Visit Real Estate Power Blasts to learn more.

1. The AwayFind app will allow you to be available for your important messages while still allowing you to be in the moment. As a real estate agent, we’re constantly on-call. But sometimes, you just want to enjoy your time off without constantly checking your email messages for that one important message you’ve been expecting. Well, the AwayFind app is the solution to your problem! The AwayFind app will send you a push notification alert when you receive a message you’ve specified as urgent. Now you can keep your attention where it matters without the constant distraction. Plus, you can choose to receive the alert via the method you find most convenient, such as iPhone or Droid Push Alerts, voicemail, text message, Twitter DM’s, and Instant Message via Yahoo, MSN or AIM. Compatible: iPhone and Droid
2. The LucyPhone app provides the luxury of never having to wait on hold again to speak to customer support. When you make a call through LucyPhone, Lucy will wait on hold until a live representative gets on the phone and then you will automatically be called back. Your time is valuable, so use it wisely!Compatible: iPhone and Droid
3. The Card Munch app offers the luxury of never having to manually type in contacts from a business card again. With the Card Munch business card transcription service, you simply snap a picture of the business card with the app and it automatically converts the information  into a contact in your phone. Compatible: iPhone
4. Dragon Dictation is the perfect app for the on-the-go real estate agent. This voice recognition app allows you to dictate everything from text messages and emails to status updates on your Social Networking applications (Facebook and Twitter). Compatible: iPhone
5. With the Craigslist Pro app, renewing your Craigslist real estate listings just got easier with the ability to easily renew your listings on-the-go directly from your phone! Compatible: iPhone and Droid

Hope you enjoy these apps! What are your favorite productivity apps?

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/productivity-smart-phone-apps-for-real-estate/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/seo-for-real-estate-backlinks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seo-for-real-estate-backlinks http://markporterlive.com/blog/seo-for-real-estate-backlinks/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:05:30 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3769 Acquiring backlinks is an important part of establishing your website’s link popularity and increasing your PR ranking with search engines. Links to your site basically count as an endorsement of your site’s relevance, so the more backlinks you have, the higher ranked your website pages will be. So how does one go about acquiring backlinks? To help you out, we put together a list of the top ways for you to acquire backlinks for your real estate website:
1. Commenting on DoFollow Blogs is a great way to acquire backlinks. A DoFollow blog is basically a blog that has removed the “nofollow” tag. When a blog has a nofollow tag, it tells the search engine bots not to count the link as a backlink. Obviously, if you are commenting as a part of your link building strategy, you’ll want to make sure you are commenting on DoFollow blogs. The following sites are great resources for finding DoFollow blogs:

http://ericbramlett.com/do-follow-real-estate-blogs/ EricBramlett.com has acquired a list of real estate specific blogs that are “dofollow”.

http://www.commenthunt.com/ CommentHunt is another great resource for finding DoFollow blogs. Simply enter your search term (e.g. real estate) into the search box and you will receive a list of blogs for the term you entered that are dofollow. (Note: This is a free service, so disregard the purchase boxes on the landing page).

http://dofollowfinder.com/ DoFollowFinder.com works the same as CommentHunt.com, so simply enter your search term to receive a list of blogs with the nofollow tag removed.

As you are leaving your comments in the blog posts, be sure you are providing relevant comments and not just leaving your URL. If your comments aren’t useful or relevant, the page owner will likely remove the comments as spam. Also, don’t go overboard with your blog comments. Try to comment on a variety of blog sites and keep it to a few blog posts each day.

2. Publishing Articles on article directory sites such as EzineArticles is another strategy for link building. Not only does EzineArticles have a high PR Ranking, but you can also use keyword linking in your articles so that you are targeting the specific keywords you are trying to optimize.
3. Writing Press Releases with keyword links and publishing them through Press Release Distribution sites like PRWeb.com can also be a valuable way to build backlinks. PRWeb will get your press release published on other websites for you creating a large number of instant backlinks.
4. Guest Blogging on Industry related websites or community blogs will also help your link building strategy. So offer to write a blog article for a colleague’s website or request to be a guest blogger for Realtor.org. Most websites welcome guest bloggers as it gives them more content and one less article for them to write!
5. Submit your website URL to directories like Yelp, Zillow, Realtor.com, etc. Most times it’s easy and free to create a profile and the benefit is having a backlink on high PR Ranked sites. As an added bonus, creating profiles on review sites like Yelp and asking your clients to write reviews for you will go a long way to helping you build your online reputation!

One last thing to keep in mind when you are creating backlinks is that backlinks from websites with a high PR ranking or page rank, are more valuable than backlinks from websites with low PR ranking. Therefore, you should try to achieve links from highly ranked sites (I’d recommend PR3 or above).

Hope these tips help you with your link building strategy! Do you have any great tips for link building?

Related Blogs:

SEO for Real Estate – Keyword Linking

Monitoring Online Reviews, Blogs and Comments for your Real Estate Business

 

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/seo-for-real-estate-backlinks/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/seo-for-real-estate-keyword-linking/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seo-for-real-estate-keyword-linking http://markporterlive.com/blog/seo-for-real-estate-keyword-linking/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:06:22 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3741 Many agents take on the “build it and they will come” mentality with their websites. The reality is, there is alot of work that goes into having an effective website that actually brings in consumers and website traffic. At the forefront of SEO for real estate is having a website full of rich and valuable content related to real estate and the communities you serve. Beyond content are many different SEO tactics including keyword linking, which is what we are going to discuss with you today.

Keyword linking is a powerful search engine optimization strategy that involves hyperlinking your actual targeted keywords. (Note: If you don’t know what keywords you should be targeting, you’ll want to create a free Google Adwords account and use the Google Adwords Keyword Tool to find highly searched keywords related to real estate in your area). Once you identify the keywords you want to target on your website, you can create keyword links using backlinks, internal links, or outbound links.

1. Backlinks are links on other websites that point back to your website. Backlinks are a critical part of SEO because link popularity is a large factor in Google’s ranking system and the more websites with links that that point to your site, the more popular your site must be. As valuable as backlinks are, they are even more valuable in your keyword strategy when you are linking the actual keyword, rather than simply listing a URL. For example, say you are targeting the keyword phrase, “homes for sale in castle hills”. You would want to hyperlink the actual text as we’ve done here to a page on your website. Keep in mind that you don’t always want to link back to your homepage. It’s best to hyperlink the text to a page on your site that is most optimized for your targeted keyword. So with the keyword phrase, “homes for sale in Castle Hills”, you’d want to link it to a page that is specifically about the Castle Hills subdivision and homes for sale in that area.  The example shown here is a backlink for the website CastleHillsEstates.com and it is optimizing the keyword phrase “homes for sale in castle hills”.
2. Internal links are links on your website that lead to other locations within the same website. For example, since we are discussing SEO for Real Estate, we could create an internal link with the keywords as shown, to a page on our website that discusses our course on Search Engine Optimization for real estate agents and help create an internal link that optimizes our keyword phrase.
3. Outbound links are links that go from your website to another website. Google likes authority sites that are full of rich content and provide links to valuable resources. So if you want your site to be recognized as an authority site, you will want to provide outbound links to websites that also offer valuable and relevant content and have a high ranking with Google. For example, we are providing a relevant outgoing link for SEO Ideas for Real Estate  that leads to a site that ranked organically on page one of Google for the term we hyperlinked.

So there you have it, a quick lesson on Search Engine Optimization for Real Estate with keyword linking. Want more ideas for SEO? Next, we’ll be sharing the top ways to create backlinks for your real estate site.

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/seo-for-real-estate-keyword-linking/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/crs206andvacationclassesincancunmexico/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=crs206andvacationclassesincancunmexico http://markporterlive.com/blog/crs206andvacationclassesincancunmexico/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:12:52 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3724 Are you torn between work and play? Well, now you don’t have to be! We’re excited to announce the launch of Vacation Classes – a new real estate CE program that allows you to earn CE and CRS credit while basking in the warm sun at a fabulous all inclusive, 5 star resort. Even better yet,  our very own Senior CRS Instructor Mark Porter is thrilled to be teaching CRS 206 Technologies to Advance your Business in Cancun, Mexico at the All Inclusive RIU Cancun Resort September 19-23, 2012. The 2-day course will actually be taking place September 20-21 and the remaining days can be spent vacationing and enjoying all that Cancun and the fabulous RIU Resort have to offer.

So here’s to mixing business with pleasure! Grab your fellow agents and start planning an office-wide educational vacation. Don’t miss out on a chance for great networking and lots of fun in the sun!

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/crs206andvacationclassesincancunmexico/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/infographic-why-and-how-consumers-like-and-subscribe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=infographic-why-and-how-consumers-like-and-subscribe http://markporterlive.com/blog/infographic-why-and-how-consumers-like-and-subscribe/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:55:49 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3718 I stumbled upon this infographic on “Why and How Consumers “Like” and Subscribe” to your Facebook and email marketing campaigns and wanted to share. I think the most valuable information to take away is that your audience wants valuable information. Don’t overwhelm consumers with too many messages or bombard them with heavy marketing. Make every marketing piece count with useful and relevant information that keeps your consumers engaged. See 10 Facts about Why and How Consumers like and Subscribe for more e-mail marketing and social media marketing tips.

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/infographic-why-and-how-consumers-like-and-subscribe/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/facebook-and-e-mail-marketing-in-real-estate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=facebook-and-e-mail-marketing-in-real-estate http://markporterlive.com/blog/facebook-and-e-mail-marketing-in-real-estate/#comments Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:04:07 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3704 With social networking presenting a new model for marketing, there’s always a questions as to how relevant e-mail marketing is for today’s real estate agent. Well, the current issue of The Residential Specialist (CRS Magazine) does a great job of analyzing both Facebook and E-mail Marketing for today’s real estate business. Please take a moment to read two articles featuring CRS Instructor, Mark Porter – Face Value by Regina Ludes and Target Practice by Chloe Thompson. Enjoy!
]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/facebook-and-e-mail-marketing-in-real-estate/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/metrotex-presents-technology-days-with-mark-porter-live/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=metrotex-presents-technology-days-with-mark-porter-live http://markporterlive.com/blog/metrotex-presents-technology-days-with-mark-porter-live/#comments Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:02:13 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3679 You may have already gotten wind of the exciting new program coming to MetroTex! If you haven’t, we’re excited to announce that Mark Porter Live and MetroTex Association of REALTORS are partnering up to bring quality MCE courses to all of their MetroTex locations in the Dallas/Forth Worth and surrounding areas. That means you’ll get the latest and greatest classes taught by our very own Senior CRS Instructor, Mark Porter! Each Technology Day will feature two 3 hour courses offering 3 hours of Texas MCE credit for each course. Our initial schedule is as follows:

April 9^th, 2012 at MetroTex , Lewisville:

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.    Video Internet Marketing

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      Attracting Today’s Internet Buyer

May 7^th, 2012 at MetroTex, Richardson:          

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.    Outlook E-Marketing Strategies

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      Get Tech Smart

May 14^th, 2012 at MetroTex, Dallas:

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.    Working in the Cloud

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      Profitable Social Media

May 21^st, 2012 at MetroTex, Grapevine

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.    Get Back to Work or Get Out! Systems & Organization

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      Budgeting for Profit

June 4^th, 2012 at MetroTex, Garland

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.    Video Internet Marketing

1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.      Attracting Today’s Internet Buyer

We have plenty more classes to follow, so if there’s a class you’d like to see offered at your local MetroTex location , let us know. MetroTex Association of REALTORS and Mark Porter Live share the common commitment to education and a mission to help further the professional development of real estate professionals. We are extremely honored to be working with MetroTex to bring these valuable courses to real estate agents throughout North Texas! We look forward to seeing you all soon!

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/metrotex-presents-technology-days-with-mark-porter-live/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/video-creation-app/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-creation-app http://markporterlive.com/blog/video-creation-app/#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:44:29 +0000 Carol Francis http://markporterlive.com/?p=3671 For those of you who attended Agent Reboot in Dallas, you’ll recall that Darin Persinger with Productivity Junkies entertained us with his GoAnimate video creation (thanks Darin!). I know how challenging it can be for agents to get past the shyness of being in front of the camera, so I’m always excited to share the different and creative ways to use video in your marketing without actually having to star in the video. So, for those of you who may not have attended Agent Reboot, YouTube has a Create Videos page that lists free video creation resources.  Among the options, is the free GoAnimate app which allows you to create comical animated videos. Simply choose your characters, write some script, and publish your video right to YouTube. So there you have it, one more video internet marketing idea for the camera-shy real estate agent.

Here’s my little video creation to promote my upcoming Get Tech Smart course at MetroTex in Richardson on May 7^th. Enjoy the video and hope to see you there!

 

]]> http://markporterlive.com/blog/video-creation-app/feed/ 0 http://markporterlive.com/blog/safety-smart-phone-apps-for-real-estate-agents/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=safety-smart-phone-apps-for-real-estate-agents http://markporterlive.com/blog/safety-smart-phone-apps-for-real-estate-agents/#comments Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:33:53 +0000 Mark Porter http://markporterlive.com/?p=3625 Safety Smart Phone Apps for Real Estate Agents

Real Estate agents put themselves in harms-way every day. Meeting new clients for the first time, working open house events alone, entering vacant homes that may be occupied by trespassers, and working at odd times—these are just some of the scenarios that make the job of a real estate agent potentially unsafe. We may not want to think about it, but it’s important to be on the alert and have a plan of action to help prevent a bad situation as described in ABC News Story  6 Crimes Against Real Estate Agents and How to Stay Safe. In addition to the advice given in the article, taking advantage of the technology you use every day can be a great resource to helping you stay safe on the job. The following is a list of Safety Smart Phone Apps for Real Estate Agents:

1. Real Alert is a safety app designed by Real Estate agent Michelle Jones from Austin, TX with the safety of real estate agents in mind. This app features a quick tap “Alarm to help you scare off an attacker, quick tap “Call 911”, quick tap “Alert a Friend” to quickly call your emergency contact, a “Creep Data” feature which allows you to record details about a suspicious person so that you won’t forget the information, a hospital locator feature which locates the nearest hospital based on your current GPS location, and a handy flashlight feature. Compatible: iPhone and Droid 
2. SafeTREC is a safety app that allows you to get help when you need it. This app includes a Panic Button that allows you to immediately send an alert along with your current GPS location to your “Safety Network of friends and family” via text or email. If you have a paid subscription, an alert will also be sent to SafeTREC’s 24/7 Response Call Center who will escalate the call to 911 if necessary. In addition, SafeTREC can send your Emergency Profile including your photo, medical information (e.g. blood type and allergies), location and more to emergency responders which can be vital in emergency situations. Other paid features include “Threat Level/Threat Alerts” and Danger Zones which lets you know when you are in a dangerous neighborhood, Crime Data and Sex Offender Map to view crime incidents in a particular area, the ability to create Audio Recordings of emergency situations, and more. Compatible:  iPhone, Droid, Blackberry and Web 
3. The Moby app offers location sharing and tracking. This app is perfect for REALTORS in Open House type events or while meeting an unfamiliar clients for the first time. The location sharing feature allows you to privately share your current gps location with your friends or family just in case. The Family Locator and Family Tracker features are also great for children and families. The app allows you to request a check-in, so teenagers for example, can check-in with you and send you their exact location to let you know they’ve arrived safely at their destination. Compatible:  iPhone, Droid, and Blackberry 
4. The Predator Alert app (formerly I.C.E. Pics) allows you to inconspicuously snap a photo of a potential predator or suspicious person and immediately email the photo, along with a map of your current location to friends or family. Compatible: iPhone 

Hope these apps will help you develop a proactive approach vs. a reactive approach to staying safe on the job. Do you you currently use any safety apps?

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