Courtesy TwitDir.com

Twitter..com is rapidly changing the way companies and entrepreneurs showcase their businesses. With the right plan and purpose, anyone can broadcast news, generate leads, announce events, communicate internally, or become a go-to source of information for their audience. One of the most important first steps in leveraging Twitter is following the right people or companies. The following list is comprised of real estate professionals who give value everyday by providing perspective, strategies, and tips relevant to Realtors.

Top 10 People-Companies to Follow on Twitter

1. Patrick Kitano: Former Wall St. investment banker and Principle of Domus Consulting Group, Pat Kitano is a new thought leader in the real estate space. The Domus Breaking News Project is one of the most important breakthroughs in real estate marketing. Twitter.com/pkitano

2. Brad Andersohn: Brad spent a number of years in the title insurance industry and is a master networker. He is also one of the most important sources of Web 2.0 tips and strategies. Brad is the Community Builder for Active Rain. Twitter.com/BradAndersohn

3. Teresa Boardman: One of the original real estate bloggers with power and perception, Teresa provide value and information for both Realtors and consumers. One of the best hyper local bloggers in the country. Twitter.com/tboard

4. Tom Royce: Tom is the author of one of the most well read and popular real estate news and tips blogs TheRealEstateBloggers.com. He is a fantastic new resource and networking force in the industry. Twitter.com/TomRoyce

5. Kevin Boer: Former McKinsey consultant and Yale graduate, Boer is partnered with Patrick Kitano in Domus Consulting Group. Boer brings perspective as a Realtor and social media new thought practitioner. Twitter.com/KevinBoer

6. Ardell DellaLoggia: Fiercely independent and opinionated, Ardell tells it like it is in a no nonsense “get over yourself” kind of way. One of Seattle’s brightest stars, Ardell’s blog  Ardell’s SeattleRealEstateBlog is another can’t miss hyper local blog with power.  Twitter.com/ARDELLd

7. Trulia: Trulia provides news, tips, strategies, and community to connect with and network. Rudy Bachraty drives the information. Twitter.com/Trulia

8. The Real Estate Tomato: The Tomato provides tutorial style information, tips, strategies, and explanations into the latest and greatest social media has to offer. The brash and unabashed Jim Cronin is the leader of the pack when it comes to stirring the masses no matter what the subject. Twitter.com/retomato

9. Jeff Turner: Jeff is the founder of RealEstateShows and a well respected entrepreneur and thought leader. He is generous with information that can help anyone from new Realtor to seasoned veteran. Twitter.com/respres

10. Joel Burslem: Creator of long time real estate blog TheFutureofRealestatemarketing, Joel provides readers with tons of valuable tips, breaking news, and industry perspective. Twitter.com/jburslem

Microsoft Operating Systems long the standard and “bully on the block” is getting a new competitor with clout: Google. That is right! Google announced it is going to enter the OS market in 2010. Mashable’s Ben Parr broke the news with his timely article: “BREAKING: Google to Launch Operating System.” Let’s take a look at what Google has to say about Chrome OS.

Chrome OS Description

• Open Source: free is always good
• Lightweight: uncomplicated is preferable
• Targeting Netbooks users

3 Key Aspects of Chrome OS

• Speed: faster makes for efficiency
• Simplicity: too often we are bogged down by features that are less benefit than drain on a system’s speed. Are you listening Microsoft?
• Security: this has been the Achilles heal for Microsoft for a long time and the issue that could present the most value to users

Chrome OS Value Proposition: Eliminate “Microsoft Frustration”

According to Sundar Pichai, VP Product Management and Linus Upson, Engineering Director, Chrome OS advantages

• “We’re designing the OS to be fast and lightweight”
• ” To start up and get you onto the web in a few second”
• “The user interface is minimal to stay out of your way”
• “Most of the user experience takes place on the web”
• “Completely redesigning the underlying security architecture of the OS so that users don’t have to deal with viruses, malware and security updates”

Zillow.com and Trulia.com have been breakthrough sites that allowed consumers social media functionality in finding listings, property values, and information down to the neighborhood level. Real estate world meet your new neighbor: Google Maps. In a solid article outlining the new Google move Searchengineland.com’s ,“Land Grab: Google Expands Real Estate Listings” announces the “new kid on the block.” According to writer Matt McGee: “Google has expanded its real estate listings and added extra search functionality for users to find property listings in.”

New Search Feature

In the old version of Google Maps, the search function would return basic information such as listings of real estate agents and brokers on a map.  Such as a search for San Francisco real estate produced a basic map

Now if you are searching you will find right below the search box, a new “invitation” to search current real estate listings. The results for a search “san francisco real estate” returns:

And comprehensive maps like this:

Google’s Source of Information: Scraping Listings?

According to McGee the search results are coming from sources such as “real estate brokerages and agents, many of whom upload listings into Google Base as part of their online marketing.. .”

McGee asserts that “Google is also getting listings from sources such as Homes & Land and The Real Estate Book and similar sites that advertise listings for participating real estate professionals.”

The dilemma now for Realtors and brokers is whether to list their properties in Google base or other sites that can be readily accessed and repurposed by Google for their own search engine listings within Google Maps. Finally, the National Association of Realtors has already accused Google of scraping it’s MLS listings thus stealing their competitive advantage. Where do Realtors go from here? What is your take on this new player in the real estate market? Only time will tell.

The Santa Clara County Association of Realtors’ education series helps Realtors in Silicon Valley with continuing education, networking, and marketing strategies for Realtors and Brokers. This Friday Inner Architect, CEO Susan Hanshaw and Business Director Dean Guadagni, will be presenting a two hour workshop “Leveraging the Power of Linkedin for Realtors”:

Date: Friday July 10, 2009
Location: Santa Clara County Association of Realtors 1651 North 1st Street, San Jose, CA
Time: 1:00 to 3:00pm

Workshop Delivers:

• Linkedin Permission based premise and protocol
• Keyword Search Features
• Navigating the site
• Components of the Profile
• Objectives of the Summary
• Customize and Promote your Public Profile url
• Strategies for Networking with your Connections
• Strategies for Networking in Groups

BreakingNapaValleyNews.com

The Domus Breaking News Project is a revolutionary platform that aggregates live Twitter feeds then scrolls them onto sites built to showcase  metro areas, suburbs, or particular niches. Today we at Inner Architect are proud to announce the launch of BreakingNapaValleyNews.com.

BreakingNapaValleyNews.com: What’s Different?

The structure of the site is revolutionary: live Twitter feeds streamed onto the page in real time with a scrolling mechanism for easy reading.

BreakingNapaValleyNews.com: Categories

• Local News: local news on the Valley
• Wineries: more than 50 wineries and growing
• Dining: fantastic restaurants, chefs, and foodies
• Hotels/Resorts: deals, news, and specials
• Touring/Events: events, limosine services
• Shopping: retail, artisan, shopping
• Real Estate: brokers and Realtors with property information and deals

Our Value Proposition: Begin on Twitter.com/napavalleynews

We are looking for great Napa Valley local news, wineries, dining, hotels, resorts, touring, events, shopping, real estate sources to add to our site. If you are interested please begin by following us on Twitter at twitter.com/napavalleynews and then checking out BreakingNapaValleyNews.com.

Online reputation management is a growing concern for the smallest business to the largest corporations. Blogging is one of the best tools to deliver messages and challenge erroneous information about a company brand. Social media networks allow companies to create profiles and pages which also act as a delivery system. The ultimate sum total of the effort to blog and create social media profiles and pages is to populate the page 1 Google search for the company name. The following is a perfect example of why companies of all sizes should be concerned and aware of how to defend their reputation online: WakeupWalMart.com

WakeupWalMart.com

The plethora of information presented on this site is the best example of why WalMart should be concerned. The following are links to each category:

• WalMart Facts: covering such subjects as cost to taxpayers, wages, worker injuries, worker benefits and many more issues that the site highlights
• Take Action: a plea to write your story, start a group, or write a letter to the editor
• Media Center: including video, pictures, and WalMart in the news

This site is a warning to all companies that you can no longer remain silent when your brand is under scrutiny. Have a online reputation management plan and execute it as soon as possible.

The most annoying habit of Twitter users is the strategy of sending a DM aka direct message as a greeting to anyone who follows their tweets. Why would, what appears to be a smart method of introducing yourself to a new connection, a DM end up being detrimental to your ability to connect? The answer is automated response tools.

5 Reasons Not to Use Auto Direct Messaging

• Perception: you are immediately perceived as not caring enough to personalize your message to your new connection because no name is attached to a automated tweet
• Sales Pitch: 70% of the DMs I receive are direct hard sell sales pitches asking me to become a facebook fan, read a blog article, or follow other Twitterers.
• Interruption: this is interruption marketing at it’s worst. If you want to be relevant re-read Seth Godin’s idea of permission marketing
• Follow Strategy: most automated response DMs are the byproduct of a Twitterer’s follow strategy. Most entrepreneurs that auto tweet have follow strategies built to create mass numbers regardless of the value of the following.
• DM Examples to Avoid: never do the following if you must use automated direct message tools

“Yay, I’m on auto but that doesn’t mean I don’t care! You’re on Facebook? Let’s be friends there too “

“I have written a free quide on the ’smart’ way to Twitter: (url link) it’s to the point and it’s free. Thanks for following me. Hey it is great to follow”

“Thanks for the follow! I found you via this Twitter marketing tool: link and If you want a lot of followers (like I do), you should check this amazing website: link”

Farrah Fawcett passed away this morning (June 25, 2009)  after a 3 year battle with breast cancer; she was 62 years old. I could tell you that in the 1970’s our entire high school boys baseball, football, and basketball teams had her poster on one wall or another. I could tell you that she was the star and center of attention during a decade when “me” and “discovering yourself” were the mantras. I could even tell you that every girl, ages 13-33, had a Farrah wings hair-doo hoping it might make them look as sexy and beautiful as the real Farrah. But I am not going to tell you any of those memories; instead I am going to leave it to the one snapshot memory that brings me back to my teen years-good bye Farrah you will be missed!

The 1031 Taxgroup Ed Okun ponzi scheme rip off continues to baffle and frustrate those victims who have endured the worst experience of their financial lives. The continuing saga of restitution took a new turn with a newly amended government preliminary restitution report. If you are a victim of Ed Okun’s 1031 Tax Group fraud, this is a document you should read and familiarize.

Gearld McHale’s Trustee Tax Group Notice

The following is a link to a pdf file for the government’s amended preliminary report as to restitution made available on www.trustee1031taxgroup.com. Please read this document, released on June 9, 2009:

Click on Government’s Amended Preliminary Report as to Restitution follow this link to bottom link click on (orange) “linked hereto is the Order of the criminal court dated June 9,2009″ for the report. Best of luck and our thoughts are with you all.

Courtesy Wikipedia London

ComputerShopper.com published this deansguide article in “Technology News” 6-21-09

Marketing firm Hubspot focuses on “inbound marketing software that helps your company get found online, generate more inbound leads, and convert a high percentage of them into paying customers.” Hubspot’s recently released report “State of the Twittersphere” has some interesting and thought provoking findings. Case studies and reports enable  entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large corporations create Twitter strategies for their businesses. The best location to find research to build your twitter strategies: on Twitter.

Top 20 Locations Today and Past

1. London–London
2. Los Angeles–USA
3. Chicago–San Francisco
4. New York–New York
5. San Francisco–Chicago
6. Toronto–Los Angeles
7. Atlanta–California
8. Seattle–Toronto
9. Boston–Austin, Tx
10. Austin–New York
11. Sydney–New York City
12. San Diego–San Francisco
13. Washington D.C.–Canada
14. Melbourne–Texas
15. Portland–Atlanta
16. Houston–Washington D.C.
17. Vancouver–UK
18. Dallas–Los Angeles
19. Brooklyn–Chicago
20. Philadelphia–New York City