At the completion of course materials for the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification, candidates adhere to (initial) the REW Commitment Document.  As REW Certificants, one must implement a real estate technology within their first year to remain in good standing with their certification status.

Technologies implemented by REW Certificants

Within their first year, REW certificants commit to implementing or administering at least 1 web-centric, real estate technology - whether for themselves (agents, brokers) or for their clients (assistants).  Certificants provide proof of implementing or adminstering a technology via the Technology Proof Form.

So what technologies have REW Certificants implemented...let's have a look!

• Gary Crutcher, REW™ - Gary implemented an agent website of http://www.garycrutcher.com/; sleek design and homepage graphic that captures the essence and culture of west El Paso.
   
• Kathy Goldman, REW™  -  Kathy implemented http://www.7225riverfrontdrive.com/, a single-property website on behalf of her agent, Lucy Bottorff in Nashville Tennessee.
   
• Sandra Sims, REW™ - Sandra, a virtual assistant, implemented a Point2 agent website as a hands-on, optional activity, showcased at http://sandrasims4.point2agent.com/.  In crafting a Point2 agent website from the ground-up, Sandra can now provide longterm administrative support for real estate professionals who use Point2!
   
• Tim Fisher, REW™  - Tim, with ResortQuestDE.com, has been busy implementing technology since completing the REW Certification. As Marketing Director, he supports technologies used by member agents in his firm. He created a Single-Property Website at http://www.1322oceanparkway.com/ and Corporate Blog to support ocean-side luxury rentals and homesales at  http://www.seamoresays.com/, in addition to many of the virtual tours found alongside listings at ResortQuestDE.com.
   
• Darlene Wills, REW™ - Darlene, REALTOR® and broker co-owner of Harris-Wills Realty, LLC, has implemented http://www.real-estate-southwest.com/ to service northern Arizona, specifically the Sedona - Verde Valley region.  This broker-owner site was established using Point2 technologies, Webographers.com newest technology partner/sponsor of the REW Certification. 

At the completion of course materials for the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification, candidates adhere to (initial) the REW Commitment Document. 

Within their first year, REW certificants commit to implementing or administering at least 1 web-centric, real estate technology - whether for themselves (agents, brokers) or for their clients (assistants).  Certificants provide proof of implementing or adminstering a technology via the Technology Proof Form.

Recently, we had an REW professional, Marie Martinez, go above and beyond in her implementation of web-based real estate technologies, per her completion of the Technology Proof Form.  Marie didn't just show proof of one web-based online technology, but FIVE!  Click each technology below (individual components of her fax to Webographers) as inclusive proof of implementing and administering real estate technology.   

- Broker Website - Maintaining a broker's website.  See website here. 

- Virtual Tour - See the actual tour here. 

- Single-property Website - using postlets.com

- Online Classifieds - syndication of a listing on craigslists.

- Direct Marketing - eNewsletter of the listing using constant contact.

The REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification is not just about learning the value-proposition of today's foremost real estate technologies--but having the commitment to adopt and implement real estate technologies.

Recently, Stefan Swanepoel’s 2008 Real Estate Trends has been released, and cast light on some extremely interesting movements in the RE market. Although I haven't had a chance to read it myself yet, the future of REAL ESTATE MARKETING blog posted an extraodinary graph of how real estate has developed over the years pictured below.

What do I make of this graph? Well, overall, technology usage and adoption appears to be on the rise. Secondly, RE technology appears to becoming more and more specialized. In the late 90's up to the peak in 2000, the trend was most driven by large changes in the dynamics of the technology itself, that is until the (dare I say it?) DotCom fiasco.

It took redevelop of Web 1.0 and the introduction of Web 2.0 to spark user confidence in the market again. In the most recent years, the driving force behind the trend has shifted from large overhauls to the technology itself to better and more specific exploitations of the capabilities behind the technology. This is most evident at the end of 2007 with the graduation of Virtual Tours to Online Video.

From a graph like this, anyone can conclude that RE agents, brokers and assistants should have been (and if not, should start) investing in these technologies to stay on the cutting edge. However, like they say, hind sight is 20-20 - it's easy to judge when the noise of the real estate boom as died down. But now that we have the facts, why are some so resistant to education. I see professionals so quick to spend money on billboards, and park benches - maybe it's time to re-evaluate those expenditures. Maybe it's time to invest in the services being offered and not just the number of places advertised.

It could just turn around the market...

Webography - is the art or practice of establishing a seamless web presence through the selection of various web-based applications, joined together through basic and applied web techniques.

Webographer - doer of Webography.

REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ - denotes standards in applied web techniques and adherence to the Commitment Document as set forth by the National Institute of Webographers, LLC (Webographers.com); the owner of the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification mark.

Unified Approach to Real Estate Web Applications
Webography implies using out-of-the-box solutions, joined together for your web presence (like a puzzle). When one considers business requirements like an agent website, virtual/online tours, electronic forms and online transaction management--is there one, all-inclusive service provider in existence of these technologies? The answer to that question is regretfully no.

An agent must establish customer relationships with various service providers, being mindful of how they can be joined together for seamless functionality, look, and appearance. After selection of these service providers, the agent or assistant applies basic web techniques, to establish a seamless web presence. Such efforts to establish a seamless web presence includes: selecting products “natively” compatible with each other, ensuring the same personal and corporate branding is applied across all web applications, selecting similar color schemes and much more.

This process is an evolution from traditional web design to establish and maintain an agent’s real estate, web presence. It empowers agents and their assistants the ability to self-serve their business objectives online the easy way. There are many providers of web-based applications for real estate, thus it may be a challenge for real estate professionals to choose the right services that best fits his or her endeavors and budget.

The REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification curriculum covers an array of web-centric technologies and services.  Although educating on the value-proposition of each distinct technology competency, the unified approach towards a seamless, all-inclusive web presence is carried through the educational experience.

For the first time since the real estate bubble started about 8 years ago, there are more RE agents within the profession than properties being sold.  That means that, for example, last month there were not enough homes on the market for every licensed agent to each sell one.  And when agents can't do their job, it effects everyone, from the brokers employing them, to the assistants supporting them.

A friend of mine relayed to me her take on the current RE market - she likened it to trickle-down economics, although she labeled it trickle-down real estate.  With the state of the market today, she said, only a limited amount of poperties are being sold, and the people buying them are utilizing the movers and the shakers of the real estate game - those with the biggest names, the cream of the crop so to speak.  Anything these RE agents aren't moving are slowly trickling down to the the next tier of agents who have their chance...and so on and so forth.  By the time it's the newest agent's turn in the market, there's simply nothing left.

So how do the newbies level the playing field?  They need to branch out.  They need to be able to reach the same size audience that the major players already have due to years of hard work and reputation.  Fortunately, this is not as difficult as it once was - the internet allows one to reach people anywhere a phone line exists, so access is possible.  However, you have to do more than just reach your audience, you have to capture their attention by differentiating yourself. 

Education is your Key

If you want to differentiate yourself from your competition, you have to understand the online tools and technologies that are at your disposal.  Once you understand what they are and how they work, you can start to combine them in ways that allow you to stand out. 

Take for instance the newest trend with RE professionals - posting virtual and / or video tours on the video sharing site, YouTube.  Before you can even post a video, you need to know how to make one, what needs to be in it, and how to splash your information into it. If you want to give them additional information, you need an agent website, which should also offer them valuation propositions on homes they can search for in a specific area with a neighborhood search capability.

This sort of "technology mashing" taps into a whole new audience that wasn't even looking for real estate, however they found themselves on your website because of a 42 second video you posted.  And your knowledge was what helped you get noticed. 

While at the Inman Conference today, I met up with Mark Lesswing, NAR senior vice president and chief technology officer.  Fantastic gentleman who moderated numerous sessions at Inman.  He let me know that 2007 Realtor® Technology Survey was hot-off-the-press today. 

As the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification evolved from research and findings, many of which came from the Center for Realtor Technology (CRT) surveys, studies and whitepapers, we wanted to see where technology adoption stands with today's agents and brokers.   We concluded that technology adoption and implementation remains well-behind-the-times; that through technology awareness and adoption training with the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER (REW) Certification, these less-than-optimal findings can improve.
 

MLS-CMA
"Ninety-four percent include a CMA as part of their listing presentation. The majority is satisfied overall with the CMA program furnished by their MLS; still about 35 percent were either somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. The ability to personalize design was the number one area that was deemed 'needing to be improved the most.'" 

• Take-away 1 - Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is still an agent/brokers' own design, hand-crafted through their own special recipe to produce a personalized, well-branded CMA, where the MLS (along with supplemental data from county / public information sources) just provides data/maps/etc.

• Take-away 2 - Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) or Property Report is crafted using a 3rd-party tool, like AgentAVM.com or RETS-compliant eNeighborhoods.com for example, where data is "pulled" from the MLS to craft a professional CMA-document.

• Take-away 3 - As far back as I've looked, the #1 issue with the MLS-CMA tool (having "the ability to personalize" CMAs) is at least 4 years in the running.  Either vendors of MLS solutions are not listening to their end-users, or take-aways 1 & 2 above are driving factors for not "enhancing" the MLS-CMA tool, as agents/brokers have other prescribed methods.
   

Agent Websites
"Approximately two-thirds, of respondents have their own real estate agent business Web site." 

• Take-away 1 - 1/3 of all agents do not have a website...there is still more do be done to further awareness and adoption as with the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification.  Moreover, this 1/3 is likely to not have a personalized "business" email that is an extension of their website, their web presence, their marketing. This means that agents who utilize free email addresses such as johndoe1234@hotmail.com immediately lose a sense of "branding"  as discussed within our "Agent Website Course".  Consider referral business where emails originated from agent are forwarded.  Given Me@GregDugan.com, the email directly implies a web presence for my business and that of my listings at www.GregDugan.com.
   

Automated Transaction Management
"Twenty-three percent of respondents use a transaction management system...Sixty-nine percent of those respondents who are not currently participating in an automated transaction management system are interested or very interested in participating."

• Take-away 1 - Adoption rate remains low.  However, implementation of an online transaction management system as a consumer-facing solution, lends itself to agents/brokers immediately differentiating themselves given adoption, as others do not offer this convenience to consumers and peer real estate professionals.
   
• Take-away 2 - Interest remains high.  National Institute of Webographers speaks to the 69% of interested or highly interested.  It is now time for agents and brokers to engage training on the value-proposition of Transaction Mgmt, strategies on adoption and implementation, and the ability to play with live applications while a candidate within the REW Certification.

In conclusion, amongst other findings in the survey, it reaffirms that the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER (REW) certification is the solution to less-than-optimal (almost dismal) findings within the 2007 Realtor® Technology Survey. REW creates a heightened sense of awareness to today's technologies that increase the agent/broker's reach with a full-service web presence for Internet-savvy consumers, while further marketing their brand image.  Simply stated, differentiation through REW certification, also means differentiating yourself with implementation of technologies; as your peers in this survey may elect to stay behind the times.
 

Extremely proud day at the National Institute of Webographers.

ZipForm®, the real estate industry's leading brand of forms software, today announced that its solutions, along side the RELAY™ Transaction System, have been selected as official sponsors of competencies within the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification. While ZipForm® has been named the official sponsor of the electronic forms competency, RELAY™ has been designated sponsor of the online transaction management category.   

View Press Release here.

Truths about Electronic Forms

Electronic Forms technology is commonly provided as "inclusive" of Realtor® member dues.  As with ZipForm, accessibility is made available via desktop, online, or from a mobile device.  ZipForm is currently used by 400,000+ Realtors and RE professionals, and is available to 1.4 million Realtors.

Electronic Forms applications include form libraries (standardization in the “look” of all forms), error-handling in form input, and the ability to minimize redundant data entry. Additional components for conducive paperless activity includes digital signatures applied to electronic forms, integration of forms software with the MLS, CRM and online transaction management (OTM) systems.

Transaction Management :: Consumer-facing Interface to Electronic Forms

If consumers engage online banking, they are ready (and expect) online transaction mgmt solutions. 

Besides streamlining transactional paperwork for brokers, agents, assistants, and peer professionals such as Title/Escrow, transaction mgmt (online) is the "consumer-facing" technology that highlights procedures that were commonly overlooked, undervalued, or under-appreciated by consumers...executing the volumes of transactional paperwork. 

Given the array of technologies on the market, transaction management solutions have the highest potential for growth in adoption-rates by real estate professionals. Online transaction management solutions, when adopted, remain the strongest differentiating factor between brokers/agents who provide such all-inclusive, online services to clients compared to those who do not.

ZipForm / WINForms & RELAY
RELAY™ allows the tracking and management of all information related to a real estate transaction from listing through closing; allows users to enable assistants, other agents or transaction facilitators to participate in the process; and features one-click integration with ZipForm® and WINForms Online®, the electronic forms software used by nearly 400,000 REALTORS® nationwide.

National Institute of Webographers is extremely proud to showcase these two products to candidates of the REW certification, providing every candidate demo accounts to these applications to experience their functionality and native integration; to further comprehension and hands-on understanding to today's Electronic Forms and Online Transaction Mgmt solutions.

We had the pleasure of interviewing Butch Daviau, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant and top-producing REALTOR®/Associate with Emerson REALTORS® in central Massachusetts and the Boston metropolitan.

He services Boston and surrounding suburbs (Worcester, Blackstone, Sturbridge, Holden, Middlesex, and more). He represents both sellers and buyers in the Central Mass. area, specializing in single-family homes, condominiums, land, and income property. For more information about Butch, please visit his website (with a very slick flash-intro) here.

Butch recently completed the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification and we asked her a few simple interview questions.

1) What is your background?

I'm a Worcester native having been born and raised in the local area. I graduated from high school in 1964 and immediately enlisted in the Air Force specializing in maintenance of jet fighter aircraft. After being Honorably Discharged in 1968, I started working as a civilian on Army helicopters for the Dept. of Defense. I retired in 1994 with the closing of Fort Devens in Massachusetts. I became interested in real estate and passed the state requirements for my real estate sales license. I have been representing both buyers and sellers since 1994.

2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification?

Simply stated, it looked appealing. The curriculum looked in-depth, rather than just scratching the surface but getting deep into the "nuts & bolts" of real estate technology. I had been curious of technologies such as single-property websites, virtual tours and neighborhood search. The REW certification had training that looked comprehensive, discussing technologies I could add to my arsenal.

3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

It was better than just about all online trainings that can be found in the industry. Course materials were voice-driven, keeping my attention. In addition, strategy was also discussed alongside the value-proposition of various real estate technologies.

4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

I was on the fast track and completed in less than two weeks. Took some extra time to play with some of the showcased products as well.

5) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

In terms of continuous learning, every agent should consider taking the REW certification. For Brokers, consider making it available to your agents!

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Thanks Butch and all the Best!

Technology is streamlining operations, transforming neighborhoods into global communities, and enabling real estate agents to go mobile. You can now do things that practitioners could only fantasize about only 10 years ago. Mobile technology, blogging, agent and single-property websites, on-line transactions - these were mere figments of the imaginations of early adopters’ in 1989 and that of the technology speakers that were granted platforms in the 90’s.

Technology is the new segway to building your returning customer base, and customers can be realized learning the technology just as easilly as adopting them. Taking classes will motivate you and provide you with information you can utilize while you learn. Some classes afford you direct networking opportunities in person or grant you access to large online communities while others present PR opportunities that can be leveraged in your marketing efforts. Knowledge with a bonus!

Technology can save you time! Streaming your marketing process provides you with more client-facing opportunities and allows you to foster what is of the utmost importance, your client relationships. Technology enables one to more quickly interpret information and facilitate a transaction, all while providing extraordinary service and care; not only fulfilling requests made but excelling and exceeding them and others only imagined. Digital solutions will assist you in maintaining meaningful contact with past clients for years to come.

Building an ongoing referral network need not be an expensive or time consuming process if you’ve learned which technologies to deploy. With some programs, REW™ for one, you can “try before you buy”. This allows you to work with various technologies to determine whether they meet your needs, without spending your hard-earned money on trials and subscriptions you may not really want.

Many RE practitioners feel the relationships take too much time away from transactions. Utilizing technology can provide smoother transactions, from beginning to the end. This ultimately creates a better client experience and affords you the opportunity to grow client relationships into clients for life. With the stakes rising, so does the cost of customer acquisition - technology will lower that cost.

Pursuit of knowledge and becoming certified also lends itself to credibility. Of course, displaying your certifications proudly, and having the know-how to explain them is definitely important, simply demonstrating to your clients that you have the motivation to achieve for yourself will tell them volumes of what you are willing to do for them. As stated in a recent RIS Article, ”How to become a lifetime Learner” (RISMEDIA, 7/19/2007), becoming “certified” in a particular field or subject area makes you an instant expert. The more classes you take, certifications you garner, knowledge you obtain, the more trust you will engender with potential clients and your fellow Realtors. With technology rapidly changing the RE landscape, Confidence is King, whether you are a new or seasoned agent.

Provide more than your clients expect. Although the technology solutions available may be new to you, your clients may have come across it already while shopping on line. If you are one step ahead, and you can show them what's under the hood, you make a niche for yourself. Provide a complete package as a differentiating factor.

Be able to say with confidence, ”I use these client-facing technologies for each and everyone of my clients…and I exceed their expectations everytime."

We had the pleasure of interviewing Judy McElvogue, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant and REALTOR®/Associate with RE/MAX properties in La Grange, IL.

Judy services many of Chicago's western suburbs (Westchester, Brookfield, Riverside, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs, Countryside, Willow Springs, and more). She and her broker's clients enjoy both convenient access to the big city and all the lifestyle benefits of small town Americana. For more information, please visit her web page here and review her broker's listings in Illinois here.

Judy recently completed the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certification and we asked her a few simple interview questions.

1) What is your background?

Over the past 3 years, my job has evolved from an administative assistant/buyer's agent to more of a webographer/photographer. My plan is to focus more on this side of the real estate business. My broker was the first in the area to engage Single-Property Websites, so myself and peers look to stay progressive on the real estate technology front. Personal attributes including honesty, dedication and determination have also sustained my 25-year Membership at The Chicago Board of Trade.

Those same qualities enable me to provide the personal and professional services that make the home search for my clients enjoyable, efficient and an altogether successful experience. With a prowess in interior design, I look to develop a comprehensive, well-designed web presence for myself and my clients.

2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification?

The Internet is changing the way consumer's look for homes and there is a need for REALTORS® to expand their web presence with Single-Property Websites and Online Transaction Management. It is a full time job, keeping up with technology, and I think there might be REALTORS® in my office that could use my help! I looked to broaden my knowledge of online, consumer-oriented, real estate technologies. Given my passion of home design, I know my expanded online presence will be an effort of great "design", creating a destination for my clients and curious site-visitors.

3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

It was extremely informative and fun. Simply stated, the curriculum was extremely current and talked about RE technology within "scenarios", putting a real life spin to technology I've been considering acquiring. I had the option to "play" with real products on the market, to compliment the lessons. I felt like I was in the driver's seat, engaging materials, and taking additional time to do what I wanted within the training experience.

4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

Given the time-frame of 90 days alloted to complete the certification, I completed the course in about 10 weeks. I enjoyed the fact that I was able to set my own pace and do the training when I could focus and enjoy learning! All-in-all, the training being self-paced and online, allowed me to complete the certification on my schedule.

5) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

Quite frankly, the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification is not just another designation. The experience was immersive. Going into my next meeting to "win the listing", this certification will be a hot topic of discussion because it's about what consumers are concerned about these days, real estate technology.

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Thanks Judy and all the Best!