining customers is the next step in managing the relationship to keep the client for life. Client relationship management (CRM) is a key action step that you need to continually nurture and maintain strong relationships with this important segment of your database.
  1. How about a Five-A-Day Contact Program? It’s always easier to make small steps that have big impact! Start your day with a colorful piece of paper with 5 names of past clients, referral sources or solid prospects. Make 5 “touch” calls every day for 5 days a week. You’ll end your month with a healthy rotation through your database and the number of touches will be around 100 calls! The scripts are easy. A simple script may be:

“Hi! This is (your name). I was driving through your neighborhood and thought I would check in and say hello. Let me know if there is anything I can do to answer questions or serve your real estate needs.”

  1. Host a Unique Party! Everyone enjoys a fun summer outdoor party!! Invite your past clients, current clients and strategic partners. Create a theme with plenty of fun activities for kids like face painting and games. It’s a great way to stay connected!

AnotherME can help you maintain and nurture your database so that your name is the first one that pops into the head of your client when they need a real estate professional or are asked for a referral. Call us today and find out more! (770) 414-9393


Grow Your Database in 2015 With These 5 Tips

Let’s face it – maintaining your database is not the most glamorous job…it takes time, it takes effort and most of all, it takes creativity but it is ESSENTIAL. You have worked diligently to build your sphere of influence therefore you must remain relevant to them. Your clients needs to managed, categorized, and nurtured before, during and after a sale, whether they were a Seller and you successfully marketed their home or they were a Buyer and you provided them with an exceptional contract-to-close transaction. When nurtured and serviced after the sale, your client relationship opens the door to easier prospecting, endless referrals and repeat business.

So, how do you remain relevant to your clients?

Here are 5 creative strategies to help you take excellent care of your clients:

  1. Be a resource! Set up monthly or quarterly real estate events so that people can learn what they need to do to buy or sell real estate. Making it a joint venture with attorneys, title companies, credit repair services will enable you to meet even more people to grow your database.
  1. Send a note! If you are just plain embarrassed because you haven’t connected, think about sending a fun note that states, “I’ve missed you!” and include a call to action to get information about neighborhood news, property updates or current real estate activity in their area.Database Blog pic
  1. Build your database effortlessly, cheaply and easily. Many agents are so busy working with current prospects that they can’t keep up with prospecting for new customers. If your present website isn’t working 24/7, you will lose the prospecting and marketing edge. Be smart and choose a website that is effective at managing your prospecting leads.
  1. It’s easier to sell an existing customer. You have a better chance of selling to an existing customer (60%) than a new prospect (the percentage plummets from 60% to as low as 5-20%). Take at least one day per week to work on your database. Starting today, work backwards to organize, review and upload customer information so you can begin the process of contacting, nurturing and informing.
  1. Customers are your most important asset and they are critical to growing your business. The closing may signal the end of a journey together, but actually it is the gateway to future business. You need a program that will deploy relevant information to keep your name on the top of their mind. There are countless real estate software programs to help organize your contacts before, during and long after the transaction has been closed. Explore your options to see which platform works best for your business.

AnotherME can help you maintain and nurture your database so that your name is the first one that pops into the head of your client when they need a real estate professional or are asked for a referral. Call us today and find out more! (770) 414-9393

Always Practice Safety FIRST

safetyIt is with great sadness that we closed out the month of September with news on Beverly Carter, the Arkansas Realtor who went missing last week and whose body was found Tuesday morning.  Beverly was on her way to meet a prospective buyer at a foreclosed property she was showing.

Prior to this horrendous incident, articles have been circulating and Brokers, Agents and Associations have been promoting safety awareness as September is REALTOR® Safety Month.  As situations would have it, safety can not be emphasized enough.  There is no doubt that you are aware of the potential risks that are involved in showing property and meeting with potential clients.  The question is, what precautions do you take, if any, to handle an unsafe situation, should it arise, and what are you doing to keep yourself educated and abreast of potential hazards?  Fortunately, great information is out there and easily accessible.  A great place to start is with your state associations and National Association of REALTORS® (www.realtor.org). There are numerous and extremely informative safety brochures and pamphlets you can download and multiple webinars and videos covering everything from what an attacker looks for to common sense safety techniques. There are also several independent companies that specialize in Personal and Business Safety.

In addition, there are several GPS tracking apps available for your phone and/or tablet. The use of these apps make it possible for individuals that you have selected, to see and track your location at any given time. One app, STAY SAFE (www.staysafeapp.com) allows the user to set up the time duration that they will be somewhere and if they fail to check-in with their contact(s), an emergency text and/or email is sent out. Another app, Watch Over Me (www.watchoverme.com), is similar in its GPS tracking and emergency contact alerts, but goes one step further in allowing the user to video tape and voice record when the user triggers an SOS by simply shaking the phone.

Lastly, don’t ignore your own gut instinct when it comes to safety. Become best friends with the voice in your head that alerts you that “something doesn’t feel right” and don’t get “comfortable” with that “uncomfortable” feeling by trying to justify the situation. With information and resources at our fingertips, go forward into October educated and prepared.

Think Safety Year Round

safety-first-signWith September being REALTOR® Safety Month, I had grandiose intentions of getting this virtual support blog out earlier and addressing the masses. With pen and paper I started scribbling thoughts and ideas about Realtor safety and my research of safety related topics for Agents grew! At that point, I put down my pen, pushed my chair away from the desk and thought…WOW…how do I narrow it down? Bottom line is you can’t! Our clients and agents around the country face safety issues daily, it’s part of their job. Over the next several days, I will attempt to address some of the various topics and break it down into smaller bites focusing on different safety concerns. I’m sure some will be seen as “common sense” but it never hurts repeating…especially when it comes to your safety or that of your client.

Earlier in the month I read an article, “The Safety Talk You Need to Have With Clients”,  and decided it was a good place to start. The article discussed safety from the client’s perspective and offered several suggestions for Agents. As Real Estate Virtual Assistants, we felt this was vital and valuable information to share with our clients, and with it being REALTOR® Safety Month what better time to share a great idea for the “Tip of the Month.” Create a “Safety Packet” for your Sellers and include a checklist of items they should put away or remove from their home, and other tips they can use to promote safety while their home on the market, for example:

  1. Does the house have adequate lighting, inside and out?
  2. Are all locks in good working order – including window locks?
  3. Keep mail up and out of sight to avoid identity theft
  4. Keep prescription medications locked and out of sight
  5. Are there any potential liability hazards…weapons, loose floorboards, electrical issues, etc.?
  6. Consider extra monitoring
  7. Limit obstructions to doors and windows – keep hedges, trees and shrubs trimmed back
  8. Do not allow “drop-ins” or “drive-bys”, showings must be scheduled

These are just a few of the items that could be discussed and become part of your “Safety Packet”.  Call it what you will, give it a clever name and make it yours. The idea is to educate your client on potential safety concerns while they are listing their home.

And if you need some assistance putting together a safety checklist for your Sellers, then give us a call!  We can help!