Christine Wade

Joni Mueller, of Pixelita Designs LLC, (http://www.pixelita.com) just brought to my attention that in November of 2008, Google put out an ebook type webmaster's resource.

It's called "Google's Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide", it's 22 pages filled with Google's own word on SEO. I have downloaded it and see that it's rich in screen shots, easy to follow "best practices" information, etc...

I know that there are so many real estate agents out there who have neither the time nor the inclination to learn all this stuff...but you MUST familiarize yourself with the terminology, and basic principles...and then pass it off to your Real Estate Virtual Assistant, webmaster, SEO expert, etc... to actually put in the hours! If you don't have at least the basic knowledge of what it all means...I'm sorry to have to say it, but I see so many of my real estate friends, colleagues, and clients get taken to the cleaners - and it doesn't have to happen! If you just took an hour every quarter or so to look over a document like this, you would have the understanding to make informed decisions and not just "buy" the "stuff" that "salesman X" is slinging! LOL (I kept it rated PG)

Here's the link to the Google document. READ IT!

DATE: Thursday, January 15, 2009
TIME: 5pm PST / 6pm MST / 7pm CST / 8pm EST
DURATION: 60 minutes (call in 10 min. early to secure your seat)
COST: FREE!

Determined to make 2009 your best year ever? Wondering how to create a vision board that keeps you powerfully aligned with your dreams? Curious about other success tools you can use to keep yourself on track all year long?

Cari Vollmer, the Passion into Profit mentor and founder of LifeOnTrack.com will teach us her world famous vision boarding process and share with us other tips for staying on track all year long.

Cari knows from first-hand, in-the-trenches experience what you must know and do to launch and then run a successful small business that's also a reflection of your passions and divine life's purpose. It's not rocket science, and you can do it!

"If you're a small business owner, you have a divine purpose to share what you know—your gifts—with others," says Cari. "THAT'S why it's important to surround yourself with powerful reminders of your intentions and dreams."

Keeping your business on the right track isn't rocket science either IF you surround yourself with powerful reminders of your greatest potential. In this cotent-rich teleclass, Cari will share with us:

• Her world-famous vision boarding process
• The #1 question to ask yourself if you want to have your best year ever
• 3 things she did to transform her business (that you can do, too)
• How to make sure your business stays on track

... and much, much more!

Be sure to register today to reserve your spot!

REGISTER TODAY!

ABOUT eRealty Network, LLC: Real Estate Virtual Assistant, many certifications, in business since 2000, over 18 years of administrative experience, licensed agent in California, specializing in value based services, long term... Sign up to receive my blog via email!

It's the beginning of the year, and everyone is thinking "NEW" - but what about "OLD"? We need to maintain what is already in existance. Here is a list of 5 things that you need to take care of now :

1. Make sure that the Copy Right notice on your website / blogs, etc... has been updated to include 2009. Copyright notice should look something like: "Copyright © 2000-2009 eRealty Network, LLC --- All Rights Reserved."
   
2. Make sure that your contact information on all your sites and blogs is current and accurate. Think to include new contact means like IM,
   Text, Skype, etc...
   
3. Test your forms. They may have been created years ago, and since the market has slowed maybe you have just assumed that no one is using them, but they could have stopped working if the programmer's scripts were changed, if the host no longer is supporting certain scripts, etc... (make sure your confirmation pages after the forms are filled out work correctly as well)
   
   
4. Validate all your links. That's just fancy talk for "make sure they work"! 2009 is going to show greater relevance placed by Google on a site's usability and broken links are not good! Google is going to be placing much more influence on how visitors use your site - Google Analytics should become your new best friend.
   
5. Review all your domain registration and hosting information, make sure your contact info is updated with them and set calendar reminders of your renewal dates...you don't want to find out the hard way that you've missed a renewal deadline...or miss potential business because of it!

Those were fairly simple, weren't they? Now you're 5 steps closer to getting 2009 started off on the right foot - give yourself a cheer! Actually - I've already done it for you :-) (Don't forget that these items could all be handled skillfully by your Real Estate Virtual Assistant if you don't have room for them on your own plate.)

• Tip #16 - Save Time in 2009!
  I hate to waste time on anything...I am always looking for short cuts and tricks...so here are some that I use most often that I thought I would share with you! (These are for PC users only)
  
  
  • I hate scrolling to the top or bottom of pages to find the navigation links that I need...so I use the END and HOME keys on my keyboard instead.
    
    
  • Do you use your right click on your mouse for Copy, Cut and Paste functions? Sometimes it's easier and faster to use CTRL + C (copy), CTRL + X (cut) and CTRL + V (paste) instead! (and when working in certain canned real estate sites you run into trouble with pop up blockers, etc...and when your right click won't work, the CTRL + short cuts usually will!
    
    
  • Instead of highlighting text and going to the edit menus to make it BOLD or ITALICS, simply use CTRL + B (bold) or CTRL + I (Italic).
    
    
  • To open your START menu just use CTRL + ESC.
    
    
  • ALT + TAB to switch between open programs.
    
    
  • ALT + F4 closes an open window.
    
    
  • And my FAVORITE that I use all the time...because I always seem to mess something up...is the UNDO shortcut...CTRL + Z (Z - as in your last resort! LOL).
  
  I hope you find these tips as useful as I do...I use them all frequently!
  
• Tipsy #16 - The Naked Drink
  I cannot believe that after all the whooping and hollering that you did over New Year's and the holiday season in general that you came here today looking for a cocktail recipe! Well...alright...ask and ye shall receive!
  
  The Naked Drink:
  • Fill glass 1/4 full with ice cubes
  • Fill the rest of the way with water
  • Squeeze in the juice from 1/4 of a lemon....your liver needs cleansing!!!
    
  ENJOY!!! Come back next week...we'll be off the wagon by then and have something yummy and "adult" to share with you! LOL

It's sad to bid 2008 adieux; however, on some level I am definitely glad to see it go! 2009 is less than 48 hours away and before you try the recipes for Jello Shooters in this post, you should really focus on what you're going to do the first week of 2009! I'm here to help, so here's a quick list...

• Tip #15 - Checklist for the First Week of 2009
  
  
  • Clean your desk and work area! (Success can't flourish in a mess...you can't focus on the task at hand when wallowing in chaos!)
  • Make those lists! Not your generic "To Do" lists, but a full list of your goals for 2009...
  • Now look at that list of Goals and spend some time analyzing them...what do you need to do to get those goals achieved? How are they going to happen? Now break that Goals list down into steps...these steps become your long term "To Do" List.
  • You can't do it all alone...do what you do best and outsource the rest! (coaches, web designers, marketing gurus, Real Estate Virtual Assistants...these professionals should all be thought of as tools for your trade...look at that list of Goals and see what professionals you need to utilize to make those Goals a reality!)
    
  • Think numbers - you have to be realistic with your budget! It's crazy to go out and sign up for every subscription promising results that lands in your inbox. Print advertising is in most cases a thing of the past, so you can take that budget and roll it over to online marketing expenses, such as website upgrades, a Real Estate Virtual Assistant, etc...since these are still costs that will show a return on investment like print advertising once did. Other expenses like your MLS fees, brokerage fees, phone expenses, internet expenses, gas expenses, etc...need to be accounted for. This is the year to do what works and works for you...and drop the excess!
  • Schedule - while we need to be flexible with out schedules in this industry to allow for interacting with clients / customers, we also should have a generic schedule...what gets done on certain days of the week? Its great if you set aside early morning or late evening hours to do you admin / marketing tasks...and put something on every day...you have to have a path to follow or you just get lost straight out of the gate!
  
  These are all things that will get your 2009 off to a great start, readdress your list quarterly to see where changes are needed. Happy New Year - may we all prosper, give back to others and enjoy our lives!
  
• Tipsy #15 - New Year's Eve Shooters!
  OK, I am going to be in the desert with friends this New Year's Eve, and it is typically cold outside...I don't want to be carrying an ice cold drink around with me all night! So, I am going to resort to my early adult days and "eat my alcohol"! LOL To make the shooters, you need 1 oz plastic cups or you can use ice cube trays, make sure you spray them with Pam lightly - you won't taste it, but you'll sure be glad you did it when your shooters slide out nicely! To make them, just follow the recipe on the box...use all the boiling hot water called for, then replace the cold water with the freezer COLD alcohol.
  
  Here are some ideas for tasty holiday treats:
  • Sparkling White Grape Jell-O and Vodka
  • Lime Jell-O and Tequila (margarita like)
  • Raspberry Jell-O, replace boiling water with Cranberry Juice Cocktail (boiling), Vodka and a splash of lime in each mold.
  • For something "warm" I am going to try this recipe for Red Hot Jell-o Shots: 2 (3 oz) packages Jello (unflavored), 2 cups boiling water, ½ cup cold water, 2 cups Cinnamon Schnapps and a bit of red food coloring