Ten Tips to Ramp Up Your Realtor Tech Skills...Fasten your Seat Belts, here we go!
1. Download the Dummies Books on any given subject. My Kindle Book looks like a sea of yellow Dummies Books. I have Dummies for Mac, iPAD, iPHONE, Blogging, SEO, Microsoft Products, Windows7 and that's only a few. Anything I need to learn that is technology related, I scoot over and download it on my Kindle and read away even before the device, gadget or product arrives.
2. Check in to Video Learning. I am currently using VTC.com as an online subscription service. I can access thousands of online training sessions for any product imaginable. The technology changes so fast that my original action plan of buying the CD's for reference no longer works. It costs a couple hundred dollars a year for endless programs and lessons. I am going to do Outlook 2010, Mac Computing, Excel and the Google Series next on VTC.com.
3. Hire a Kid. For me, it has been my Nephew and Niece and Client's Kids and even Clients. I make a list of what I need to learn and keep the list so that when I have the appointment for the Kid to work at my side, I roll through the list and then start whatever project of the day I need accomplished. Yes, the Kid then gets to tell me what to do!
4. This one is Heaven on Earth. I just bought a new MAC. Me, a Veteran PC User of several decades. So what did I do first? Inhale Mac for Dummies and use my three year Apple Support Plan devilishly. I make a list of questions on Evernote in my iPAD. That way the questions are on all my devices. I load up a list of questions and instead of asking the KID, I ask Apple. The Support is fabulous. If they do not know the answer, they go get the answer or divert you to the department that will. In my first month of Apple, I think I have called in 3-4 times with big HUGE lists.
5. Take Tech Classes. I go and I take notes. I liked the CRS Technology Class and the Google Academy Class and any Webinar from the Vendors you use regularly in your Business. I have taken Real Bird and Tour Factory webinars and the list goes on and on. You can even Google and check out videos on a subject. Or take Webinars from Coaches that train on subjects for Realtors.
6. Read Active Rain Tech Posts. They are phenomenal. You can get a daily diet of quick Reader's Digest Version tips on all products and tools. I have written a whole series on Day 1 thereon on how to get started on an iPAD . I also did a few days on a Mac because that is about all it took after knowing the iPAD and iPHONE. There was zero learning curve on going from the iPAD to the iPHONE. Give yourself a month of part time attention to learning the Mac and you will have that under wraps after doing the heavy lifting on the iPAD learning curve first.
7. Make it a Priority. It's the Crossword Puzzle of my Life. Use it or Lose it is how I see it. I exercise my brain this way so it does not get drained. Plus I clearly understand the following:
The average Real Estate Agent per NAR Stats is in their fifties. The average homebuyer is in their thirties. They speak this tech language. It is my responsibility to speak their language, too. Or get kicked to the curb for someone who does.
8. If all that does not work for you, subscribe to my posts. My goal every day is to write a post about what I learned that day and frequently it is a Realtor Tech Tool Tip from the Field that I am sharing with you to save you the time, energy, heartache and frustration.
9. That brings up another good point. Set up Google Reader and subscribe to tech posts. Put someone like Craig Daniels in your RSS feed. Make it a simple project to learn a little every day.
10. Remember that quote about when you want to learn something the Teacher will appear. Feel the Fear and do it anyway. Then get on Tech Lines and sort the mess out. In my turf, the Maryland Association of Realtors even has a Tech Help Hotline for Realtors that is FANTASTIC.
11. Here's an extra one for good measure. Have a few techie friends. They can bail you out in a heartbeat when all else fails. At RE/MAX we have Mainstreet with classes wired in a Roku or Laptop so we have lots of accessible friends. Plus I share so many tips that I am not the least bit afraid to pick up the phone and call you and ask how to do this or that. Thanks Janie, Fred, Cindy, Renee and the list goes on and on.
Ten Tips to Ramp Up Your Realtor Tech Skills...that's the DRILL now go ahead, make it a Tech Challenge THRILL!
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