Recently we interviewed Bob Bentley, a REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant. Bob is one of the many to sign-up & complete the REW™ Certification through a promotional discount offered through the REW Technology Partner, zipLogix (ZipForm).

REW™ Certificants can answer interview questions, at the end of certification, for showcase on the Webographers.com corporate blog.

Bob is "Your Clear Choice in Real Estate", serving buyers and sellers within all of Madison, WI and the surrounding areas. Bob has been a licensed Realtor® for 14 years and sports a catchy, clean, and easy to use website at BentleyRealtyGroup.net.

Commentary from Bob Bentley:

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1. What is your background?

I am the Real Estate Broker/Owner of Bentley Realty Group, LLC and have been a licensed Realtor® since 1995, and a licensed real estate broker since 2006. Prior to my career in real estate, I was in the automotive service management industry for 26 years where I learned that providing the very best service is essentially about putting my clients first. This means keeping myself accessible, being a good listener, as well as a good communicator, and responding quickly to customer needs.

2. Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification?

I chose to be certified as a Real Estate Webographer to further my understanding of the internet and how it works, so I am able to provide my clients and customers with the newest technologies available.

3. What are you impressions of the online experience?

The certification was clear and concise offering many examples and needed information to thoroughly improve my knowledge of web-based marketing; in particular enhancing my website and blogging. The quizzes at the end of each segment helped with further understanding of the information presented. With this additional training I feel I have met my goal and will be able to provide my sellers with the best marketing exposure for their properties, and to provide my buyer clients with an excellent resource in their search for their home.

4. How long did it take you to complete the certification?

It took me a total of 4 days over the course of 3 weeks. I would have preferred to complete the coursework all in one sitting, but time didn’t allow – my clients came first!

5. What real estate technologies are you considering implementing (for yourself or your clients)?

I plan to utilize my Blackberry (smartphone) more for email and contact management. Also, I recently began blogging and have found it a challenge. With the information provided during my Webographer (REW) training, I feel I will be able to do a better job communicating my thoughts, keeping my blog current, and increase my web presence.

6. What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

I would tell others if you want to succeed in today’s technology based world, you must invest in yourself. There is a minimal cost involved with the REW Certification, and I feel the course is very much worth it. With the additional training and knowledge I’ve achieved, an increase in business can only be expected.

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Thanks for the interview, and all the best Bob!

We had the pleasure of interviewing Bill Price, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Bill is one of the first to sign-up & complete the REW™ Certification through a promotional discount offered through the REW Technology Partner, zipLogix (ZipForm).

REW™ Certificants can answer interview questions, at the end of certification, for showcase on the Webographers.com corporate blog.

Bill is owner and broker of B & K Realty, providing free and easy access to property listings, home evaluations and many other online technologies from his brokerage website, to his clients within the San Antonio area.

Commentary from Bill Price:

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(1) What is your background?

I am the Broker/Owner of B & K Realty in San Antonio, Texas. I have been a real estate agent since 2002. Prior to becoming a real estate agent I was a computer programmer. I have several designations including ABR®, CRS®, GRI® and am e-PRO® certified.

(2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification?

When I received your email and I saw that ZIPFORM® was endorsing the REW™ certification it peeked my interest. To be honest, when I saw the price for the certification, that really got me interested. I decided to take the certification to learn how I could take advantage of the Internet to help my business grow, as well help my agents. I wanted to learn how to generate leads using my website and to start blogging.

(3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

The modules were very good. The quizes after each section helped me understand what was being presented. The information was very current and relevant. I really liked all of the other partner websites that were mentioned. I can use those websites as future resources.

(4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

It took me less than 10 days to complete all 12 modules. Each day I would set aside a number of hours to work on the courses.

(5) What real estate technologies are you considering implementing (for yourself or your clients)?

I currently have a website that I will make some major changes based on what I learned. Creation of single-property websites is something I will do for all my listings. I will add a second email address to my profile, so that when a lead comes in, that information will come to my mobile phone directly. I want to become a Blogger, so I will start doing that. Adding a neighborhood search to my website will be another item I will implement. Finally, I want to investigate Link Sharing [Lead Generation] with other agents so that my website can rank higher on Google™ and Yahoo™.

(6) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

I have already started telling other agents about the REW™ certification. Developing a web presence marketing strategy for next year should be a goal for all real estate agents and the courses within the REW certification will help with that goal, from beginning to end.

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Thanks Bill, and all the best!

We had the pleasure of interviewing Bill Price, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Bill is one of the first to sign-up & complete the REW™ Certification through a promotional discount offered through the REW Technology Partner, zipLogix (ZipForm).

REW™ Certificants can answer interview questions, at the end of certification, for showcase on the Webographers.com corporate blog.

Bill is owner and broker of B & K Realty, providing free and easy access to property listings, home evaluations and many other online technologies from his brokerage website, to his clients within the San Antonio area.

Commentary from Bill Price:

—

(1) What is your background?

I am the Broker/Owner of B & K Realty in San Antonio, Texas. I have been a real estate agent since 2002. Prior to becoming a real estate agent I was a computer programmer. I have several designations including ABR®, CRS®, GRI® and am e-PRO® certified.

(2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification?

When I received your email and I saw that ZIPFORM® was endorsing the REW™ certification it peeked my interest. To be honest, when I saw the price for the certification, that really got me interested. I decided to take the certification to learn how I could take advantage of the Internet to help my business grow, as well help my agents. I wanted to learn how to generate leads using my website and to start blogging.

(3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

The modules were very good. The quizes after each section helped me understand what was being presented. The information was very current and relevant. I really liked all of the other partner websites that were mentioned. I can use those websites as future resources.

(4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

It took me less than 10 days to complete all 12 modules. Each day I would set aside a number of hours to work on the courses.

(5) What real estate technologies are you considering implementing (for yourself or your clients)?

I currently have a website that I will make some major changes based on what I learned. Creation of single-property websites is something I will do for all my listings. I will add a second email address to my profile, so that when a lead comes in, that information will come to my mobile phone directly. I want to become a Blogger, so I will start doing that. Adding a neighborhood search to my website will be another item I will implement. Finally, I want to investigate Link Sharing [Lead Generation] with other agents so that my website can rank higher on Google™ and Yahoo™.

(6) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

I have already started telling other agents about the REW™ certification. Developing a web presence marketing strategy for next year should be a goal for all real estate agents and the courses within the REW certification will help with that goal, from beginning to end.

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Thanks Bill, and all the best!

We had the pleasure of receiving a blog announcement from Jim Kimmons, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Jim is the one of the first to sign-up & complete the REW™ Certification within hours of being informed of the partnered, enrollment promotion with ZipLogix (ZipForm®).

REW™ Certificants can answer interview questions, at the end of certification, for showcase on the Webographers.com corporate blog.

Jim is author of the Real Estate Business Guide for New York Times', About.com.

Commentary from Jim Kimmons:

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(1) What is your background?

Gallery Realty of Taos Real estate broker, Real Estate Business Guide for New York Times site, business and web writer, blogging consultant.


(2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification?

Research and always learning.



(3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

Interface was great, intuitive, and I was able to go through course materials quickly.



(4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

One day.



(5) What real estate technologies are you considering implementing (for yourself or your clients)?

I am already using most of the discussed technology solutions. I'll be continually evaluating and upgrading. I use blogs for single property sites.


(6) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

If you want a fast and thorough tutorial that brings all of the technology considerations together, and tells you where to go for solutions, this will do it for you.


Jim Kimmons, ABR, ePro, QSC, REW
Broker/Owner
Gallery Realty of Taos
Real Estate Business Guide

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Thanks Jim and all the best.

We had the pleasure of receiving a blog announcement from Jim Kimmons, a recent REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ (REW™) certificant.

Jim is the one of the first to sign-up & complete the REW™ Certification within hours of being informed of the partnered, enrollment promotion with ZipLogix (ZipForm®).

REW™ Certificants can answer interview questions, at the end of certification, for showcase on the Webographers.com corporate blog.

Jim is author of the Real Estate Business Guide for New York Times', About.com.

Commentary from Jim Kimmons:

—

(1) What is your background?

Gallery Realty of Taos Real estate broker, Real Estate Business Guide for New York Times site, business and web writer, blogging consultant.


(2) Why did you undertake the REAL ESTATE WEBOGRAPHER™ certification?

Research and always learning.



(3) What are your impressions of the online experience?

Interface was great, intuitive, and I was able to go through course materials quickly.



(4) How long did it take you to complete the certification?

One day.



(5) What real estate technologies are you considering implementing (for yourself or your clients)?

I am already using most of the discussed technology solutions. I'll be continually evaluating and upgrading. I use blogs for single property sites.


(6) What would you tell those who are considering this certification?

If you want a fast and thorough tutorial that brings all of the technology considerations together, and tells you where to go for solutions, this will do it for you.


Jim Kimmons, ABR, ePro, QSC, REW
Broker/Owner
Gallery Realty of Taos
Real Estate Business Guide

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Thanks Jim and all the best.

Is 85% of consumers using the internet enough to change our ways? How about the graph to the left, which if the trend continues, will be OVER 90% in 2009?

Here's the statistic - "85% of the time the internet is used for home searches". This is one of many statistics that comes out every year. However, numbers are just numbers unless they're interpreted, so what does this mean?

Imagine 100 people are looking for a home. 85 of them would use the internet to find their new home. Curious how many people use Real Estate agents for home searches? 85. The same number of people that use the internet.

Here's another fun fact. If you added together the percentages of people who use home books or magazines, builders, television AND billboards, it's still less than the number of people who use the internet. In fact, it's 14% less. Interestingly, magnets, calendars, pens, and park benches aren't even tracked.

The bottomline, when it comes to finding a home, the internet is used as often as real estate agents. In fact, everyone I know that has ever bought a home found it online themselves, and than found an agent who could get it for them. What if you could do that for them? What if your website was what they found instead of the free MLSs out there? What if they found that home on your site? I wonder who they would ask for assistance?

What if there was a technology certification out there that could teach anyone how to create their own consumer facing, online presence? Look no farther, you've found it.