The National Institute of Webographers, owner of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW) program, announced today that it has reached an agreement to feature RealTown Blogs as an official REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™, Technology Partner. Showcase of RealTown Blogs within the REW Certification compliments training on Blogs, a course module within the REW certification curriculum. See full press release.

Starting your own Blog is the one of the first steps in helping establishing your online presence. That's why RealTown Blogs are offered for free to all RealTown members. It’s this welcoming attitude that real estate professionals, over the years, have made nearly 1 million posts to RealTalk and other public and private communities hosted by InternetCrusade®.

"Designating RealTown Blogs as a Technology Partner within the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ Certification is an exciting opportunity for RealTown’s Internet Crusade. As a technology provider, we strongly support REW™ certification for agents, brokers and assistants,” said Saul Klein, CEO for RealTown’s Internet Crusade.

“As the industry’s oldest and most respected real estate network, a RealTown Blog is perfect for the real estate professional looking to launch his or her blog presence, while continually learning from the vast experiences of those RealTown veterans sharing their own insider perspectives," said Marc Grayson, president of the National Institute of Webographers.

For more information on RealTown, click here to signup for your own personalized blog!

The National Institute of Webographers, owner of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW) program, today announced that it has reached an agreement to feature Point2 Technologies (“Point2”) as an official REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ Technology Partner. Showcase of Point2 within the REW Certification complements training on Agent Websites, a course module within the REW certification curriculum. See full press release.

"We are excited to showcase Point2 Agent to the candidates of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification. Point2 Agent websites remain easy in configuration and maintenance as the core web presence of real estate professionals,” said Marc Grayson, president of the National Institute of Webographers. Continued Grayson, “Point2 Agent is not just about an agent website, but increasing visibility of listings through the system’s ‘Exposure Engine’ with over 30 syndication partners, interoperability with peer agent websites through Point2’s “Handshake™” opt-in reciprocal listing advertising feature, and advertising opportunities through Neighborhood Directories via Point2Homes.com.”

Real technologies are showcased inside the Learning Laboratory, an area within the certification experience where candidates can play with an array of technologies; technologies deemed as best-of-breed and fully compliment training on competencies such as Agent Websites

For more information on Point2, click here for special discounts in celebration of this milestone.

Today, the National Institute of Webographers, provider of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW) certification announced Homeminders® as the premier "Closing Gift" technology within REW™. To see the full press release, please click here.

"We are excited to showcase Homeminders® to candidates of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification (REW™). As the industry’s leading provider in home-maintenance, closing gifts, Homeminders® is perfect for real estate professionals looking to continue their relationship with clients well after closing,” said Marc Grayson, president of the National Institute of Webographers. Grayson continues, “Gifting a Homeminders subscription to your clients provides them with an online tool to manage their homes, store and access valuable information, and receive monthly email reminders that help maintain that important asset, their home.”

The Homeminders system simplifies home management by creating a web-based detailed home maintenance plan that covers every facet of a home’s upkeep. It also acts as a centralized storage solution for owner’s manuals, warranty documents, receipts and photo records. Its personalized upkeep schedules and monthly email reminders help homeowners make important decisions about their homes quickly and easily, and manage their contractor/handyman relationships more efficiently.

Homeminders joins the host of Technology Sponsors providing their technology solutions as case study examples to reinforce the technology courses within REW; providing live demonstrations to look underneath-the-hood of today's foremost technologies.

The National Institute of Webographers has expanded partnership and affiliate opportunites. Two programs have been launched to best broaden our partnership offerings. To view the press release, please click here.

1. TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS
The training experience for the REW certification not only discusses emerging technologies such as mobile technologies, agent websites, online tours, etc. but also highlights technology companies, who are best-of breed and compliment the technology awareness curriculum.

Partners of NIW enjoy benefits such as (1) an interactive, multi-media presentation of their technology, (2) showcase of their technology in real world scenarios through demonstration accounts reserved for REW students, (3) an optional guided activity to fully experience the bells and whistles of their technology, and (4) where applicable, mention of their technology in REW™ core course materials.

2. REW™ AFFILIATES
Real estate schools, brokers, educational providers, trainers, coaches and other affiliates who share the vision of educating RE professionals in emerging technologies, can join the REW Affiliate Program.  Becoming an REW™ Affiliate costs nothing and can be accomplished by simply signing up through NIW’s online affiliate system.

Registered affiliates are provided with access to REW™ marketing, print and web materials, and generous commission opportunities all accessible via the REW™ Affiliate dashboard.

PARTNER WITH US
For more information about the opportunites, please click here for Technology Sponsors or here for Affiliates.

The National Institute of Webographers is dedicated to the professional development of RE agents, brokers and assistants on emerging, online technologies by offering the most inclusive, consumer-facing RE technology certification program available today.

In our continued commitment, brought forth with sponsoship by Blogging Systems (those who "wrote the book" on blogging -- Realty Blogging), we are proud to formally announce the addition of Blogs as the 12th course in our REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW) certification program.

To see the official press release, click here.

Blogs :: Whats Inside

The Blogging Course focuses on the importance of utilizing blogs for both the corporate franchise and brokerage, as well as the individual RE professional. It demonstrates how a proficient blogger can verbalize their viewpoints to their blogging audience, as well as position themselves as an expert on any subject matter they choose - for instance - themselves, the RE profession or community; virtually anything they feel they can convey useful information about.

Beyond teaching RE professionals the importance of blogs, the course also includes the marketing advantages of:

-- Search Engine Optimization (SEO) marketing - "Better Listings On Google"

-- Direct communications - With your potential customers and existing ones

-- Brand Building - Market yourself as a brand, not just an individual

-- Competitive differentiation - Differing yourself from your competition

-- Relationship Marketing - Marketing yourself by building relationships with others

-- Niche Exploitation - Finding and utilizing the gaps within your market

-- Media & Public Relations - People will contact you based on your projected expertise

Blogs :: Look, Touch & Feel

As with many of the courses in the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™, hands-on activities are available as optional activities allowing candidates to wrap their five senses around the subject matter. The candidate is provided access and guidance to items that will aid them in becoming a successful blogger such as:

-- WYSIWYG Editor - "What You See Is What You Get", commonly found in blogging software, the course shows you what's "under the hood" of this online blogging aid with real life scenarios.

-- Blog Formatting - Examples of the common Do's and Don'ts of formatting a meaningful blog for your audience.

-- Web 2.0 - Given the age of social networking sites and features, blogging, widgets, and much more, a blog WYSIWYG editor is now part of the suite of demo applications included in the REW "sandbox" - thus allowing you to become more comfortable with the technology.

-- See a Sample! - To view a sample of the course, please click here.

Blogs are here to stay, and if used properly, can be an extremely valuable tool when utilized for consumer-centric communications in the Real Estate industry.

In this part 2 of a 2 part series, I will discuss how you can display the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ logo on your site, your blog, in your print materials, email signature block - virtually anywhere you would like.

Once you have completed your certification, you have access to the My REW™page (exclusive to certificants). Amongst many other valuable resources on this page, you will notice a section entitled "Certification Marks (Logos)". In this section you have access to several links containing information about our logo, as well as access to the logo itself (web-friendly JPEG, High-resolution TIFF for print-materials).

The first bullet (see image below) you will see is a link that will automatically open REW™ Marks Use Guide containing directions on how to use the 3 certification trademarks available to certificants (REW™ Logo, "REW™", and "REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™"). This includes items such as proper guidelines on how to use and reproduce our logo on promotional materials (such as business cards, letterhead, brochures, etc), as well as in the online world (such as web sites, domain names and e-mail addresses).

Following this bullet, you will find 3 different versions of the REW™ Logo for display usage, as well as the REW™ Certification Mark Tagline. The REW™ Logo we make available, is the same logo found in the upper left hand corner of any of the pages on our website, available in different resolutions and sizing.

The REW™ Certification Mark Tagline, similar to the bottom portion of any of the pages on our website, is a image that truly says "education equals differentiaion". The Tagline image is a composite of the 3 certification trademarks available for use by certificants (REW™ Logo, "REW™", and "REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™"), along with the statement of "The certification marks above are owned by the National Institute of Webographers, LLC and are awarded to those who successfully complete initial and ongoing certification requirements". This composite image truly says you are now part of an elite group, dedicated to on-going professional development in real estate, web-based, consumer-facing technologies.

Lastly, we provide the raw HTML you can cut and paste directly into your website, blog post (good idea is use this in your "signature block" of every blog post). This code will create a linkable REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER logo on your site, of the proper size, so others may both view your achievement at a glance and learn more about the certification with just the click of a button.

We are serious about technology education, and we applaud those who continue their educational efforts beyond the bare minimum to increase their success and further their professional career. This 2 part series is just a brief discussion of some of the many perks that become available to you upon completion of the REW™ certification.

Are you ready to embrace Real Estate Technologies?

2007 has been a year of great change for us. Not only has that change encompassed the look and feel of our website, but also to the services we offer before, during and AFTER you have completed your certification. We look to not only help you acquire the best tools available online to connect you with your customers, but also to market your accomplishment of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification to your clients and your fellow RE professionals. In this Part 1 of a two part series, I will discuss our press release service available to you following completion of your REW™ experience.

The REW™ Press Release

Once you have completed your certification, you will have access to the My REW™page (exclusive to certificants) in your personal profile. On this page, there is a section entitled "Press Release". The first two bullets in this section allow you to choose which Press Release you would like to obtain. There are press releases tailor made for either an AGENT or BROKER, or an ASSISTANT or COORDINATOR.

No matter which press release you choose, you have access to three formats of your press release - a Microsoft Word Document version, a Portable Document Format (PDF) version, and finally an HTML / Blog File version.

The Microsoft Word Document version can be downloaded and modified to contain your name and contact information in Microsoft Word. This document is beneficial because it can easilly be included as an attachment to emails to your clients or for print purposes. A PDF version can be modified using software such as Adobe Acrobat and is made available for you to use as a link from your website or any other linkable location of your choice on the internet. Lastly, an HTML / Blog format is provided for easy cut and paste into HTML documents such as directly into your website, or to a blog to tout your accomplishment to your blogging audience.

The Press Release Process

We understand that completion of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™, as well as implementation of the technologies we offer is a great achievement and we don't want you to keep that accomplishment to yourself. That's why we have made the process of telling others about it as effortless as possible.

In the third bullet under the "Press Release" section in your personal profile, you will find two links. The first link presents you with a list of recommended, 100% free, PR outlets. Of course you can utilize whatever outlets you like, but we provide this comprehensive list as a convenience.

In this list, you will notice several of the PR sites have been highlighted with stars - this is what I'm really excited about! These specific sites are PR outlets that we will send your press release to on your behalf FOR FREE! To utilize this press release service, you simply click on the link entitled "Click Request form here" from your profile page underneath the last bullet, answer a few short questions such as your name, RE profession, email, and website, and we send the press release out for you!

Combined with the knowledge our education conveys, our Press Release service is just one more perk we offer that you can use to differentiate yourself from the rest. Next week, during Part 2 of this series, I will discuss how you can proudly display our logo on your site to show your customers and clients you are serious about technology education.

As a result of valuable feedback from both our trusted certificant holders and students as well as our many site visitors, this week, the National Institute of Webographers has announced our release of Webographers.com 2.0. To read the entire press release, please click here.

The entire effort was two fold (1) to upgrade our "external look, feel and navigation" and (2) to continue to push the envelope in delivering the most powerful and effective real estate training availabe online today.

Enhanced Learning Experience

Here at Webographers.com, we are always looking to remain on the cutting edge of online technology training. Our enhancements in 2.0 have helped us deliver an even greater "self paced, self directed" technology experience that our certificants have available to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

The Big 3

Every business enterprise has a target audience - a group they feel can really benefit from the services they are offering. In 2007, NIW has placed great emphasis on more clearly defining and speaking to this audience - that is of our "Big 3" - AGENTS, BROKERS, and ASSISTANTS. In doing so, our first major step was to build a site navigation system customized to their wants and needs, and we believe we have succeeded. The look and feel of the site is greatly improved as well as our clear message of the necessity to partake in Online Real Esate Technology Training through REW.

"REW is not just a certification to mention in an email signature block, but a real estate technology experience in consumer-facing RE Technologies," said Marc Grayson, president and founder of NIW.

Although we have a new look, our long standing message remains strong: Are you ready to embrace real estate technologies?

The National Institute of Webographers has awarded iseemedia, Inc. corporate sponsorship of the Mobile Technology competency within the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification.

View Press Release here.

Mobile capability is arguably the fastest growing technology requirement for a real estate professional today. Over the course of a typical day, RE professionals are constantly on the go; from visiting various new potential sellers, to showing current homes on the market to prospective buyers. Due to an agent's constant "on-the-go" workday, it is of paramount importance that an agent always be available for rapid response to today's internet-savvy consumer.

iseemedia understands this demand for mobility, and has answered the call by offering breakthrough products specifically designed for the "on-the-go" professional. iseemedia, along with North American distribution partner, RealBiz360, provides solutions for the mobile agent to complement sales, marketing, communications and customer management tools to make the mobile device as effective as their desktop computer at the office or home.

For the up-and-coming RE professional, this means their real estate needs, such as access to MLS data, real estate applications, mobile Virtual Tour access and / or to online documents have now become portable.

REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ Certification Activity

Candidates engage a "story" of a mobile agent utilizing mobile devices and applications to complete objectives while "on-the-go". This snapshot includes a 1-week perspective of the tasks performed & executed while being mobile; allowing the candidate to better understand the value proposition behind mobile technology.  An in-depth view of iseemedia mobile technology is presented for immersive learning into today's latest mobile apps for the real estate professional.

The National Institute of Webographers has awarded Location Inc. and its web-based neighborhood search engine, NeighborhoodScout™ , corporate sponsorship of the “Neighborhood Search” competency within the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification.

View Press Release.

During the Real Estate boom in 2005 through 2006, the search for the perfect Neighborhood was not nearly as important as simply finding a physical home for purchase. Lottery systems and long waiting lists found throughout the country, especially for newly built developments, were common-place. Since then, the market has drastically cooled off. Buyers can be selective about other aspects of their complete home experience, and one of those aspects is the neighborhood.

On April 8th, 2007, the real estate section of the Arizona Republic reports that Arizona has hit a record high of over 50,000 homes on the market. Tips to Buyers on the first-page of the section, told Buyers to be extremely selective when considering the neighborhood and / or community in which they purchase a new home.

Neighborhood Search, as represented by NeighborhoodScout, offers dynamic, all-inclusive neighborhood information in contrast to static (sometimes considered fluffy, or boring) neighborhood and community information. Dynamic searches include "Luxury Communities", "Families with Children", "Retirement Areas", and "First Time Home Buyers". 

Neighborhood Search speaks to today's web-savvy consumer who likes to browse for information on their own. When they've found neighborhoods of interest, lead-generation forms are displayed, providing an exclusive, personalized lead to the agent subscriber. A subscription allows this all inclusive, lead-generation tool to be added to an agent or broker's website. 

REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ Certification Activity
Candidates of the REW™ engage NeighborhoodScout within the sandbox of technologies showcased in training. Candidates have the option to work with their own demo NeighborhoodScout agent subscriber account and setup a unique URL that would be used by site-visitors.  Candidates engage this dynamic search engine, practice lead-generation from NeighborhoodScout contact forms and use their candidate webmail to engage exclusive leads sent personally to them.

Neighborhood Search, inclusive of an agent or broker's website keeps website visitors on the site longer, as represented by NeighborhoodScout™.  It assists to spark "conversations" with the curious buyer, who is impressed by the all-inclusive services provided by the agent/broker subscriber.