The last couple of weeks have been very frustrating for me. I had a great September with 3 transactions. One of the reasons, I got back into real estate was I felt many local agents were not doing what I thought they could be doing to sell homes. They were not utilizing the plethora of tools to market and sell real estate.

However, I got into a bit of a funk. A technological funk, and I hated it. I really felt out of sorts. I am still getting leads from my online sources, but still I felt like I was missing something or not doing enough. I really needed a good swift kick in the pants, and I got it.

I shot up to Rosemont for Agent Reboot. I had attended everyone that had come to Chicago(3 in all), and every year I had come away with a new idea or tool that I could use to get more leads.

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/agent-reboot-chicago-300x64.jpg)

 

 

This year, I went more for the "reboot".

I got what I needed and the bonus was I got to connect and reconnect with some old and new online friends. Sadly, over the last few days I have not been able to put into action all the ideas I picked but I will. I have already started working on my 2014 Business Plan. It is more of the same, but with a whole lot more thrown in. From action plans to new marketing techniques and focusing on some "FARMS". I am really looking forward to my 2014, and so without further ado.

My Top 10 Takeaways from Agent Reboot Chicago

10. When doing a video have energy in my voice

9. Have a process

8. Have a clear and concise Value Proposition

7. Create a Buyers Consultation

6. You must be Mobile

5. Get more Reviews

4. We need to listen to our Clients

3. Internet leads have a half-life of seconds

2. Go to more events or attend more webinars

1. Be Consistently Consistent

 

2.

getting more out of webinars and seminars

40,000 Tweets and then some

This past weekend I tweeted my 40,000th tweet, and I have been on Twiiter for over 5 years. My Twitter strategy, as it fits into my overall social media strategy, is to be informative and entertaining (infotainment). I think that I have done a pretty good job of doing that, but that is not for me to say. (http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/twitter.jpg)

When I had started out on Twitter. I had just been ousted from my once a week radio gig. I had enjoyed getting my voice out there. So, I had to find something else to help me do that. I was on Facebook, but that did not seem appropriate at the time with the volume that I wanted to push out. I was listening to the Leo Laporte show and I heard him say something about Twitter and about 5 minutes later. I was LIVE on Twitter, and the rest they say is history.

I promised many that I would get this out yesterday. I was able to get he podcast done, but I was wiped out by the time I got home. I just wanted to crash on the couch, and I did. As promised here are the tools that I use to manage Twitter and many of my other social sites. 

HootSuite (http://hootsuite.com)- helps me manage lists and my other accounts all from the same page

ManageFlitter (http://manageflitter.com) - allows me to mass unfollow and unfollow those that not using the site. 

NutShellMail.com - sends me a twice daily email showing me who has followed and unfolloeed me. (yes, I am that petty at times)

thank you for listening. I will be back next week. 

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dave-dsig-150x93.png)

* not Top 10%, but I still get plenty of leads from Linkedin

* Facebook Cover Photo Rules

* Buying "Likes"

Top 10%

This is tempered with a bit of jealousy. I was not in the "Top 10%' of searched profiles of Linkedin, but from the company I am keeping by not being in the 20 million strong club. I am feeling alright about it. Linkedin boasts about 200 million users. So, to be in the top 10% is around 20 million people. Not bad, but not great. I had wondered out loud on Twitter whether or not many if any of those in the Top 10% had ever got any business from Linkedin. I was on Linkedin in early 2006, and I really feel as those I have gotten some pretty good leads from my presence there that have turned into real dollars from mortgage deals to consulting.

Right now, I am focusing on real estate and my profile really reflects that. Funny, over the last week or two, I have had a lot of connection requests from other agents, brokers, mortgage guys and title agents. Maybe, I am in the Top 10% of real estate professionals searched?  Rant over.

Facebook Cover Photo Rules

I am still seeing  a lot of businesses that have great and good looking cover photos, but are completely out the Facebook guidelines. They are adding "calls to actions" asking for likes, phone numbers, website dot com's and so on.

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/FacebookFan-150x150.png)

Covers May Not Include:

* Images with more than 20% text

* Pricing or Purchase information

* Contact information - no websites, no phone numbers no nothing that should go into the "about" section

* don't ask for "likes" or "shares"

* no Call to Actions or Tell your Friends

I am hearing that Facebook has already started to crack down on business and brand pages that are violating guidelines.

Another thing that Facebook is starting to crack down on and the one thing that still really irks me, but not enough to allow them to be my friend on Facebook. Is the business with the personal profile. I can see the allure of it, but when it all comes crashing down. You are going to wish that you did not do it.

Also, at this point, you are only allowed 5000 friends. I am sure you would like more than 5000 fans. So, why limit yourself to jut 5000.

Really people this is all old news.

Goals Update:

I've stumbled on some if not most of my goals like doing this podcast on a weekly basis. I have not lost the weight that I have wanted to lose, but I am down to 260. Last week, I started to wake up at 5am to go to the gym before the work day begins. I know I am self-employed and that I can go anytime, but I was listening to a webinar and they mentioned a study of agents that make over 250K a year.  A large majority of them were up before 5 and in the gym before the "work" day even began. I know that doing all of that will not guarantee me success, but I still call on, work and are friends with those that punch the clock everyday.  I may as well work when they work, or I could find myself working when they are playing and so on.

Plus, I love knowing that I am getting more done before 9am than most do all day.

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/sig-150x93.png)

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/FacebookFan-150x150.png)

Facebook Ad Success

I started a business page for mynorthwest Indiana real estate (http://facebook.com/buynwi) business. I added content to it, invited friends and prayed that it would grow, and it did in drips and drabs. I decided one day to start buying ads, and I am seeing some real success.

Here is what I am doing:

* $5/day budget - been seeing 3 to 7 "likes" a day

* did my first promoted post - saw a jump today of 8 to 10 "likes"

I know these are just "likes", but soon they will be leads. I think I just got another episode ideas - "Turning Likes into Leads"

Here is what else I am doing:

* I am updating often - at least, one time a day

* sticking the topic and staying on top of industry news

* when I do post - I try to post at certain times of the day like early AM, late AM and mid-to-late afternoon

* almost always use a picture or some sort of visual

the tool that I find most useful is called SnagIt! from Jing

List Building

One of my 2013 goals is to build a list for both DaveWoodson.com and BuyNWi.net. I am toying with several applications to use on Facebook. I will be on a list building mission for the rest of the year and as long as I own a business.

more on list building in the weeks and months to come.

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dave-dsig-150x93.png)

Earlier in the week, I posted my goals for 2013 (http://davewoodson.com/2013-here-i-come/), but here is a quick rehash of those

My Goals for 2013

* lose weight. My goal weight is 225lbs.

action items: a. drink more water (since Wednesday, I have already downed 2.5 gallons)(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/davecast1-300x215.jpg)

b. I am doing the Challenge from Body by Vi (http://90Dave.com) I know I did this before, but I was not very serious about it

c.  workout like a madman. I use to consider weightlifting a hobby. I got away from that - No More

2. more video and podcasting: up to 1 a week for each

3. Speaking: Speaking is something that I have always enjoyed, and I am going out of my way to do more in 213, and my video and podcasting will help with that

4. My BHAG (big hair audacious goal) A BMW. I have always wanted a luxury car and 2013 is my year to buy it

My Business and Online predictions for 2013

* Google+ will hit it's stride with both local and communities

* Local on mobile will continue to grow, I mean EXPLODE

* Video will continue to increase in popularity and small business will jump on in record numbers

- One thing, I am playing with are ads on my own videos on the real estate front

4. Podcasting will see new and continued growth

I know not many of these are earth shattering nor am I really stepping out on a ledge here, but I am still seeing some of these growing slowly and will become more popular in the new year and for years to come.

Have a great 2013

(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/dave-dsig.png)

My Goals and Predictions for 2013

Video is Worth a Million Words

Dr. James McQuivery of Forrester Research stated as much in his research, which finds that one-minute of video equals 1.8 million words*.  How long would it take for you bang out that much content on your blog? A single fra

Video is Worth a Million Words

Dr. James McQuivery of Forrester Research stated as much in his research, which finds that one-minute of video equals 1.8 million words*.  How long would it take for you bang out that much content on your blog? A single frame of video equals 3 pages of written content.

According to a Hubspot article on Internet Marketing statistics in 2012 (http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/30495/25-Eye-Popping-Internet-Marketing-Statistics-for-2012.aspx)

* viewers of online video will hit 169.3 million

* over half the population and 70% of internet users will watch

* mobile video will reach over 54 million viewers

* smartphones video views over51 million

Other interesting stats

* 73% of home sellers will list with an agent that does video, but only 12% of agents have a YouTube account.**

* Youtube has over 800 million monthly unique visitors with over 4 billion video hours being watched***

* 30% of YouTube traffic comes from the US***

* YouTube  traffic from mobile devices tripled in 2011***

How to do video?

I have been creating online video since late 2007. Sadly, those early videos have been lost into the deep recesses of an angry delete from my own hand. I started doing an only hi-8 Sonycam that I had to use another product to digitize the video. So, I can upload it to Windows MovieMaker which was a horrible program to even try to edit videos.

Currently I use:

camera:

* Sony HDR-200 ($700)

* Kodak Zi8 (paid $80/Amazon $250 to $400)

software:

* Magix 17 ($100)

* iMovie

misc:

* green screen ($45)

* stands ($75)

* wireless mics ($100)

 How to use video: (http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/don-150x150.jpg)

Really -the sky is the limit.  You can use online video for almost any aspect of your business. I have had clients use it for:

* client testimonials

* how-to's

* product information

* home tours

* presentations

* and the list could on and on - you control the limits

sources:

* Impact Group (http://www.i-impactgroup.com/A%20Video%20Is%20Worth_041812.pdf)

**heard this from several different sources

***YouTube Stats Page (http://www.youtube.com/t/press_statistics)

The Why and How I podcast? The DaveCast Episode #34(http://davewoodson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/vintage-microphone-th.jpg)

I keep it short this week with a roughly 22 minute show with a huge promise to win back your trust. I will do more shows. I think I owe that to you all specially after I tell you some of my "Why's".

For my Blog Indiana 2012 session  (http://blogindiana.com/session/view/114), I will address more of the issues of "how-to" and the "why's" of podcasting. I know one of my "Why's" is that I want to expand my brand as a speaker and get paid to speak. So, I think one of the best ways to get myself out there is to do a podcast and with that being said.  I promise I will do more weekly shows.

I share some of the secrets of my podcasting prowess and the tools that I use to record. While I was typing this up I thought of a few more slides to add to the session and I will update the slides as well after the session.

Dave