Regular readers of our REVStaffing blog know that we focus a lot of time and energy on getting our clients successfully ramped up and firmly positioned in their use of social media. And while the needs differ from one client to the next, but the bottom line is always the same: We work hard to make you THE local expert.

If you’ve been holding off on getting started with social media, here’s our advice: Don’t wait any longer. Social media isn’t going away – it’s getting bigger. And it can be one of YOUR greatest marketing assets as you head into 2019…if you make it work for you.

The best part? Social media is, for the most part, free. Yes, there are fees associated with some things…and there are things for which you’ll probably want to pay a small monthly fee (like a public Active Rain account). But you don’t have to pay to use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, and they’ve been proven time and time again to be among the best (free) marketing tools at your disposal.

There are a lot of myths surrounding the use of social media. These include the idea that social media is overwhelming, and you have to spend hours and hours every week keeping things up to date. Or you may have heard that it’s a waste of time, and doesn’t really generate results. A lot of people think that there’s no way of gauging your success.

We get it. Myths are generated when people are uncomfortable with something, and need excuses for not dispelling their discomfort by learning about the thing they fear. REVStaffing wants you to know that there’s nothing to fear in the prudent use of social media! The savvy and timely use of social media isn’t hard, especially with REVStaffing’s crew in your corner. You are in total control of when, where and how you use it. We do it all for you, and you reap the rewards.

Whether you’re already a REVStaffing client or considering becoming one, you know that we’re dedicated to helping you to grow and nurture your successful business. We encourage you to fill out our free needs analysis; we’ll be happy to discuss ALL of your unique business needs! And be sure to visit our website, and “like” us on Facebook.

Bookmark this page to return for regular updates. If you need assistance in the meantime, please contact us by email at info@revstaffing.com or phone at 855-738-7821, X700.

Strong Social Media Presence

By creating a Facebook page for your business you can advertise your services and by following a few easy task attract a following. Try using the following tips a guideline and you can learn to drive traffic to your real estate Facebook page more efficiently.

Link Posting to Your Website
In a business Facebook page one of the main purposes is to get people to use your services. You want to direct your followers to your website, this is done by link posting around your page. By posting links on your page to specific pages on your website saves your followers time by going directly to that area in your website.

Make Followers Experience Personal
You want to keep your followers coming back so it is always good interact as much as possible. You should initiate conversations with open ended questions such as “What do you look for in a home?”, and create questionnaires or quizzes on your page.  These things allow your followers to become involved and continue visiting your page and website. You should also join in on conversation, respond to feeds that is related to your business and be sure that you reply to your follower’s questions and comments on your Facebook page.

Create Interest with Visuals
By integrating pictures, videos, and interactive content with your post. By doing this regularly keeps your followers interested and informed, it also breaks up to the having too much text. Post your links with attractive pictures of homes and their surrounding area to entice your followers to see what other homes that you have listed on your website.

Share Content on all Platforms
On your Facebook page and your website make sure that you make use of share plug-ins, so your followers can link from one to the other to access information on both easily. You should also connect with any other social media pages (Pinterest, Twitter, etc.) that you have to fully reach a wider online audience.

It’s a competitive market out there so let REVStaffing get you ahead of the game. Start preparing now.

Call REVStaffing today at 855-738-7821 or visit our website at www.revstaffing.com.

If you would like to discuss any possibly need you may have and would like REVStaffing’s assistance, click here to schedule an appointment.

What do you think LinkedIn is for? Is it just for people who are trying to find a new job? Should you only visit it if you want to recruit somebody? Or is it one of the best ways to grow your real estate business? If you chose the third option, you are correct. In fact, HubSpot, reports that LinkedIn is three times more effective at generating business leads than Facebook or Twitter. And since leads result in more sales and more money in your pocket, it is clear that LinkedIn cannot be ignored.

Here are 10 ways real estate pros can effectively use LinkedIn to increase their online exposure.

Remember, It’s Not Facebook
First, you should realize that LinkedIn is not like your other social networking sites. LinkedIn is all about business, and you better keep things professional. So no sharing that funny meme your Aunt Linda showed you, and no posting pictures of what you are eating for dinner or your funny cat. There are plenty of other sites for that.

Make Sure Your Profile and Company Page Are Complete
Since you are a real estate practitioner and independent contractor, you have your own professional brand, thus, you should have both a personal profile and a Company Page. Each one should be filled out completely. Not only should every detail be included—like your website, links to your other social media profiles, any awards or certifications you have, and past companies you have worked for—but it should be displayed in a way that is easy to read and engaging.

Include Keywords
Just like you do with your website and blogs, your profile and Company Page should be keyword rich. When people want to find a “real estate agent in Massachusetts,” for example, you want to make sure you show up.

Share Plenty of Content
When you are deciding which content to share on LinkedIn, always have the goal of helping others, but make sure the type of information varies. On one day, post an informative article on a new development in real estate, and on the next, share an opinionated blog post about what agents are doing wrong. Make sure you’re not just sharing your own content. Those who are successful in social media understand that it can’t always be about YOU.

Publish Directly on LinkedIn
Not only should you be sharing loads of information, you should also be writing your own. One thing that makes LinkedIn unique is that it allows you to publish your content for all of LinkedIn to see. They are referred to as long-form posts, and you definitely need to be taking advantage of them. Not only does it make you look more credible when you have them on your profile, but they are searchable both on and off LinkedIn. People do not have to be in your network to view them, and they are able to connect with you directly from the post. This is an invaluable tool for growing your network and establishing your expertise in the real estate industry.

Study Your Analytics
LinkedIn is very generous in the amount of information they provide to you. They tell you exactly which of your posts received interactions and which ones didn’t. You should study these analytics thoroughly so that you can capitalize on what people like and avoid the stuff they don’t.

Connect with Everyone
There has never been, and never will be, a rule that you are only allowed to connect with people that you know on LinkedIn. You should do searches for locals in your area, other agents, home appraisers, mortgage brokers, and anyone else you want. The thing is, there is no such thing as too big of a network. You never know where each connection will lead you. Over the years, I have seen some really shortsighted agents who say, if they don’t know them then they won’t connect. This might be prudent thinking on Facebook, but not on LinkedIn!

Capitalize on LinkedIn Real Estate Groups
One of the hidden gems on LinkedIn is the group feature. They are the difference between agents who really drive traffic back to their website and those who don’t. However, there is a proper way to use them.

You should look for groups within your industry—or groups that contain your target niche or market—that have enough members to get you exposure, but not so many that you get lost in the shuffle. Aim for between 1,000 and 5,000 members. You can also join a few of the larger groups for when you are sharing something of a more general nature.

When you interact within the groups, remember that you are there to add value. You should respond to others’ questions, give your opinions, share advice, and ask questions that make people think. You should not post links to your site unless it is something of value.

Don’t try to be active on too many groups at once, or you will not be able to provide anything useful to any of them. Instead, choose three or four that you really think could boost your exposure and make sure to check-in with them several times per week. Some excellent real estate groups to take a look at joining are The National Association of REALTORS®, Real Estate Professionals Group, and Real Estate Professional Referral Group.

Once you are part of a conversation, don’t leave it unfinished. Always go back to see if anyone has responded to what you said.

After you have established yourself within the group, you can start asking your own questions and solicit feedback. If you ask one that garners a lot of attention, you will even be featured as a top contributor within the group, increasing your visibility tenfold.

Start Your Own Group
If you are really ambitious, it could be time to found your own group. This puts you in the driver’s seat, and, if done correctly, can really catapult your recognition in the real estate industry. In order to set the precedent, you should set up an auto-email that goes out to all new members welcoming them to the group and setting the ground rules (like no soliciting). You can also let them know that you will be sending out weekly or monthly emails with industry resources and tricks of the trade.

Help Others
Finally, you should take a few minutes each day to endorse and recommend other people. They will appreciate the gesture and may even return the favor.

If you need help with your LinkedIn and other social media marketing let REVStaffing help you to achieve your goals and increase your potential! Complete a complimentary needs analysis survey, send us an email, or call 855.REVS.VA1 today!

Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn!

Before we can talk about generating leads on social media, let’s define exactly what we mean when we talk about leads. Leads are simply potential customers who have expressed some interest in your real estate business and have provided contact information you can use to follow up with more information. You can then pass these leads directly to your VA or engage with them using a tailored content marketing program.

Generating Leads
Why is it important to think about how to generate leads on social media? Consider that 90 percent of decision-makers say they never respond to cold calls. On the other hand, 76 percent of buyers are ready to have a conversation on social media.

If you’re not producing your sales team with a steady stream of potential new customers, you’re doing your business a disservice. And you’re doing yourself a disservice too. Because lead generation metrics are a key way to prove the value of your social marketing efforts. Perhaps the greatest benefit of lead generation using social media specifically is the ability to focus on highly qualified leads through advanced targeting. After all, marketing analysis shows that improving the quality of leads is the most significant goal for marketers, while simply increasing the quantity of leads comes in third. Recent studies show that 70% of leads are generated thru social media.

The benefits of using social media to generate quality leads will also lead to an increase in website traffic and brand awareness for your real estate business. If you need help with your social media marketing let REVStaffing help you to achieve your goals and increase your potential! Complete a complimentary needs analysis survey, send us an email, or call 855.REVS.VA1 today!

*info courtesy of https://blog.hootsuite.com

The show doesn’t stop once you click Finish and Post in your Facebook Live broadcast. While your video post can reach far and wide on Facebook, you can push that reach even further after the video has wrapped up.

Upload Your Live Video to YouTube or Vimeo
Once you’ve downloaded your Facebook Live video, you can upload your video to other video hosting sites or channels to reach a wider audience. If you upload it to YouTube, you can even use YouTube’s simple video editing tools to trim your video down to the moment(s) you want to keep and share. Don’t forget to use YouTube’s features to add a branded watermark, action cards, a description, and tags.

Share Your Live Video with Newsletter Subscribers
If your email newsletter could use a shot in the arm, add your Facebook Live video into your next issue.

Video and media consistently boost email marketing performance.

Personify Leadership shot partner interviews at an international conference and later used the Facebook Live videos to inform newsletter subscribers. The company was able to increase credibility by highlighting their key partnerships.

Embed Your Live Video in Your Website or Blog
To see the options to embed, edit, and even schedule an expiration date for your Facebook Live video, go back the Post Details pop-up window and click the Post tab.

Click on the Post tab.

After clicking the Post tab, click on the image of the video to access video options (including downloading the video file).

Then you’ll click on Options so you can view the options for your video post. You can click Embed to copy the code to add an iFrame of the video to your website or blog.

To get an embed code for your Facebook Live video, follow these additional steps to grab an iFrame code for your website or blog.

Facebook Live videos offer excellent repurposing opportunities that you can quickly plug into other social media marketing channels. Live videos are ready and waiting to expand your reach and grow your audience even more.

Let REVStaffing help you to achieve your goals and increase your potential! Complete a complimentary needs analysis survey, send us an email, or call 855.REVS.VA1 today!

*Courtesy of www.socialmediaexaminer.com

Are you using Facebook Live? Do you want more mileage out of your broadcasts?

Reusing your Facebook Live video can help improve your impact and visibility.

In this article, you’ll discover how to download your Facebook Live videos on other social media platforms.

Download from Your Facebook Profile
Facebook Live lets you broadcast a live-stream video from your phone. If you’ve live-streamed a great video you’d like to keep, follow these steps to download the video file from your Facebook:

First, log into Facebook.com and go to your profile.

Next, locate the Videos tab below your profile’s cover photo (along the bottom of the image or in the More drop-down).

Now, click on Videos to see a list of videos you’ve posted to your profile.

Your Facebook profile page is where you can see how your profile appears to other users. Find your videos in the tabs along the bottom of your cover photo.

Next, click on the thumbnail of the Facebook Live video. After the video opens, click on Options (along the bottom of the video) to reveal the menu to download it.

Options for your Facebook Live video include downloading as SD (standard definition) or HD (high definition).

Once you click the Download option, your stand-alone video will open. Right-click on the video and select Save Video As to save the video as an MP4 file to your computer.

Download from Your Facebook Page
If your Facebook page is lively, the steps below are your best route to download your Facebook Live video from your page. Note: You must be an authorized manager on the page to access the options below. Let’s get started!

Once you complete a Facebook Live video from your page, you have a few optimization options to increase the reach and purpose of your post. (The options below are presently only available for Facebook Live videos streamed from a Facebook page.)

First, log into the Facebook page you used for your Facebook Live post. Next, click on the Publishing Tools tab along the top.

Look at the tabs along the top of your Facebook page to select Publishing Tools.

In the left-hand column of tabs, Click on Videos to see a list of your page’s posted videos. Find and click on the Facebook Live video you wish to download.

Look for the Video Details pop-up window. Along the bottom, you’ll see any posts related to your video. Click on the post link to uncover additional optimization and download options for your video.

While the Video Details window provides performance statistics for your Facebook Live video, you need to access the original post to download the video.

In the bottom-right corner of the Post Details pop-up window, find and click on the Edit Post button.

To optimize your Facebook Live video from the Basic tab, add titles, tags, and custom thumbnail images. From the Advanced Tab, you can also choose to allow or prevent your video from being embedded in an external website.

After you’ve shot and posted your Facebook Live video, go to the Edit Video box to optimize your broadcast for searches and viewers.

In addition, you can upload a Closed Captioning file to your video for access by the hearing-impaired.

Next, look for the gear icon above the top-right corner of your video’s image. Click the gear icon and select which version you want to download.

In addition to selecting download options for your Facebook Live video, don’t forget to optimize your video using the Basic, Captions, and Advanced tabs in the Edit Video box.

Let REVStaffing help you to achieve your goals and increase your potential! Complete a complimentary needs analysis survey, send us an email, or call 855.REVS.VA1 today!

*Courtesy of www.socialmediaexaminer.com

Google Rolls Out a New Google+
Google introduced “a fully redesigned Google+ that puts Communities and Collections front and center.”

Tumblr Simplifies GIF Creation on iOS
Tumblr announced that “any video (or burst!) on your iOS device can be GIFFed, edited, and posted using the Tumblr app.” This functionality will be coming soon to Android.

Vine Introduces New Remix, Remake and Collaboration Features
You now have the power to reinterpret, collaborate or remix with audio from any Vine on the network.” Vine also introduced a new discovery feature that allows you to “find Vines that use the same audio clip or song.

YouTube Releases New Translation Features
YouTube introduced a new set of translation features designed to help creators make their content more accessible and understandable to an international audience.

Blab Rolls Out Show Cards for the Web
Show cards on Blab are finally here. They are currently only available for new blabs and only on the web, but are coming soon to Blab replays, on iOS and in tweets.

Instagram Limits Access From Third-Party Apps
Instagram announced several platform changes to improve people’s control over their content and set up a more sustainable environment built around authentic experiences on the platform, including a new review process for third-party apps starting December 3, 2015.

Facebook Mobile App Opens to Google Search
Facebook is allowing Google to crawl and index its mobile app, which means mobile search results from Google will display some content from Facebook’s app, including public profile information. The results appear as deep links that will take users to the relevant part of the Facebook app.

If you need help creating and publicizing your videos contact REVStaffing at 855.738.7821.

Or if your schedule is hectic, as most realtors are, schedule an introductory meeting at you convenience.

So here are some pros and cons of the big Zillow/Trulia merger.

Pros

• Once the merger is complete there will be one profile for agents to update. With the advent of the Premier Agent Program, there will be one place for your VA to manage your profile and your advertising across both the Zillow and Trulia platforms.
• Zillow and Trulia will have integrated advertising. This means your “paid” investment will have you appearing in both platforms for the same zipcodes. Kind of double your money.
• Mobile advertising is also being included across both platforms and co-marketing with a lender has been extended. The mobile advertising is geo-targeted and puts you in front of buyers and sellers in your area.

Cons

• Trulia reviews have gone missing. Zillow has been manually moderating all of the reviews on the Trulia platform in preparation for the merge. During this time, some agent’s Trulia reviews will just not be coming back.
• Upon checking out their combined Zillow/Trulia FAQs, they have a short review section which states that Zillow reviews are carefully screened and that Trulia review policies were not as strict, therefore in transferring reviews the ones that don’t meet the Zillow criteria will be lost.
• In an article I found it stated that “Zillow removed all Trulia reviews which focused on an agent’s character”. Zillow is looking for reviews that talk more to the quality of service received.
• Trulia has also stated it will not restore any deleted reviews.

So your major takeaway? If you haven’t already done it, get your VA to copy your Trulia reviews and get them placed on your personal website. This way those past client reviews can be saved from the depths of the abyss.

Once a combined Zillow platform is presented later this quarter begin asking past clients for reviews but qualify that their review should be a “quality of service” review and not a character study.

REVS will keep an eye on this whole merger since all of our clients are using either Zillow, Trulia or both platforms and we will get out updates once the combined platform is released. Let us do the worrying so you don’t have too!

Your information isn’t safe! Hackers and data thieves constantly troll to steal information, and Realtors are vulnerable because they have access to, store, and maintain confidential personal and client records.  

It’s not just a desktop computer that can be breached.  In a world of technology, there are several areas exposed to hackers, such as a mobile phone, wi-fi, and cloud storage.

Here are ways to protect your information:

On the Cloud
Dropbox and Evernote are popular cloud services for storing files, but security isn’t tight.  

• Make sure you encrypt your private information.  
• Also, if you backup your files to the cloud, remember that even though you delete them on your computer or mobile device, they are still stored in your cloud account.  
• Completely delete the file by removing it from your backup cloud account.

On Social Media

• Limit the amount of personal information you share on social media.
• Check your privacy settings.
• Periodically take a look at your lists on friend connections online and remove the ones you don’t know well.

On Your Computer

• Don’t click on a suspicious link on a web page or email.  
• Also, make sure you use security software and keep it up to date.

On Your Phone
There is mobile malware that can hijack your phone, stealing your contact list and running up bill for more services.

• Protect yourself by only downloading  phone apps from reputable app stores, like the iTunes App Store, Google Play, and the Windows Store.

On the Web 

• Don’t respond to pop-up windows.
• Secure your home Wi-Fi network.
• Set your web browser to auto-update.

Online Shopping or Financial Transactions 

• Don’t shop online, log on to banking sites, or social networking sites on a public computer or public Wifi networks.   Anyone within Wifi range can access and steal your information.   
• Instead, install a personal virtual private network app on your phone or computer to protect your communications.

Use Two-Factor Authentication Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail offer two-factor authentication.  It’s basically an extra layer of security to shield your login in process from hackers.

Update, Update, Update Security software becomes less effective when it’s out of date. Make sure you are diligent with prompt software updates.

You’ve been hacked, now what?

1. The first thing you should do is reset your passwords.  Start with your email account because password resets for all your other accounts are usually sent to your email.  Once that’s done, reset passwords in you financial and critical accounts.
2. Search the help section of a website, such as Facebook, if you are blocked from accessing it.
3. Let your contacts know you’ve been hacked.
4. Report the hacking to the site.
5. Run a scan of your computer or mobile device using a trusted antivirus program.
6. In the case of identity theft, get a copy or your credit reports, file a fraud alert with the major credit bureaus, and monitor monthly statements for any more unusual activity.

There is no way to completely eliminate the risk of hack attacks and other cyber crimes.  However, taking action now to protect yourself can help reduce the damage down the road if you are targeted.

Need help protecting your real estate information? Give us a call at REVStaffing today at 855-738-7821, or visit our website at www.revstaffing.com.

If you want to find out how REVStaffing can help you with your real estate business, click here to schedule an appointment.

Want to save time and money on real estate transactions? Real estate agents can spend less time managing paperwork and transaction coordination is a breeze thanks to zipForm®,  zipLogix’s real estate forms software.  It’s a pioneer in real estate technology, and has become the exclusive and official forms software for NAR.
zipForm® is basically a home for your transactions.  The software offers a suite of online tools to streamline filling out forms and bring clients and agents together to complete transactions.

There are two popular products with zipForm®.  zipForm® Plus is the premier online form software solution for real estate forms, and it’s easy to use!  zipForm® Standard is the desktop solution that has all the transaction creation features without using the internet.

Here are some ways the zipForm® can help your real estate transactions become more efficient without the risk.

• Easy to use and navigate. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Runs on a PC or MAC. (zipForm® Standard)
• Access available from any computer with an internet connection. (zipForm® Plus)
• Email or print forms without creating a transaction file. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Fullscreen form filling capability. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Apply templates at any time during the transaction. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Mobile transaction access available. (zipForm® Plus)
• E-signature integration. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Email selected pages or an entire transaction. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• English and Spanish available. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Built in address book for fast communication. (zipForm® Plus and zipForm® Standard)
• Assign photos to transactions or contacts. (zipForm® Plus)
• Document storage available. (zipForm® Plus)
• Broker management tools to manage agent and transactions with productivity reports. (zipForm® Plus)

Need help with zipForm®?  Give us a call at REVStaffing today at 855-738-7821, or visit our website at www.revstaffing.com.

If you want to find out how REVStaffing can help you with your real estate business, click here to schedule an appointment.