Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
I’m consistently reminded by my peers “you’re online too much,” “you can’t possibly get any work done,” or “you must not have a life to do what all you do.” Every time, my blood boils inside, and I find myself breathing harder to calm down and smile kindly. My response is then, “Yeah, I manage,” then I simply shut up.
What most of my fellow-market-REALTORS® don’t know is that while they are paying $0.25 to $0.45 for postage, spending hours of time fishing in an abyss of non-measurables and spending hours chasing potential, I’m sitting back every day with free leads coming through my door with no money spent and minimal hours worked. Why? I know how to capture my bloggable moments.
Posterous, iPhones, and quick boot laptops have made our efficiency soar in the recent years. I can work any time in those gaps in my days. What are the bloggable moments you are missing or not even noticing in your own business?
Being chauffeured. I’m writing this entry while riding in a shuttle from a Canadian airport. While not all of us travel a lot, if you’re stomach can handle it, you’ve likely got a 30 minute ride when you arrive somewhere on business. Turn that idle time into productivity.
Waiting on healthcare. Doctors, pharmacies, and health providers are notorious for being behind schedule. If you simply plan ahead to bring a keyboard device, you can turn that inconvenience into a victory. You don’t Internet connection there? Big deal. Open a Word (or like product) document and start typing. The joy of the cut and copy lives forever. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
I love reading warning labels. One of my favorites is “For external use only,” which has been spotted on numerous curling irons. Another favorite is on a child’s Halloween superman costume that says “Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.”
Wouldn’t it be great if homes came with warning signs posted with the true warnings that buyers may need to know? Here are some of the signs I’d recommend.
“Warning! This house is overpriced by $30K because the seller has been under a rock for the past 18 months.” Real estate practitioners carry the power to prevent this label, but find that getting the sign in the yard, getting the bragging rights that he/she “won” the listing, or getting to put it in an internet lead system to get more buyers is more important than being honest with the seller. The same holds true for a buyer’s agent who is too concerned about a paycheck to pull true comparatives for a buyer.
We have the responsibility to point out the pricing warning sign to today’s buyers and sellers. We need to tell sellers, “Oh, and by the way, if you think that you should price it higher because you need negotiation room, you may not see any showings and your home may become stigmatized as a stale home. This could cause buyers to question their ability to resale the home in the future.” As a buyer’s agent we should pull comparatives for every home that has landed in the client’s top five for consideration before going to contract.
“This house is lipstick on a pig.” It’s one of my favorite pulled quotes that the local CBS affiliated pulled out of an interview they did with me when I THOUGHT the camera was off. It holds true though. Some renovated homes are pretty, cosmetic make-up put on a trash of a structure. Be super cautious of renovated homes. If someone is renovating homes in this market, likely they are smart, conscientious and know what they are doing. Only the best try this buy, remodel, resale market of 2009 and 2010. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
Two things are true of mobile phone headsets. One, they conserve your phone’s battery life. Two, you may look and sound like a Spencer Pratt when you use one incorrectly. We have this one guy in my office, who I PRAY is reading this, who paces the office (especially near the front desk) talking extremely loudly around the receptionist. Thank you, sir, for your inspiration for this blog.
Check your quality. The old school, early generation Bluetooth headsets typically sound like you’re in a open wind tunnel in a convertible with a rock band in the background. This can leave your caller in Hearing Issueville with a bad taste in their mouth. 
Additionally, you never know when that person on the other side may have a hearing impairment. The Jawbone is viewed by many as the cream of the crop, with its ability to translate the vibration of your jaw to enhance the words. I personally love my Plantronics Voyager PRO with it’s mouth piece that gets as close as possible to my noise maker.
It is NOT an fashion accessory. Nothing says toolbag than a business card-pushing, headset-wearing REALTOR. The joy is they are built for comfort and light-weight feel. The drawback is that you forget that it is in your ear. The stigma with wearing these in public is that you’re a poser. When you get to a public place, make a concentrated effort to take it out. I always hook mine on my top button of my shirt or around my collar, which hides it well. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
I’m really tired of “Pants On The Ground” from American Idol. It was a moment of time that a few cool people jumped on and then it was over. Now, seeing the late-to-the-party-people start talking about it just makes me pull out my southern statement of, “Bless Their Heart.” All that aside, we face the same eminent 15-minute reputation as YPNers.
Many agents today WILL SEE lacking staying power as a trend, thanks to our pop culture influences of trends and passers-by. Here are four things to remember to ensure you last beyond your 15 minutes in this career.
Change Your Technology Talk. Technology is simply an accent or complement to what we already do. The basic principles of listings, buyers and referrals need to stay central with technology as a secondary. View Web strategy and social strategy with other agents and consumers as common as a TV remote. No one today says, “I have this amazing button box that when you touch it, a magic light comes on a beam people from Los Angeles into your living room.” The consumers are not impressed as much with your tech talk as much as they are impressed by your ability to apply the tools to the basics. Integrate your technology plan in your listing and buyer meetings smoothly without trying to be overly impressive on the tools. Make them a part of real estate life. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
Watching the Grammys is always a highlight in my year. As a former music publisher with still interest in a few companies, I still get to vote! This darn REALTOR® addiction and the constant need to find applications for my business and profession in everything I see drives me nuts; so, of course, I have to comment on the things I noticed on the Grammys that we can apply to our business.
1. Collaboration is key. Lady Gaga and Elton John’s opening duet was a perfect blend of classic and new. As a “Gaga,” who are the Eltons you are including in your life for a duet? One of my biggest learning experiences came from a veteran agent in my local market who owned a competing brokerage, Christie Wilson, of The Wilson Group. We co-listed several things when I was new in the industry, and I learned so much from her wisdom.
2. Your recognition will eventually come. Kanye West made musical tacky history with his scene steeling moment with Taylor Swift at the VMAs. Beyonce held her own smoothly and classily and saw her song rise to the top for Single Ladies. If you don’t get the position/thanks/whatever you expected from your association, clients, brokers, etc., hang in there it may come in another way, a little further down the road. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
I recently attended a conference. I had six straight days of travel and one tiny bag to take me on the multiple city flights; so, I had no room for anything extra. At the end of each day, I found myself swimming in “SeatSPAM.” It wasn’t in my e-mail box, my Facebook inbox, or even my Twitter DM area. It was all over my chair, on the limited table space I had and EVEN sitting on my Mac keyboard after a bathroom break.
SeatSPAM is the tiny paper rulers, tons of cards, note pads and standard sheet fliers that are littered throughout almost every conference we all attend.
I know we have a comments section on this blog, so I really need your help. I simply do NOT understand. Here’s the picture. Every single table after the conference sat full of the SeatSPAM at the end of the day, the floor space below the tables were littered and the trash can audit revealed the death of an entire forest in rural America. Now, to make it even more confusing, every conference attendee’s information was clearly on the website, the social media sites, and even in a Google group.
Why do we feel so compelled to litter each other with our “crap?” I understand business cards, and I need to do better about carrying them. Shame on me!
When I arrived in New York City for Inman this week, I “came out” to a few friends about my disgust and lack of understand of this practice, and they agreed. It’s intriguing that as I audit the SeatSPAM, the average age of the culprits have an average age of roughly 48 to 60. At Inman, where the average age is easily in the mid-thirties, the only SeatSPAM you get is from the sponsoring vendor or conference owner. At max, I only received three pieces at Inman. Hmm?
YPNs obviously tend to stray from this practice, but if you are following anyone who participates in this practice, consider the actions you can complete to green-up your real-life conference networking experience.
1. Have your contact card complete on your Smartphone, including your photo with your city Photoshopped across the bottom.
2. Encourage the conference coordinator/speakers to create downloadable PDFs with all attendees info, as permitted.
3. Download the iPhone App “ForgetMeNot” to help you remember who you met, when and where.
4. Create moo mini business cards made from recycled paper with a personalized photo from Flickr of your city as your one hand-out. http://bit.ly/3ADeh5
5. Start a Twitter hastag for your event and spread the word to use them. Keep the discussion flowing.
6. Get on “foursquare” and network before, during and after while having some digital fun.
7. Get a MiFi, name your connection the equivalent to “@NashvilleBrian’s Free Connection.” When people open their phones and laptops, they’ll see you have connection available, free for them and grab a marketing opportunity.
You can follow Brian on Twitter: @NashvilleBrian
Brian Copeland is a REALTOR® in Nashville, Tenn. You can check out his websites at nashvilleandbeyond.com and brian-copeland.com.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
Since 99 percent of you will click on the following websites anyway, I’m not going to flatter myself with long narratives on these seven start-ups to watch for real estate applications in 2010. The following list was created from an Inman Connect NYC panel:
Pegshot.com: Allows you to share your location plus video and photos of exactly what’s going on. From the mind of the brilliant WellcomeMat guys.
Ipromote.com: For $5 a day, you can create a ton of classified online ads to promote everywhere.
Nabewise.com: Connects people with neighborhoods via attributes.
CloudCMA.com: Mixes glorious cloud computing with the CMA process, obviously by the name.
KWKLY.com: Text messaging for real estate…simplified.
Deedstreet.com: Twitteresque for real estate…pretty much.
Klout.com: Measures your social media influence. Amazing application: They are working with a Las Vegas hotel group. When you check-in, they get your Twitter name. Then, the hotel group checks your “klout” and treats your influence accordingly with things like free Cirque tickets.
Replace audience response hardware with Poll Everywhere
For more from Inman, follow Brian on Twitter: @NashvilleBrian
Brian Copeland is a REALTOR® in Nashville, Tenn. You can check out his websites at nashvilleandbeyond.com and brian-copeland.com.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
From Inman’s Real Estate Connect NYC‘s morning session on Internet marketing, Gothamist.com blogger-owner Jake Dobkin shares the following:
Steps to Success:
Step 1: Produce Good Content
Step 2: Tell The Right People
Step 3: Measure Results
Step 4: Repeat
Jake reports that the real estate industry usually drops the ball at step three. He says if your blog is not seeing ROI or results STOP immediately and do something else. Sometimes, there is brilliance in knowing when to stop hitting your head against the wall.
For more from Inman, follow Brian on Twitter @NashvilleBrian
Brian Copeland is a REALTOR® in Nashville, Tenn. You can check out his websites at nashvilleandbeyond.com and brian-copeland.com.
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
Thousands of REALTORS® are making the choice, consciously and unconsciously, to add Lady Gaga, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Jimmy Buffett to their business plans. In fact, Americans as a whole are consuming ringback tones as a personal and business medium to the tune of over $235 million in 2009 (BMI).
I don’t want to assume that everyone knows the term “ringback;” so, quickly, it’s what you hear when you are calling someone’s phone. Usually it’s a popular song and shouldn’t be confused with a “ringtone” which is what you hear when your phone rings.
Ringbacks can either be a great connection point with a consumer/another agent or a kiss of death for your business. If you want to personalize your phone this way in your business, move forth with caution. I personally love ringbacks; so, please don’t hear me be all “yuck, yuck, unprofessional.”
© J0hnb0y | Dreamstime.com
Pros:
1. You can really connect well with a demographic with the correct choice. If you have a specific niche market, ringbacks can screen the correct demographic you want to reach.
2. Ringbacks can place the caller in a better mood or relax them prior to your conversation. When I’ve used ringbacks, DAILY I answered the phone and the caller was literally singing along. After brief laughter, they always complimented my song choice, and we had a good 30 second chat about that commonality.
3. They set a fun tone. REALTORS® often get bum wraps as overly serious, negotiating freaks. As you’re getting that call from your cooperating agent on a deal, it may just put them in the mood you need them to be in.
Cons:
1. You may isolate a clientele. I was calling a service provider recently, and he had “Margaritaville” on his ringback. I immediately thought, “Me and this guy are not going to gel.” I hung up and chose another service provider. Continue reading »
Brian Copeland
By Brian Copeland
Dear Santa,
When I was 4 years old, I asked for an Easy Bake Oven. You brought me some Garanimal outfits. When I was 8, you obliged my request for a Glo Worm with that cowboy comforter set my brother wanted.
Each year, you have threatened me that if I wasn’t good, I wouldn’t get my gift. When I did exactly as you said, I didn’t get what I wanted. Dude, what are you? Some kind of kids’ terrorist?
Now, I’m in my 30s and feel like I can take up for myself; so, here’s what my people and I want for 2010, BUDDY!
1. Appraisal Coupon Book: I bust my tail to make sure I’m pricing these homes correctly, then my value is questioned, making me look like an idiot. Just make me a coupon book of 30 to 60 coupons that I can give to the bank that says, “Trust me. It’s worth what I advised my clients to price it.”
2. A Seller Brain-Altering Device: The hour I spent explaining pricing and market to my evening listing appointment peeps could have been spent watching “Glee,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” or “The Office.” After talking ‘til I was blue in the face about the importance of price, they still wanted to price in 2006’s sellers market with that most-dreaded statement: “But our house is special and different from all those others.” If the device could be iPhone compatible or at least have a USB plug, that would make it very convenient to alter their brains a bit more easily.
3. Anthony Gilardi and Kim Myles In A Box: A 24-hour handyman and home designer from HGTV at my constant disposal would make my job SO much easier this year. Knock them off of HGTV and bring them to my office in Nashville.
4. Food and Lodging for Anthony and Kim: Ooops…I’m not feeding and housing them, by the way.
5. An E-mail/Phone Call Solicitation Crystal Ball: I spend at least 30 minutes a day on the phone or e-mail with someone promising to “Make me #1 on Google,” “Bring me #1 placement on magical website” or “Get my fancy calendar and postcard into more consumers mailboxes.” This crystal ball should screen those calls and only connect me to the real deals that will make me $52 bazillion dollars over the next 12 months.
6. World Peace: Sandra Bullock in “Miss Congeniality” proved that if you ask for this, no matter how bad circumstances get, you still win. If you can’t bring me world peace, then at least get that one agent who keeps shooting me 50 percent off offers to pick up a few REALTOR® designations and learn how to peacefully, win-win negotiate.
Santa, thanks for understanding. I know the economy has been tough and times have changed. The days of me giving my client what I think they want and need are over; so, the days of you giving ME what you think I need and want have also ended. See you in a few days.
– Brian
(From left) Garanimal outfit, Santa, and brother who got the cowboy comforter set.
P.S. If I had an Easy Bake oven, I’d have a way to bake you some cookies. I see organic rice cakes in your future, Big Guy.
Brian Copeland is a REALTOR® in Nashville, Tennessee. You can check out his websites at nashvilleandbeyond.com and brian-copeland.com.
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