Grow Your Business With A Blog

Real estate blogs are the most exciting innovation in real estate in some time – connecting consumers to valuable information through an exciting and easy-to-use new medium. Real estate and blogs were made for each other. Real estate is local, personal, and emotional, just like blogs.        

~Realty Blogging, Richard Nacht and Paul Chaney

 

Not Your Ordinary Blog – Be Part Of The Elite…
 
Are you ready to take your online marketing to a whole new level? Alohaliving.com is offering the unique opportunity for a limited number of bloggers to establish themselves as experts in real estate territories throughout Hawaii, as well as in certain market niches such as insurance, home improvement, or even food and entertainment.
 
Your blog will be prominently displayed across our website AlohaLiving.com, one of the most comprehensive, Hawaii focused, real estate websites out there.  Blogs are syndicated to our partner sites, as well as thoroughly and frequently indexed by Google and other blog-specific search engines like Technorati.

The Nitty-Gritty Details…
 
Why blog?  Blogs tend to do VERY well in search engine rankings due to their frequently updated content. So, write often, create a following, and watch as the traffic and leads from your blog develop organically. 
 
The Aloha Living Blog Network is built on an enterprise version of WordPress, an immensely popular, open-source blogging and content management system. A talented global community of programmers are constantly improving and refining the software. In addition, we will be developing and implementing our own custom solutions to provide you with more versatility and features down the road – one of the distinct advantages of the open-source movement.
 
Still, blogging is about the content, not the technology. While this blog focuses largely on the WordPress software, remember – As an Aloha Living Blog Network blogger, you are not really paying for code or servers or the like. What we offer is a service that helps you create timely, topical, interesting content that keeps people coming back, and a constantly growing network that boosts your visibility and reinforces your position as an expert in your area.
 
 
We’re Here For You…
 
There is a lot of information on blogging out there, as real estate and other industry professionals discover its value as a business tool. But we know that you don’t always have the time to keep up with it all, and sometimes need some help to get started.  No problem. We provide personal, individual support to our bloggers, and meanwhile regularly compile and feature tips, tricks, and ideas for blogs and other marketing tools on our Bulletin Blog, Facebook pages, and Twitter profiles.
 
 
Something To Look Forward To…
 
The Aloha Living Blog Network is only a small part of the larger AlohaLiving.com portal. And, as it grows, your blog content will be incorporated in a multitude of different ways, creating more and more opportunities for your business to flourish and thrive.

October Online Training Schedule

*NEW! Orientation classes for New Agent Members have now been added to our class schedule starting this month.  Sign up now to build a solid foundation of REsearch knowledge and skills!

Sign up for one of our other online training classes this October and…

• Learn our trainers tricks & tips for farming
• Brush up on your basics
• Discover ways to attract new customers

Below are the online classes scheduled for the remainder of September and the entire month of October.  To sign up immediately, simply click on the links below.  Space is limited so please RSVP soon!  If you are going to participate/watch as a group, only one person needs to sign up.

Remember, after you have participated, please make sure to fill out the survey or e-mail me your feedback so we can continue to improve upon our training efforts!  Mahalo.
September 28 – 30

Customizing & Downloads: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/421697466

Orientation: Wednesday, September 30, 2009 – 1:00 PM 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/596356875

October 1 – 4

New Member Orientation: Thursday, October 1, 2009 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/565034074

October 5-11

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Thursday, October 1, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST    Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/579724090

Basics to Searching & Formats: Tuesday, October 6, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/546265803

Orientation: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 – 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/280863050

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST   Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/653085507

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Thursday, October 8, 2009 – 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/428224307

Maps: Thursday, October 8, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/943224299

Update, CMA, Farming & Labels: Friday, October 9, 2009 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/319484970

Customizing & Downloads: Friday, October 9, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/872285962
October 12 – 18

Orientation: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/543734074

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/892583386

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Friday, October 16, 2009 – 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM HST
Registration Web Link:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/459191291

Basics to Searching & Formats: Friday, October 16, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/523837946

October 19 – 25

Update, CMA, Farming & Labels: Thursday, October 22, 2009 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/776859770

Maps: Thursday, October 22, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/822515890

Orientation: Friday, October 23, 2009 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/633135035

Enter & Manage Your Listings and How to Utilize Forms: Friday, October 23, 2009 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM HST     Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/361647482

October 26 – 31

Basics to Searching & Formats: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/888292963

Customizing & Downloads: Thursday, October 29, 2009 – 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/949769403

Prospecting, Contacts & Calendar: Thursday, October 29, 2009 – 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM HST
Registration Web Link: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/624503106

LIVE, In-Office Class on Oahu!
REsearch TMK: Friday, September 18, 2009 – 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Registration Web Link: https://websec.hawaiiinformation.com/REsearch/HIS/default.asp*

*To sign up for TMK session, please log in to REsearch, select the “REtools” menu, and select “REsearch Training”.

Instructions on how to register for the above webinars:

• To register, please click onto the applicable link located below the class.  The link will then take you to the registration site.
• Please complete all the required fields marked by a red asterisks (First Name, Last Name, Email Address, Phone, Organization AKA Office Name).
• Click “Register Now” to complete the registration process.  Once registered a confirmation email will be sent to your email address to confirm your registration along with a unique web ID number and instructions on how to login to the session on that day.
• If you need login assistance, please feel free to contact our Customer/Technical Support team at (800) 628-3121, press # and then 457.

System Requirements

• PC-based attendees – Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
• Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Questions? Comments?  I’d love to hear from you!  Please feel free to e-mail me at erin@alohaliving.com or call directly at (808) 748-8759 or toll free 1-800-628-3121 ext. 159.

Great Resource: HAR Outreach Program

Lin Suggests:  If you have not signed up for the HAR outreach program, you should! The national speaker gave a very enlightening 3-hour talk on the use of social media .. blogging, Facebook, Twitter, etc. in a no-nonsense manner.

Interested?  Go HERE to see the schedule of Education Seminars and Events hosted by HAR, as well as a place to register for them!  If you go to a great one, please be sure to share what you’ve gained from it!

Craigslist Scam Alert

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ!
 
 
Please be advised that there continues to be a threat to the real estate industry from scammers using Craigslist and other classified advertising websites. Crooks are scraping information from real listings and are posting them as fake rental properties, posing as an owner or management company.  Once someone responds, they attempt to get the person to send deposits and advance rent payments, usually to overseas addresses, promising delivery of keys after receiving the funds.
 
These scams are found nationwide, but they have been reported in Hawaii on several occasions, so please be cautious and aware.  If possible, you may want to periodically check Craigslist using the addresses of your listings or key phrases from your property details to ensure that they aren’t being misrepresented.
 
Here are a few helpful links to recent articles concerning this scam:

• KITV: Housing Scams Pop Up on Craigslist
• PBN: Hawaii BBB, Realtors warn of rental scams
• KPUA: Rental scam hits Hawaii
• New York Times: Rent in Haste, Repent at Leisure

Also, after sending out the above information, I received a response from one of our members with some first-hand advice about dealing with this very real problem:

“I have been continuously copied on my listings by scammers in Nigeria (I know this from talking to the people responding to the scammers!)
 
The best way to avoid having scammers copy your listing on Craigslist is to NOT put in address in the Craigslist ad!  This prevents  the scammers from directing people to the property for drive bys…and therefore, prevents them from pulling off the scam.”

REsearch and Aloha Living – Best of Both Worlds!

NOW LIVE!  Check it out at www.hawaiiinformation.com!

 

Hawaii Information Service is unlike most MLS companies in that we offer distinct ways for both members and customers to get information about real estate online. Our company website, HawaiiInformation.com, has long served both as a gateway to members to login to the REsearch system, as well as a starting point for homebuyers looking to find properties for sale on AlohaLiving.com.

Earlier this year, we redesigned HawaiiInformation.com, simplifying its structure and giving it a cleaner, more modern look. Now, we’re further refining the homepage, balancing REsearch and AlohaLiving.com to make it even simpler for first-time visitors to get to the information they need.

 

Members will still find prominent links to the existing login page, as well as to additional information on the products and services we offer.  The cleaner design will also better highlight the featured agent Gallery Ads.

Customers, meanwhile, will be directed immediately to AlohaLiving.com, where they will be able to find properties for sale, save their searches, access public records data, find an agent, and get more information about living in Hawaii.

Two views, one great new look — what could be better than that?