ReBarDrinks NYC - Sponsored by Trulia at The Grace Hotel

Trulia is sponsoring the official ReBarCamp NYC after party.

Date: Tuesday January 6th

Time: 8:15-10:15 - or later

Location: The Grace Hotel - 125 WEST 45TH STREET, NEW YORK 10036

Music: DJ

Pool: Yes

Please RSVP today by leaving a comment below…

Using Social Media To Create Develop Offline Relationships

Back at RE BarCamp San Francisco, I kept overhearing a catchy acronym. B.L.O.G. stands for Better Listings On Google. It’s true that blogs are a great way to attract organic traffic from Google. But blogging only for SEO purposes doesn’t fully exploit the power of social media.

As real estate and mortgage professionals, one of our goals has always been to increase our sphere of influence and build a referral network. Ginger Wilcox and I think social media is a great tool for this long established practice. We’re going to lead a discussion on how to use online tools to cultivate offline relationships. We’ll be citing our own experiences, and soliciting others from attendees.

We hope you can make it!

Todd Carpenter

Schedule and Location for RE Barcamp NYC

RE Barcamp NYC is shaping up to be a great event, but it occurred to us that we never formally posted any type of schedule or location information. Now would be a pretty good time to rectify that issue:

First of all, RE Barcamp NYC is going to be located at the Marriott Marquis, Times Square. The room for Barcamp NYC is the Marquis AB. It is the same room for Blogger’s Connect on Wednesday, for those of you attending that, too.

Now that you know where it is, you probably want to know when to be there. Barcamp NYC registration will begin at 9am. Here is our planned schedule:

9:00-9:45 Registration and networking/socializing

9:45-10:00 Introduction and planning of sessions

10:00-10:45 Session 1

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-11:45 Session 2

11:45-12:00 Break

12:00-12:45 Session 3

12:45-2:00 LUNCH (generously sponsored by Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate)

2:00-2:45 Session 4

2:45-3:00 Break

3:00-3:45 Session 5

3:45-5:00 (or so) MORE sharing/networking/socializing

During each 45 minute session, we should be able to have 2 simultaneous presentations/discussions going on at the same time, if need be. That should allow us to have plenty of great content for everyone. At the very least, there are going to be 5 presentations/discussions that you are NOT going to want to miss.

And don’t forget, the fun doesn’t stop with RE Barcamp NYC. From 6-8pm is another prime networking event, Beer With Bloggers. Beer With Bloggers is the regular kickoff before Inman Real Estate Connect gets underway. Beer With Bloggers is ultra convenient this year, as it is also located at the Marriot Marquis. Join everyone for drinks and socializing at the 8th Floor Atrium of the Marriott. It is going to be a don’t-miss event, for sure.

So now that you know where it is, and what is going on, you have no excuses to miss what is sure to be an awesome event to get your 2009 off on the right foot.

See you in Times Square!

Session Description: Video, Video and More Video!

We know the power of the written word has had a huge impact on Social Media (eg. Twitter, Blogs, Facebook) but video is starting to have more and more influence. From Vlogs to asynchronous conversation to online video conference calls, video is maturing before our eyes. Are you ready and able to meet your audience when they pop up on one of the sites below?

A sampling of some of the platforms that are being used to create interesting video dialog:

• Tokbox is a free service that lets you talk with your friends over live video. Here’s how it works: you sign up and we give you a link. When you want to talk with anyone, just give them the link - they click and you chat.
• Seesmic provides anyone with an innovative way to communicate and connect online through video conversation. It’s so easy: record a video directly on Seesmic’s website, mobile phone or upload an existing video straight from your computer or link to a video posted on a social network.
• Qik has a vision to enable every mobile user to share their moments live with their friends, family andtheirworld with the click of a button from anywhere in the world.
• 12seconds is the best place online for video status updates. It’s a super easy way to share what you’re doing with your friends and family using short video clips. You can use your web cam or mobile phone. Show your friends where you are, share your thoughts, or tell them how you’re doing. We are building a video status platform that will help you keep up to date with your friends 12 seconds at a time.
• Viddler is a fresh, creative web application that allows you to upload, enhance, and share digital video easily and quickly inside your web browser.
• Ustream.TV is the live interactive video broadcast platform that enables anyone with a camera and an Internet connection to quickly and easily broadcast to a global audience of unlimited size. In less than two minutes, anyone can become a broadcaster by creating their own channel on Ustream or by broadcasting through their own site, empowering them to engage with their audience and further build their brand.
• Utterli helps you create and follow discussions with friends or new people with similar interests. You can create or join a discussion from any mobile phone or computer. Utters are cool because they can be audio, video, pictures and text, and it’s really easy to post to your other online profile pages.
• Vimeo is a thriving community of people who love to make and share video. From simple moments to masterpieces, Vimeo is the perfect home for you to upload, store and share all the video you create.
• Others such as Phreadz, Stickam, YouTube, Facebook, Skype, Flickr, Blip.tv, VloggerHead, LiveVideo, Justin.TV, etc.

The session will be led by Derek Overbey (Roost), Mike Price (MLBroadcast) and Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows).  Mike and Jeff both run businesses dedicated to video and I’m just a video junkie!

Please join us in an interesting discussion about video on how you can and should use it to enhance your business.

Time is running out to RSVP for RE BarCamp!!!

In order to give the Marriot time to prepare lunch for REBarCamp attendees, we need to have a final number to them by Friday. But you may have less time than that. We are also capping out this free lunch at 100 attendees. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate has stepped up in a huge way to provide lunch. Doing it through the hotel is not an affordable way to feed 100 people. To ask for anymore of them simply isn’t fair.

So here’s some math for you.

About 70 attendees have already registered.

6, just this morning.

How much time do you have to RSVP?

Session Description: “Marketing with Real Estate Stats & Analytics”

“How’s the Market?” is a question that every real estate professional is asked daily - from client, leads, and prospects.

New information is available weekly about the stock market, housing market, mortgage rates, and the political spectrum of affairs.  Home buyers and sellers what to know how these weekly events affect their local real estate market and their personal situation. Real agents agents should leverage this current state of affairs to position themselves as the local market expect.

But how? By using Real Estate Market Stats and Data available in all facets of their business!

Prospecting

• Reaching new customers in blogging, newsletters, local market reports
• What’s happening right now in your area?
• “Here’s something different from the headlines…”

Lead Generation & Development

• The call to action & easy follow up
• Direct Response + Branding

Client Development & Management

• You are the expert
• Illustrate their opportunity
• Manage expectations

This session will provide simple, concrete examples of how to use local market data.  Some cases that we’ll cover in the session:

• Utilizing median days-on-market vs. average days-on-market
• Showing seasonal inventory and price trends to push buyers off the fence
• Price trends by price level to help sellers set the price right the first time.

The session is led by Mike Simonsen and Scott Sambucci at Altos Research.  We’re data geeks that work with agents and real estate professionals across the country to help them leverage real estate market data to show their local market expertise.  Mike is the CEO and co-founder of Altos Research, and authors the Altos Research company blog.  Scott is the VP of Sales & Analytics and authors the Altos Research Real Estate Marketing Blog on Active Rain.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Today’s Organizational Conference Call

We record these calls for the benefit of volunteers that could not make it. Anyone is welcome to listen!

Listen Here - approx 24 minutes

Some quick notes

Lunch is covered by BH&G

T-shirts have been ordered by OnBoard informatics

Daniel is ordering the badges tomorrow. NAR CRT is sponsoring the badges.

Inman donated the space at the Marriet Marquis from 9-5 on the 6th. It will be set up for us, but no audio/visual. Internet will be via the hotel network. I think that means you have to pay for it. Consider leaving your laptop at home. Smartphones will work better.

Zillow is sponsoring Beer For Bloggers from 6-8 in the hotel.

If you wish to lead an event, please tell us so by registering on our volunteer page. We’ll set you up with a login so that you can create a post here on the site as to what you would like to cover. Take a look at Kelley Koehler’s post for an example of what we are looking for here.

Next Call is next Monday at 5:00 Eastern. Leave a comment here if you want details on calling in live.

Testing Testing 1234 - Our First REBC Session

So I’m not the biggest fan of being told what to do when it comes to my blog and my website. I’m not stupid enough to completely ignore the experts, but expert opinions always seem to lack one major item: tangible proof that it will work for me and my market. In fact, there’s really only one group of
people whose opinion I value to the exclusion of all others - my users, my website and blog visitors.

When it comes to my success online, my site visitors are the only ones I have to satisfy. They’re the ones who ought to be telling me how to design my site. But how do I know what they want? You’re not going to like this answer. But I promise that it’s easier than you think.

It’s testing. Testing gives my visitors a voice so that I can listen to what they’re saying. Testing makes me a better marketer. Testing makes me a better copywriter. Testing makes me more persuasive online. Testing
takes up less time and resources than guessing, and in the end, I’ll know what I’m doing and why - and that inch of comfort gives me an edge. You can guess all you want, but you’ll never know for sure - until you test it.

Luckily, there’s a sweet free tool from Google that can help you do that. And it’s not so scary once you look at it closely. It’s been on my mind a lot recently, so I thought I might share at REBarCampNY what I’ve learned so far. I’d love to discuss it with you, but I’m sort of geeky that way.

Hope to see you there!

Kelley Koehler - Housechick.com

Let’s Talk Sessions

What sessions would you like to see at RE Bar Camp NYC?

One of the coolest things about the Bar Camp format is the ad hoc sessions that develop.  Maybe a couple of folks are standing around chatting and they say, “I’d really like to know more about. . .” and the guy or gal next to them says, “Me too!” and someone else chimes in, “Todd Carpenter could lead that session. Todd knows everything!”

And *poof* a session is born.

And that will happen.

But another good thing is to get some idea in advance what folks want to hear and what some are willing to share.

I’ll kick it off by saying I’d like to talk about “Using the Internet to Make REAL LIFE Connections“. Having online buddies is great, but if you want to sell real estate, ultimately you’ve got to get face-to-face. How do you use the Internet to meet more people and grow your sphere of influence “IRL” (In Real Life)?

So how about it? What sessions would you be interested in hearing. What would you like to lead? They may not all happen, but the odds are that if enough people are interested, some expert will step up and lead it. Don’t be shy, tell us what you want to hear and do! Leave a comment!

Conference call notes.

We had our first organizational conference call on Monday. This post is just to share the notes.

Audio recording of the call. (About 30 minutes)

Notes from Kim Wood

Call today to talk about what people would like to volunteer for and planning.

Website is up and running
People need to RSVP if they are attending on website. Jay will complete and get list on site.
If you want to lead a session, please email Todd.
Would like help writing posts on the blog, anyone can email Todd and he’ll send login information. Especially if you would like to lead a session, it would be good to start posting about it.

Daniel has been officially named the Go-To Zebra Man. (ok, I added the Zebra part)

Jeff will help coordinate the “on the ground” items.

About 150 chairs/tables for people - but overflow/standing room is fine!

What to do if there is extra sponsorship money?
- Party
- Prizes
- Donate to Charity
- Pass onto next Bar Camp

Beer w/Bloggers 6p-8p
Event after?

Nametags came from BandPasses.com - Andy said - Don’t forget to order the lanyards with them!

Notes from Jeffrey Bogert

* Todd and Rudy nominated Daniel to be the point person.

* Jay will be maintaining the official list and we need to get people to register at site.

* Lunch – Better Homes and Garden is working on this. Must leave the hotel to eat otherwise must use the caterer. Possibly a restaurant close by that we could rent out or preorder food and people can just go and grab food and drink.

* Room – Covered by Inman

* Sponsorships – Who should handle the donations? Daniels has had a brief conversation with Joe Ferrara about this. Lots of people are ready to go but need a place to hold the $$.

* Need to get the word out to people on the ground that wouldn’t normally be aware of the event. Rudy will use Trulia Resources. Jeff can reach out to the NCJAR and have them notify members.

* Big question is to get volunteers to lead sessions – what will be done. The suggestion is to develop a few big sessions and then publicize before event so people know what they are in for as well as the ad-hoc session. Email todd@bizomi.com so these people can get set up and write some blog posts.

* Todd is going to develop the volunteer form tonight. So people can sign up

* Name tags – Andy used bandpasses.com for San Francisco event. Make sure to order the lanyards.

* Trulia – Party after the Zillow Party.

* Wifi - still a question. Daniel thought that there may be someone who would sponsor than but presenters should be prepared to not be on the internet.

* Altos Research Party – Wednesday

* Monday the 22nd will be the next call.