iPhone 4S fever – does it make sense to upgrade?

Apple released it’s much anticipated update to it’s flagship mobile phone, sadly, a day before it’s founder Steve Jobs passed away. Many had hoped that the next iPhone would really bring the product a step above the best offerings from the Android camp. Features like 4G and mobile hotspot functionality were among the things missing from the current iPhone 4.

Unfortunately, the upgrades were less than spectacular:

• improved camera quality, 1080p HD video recording, with additional in-phone controls and higher resolution
• Siri – the advanced voice-command system
• dual core A5 chip
• iOS5 with it’s improved Notification Center, iMessage, and iCloud support
• Sprint was added as the 3rd US wireless carrier to offer it
• NO 4g support
• NO mobile hotspot functionality

Don’t get me wrong – there are some REALLY nice features in this iPhone release and in iOS5. But does it make sense to upgrade from your original iPhone4, or should you wait for the next release (which is presumably at least a year away)? If you’re eligible for an upgrade, the lowest priced iPhone 4S will set you back $199 (16gb model). That’s a nice chunk of change to lay out for “yesterday’s” technology. 4G is the big buzz word and even though it’s still very new, there are quite a few Android 4G phones to choose from. And let’s face it, Android is Apple’s biggest competitor (it used to be Blackberry). While 4G phones may have their issues, such as poor battery life, they are still the hottest things going in the mobile marketplace. Everyone wants SPEED. And Apple didn’t give it to us.

Make it, and they shall buy

Regardless of the disappointing feature-set, Apple-lovers worldwide have apparently made it clear – they don’t care about 4G. Apple has announce that they have sold more than 4 million iPhone 4S in the first 3 days of sale. It has also bested the original iPhone 4′s record by selling more than 1 million in the first 24 hours alone (compared to the original iPhone 4′s record of 600,000). While the Siri voice software is garnering rave reviews, is it really enough to warrant spending another $200 on a phone that is still behind the pack when it comes to internet speed? We’d love to hear from you on this topic.

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RE/Advantage Welcomes The Jannone Team to Facebook

We are pleased to announce that The Jannone Team has launched a custom Facebook Fan Page designed by RE/Advantage.

Hoping to capture the huge Facebook user base their Fanpage is packed full of useful features including:

1. SEO friendly content
2. Navigation to their listings and main website
3. Embedded YouTube Video
4. A side banner, or skyscraper banner,  to keep branding consistent

“Today’s Fan Pages need to be more than just a pretty picture”, say Bennie Henderson of RE/Advantage, “…they not only need to capture your audience but search engines too!”  Many Facebook Pages are no more than a giant image that may look pleasing to the eye but what does that do for your ROI? You need lead generating and capture tools put in place for your prospects.

RE/Advantage’s Facebook page, for example, uses Fan Gating.  Our ‘non-liked’ page displays a welcome banner where you are asked to “Like Us” to receive some FREE Facebook tips.  Once you click the like button you are redirected to another page describing our company with a link to click to receive the FREE Facebook tips.  This link brings you to a simple form and upon completing the form you are brought back to the RE/Advantage main Facebook Fan Page. This options allows us to capture more interested fans because we entice them with some useful tips to “Like” us. REALTORS® can use that feature for market snapshots, buyers or sellers tips and checklists, etc.

RE/Advantage designs Facebook Fan Pages that can capture your audience and offers many advanced features such as:

• Custom Forms
• Embedded YouTube Video’s
• Multiple Tabs/Pages
• Fan Gating – Fan Gate is where non-fans who visit your page see one form of content and when they click the Like button to join your Page, the content changes to something just for your fans.
• Friend Gate – You require a user to get ‘X’ amount of fans to qualify for a special offer
• Coupons
• Polls

As Facebook continues to grows it is becoming a critical marketing tool for most agents.  But remember you cannot sell on your profile page as it is against Facebook’s Terms of Use.  Facebook Fan Pages however are not and they allow you to sell your professional image and services.

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The ‘What’ and ‘How’ Regarding Facebook Posts

Last week I posted an article on Facebook Business/Fan Pages and why it is important to your business to get involved with social media – particularly Facebook if you are a Real Estate professional. Hopefully over the weekend you were able to digest that information and came to the conclusion that you NEED an online presence if you want to succeed in Real Estate today – so as promised here is my list on the ‘WHAT’ and ‘HOW’ to post on your Facebook Business/Fan Page:

WHAT and HOW to Post Effectively to your Facebook Business/Fan Page:

1. Photo and video posts yield 85% more interaction among fans than plain text updates
2. Post at least twice a day
• Think about your niche market (are they local or national…or international for that matter!) and post a useful link, tip or informative update between 9am – 12pm (if you live on the east coast and market to west coast prospects you need to wait 3 to4 more hours).
• Your nightly post, after 6pm, can be a link to a news article or blog post you find relevant to your market.
• Keep in mind that morning posts yield 65% more interaction.
3. Content format should be:
• 25% personal (this keeps the soft sell in mind and a personal side to your online business). Example you have 2 children and there is a local community pumpkin decorating night – broadcast that special event.
• 25% promotional (offer freebies, run specials, giveaways). Example you have an REO specific fan page, run a special that will award fans a free market snapshot of distressed homes in your area for interacting with your page…’like this photo (could be your listing photo) and receive a free market snapshot for the Pleasantville area!’
• 25% hyper-local (very specific area information). Example your fan page is about a specific community; write a restaurant review (of a local favorite eatery) and post a video tapped interview of the head chef or restaurant owner.
• 25% market resource info (buyers and sellers tips, market statistics, national events/news). Example your local MLS should provide you with much of this information but offering monthly market stats or a sellers checklist is always beneficial to your fans.
4. There are 3 main types of business/fan pages for REALTORS®
• Geographical: should include local area information, school reports, restaurant reviews, local park and recreational activities, town sponsored events etc.
• Niche: should include information on your niche, whether it be REO’s, short sales, retirement communities, rentals, vacation homes, lake front homes, country clubs etc.
• Referral: should NOT include anything about ANY listings. Your main goal is to gather a community of national/international REALTORS® and broadcast your expertise in your area (market stats, REALTOR® tools/videos etc.) that way when a REALTOR® has a client looking to relocate they have an easy contact – YOU!

A great mind-set for a Facebook Business/Fan page is to simply be informative! You do not want to constantly blast information on your listings, your office listings and…oh yeah more listings! You want to grow a community of like minded individuals and once you are branded as a resource to that area or niche your ‘word of mouth’ marketing will go far beyond your followers. Keep the ‘I HAVE A GREAT LISTING’ posts to a minimum – open houses are good weekly posts; even new to market listings but cut your listing promotions there.

I do hope these past articles have helped you better understand Facebook and how to harness and leverage it’s power in this technology driven market. If I’ve left out an important point please share with us – how do you succeed in your online marketing strategies with regards to Facebook or other social networking sites?

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