Are you still writing the same enthusiastic listing descriptions as when you first started in the business, or are they starting to look a little stale? Poorly written listing descriptions will cost you buyers as surely as poorly taken pictures will. Below are some tips to make your descriptions more effective.
1. Pull out a thesaurus. Don't write beautiful and gorgeous for every listing you take. They are not all beautiful and gorgeous. If you think they are, use different words for the same meaning to break up the monotony of your text.
2. Make sure you are listing some of the best features into the description as teasers, but leave some room for imagination. You don't want to give it all away. If you do, the buyers have no reason to contact you.
3. Be creative when describing a home, but also be truthful. If a living room is small, use cozy. If the windows are older, just comment on how much light they let in. No need to stress the negatives. The buyers will do enough of that when deciding on the offer they will make.
4. Be enthusiastic and passionate about your work. People love working with people that love what they are doing. If you convey that enthusiasm and passion in your listing descriptions it will show your sellers how much you love your job, and bring you more buyers as well!
5. Proofread, proofread, proofread. Nothing shows a lack of professionalism or lack of effort more than misspelled words. Start at the bottom and read it right to left, bottom to top. When proofreading it helps if the words are out of order. If you read in the normal manner then you will usually see only what you expect to see, not the errors in your description.
Writing effectively, even if it is just a paragraph for a listing description, is part of what makes you a great agent. Buyers and sellers want the best agent they can find to list and sell their homes. Don't let poor writing hold you back.
Serita Diana has 5 years experience in the real estate industry. She was also fortunate enough to participate in the Mike Ferry assistant training program, and is now the owner of Executive @ssist, specializing in real estate virtual assistance and assistance to the small business owner. In addition to her real estate experience, Serita also has an AA in Business Management. Serita is also an instructor for Academy of Virtual Entrepreneurs, where she instructs other aspiring REVAs how to be great real estate virtual assistants. For more information about Serita visit http://list2closeassistant.com, or if you are interested in classes please visit http://www.aove.org/courses.html.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Serita_Diana
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
How to Use Twitter As Part of You Internet Marketing Strategy
Social media marketing has become an almost essential part of any internet marketing strategy. It is free and can have really great results if done properly.
If you are marketing on the Internet then you should be using Twitter as one of your free marketing methods. Here is a brief overview of how to do it.
First, you must have a Twitter account. When you create your Twitter account, do so using your name and a photo, not some cartoon or icon. It's not only about building relationships here, but branding yourself and building your presence. Your Twitter page will appear on a Google search of your name. Mine appears on the first page of Google search for my name.
Once you have an account you need to get some followers. When people follow you your tweets (mini posts) will appear on their wall when they are viewing their Twitter page.
To get followers first you must follow others. Start by doing a search within Twitter. Search for someone related to the topic you are involved with. For instance, if you are involved with a company that uses attraction marketing you may want to search for Mike Dillard. Once you get to his page you will click on the word 'Following". It will be on the right side of his page. This will bring up a list of people who follow Mike Dillard on Twitter. Then you go through this list and choose people to follow. Some of those people will automatically follow you back. You will also have people start following you simply because you active on Twitter.
There are also use free tools like Twello.com and Twollo.com also make building a following pretty simple (the latter lets you set up auto-following based on keywords).
Do not follow more than 100 to 150 people per day. Twitter considers this too aggressive. They may close your account. Also, you must keep your ratio of followers to following within 10%.
If you are a Twitter newbie remember that as with any social network, it's about relationships. If you are too aggressive in promoting your business people will simply stop following you.
Twitter Tips Tweet (post) at least once or twice a day. As you build a large following you will want to increase this, as only a small portion will be likely to see your Tweet at the time you Tweet it.
Provide value (content) primarily, not spam! Give Them Something to Tweet About! Your Tweets should be pleasant, consistent, uplifting, entertaining and/or educational. Adding tweets directly related to your product or opt-in page is fine, after all that's why you are doing this, right?. You should keep this at about a 1/3 ratio. One promotional tweet for every 3 content tweets.
ReTweet (RT) content that you like! If you are getting lots of RTs on your content then you know you are on the right track! You can use Twitter's 'Retweet' link, or to add a short comment, just click the 'Reply' link (you have to float your mouse over the right side of the post to see the 'Retweet' and 'Reply' links appear), and type 'RT' prior to the @username.
Thank your followers who RT'ed your Tweets. This is very important especially for content that you have written or even RTs of your products or opt-in Tweets! And, be SURE you are following them! This is done by the @Reply. This is a great way to build relationships.
Reply to your @Replies - Your @Replies view (found in your @Replies view which is on your 'Home' page right above your 'Direct Messages' ink on the right sidebar, where you will see @YourUserId) shows messages that are directed personally to you as well as recommendations for you. Reply to as many of these as you can! You can combine multiple replies with a short 'Thnx 4 RTs & Shouts' or similar if you get a lot of them.
Watch your DMs for any personal messages. This may mean sifting through lots of spam. DO NOT follow links here, this is where many Twitter viruses have been and still are spread.
There is a service called SocialOoomph.com it does a lot for free, allowing you to auto-follow-back and schedule Tweets ahead of time. This is a great tool as it allows to leverage your time by scheduling Tweets for the whole day.
Now you that you have the basic idea go and get tweeting!
By the way, I learned all of this from the education provided at Carbo Copy Pro. You can read more helpful internet marketing tips on my blog.
Hi I'm Terrie Taylor, an Internet Marketer working with a company called Carbon Copy Pro. I also have a blog where I help other marketers get started or improve their skills. You can learn more about me at http://www.TerrieTaylor.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrie_Taylor
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
If you are marketing on the Internet then you should be using Twitter as one of your free marketing methods. Here is a brief overview of how to do it.
First, you must have a Twitter account. When you create your Twitter account, do so using your name and a photo, not some cartoon or icon. It's not only about building relationships here, but branding yourself and building your presence. Your Twitter page will appear on a Google search of your name. Mine appears on the first page of Google search for my name.
Once you have an account you need to get some followers. When people follow you your tweets (mini posts) will appear on their wall when they are viewing their Twitter page.
To get followers first you must follow others. Start by doing a search within Twitter. Search for someone related to the topic you are involved with. For instance, if you are involved with a company that uses attraction marketing you may want to search for Mike Dillard. Once you get to his page you will click on the word 'Following". It will be on the right side of his page. This will bring up a list of people who follow Mike Dillard on Twitter. Then you go through this list and choose people to follow. Some of those people will automatically follow you back. You will also have people start following you simply because you active on Twitter.
There are also use free tools like Twello.com and Twollo.com also make building a following pretty simple (the latter lets you set up auto-following based on keywords).
Do not follow more than 100 to 150 people per day. Twitter considers this too aggressive. They may close your account. Also, you must keep your ratio of followers to following within 10%.
If you are a Twitter newbie remember that as with any social network, it's about relationships. If you are too aggressive in promoting your business people will simply stop following you.
Twitter Tips Tweet (post) at least once or twice a day. As you build a large following you will want to increase this, as only a small portion will be likely to see your Tweet at the time you Tweet it.
Provide value (content) primarily, not spam! Give Them Something to Tweet About! Your Tweets should be pleasant, consistent, uplifting, entertaining and/or educational. Adding tweets directly related to your product or opt-in page is fine, after all that's why you are doing this, right?. You should keep this at about a 1/3 ratio. One promotional tweet for every 3 content tweets.
ReTweet (RT) content that you like! If you are getting lots of RTs on your content then you know you are on the right track! You can use Twitter's 'Retweet' link, or to add a short comment, just click the 'Reply' link (you have to float your mouse over the right side of the post to see the 'Retweet' and 'Reply' links appear), and type 'RT' prior to the @username.
Thank your followers who RT'ed your Tweets. This is very important especially for content that you have written or even RTs of your products or opt-in Tweets! And, be SURE you are following them! This is done by the @Reply. This is a great way to build relationships.
Reply to your @Replies - Your @Replies view (found in your @Replies view which is on your 'Home' page right above your 'Direct Messages' ink on the right sidebar, where you will see @YourUserId) shows messages that are directed personally to you as well as recommendations for you. Reply to as many of these as you can! You can combine multiple replies with a short 'Thnx 4 RTs & Shouts' or similar if you get a lot of them.
Watch your DMs for any personal messages. This may mean sifting through lots of spam. DO NOT follow links here, this is where many Twitter viruses have been and still are spread.
There is a service called SocialOoomph.com it does a lot for free, allowing you to auto-follow-back and schedule Tweets ahead of time. This is a great tool as it allows to leverage your time by scheduling Tweets for the whole day.
Now you that you have the basic idea go and get tweeting!
By the way, I learned all of this from the education provided at Carbo Copy Pro. You can read more helpful internet marketing tips on my blog.
Hi I'm Terrie Taylor, an Internet Marketer working with a company called Carbon Copy Pro. I also have a blog where I help other marketers get started or improve their skills. You can learn more about me at http://www.TerrieTaylor.com.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terrie_Taylor
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Thursday, March 11, 2010
5 Tips For Attracting Great Traffic to Your Website Regardless of Your Small Budget
Online business owners need to drive traffic to their websites. But many people have financial constraints to pay for advertising. Even though there are many strategies for driving traffic to a website, the final strategy depends on the time available as well as your budget to grow your online business.
This article outlines the most cost effective strategies for generating visitors to your website.
1. Give free reports and articles
People like freebies. So offering them with your website URL included, the freebies become an effective and cheap way to increase traffic to your website.You can write short and useful reports containing your website link and offer them for free. You can put these reports in a website where the visitors can leave their email address before downloading the articles or reports. This can help you build a list easily.
2. Blogging
This is also an effective strategy for increasing traffic to your website. You can describe the products and services you offer in your website through blogging. Add some links on your blog to your website. Regular blogging with fresh content will result in indexed website by search engines. Your website will rank high on the search engines and this increases visitors.
3. Publish your own newsletter
A better place to regularly offer free content and tips is your own newsletter. This will help you build traffic. Your newsletter should contain links to your website so that many people who read the newsletter can visit it.
4. Start your forum related to products and services offered in your website
You establish yourself as an authority in your topic if you have your own forum on your niche. If you assist people in your niche by giving answers to their questions in the forum, traffic is drawn to your website. This will be a result of your website URL in your signature in forum posts.
5. Trade links with websites with high popularity ranking
Search for websites related to what you offer on your website and exchange links with them. This works effectively if the sites rank high in the search engines. After you have done that, some visitors will come as a result of the websites with which you exchanged links.
http://www.WealthCreationEmpowerment.ws
http://www.CreateWealthNow.co.za
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elphas_Mdluli
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
This article outlines the most cost effective strategies for generating visitors to your website.
1. Give free reports and articles
People like freebies. So offering them with your website URL included, the freebies become an effective and cheap way to increase traffic to your website.You can write short and useful reports containing your website link and offer them for free. You can put these reports in a website where the visitors can leave their email address before downloading the articles or reports. This can help you build a list easily.
2. Blogging
This is also an effective strategy for increasing traffic to your website. You can describe the products and services you offer in your website through blogging. Add some links on your blog to your website. Regular blogging with fresh content will result in indexed website by search engines. Your website will rank high on the search engines and this increases visitors.
3. Publish your own newsletter
A better place to regularly offer free content and tips is your own newsletter. This will help you build traffic. Your newsletter should contain links to your website so that many people who read the newsletter can visit it.
4. Start your forum related to products and services offered in your website
You establish yourself as an authority in your topic if you have your own forum on your niche. If you assist people in your niche by giving answers to their questions in the forum, traffic is drawn to your website. This will be a result of your website URL in your signature in forum posts.
5. Trade links with websites with high popularity ranking
Search for websites related to what you offer on your website and exchange links with them. This works effectively if the sites rank high in the search engines. After you have done that, some visitors will come as a result of the websites with which you exchanged links.
http://www.WealthCreationEmpowerment.ws
http://www.CreateWealthNow.co.za
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elphas_Mdluli
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642 Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
MORTGAGE INSURANCE RULES ANNOUNCEMENT
This morning, Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty announced prudent changes to mortgage insurance rules intended to come into force on April 19, 2010.
CAAMP (Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals) was actively engaged in the discussions around these changes which are as follows:
1. All borrowers must meet the standards for a five-year fixed rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term;
2. The maximum amount one can withdraw in refinancing their mortgage will be reduced to 90% from the current 95% of the value of one's home;
3. Non-owner occupied properties will require a minimum down payment of 20%.
There were no changes to down payment requirements or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
CAAMP (Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals) was actively engaged in the discussions around these changes which are as follows:
1. All borrowers must meet the standards for a five-year fixed rate mortgage even if they choose a mortgage with a lower interest rate and shorter term;
2. The maximum amount one can withdraw in refinancing their mortgage will be reduced to 90% from the current 95% of the value of one's home;
3. Non-owner occupied properties will require a minimum down payment of 20%.
There were no changes to down payment requirements or length of amortizations for owner-occupied residences.
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Friday, February 12, 2010
CENTURY 21 President, Don Lawby, comments on Competition Bureau Application
CENTURY 21 President, Don Lawby, comments on Competition Bureau Application The Competition Bureau submitted an application to the Competition Tribunal earlier this week after completing an investigation against CREA and found its business model, membership rules and the parameters surrounding MLS, to be in violation of competition rules. This issue has enormous implications on the real estate industry in Canada.
Click here to hear comments from Don Lawby, President of CENTURY 21 Canada. Internet Explorer required to view this video.
Internet Explorer required to view this video
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn /
Click here to hear comments from Don Lawby, President of CENTURY 21 Canada. Internet Explorer required to view this video.
Internet Explorer required to view this video
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn /
Thursday, February 4, 2010
December 2009 Average MLS resale price for local markets
City December 2008 December 2009
Halifax $234,063 $246,380
Saint John $156,923 $178,037
Quebec $203,239 $231,235
Montreal $267,050 $285,356
Ottawa $272,672 $311,604
Toronto $361,284 $411,931
Hamilton/Burlington $240,073 $285,795
Winnipeg $182,814 $209,963
Saskatoon $266,411 $291,554
Calgary $362,557 $394,300
Edmonton $310,974 $319,201
Vancouver $560,953 $627,582
Victoria $444,222 $522,211
Source: Canadian Real Estate Association
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Halifax $234,063 $246,380
Saint John $156,923 $178,037
Quebec $203,239 $231,235
Montreal $267,050 $285,356
Ottawa $272,672 $311,604
Toronto $361,284 $411,931
Hamilton/Burlington $240,073 $285,795
Winnipeg $182,814 $209,963
Saskatoon $266,411 $291,554
Calgary $362,557 $394,300
Edmonton $310,974 $319,201
Vancouver $560,953 $627,582
Victoria $444,222 $522,211
Source: Canadian Real Estate Association
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Canada's economy continues growth
For the third straight month in November, Canada's economy grew, backed by strength in the gas and oil industries, wholesale trade, and continued real estate activity.
Statistics Canada reports gross domestic product advanced 0.4 per cent on the month, beating the market estimate of 0.2 per cent.
Economists say the data shows Canada's economy is on pace to meet or exceed the Bank of Canada's 3.3 per cent growth estimate for the final three months of 2009.
But while there is optimism by economists, Canadians are growing in their pessimism, says a new consumer confidence survey by the RBC Monthly Canadian. Some 52 per cent described the economy and job prospects as bad, compared to 48 percent feeling it was good in January. In December, 51 per cent had viewed it as good, compared to 49 per cent as bad.
Also, 56 per cent of Canadians expect the economy to improve over the next year, down from 60 per cent in December.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
Statistics Canada reports gross domestic product advanced 0.4 per cent on the month, beating the market estimate of 0.2 per cent.
Economists say the data shows Canada's economy is on pace to meet or exceed the Bank of Canada's 3.3 per cent growth estimate for the final three months of 2009.
But while there is optimism by economists, Canadians are growing in their pessimism, says a new consumer confidence survey by the RBC Monthly Canadian. Some 52 per cent described the economy and job prospects as bad, compared to 48 percent feeling it was good in January. In December, 51 per cent had viewed it as good, compared to 49 per cent as bad.
Also, 56 per cent of Canadians expect the economy to improve over the next year, down from 60 per cent in December.
Source: www.mortgagebrokernews.ca
It's Your Career - I'm here to Support YOU!
Constantine Isslamow
Real Estate Broker / Mortgage Broker
Century 21United Realty Inc. Brokerage / CENTUM Core Financial Inc.
Independently Owned and Operated
Friends, followers, and connections are the way of the future.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Blog
CENTUM Core Financial Inc. Brokerage License #: 10642
Constantine Isslamow License#: M08005391
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