The Real Estate Industry – It's not Just a Job, It's an Adventure!

I’m excited to announce that I am taking on a new role and change in the Real Estate Industry!  

Over the past few years in my role as Community Manager for ActiveRain, I’ve learned so much and grown in so many ways.  During this time my role has included helping many thousands of people and that work has been immensely rewarding and exciting.  However, I am now moving to a new place with my career. 

To all my friends at ActiveRain, a big “Thank You” for all your love, support and friendships over the past few years.  I also want to thank the staff and my good friends here inside ActiveRain for all their hard work, and for the passion that they sweat into this network each and everyday.  It’s been a wonderful learning experience.  Getting to witness the growth and changes on AR has been an honor and privilege.

I feel blessed to have so many great friends and such a truly authentic extended family here. 

I look forward to telling you all about this new challenge that I have accepted in the days ahead.  I’d spill the beans right now, but I have to head out the door… I’m running off to get married in a couple weeks. Then ActiveBrad’s spending his honeymoon in some untold locations.  I am not leaving the AR network or all of my friends and family here, I’m just merging onto a different road up ahead and creating a new and exciting path.

So wish me luck, I’m looking forward to YOUR future as I plan to still be part of it.  🙂

The rest of the scoop coming soon …to be continued

No matter the path you travel, make a difference in the world and enjoy the Journey…

There's a Rainbow Bridge Ahead for Mans Best Friend

There’s a Rainbow Bridge Ahead for Mans Best Friend

Today we are visiting our good friends up in South Lake Tahoe, Richard Bolen and Max.  What wonderful friends these folks are, we are very blessed to have them in our lives.  When we arrived here last night, they let us know that their baby “Spanky” was not doing so well, you see Spanky has liver cancer.  Spanky is 9 years old and one of the sweetest family members in the Bolen household.  Not two hours ago, we were petting him, giving him lots of love, and spending the best quality time we could with him.

Spanky had to go to the vet this afternoon, and he won’t be coming home tonight.  Spanky had to be put to sleep.  His condition was so bad that he could no longer have the quality of life he deserved and that we all wanted him to have.  A few days ago, Richard, Max, and their son Olivier accepted that Spanky didn’t have much time left and to say that day was a tough and challenging day would be a huge understatement.  Spanky’s eyes closed slowly as he gently went to sleep in Olivier’s arms this evening, just as it should have been.  He was so loved!!

So to my dearest friends, I want to dedicate this post, this day, and this poem to you and to Spanky.  All dogs DO go to heaven, and they do it via the “RainBow Bridge” Here’s to you Spanky, be at peace and know you will be missed and you are still and will always be mans “BEST FRIEND!”

      

“The Rainbow Bridge”

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal passes away that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Real Estate Market Domination

Real Estate Market Domination?  Now that’s a title that should peak the interests of ANYONE in Real Estate!!

This is going to be the Real Estate Industry’s “BEST EVENT” for 2010!  It’s going to be really hard for me to make this NOT sound like a sales pitch, but I’m just really excited to be participating at the “First Ever” Real Estate Summit, and especially at this venue.  I’m almost certain you’ll pick up on and sense my enthusiasm and excitement about this announcement…

Steve Hundley, the CEO at 1parkplace, has pulled out all the stops, spared no expense, and put together what many are referring to as the “GREATEST SUMMIT on EARTH!”  Take a serious look at what this event is all about, why and how it will be different than any others you’ve ever been to, and then consider and evaluate the benefits you can expect to gain from attending a summit of this magnitude.

The primary purpose of this event is to educate top brokers and high performing agents on the full spectrum of real estate market domination.  There will be comprehensive and professionally choreographed examples of how leading brokers and agents are dominating with online and offline technology that is driving results.  The event is already 1/3 sold out, I’d suggest getting your tickets NOW!

The 2010 Real Estate Market Domination Summit will feature a unique venue packed with highly concentrated strategic real estate marketing knowledge, techniques, information, social/online marketing strategies, offline strategies, power networking all being brought to you by award winning, expert practitioners in all facets of Market Domination.

Your expectations will be “exceeded” with some of these take-aways:

• Over 100 hours of INTENSE education and strategy sessions
• AWESOME cast of over 50 leading EXPERTS
  
• Live and virtual attendance options 
• All sessions available for REPLAY instantly at 1parkplace.tv
• No VENDORS – Just concentrated learning and DOMINATION
• Special Breakout Sessions on key topics

To see the dozens of high powered sessions, just visit the Summit’s website at Real Estate Marketing Summit.  Join myself, Allan Dalton, Tom Ferry and dozens of other leading Industry experts as we educate our audience on the art and science of Real Estate Market Domination.  It’s not a rumor that I’ll also be having a very special guest join me this year at the summit, you don’t want to miss this, trust me!

Mark your calendars “OUT OF OFFICE” on November 30 – December 2, 2010. 

“It Will Be SOLD OUT – GUARANTEED”

The Summit will be held “LIVE” at the world famous “Hotel del Coronado” in San Diego, CA.  There will also be the VIRTUAL version of the summit whereby you can enjoy the action LIVE via broadcast with your own private connection.  Imagine joining us at the summit from the comfort of your home or office computer.  In addition, you’ll be able to watch the “replay” of any session “on demand” at your finger-tips and at your convenience anytime in the future.  I would prefer to see you there in person, but either way, I’d encourage you to attend.

As an incentive to get you there, save over 50% using the “ActiveBrad” special code to REGISTER
(This discount code expires on Sept. 30, I had to bust my hump to get this…  SO DON’T MISS OUT)

How To Design a Facebook Page

How Cool is your Facebook Page? 

Do you have a Facebook page or just a Facebook profile?

There are so many people that ask me how to create a Cool Facebook page?  They want to incorporate some or all of their AR stuff, or show off a brand and flaunt their wares.  It use to be so much more challenging, but I’ve found this site called pagemodo.com that will assist you in creating one.  It’s easy and it’s FREE for the taking.

So let me ask you?  What do Lady Gaga, President Obama, and an Oreo Cookie have in common, and what in the world does that have to do with Facebook?  Guess you’ll have to watch my Video. :-O

I don’t think I can help make it any easier for you than this…  (Big Smile!)

AT&T Uses Facebook – Connecting with Wireless Customers

AT&T Uses Facebook to Try and Connect with Wireless Customers

Did you know that AT&T covers 97% of all Americans?  They claim to have the nations fastest mobile broadband network that allows you to talk and browse the web at the same time.  They also claim to have seamless access to over 20,000 Wi-Fi hot-spots available, more than any other U.S. wireless provider. Now they plan to try and improve the user experience for their mobile clients.

In 2010 they planned to invest somewhere between $18 and $19 Billion in their wireless networks across the country.  They’ve already invested more in their networks over the past three years than any of their U.S. competitors according to Mike Maxwell, Vice President and General Manager at AT&T for the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. “We’ve already upgraded our cell sites to enable faster mobile broadband speeds when paired with expanded backhaul, and we plan a similar upgrade at the end of the year that will enable even faster speeds.” Backhaul?

They’re not stopping there.  AT&T says they’ll be adding thousands of new cell sites to their network, expanding their mobile broadband coverage to millions of existing and new customers, installing enhanced fiber backhaul, and increasing the capacity of their data network.  They are confident that these enhancements will provide a better experience and enable a seamless migration to the next generation of mobile broadband – LTE.  However, many users out there are still not having a positive experience.

Courtesy of the AT&T Facebook Fans (and non-fans) Wall

What does all this mean to you as an AT&T customer?  Better coverage where it matters most, and fast access to information on the go.  If you think that AT&T isn’t looking at every possible solution and challenge we face as users, let them know on their Facebook page at Facebook.com/ATT, like Mary has, I know they’d love to hear from you too. 

So why am I so excited about what AT&T is doing for customers like me?  Because there’s nothing worse than a dropped call when the person on the other end is right in the middle of their sentence saying something like…..  “Oh My Gosh, you’re not going to believe this…”

(call dropped!) :-O (phone reads no service)     Dare I say…Can you hear me now?

It’s nice to see an attempt by AT&T to listen and try to connect with customers via social media sites like Facebook.  Maybe this will be a huge turning point for their company and their service.  In the past, an unsatisfied customer who calls in over a phone line has nowhere near the impact and power that an unsatisfied customer on Facebook can have.  Social media sites like Facebook in all their glory have also created a bullhorn for the consumer to send a variety of messages to Company’s and to other users in an unprecedented way. 

Virtual Office and Meeting Space Available at Sococo

Recently, I shared a “Virtual” Office concept using a new technology for Internet users around the globe.  This would also apply to those of you who have teams scattered all over town, all over the county, and possibly all over the Country.  Imagine having a virtual meeting/office space where you could talk, chat via private chat, go into your own private office, sit at a conference table, or meet and greet people in your very own virtual lobby? 

What if you could invite up to 50 people to attend a meeting, watch a presentation, attend a Buyer/Seller forum or just put on a seminar for your new or target clients?  Maybe a class, a group discussion, or just an opportunity to get together and catch up?

Sococo is a site that allows you to share screens, documents, chat, talk, meet, etc. with up to 50 users, and also provides you with a “virtual” setting much like a floor plan that allows you to move around from room to room, office to office and share content, ideas, and presentations with others.  The site gives easy access to video training and is very user friendly.  Just DOWNLOAD their software and you’re ready to start inviting others and meeting “virtually!” It works on the PC and Windows, but they are working on a MAC version that will be announced at some point.

It’s FREE!  It’s FAST, and it’s EASY.  It’s also just another way to save you time and money.  You’ll save gas, beat traffic, avoid accidents and bridge tolls.  No more weather restrictions, long distance phone bills, or delays due to unforeseen circumstances that lie outside your front door.  You’re already communicating over the Internet, this is just a neat and fancy way to bring it all together in a fun and simple environment.  My Virtual office is up and running, take the Sococo penny tour for yourself then run off and create your own in minutes.

Your custom Office creations are ALL private and only accessible by others via an email invitation.

Sococo is leading the next generation of “virtual communication” tools and cutting edge systems for the web.  I think you’ll love it and some of you will find some very practical applications where you can use this tool for your clients, associates, business relationships, or even family and friends.  Let’s face it, most of us are already leading and living very busy Internet lives, making it easier and more virtual is a natural progression.

 

At This Moment – A Social Media Way To Record and Share

This Moment – A new Social Media Way To Record and Share the past, the now, and the future!

What are you doing right at this very moment?  Well you’re reading this post obviously, but wouldn’t it be cool if there were a site that could combine all your “moments” and social media and real life adventures into one nice convenient place that you could seamlessly share with friends and family? 

Imagine having all your accounts like Youtube, Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook accessible from a single link or click, and then you could share “Those Moments” with specific friends or others from your Google or Yahoo contacts.  That would be the coolest site imaginable!

ThisMoment.com is exactly what you’ll want to check out.  I played on the site this morning after seeing this video that The Scobelizer (Robert Scoble) put up on Youtube, and I’m totally loving this new site.  Follow Robert Scoble if you want to keep up with World Changing Technology.  I’ve posted a couple samples on the site so I could demonstrate it here, but once you dive into it, I can guaranty you’ll be hooked.

Take a look at the time-line and widget I added below, then head on over and check it out. Be sure to add me as a friend there, this way I can keep up with what YOU’RE doing at any given moment, at least with the moments you’re wanting and willing to share. lol~ I give these guys @ThisMoment a BIG 10 and 5 GOLD stars for this site. It’s the THEN, The NOW, and THE FUTURE all wrapped up into one!

See Brad’s full Public Time-line Here

I’ve added a couple steps below to get you started, the rest is up to you:
The First Step is that you’ll need to join ThisMoment. Yes, it’s FREE! 🙂

What is thisMoment

Connect with friends and family

Link photos, videos, and update services

Add your first moment

Learn how to add moments by email

ActiveRain Members and RainMakers – Do You Need Help?

ActiveRain Members and RainMakers – Do You Need Help?

I’m looking for AR members who feel they need some training and coaching.  There are many great trainers and classes/coaching offered out there, but they might NOT be what you’re looking for and what you REALLY NEED.

Are You Serious? Are you Ready?

What are your questions or concerns about Social Media, networking online, or Blogging on this massive Real Estate community and network?  What things might you be missing that will make a difference in your efforts here? What do you want-vs-need?

After many years of working with AR members day in and day out, I have seen and heard it all, believe me.  Today I’m taking my experiences and the knowledge I’ve gained here to the next level. I’ve come up with an idea and plan for a possible solution for those who struggle in the web 2.0 arena.

I’m offering coaching classes to ALL ActiveRain members.  The design and content was built and based around the needs of those who I see challenged and struggling in the RE.net world daily.  In this case, it’s a simple one-hour training and coaching call designed to educate and simplify the power and the tools of the AR network. Take advantage of my 12-16 hour days 6-7 days a week that I’ve spent learning and finding answers and solutions to member’s challenges. 

The goal: My experience and knowledge here will save you time, and dramatically reduce your learning curve.

Are you not sure how to use Hit Router because you’re not a REALTOR?  Are you lost when it comes to creating an effective signature for your posts?  Do you struggle with understanding how SEO works?  What about titles, content, and great anchor text?  Do they make a difference to the search engines?  How do you manage your time with Social Media?  Is there a Business Strategy or Plan that works?  How do you generate, cultivate, capture, and convert leads?  Are you different than the other 200K AR members?

Over the years, you’ve shared your questions, needs and concerns, and one by one I’ve been trying to help.  Now I’m going to open the “Rain” flood gates to everyone.  OK, here it comes…  what’s the catch?  This coaching call is $99.00, but will be HALF OFF to any and all AR members and Rainmakers.  Why?  Because I want you to take advantage of an opportunity to get the most out of your membership and the efforts you invest here on ActiveRain. 

Remember, it’s not the AR network that will make you successful, it’s what YOU do with it, and how YOU use it that will make it worthy of your time, your efforts, and your financial investment.  Celebrating your “Thrill of Victory” with you is much more rewarding for me than witnessing your “Agony of Defeat!”

STEP ONE: It’s less than the cost of filling your gas tank, and you’ll learn some stuff that “works!”

STEP TWO: Submit the form below and take your Blogging efforts on AR to the next level.