Kristalks » Getting Started

When was the last time you used one of these?

Kristal Kraft — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:00:09 +0000

Once upon a time, not so long ago, this yellow book was a staple in our lives. It provided handy information about an area, an address, a telephone number and helped us find a new place to do business.

On top of all that, it made a great booster chair, door stop or a weight to press out wrinkles in important papers.

That was then, but what about now?

Now most people don’t even answer the phone when it rings. Alexander’s bell ringy-dingies until it rolls over to voice mail. Why answer when typically the caller is someone you don’t want to talk to anyway?

We don’t need to pick up, we already know who is calling and what they want. We aren’t buying, paying or playing so one ringy dingy, two ringy dingy, hang up!

Our communication today is the cell phone, usually a smart phone. Yes it’s smart enough to transmit a message without ever having to connect two people.

We text. We email. We Twitter, DM, Instant message, Skype, IRchat and soon Google will let us Wave. How cool are we?

My iPhone has a GPS on it. It knows where I am, what is playing at the movies closest to me. It can lead me to all the open houses in the area. When I run out of open houses, I can then drive-by all the homes for sale nearby.

Heck, when I get hungry I can choose a food category, shake my silly little wonderful iPhone and it will spin a dial like a fancy Las Vegas slot machine, entertaining me with anticipation of what restaurant it will choose for me.

Then there is Google Voice. This handy service means you call Google and ask “Where is the nearest Starbucks?” It will determine your location and deliver the answer to your phone, complete with map instructions to get there.

Yellow Pages you just don’t cut it anymore. Thanks for the memories, but we are moving on.

When was the last time you used one of these? is a post from: Kristalks

Add Value by Creating Content for the Future

Kristal Kraft — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:08:09 +0000

Blogging has become a popular way of expressing one self. For many business people it is a way to expand the online reach, connecting with potential customers for now and in the future.

In many ways our blog topics are critical as they will either attract or repell. The blogs are getting indexed by the search engines. By this I mean what we say is being stored for future reference to the world. Considering the millions and millions of pages on the web, is this really important?

You bet it is.

Blogging may feel like play at times, but in reality we are opening our minds and exposing our thoughts to the digital world. As our consumers begin to research us they are looking for reasons why they should work with us or not.

All this just adds to the importance of building a strong body of work that reflects well on the blogger.

My preference has always been to deliver benefits and add value. When blogging about real estate, I enjoy showing off my state by presenting pictures of places and things that happen here. I also find great blog topics in the questions routinely asked of me from my current clients. Reflecting back upon a conversation with a client, I can always pull a blog topic out of my memory!

Here’s an easy formula for blog topics: (If you are not a real estate blogger replace that term with your focus market.)

Present a real estate problem and solve it
Feature a focused topic on real estate (in your town)
respond to comments
look to trigger thought, support or suggestions
stimulate real estate discussion

Finding your very own personal voice that will be heard in the blogging community and beyond is important. Realizing what we do today will impact what happens tomorrow is exciting and frightening at the same time.

Outstanding Resources to Study:

Are you having trouble finding your voice? Get your feet wet by commenting on blogs first. Do a few a day (start here if you like!) after awhile you will gain more confidence, posting a blog will become second nature to you!

Add Value by Creating Content for the Future is a post from: Kristalks

REALTORS Are You In Compliance with N.A.R?

Kristal Kraft — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:59:34 +0000

In the rush to get a blog (or website) constructed and published many REALTOR® forget to add some very important things. We all know as REALTOR® we agree and adhere to the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the National Association of Realtors® correct?

Well the C.O.E. requires us (SOP 12-9) to:

REALTOR ^® firm websites shall disclose the firm’s name and state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner.

Websites of REALTORS^® and non-member licensees affiliated with a REALTOR^® firm shall disclose the firm’s name and that REALTOR^®’s or non-member licensee’s state(s) of licensure in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. (Adopted 1/07)

Adding your name and your brokerage’s name is fairly simple. Most web designers aren’t aware of our C.O.E. so it’s up to you to tell them. Not doing so is not their mistake it’s yours!

Just adding this information to the “footer” of your site will keep you in compliance, not to mention help the consumer find you when they need a REALTOR®.

That is the whole point, is it not?

REALTORS Are You In Compliance with N.A.R? is a post from: Kristalks