Christine Wade

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

This is my 13th edition of my Tipsy Tuesday posts...that means that I have stuck with it for a quarter of a year! I have done other blog posts of course, but I committed (in my own head anyway) to doing this tips and advice column / post for at least a year and I am a quarter of the way there! Thank you all for reading and it would mean the world to me if you would sign up for my blog subscription via email. You can simply click on the link at the bottom of this post...thanks for sticking with me, I so appreciate your time in reading and commenting on my Tipsy Tuesday posts. I hope you enjoy this milestone post!

• Tip #13 - Roadmap to Become a Blogger
  
  There is a great FREE ebook out there, put out by BecomeABlogger.com, it's fairly new...just this month I believe. You can go here to download it for free.
  
  The report details 5 milestones that you must reach to become a successful blogger as well as 13 "X-FActor" strategies for successful blogging.
  
  I just finished reading it and I think it was worth my time for sure. It's well organized and well illustrated. Do I think that all the info in it applies to real estate blogging? No. But I think that it's a great place to go get some ideas on blogging strategies and where you should be focusing your efforts. It discusses multi-media blogging and social media as well, which I found particularly interesting. I have printed the ebook out and put it into a 3 ring binder so that I can keep referring back to it.
  
  And yes, of course, some of these strategies could definitely be handled by your Real Estate Virtual Assistant to free up some time for you to get out there and sell real estate!

• Tipsy #13 - The Chocolate Candy Cane
  
  OK, by now I am sure you have realized that I am a chocolate lover, as well as an avid Starbuck's fan...this drink is the best of both worlds, with a holiday twist! Mix one up tonight...skip desert...this is way better :-)
  
  Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and pour into a martini glass...garnish with a mini candy cane as a stirrer.
  
  
  • 1 shot Starbuck's Coffee liquor
  • 1 shot Starbuck's Creme liquor
  • 1/4 - 1/2 shot (to taste) Peppermint Schnaps
  • Mini Candy Canes
    

This post was inspired by a Google Blog Alert I received from another, non-real estate Virtual Assistant. Her blog post was strictly on showing your appreciation to your Virtual Assistant, and included paid gifts and such...and although I do not want my clients to go out and buy me gifts, that's not really my thing, it did get my brain waves going and inspired this blog post.

So, is there someone out there in the business world that you truly appreciate, but don't want to send a costly gift that they might never use? Why not give them something that will be out there on the Internet for all time...the gift that keeps on giving...word of mouth! And don't let them find out about your good deed accidentally - send them a holiday themed email and let them know. Here are some ideas:

1. Endorsements - many social networks, like Linked In, have an endorsement feature. This is like a testimonial...basically it is like telling the world that you've worked with them and you would recommend them. Anytime you can do this for a service provider, it is something that is really appreciated.
   
2. Write a nice testimonial that speaks to your service provider's potential clients. What would you want to know about them, what they excel at, etc...if you were considering hiring them all over again? Give your service provider explicit permission to use this testimonial in whatever manner they see fit: print, website, newsletter, etc...
   
3. Create a link on your website called "Preferred Service Providers" or something similar and write a nice summary of their services and link to their website.
   
4. Rank them - many trade organizations that service providers belong to have a ranking system tied to their member profiles, you can go in and rank them from 1 - 10, give them so many gold stars, etc...this is always appreciated!
   
5. Refer a potential client to them...you love to get referrals...so do your service providers!
   
6. Print out an award certificate from your computer, with a GOAT on it or something...that says "Greatest of All Time" on it (get it, G.O.A.T?) - or any type of paper award that says whatever sentiment you deem appropriate and mail it to them. There are tons of templates in your Microsoft programs or online for such things. They can scan the award into their own computer so that they can use it on their website, etc...
   
7. Go to Audio Acrobat or other online recording type service that does podcasts and record an audio testimonial of their services, or video if you prefer...send it to them and I am sure they will be thrilled!
   
8. Blog about them! With a link to their site of course :-)

I know that when you find a great service provider out there, you tend to want to keep them all to yourself...but is that really fair? Tell them, and the whole world, how great they are and how much you appreciate them and the service that they provide to you. Be specific. How have they saved you time, money and energy...saving you frustration is sometimes priceless as well. Honor your service providers by telling others about them so that they can continue to stay in business and continue to provide you with the services that you have come to rely on and enjoy! Happy Holidays!

My blog is called "The 10 Hour VA" and I am often asked about it. People think that I am limiting myself to saying that I will only work with clients for a maximum of 10 hours per month, which isn't true. I will take clients, space permitting, for up to 25 hours per month. But your name is supposed to attract attention and convey a message, right? Well, the message that I want to convey, is that I can create a lot of value for my clients in just up to 10 hours per month!

My concept is that clients who partner with me for 10 hours per month, on retainer, have a clear outlined value that they can expect to receive. I'm not going to punch a time clock, I am not going to be micro-managed and report to my clients every minute of my time - because all that does is waste time, what I am going to do is work. Work to achieve value for my clients. Money comes hard, especially these days with the turn in the market...I have faith that it will turn around...but I want to work with you now, and show you how working with eRealty Network, LLC can improve your overall marketing efforts, administrative effectiveness, and basically take over the parts of running your business that you put off or don't excel at and help your business grow financially. Then maybe that money will come a little easier...

Don't believe me? Here are some examples of what can be accomplished on my The Value of 10 plan:

Example #1:

• Update blog weekly
• Update print version of office inventory weekly
• Update listings on website weekly
• Update contacts in database and send out newsletter monthly
  (This stuff has to be done and the value of having it done well by a virtual assistant specializing in real estate support services, as opposed to by an entry level in office assistant who just wants to collect her weekly paycheck is astonishing.)

Example #2:

• Prepare listing presentations
• Research and contact the expired listings in your target area
• Research and contact the FSBOs in your target area
• Send greeting cards to your sphere of influence
  (Just one contract obtained from either of these methods could more than pay for our fees for about 2 years!)

Example #3: (we call this our Web 2.0 package)

• Focuses all our time on marketing your site on the web...everything from search engine optimization, blogging, improving website content for search engine performance, writing press releases and submitting them, submitting your site to various real estate directories, constantly keeping website and content fresh and new to improve your rankings and bring you new traffic.
  (Don't get left behind...who's the agent in your office or neighborhood who seems to be the "charmed one"? You can bet that whomever they are...they are paying attention to all things internet! 80% of all home buyers use the Internet, according to a NAR profile from 2006...and those numbers have most likely increased since then.)

Those are just a few samples of how working with The 10 Hour VA can improve your overall business performance and free you up to sell real estate! Your package can be as customized as you like, according to your needs, a complete list of our services can be found towards the bottom of the page here; however if you don't see a service that you are interested in than please ask me - I'm sure I can help. Like I said above, I do offer higher retainer packages containing more hours; however, I feel that the value that can be brought to your business just by partnering with me for 10 hours is a great way to start.

There's still time! Let me help you get those holiday cards out quickly, conveniently and inexpensively.

If you send me your contact list in Excel Format, I will upload it into my contact manager and send out real, high quality, glossy cards to your entire list...printed and mailed with a first class postage stamp. You need to allow 7-10 business days for the cards to arrive, plus 24 hours turn around time for my portion of the services. You can choose from thousands of cards (I will send you a guest username and password to give you temporary access to the card catalog once you email me that you are interested), or send me an image to put on the front for you. I can also create a completely customized card for you for a small additional charge. You won't need to lift a finger once you send me your list...no folding, stuffing, sealing or stamping...it will all be done for you!

The fees for the cards will be as follows: (There is a 25 card minimum)

• 25-50 cards @ $2.50 each
  
• 51-100 cards @ $2.25 each
  
• 101-200 cards @ $2.00 each
  
• 200+ cards (1000 limit) @ $1.75 each
  

If you're interested, send me an email to ceo@eRealtyNetwork.org and I will send you a very simple one page form to fill out, along with a link to make the payment , and also send you the guest user name and password so that you can begin to browse through the product catalog. Sample cards available upon request, but hurry, time is of the essence for holiday delivery.

• Tip #12 - Rainmaker E-Central
  I just now finished a training call provided by the Gooder Group, through my association with REVA Roundtable, on Rainmaker E-Central and I have to say that I am impressed! The extent of content that they provide for both your website and your newsletter / drip email marketing campaigns is really extensive. Their prices are very reasonable and you have great flexibility within the system, so if you are working with an html literate VA (much like myself) and you want to have your VA doctor up the pieces and really make them your own, that capability is definitely built in...which is awesome, because few systems allow that. If you are looking for a great content provider / drip email campaign manager that does a wonderful job at capturing and converting leads from your website, please contact me privately. The folks over there were nice enough to give me a discount code to share with real estate agents that I work with...and it will save you a huge chunk of change on your setup fees!
  
  I don't promote programs often...most I deem unworthy...but I believe that Rainmaker E-Central would be a great addition to your online marketing efforts. You can go over there and try out the DEMO, it is not a complete version, but it will give you an idea of how great it is. Remember - don't sign up without contacting me first so that I can work with you to get you that great discount!!!

• Tipsy #12 - Ginger Maker
  I was out at the desert this weekend, playing on the off-road toys with the family, and I was craving this drink...which tells you how good it is. I was out of Maker's, so I never got it. I am going to have one at dinner tonight though for my husband's birthday. It's really simple. 2 ingredients (which makes it a great camping beverage...but you can totally dress it up also).
  • 1 1/2 oz. Maker's Mark Whiskey
  • Ginger Ale
    Fill a highball or other glass with cube ice, pour in Maker's, fill glass with Ginger Ale. Garnish with lime or shaved ginger to "pretty it up" Enjoy!