I admit it. My job is a lot of fun sometimes. After my 2nd book on Real Estate Marketing was published, I was invited to test drive a lot of new products and services. I get the latest toys and cameras from Nikon, Sony and the other guys. When Google has new products I often get them way in advance of any public test.
Google has a new browser in BETA and I love this new browser. A lot.
It's called CHROME and it's very Google simple. Stupid simple. Lots of white space. Intuitive to be sure. In my mind -- a potential assassin for Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
Why Is Google Launching its own Browser?
Steve Balmer made some dumb moves not long ago. Like the one when he got all pissy and attempted a hostile take over of Yahoo! when the board didn't agree to Microsoft's offer. No means no. Apparently one of the golden rules that Steve didn't learn when he was growing up.
Microsoft's dominance can't last forever. Nothing lasts forever except, styrofoam. The cup you threw away today will still be here 50,000 years from now (Source: Los Alamos National Labs).
Apple's introduction of the Intel chip into the new Macs means we can now install Mac OS X and a true running Windows XP on the same computer. Someone right now, is taking another look at IBM's dead operating system: OS2 Warp. It failed miserably but it's time for an alternative to Microsoft's Operating System. The VISTA operating system isn't anything to write home to Mom about. Apple's TV commercials poke fun at the pitfalls and bugs that still to this day remain a headache for many PC users. It's time for new and improved. Unfortunately for Microsoft, they just ain't delivering.
Let the Search Engine Wars Begin. The latest interation of Microsoft's Internet Explorer has a great feature for end users -- but a crappy one for advertisers. IE now allows users to surf in private (AD free.) A scary proposition when you consider billions of dollars is made in on-line advertising every year.
I'm fed up with interruption marketing ads. I especially hate them on TV. A new Satellite company called SelectStar is about to do the same thing to TV satellite owners that Microsoft allows now for many users -- see the stuff you want -- AD FREE.
Remove the stupid commercials from all of your favorite TV channels. Any President who promises me that will certainly get my vote. I'll happily trade $4 a gallon gas if you just give me TV with no more stupid ads! I want to watch Discovery, TBS and SciFi channels ad free. And why not? I'm already paying $70 a month for the service so why do I have to pay to watch ads I don't want to see? Am I paying for the ads? I don't want to. I want to pay for programming. I want to watch my TV shows like I see in the theatre. Commercial free.
The SelectStar dish looks more like a bent plus sign and it has a neon blue glow to it. So when you look out your living room window at night and scan the horizon for your neighbors roof tops, you can easily SEE who has the SelectStar Dish. It's a combination dish reception and Internet broadband product. It's the first satellite company to do away 100% with all advertising. Even your local channels will be ad free. But there's a tiny catch. The programming will be ten minutes delayed. And if you're really sick and tired of Bravo and Spike or A&E advertising what's coming up in four hours placing tiny animation ads on the bottom of your TV screen while you're already watching another program -- this goes away too. That stuff really bugs me. I wish I still had my TV brick to toss at my Sharp LCD TV. It was a cool, RONCO sort of product when you wanted to toss a real brick at your TV, but this was nerf foam. Like the indoor foot ball.
The revenues for the programming will come purely from subscriber dollars. So if you were in a coma from 1974 when you had a huge 12 foot dish in your backyard and you wake up in December 2009 (when Select Star launches) you'll be right at home. You won't see a single TV commercial. Ever.
Sorry for getting into the weeds, but I've said more that I should have about SelectStar. Back to Google and Microsoft here.
Google retaliated against Microsoft with a beta version of their browser. Microsoft points a pea shooter at Google. Google comes back and points the equivalent of a Scud Missile back at Microsoft and they have a lot to lose here. Microsoft currently dominates 72 - 74% of the browser market.
But Microsoft has failed to deliver many needed upgrades such as a Desktop to Cell Phone / iPhone or other WAP enabled device. Apple's Safari works great on the iPhone but can you imagine a Google browser that offers direct access to Google search, Google widgets and allows all the benefits of accessing your documents, appointment calendar and a lot more.
The promise of Web 2.0 stuff for Real Estate has been largely talked about, but few companies are innovating an all in one Web 2.0 experience for listings management, virtual tours, Showings appointments, broker/agent notes, transaction management and drip email marketing tools.
The problem with Real Estate 2.0 has been the browser. Many browsers cannot handle the latest release of AJAX, XML and a lot of the new server side goodies with nifty tools like drag and drop saving of (favorites) in a SuperIDX system. You develop a web-based form and it works just fine for IE Explorer 7.x users. But the people using Safari cannot see it, nor can the people using FireFox or Opera. We've all been there. You hear about a great website, you go there and all you see is a white page. Or it rudely informs you -- That you have to be on a PC running FireFox, or Explorer, etc.
I applaud the Google effort to build a better browser. I'm quite frankly fed up with the sneak attacks and security loopholes in Microsoft's Explorer. It is the most hacked program out there and I'm getting fed up with seeing my Outlook Express file get stolen along with my other Microsoft files from time to time.
Way to go Google. Way to go.
- Bart
If your dream of making money in real estate is eroding under your very feet... call me. Our proven coaching has helped REALTORS achieve success.
Are your dreams of becoming a million dollar producer fading?
Does Facebook and Social Media confuse you?
Do you see other REALTORS achieving more success -- and you wish you knew what their secrets are?
14 years ago while with Netscape, I helped build the Internet. As a former Real Estate sales professional, I learned how to blend traditional real estate marketing with what I learned at Netscape. Today -- I'm a successful author, motivational speaker and real estate success coach.
My techniques work. Our small team of highly gifted people are all ex real estate people. Since 1997, we've helped many REALTORS put "butts in seats," and "made our clients' cash registers ring," again.
If you're tired of chasing success and firing one marketing bozo after another --- maybe it's time you called a firm that's a bunch of seasoned REALTORS who've "been there and done that." We've had 12 years documenting the success and failures of countless brokers and agents.
It doesn't matter if you're a 30-year veteran or a rookie REALTOR... we can help you. Our proven Real Estate Coaching and Marketing Services include built from scratch, SEO friendly websites, Social Media training and Facebook fan pages. When put together, this explosive combination will give you the marketing firepower to out sell, out motivate and out shine the competition.
We only work with one broker or one agent team per market.
So what are you waiting for... a sign? Call us today, and put your real estate career BACK on the track to success tomorrow.
"Hiring Bart from Voyager (VPiX®) was the best thing I could have done in 2008. This was the best marketing investment I ever made. Since everyone knows the power of the Internet, Bart certainly knows how to get agents from nowhere to being up front and visible when it comes to search engine rankings. My advice to others on ActiveRain... if your area is open, snatch Bart up now before your competitor does."
-- Jamie Mades, REALTOR. Keller Williams | Colorado Springs Team
“Bart is one of those rare creative graphics wizards who can bull doze any website with a "make over," with his "Ninja" graphics creative director abilities. He consistently delivers results for each of his clients by producing a clean website designs that are instantly recognizable as Bart's work. If Bart wasn't one of the senior share holders at Voyager (VPiX), lots of companies would be vying to have him on their full-time payroll.”
-- Ashish Agrawal, Google
“I was very fortunate to be trained by Bart Wilson in photography and virtual tours at Voyager International (VPiX). He is a true professional. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable in his field, but also honest and conscientious. I highly recommend Bart and his entire team.”
-- Guy Coates, Owner Gemini360.com (a REALTOR and a virtual tour company doing business in Prescott, AZ)
“Bart is an outstanding entrepreneur who is able to listen to customer issues, and develop solutions that address their pain points. As a result, he has developed real estate technology solution that resonates with real estate professionals and franchise owners.”
-- John Chan, Sr. Product Manager, BlueArc.com
“Bart's expertise in his field is matched only by his commitment to client satisfaction. He is phenomenal to work with, and his services are a tremendous asset.”
-- Rosanna Tussey, Virtual Assistant to Ralph Roberts
“Bart is one of those visionary guys who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty. He's got to be the hardest working man in the real estate world. His tenacity is admirable. He always maintains a positive outlook and he makes things happen."
-- Prof. Karl Baehr, Emerson University, Boston
“Bart, I wanted to thank you and Voyager (VPiX) for everything you have done to help our business. Getting us page one ranking on all our important keywords has been awesome. We engaged you two years ago to help improve our natural ranking on the major search sites like Google, Yahoo and MSN and you delivered. Your knowledge of the business and constant tweaking on our sites has resulted in getting, and mainining, page one rankings. Earlier this year you suggested a rebuild to our site to make it even more search engine friendly and again you came through with our position improving on Google, Yahoo and MSN. Page one ranking has had a direct impact on improving our sales. I have nothing but positive things to say about you and your company.”
-- Terry Pullan, CEO of Pullan Communications eProspecting.com. A Division of Dominion Enterprises
Bart (personally) designed a custom 20 page brochure and a DVD video to help our brokerage market a $64 million dollar California ranch property. I would recommend Bart Wilson to any luxury broker who demands the very finest in real estate marketing services. If you have a high profile, Hollywood type client that needs to sell their estate, you might consider Christies Great Estates or another luxury marketing firm but Bart's marketing firm is actually better qualified and does the work at a very reasonable rate. They are discreet about their clients and they are the very best at what they do.
-- Michael Bohnen, Bohnen Real Estate
I've used every possible invention of 360 virtual tour equipment on the planet including all of the national photo service companies and Voyager is simply the best. Their do it yourself 360 virtual tour kits are easy to use and affordable to own as advertised.
-- Ralph Roberts, Ralph Roberts Realty. Profiled by CNN as America's Scariest Salesman
When our Windermere Real Estate office was set up, I got volunteered with the task of finding a way to do 360 virtual tour s in house.
Real Tour Vision just wanted a lot of money and their training program for Kaidan rotators wasn't very good.
We called BH Photo and they had good prices, but had zero training on how to take a 360 virtual tour.
Voyager's customer service sold me the minute we called them. They showed all options for their kits, and they walked me through the Voyager back office listing manager. In one weekend, Voyager taught me how to take 360 virtual tours and the rest was easy. Thanks Voyager. We love you.
-- Tiffany Watson, Windermere Real Estate
The knowledge and depth of Voyager's real estate marketing expertise puts them head and shoulders above Obeo, CirclePix, even Clareity Consulting. We've been burned by Homestore and other firms that have taken us for an expensive ride with very little to show for it. Voyager took care of our 360 virtual tour camera, aerial tours, and now we're looking forward to having Voyager help us with our search engine visibility headaches.
-- TJ Tutor, REALTOR, Coldwell Banker Prime Properties
Marketing homes in Spain is very much different than the way estate agents do it America. Voyager understands that tools like American MLS are not available to us in Europe. Voyager has brought many tools and has helped us grow much business for all of us. We do not ever have taken virtual tours of homes in Spain and it is now getting popular here as Voyager said it would soon be. Now that Voyager has office in Spain, it making us easier to work with them and the training and support is really good.
-- Carmen Santiago, España Estates
No one has the marketing tools that Voyager has for International sales. We are pleased to be staying with Voyager as we build new additions on estates then we need to advertise them to the best possible buyers. Kayyah.com is a real easy way to market homes with video and virtual tours. The time difference between Voyager and our office in Instanbul we thought would be hard. Voyager worked weekends evenings so we can speak with them and get training and it took much less hours than we had first thought. We will stay working with Voyager and we can understand why more real estate in Turkey will be going soon to Kayyah.com.
-- Bilgin Çelik , Istanbul
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2013 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
