Staff Feature: Sue Thoensen

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Sue Thoensen, Financial Administrator for ePropertySites.

Why we love Sue: Sue handles all of the accounting functions for ePropertySites, along with payroll and employee benefits. Basically, none of us would get our paychecks or our benefits if it weren't for this lovely lady. 

Why you should love her, too: Sue is also part of our customer support team, and handles billing questions from our members. Sue's kindness, patience, and amazing ability to understand and explain things make her the perfect point person for these types of questions. We have no doubt that our members are in wonderful hands with Sue!

Not only is Sue smart and capable, but she is also cute as a button, as you'll see in her responses to the interview questions.

Sue, if your coworkers were to describe you in five words or less, what would they say?

     "They would just say, 'she should write a book'. I really do have some funny stories about the crazy things that have happened to me over the years."

What would you say is your greatest attribute?

     "I stand by the things I say, so I'm someone people can count on, both in my personal and professional life. One of my favorite books is Dr. Seuss' Horton Hatches the Egg. That's the book I bought my granddaughter when she was born because I've always loved what Horton says over and over while he sits day after day on that lazy bird's egg: 'I meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful one hundred percent!'. And so am I."

If you could participate on any reality TV show, which one would it be?

     "Definitely The Bachelorette, because where else would I ever have access to 25 hot guys vying for my attention?"

If you could re-live any day from your life, which one would you choose?

     "Any one of the days I vacationed on Maui. Steaming hot Kona coffee on the lanai overlooking the ocean in the morning, reading on the beach all day, and a great glass of wine on the lanai at sunset... All just steps from the beach. Doesn't get much better than that!"

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "I love my office because it feels like home, so my favorite moment is probably the day Lisa and I dragged my big, heavy green and white chair in there and set it in the corner. And I keep having favorite moments every time someone wanders in here and sits down to chat."

Thank you, Sue, for your kind and supportive presence. We are so very thankful for you!

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Let's Chat!

You may or may not have already noticed an exciting new feature on ePropertySites: the little orange and blue chat box in the lower right corner of the page. This live chat feature is available Monday through Friday, 5am to 5pm PST, and will connect you directly to one of the helpful members of our customer support team, pictured here on the left. 

That's right. We are real people working in the real ePropertySites office and we're here to help! Our job is to make sure you have everything you need. We can answer your questions, troubleshoot with you, help you problem solve- heck, we'll even help you figure out what to wear on your dinner date this weekend, that's how supportive we are. 

Here's how it works:

1. As soon as our office opens, the chat feature is activated. If the blue bar at the bottom says "Online- How can I help you?" then someone is here to answer your questions. Click on the orange chat bubble to begin the conversation.

2. What if we're not online? There are many other ways to get help! Click the red Get Help icon at the top of your screen to browse the User Guide, read through FAQs, or post a question in our forums. During business hours, you can always call our VIP Help Line at 949-328-5050.

3. If you'd like to turn the chat feature off, click on your Setup tab and then click Options. Check the "Off" box next to Display the Chat Help and click Save. The chat box will no longer appear on your screen. To turn the feature back on, go back to Setup> Options and uncheck the box.

We hope this new feature will help make sure your questions are always answered. Please feel free to test this chat feature out. Ask a question, or just say hello. We want to make sure you are comfortable reaching out when you need something, so take a moment to give it a try. We look forward to chatting with you!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Staff Feature: Taryn St. Pierre

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Taryn St. Pierre, Shop Manager for Color Sign Company.

Why we love Taryn: As Shop Manager, Taryn is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the sign shop, its employees, and customer relations, and this incredibly unique wonder woman does an amazing job! Taryn developed and ran her own business as a teenager, and as a result her ability to dig in and get things done has made the sign shop an efficient and well-oiled machine.

Why you should love her, too: Not only is Taryn an organized and hard worker, but her outlook on life is incredibly loving and positive. The other sign shop employees love being around her each day and the customers she interacts with feel cared for and appreciated. One thing we've learned from Taryn: If you are good at what you do, and pair that with being happy to come to work each day, the end result is a product and work environment to be proud of. Our employees, and our sign shop customers, have felt and understood this special dynamic.

I truly enjoyed getting to know Taryn a little better this week.  

Taryn, if you could have been born in any decade, past or present, which one would you choose?

     "I wouldn't change a thing! We are closer to peace, love, and harmony than we've ever been. People are finally realizing that we are one and the same, and that we need to love and respect our planet, animals, and each other."

If your life were a movie, what would it be?

     "The Neverending Story. I would like to think of my life as a story that is full of imagination, surprises, and never-ending excitement- and of course, love!"

What do you want to be when you grow up?

     "A very wise and intelligent woman! My thirst for knowledge and my love for all things will propel me forward with new ideas that will allow me to live the happy and fulfilled life I've always dreamed of."

If you could live in any other country, which one would you choose?

     "Don't get me wrong, I love being here, but something inside me calls to Canada (it may be the French-Canadian blood in my veins). It's just rich with nature, harmony, and being one with the earth. I know that is all possible here, but it's just getting really crowded nowadays here in the states. 500 people versus 30 million- the math is there!"

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "That's a toughy! I'd have to say the ePS Christmas party. It was so much fun hanging out with everyone outside of work, and getting to know everyone way better! Also, I killed at roulette and took home the grand prize!"

Thank you, Taryn, for always giving us your all. You are an inspiration and a wonderful member of the ePropertySites family!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager
 

Staff Feature: Ashley VanderBloomen

 Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Ashley VanderBloomen, Sales and Customer Support Specialist for Color Sign Company.

Why we love Ashley: Ashley joined the Color Sign Company team on the customer service end and quickly broadened her skills to include working with customers who need to place orders. She now spends time with customers at every point of the ordering process, from the first contact they have with Color Sign Company to any follow-ups needed after they have received their order. This helps maintain a steady and consistent workflow that helps the Color Sign Company thrive!

Why you should love her, too: The entire team at our sign shop are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful, and Ashley is no exception. Whether you walk in to the brick and mortar store or place an order online, Ashley is part of the behind-the-scenes magic that gives you amazing products and customer service.

It was fun getting to know Ashley through my interview questions this week. I hope you'll enjoy getting a glimpse inside the mind of this multi-tasking wizard as much as I did.

Ashley, what three words would you say best describe you?

     "Outgoing, fun, and caring."

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

     "I would eat spaghetti and drink red wine for the rest of my life. I love it!"

What is the bravest thing you've ever done?
 

     "The bravest thing I've ever done is probably having my son, Deacon. Being a mom is the scariest and best thing ever!"

If you could spend one day with any famous person in history, who would it be and why?

     "Can it be someone not famous? I would love to spend one day with my grandpa again. Most amazing man in history. I would spend the day with him and introduce him to all the people I'm so grateful to have in my life now."

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "My favorite moments have been getting to know everyone here and working next to them. I have made some great friends!"

Thank you, Ashley, for your enthusiasm and positive attitude! You are such a wonderful addition to our team!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager
 

Blog Tip #2: How To Stay Relevant

Back in March of this year, Google announced some new algorithm changes that will penalize sites for doing their search engine optimization (SEO) too well. The goal, according to Matt Cutts, head of Google's search spam team, is to level the playing field. Companies (and individuals) who have thousands of dollars to spend on website SEO may no longer have the advantage over the rest of us. 

This latest Google update has just begun to roll out, so it's time for businesses- and bloggers- to start thinking about our content. How can we make sure our blog posts don't get dinged for over-optimization? There are a few questions to keep in mind when writing content that will keep your posts ranking well and being relevant in the eyes of Google.

1. Be careful where you place your keywords.

Too many keywords, or keywords too close together, are not considered healthy SEO in any context, but it's more important than ever to make sure you're staying away from the naughty SEO method known as "keyword stuffing". Never, ever have too many keywords in your written content. Keep your keyword density to about 2-3% of your post. For example, if I want to rank well for the search term "ancient Viking ship" with my 500-word blog post, I would try to make sure that the phrase ancient Viking ship shows up in my post about 2-3% of the time. For a 500-word post, that's about 10-15 times.

2. Make sure you have enough content.

Remember, Google ranks for relevance, meaning what it think will be the most useful for the person searching. In most cases, an 800-word piece about ancient Viking ships would rank better than a 100-word piece. There is more content in the 800-word piece, and Google loves content. If you're writing about a real estate listing, avoid copying the short property description you wrote for the MLS. Take the time to create something substantial if you hope to rank anywhere near the first page of results with your post.

3. Write for your audience, not for Google. 

Google can recognize and differentiate between content written for an intended human audience, and content written with the intention of tricking search engines. This latest update shows that, more than ever before, Google's plan is to reward authenticity and punish content that was written only with SEO in mind. As long as you provide authentic, useful information that your human audience will enjoy (and hopefully share!), you have a much higher chance of Google ranking your content well.

If this seems like a lot of information, don't worry. The bottom line is that you really shouldn't over think the content you publish online. If your content is valuable, and not doctored up with fancy-shmancy SEO tricks, you are much more likely to be rewarded by Google. Your new mantra should be: Don't think. Just write!

 (Missed Blog Tip #1? Read it here.)

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager 

Facebook App For Your Listings!

Are you using the ePropertySites Facebook app? If so, good for you!- skip to the end of this post to make sure you're up-to-date with the cool new features available on your Timeline for business page. If you're not using the ePropertySites Facebook app yet, read on! 

What does the ePropertySites Facebook app do?

Our app allows your listings to not only be beautifully displayed right on your Facebook business page, but it also creates a unique "Homes For Sale" tab that sits firmly at the top of your Facebook wall, making your listings easy to find and access. Let's take a quick peek at what the app looks like and how it works with this 40-second video demo:

How do I install the ePropertySites Facebook app?

Installing the app is super easy and can be done in three steps:

Step 1: When logged in to your Facebook account, go to apps.facebook.com/epropertysites-com and click Add App To Your Page.

Step 2: Select the page you'd like to add the app to, and then copy the ID number provided (it will look like a long string of numbers)

Step 3: Paste that ID number into the Facebook field under your setup tab on ePropertySites.

Voila! Your listings will now be pulled from your ePropertySites account to your Facebook page, and will remain current, even if the price or other information changes.

Advanced Tip: Facebook Timeline pages allow you to customize the image for certain tabs. Create a customized look for your Facebook business page by adding your own image to the ePropertySites Facebook app tab! To add your own image, first install the app (see steps 1, 2, and 3 above). Then click the tiny blue arrow (on the right side of your tabs) to open up all of your tabs for editing. Hover over the ePropertySites app and click the Edit pencil. Select Edit Settings, and you'll get a pop-up that looks like this:

Click Change to select and upload your own image for the tab. 

Now all of your listings will show up on your Facebook business page, with absolutely no effort on your part! Easy as pie, great visibility for your sellers, and quick access for buyers. What more could anyone ask?

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Simply Social Web Class. Register now!

Are you confused or stressed about how to use social media to build your business? It’s time to demystify the world of social media marketing. This web class is designed to streamline your social media marketing with straightforward tips for real estate agents.

Join ePropertySites Co-Founder and CEO Chris Bates for a free 40-minute class. He’ll cover simple tips and best practices to help you use social media to list more properties and make more sales. Register and you’ll receive our handy S.O.C.I.A.L. Guide to Effective Marketing.

CLICK TO REGISTER NOW

Staff Feature: Amy Brosh

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Amy Brosh, Customer Support Specialist. 

Why we love Amy: Amy, Tara, Lisa, and Kym all work together to ensure our members are completely cared for. Amy is a strong member of our customer support team, working hard to answer your forum questions, phone calls, and emails. One of the things we are very proud of here at ePropertySites is that your support comes from live people working in our Aliso Viejo headquarters. When you call in, you won't have to navigate through a complicated messaging system, you'll talk to Amy or one of our other amazing team members.

Why you should love her, too: Working in customer support is a lot like being a detective. Since we can't see what you see on your screen, we must ask the right questions and listen very carefully in order to help diagnose and solve your problems. Every day we see Detective Amy doing just that: she listens, she asks the right questions, and she patiently and persistently hunts down the solutions to make sure our members' questions are answered.

Amy is cute as a button! Read her responses to my interview questions to learn a little more about this wonderful member of our customer support team.

Amy, if you could have been born and raised in any city in the world, where would you choose?

     "I was actually born in Misowa, Japan (Air Force base) but we moved away when I was only three. I would have loved to have been able to grow up there and learn the language and culture. Or at least to have lived there long enough to make real memories and connections."

What is the best compliment you've ever received?

     "I love when people tell me that I am just like my mom! She is so funny and smart and strong and beautiful. My sister laughs at us and rolls her eyes when my mom and I are off on some tangent in the conversation, and say that we are just alike. But I love being compared to her because she is such an amazing person, and I can only hope to be half as good of a mother as she is when I have kids."

If you could marry any celebrity tomorrow, who would it be?

     "Blake Shelton! I have a huge crush on him, my boyfriend always teases me about it."

If you were a color, what would you be?

     "Blue! It has such a range, from soft and relaxing to intense and bright."

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "Getting promoted! I was hired as a receptionist in July 2011 and immediately wanted to move up to Customer Support. I worked so hard to learn everything I could, and fast. I'm sure I annoyed Tara and Lisa by asking a million questions, but they were so great, as is everyone here. When Chris and Greg offered me the Customer Support position, I was so grateful they recognized my hard work and really believed in me."

Amy, your dedication and perseverance are rare and valuable. Thank you for choosing to be part of our team!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

NEW Website Layout for HD, Widescreen Presentation

Have you ever felt frustrated with the inadequacy of a two-dimensional screen to display the beauty of your listing? When you have a gorgeous home to market, you want potential buyers to experience the home through your photos, almost as powerfully as if they were there.

Properties deserve more than a tiny picture on a computer screen, so we've developed a solution. Introducing our newest single property website design for homes that deserve the very best, designed for HD photos and widescreen presentation. This layout combines crisp, clean lines with the prominent display of your beautiful HD photography to present your listing with breathtaking simplicity.

See it in action

Agent Peter Fisler of San Francisco has done a beautiful job creating a single property website for one of his luxury properties. See how his professional photos appear when presented in our newest layout!

Our sample property shows just how stunning any property can look with the new layout. Make sure you check out the virtual tour link and play the tour in full-screen high definition!

How to get it

This newest layout is available to all members! Just add a property to the system and select layout #8 during set up. You can also give any current single property website a new, fresh look by editing the property and selecting layout #8. Just click Save, and your listing will instantly be given a gorgeous, widescreen makeover.

Helpful Tips

This layout is designed for HD photography. Make sure you use the original, large versions of all of your photos for best results. Your virtual tour will not give you the full-screen play option if any of your photos are not HD, so if you have included some low-res photos in your photo gallery, create a custom virtual tour that includes only HD photos to make sure buyers are able to view it in full-screen. 

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager 

Staff Feature: Robert White

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Robert White, Lead Developer (AKA Pixel Ninja). 

Why we love Robert: Robert has a big job. He is responsible for researching new concepts to implement in our product offerings, turning the concepts into prototypes, working with the development team to bring the concepts to life, and maintaining and updating our current concepts. From the infant stages of a project all the way through to providing continued support for the final product, Robert has everything under control.

Why you should love him, too: Not only does Robert help create our new features, he also helps keep the site, its features, and its tools, healthy. All websites require regular maintenance and updates, and Robert's experience and expertise help ensure that everything runs smoothly and does what it's supposed to do.

Robert is a wily one, and I was looking forward to getting to know him better with our interview. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I did!

Robert, if you were a Ben and Jerry's flavor, what would you be?

     "Cake batter. It's simple, yet complex."

What are three words you would use to describe yourself?

     "Profound, creative, and loyal."

Who is the most important person in your life?

    "It's two people for me, my mom and dad. They taught me a lot about life, and gave me the freedom to pursue what I was passionate about."

What is your favorite outdoor activity?

     "Golf. I've been playing since I was four years old. I have great memories of playing with my family, and now I play with my friends which is always a good time, even when I play poorly."

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "Wow, it's hard to name just one. Our office Nerf gun battle was a blast, or the time Chris [Bates] fell out of his chair during a meeting, or the time Greg [Mazurek] kicked a soccer ball and it hit someone's file holder resulting in an explosion of paper. I could name hundreds of moments like that, Greg and Chris have done a wonderful job of providing team synergy and creating a relaxed environment for us."

Thank you, Robert, for using your amazing brains and experience to help us continue to be such a great site!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager 

Use ePropertySites to Sell a Home With Social Media

A great article was posted on InmanNext yesterday detailing one Australian man's success story and six specific steps to sell a home with social media. The steps are absolutely spot-on, but one sentence towards the end of the article really stood out to me:

"If this seems like a lot of work to you, it is."

It doesn't have to be. I can't deny that there is some "sweat equity" involved when establishing a social media marketing strategy. But one of the biggest hurdles that agents face is the sheer volume of different platforms and the time it takes to manage them all. It's easy to get discouraged and lost in the virtual muddle of things.

My advice is this: Don't let it overwhelm you! Deciding to sell a home with social media doesn't have to feel scary. Think of ePropertySites as your online marketing tool belt. We have every tool you need to sell a home online, all in one easy-to-reach location. Use this simplified strategy to cover all of your online bases.

6 easy ways for using ePropertySites to sell a home with social media:

1. Start by targeting specific keywords for your online articles. We have a wonderful step-by-step guide for keyword-targeting already available to you in the blogging section of our User Guide. Learn how to a) determine the correct keywords to target, b) write a strong, SEO-loaded article, and c) post your article using an ePropertySites blog. Easy, powerful, and effective.

2. Create an ePropertySites blog. We even give you the option to create 5 separate blogs (think of each blog as a newspaper) each with an unlimited number of posts allowed (think of each post as an article). This option can allow you to create blogs targeted to a specific house, neighborhood, or other area of your expertise. Check your plan to see if this option applies to you.

3. Build campaigns for every major medium and service. This is an easy one: once your listing is in the ePropertySites system, you can tweet it, post it to Facebook, and even pin it to Pinterest directly from your account. We also automatically generate and post a YouTube video for your listings. Bases? Covered.

4. Collaborate to make it personal. We love Inman's advice on inviting your seller to provide a personal story about living in the home. You can post this story on your ePropertySites blog, and include other testimonials from neighbors or local business owners who love the neighborhood. 

5. Share and share often. Having an open house? Tweet it. Created a property blog? Pin it. Any time you do something on ePropertySites with your listing, that action can be shared within your social circles, thus amplifying your efforts and reaching a much wider audience. 

6. Don't do it alone. We are always here to help. Take advantage of our online help resources or call our customer service specialists at 949-328-5050 if you need more specific assistance. We are available to take your calls Monday through Friday, 9-5 PST. 

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Adding A Voice-Over To Your Virtual Tour

Creating a virtual tour on ePropertySites is effortless; as long as you've uploaded pictures for your listing, we'll automatically create a beautiful virtual tour for you. But what if you want to give your virtual tour that extra little something? A special twist to help it stand out and really shine? Try uploading your own voice-over! It's incredibly easy, and the results are truly unique. I created a voice-over for one of our sample properties the other day. Follow the steps below to find out how I did it, and how easy it can be to really take your virtual tours to the next level.

How do I record a voice-over on my computer?

An MP3 file is required for using a voice-over on your virtual tour, but luckily those are really easy to record on your computer, no fancy equipment necessary. The internet is full of great resources if you've never done one before:

Here are instructions for recording an MP3 on a PC.
Here are instructions for recording an MP3 on a Mac.

How do I upload the MP3 file to my virtual tour?

If you're a perfectionist like me, creating the recording will be the most time-consuming part of this process. Once you have a final recording, the upload is a breeze! Follow these steps to add the MP3 file to your virtual tour:

1. Log in to your account and click on the Properties tab.
2. Click on the Tools icon next to the property you created a voice-over for.
3. Select Voice-over & Spokesperson
4. Click to browse your files under Virtual Tour- MP3 Upload
5. Select your MP3 file and click the upload button.

Voila! You did it! If you ever want to remove the file, simply click the trash icon to delete. Easy as pie.

Helpful Hints

Here are a few tips to ensure a really fantastic result:

• Computer microphones tend to pick up quite a bit of background sounds. Make sure you're alone an a quiet room while you record to minimize any background noise.
• Sometimes the music selection will drown out your voice recording. If that happens, turn the music off on your virtual tour, and then only your voice-over will play.
• Time how long your virtual tour plays in order to match this length with your voice-over, and make sure to start your recording with one second of silence.

Have fun with this one, guys! And as always, if you ever need support you can contact us online any time, or give us a call at 949-328-5000 to talk to a real person.

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Staff Feature: Erin Olsen

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Erin Olsen, Assistant Manager at Color Sign Company, the offshoot of ePropertySites that handles all of your sign and printing design and requests.

Why we love Erin: If you look up the word ‘adorable’ in the dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Erin. Not only is she incredibly organized and efficient, her demeanor is consistently positive and sunny. All of us rely on Erin for her kind professional support.

Why you should love her, too: If you have a question or comment about any sign, business card, or other print order you’ve placed through ePropertySites, Erin has most likely assisted you. She is the embodiment of the phrase “on top of things”, dealing with issues that arise in a lightning-fast and compassionate manner. Her generous spirit filters through every customer interaction, and countless ePropertySites members have benefited from her collaboration.

In case you’re wondering, that handsome fellow in the photo with Erin is her trusty companion, Tucker. What a smile!

Erin, what is the most daring thing you have ever done?

     "I think the most daring thing I have done would be packing up everything I have to my name and moving to California. Leaving my family behind was the toughest thing I have ever done, but I love living at the beach so I don’t regret it one bit. Plus all of my family loves to come visit me down here… who wouldn’t want to?"

What is one of your favorite quotes?

     "'Live each day as if tomorrow were your last.' Something I always have in the back of my mind. You never know what tomorrow can bring!"

If you won the lottery, what's the first thing you would do?

    "I would buy my mom, dad, and brother a house- in California, of course! And then take a trip to Costa Rica or maybe buy season tickets for the San Francisco Giants behind home plate."

What is your favorite holiday?

     "I love Christmas time. I love seeing all of my family and friends and going back home to Washington where is it really cold and possibly snowing. Makes for a very festive holiday season!"

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "My favorite ePropertySites moment happened with my Color Sign Company team. It was when we went to do an OCAR (Orange County Association of Realtors) beach event down at Doheny Beach in Dana Point. We had so much fun there. Plus, just being at work each day always brings entertaining things!

Thank you, Erin, for all of the amazing support you provide for everyone each day!

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

How To Create A Stunning Virtual Tour

One of the most valuable elements of the ePropertySites platform is the virtual tour feature. As you know, this feature is one of the many included with your $10 single property website (or other monthly plan). The best part of our virtual tours? We build them for you!

Here’s how it works: The moment you add the final photo to your gallery, the ePropertySites system instantly builds your virtual tour, including your image captions, background music, and image pans. If you’re happy with the tour we created for you, you’re done! No additional work is required on your end; simply save your progress and go on with your busy day. Your mobile-compatible virtual tour will automatically be included in your property website. If you would like to customize the virtual tour, you can also spend a few moments adjusting the order, image pans, or selecting different background music.

Here are some advanced tips for how to create a virtual tour that turns every property into a stunning presentation.

Using the default virtual tour

The default virtual tours created for your properties are designed to look professionally created without any additional work on your end unless you want to customize. However, there are a few things to keep in mind while you’re adding photos to your photo gallery that can help your default tour look incredible:

• Make sure you upload your images in the order you want them to play during the virtual tour.
• Make sure your image captions are brief, but descriptive.
• Make sure your photos are high quality. Aim for always using HD images to allow your virtual tour to be played on a full screen.

Check out our example of a default virtual tour. Beautiful? Absolutely. But what if you’d like to tweak it a bit?

Customizing your virtual tour

You can easily customize your virtual tour at any time. You’re able to rearrange the photos, crop your images, add or delete photos, adjust the pan and zoom, and even change the music selection or upload your own audio file. Keep these tips in mind to achieve magnificent results when customizing your virtual tour:

• Really think about the direction of your image pans and zooms. For example, if the room has a beautiful fireplace, zooming in would highlight that feature nicely.
• When in doubt, pan left to right. Our eyes naturally travel this direction, and it will give your images natural-feeling movement for your viewers.
• Carefully select your audio. Buyers viewing a virtual tour for a coastal cottage don’t want to listen to a twangy country song. Try to make the entire viewing experience feel cohesive and generally appealing.

In this customized virtual tour example, you can see how the custom voiceover and image movements work together to elegantly present this property.

For more questions about virtual tours, visit our User Guide or call our live support hotline at 949-328-5000.

More virtual tour examples can be found here and here. 

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager 

Staff Feature: Lisa Ake

 Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Lisa Ake, Technical Support Specialist.

Why we love Lisa: Lisa’s position as Technical Support Specialist means that she is one of our main point-people. Her dedication to supporting our members with the patience and determination she brings to the office every day makes her someone our customer support team can’t do without!

Why you should love her, too: Lisa answers questions in our forums, as well as taking calls from members with questions, comments, or concerns. She has not only become an incredibly valuable source of live support to ePropertySites members, but she truly cares, as well. As anyone knows, connecting with a support specialist who honestly cares about you and your experience makes a huge difference in how your issues are heard and resolved.

If you haven’t already met Lisa, this is a wonderful introduction to our big-hearted, customer support superstar!

Lisa, if you could have any skill that you don’t currently possess, what would it be?

     “I wish I knew computer programming so I could fix everyone’s problems in an instant!”  

If you could live anywhere on earth, where would it be? 

     “I don’t think I could choose just one place to live. I’d be a gypsy that hops continents every year!”

Sunrise, or sunset? Early bird, or night owl? Cappuccinos, or martinis?

      “Sunset. Mid-day seagull. Definitely a smoothie kind of girl!”

What’s the most bizarre thing you’ve ever eaten (and did you like it)?

      “I won’t try anything that doesn’t smell or look good. That being said, I think the most bizarre thing I’ve ever eaten is sushi, and now I’m obsessed!”

What’s your favorite ePropertySites moment?

      “Every day at ePropertySites is pretty awesome! But if I had to choose just one, it would be when the bosses got us all mini Nerf guns and we had an all-out war, hiding under desks, behind walls, and chairs. It was pretty amazing!”

Thank you, Lisa, for being such a supportive, upbeat member of our team! We’d be lost without you!

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Pinterest and Real Estate Marketing

Marketing your listings is a visual endeavor. The images you choose for your advertising, whether online or in print, should entice buyers to want to learn more. Pinterest, a virtual pinboard and image-sharing site, is the fastest-growing website in history, and experts say it's the next game-changer in the realm of social media. What does this mean to us as real estate professionals? Can ePropertySites and Pinterest work together to help grow a real estate business? We certainly think so!  

How can I use Pinterest and ePropertySites together?

ePropertySites makes it easy with one-click "Pin It" buttons now included in your single property websites. This button is used much like the Facebook "share" button you're used to using. Make sure you're logged into your Pinterest account, and then click the Pin It button on your single property website to post.

Why is this valuable? Every time you post to Pinterest, a link back to the original page is generated. Not only will this help boost your single property site's SEO, but the ease of sharing on Pinterest means that there's an opportunity for your Pinterest pin to go viral. Every time someone shares your pin, it's seen by anywhere between dozens and thousands of people, depending on that pinner's number of followers. If the pin is a photo of your property, each repin is another link back to your site and a ton of great visibility.

Important tip: Remember, Pinterest is visual. It's all about the images. You should be using beautiful, high-quality images for your single property sites anyway, but this is especially important if you want Pinterest users to notice and repin your property. If your image isn't striking, it will be disregarded. 

What if I don't have any active listings?

Another great way to integrate ePropertySites and Pinterest is through your ePS blog. (Not sure if you have a blog? Click here to see if it's included in your plan). As long as your blog post includes an image, the image can be pinned to a Pinterest board, and it will link back to your post on ePropertySites.

Why is this valuable? Posting blog content about your expertise, your community, or other useful information is a wonderful way to connect with current and prospective clients, helping you become known as the community expert. If your image is compelling and your content is interesting, Pinterest users will share your blog image- and the link back to your post- giving you more exposure and visibility with each repin.

Important tip: Again, the image choice is key. Make sure it is an eye-catching photo or graphic that is relevant to your post. Also, use the pin description to help your pin get noticed. A blog post about a new neighborhood pizza joint, for example, could include a photo of a mouthwatering pie hot out of the oven. Pin the photo to Pinterest with an image description like, "Ferndale Village's newest restaurant is a local favorite! Click the photo to read my review."

For more information and tips about Pinterest, check out this post from our Communications Manager, "How to integrate Pinterest into your real estate marketing plan" or read more from Pinterest at pinterest.com/about. Follow ePropertySites on Pinterest at pinterest.com/epropertysites.

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Staff Feature: Tommy Orosco

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Tommy Orosco, Graphic Designer.

Why we love Tommy: Tommy is our lead graphic designer, and uses his artistic mastery to create all sign, sign rider, water bottle label, business card, flyer, and postcard templates. 

Why you should love him, too: If you've ever ordered anything from ePropertySites, it's highly likely that Tommy created it. Tommy also customizes the single property website layouts, as well as our animated and print ads. No matter what you've done or how you've used ePropertySites, you've come in contact with something Tommy has created.

Tommy's demeanor is usually quiet, but don't let that fool you! His responses to my interview questions revealed the hilarious- and deeply compassionate- inner workings of this brilliantly creative mind.

Tommy, if you could have any animal on earth as a pet, which one would you choose?

"I would love to answer ‘wolverine’, ‘linx’, ’tiger’ or ‘horned owl’, all awesome creatures, but I don’t want any pet that could murder me in my sleep. So I would choose a penguin."

If you could be famous for something, what would it be?

"I would be famous for painting… correction, I will be famous for painting. I kinda, sorta, already am. I have had numerous shows, won multiple awards and, last year, was named the 2011 Emerging Artist of the Year for Orange County by the RAW: Natural Born Artist organization. Currently, I am in talks for shows in L.A. and San Francisco later this year."

How do other people usually describe you, and do you agree with their description?

"People definitely describe me as creative and witty, but they would probably also say I’m quiet and a little bit ‘off’. It is true though, like any great artist, I am quirky, an introvert, and highly passionate about my work."

What is the most amazing thing you've ever witnessed?

"The birth of my son. Hands down the greatest moment of my life (and I’ve had a lot of great moments). It was kinda fitting that “Heaven Is A Place On Earth” was playing in the background."

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

"Faking an earthquake to scare [Chris] Bates. The look of confusion and horror on his face as he came running out of this office was unforgettable." 

Thank you, Tommy, for your sometimes irreverent, always wonderful contributions to the ePropertySites team!

If you'd like to see some of Tommy's original work, check out his personal website at http://www.motzero.com/

Property Blog Tutorial

Property Blogging: An Easy Way to Drive Leads

Have you been blogging your properties? 

Just think: what if a buyer found your listing on the first page of Google search results? Do you think that would make your seller happy? (The answer is yes.) Do you need to pay some IT guy thousands of dollars to get your listings there? (The answer is no.) You have the ability to make your listings appear on the first page of Google right from your account here on ePropertySites, for no extra charge beyond your monthly membership. (For reals.)

Property blogging has been around since the first agent wrote the first blog post about a property. It’s not a new concept, but we’ve certainly taken it to a new, powerful level here at ePS.

So what, exactly, is a property blog?

A property blog is a blog post that combines a digital flyer for your listing with a link back to your single property website. Here is an example of a property blog, and here is a quick video tutorial for you newbies out there.

How does it work?

Property blogs act just like regular blog posts, but because they link back to your property site you’re able to use them as a wonderful lead generation tool. And thanks to the SEO-amazingness our developers built in to the site and the additional SEO training we provide our monthly members, some pretty great things are possible.

It’s important to note that first-page Google rankings are not guaranteed. There are way too many variables (how many other results are competing for the tops spots, how strategically you place your keywords, etc), and Google is much too fickle a beast for us to promise results every time. But we can say that if you implement the steps we lay out in our User Guide, you just may achieve some incredible results.

But does it really work?

Absolutely! Below are just a few examples of agents whose listings came up in organic search results on Google. Wouldn't you love this to be your listing?

To find out if property blogging is part of your monthly membership, take a peek at our pricing page or give us a call at 949-328-5000. We can't wait to help you succeed!

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Staff Feature: Tara Mazurek

Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are. This week's staff feature is Tara Mazurek, eSupport Specialist.

Why we love Tara: Tara is our technical GURU! Not only does she rush valiantly to the aide of our members every single day in our online forums, but she also heads up our customer service team here in the office. And just in case you thought her incredible contributions ended there, Tara also manages some of our other online support systems, such as the FAQs and User Guide.

Why you should love her, too: If you've popped into our forums, read through the tutorials on the User Guide or browsed through the FAQs, you've interacted with Tara. Her years of experience with ePropertySites makes her an expert on almost everything ePS-related! We would all be lost without her intelligent, guiding hand. 

I was excited to interview Tara, because so many of you have "met" her in the forums, and I knew it would be fun for all of us to take a peek inside her amazing brain. My questions to Tara revealed not only a thoughtful, professional woman, but someone with tremendous passion for life. 

Tara, who inspires you the most, and why?

 "No one person inspires me really. Different people at different times in my life inspire me. Anyone who stands up for what they believe in, stays strong through life's battles and struggles, and comes out on top humbly feeling good about what they've done and accomplished."

If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

"Steak! I'm such a meat and potatoes kind of girl. I think I could eat steak every day!"

What is your proudest accomplishment?

"My proudest accomplishments (so far) are my two fantastic kids. They are absolutely amazing and I learn something new from them every day. I love seeing their face and excitement when they discover new things. They make me smile and laugh and keep me on my toes!"

If your life was a movie, what would it be?

"Hope Floats. It seems to mimic my life and I find the ending quite inspirational and full of... hope.  =)"

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

"My favorite ePropertySites moment had to be the open house we had. It was just awesome to look around and see how much we've grown and how successful the company has been. I was very proud of us for working so hard and achieving so much."

Tara, we are humbled by your sincere dedication and effort. Thank you for being part of our team!

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Open House Hints From ePropertySites

A great article was posted on Trulia last week about turning your online interactions into a busy open house. We love the concept of converting your online social world into a real-life one; isn't that the point, after all? Author Kim Wood offers some excellent suggestions (we particularly loved tip #4!) and we'd like to expand on those here, with a couple of helpful hints about using your ePropertySites account to bring droves of buyers to your next open house.

Hint #1: Plog it! Many members are seeing great success with their plogs (property blogs) ranking highly on Google search results. Why not make another version for your open house? If you're new to plogging, take a peek at our User Guide for step-by-step instructions on how to create and SEO a plog (scroll down to the plog tutorial).

But whether you're a plogging newbie or a seasoned veteran, creating an open house-specific version would only take a couple tweaks. Now you have a digital flyer- complete with home details and a link to the property website- that will help your open house gain wide exposure online. Check out this example.

Hint #2: Come bearing gifts. You already know that you can print open house flyers for your ePS properties, but have you ever tried using them as part of an incentive package? Clip a $5.00 Starbucks gift card to the top ten flyers in your stack, and then use your social channels to announce to the world that the first ten open house visitors leave with a gift. As buyers depart with their spoils (and a pretty flyer to remember the home by!) make sure you follow up online. Sending out a "Thanks to the Clarks for being our 8th visitors!" tweet creates a buzz within your network. It proves that you follow up on your promise of reward, and helps keep your open house fresh in peoples' minds.

Have any other ideas? We'd love to hear from you! Leave a comment with your suggestions.

 Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Staff Feature: Kym Barlow, Office Manager

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at ePropertySites? Who builds the tools you use every day? Who keeps everything running smoothly? Who answers the phone when you call in for support?

We'd like to invite you to get to know us a bit! Each week we'll feature one staff member here on the ePS blog, explaining their role within the ePropertySites machine and how their work is indespensible to our team. We believe that not only do our staff members deserve recognition for their hard work, but it's also important for our members to know who we are!

We'll begin our staff features with our resident jack-of-all-trades, the always wonderful Kym Barlow, Office Manager at ePropertySites.

Why we love Kym: Not only does Kym help us stay organized, coordinating everything from office supply orders to company-wide meetings, she's also many people's first point of contact with ePropertySites. Kym does such an amazing job keeping our members and staff happy, and making sure we all have everything we need.

Why you should love her, too: Chances are, if you've ever called in to ePropertySites, you've probably spoken to Kym. She helps delegate calls to the appropriate department to ensure our members' questions are answered as efficiently and thoroughly as possible. Kym is also part of our reviewing task force, checking every website our members create for any major issues. We want our agents to look great, and Kym helps make that happen!

Recently, I asked Kym a few questions to help us understand what makes her tick, and I'd like to share that interview with you here. I'm sure you'll enjoy her thoughtful responses as much as I did!

Kym, what are three words you would use to describe yourself?

     "Creative, personable, and determined."

 What is the one place you've always wanted to visit, but never have (and why)?

     "I've been fortunate enough to visit several on my 'must see' list but what I haven't done yet is tour South America in depth. I've been to Brazil and that experience was amazing! Now, I'd like to see South America's southern countries, remote islands like the Galapagos Islands and Easter Island, Patagonia and Machu Picchu."

If you could send a message back in time to your fifteen-year-old self, what would you say?

     "Abraham Lincoln once said, "Whatever you are, be a good one."  In life you will follow several different roads that deal with things like your life interests and goals. They are ever evolving, so don't be afraid of those changes or feel disappointment. Instead, embrace them and be/do the best you can at it."

What, in your opinion, is the most beautiful sound in the world?

     "Waves crashing- it what keeps me in beautiful California.  However, the rain comes in a close second."

What is your favorite ePropertySites moment?

     "My favorite moments are the Christmas party & potluck.  It was at these specific events where I got to know everyone at ePS better, and it's always eventful seeing the group out of the office!"

Thank you, Kym, for everything you do!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Featured Member: Mark Seiden

Mark Seiden, of the Mark Seiden Real Estate Team, shares how he and his team use ePropertySites as part of their comprehensive marketing strategy.

Mark and his team have taken an impressively modern approach to their listing presentations. Rather than going to the seller's home, their presentation is conducted in-house, in front of a 46" screen in the conference room of their office.

During the presentation, Mark explains his well-honed Home Marketing Plan, a marketing strategy that offers sellers an array of tools hand-picked by Mark and his team. Using real-life examples of homes Mark has listed in the past, sellers are shown how Mark creates an ePropertySites-powered single property website for each listing, and integrates the website into property flyers, yard signage, and even 12x12" magnets that his sellers can place on their cars.

Mark feels that ePropertySites' biggest draw is how easily the system can be integrated into an already established marketing strategy. In Mark's opinion, every listing should have a single property website, and for his team, ePropertySites fits the bill.

With 19 years in the business, Mark is no stranger to online marketing tools for real estate. In fact, when his team decided to include a single property website in their Home Marketing Plan a little over a year ago, Mark almost dismissed ePropertySites because the system was so affordable. He was concerned that ePropertySites couldn't compete with other, more expensive online offerings, but after researching his options he was convinced. Mark says that ePropertySites is kind of like the Home Depot of real estate. You're not always going to need everything in the store each time you go in, but you're sure to find whatever it is you do need.

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager

Blog Tip #1: How To Reblog

In a post from June 2010, the LA Times technology blog discussed the the ethics of reblogging:

"'Borrowing' content has been a common practice among bloggers practically from the beginning. You can take whatever you want as long as you give credit, right?

 Not necessarily." Read the full article here

There are many legal and ethical issues to consider when posting content that you didn't create. But don't fret! As long as you follow a few simple rules of thumb you can safely reblog that great article about short sales (or the kitten video, or the lasagna recipe, or the love letter someone wrote to Ryan Gosling-- I'm not here to judge). That's the beauty of the internet, after all. Information can make its way from Buenos Aires to Mumbai in less time than it take to stifle a sneeze. 

Here is our guide for correctly posting a reblog:

1. Clearly cite your source. Notice how I referenced the LA times blog in the beginning of this post? Not only did I tell you who I was quoting before I quoted them, but I linked to them before and after sharing the information. Many times I see people posting an article they clearly didn't write, and then off-handedly mentioning who actually wrote it at the very end of the post. Not ok. Be clear and obvious. Not only does that show respect for the content's author, but it shows that you're not trying to take credit for something you didn't write. Your clients will see you as well-informed and trustworthy!

2. Never copy and paste an entire article. This is another common mistake I see new bloggers make all the time. It's plagiarism folks, pure and simple, and there are laws and websites designed to protect authors from having their content stolen.

There are two exceptions to this rule: One, if you have been given permission by the author to use the entire article (in this case you must still give proper credit to the author), or two, you have purchased the content to use and post as your own. Unless one of these two exceptions apply to the information you're sharing, the best practice is to post a portion of the article, and then make sure to include a link back to the original article. Again, see how I did it with the LA Times blog post? I quoted a portion of the article, and immediately provided a link so readers can view the entire post in its original location.

3. Provide your own commentary. Readers need to know why you're sharing the information with them. Even one sentence (for example, "Check out this great article on CNN about genetically modified tomatoes!") is fine in most cases. Remember though, you want your readers to see you as a trusted source of information. Include as much commentary on the information you're sharing as needed to make your point, keep readers informed, and clearly communicate your knowledge and understanding of the subject.

As long as you follow these steps, you'll be good to go! Now get out there and post some kitten videos!

Written by staff contributor Karli Larson, ePropertySites Communications Manager 

Welcome!

Welcome to the official ePropertySites blog!

Follow along with us as we discuss current and upcoming features, post tutorials, highlight some of our powerful tools, and more! Make sure you “like” us on Facebook to be notified of new posts, or follow us on Twitter to stay plugged in to the conversation.

Before we dive in to all of the wonderful information we have to share with you, we’d like to invite you to get to know us a bit. What began five years ago as a conversation between colleagues has grown into the 121st fastest-growing company in the nation, putting us at number 12 on Inc.’s list of top software companies for 2011. Led by co-founders and CEOs Chris Bates and Greg Mazurek, ePropertySites is headquartered in beautiful Aliso Viejo, California.

Learn more about how we got started by reading our article on Inc., “How My Client Became My Partner.”  And make sure to check back often for more information, interesting updates, and fun interviews with staff members. Happy reading!