Advanced Access September 2005 Newsletter

September 2005 Newsletter

"Give light and the people will find their own way"
Motto of the Scripps-Howard Newspapers

REALTORS® Join in the Hurricane Katrina Relief Effort

REALTORS® are banding together to help our fellow Americans to recover and rebuild from the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has wreaked on the gulf coast. This natural disaster has been singled out as the largest in the country’s history. So far, NAR has contributed well over $1 Million to funds established by the state REALTOR® Associations. They are asking for your help as well. All administrative costs of the project will be absorbed by NAR, and 100 percent of contributions to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation will go to disaster relief. Contributions are tax deductible.

NAR President Al Mansell of Salt Lake City says the association is focused on people displaced by the storm. “The REALTORS® Relief Foundation is providing emergency relief for hurricane victims,” he says. “Working with our state and local associations, this is helping to provide immediate shelter needs and essential supplies. We connect very strongly with these needs because 28,000 of our own members have their lost homes and businesses.”

As of the middle of September, the foundation has already collected more than $2.9 million for relief efforts; NAR is absorbing all administrative costs to provide emergency relief for hurricane victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including displaced REALTORS®. Many REALTOR® associations throughout the region have developed a special information template that members can use to forward information to the federal government about available inventory that could be used to house people displaced by the storm.

At Advanced Access, we are committed to supporting relief efforts in the areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina and resulting flood waters. Through various corporate promotions, we have donated a portion of our sales to the REALTORS® Relief fund.

For more information about how to donate, please visit the following links:

REALTORS® Relief Effort News Page

Contributions Now Being Accepted to the REALTORS® Relief Foundation

You may make contributions online through NAR's secure Web site:
www.realtor.org/relief

Why not create a Hurricane Relief section in your own website? With 100% of any contributions going straight to disaster relief, every penny will count.

Advanced Access has created downloadable Hurricane Katrina banners that you may use with our compliments. To access the banners, click here. Please “right-click” to save the image you wish to use to your computer and then upload it to your File Library on your website. You may then add the image to your Home Page Manager (or any other section) with information on where to donate to ‘make every penny count’.

Together, we can make a difference in the Hurricane Katrina Relief effort.

Advanced Access Client Tami Vroma Featured in REAL ESTATE Magazine – Attributes Her Success to Forum Participation

Out of the business world for more than 20 years, Tami Vroma didn’t know if she could start a new career as a real estate agent. “I had a very basic website when I first started as a REALTOR® in 2004,” explains Tami. “But it just wasn’t doing the job.”

Tami found out about Advanced Access in August of 2004, and after signing up for a website, quickly began availing herself of the resources we offer the real estate professional, including our online forums.

For Tami, our Advanced Access discussion forums helped tremendously in the development of her website. “(The REALTORS® in the discussion groups) really understand search engines and how to develop websites,” she says. “They always take the time to help you and are respectful of the fact that some people are not as familiar with this technology. They help you understand the basics – links and audio files and what those terms actually mean.”

A year after beginning with Advanced Access, Tami says her forum education has paid off – her website is now listed on the front page of several search engines – including Yahoo and MSN. She attributes much of her success – she has sold 17 homes in 18 months – to the Advanced Access team and its forum REALTORS®.

“(The Advanced Access team and forum REALTORS®) were such cheerleaders – they believed I could do it and always took the time to help me.”

For additional information on the Advanced Access forums, visit your Virtual Office – click on Support Center – and click on Advanced Access forums.

Visit Tami’s website at www.liveinwestmi.com. To read the entire article about Tami, visit www.rismedia.com.

Internet Crusade and NAR Announce Extension of their e-PRO® Contract

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR) and InternetCrusade® - the exclusive provider of online training for NAR's e-PRO® certification course since 2001--- are proud to announce a five-year extension of their contract. The extension runs through December 31, 2010.

"The relationship between InternetCrusade and NAR has been a strong one and we are extremely pleased with the opportunity to continue providing REALTORS® with the technology training they need to be successful in today's fast-paced, changing marketplace," said Saul Klein, President of San Diego-based InternetCrusade. "The contract extension allows us to continue refining the course to reflect the changes taking place within the industry as well as providing e-PRO®s with insight into evolving technology. It also allows us to build the international online community of e-PRO®s who share expertise and also refer business to one another."

Advanced Access and InternetCrusade® -- an industry leader in electronic publishing, e-Mail solutions, web hosting and training - is taking this opportunity to remind you that Advanced Access has been named as one of its recommended vendors for website development to its 60,000 plus customers and clients.

In keeping with this special relationship, we would like to let you know that InternetCrusade® will be hosting educational events throughout the country during the upcoming year. To find an event in YOUR area, click here.

"The biggest differentiator in today's highly competitive website development industry is customer service, said Saul Klein, President of InternetCrusade. "Over the years, Advanced Access has demonstrated a consistent ability to provide outstanding service to their clients. That is why we are proud to recommend them to our e-PRO graduates."

The e-PRO certification course is an educational program unlike any other professional certification or designation course available, comprehensive and interactive. It is specifically designed to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home. It is the only technology certification course offered by NAR.

"The comprehensive training that NAR members receive through the e-PRO® program has been instrumental in increasing the ability of REALTORS® to compete in an industry that is increasingly driven by the Internet-savvy consumer," said Bob Goldberg, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Business Development for the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. "Our vision for the e-PRO® certification program is to create a well-trained, core group of real estate professionals who are thriving in the online-based real estate industry. We are pleased to extend our relationship with InternetCrusade® to provide this important training for our members."

For more information about the e-PRO® Certification Course, please click here. Advanced Access clients are eligible for a special discount of $30.00 from the regular price of the e-PRO® Certification Course.

Advanced Access’ Mobile Website Team is Rolling into Your Area This Season…

It’s a simple idea whose time is here once again. It’s compact, informative, innovative, educational – but most of all, it’s MOBILE!

The Advanced Access Mobile Website Team is visiting a neighborhood near you! If you’re a modern-day REALTOR® who is becoming more and more dependent on a real estate Website, it helps to know all you can about the industry, trends, and helpful hints on how to effectively utilize and integrate your Website into your everyday Internet Marketing Program.

Advanced Access is pleased to announce that our Mobile Website Team is once again rolling for the fall season. Advanced Access designed this idea in order to meet the growing demand from agents across the country to be provided with informative seminars on better ways to increase Internet Website effectiveness. The concept is to provide a group of seasoned individuals, who can effectively conduct seminars and classes that will help real estate agents improve their Internet presence by providing the latest in cutting edge technology to those who elect to attend the seminars. Topics covered in the presentation include Website history and effectiveness, modern Website marketing techniques, customer service issues, technical review and discussion, as well as an introduction and demonstration of various Advanced Access products, programs and services currently being offered and available.

A combination of current staff and an impressive National Seminar Speaker line-up provides some of the most innovative and educational seminar “break-out” sessions and presentations at trade shows and conventions all across the country.

Gary R. Brackle, Vice-President of Affinity Marketing & Communications of Advanced Access, discussed the program. “…Our primary goal was to make it more convenient for agents who already have a high demand on their time throughout the workweek. This program is able to provide them with a meaningful, informative and instructional seminar, at a location easy for them to attend. We felt it was crucial for a program of this type to be tailored to the needs of our audience or clients.” He concluded, “…this program allows us to conduct training and instruction, but also gives us the flexibility to change the overall format or focus if the audience or attendees so desire, depending on a number of factors including time, size, location, emphasis and so on!”

The Advanced Access Mobile Website Team will be visiting the States of Virginia, Illinois, North Carolina, and New York in the coming months. We are currently coordinating with the State REALTOR® Associations so that the Local REALTOR® Associations will serve as “hosts” of the events during the months of October and November.

Interested parties who would like more information on the Advanced Access Mobile Website Team please contact Maria Valderrama, Toll-Free at 1-888-902-4653, Ext. #1008.

Advanced Access Convention & Trade Show Schedule Announced

You are cordially invited to stop by and say hello to our staff when they visit your part of the country during any of the upcoming Trade Shows and Conventions across the country. The following appearances have been scheduled (as you can see, our sales staff is going to be BUSY!) For more information or an updated schedule, call us TOLL FREE at 888-902-4653 ext. 1008, or send an email to Maria Valderrama at mvalderrama@advancedaccess.com.

September 17-19, 2005
New York State Association of Realtors Technology Forum
Prime Hotel - Saratoga Springs, NY

September 18-20, 2005
2005 South Carolina Assoc. of Realtors Annual Convention & Trade Expo
Hilton Head Marriott Beach & Golf Resort - Hilton Head, SC

September 20, 2005
Ft. Lauderdale Association's Realtor Rally
Broward Convention Center - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

September 20-22, 2005
California Association of Realtors Expo 2005
San Diego Convention Center - San Diego, CA

September 21-22, 2005
Illinois Association of REALTORS® 2005 Annual Fall Convention & Expo
Drury Lane Conference Center - Oakbrook Terrace, IL

September 22, 2005
Oregon Association of Realtors Annual Convention
Sun River Lodge & Resort - Sun River, OR

September 28-29, 2005
District Six, Inc. Technology & Business Expo (28-29)
Tampa Convention Center - Tampa, FL

September 28-29, 2005
RIS Media 2005 Leadership Conference
Roosevelt Hotel - New York, NY

September 29-October 1, 2005
Virginia Assoc. of Realtors 2005 Tradeshow & Convention
Norfolk Marriott Waterside - Norfolk, VA

September 29, 2005
BNAR 17th Annual Agents Day & Trade Show
Adams Mark Hotel - Buffalo-Niagara, NY

October 06, 2005
Washington Association of Realtors ED CON 2005
Meydenbauer Convention Center - Bellevue, WA

October 10-12, 2005
2005 Kansas Association of REALTORS® Annual Convention
Overland Park Marriott - Kansas City

October 13, 2005
RMLS Technology & Trade Fair 2005
Wheeler Pavilion - Eugene, OR

October 13, 2005
New Bern Board of REALTORS®
New Bern River Front Convention Center - New Bern, NC

You are welcome and invited to visit our staff at any of the above listed conventions and trade shows. We are looking forward to seeing you, and we would like to give you a FREE GIFT - our 5th Edition Marketing Tips CD, a compilation of our Advanced Access Marketing Tips Library. Each current Advanced Access client who "refers a friend" can still receive a FREE MONTH of hosting for any friends or colleagues who purchase one of our web products and services.

Featured AA Employee of the Month: David Eagle

This month we are featuring David Eagle from our Information Systems Department. David has been on board with Advanced Access for over four years, and has risen through the ranks to his current title of Systems Administrator.

Born and raised in southern California, David was home schooled through his high school years and graduated when he was only 16. At the time of his graduation he was already working for Advanced Access.

David started playing with computers when he was 10 or 11, starting with building them, tearing them down, setting up networks between his computers at home and figuring out how to connect to the Internet. He still enjoys computers in his spare time, and he spends time building or working on them for friends and family … sometimes more than he would like! When David is not working on or playing with computers, he is reading a book. David enjoys books written by the author Dan Brown and other stories of that nature, in addition to technical books.

David is an only child, raised by a single mom for the first 10 years or so, and then his mom was remarried when he was 13.

David enjoys his job at Advanced Access, saying “I don’t know what other professions share this, I’m sure many do, but nothing feels better than solving a problem, or making something work that seemed relatively hopeless at the outset. I love that feeling of accomplishment right after fixing something - it makes the job absolutely a blast. Also, I love being able to play with new technologies, like our Blade servers, and Windows 2003 and all that. Fun toys that other IT departments may not get for years to come, but that we’ve been working on since release. It’s great!”

Scott Johnson, Director of Information Technology for Advanced Access, comments on David’s work. “It is a pleasure working with David – he has a natural aptitude for computers and modern technology and he has learned so much since he started with Advanced Access. In fact David is currently taking classes to become a Certified Network Professional so he can take over much of the programming and maintenance needed on our large server network.”

David was recently married on June 24th to his beautiful bride Kim, pictured here. People like David Eagle truly make a difference at Advanced Access, and we are proud and honored that he is a part of our team.

August 2005 | Back to Main Page | October 2005