ADVANCED ACCESS March 2006 Newsletter

March 2006 Newsletter

”We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.”
- Omar N. Bradley, U.S. Army General

ADVANCED ACCESS Expands Affinity Program to Local Association Level

We are pleased to announce that we have reached a final agreement with the Collin County Association of REALTORS® in Texas. The announcement is significant, because it formalizes the first official agreement with a local REALTOR® Association anywhere in the country. The Affinity Marketing Agreement designates ADVANCED ACCESS as the “preferred provider” of Website services to more than 3,700 members of the 5th largest local Association in the state.

ADVANCED ACCESS currently holds agreements with three of the top five largest statewide REALTOR® Associations in the United States. Current Affinity Marketing Agreements are in place with the Florida Association of REALTORS®; the Illinois Association of REALTORS®; REBR (Real Estate Business Resources) a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Kansas Association of REALTORS®; the New York State Association of REALTORS®, the North Carolina Association of REALTORS®; the Oregon Association of REALTORS®, and the Virginia Association of REALTORS®.

Mark Gilmore, VP of Business Development, commented on the signing “…We are very excited about our new relationship with the Collin County Association of REALTORS®, which marks the first Affinity Marketing Agreement that our company has instituted with a Local Association of REALTORS®. This new Association-provided benefit will ensure that the members are equipped with the technology required to remain competitive, and we look forward to a long-term relationship with our newest business partner.”

The Collin County Association of REALTORS®, with approximately 3,700 members, is the 5th largest local Association in the state and is headquartered in the history-rich city of Plano, Texas. The largest city in Collin County, located 20-miles north of downtown Dallas, Plano continues to garner national accolades for its quality of lifestyle, environmental initiatives and opportunities for economic development.

ADVANCED ACCESS Mobile Website Team Rolls-On

ADVANCED ACCESS Partners With Winston-Salem Regional Association of REALTORS® & NCAR Mobile Website Team Rolls Into Tar Heel State For FREE Seminar On Thursday, March 23rd, 2006

It's a simple idea whose time has come! It's compact, informative, innovative, educational - but most of all, it's MOBILE!

On Thursday, March 23rd, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., members of the Winston-Salem Regional Association of REALTORS® are invited and encouraged to attend this FREE Website Educational Seminar that will be provided by ADVANCED ACCESS, an NCAR REALTOR® Partners member.
The event will be held in the Kutz Center, located at NCAR Offices, 4511 Weybridge Lane, Greensboro, NC, 27407. Space is limited, and interested parties can contact Katie Sopcik, NCAR Marketing Specialist at 1-800-443-9956, ext. #228 to RSVP.

The ADVANCED ACCESS Mobile Website Team rolls-in to provide the first in a series of seminars of this kind, that will cover a wide range of topics that will instruct, guide, and teach attendees about the importance of the Internet, and how REALTORS® can enhance their overall presence on the Internet through a versatile, informative, and professional Website.

Roger Livingston, Regional Sales Manager for ADVANCED ACCESS, will be presenting the seminar which helps modern-day REALTORS® learn more techniques and develop skills that can assist them with the further development of their personal Websites. The seminars have gained national notoriety informing participants about such things as industry trends and helpful hints on how to effectively utilize and integrate your Website into your everyday Internet Marketing Program.

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.

For more information about how you can schedule ADVANCED ACCESS for a Mobile Website Team seminar in your area, please call Maria Valderrama TOLL-FREE at 1-888-902-4653 TODAY!

Spring Convention & Trade Show Schedule Announced

Please 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. The following appearances have been scheduled during the next month:

March 16th, 2006
The 5th Annual Technology Fair & Trade Show
Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, Cary, NC

March 19th – 21st, 2006
Prudential Real Estate ‘2006 Sales Convention
San Antonio Convention Center, San Antonio, TX

March 23rd, 2006
Kansas Association of REALTORS® Mid-America “Ninja Summit”
Overland Park Marriott, Overland Park, KS

April 6th, 2006
Asheville Board of REALTORS® 14th Annual REXPO ‘06
Holiday Inn Sunspree, Asheville, NC

April 26th, 2006
San Diego Association of REALTORS® Real Estate Expo XVII
San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, CA

April 28th, 2006
TECH FAIRE 2006 for the Real Estate Professional
Hilton Oakland Airport Hotel, Oakland, CA

We are looking forward to seeing you at any of the events listed above. Be sure to stop by and say hello – we always enjoy talking to our clients across the country. And, if you bring a friend or colleague who may be interested in purchasing a website, we have a special gift for you.

ADVANCED ACCESS Featured Client of the Month Max Chirkov

HISTORY & HIS START IN THE INDUSTRY

Max Chirkov, (www.c21myrtlebeach.com) was born, in the City of Lutsk, in the Ukraine, which is one the 15 Republics of the former U.S.S.R. He arrived here in the United States in May 2001, after spending his first 21-years of life in the former U.S.S.R. He received an Internship with a financial investment company located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Once arriving in South Carolina, he spent a great deal of time learning both his new profession and his new culture.

Max is married to his college sweetheart, Iryna, and they recently celebrated their 1-year anniversary. He graduated from the Institute of Economics and Management with a Bachelor of Science in Management. Max spent his first three years here in America, before returning to the Ukraine to marry, and eventually returning as a newlywed with Iryna to the Myrtle Beach community.

In his current capacity with CENTURY 21 Coastal Lifestyles, which is located in North Myrtle Beach, Max serves in a variety of roles for the office including payroll, taxes, compiling commission reports, reporting to the various groups and committees, designs and maintenance of the company site as well as the individual agents sites – these are all part of his total responsibilities in his current role at the office.

HIS IMPRESSION AND REFLECTION ON THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY

Max was able to share some interesting observations regarding the current Real Estate industry. “The real estate industry, and my first impression, seems to be that more and more consumers are certainly using the Internet here in the U.S. for everything imaginable. Many real estate agents do not realize what the Internet can do for their business. Everyone becomes equal, or in a true sense, the Internet equals the playing field, and you get a great opportunity to be placed at the top of your area, despite the amount of money you have to invest. You may not have the most unique personality, may not be the smartest, or even have largest amount of money that you have to invest. On the Internet, you only need to understand how it works, and that will help you come out on top! Everyone has the opportunity to be AS SUCCESSFUL as possible! I can compete with larger real estate companies, and be a strong competitor, despite my limitations in size and obvious resources. They can in turn hire smart people and certainly more of them, but on a one-on-one basis, I can be just as effective as they are. There are many, many opportunities out there for the medium to smaller-sized agents and companies, and the Internet allows every one of us to compete as equals.”

HIS OFFICE’S MARKET – THE MYRTLE BEACH COMMUNITY

Max and CENTURY 21 Coastal Lifestyles serves the Horry County communities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, Little River, Pawleys Island, Conway, Loris, and Surfside Beach. They also can provide services to other areas in North Carolina such as Calabash and Carolina Shores.

MAX CHIRKOV TELLS WHY ADVANCED ACCESS?

“I like that ADVANCED ACCESS looks at what actually the agent needs; along with total needs of the potential client or lead that is requesting information. Not just to get more customers or agents, but they try to keep in mind what the end-user needs, and that is the homebuyer or seller. Also, the community forums help clients to understand the entire Internet scenario, and what you can do to improve your Internet marketing. It educates people, and this “continuing education” helps to develop better strategies and better methods to make your Website look and function at a higher degree of efficiency. You need to educate agents on how to do things, they always go to education classes, but those classes sometimes only provide the minimum knowledge available. Being an ADVANCED ACCESS client in not only to be a customer, but you also buy education in the real estate industry and learn how Internet resources can improve you business.”

“When the Website that we currently use was bought, I was in the process of upgrading a former site that the company had previously used. My work was pretty basic, and at that time, we only had 24-agents. We were at that time, a small family business, that in only one year, we soon were getting over 300 leads in a month…it was unbelievable! In only two years of working with the Internet and realizing our true potential, we have expanded into four offices, employing over 100-agents, and also during this time have successfully expanded our Internet presence as well. Our involvement and complete trust with ADVANCED ACCESS in the major reason that we have been able to expand so quickly and at the same time, so efficiently.”

THE FORUMS ARE AN ADDED PLUS AND A WEALTH OF INFORMATION

“I exchange ideas and different marketing strategies. Most people usually don’t like to share their marketing strategies, but most of them have done it themselves to become successful. When they get that first “taste of success,” and start to ask even more questions, they also enjoy getting the “positive feedback” on what strategies and methods have worked for them. The ADVANCED ACCESS forum is like a very friendly neighborhood that allows everyone to share their thoughts and ideas among a very close group of friends.”

ADVANCED ACCESS ALLOWS ME FLEXIBILITY

“Yes, for a regular person who does not have a vast knowledge of Internet experience, the basic site contains all the vital elements that you need to get started. I had over 4,000 pages of info, and out of that only about 200 or so were pages that I developed myself – again, unique to our situation here in Myrtle Beach. The basic amount of start-up info that is provided to you is incredible. It is a very flexible site that allows you to use many of the features if you desire, but also allows you to insert or use various other systems or features that work well with the ADVANCED ACCESS site that you yourself bring to the site from other sources.”

THE FINAL WORD

“I think now-a-days; Web Mastering is quite an expensive marketing tool! Many companies provide this type of service, but many are not too good. I have many people contact me out of state, and I always refer them to ADVANCED ACCESS, because you can’t really go wrong. The Website is inexpensive, you can do much of the work yourself, and as a long-term investment, a private company is much more expensive and labor intensive. Your expectations are not always satisfied right-away, and this can be very frustrating. I’ve had to deal with some other template-based companies that other agents are currently using, and the first thing I noticed was that they were very severely limited in terms of flexibility. They were not able to do the things I can do and achieve with an ADVANCED ACCESS Website, and they were more expensive, and not really as flexible and as easy to operate.”

“I am also working on a Real Estate Directory (www.ibsteam.net/wsnlinks/) and it is a more of a hobby, but started because of my involvement with ADVANCED ACCESS. By completing this project, I am certainly trying to get additional exposure in terms of quality links and targeted traffic, a directory that does much more -- more attractive, more available and more than just providing reciprocal links. The directory provides links to the MLS services, property listings, custom content page with information, custom graphics and direct links to internal pages of the agents’ Websites, including community pages, etc. In February of 2006, I attracted more than 150,000 unique site visitors, and some of the pages have third-party referrals. This directory is a free service, and can provide some additional value to those parties that are interested in this kind of resource, and again, has been largely due to my involvement and trust with ADVANCED ACCESS.”

ADVANCED ACCESS SALES TEAM MARKETING TIP
“Back to the Basics”

by Darren Kipfer, National Speaker/Regional Sales Manager

So you have your own Website! It feels good. You are now a high-tech professional. You have joined the ranks of many other professional real estate agents. You have a powerful marketing tool.

Now what?

Choosing to move forward in the direction the industry is taking with technology is an important first step. But you may be asking yourself the question: “What do I do now? How can I use this tool to increase my business?” The list of ideas is endless. The options you have with this powerful and far-reaching medium are truly mind boggling. But no one can learn everything in one day. It is a process, and we need to take it one step at a time.

So let’s go back to the basics and make sure we have covered the most important parts of your Website first.

First, you have to be a little familiar with the content in your Website. Go to your Website and click through the navigation buttons. See what is included. Now, when clients (or potential clients) are asking about schools in your area, you’ll know you can say, “You can get that information on my Website.”

Second, you need to make sure there are no blank sections on your Website. Click on the Testimonials, Local Partners, and Featured Listings buttons – do you have content in those sections? If not, add it, or remove those buttons from your Website until you have something to put there. Call customer support to assist you if you need help.

Third, personalize your Website. Does your “About Me” section still have the generic text it had when the site was set up, or is it your own personal biography or resume? Do you have a picture of yourself on the Website? Have you added your own favorite Websites in the “Favorite Links” section?

Finally, to take your Website to the next level, two more advanced options you may wish to work into your Website are adding content, and adding reciprocal links (“Link Popularity”) on your Website. You can add pages and sections to your Website: local neighborhood information or information about your personal interests and hobbies that catch the attention of anyone who visits your Website. “Link Popularity” is the process of building a link network on your Website, which can help with search engine ranking and increasing your Website traffic. Call Customer Support to assist you with setting up this process.

Remember, little by little, day by day. This is a process, and you can’t do it all in one day. Over time, you can build a powerful Website presence!

Darren Kipfer is a National Speaker and Regional Sales Manager for ADVANCED ACCESS in the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. areas. He travels extensively making educational and informative presentations at conventions, Association trade shows, tech expos and office meetings. His presentations range from 20-minutes to 2-hours, and cover a wide range of current topics to meet your Internet Marketing needs. To find out more about Darren Kipfer, you can visit his Website at www.DarrenKipfer.com, or contact Darren about scheduling a visit at your next office meeting or perhaps a speaking engagement at your State or local tradeshow or convention. Send Darren an e-mail Darren@darrenkipfer.com, or call him on his Direct Line at (240) 687-1008.

Don’t Forget to Spring Forward on April 2nd

Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April, so remember to set your clocks forward one hour at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 2.

For the U.S. and its territories, Daylight Saving Time is NOT observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Arizona, and most of the Eastern Time Zone portion of Indiana. The Navajo Nation participates in the Daylight Saving Time policy, even in Arizona, due to its large size and location in three states.

On August 8, 2005, President George W. Bush signed the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This Act modified the time change dates for Daylight Saving Time in the U.S. Beginning in 2007, Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday of March and end the first Sunday of November, giving us additional longer days. The Secretary of Energy will report the impact of this change to Congress. Congress has retained the right to revert the Daylight Saving Time back to the 2005 time schedule once the Department of Energy study is complete.

Featured Employee of the Month: Michael LaLonde

This month we’re featuring Michael LaLonde, from our Customer Service Department. Michael is part of a team of Analysts who contact our clients proactively to provide website advice and valuable recommendations. He has been a part of the ADVANCED ACCESS team for several years, gaining experience in different departments and working himself up to his current position.

Mike grew up in Orange, California and graduated from Mater Dei High School in Southern California. He is currently in college working on his MBA, taking courses in Business Law and Business Management. Along with his parents, Dianne and Doug, Mike grew up with two younger siblings. His 20-year old sister, Christine, is currently a Junior at Point Loma University in San Diego, and his brother Mark, 16, is a Junior at Villa Park High School, and on a quest for a perfect GPA. Michael’s beloved Golden Retriever, Rusty, has been a part of the family for 15 years and is still going strong.

Michael is in a relationship with a fellow ADVANCED ACCESS employee, Vanessa Holguin. Mike and Vanessa met here at the company in 2000, when she started with ADVANCED ACCESS just a few months after he did. They started dating about eighteen months ago, and Michael enjoys her company, saying, “Vanessa is a beautiful and wonderful person and is always up for trying something new and exciting.”

Before he started with ADVANCED ACCESS, Michael was in the mortgage business, and during his time here, he left the company briefly so he could focus on his education. Michael enjoys his work here at ADVANCED ACCESS, he states “… because of the great atmosphere, the level of service it provides, and that I can feel good about the product we provide. Through the years I have been with the company I have done many things, starting off back in 2000 making changes to all the clients’ sites when the changes had to be done by hand, before there were even Starter Sites! I also designed some of the custom sites that we put together for the clients who upgraded to the “SmartSite”. After that I went into Customer Support in an administrative capacity, helping the Customer Service Director ensure our Customer Service departments were operating at the level that has come to be expected by ADVANCED ACCESS. Now I am personally helping our clients by contacting them and advising them of how to optimize their site as a Website Analyst.”

Aron Spegon, Director of Customer Service, and Michael’s Supervisor, enjoys working with Michael. Aron says, “Michael is a breath of fresh air. Along with being extremely knowledgeable at his job, he has a remarkable ability to constantly keep the work environment unique and entertaining for anyone who has the pleasure of being around him."

When Michael is away from the office he enjoys active pursuits such as snowboarding, paintballing, off-road motorcycle riding (which Vanessa encouraged him to get involved in,) and playing tennis. He also enjoys going to a card room and winning some money at poker, and getting out of town and going somewhere new.

Michael makes a difference here at ADVANCED ACCESS, and we are honored to have him on our team.

ADVANCED ACCESS Staff Birth Announcements

The ADVANCED ACCESS extended family of employees is proud and excited to announce two recent additions to staff here at our offices in Southern California.

Assistant Director of Customer Support Scott Jarvis and former ADVANCED ACCESS employee Jennifer Jarvis (Davis) also were blessed with the addition of Serenity Lynn Jarvis to their family. Serenity entered the world on February 2nd, 2006 at 19 ½ inches, and weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. She was born at 10:00 p.m. also at St. Jude Medical Center in nearby Fullerton, and joins her older sister Alexis, who is 4-years-old.

Level II Representative Westin Shafer and Nicole Carusa also of our Customer Support team welcomed their son, Julian Antonio Shafer, on February 18th, 2006 at 1:29 a.m., in Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in nearby Newport Beach, California.

On the Lighter Side
From Reader’s Digest “As Kids See It”

When my son was learning to read, he read everything he could: books, newspapers, signs, billboards -- anything. One day at the beach, he asked me why anyone would want to put him in a garbage can. Surprised, I asked why he thought someone might. "There’s a sign by the lifeguard that says I shouldn’t let anyone put me in the garbage." Sure enough, listed there in the beach rules was one stipulating, "Refuse to be put in garbage can."
--Barb Shannon

February 2006 | Back to Main Page | April 2006