The National Institute of Webographers is declaring the month of September, 2009, “Technology Education Awareness Month”.  To kick off the event NIW will be offering 7-day FREE trials of REW for the entire month of September.  For details or to signup, visit http://awareness.webographers.com.

As the leader in technology-awareness training, assessment and certification for real estate professionals, the National Institute of Webographers looks to showcase exemplary products to best promote technology awareness and adoption by real estate professionals.

"We are excited to offer REW for free to all enrollees during the month of September.  Many RE professionals understand the paramount importance of having a website, generating leads online, and blogging”, said Marc Grayson, president of the National Institute of Webographers.

Continued Grayson, “What they are wary of is the myriad of different technologies available to them – thus unsure of where to begin or how to get the most out of their current offerings.  REW offers a roadmap, a solution describing how to use these technologies in concert, to market online for their consumers – or as we say, a consumer facing web presence.”

Signup today and tell a friend - all the perks of REW for FREE with this 7-day trial!

Team Double-Click® recently launched their answer to the increasing challenges of working in corporate America: the Licensed Virtual Assistant program. A Team Double-Click® Licensed Virtual Assistant is an individual who wishes to build their client base, backed by Team Double-Click’s® recognized branding and stellar reputation.

With this ground-breaking program, virtual assistants pay a flat monthly fee to be licensed by Team Double-Click®. Licensing will allow virtual assistants to use the Team Double-Click® name, brand, logo, and marketing messages to obtain their own clients rather than wait for Team Double-Click® to find clients for them. In growing their virtual assistant business, a Licensed Virtual Assistant will have the ability to perform the work themselves or to earn additional income by placing clients with Team Double-Click's® highly trained support-level virtual assistants.

I had a chance to talk to Gayle recently. The following are a few insightful excerpts from our conversation - click here for the complete interview.

Many individuals are interested in working from home, but don’t believe they can make the kind of income they make in corporate America. Why was it so important to create the Licensed Virtual Assistant program and do you believe it can be a long-term solution to the growing concerns we have with the current state of our economy?

We created the Licensed Virtual Assistant program as a viable alternative to the corporate job where individuals literally have the opportunity to make over $100k a year. The amount of money that they generate with this opportunity is completely up to them. A good analogy is to look at the Licensed Virtual Assistant program as similar to how Real Estate Agents pay a “desk fee” to build their business utilizing the reputation of the brokerage company that they work with.

In reading some of the articles that you have wrote, you have mentioned numerous times your concern for the environment. Why do you feel so strongly about this topic and how can virtual staffing help the global concerns we are all facing?

Team Double-Click® created the Licensed Virtual Assistant program as an option to grow a home-based business, in part to help the environment. Team Double-Click® believes that we all need to do our part to help the environment and those facing the daily challenges of working outside the home with the current economic landscape. We want to help as many individuals to be able to work from home and be there for their families.

Can you share why you believe that it is imperative that companies consider finding staffing solutions through a virtual channel, like Team Double-Click®?

The business landscape is ever-changing and the cost to fill a corporate position continues to rise. The average cost of an employee can be as much as 2 1/2 times their salary and includes social security, vacation/sick time, health insurance, worker’s compensation and Medicare. When hiring virtual assistants, companies do not have the costs involved with regular employees and can save thousands of dollars a year.

What are the benefits for companies to work with Team Double-Click® for their staffing needs?

With Team Double-Click®, the companies’ needs are assessed and based upon their requirements; they are matched with a highly-skilled and trained virtual assistant. Our virtual assistants use the most advanced means of communication, and the newest, most efficient and time-saving office products and work delivery, without any geographic boundaries.

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Thanks Jim and Gayle, and all the best!

Recently I was in contact with one of our REW candidates, Kim Desroches-Noel, a virtual assistant with the REW technology partner Team Double-Click. I had a chance to catch up with her and ask her how her life as a VA is going (clients, technologies used) and how REW is playing a role.

KIM: "I am still with Team Double-Click and using my [REW] knowledge as I am working for a Real Estate company through them. I am working in LeadTrax CRM and online platforms through Yahoo. Currently I am using IM programs as we work in a team of three per shift and we use the conference functionality to keep in contact throughout the shift. I am now in the process of using RELAY with my new job for online transaction coordination and have a local realtor who has me doing his quarterly newsletters for him."

"Your [REW] certification has been wonderful in increasing my knowledge and allowing me to serve my clients in a more productive way. I have recommended it to many colleagues and I hope they take my suggestion and pursue the certification."

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Thanks for the feedback Kim and best wishes with your continued success!

Today, featured on GeekEstateBlog.com, Marc Grayson touched on a portion of what he likes to call "attention-to-detail", in "How Music Dated the Real Estate Listing". This post mentioned an exemplary online listing (video tour, virtual, etc) but music in the virtual tour was Christmas / Holiday music (we're in July), instantly dating this wonderful listing.

Presentation is paramount. Every Agent knows that no buyer wants to see incorrect information or misspelled items on print or advertising materials. It's just blatant oversight and a little effort to see an item through can easily avoid these situations.

Unfortunately, this "attention-to-detail" goes out the window (along with the kitchen sink) when it comes to online advertisements, email, websites... and the list goes on. So here are a few gotchas that every person (including me!) should watch out for when it comes to an online presence.

1. Spelling - You'd think this would be a no-brainer, but I have been just as guilty as the next person. In emails, online ads, etc, it's usually just a click of the spell checker. Don't skimp - use the spell checkers included.

2. Font - By far the most easily overlooked item. Many times when using HTML in emails or those fantastic email or website toolkits, there's a default font that none of us use. Take care when cutting and pasting in these instances as the default font, or even the font from the application the text was cut from may be transferred to someplace you don't want it. To avoid this, take a brief moment and re-load and re-read your online documents.

3. Links - Another easy item to miss, especially when you have a document using a lot of them. Again, re-load, re-read, and click on everything. Pay careful attention to links you want to open in a new window, and those you want to use the existing one.

4. Images - You'd be amazed how different WYSIWYG and email editors handle pictures and the spacing around them. The answer? Test, test, test, and just for good measure, test again. Nothing drives me more crazy than when I send something out "to the masses" and catch an error after the fact.

5. Content - This is a biggie - make sure your content says what you want it to say. Be sure quoted articles are cited properly and you aren't using false information. Aside from the tremendous legal liability, if you are telling folks one thing, and a reader calls you on it, other readers will take note.

Bottom-line, re-load, re-read, and test. Remember, online, face-time is limited - what you present your readers and clients is how they will evaluate you.

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.

I recently published a post at GeekEstateBlog.com, entitled Super Bowl XLII, Real Estate and Consumers.  In the post, I started off by describing a rental trend in AZ, in preparation for the Super Bowl. I highlighted it with the story of an acquaintance of mine (a consumer, not an agent) and his attempts at renting his property.  After some attempts on his own, he elected to use real estate technologies commonly used by real estate professionals, like single-property websites and virtual tours as found with his site http://www.PhoenixEventHome.com.

What's the moral of my story?  If Drew D, a consumer who has no formal RE training can utilize RE technologies - agents, brokers, and assistants can embrace them and be successful in the process.  Furthermore, if a non-RE professional utilizes this level of technology, what would their expectations be of their agent?  Interesting questions, what do you think?

We had the pleasure of interviewing Megan Barber, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Megan is a Professional Real Estate Virtual Assistant (PREVA) and is both an EthicsChecked VA and Certified Real Estate Support Specialist (CRESS), by the International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA).  She has also earned Real Estate Sales Person's licenses in the states of New Mexico & New Jersey.  Megan owns and operates her own VA company, Barber Virtual Assisting Solutions, and maintains an active account on activerain. 

In light of her experience and certifications / designations, we took a few moments to ask some questions on her thoughts of the program.

1) What is your background?

I have been involved in working “behind the scenes” of the real estate industry for nearly 10 years. I started as a support staff for a large real estate office, and worked my way up within Oregon’s largest real estate company to become a marketing assistant and newspaper advertising coordinator in their corporate office. Later, I gained additional experience through being a real estate office manager, and an “in-house” RE assistant. In January, 2005 I started Barber Virtual Assisting Solutions, and have enjoyed being a Real Estate Virtual Assistant ever since.

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

I am always searching for ways to better myself, improve my education and enhance my service offerings for my clients. I always like to stay on top of what’s new in real estate technology. When I came upon the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification, I was happy to find a program that could help me sharpen my skills with programs and technologies important to the real estate industry.

3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

The online classroom was a great interface. With my busy and very unpredictable schedule, I especially enjoyed the self-paced environment that I could start and stop when ever I needed to. The presentations were very well laid out, clear to understand and paced well.

Getting the chance to use demos of the products discussed in the courses was also a major plus. Also, I learn better by doing, so it’s better if I can dig in and “get my hands dirty” with the programs and products.

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

Overall, it took me about 10-11 hours to complete over a few months. Again, the self-paced environment was nice so I could fit it into my free time.

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

I recommend this certification to any and all VA’s that are considering serving real estate professionals. I think it especially will be of great value to those who that may not have an extensive real estate background and will help them gain the knowledge and experience necessary to confidently meet the administrative needs for real estate professionals. Even those that have real estate experience will benefit greatly from the training available in this certification. It doesn’t hurt to sharpen your skills and you will discover new technologies and internet marketing strategies that you may never have thought of before.

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Thanks Megan and all the Best!

We had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsay Pendleton, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Lindsay's experience, skill and familiarity with the Baton Rouge real estate market are essential ingredients in providing her clients with an enjoyable Real Estate experience. Her RE Certification and Designations, such as e-Pro and REW™, strong communication and negotiation skills, high energy and effective marketing tactics make her service offerings unsurpassed in today's market!

Lindsay is really taking her website, http://www.forsalebylindsay.com, to the next level. Not only does she have an extraordinary amount of useful real estate tools accessible directly from her site (such as mortgage calculators, property searches, etc), she has already implemented some of the competencies available in the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ - such as Blogs AND Single-Property websites! Combined with appealing aesthetics, she is truly creating a viable and successful web-presence and demonstrating her understanding of Real Estate Technologies! Because of this success, we took a few moments to ask some questions on her thoughts of the program.

1) What is your background?

I am currently a Real Estate Agent with Prime Location Realty, located in Baton Rouge, LA.

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

I am proud to say that I have my e-Pro and REW™ certifications. I took both certifications back-to-back and enjoyed both of them. e-Pro definitely benefits the real estate agent who is just entering the technology world. It expresses the importance of the Internet (i.e., e-mail, websites, domain names, DSL, forums) and the impact it is making on the real estate industry. I learned a number of things from e-Pro that increased my Internet knowledge. I think and know that the e-Pro class is imperative for every real estate agent.
 
REW™ is the follow-on to e-Pro, in my opinion. In the REW certification, I learned so many amazing new things. A great example is "single-property websites". I'm proud to say that through the knowledge of single-property websites I learned within REW™, I was able to create my own single property website allowing my customers to get 24/7 information (http://www.beaudarren.info/). The REW certification is a step further - it really delves into all of the technology options that are available to real estate professionals.
 
3) What are your impressions of the online experience?
 
Being that my time is limited, and I truly love utilizing the Internet, I was elated that I could take REW™ online.
 
4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?
 
I signed up Dec 20 and was done on Christmas Day! 5 days with an hour or so each day.

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

People underestimate the power of e-mail, websites, domain names, blogs and so forth as highlighted in e-PRO. A number of RE professionals are overwhelmed by all the new technology. Technology is taking real estate in a new direction and it's time to jump on board.
 
When comparing e-Pro to REW™, they do not compare - rather, they really compliment. While e-Pro was very informative and detailed, REW™ went a little deeper into the technology options of today. 
 
While e-Pro teaches and explains the basics of technology to newbies, REW™ enhances it. Every single course that REW™ offered was extremely beneficial. I actually felt more capable and confident with technology options, instead of being overwhelmed. It was very detailed and easily formatted.

I consider e-Pro and REW™ like peas and carrots. While they are both based in Internet technology education, they teach different aspects. They both offer great, in depth information - but it's information that compliments one another. Collaborating e-Pro and REW™ just makes sense. I cannot express how both certifications broadened my horizons and made me feel like an Internet real estate queen! Thank you both, e-Pro and REW™, for making this available to all real estate professionals who want to go above and beyond.

The information available in REW™ and e-Pro combined is priceless!

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Thanks Lindsay and all the Best!

Holiday Special

For the month of December, as a Holiday Special, the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER certification is being offered at 25% OFF - a savings of $50! Give the profitable gift of a lasting education in RE technologies to improve your sales, or the sales of a family, friend, or relative! Use the coupon code REW0115 and gain access to the complete certification for only $149!

REW^TM Certification

The REW^TM Certification teaches Agents, Brokers and Assistants how to best utilize today’s most popular web-based technologies - the solutions for an all inclusive, consumer-centric web presence. Available online 24/7/365, REW^TM course materials allow working professionals to learn at their own pace while building the skill sets necessary to exceed the expectations of their web-savvy consumers.

But hurry, this offer is only good until January 15^th (2008) so sign-up now!