Carol Harris, Realtor, ABR, e-PRO

I hope everyone had a wonderful day today. Easter comes and Easter goes but the meaning of the day is always here. I thank God everyday for the fact that Jesus died on the cross for me. And you. Each and everyone of us. It is very simple. He died so we could live, and blog. I have been very busy lately and have not been blogging as much as usual, so today I thought I would just talk. No linking and connecting... just talk. Talk about all things important. God, Jesus, a beautiful Easter day, a family that loves me, a beautiful home, too many material things, a wonderful husband..... I could go on and on. Of course being a Real Estate Agent all of these things revolve around the "Home." Everything I do starts out at "Home." Even my prayers are normally said at "Home." Where would we be if we didn't have a "Home?" I often think about how blessed I am and how good life is for me. It is not without trials and frustrations, but it is GOOD. I am quick to remind the children about the glass, "half empty or half full, it's your choice." It is our choice. Our choice to be positive and help others find there own bliss. Help them find a home of their own. Peace of mind, the ability to thank their lucky stars that they have a "home" and somewhere to sleep at night. Somewhere to call "Home." Somewhere that is safe. Somewhere that is their own. Somewhere on Holidays they can have loved ones and friends over and share a quiet meal and give thanks for all that is good. That is what is good about Real Estate, being able to make a difference in peoples lives. That makes a difference in my life. That makes me feel like a human being. It gives me purpose, a reason to wake up everyday and go out and be productive. It gives me joy and peace when I get to do something good for someone else. How about you? What makes you feel good? What drives you? Whatever it is, I hope it is Good....

Thanks for reading my Blog.... it is important to me. Have a great week!

Wow, I read so many blogs here and comment on several, and all these people think they cannot blog! I think we all go brain dead on occasion and have to reach deep inside our brains for content that we don't even know we have. We ALL have something to share whether it is Tour experience, people experience, new software that is helpful, problems and solutions that we have personally experienced, or just something funny that happened on the way to the market. SHARE.... that is the word to remember. Share your ideas, your successes, your failures. We are all looking to accomplish the same thing. We will do this in many different ways with many different stories. I have learned so very much from all of you out there and I am happy to have had this oppotunity to tell you just how much it has helped me. When you run out of ideas just read someone else's ideas and you will come up with "well I would do it this way" and there is your new idea. God created us all different so we could take advantage of our own unique abilities. The same idea will work differently for a hundred different people using it in their own way. So be creative, be silly. Silly often works for me. When you go to different sites, write down how you think you would change their ideas into your own. Keep a notebook with all of your Creative thoughts and when the fog sets in you can just go and snag one of those ideas you haven't yet used. Better yet, revisit an idea that you have performed and made better and expound on what you originally wrote. Not only are the times changing, we are changing with it. I used to work at a Paper Mill (in a previous life, now that is hard work)and just read where they are shutting down a machine due to lack of orders. Well, that is change, but what they didn't write is that it is growth that is shutting down that machine. Growth into a new way of doing business. It is the internet and growth in that direction, email instead of snail mail. I am ready for it. The internet is creating so many new jobs and loosing some "old fashioned" jobs in the process. More of that is going to happen so if we are smart we will be ready for it. I have compassion for those loosing the jobs, and I hope they are smart enough to see it as a positive thing as well as the end of an era. Loss and change are hard, but necessary. Remember that in your business so you don't get caught in that trap.... now, that is the purpose of this story, we share and we stay on top. Isn't that what blogging is really all about? I think so. Stay on top and don't get "Left Behind" (one of my original blogs last year was about so many being left behind with print advertising).

Good luck to you all and keep Blogging....... it keeps your thoughts alive.!

Well, I have to admit that I am skeptical of lead generation programs. However, I do trust Active Rain and if they are in this with Market Leader, then maybe it is worth a look. I think in this slow market we have to be skeptical but we also have to do everything we can to promote our businesses and ourselves. I hate to spend money at times like these but after looking at all the positive comments I think this might be a good way to spend some to make some. I have to get a few answers first though,

1. Like, how much? Monthly? Annually, Start-Up?
2. Can you cancel at any time or do you have to remain for at least a year?
3. What are the "total" start up cost?
4. Are there any guarantees?
5. Is My MLS even working with Growth Leader?

I spoke with a Growth Leader Representative today and according to Bridgette, our MLS is not currently a part of this new thing. But don't worry, she will contact me as soon as it is and then I can make that decision to move forward with Growth Leader. I am looking forward to learning more about it so I will be anxiously awaiting her call! I hope it doesn't take too long, I would hate to miss out on anything that will help in this market.

I ask myself the question of where to advertise every single week. I look at different publication and wonder just how many Qualified Buyers are looking at print ads verses the internet. I guess the biggest question is not whether or not you do print advertising, we all know the Real Estate Book does find its way into many hands that are looking to buy, but how many of them actually buy from the ads they see in the book? Right now in our area most of our Buyers are coming from out of the area, so unless they order the Real Estate Book or view it online they are not seeing it. Statistics say that as many as 86% of Buyers start their search on the internet, (and if you are 44 or younger the number is more like 91%) and most pick the agent that comes up first in their search for an agent (again, on the internet). This is one reason I just signed up with RTV, and I am looking forward to all the benefits of this new and exciting business I am starting. I think putting a 360 Tour in Front of all the Internet Viewers will definately increase my presence on the internet. I know if I search for something I look at picture ads first... I bet most other lookers do too. Sooooo.... does that mean that internet advertising should come first? In this age of poor economy do we even advertise in print? I am excited about getting the Panoriders as I believe this will bring alot of the "ride by" traffic right to my inbox. I think we all better spend our advertising dollars as efficiently as possible and make them as effective as we possible can. I am going to continue to ask the question week after week so I can continue to evolve with the times. I don't want to get left behind. In this age of Technology, you better continually ask yourself where and how to receive the best bang for your buck. I try to spend my advertising money in the best places possible. Give me a comment back and let me know what you think about advertising in print media. I sure would like some other points of view. Don't forget to check out my Website, and my other blogs about Brickhouse Landing Subdivision, Prince George VA, the Economy, House Values in Your Neighborhood, and my Current Listings. I always have something good going on..... Thanks for reading me!

	CAROL HARRIS Realtor, ABR, e-PRO
Carol Harris 4609 Courthouse Road,, Prince George, VA 23875 direct: 804-722-0412 cell: 804-731-4113 fax: 804-541-7258 equinerealtor@msn.com carolanneharris.com

I am a new RTV Dealer . Even though I can't sign in to all the places, I have found so much helpful information here I don't know where to start. I am amazed at how blogging and networking really make a difference. I have been blogging for some time now... almost 6 months. I have really enjoyed it. I have always enjoyed writing and it gives me that outlet to say the things that are important to me whether anyone listens or not. I am beginning to understand all the linking back and forth and I am beginning to get good at it. It is kinda like a game. You have to think about it to make it work right and if you link back to your site enough, you will win the game. I do have a web page and I think it is pretty nice. It has lots of information for Home Buyers and Sellers. I also have the "Market Snapshot" on my site and it is absolutely wonderful. A great tool for customers/clients with neighborhood sales information available to anyone who chooses to use it. You should check it out, you will find yourself playing with it for hours. My Site is a templated type of web site. I am thinking about changing it to one that is not template oriented but I am not sure that I want to be that responsible for the content. On the other hand it could be much more personal. I would love to get some comments about any of the above mentioned issues. I appreciate different points of view. Please comment back, it will make me smile.

	CAROL HARRIS Realtor, ABR, e-PRO
Carol Harris 4609 Courthouse Road,, Prince George, VA 23875 direct: 804-722-0412 cell: 804-731-4113 fax: 804-541-7258 equinerealtor@msn.com carolanneharris.com