ADVANCED ACCESS October 2005 Newsletter

October 2005 Newsletter

"Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience."
- Victoria Holt

ADVANCED ACCESS Participates in RISMedia’s 16th Annual Real Estate Leadership Conference

ADVANCED ACCESS participated as a “Base Level Sponsor” in RISMedia’s 16th Annual Real Estate Leadership Conference, Sept. 28th – 29th, which was recently held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City, New York. The event’s theme entitled, “Charting New Paths – Re-Engineering for a Consumer-Driven Marketplace,” featured speakers and programs that discussed the changing shape of the industry in the future, the redefinition of roles, and the need to reorganize key elements of the real estate industry.

Hosted by RISMedia’s Real Estate magazine, and sponsored by the industry’s leading home services companies, the leadership conference is the industry’s largest independent networking event of the year. Various business opportunities abound, with more than 1,000 executive decision-makers who regularly attend the conference. The leading authorities and executives attending represented hundreds of the nation’s leading real estate companies, franchise management, and third-party relocation service companies throughout the entire country. In addition, the attendees included top industry leaders and technology decision-makers from some of the country's most successful real estate, relocation and service firms that together, cultivate and close hundreds of thousands of transactions each year!

ADVANCED ACCESS was represented at the event by Jane Ellsworth-Purcell, Sr. VP of Sales, and Gary R. Brackle, VP of Affinity Marketing & Communications, and displayed an exhibitor booth while scheduling important industry-related meetings and vendor-relations discussions.

NEW! Featured Client of the Month: Marsha Maynes

Marsha Maynes has been a REALTOR® for 20-years, and has lived in the U. S. Virgin Islands for over 24-years. The Virgin Islands has beautiful weather year round with powdery white sand beaches and sun-drenched skies. The average year-round temperatures range from the 80´s during the day and 70´s most nights with summer somewhat warmer.

MARSHA MAYNES TELLS WHY ADVANCED ACCESS?

“I purchased my ADVANCED ACCESS Website at the NAR show in Anaheim in 1998…everyone was looking at digital cameras…I was looking at websites. Many vendors tried to sell me a website, but when I came across ADVANCED ACCESS, I felt they were the best choice. I met John and Jerra (Morris), who had this little blue booth at the back of this massive trade show and they were giving away free websites to get you up and running on the Internet. They patiently took the time to explain some basics to me and I knew then and there that they were the right people for me to grow my business with. I didn’t even know what a Domain name was!”

“I have a special fondness for ADVANCED ACCESS as they have played a big part in my success over the ensuing years. Just as amazing has been their own success from a small “mom and pop” organization, to one of the largest providers of websites and hosting in the real estate industry today!”

CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THE KEY

“The answer to their success lies in customer service. ADVANCED ACCESS’ technical staff was readily available to lend their support and the staff had the knowledge to guide me onto the Internet. What set them apart is the way they treated me and the way they treat all their customers. I purchased two websites that day at that long ago NAR show and within a year, I had given up the second website because there was no active customer support or guidance. That’s what set ADVANCED ACCESS apart from the very beginning and is what continues to set them apart and above everyone else today.”

“Most buyers today are searching for properties on the Web, and if you aren’t there where they can find you, you won’t have a chance at earning their business. Of course, you must have the necessary information on your site to give people a reason to stay there and to keep coming back again and again for available listings.”

“My business has grown tremendously because people can easily find me on the web. The Internet and especially my website have helped me in leveling the playing field with my competitors. If people can find you, ultimately what you have to offer on your site is what convinces that potential buyer or seller that you can do a better job. My ADVANCED ACCESS site has provided me with this advantage and my overall success in the industry.”

ADVANCED ACCESS ALLOWS ME FLEXIBILITY

“I remain very enthusiastic about ADVANCED ACCESS, about the Web, and what my business personally means to me and the customers and clients I serve. My ADVANCED ACCESS site has given me the flexibility to provide a wide range of marketing services that attract customers and clients to my site.”

“An example is a website guest book. It’s a terrific optional feature that comes with any ADVANCED ACCESS website and allows for great flexibility. I choose to let visitors look at any area of my website without signing in. If they choose to contact me for more information, that’s great! But, I want them to have that choice. So I don’t use the guestbook. Visitors have the ability to tell me who they are and ask me any questions when they’re ready to contact me. A user-friendly, easy-to-use, not complicated website is what makes it very simple for any visitor to use and come back again.”

MarshaMaynes.com “looks friendly,” to do business with and is, in fact, a user-friendly site. I’ve been told by some people that my site has a warm and welcome look that visitors like. They can search on their own. They don’t have to register in a guest book and they can search until they are ready for some help from me. Then, I’m sure I can help them with all their real estate needs.”

“I am able to add links and additional information to my site easily and without too much work or stress. The Page Manager feature allows me to add information with ease.

“I can add new listings, new photos and pending sales or change my listings to SOLD. I have a wonderful VA (Virtual Assistant) who is spending more time with my website but I still enjoy working on it and changing things as needed.”

“My website can be found by numerous search engines such as Google, Yahoo or even MSNBC. Visitors are able to find me and we naturally progress from there.”

THE FINAL WORD

Marsha concluded, “…The most important thing that I want people to know about ADVANCED ACCESS is their Customer Service. The attention they give to each and every client is excellent and they take care of me right away. It’s the kind of service that creates raving fans like me. ADVANCED ACCESS has never disappointed me and I’ve never had a negative experience. My one concern is that the busier and more successful I become, there is the chance that I won’t have enough time to take care of all my customers and clients needs. My customers deserve the best possible care and service I can provide. All of the time. ADVANCED ACCESS, despite their phenomenal growth, has remained responsive and concerned about every aspect of my real estate business. Whether I send an e-mail and get an immediate auto-response or if I call the Customer Support line, I know that whatever issue or problem or question I have will be resolved by the person at the other end of the line at ADVANCED ACCESS.”

We hope you enjoyed our FIRST monthly “Featured Client” article. Do YOU have an interesting story about your website? Send it to us at info@advancedaccess.com and we will make every effort to feature you in one of our newsletters. Our clients benefit when we all share our ideas and resources. Remember, we are here to serve you 7 days a week – so call us TOLL FREE at 866-518-1571, or send us an email – support@advancedaccess.com. Thank you sincerely for your business and support.

Copyright Information Update

At ADVANCED ACCESS, along with countless numbers of firms across the country, we have taken a pledge to make every effort to ensure that our client’s Websites comply with the copyright regulations that are defined in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. (The text from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office Website, along with other applicable intellectual property laws and regulations: (http://www.copyright.gov/reports/studies/dmca/dmca_study.html)

It is important to ensure that all of the content on your own personal Website or, if you are a Virtual Assistant - your client’s site, legally fits into one of the three major categories. First, it must be written by you; second, you must pay to a third party to be created for your use; or third, you must have received previous permission by the original author to display the content on your Website.

ADVANCED ACCESS has released two Weekly Marketing Tips that contain a wealth of information regarding this controversial subject. Visit our Weekly Marketing Tip #209, published August 27th, 2004, that serves as wonderful a review of relevant information and links, along with a featured story by Real Estate Internet Columnist, Bill Koelzer, entitled, “…How Many Other Agents Are Copying From Your Website?...Plenty?...Here’s A Good Place To Learn What To Do To Stop Them.”

In a subsequent Weekly Marketing Tip #212, published a few weeks later on September 17th, 2004, we offered in further detail some examples of how Web content can originally be stolen and how serious of an offense copyright infringement actually is, along with the increased frequency in which it now commonly occurs.

Most recently, we released Weekly Marketing Tip #264, published on October 14, 2005, where we outlined several techniques considered illegal in the online world.

We recommend that you review these resources in order to familiarize yourself with the rules and regulations of copyright infringement.

ADVANCED ACCESS’ CEO Kristina Davis Interviewed in RISMedia Magazine

For the second time in as many months, ADVANCED ACCESS was featured in RISMedia’s Real Estate Magazine. The article this month, entitled “Keeping Customers Happy,” focuses on the evolution of ADVANCED ACCESS’ customer support department and how it continues to progress.

Written by Stephanie Andre, the article features an interview with our own Kristina Davis, CEO. In the article, Kristina answered questions about the Customer Support philosophy here at ADVANCED ACCESS, and spoke in detail about our recent expansion and renovation of the department, expanded weekend hours, online forums, our Virtual Assistant network, and the introduction of newly revised products.

At ADVANCED ACCESS we consider Customer Service to be our highest priority and we believe, “The Key to Your Success… is Our Service.” Thank you sincerely for your business and support. To read the entire article, click here.

ADVANCED ACCESS Client Marlow Harris finds her niche in “Unusual Home” Listings
Statistics have shown that the primary reason consumers surf the Internet is to view property listings. Now that they've found YOUR website, will they want to stay? We know the Internet has changed the real estate industry and revolutionized the way consumers view properties. But the bottom line is that this business is still all about personal relationships. Your personality should shine throughout the pages of your website and help your visitors make that important decision that YOU are the REALTOR® they want to do business with.

ADVANCED ACCESS client Marlow Harris is a perfect example of someone who has identified her niche market. Marlow has used our ADVANCED ACCESS website model to create a mega site - www.SeattleDreamHomes.com - that clearly illustrates she is a real estate authority in the Seattle area. Marlow has created a real estate resource for home buyers, sellers, homeowners and everyone who lives in or is thinking of moving to Seattle, Washington. Not only does Marlow include all the important characteristics in a good real estate website, Marlow’s well organized resource also features “fun stuff” such as Artists Homes, Novelty Architecture, Staging and Decorating, Pictures of Elvis, and a special section called “Unusual Homes.”

In our ADVANCED ACCESS online forums, Marlow comments on the response to her site, “I have received some of the strangest emails and messages because of my website. I have listed a house with a dungeon. I have listed a house where every surface is covered in ephemera, wrapping paper, old ticket stubs, photos cut from magazines (see my "Artists Home" page). I have listed a home with an interior waterfall. I have listed a home with a bathroom covered with hundreds of pictures of Mona Lisa and a tomato-red kitchen (see under "Featured Listings"). The list goes on and on. I guess everyone needs a niche!”

Marlow encourages as many visitors as possible to her site, stating “I don't require a sign-in or password or guest registration to view my website, as my website is not just about selling real estate, but a personal expression of what I find interesting and fun. My life is so much more than real estate and so is my website.”

Marlow maintains another ADVANCED ACCESS website – NorthwestDreamLiving.com. This larger, regional website was designed to capture leads from buyers and sellers across the state. Marlow then refers those leads to other agents in other offices around Washington State, and it has been quite a successful venture. “I have already made over $20,000 this year just in referrals from this website, so this website has more than paid for itself. I also met a woman online who found my website in Italy. She ended up buying a home here in Seattle for $1.8 million dollars.”

Recently, Marlow’s website was ranked number one on Google for the keyword “Unusual Homes,” and she has an interesting story about how her site came to be in the enviable position of being first on the list. Marlow’s story underscores the importance of “getting the word out” about your website, and shows us how quickly news can spread in the Internet world.

Marlow relates her story, “A few weeks ago, I attended a party at an eccentric character's home, along with another art collector. She placed photos of this collector’s house on her blog, along with a link to mine. (I have an "Unusual Homes" page I created on my website.) My page was picked up by dozens of other blogs and websites, and I noticed a huge spike in my visits. So far, I have 107,000 hits this month and over 52,000 sessions, with an entry point being my "Unusual Homes" page. The good news? I'm number one on Google for ‘Unusual Homes’!”

Visit Marlow Harris’ websites at www.SeattleDreamHomes.com and www.NorthwestDreamLiving.com

The 2005 REALTORS® Conference & Expo
October 28-31, 2005 - San Francisco, California - Moscone Center

The theme is “The Rush is On – Jump on Board” and over 25,000 REALTORS® and guests are expected to gather in San Francisco for the annual 2005 REALTORS® Conference & Expo. With more than 600 exhibitors demonstrating their products and services, this is the LARGEST show for REALTORS® in the world. Members of our sales team at ADVANCED ACCESS are looking forward to meeting you in San Francisco for a productive and successful event.

Don't miss this big event where you will discover countless learning and networking opportunities to put your career on the fast track. Build your business, save time and lighten your workload with the latest technology and productivity tools. The Technology Learning Center features Hands-on training in a professional classroom setting.

Find the products and services you need to make your work easier and more effective at REALTORS® Expo. On Friday Night, the Grand Opening reception features wine tasting sponsored by Systems Engineering.

We're looking forward to the opportunity to meet new and existing clients in San Francisco, and we know the Expo will be exciting and successful for all of us. You are cordially invited to come over and say hello – we’re located in BOOTH 2221 – we’ll be hard to miss in our bright tropical attire. Click here to print out our special VIP Invitation. Simply bring in this VIP Invitation you can receive a FREE badge to the 2005 REALTORS® Expo – good for all four days of Expo. Looking forward to seeing you there!

And, if you visit us at the Expo, we have a SPECIAL GIFT for you…. a CD with 200 of our valuable Weekly Marketing Tips listed for your convenience. If you can’t make it to the convention to pick up your gift, you can ALWAYS find our Marketing Tips online. Simply click here to access our marketing tips from your own location.

If you know some of your colleagues and friends will be attending the convention, please send them over to our booth. Be sure to ask them to give YOU credit for referring them to us.

If one of your referrals purchases a website, Intellicards, or any of our other services from us, we would like to say “Thank You” by adding a free month of hosting to your existing contract.

It’s Time to Fall Back on Sunday, October 30

Once again, it’s that time of year - Sunday, October 30, 2005 marks the end of Daylight Saving Time, as observed in most of our states. So be sure to set your clocks BACK one hour at 2:00 a.m. next week. The exceptions to the rule are: Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Eastern Time Zone portion of the State of Indiana, and most of Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation.)

Setting our clocks back is an excellent time to think about changing the batteries in our smoke detectors. A working smoke detector greatly increases the chances of surviving a home fire. Although most of us have smoke detectors, a large percentage of those have worn-out or missing batteries. As a safety tip, why not remind yourself and your clients to change the batteries in your smoke detector at the same time you change your clocks.

Featured AA Employee of the Month – Michelle Ramirez

This month we are featuring Michelle Ramirez, an Internet Marketing Consultant from our Inside Sales Department. Michelle has been on board with ADVANCED ACCESS for nearly three years, starting off in our Promotions division. The management at ADVANCED ACCESS recognized Michelle’s natural sales abilities and knowledge of our products and she was recently promoted to be an Internet Marketing Consultant, introducing new clients to our products and services. In September, Michelle attended the California Association of REALTORS® Convention and enjoyed meeting our clients and supporting the efforts of the sales team.

Prior to Michelle’s tenure at ADVANCED ACCESS, she was a Human Resources/Safety Coordinator for about 8 years. She attended Coastline College and Santa Ana College, taking courses in Human Resource Management and Accounting. Michelle never realized she would enjoy a sales position until the day her friend encouraged her to apply for a job at ADVANCED ACCESS in the Promotions Department. After she was brought on board, Michelle found that not only did she have a natural ability in Sales, she truly enjoyed helping real estate professionals learn more about our products and services.

Born in Queens New York, Michelle grew up with 4 brothers and one sister. When Michelle was 12 years old she and her family moved across the country to California. After completing her education, Michelle married her husband, Omar “Tony” Ramirez and the couple has been married for nearly five years. Michelle and Tony have 4 children – Desirae - 16, Jackie - 12, Madison (Maddie) - 3, and Angel – 7 months. The family affectionately calls Angel ‘Baby Bano’ after his grandfather.

Michelle’s life revolves around her family, and she derives great joy from spending time with her husband and children.Michelle’s favorite place in the world is Disneyland, and the family holds season passes to the park so they can go as often as possible to enjoy the attractions together. In fact, Michelle goes to Disneyland practically every Friday. When Michelle is not at home, at the office or at Disneyland, she also enjoys watching movies, and has a huge movie collection.
Michelle’s dedication and enthusiasm really makes a difference, and we are happy she is on the ADVANCED ACCESS team.

September 2005 | Back to Main Page | November 2005