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In the 21st Century information age of Google, Facebook, Twitter and iPhones being connected and having a web presence is a must.  If you have a business whether it be in its infancy or well established opportunities for growth exist online. Every business especially those that provide services to the public, Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Lawyers just to name a few should have a web presence. You need a website to attract customers in the new millennium.  But having a website alone might not be enough? To increase traffic one needs to be engaged in Internet marketing more so than just being listed on Google and placing ads.  Social networking sites are a great way to form a fresh young client base.  Facebook and Twitter are sites consumers are using to connect to their favorite brands.  One of the best ways to provide constant updates on your business, your products or services on social networking sites is to maintain a blog.

A blog? Isn’t that for political and news junkies and teenage girls who follow celebrity crushes and entertainment news?  Is it really for a business?  Absolutely! Businesses are catching on to the world of blogging.  Blogs are for everything and are for everyone!  Many blogs look professional and offer updates on areas of your business’s expertise.  A stock broker or agency may write about the pulse of the market.  Real Estate agents will often give tips and feedback to buyers and sellers, show market trends in the price of houses.  As a business you are offering something free, a sample of your services online to everyone to establish both a rapport and a sense that you are the expert.  The idea is for the consumer to remember this and in return offer you their business.  The goal is to establish a sense of credibility so the next time the consumer whom browses your site needs a service they come to you in trust.

A blog is the best Internet marketing tool because updates and posts can automatically be posted to Twitter and Facebook.  Both Blogger and WordPress are free services that have great hosting abilities and plenty of templates.  In addition with just a click of a button the latest post is added to your Facebook page with a description and picture.  It will even update your Twitter status using the title of the post and link to article.  This is an automatic way to increase traffic.  Twitter is the ultimate free traffic maximizer!  It is a system in which people follow you have your Tweets updated on their homepage.  You could have thousands of people seeing your new post every day.  If you do Twitter right it is easy to get a couple thousand of followers within a few weeks.

Additionally, blogs are great for search engine optimization (SEO) because they often have more posts and constant daily hits due to the updating search engines tend to pick them up faster.  A blog is a must for extreme traffic and sales!

Most people have a personal Facebook page set up which allows them to communicate and interact with their friends and family.  However, many businesses are not taking advantage of this marketing tool and setting up a Facebook fan page for their business.  Having a Facebook fan page allows a business to advertise current promotions or upcoming sales and events.  Additionally, fans and followers of the business and products can keep abreast of company activities and add comments to the fan page.

This type of interaction creates a relationship between the customer and business.  Additionally, research reveals that customers are more likely to buy from a business or sales professional that they feel comfortable with and they can trust.

Facebook provides many opportunities to generate interest in a business. By attracting fans, a business can have access to up to 5,000 people. A business can update fans on new products or news and include links to the information they want to spread the word about.  Additionally, a business can send marketing messages, offers and other lead magnets to their target market to persuade them to “like” their fan page. A business will then have access to their target market. 

Facebook has some additional benefits that many of the other social media networking sites do not.  Facebook allows users to post pictures, video, links and longer posts.  Additionally, fans will able to access a business’s post for up to five years. 

With so many powerful ways to build traffic using Facebook, marketers cannot ignore this medium of generating sales. However, attracting clients and prospects via Facebook can be quite time consuming. Fortunately, there are numerous services and tools that can automate many of the tasks that would take an undue amount of time to complete if they were all being done manually.  Furthermore, Facebook is also a very inexpensive way to promote products or services. A business with a lot of fans will result in simple and easy promotions.

If a business wants to compete in today’s technology driven marketplace then they have to modify their means of communication and way of doing business to accommodate social media interaction.  Social media is used as a tool to stay connected with consumers via the internet; knowing that the internet is a powerful tool for communication. Social media is seen as a means to maintain a sound relationship with existing customers while simultaneously reaching potential customers.

Mikel Erdman, the creator of the SMARTblog automation system, will teach you:

• How to generate quality content
• How to easily get 100% unique and original content  
• How to maximize your time

The information in this webinar is beneficial to busy sales professionals who don’t have time to consistently create quality content while at the same time running their business.

Space is limited.  Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/522529683

Date: May 12, 2011

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am (MT)

Where: Onlilne

For questions, please contact Mikel Erdman at (360) 450-3551, by email at contact@mysmartblog.com or visit him on the web at http://www.mysmartblog.com

Research reveals that people under the age of 40 solely utilize the Web to research information, look up local business information and connect with others.  As a result, real estate agents, mortgage brokers and business owners are advertising through online media sources versus traditional print advertising.  Social media marketing is a term that describes use of social networks, online communities, blogs, or any other online collaborative media for marketing, sales, public relations and customer service.  So what that means is that it is the media we use to be social and connect with customers, prospects and friends.  A popular form of social media is microblogging.  Microblogging is posting messages that are 140 characters or less.  This forces us to be more succinct and get to the point.  Microblogging is like text messaging and a little bit more.  The most popular microblogging site is Twitter. 

Twitter recently reported that it has approximately 200 million users.  Of these users, an average 140 million tweets are sent per day and an average of 460,000 new accounts are created on a daily basis.  With numbers like this, it is obvious that information about a product or service can each millions of users with the click of a mouse.

Using Twitter is a great way for businesses to directly communicate with their prospects and clients.  Additionally, clients can pose questions or easily find out information from the business. Twitter can be used as a low cost marketing tool for communicating business related information, to attain new clients and generate more revenue.

Real estate agents, mortgage brokers and business professionals can harness the power of Twitter by finding prospects and communicating with clients.  However, utilizing Twitter to its full capabilities is more than just creating an account and acquiring followers.  Real estate agents need to consistently post relevant, useful and timely messages to their Twitter account.  Topics can include newly acquired listings, recently sold listings, property price changes, community and neighborhood news, tips on the best neighborhoods to live in and links to information on their website.

The use of social media to connect with prospects and clients is giving businesses a competitive edge.  Those who shy away from such technology will leave the door open for their competition to step in and take over.  Social media is here and it does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon.  Now is the time to jump on board this new technology train and see how far it will take you.

This webinar is designed for entrepreneurs, business owners and sales professionals looking for a way to create an online presence but who don’t have the time to develop a social media marketing plan.  During this webinar, Mikel Erdman will show you how you can get a 100% automated solution, high quality content written for you daily and simple social media syndication. 

Space is limited.  Register online at http://getasmartblog.com/

Date: May 19, 2011

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am (MT)

Where: Onlilne

For questions, please contact Mikel Erdman at (360) 450-3551, by email at contact@mysmartblog.com or visit him on the web at http://www.mysmartblog.com

Mikel Erdman, the creator of the SMARTblog automation system, will teach you:

• How to get quality content
• How to get 100% unique and original content
• How to maximize your time

The information in this webinar is beneficial to busy sales professionals who don’t have time to consistently create quality content while at the same time running their business.

Space is limited.  Reserve your Webinar seat now at:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/974419627

Date: May 5, 2011

Time: 10:00am – 11:00am (mt)

Where: Online

For questions, please contact Mikel Erdman at (360) 450-3551, by email at contact@mysmartblog.com or visit him on the web at http://www.mysmartblog.com

With the rise in social media technology, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, financial planners and insurance agents are discovering how social media can help them generate new business. These professionals have found success in lead generation and sales through the use of social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. With the drop the home sales, agents are heading online and finding new ways to communicate with their customers. Additionally, social media provides a way for businesses to connect with their customers and prospects in ways that are faster and wider spread than traditional forms of marketing

Social media is growing at an enormous rate and there does not seem to be an end in sight. This growth is resulting in a shift in client communications which must be covered in order to stay relevant in the current marketplace. However, staying connected with clients and keeping abreast of the ever growing social media market is time consuming. Many real estate agents and business owners do not use social media and Internet marketing to its full potential because it is too time consuming. Thus, they are missing out on a large percentage of their prospects.

Social media has a number of factors that make it different than traditional media such as newspapers, television, books, and radio.  Social media allows the user the ability to interact and communicate by leaving comments and participating in discussions. Additionally, if real estate agents can influence a group of followers, they can actually create a market position based on social acceptance.  Social media provides a complementary extension to traditional marketing efforts.  The one important difference between social media and traditional marketing is that with social media you can listen to it, measure it and track it over time.  All in all, social media can attract new customers, strengthen existing customer relationships, reinforce brands and enhance loyalty.  Social media has changed the way goods and services are taken to market.

In this rapidly changing world, it seems like technology is taking over the marketplace, and real estate agents and mortgage brokers who don’t communicate with their clients effectively will get snatched up by someone else who will. Social media and Internet marketing allows communication between clients and their customers in order to maintain their positive and professional image while building trust and credibility. To be successful in today’s economy, it is absolutely essential that you have a strong online presence that paints you as the true professional you are.

Being proficient in social media skills isn’t just an option anymore. It’s a necessity. Today’s market in real estate and mortgage lending is online and there’s no turning back the clock.

Real estate agents and mortgage lenders can reach many more potential customers today via online media than can be reached through traditional approaches such as radio spots, television advertising, the yellow pages, and classified sections in periodicals. Many clients are increasingly reliant on the internet to connect with goods and services they need and if an agent or broker is online, he or she will gain business. If they don’t have a web presence, many opportunities to make a sale or loan will be lost.

Many agents and brokers don’t possess the timely skills in online media to effectively communicate with younger clientele who spend much of their life surfing the net, banking, and finding desired information online. The most effective way to compensate for thinking a blog is a swamp monster or social media is a disease is to hire a professional to do the job for you.

Professional web communicators create the consistency and focus needed to create a positive and professional presence for your business. The technical skills and specialized knowledge needed are provided for hard-hitting results in the foreign world of the blog as your message reaches thousands of people who no longer thumb their way through phone books or read the local newspaper. Reaching these clients is important for success and the key to reaching them is social media.

Cost concerns are legitimate business considerations all agents and brokers need to keep in mind. As the world of internet business explodes and more people learn to use it, developing and maintaining a professional online presence is becoming a business necessity. Marketing resources used to launch your business online is advertising money well spent.

An even better way to present a professional online presence while not taking away from your high value daily activities is using an automated social media marketing system.  You can find an excellent example of this high class, low cost system by visiting http://www.getasmartblog.com .

Now is the time to let the online professionals do what they do best: make you competitive and successful.

The most successful real estate agents place great value on developing lifetime relationships with their clients. In today’s competitive marketplace, they are aware that their clients are aggressively prospected and their loyalty cannot be taken for granted. Customer focused real estate companies recognize that relationship building and follow up service are critical components for promoting both customer retention and revenue growth.

Build a relationship
Today we have access to innovative tools such as the Internet, cell phones, faxes, and voicemail all designed to enhance our ability to communicate. Nevertheless, even with all of these technological tools at our disposal, the alarming number of dissatisfied clients, lost sales and failed relationships all reflect the fact that none of us are as effective at communicating as we would like to believe.

Temperament understanding helps to foster effective communication. Research in the field of human psychology indicates people are born into one of four primary behavioral styles: aggressive, expressive, passive, or analytical. Each of these four temperament styles requires a unique approach and communication strategy. For example, if you are working with the impatient, aggressive style, they want a quick fix and a bottom line solution. Under pressure they can be ill tempered and quick to anger. Give them options so you don’t threaten their need for control. Don’t waste their time with chitchat—stick to business. While at the other extreme, the stress-prone analytical style requires more information and is interested in every detail. Their cautious and analytical nature makes them susceptible to buyer’s remorse. Be sensitive to their need for reassurance and guarantees. Once you learn how to identify each of the four primary behavioral styles, you’ll be able to work more effectively with all of your clients.

Communicate effectively
Recognize the importance of nonverbal communication and learn to “listen with your eyes.” It might surprise you to know that research indicates that over 70% of our communication is perceived nonverbally. In fact, studies show that body language has a much greater impact and reliability than the spoken word.

Create a favorable first impression and build rapport quickly by using open body language. In addition to smiling and making good eye contact, you should show the palms of your hands, keep your arms unfolded, and your legs uncrossed.

You can develop harmony by “matching and mirroring” your client’s body language gestures. Matching and mirroring is unconscious mimicry. It is a way of subconsciously telling someone that you like them and agree with them.

Improve your active listening skills. To develop and encourage conversation, use open-ended questions to probe the meaning behind your prospect’s statements. Occasionally repeat your prospect’s words verbatim. By restating their key words or phrases, you not only clarify communication, but also build rapport. Keep your attention focused on what your client is saying and avoid the temptation to interrupt, argue, or dominate the conversation.

Little things make a big difference
Rendering quality customer service is both a responsibility and an opportunity. Often salespeople view customer service as an administrative burden that takes them away from making a sale. The truth is that customer service provides opportunities for cross-selling, up-selling, and generating quality referrals.

Clients describe quality customer service in terms of attention to detail and responsiveness. Customer satisfaction surveys consistently point to the fact that the little things make a big difference. Not surprisingly, the top two customer complaints with regards to customer service are unreturned phone calls and a failure to keep promises and commitments. Make an effort to see yourself through your clients’ eyes. True customer service is meeting and surpassing your clients’ expectations.

Successful salespeople “go the extra mile” when providing service and turn the customers they serve into advocates to help them promote their business. Your referrals and follow on business are in direct proportion to the quality and quantity of service you render on a daily basis. Want more referrals? Improve your service.

Here are five powerful ways to improve the service you provide your clients:

-Under-promise and over-deliver. Develop a reputation for reliability; never make a promise that you can’t keep. Your word is your bond.

-Pay attention to the small things. Get in the habit of returning phone calls, e-mails and other correspondence quickly. Follow up, follow up, and follow up.

-Stay in contact and keep good records. Take the time to jot down notes from meetings and phone calls making certain to record all relevant information. Maintain a written record of service. This is especially helpful when clients are reassigned to new agents. Setup a suspense system to track important contact dates such as client review calls and birthdays. Consider sending a personal note or an article of interest every six months.

-Give your clients a promotional gift. Consider sending them a letter opener, coffee mug, or a calendar with your picture and contact information.

-Establish a feedback system to monitor how your clients perceive the quality and quantity of the service you provide. Service is not defined by what you think it is, but rather how your customers perceive its value. When it comes to customer service, perception is reality.

Progressive companies emphasize commitment to customer service from the top down by establishing training standards and continuously monitoring customer satisfaction. Companies that fail to implement an effective customer service program actually do a disservice to their customers and unknowingly, leave the backdoor open to their competitors. If you do it right, sales and service blend seamlessly and you will exceed your customers’ expectations.

John Boe presents a wide variety of motivational and sales-oriented keynotes and seminar programs for sales meetings and conventions. John is a nationally recognized sales trainer and business motivational speaker with an impeccable track record in the meeting industry. To have John speak at your next event, visit www.johnboe.com or call 937-299-9001. Free Newsletter available on website.