Talon Northwest Neighborhoods

Rene' Fabre: 100% social media satisfaction...100% compliant!

In the entire Puget Sound area, there are very few individuals in title insurance that "get" the nuances and value of social media for real estate professionals. Rene' Fabre has been compliantly helping real estate brokers and lenders truly understand social media's benefit since 2003.

You'll discover Rene's passion for social media throughout dozens of on-line conversations or by attending local events that focus on this media. Yet, it's not as easy as you might think for Rene' to share his deep knowledge on this subject with our fellow real estate pros. There are clear cut rules we must strictly abide by when it comes to providing items of value to potential originators (our clients) of title & escrow biz.

The competitive nature of the title insurance industry mixed with our state's strict enforcement of insurance regulations can bring out the "tattle-tale" in many of our competitors. 

Rene' follows all the state regs to a "T" as shown with a letter from our state's Insurance Commissioner absolving our company from yet another competitor's allegations. I guess we'll just continue to be flattered that we're being noticed by our peers!

 

Advantages of Listing Web-Sites for Home Sellers

With all the blinking real estate ads, IDX's, and annoying pop-ups polluting the on-line experience, it's tougher than ever for home buyers to concentrate on any one home. Savvy home sellers are now seeing the value in having a single website created for marketing the features of their home...and only their home.

Working with as many real estate professionals as we do, we often hear it requires a team effort of both the seller and listing broker to gain maximum exposure in today's challenging market. Single listing websites afford sellers and brokers an opportunity to share a link to the property (without a barrage of competing listings & search tools) with all friends and followers through social media and email.

The Talon Group has a vested interest in helping our clients gain an upper hand in marketing their homes. Therefore, we developed a single listing website solution that incorporates superior features for presenting and sharing a seller's home on-line.

• One year registration of URL customized to fit the home's specific marketing scheme.
• Video slide shows using both YouTube and Viddler for maximum web search presence.
• Optimized for sharing on Facebook and creating a Fan Page. 
• "Share buttons" for Google+ and twitter also integrated on listing site.
• Walk Around Jack - popular feature of Google's street view for blog posts.
• Walk Score plugin - another great feature for presenting the neighborhood to perspective buyers.
• Mortgage calculator and interest rate tables that highlight today's high affordability.
• Ability to advertise Open House dates.
• Lead generating "calls to action" placed on site to engage with potential buyers.
• Syndication of custom website listing to major real estate sites.
• Custom sign-rider displaying the URL and QR code for traffic walking by your home.
• Correct use of "key words" or metatags to drive the home's site up in the search engines.

If it's not enough these days to simply display your home in the market at "eye level" hoping that a potential buyer notices, try walking your home around the virtual market place by sharing your home's custom website! Click here to view an example of Talon's new listing website

 

Please Don't Outsource Your Personality

A local company in town claiming to be social media experts has recently offered a service to real estate agents that will take care of your Tweets, Facebook updates, Linkedin, and blog content for a small monthly fee. They’re offering you a social media system.

(Isn’t that an oxymoron?)

Dear valued clients and all real estate professionals:
Please Don't Outsource Your Personality...

When I give social media conversations I frequently get asked
“Is there a Big Easy Button that I can update everything everywhere online?”

"Because social media looks like a lot of work and I didn’t get into real estate to spend all day behind my computer."

Point well taken and that is a valid concern...

My reply:

“If there was a Big Easy Button for social media, you wouldn’t want to push it.”

In life, we belong to many different groups and communities like family, work, school, church, the baseball team, fraternal organizations, and maybe the gang you hang with on the occasional boy/girl night out.

“Do you have exactly the same conversation in every one of these groups?”

 

I hope not.

The whole idea around social media is the opportunity to participate. Enter into any online community and you’re joining omni-directional conversation by people tethered together around shared ideas and a common framework. It’s no agreement fest, bring your likes and dislikes too, but please demonstrate respect to the community, its members, and the reason it exists by sharing authentically.

Is it possible I could hire that out?

A systematized you that’s broadcasting into the crowd (for SEO) instead of entering into the conversation runs the risk of alienating the tribe. Your fabricated purchased Tweets, Facebook updates, and personal blog content could be construed as diss’n the community. You might find yourself unwelcome, or worse, ignored.

Groups recognize (and tend to gravitate around) those who participate, contribute, and demonstrate value. How will we be able to engage you if you always talk and never listen? And, if your conversation isn’t even yours, how do you think that might influence us?

Word of mouth still reigns as the most powerful force in marketing.

Your brand and reputation are either created or inherited. You’ll own them either way.

René Fabre
Special Projects / New Media Marketing

Inspiration is all over the Puget Sound region.

For those of us who've ever visited the Olympic rain forest, there was one thing missing:  big blue Avatars!.  At least that Lake Quinault Lodge would like you to think. 

"Pandora may be the mere figment of James Cameron's imagination brought to life with the help of a talented team and revolutionary visual effects technology, but the Olympic Peninsula in the Pacific Northwest offers a comparable panorama with it's emerald green rain forests, sparkling bodies of water and unique wildlife"

Here's a link for the press release done by those at the Lake Quinault Lodge (special thanks as well to Monica Guzman at the SeattlePI for originally publishing this info at her blog). 

No, you don't need 3-D glasses to head on over for a weekend getaway.  And no, I doubt heavily you'll be attacked by some bright orange bird monster.  That said, it's pretty clear that since the NW region boasts the home of both Pandora and Forks, which is the home of the Twilight series, that the northwest region is leading the nation in movie and literature inspiration!  Don't believe me?  Well, I'm sure someone somewhere will find the data to back me up one day.  Until that day, I'd like to offer up these ideas specifically inspired by our other local areas. 

Federal Way- Blades of Glory 2

Apolo Ohno was born in Federal Way.  J.R. Celski was raised in Federal Way.  Not sure whats in the water over there, but whatever it is I'd keep doing it.  2 Olympians from our area is something to be very proud of.

However, after missing out on gold during the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, both skaters become so distraught that they rumble with the entire Canadian curling team.  Kicked off the speed skating team, their only hopes for 2014 is to tandem and take on the world as a team.  They win gold mixing their speed skating talents with roller derby experience gained from practicing with the Rat City Roller girls.

Who wouldn't pay to see that? 

Renton - Fight Club

Renton, which boasts an excellent technical college, 29 parks and trails to explore, and has 3 performing arts centers in the area, also takes credit for something that most of us aren't familiar with - MMA. 

Demico Rogers, star of The Ultimate Fighter 10, was outed early in the show amid  coaching controversy but has a bright future in the sport.  It doesn't hurt that he does a lot of social marketing as well.  Here's his twitter page.

Good luck Demico!

Enumclaw - Tin Cup

Why Tin Cup you ask?  Personally, it's a great course with long fairways and fair greens. 

Aside from all the good aspects of it, there is hole #16.  It's a long par 5 that has a river right before the green.  I've yet to get on in 3, but have ruined many a round trying.  Nothing like shooting a double double bogey after a good round.

One of these days I'll make it on.  Hopefully someone will be watching when I do, then it will all be worth it.

I'm sure I missed quite a few suggestions that are out there.  Feel free to comment or email me if you would like to share anything that I've missed.

Chris Lodge - Real Estate Information Manager

 

 

Twice in a Blue Moon

Ever hear the term "twice in a blue moon"?  It's not often when you get chance to work with one of the title industry's true gems twice in a career. I'm extremely pleased to announce that Rene' Fabre has joined The Talon Group.

My history with Rene' Fabre goes back to the early days of Washington Title Company (eventually changed name to Ticor Title). This brings back great memories of watching Rene' create statistical property reports that were state of the art then and still used to this day throughout the entire real estate industry. As they say, "plagiarism is the fondest form of compliment"!

Rene's career in title insurance has always been focused on giving real estate professionals the best tools available for staying ahead of their competition. First with well designed neighborhood statistics and most recently with discovering how to use various forms of social media to effectively increase their online presence. Simply put, "They can't do business with you if they can't find you."

More about Rene'...

Started in the title insurance industry in Seattle back in 1984 with Northwestern Title. Eventually recruited to Washington Title to create and manage the Property Information department. Rene's knack for creating custom/meaningful products landed him a regional IT Director position for Ticor Title that covered both Oregon and Washington.

Rene's early adoption and keen understanding of social media vaulted him into one of the most sought after speakers on the subject for real estate professionals.

Today, Rene' has taken on the challenge to help The Talon Group stay in front of the curve with the most innovative products available in our industry. We're both very excited about the possibilities! 

Please feel free in helping me welcome Rene' to his new home at Talon's Seattle location: 2345 Eastlake Ave. East, Suite 301  Seattle, WA 98102  Phone 206-320-8800  Fax 206-320-8801

Written by: Rob Porter, Sr. Vice President, The Talon Group

 

Social Networking reaches out to Senior Citizens

Since the inception of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, there has been a general knowledge that these sites are used primarily by business professionals and the younger generation.  Sure, there might be a few tech savvy individuals in the senior ranks that have joined the social networking craze but by and large this would not be the trend.  Right?  Not necessarily...

According to a recent article published by the New York Times the older generations are joining the social networking sites in droves and it's not just the baby boomer.  Senior Citizens are also part of the this group.  Stephanie Clifford, New York Times Author, writes:

Among older people who went online last year, the number visiting social networks grew almost twice as fast as the overall rate of Internet use among that group, according to the media measurement company comScore.

Joseph Coughlin, director of the AgeLab goes on to say:

“One of the greatest challenges or losses that we face as older adults, frankly, is not about our health, but it’s actually about our social network deteriorating on us, because our friends get sick, our spouse passes away, friends pass away, or we move......“The new future of old age is about staying in society, staying in the workplace and staying very connected,” he added. “And technology is going to be a very big part of that, because the new reality is, increasingly, a virtual reality. It provides a way to make new connections, new friends and new senses of purpose.”

Social Networking provides the elderly with a means of stimulation and a way to connect with family members and friends from all over.  There are now even social networking sites that cater to the elderly including MyWay Village and Eons.  These sites are an outlet for seniors, a way to feel connected to the world, and now are a part of their daily routines.  Speaking from experience, I now have several friend requests from my parent's friends on Facebook.  Although initially reluctant to accept I soon remembered I can no longer be grounded!   

It is important to recognize that the...."more experienced" generations in our culture make up a large percentage of our population including our real estate market.  The Reverse Mortgage Industry is growing daily and is a product that requires trust and education between the client and the Loan Officer.  Social Networking creates an opportunity to be in touch daily with your clients, establish that relationship, build trust, and educate your clients and their families on a product that may greatly benefit them for many years to come!

Having trouble maximizing and managing your social networking time?

Lets face it, on-line social networking programs aren't going anywhere.  These programs have many advantages, but jumping into the on-line social networking world can be a little daunting at first.  Don't fret however, as with our help you'll be a master in no time. 

The Talon Group has continually kept our community updated with new information when available.  Keep checking back for more updates on how we can help improve your business, or better yet subscribe and get automatic updates to your email.  It's free and easy to do, and will free up your time and energy to focus on other things.

Debbie Rosemont at biznik.com has recently posted a great article with helpful tips on managing your time successfully.  Much of what she talks about is being organized and having a direction.  For example:

• Know your purpose or intentions each time you log on.  What are you hoping to accomplish?  Make a connection?  Promote your business?  Share information?  Take a break from work and browse "for fun"?
• Participate.  These networking tools will not do you any good if you don't use them.  Keep your profiles up to date, respond to others in a timely manner, post regularly, and offer value to your network.

It takes time and energy to network properly.  Taking a few minutes to figure out your goals and direction will help manage what you are doing in a more effective manner. 

photo courtesy of Gauldo

What is Twitter and how do I get started?

After attending RE BarCamp in Seattle last week we have had a couple discussions about Twitter; is it a valuable tool for real estate professionals and, is it catching on with the general public? 

The best explanation of Twitter that I found (without doing a ton of research) was in an article in the Seattle Times last Sunday that describes it as follows;

Here's how Twitter works:  After setting up a free account, people are encouraged to post frequent updates about what they are doing, seeing and feeling.  The messages, known as "tweets" must be limited to 140 characters.

Although the updates are available for anyone to see, Twitter users usually set up their accounts to monitor the tweets of people they know of admire.  These "followers" are automatically fed tweets from the people they are shadowing.

With about 6 million people using Twitter I think you can make an argument that it is catching on.  Although jumping into on-line social networking can still be scary and daunting when you don't know much about it. 

The best advice I've heard so far is that if you're interested, sign up and start "listening".  What that means is you can start "following" (or "shadowing" as it's referred to up above) before posting your own updates. That way you can get a feel for the etiquette of social networking before jumping in.  

Please feel free to start following talontitle's Twitter updates.  We've taken the plunge!