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....