Rhonda Doty

Blogging

2007-03-18T14:57:00Z

I guess I don't understand this blogging thing. I created 3 different blogs with my Point2, One is general for general information, one is for my area, and one is personal. I created the personal one so I can vent and talk about things in my personal life that I have a hard time talking about with others.

My problem: Every time I post on any of the blogs, they get mixed together and placed on thPoint2 Homes. Is there a way to seperate the blogs? I would like a link to my personal blog but not have the postings added to Point2 Homes. The All About Nixa one, I would like a link to that one just for area info.

Help Please! Is it even possible?

Living on an Island or by the Ocean

2007-03-15T23:13:00Z

Fellow Realtors - My dear husband of 16 years left me this past weekend and I filed for divorce. While I am greiving, I must be strong and move on.

I have always wanted to live by the ocean. I figure now would be a good time since I don't want to stay here.

Any realtors live on or by the ocean??? Can you please help me possiblly relocate? I don't have a favorite place per say, I'm in the research phase.

Talking About Realtors

2007-03-13T16:52:00Z

This morning after I dropped off my kiddos at school, I decided to drive around for a little while and listen to the radio. The DJs were talking about Real Estate agents and kindda making fun of them.

They wanted to know why do realtors put their pictures on their real estate for sale sign. They said that none of the realtors are good looking anyway BUT if they did see one that was "pretty", they would for sure call.

I personally don't use my picture on the for sale sign - I really don't see it's benefit. I prefer to focus on the property i'm selling instead of myself. My self promotion comes in other forms - not my sign.

They also saw a sign that said "Spouses selling houses" and said they would never buy a house from these people - why? Because they are spouses. I don't understand that but it's their opinion.

It's interesting to hear what the public thinks about things we do. People just can't stop talking about Realtors - they must REALLY like us :)

I Need Your Brilliant Minds

2007-03-10T19:56:00Z

I sent my resume to a developer/builder who called me today and wants to meet with me tom. (Sunday March 11). He told me that he would like to utilize some of my talents. My resume is 100% truthful in regards to my education, my experinece and what I have done with my real estate career. I am very confident of my abilities to do an awesome job, however, I can't help but have a little fear that he won't like what I have to offer.

My builder presentation includes:

Brochure design
Web site design
Advertising campaigns and sales promotions
keeping up with construction loan financing rates
interior design
virtual tours
call capture system

I need ideas for the advertising campaigns - I am pretty creative in advertising and drawing attention to my projects but I would like to know what you have done.

Please share your creative ideas.

Personal Real Estate Promotion

2007-03-08T14:08:00Z

Did you know that our potential clients are exposed to OVER 3000 marketing messages PER DAY? Everyday there are commercials for Century 21, Remax, Executive Realty, and many more. Realtors are advertising on the radio (competing with the big chains, etc.). In addition to the big real estate companies, there are commercials for Homegain, HouseValues, etc. that sell us leads.

Five years ago while sitting in real estate school, I felt there was no way of making it in the real estate business. How could there ever be enough business for all these agents out there trying to get the same business? I quickly learned that people are always going to buy and sell and that the trick was to learn how to effectivley market MYSELF.

I read "Your marketing strategy should be as unique as you are. NO ONE ELSE DOES WHAT YOU DO IN THE WAY THAT YOU DO IT! Communicating this to the right people at the right time takes imagination"

I found my unique self and love sharing it with my community. What's yours? How do you promote yourself in our crowded marketplace? How to you stay "Top of Mind" to the people in your community?

Internet Stalking

2007-03-02T15:06:00Z

In a previous post about being a secret agent reminded me of a situation that I have been faced with. People don't like to talk about it - I guess that's because we all like to believe nothing like this will ever happen to us.

I know some of you have been contacted by a person that maybe you were unsure about and I know that some of you have been put in uncomfortable situations before.

I tell my story to anyone who will listen because if I come up missing or something then someone may remember and will come forward with some helpful information. My first reaction was to take my picture and contact information off my website, but that just shows fear on my part to this person and I refuse to let him win. I want all potential customers to know that I am a real person. I get to know all of you by your pictures on a daily basis - it's nice to always have a face to the words - that's why my picture is on my website!

The problem is that internet stalking is very real and happenes every day to people and it's way to easy for someone to find out any information about you that they want (In my case, the person found my home address). If you are contacted by someone who wants to "stalk" you, good luck getting help!

I think more needs to be done to educate us Realtors of internet saftey because we are exposed for the whole world to see. I will admit, I am not the smartest person with knowledge about protecting my private information and I was a little niave about something happening to me.

I did sign up for a 1-800 service that's really cheap and easy to use (it was suggested to me by another agent) - all calls are forwarded to my personal cell phone. The problem is - it cost me more money to receive phone calls when this person calls me.

Point2 Listing Features

2007-02-28T20:05:00Z

Note: this discussion has been moved here.