Commercial Broker Technology Quiz

Commercial Real Estate is not known for its application of cutting edge technology.  I have put together some simple (what I consider simple) questions for you to look at.  I am going to make it easy, and give you my answer right away.  No waiting or having to go to page 34 for the answer.  If you have no idea what I am talking about in any of these questions, get to work, you have some catching up to do.

1)   Your company has a website?  Yes or No?
Answer: If "No", get one, for the love of god, get one ASAP.  If nothing else, get a simple page with your contact information on it.  Here is one free site to get you started:  http://www.weebly.com/

2) Which of the following is not a Social Media Site:
    Facebook
    LinkedIN
    Twitter
    Google +
    CREOutsider
    thebrokerlist
Answer:  CREOutsider is a blog site, and a good one (check it out), but it is not a social media site.  The Broker List is a social media site for CRE professionals only.  Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIN and Google + are Social Media sites in the truest sense, and you should be on every one.  Free, repeat, free advertising.

3)  SEO stand for....?
    Strategic Energy Ops
    South End Opinions
    Search Engine Optimization
    Silly Endless Operations
Answer: SEO is Search Engine Optimization. It is used to help search engines find your website (see question #1).  You can do some of it yourself, but there are resources that can help. You can build links, use blogs, and much, much more to help with SEO, but you have to have a website for this to work.

4) Google Places is...?
    --A travel site
   -- A bar, in New Orleans or Atlanta?  I forget.....
   --A key piece on the internet to help me be found....
Answer: Enter something like "chicago commercial real estate" and you get a map, with pins, and a list of companies.  That is Google Places, go there and claim your business listing. Put up your website address, load some pictures, etc.  Easy, free, and it helps you get found in your area that you work.

5) Duke Long, Coy Davidson, CREOutsider, Luke and Link Legrand  are all what...?
   French Philosophers
   Criminals
   CRE Bloggers
   Commercial Real Estate Brokers
Answer:  All are Commercial Real Estate brokers and/or Bloggers, and good ones.  I have linked to their sites, check them out.  You should all be reading CRE blogs, and you should  have your own.  Oh, I hear you saying- "What would I blog about?"  Do you have listings?  That is a blog entry.  Have a resume'?  Blog entry.  Have a funny story - blog entry. Have a news story to share - blog entry.   Don't tell me you don't have any blog ideas.  Here's one to get you started:  www.blogger.com and.  If you want real estate blog sites try:  http://www.realtown.com or http://www.creopoint.com. All are free, repeat - free.

I will continue this quiz with more questions later.  If nothing else, I hope I gave you something to think about.  Take a classs, read a book (SEO for Dummies), read blogs, whatever you do, get educated.  What worked in the past will not work in the future.  Get ready or move aside....

Broker Guide to Surviving the Commercial Real Estate Recession

Did I really say "Recession" in the Title?  After hearing all the "happy hoo hah" schpiels, there must not be any recession.  You are all out of inventory, you are really busy, and the phone is ringing.  Then I look at the statistics for sales, and everything is down, waaaay down.....  Come on.... I have some ideas to pass on regarding surviving in this market, some I have implemented, some I should.  Here goes:

Not every listing is a good listing.   There are few buyers out there.  Why are you taking on that marginal listing that will sit for years?  Step back and figure out if this is going to sell in the next 12 months. If not, don't take it.  Let someone else do the leg work, let them get the word out to those who aren't buying, and then come back and get the listing after they have failed, and the banks are lending again.

You took the listing, now what?  Get the client to help defray marketing cost.  Have them pick up the cost of mailings, of submitting to listing services, etc.  If they won't, go after higher commission fees.  If they won't help or budge, let the listing go, see point one....

Cut listing  costs.  I have found that in my area, LoopNet is not paying off in decent (or any leads).  The $1,200 per year for 4 listings just did not pay off.  The MLS system has resulted in just 4 industrial sales for the entire MLS in the region last year.  Cut back, utilize free services.  Here are a few:
Wisconsin BrokerNET, this site focuses on Wisconsin only.  Profile, news, WI content
Illinois BrokerNET, focuses on Illinois only, profile, news, IL content
The Broker List.  I love this site.  List, post wants, and you can have many links in your profile.  Great place!!

Get Smart:  You have time, and no more excuses.

• Figure out how to set up a website, or find someone who can.  Here is a link to mine, not perfect, but if you look up commercial real estate in my area, I am on page 1 of Google, at the top.  Point ONE Commercial
• Figure out why blogging is a good thing.  www.blogger.com is a place to start.
• Figure out how to get links back to your site.  
• Get on Google Maps. Set up Google Alerts.  
• Get RSS feeds from news in the area fed to your email.   
• Facebook:  You can get on Facebook and set up a page for your company for free.  Learn it, use it.  No excuses..
• Social Media.  Figure it out. Facebook is one part of it.  There are many SEO experts out there, find one and use them.

        Being ignorant of new technology is not a reasonable excuse, nor is it fashionable.  Get with it, get on it,  
        or get out of the way.

We need to get to work.  Don't count on a marketing department to do all of this for you.  If you do, you are losing out and your talent is lessened if you go out on your own.  Most of what I have listed is free to look up on the internet, or low cost (like setting up a website).  No excuses, lets get to work.

Links:
http://www.wisconsinbrokernet.com
http://www.illinoinsbrokernet.com
http://www.pointonecommercial.com
http://www.thebrokerlist.com
http://www.wisconsinbrokernet.com/category/blog/

Regional Development Idea...

The cure for what ails cities economically seems to be in finding that next big expansion project, or so it seems from all of our collective efforts. At the State, County and local levels, most of our efforts are geared towards finding a company that wants to expand, and having them place the new “factory” (now distribution center) in their city. Then they go on to sound like Sally Fields with the “You like me, you like me, you really like me” schpiel.

They give away land. Hand out incentives like they were Halloween candy. Build their roads and sewers. I will admit, there are a few strategic placements, such as a Toyota or BMW plant, which sets an area on to a totally new path. By and large, most of the efforts are about landing another “box”, with relatively low paying jobs.

What many cities seem to be missing is that these companies are headquartered somewhere else, and will have little loyalty to the region. Few executives will make the move, and there will be few professional jobs that move with any expansion.

At the same time, they forget that these companies all started somewhere, by one person, or a partnership. They started in garages, small buildings, or at the kitchen table. They forget that that the small business owner is the one driving growth and stability. They forget that small businesses can become big businesses. Why then do they not focus their resources on the small business or start up opportunities? Why don’t they knock down the walls of government regulation for the small business? Why doesn’t the governor show up for ribbon cuttings for the new 5 person shop that just opened? Governments forget that many small businesses don't get off the ground because they can’t get around all the regulations that governments have set up. (Have they set them up to keep the small company out…?)

Much of our economic development effort looks like the kid who wants something and wants it now. We have no willingness to delay our gratification. We criticize a corporation for chasing after quarterly results, yet demand out elected officials deliver the next big “box”.

I suggest we start by redirecting our focus onto the start up. The small “guy”, who just might get big, and stick around. Quit chasing the deals where 10 cities are competing for the same business. Help the start up. Help the little ‘guy’ grow. Get regulations out of the way, help them by keeping City Hall open later. Give land away to a small endeavor. Gain a reputation for incubating companies. Don’t chase the Cisco or IBM expansion. Make your area the place where the new competitor will set up shop.

Do this and we might see some real results. But you won’t see it in 1 or 2 years. You will see the results in 10 years and longer. But then again, maybe that is too long for some people to wait…..


Wisconsin BrokerNET
Illinois BrokerNET
Point ONE Commercial Real Estate

The cure for what ails cities economically seems to be in finding that next big expansion project, or so it seems from all of our collective efforts. At the State, County and local levels, most of our efforts are geared towards finding a company that wants to expand, and having them place the new “factory” (now distribution center) in their city. Then they go on to sound like Sally Fields with the “You like me, you like me, you really like me” schpiel.

They give away land. Hand out incentives like they were Halloween candy. Build their roads and sewers. I will admit, there are a few strategic placements, such as a Toyota or BMW plant, which sets an area on to a totally new path. By and large, most of the efforts are about landing another “box”, with relatively low paying jobs.

What many cities seem to be missing is that these companies are headquartered somewhere else, and will have little loyalty to the region. Few executives will make the move, and there will be few professional jobs that move with any expansion.

At the same time, they forget that these companies all started somewhere, by one person, or a partnership. They started in garages, small buildings, or at the kitchen table. They forget that that the small business owner is the one driving growth and stability. They forget that small businesses can become big businesses. Why then do they not focus their resources on the small business or start up opportunities? Why don’t they knock down the walls of government regulation for the small business? Why doesn’t the governor show up for ribbon cuttings for the new 5 person shop that just opened? Governments forget that many small businesses don't get off the ground because they can’t get around all the regulations that governments have set up. (Have they set them up to keep the small company out…?)

Much of our economic development effort looks like the kid who wants something and wants it now. We have no willingness to delay our gratification. We criticize a corporation for chasing after quarterly results, yet demand out elected officials deliver the next big “box”.

I suggest we start by redirecting our focus onto the start up. The small “guy”, who just might get big, and stick around. Quit chasing the deals where 10 cities are competing for the same business. Help the start up. Help the little ‘guy’ grow. Get regulations out of the way, help them by keeping City Hall open later. Give land away to a small endeavor. Gain a reputation for incubating companies. Don’t chase the Cisco or IBM expansion. Make your area the place where the new competitor will set up shop.

Do this and we might see some real results. But you won’t see it in 1 or 2 years. You will see the results in 10 years and longer. But then again, maybe that is too long for some people to wait…..


Wisconsin BrokerNET
Illinois BrokerNET
Point ONE Commercial Real Estate

Wisconsin Development and Business News for 9/26/11

Wisconsin Development and Business News for 9/26/11

Illinois Commercial Real Estate and Business News for 9/23/11

Illinois Commercial Real Estate and Business News for 9/23/11

Wisconsin Development and Business News for 9/23/11

Wisconsin Development and Business News for 9/23/11