Every Realtor Should Be Using Live Video

There are several industries that perform well on live video, but one that we see that is truly missing the opportunity are realtors that are scared to hit the start broadcast button. Realtors have an opportunity to use free apps like Periscope and Facebook Live to show properties to people that may not even be in the market to buy, but fall in love with what they are showing via the live stream.

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Here are 4 quick uses of live video for those in the real estate industry:

  1. Home Tour – People love looking at the inside of homes even if they are not shopping for a home. On a broadcast that allows you to have a global reach, your buyer can now be anywhere in the world.
  2. Provide a Neighborhood Tour – One of the deciding factors for a home buyer is what does the area around the home look like. They want to get a sense if the area is kid friendly, pet friendly, or even just safe for them to take an evening walk. This is something that can easily be shown.
  3. Conducting Client Interviews– It’s always great to share the comments of your happy customers. These testimonials go along way because it is not just you bragging about your good work. It is now someone else giving you an endorsement.
  4. Discuss Trends in the Market – Sitting with other experts in the industry and chatting about what is trending showcases you as an expert. It also allows you to collaborate with another strong realtor. Building these relationships can prove to be very beneficial and it shows that you are staying up-to-date with your area of expertise.

If you are a realtor in the Alpharetta, Georgia area, we have the perfect training for you! Come learn how to be a social media rock star on July 25th. We will show you how to strategically leverage Facebook, Twitter, Periscope, and Pintrest to grow your pool of leads. And, as a free gift we will perform a complimentary social media audit on your current use of social media. There are only 10 slots available. Sign up today! Click here to go to our sign up page!

UPDATE: Next workshop is on Aug 22nd.  There are 2 time slots available. See you there!

4 Reasons Why the Pokèmon Go Craze is GREAT for Entrepreneurs 

People have been found playing PokemonGo in the delivery room.

App developers around the world are sure to be in awe of the Pokèmon Go craze that has excited people around the globe. No one could have predicted the volume of interest in a gaming app even if they had the best predictive data of all time. The game has nostalgia, challenge, and a little bit of new technology all rolled in to one. This seems to be a winning combination!Here are some recent facts about the game:

  1. Initial release date was July 6, 2016.
  2. The game was developed between a partnership with Nintendo and Niantic.
  3. Nintendo has sold more than 277 million Pokémon games to date, over 21.5 billion trading cards in ten languages, and made seventeen feature films over the past two decades.
  4. Pokèmon actually means Pocket Monster.
  5. In less than a week after its release, Pokémon GO is reportedly bigger than Tinder in the US.
  6. According to SimilarWeb the Usage Time of Pokémon GO is taking up a lot of its user’s time. On July 8th, the app was being used an average of 43 minutes, 23 seconds a day. This is higher than other popular apps like Whatsapp, Instagram, Snapchat, and Messenger.
  7. In less than a week, Pokèmon Go has had 6 million mentions on Twitter. (Adweek)
  8. According to Spreadfast, the most popular cities for the game are Culver City, Calif.; Houston; Chicago; San Antonio; and Manhattan were the buzziest locations, according to the company.
  9. Several brands have been caught tweeting about the game. Check out tweets from Southwest Airlines, KFC France, Sprint, Walmart captured in the article from Adweek.
  10. Nintendo has sold more than 277 million Pokemon games to date, over 21.5 billion trading cards in 10 languages, and made 17 feature films over the last 20 years. Time will tell how Pokemon Go matches up to those numbers. (Pocket-Lint)

If you are confused on how to play and the terminology being used, Pocket-Lint has the best write up I have seen to date. Spend a few minutes here to get a better understanding.

If you are an entrepreneur, here is why you should pay attention to this phenomenon:

  1. Follow The Eyeballs – As Gary Vaynerchuck says, you have to figure out how to Day Trade Attention and at this moment, the world is paying attention to this game at the moment. This is one of the best news jacking opportunities that a business owner can jump on at the moment. Remember to add the hashtag #PokèmonGo to your post.
  2. Promote!  Promote! Promote! – You can create a promotion around the Pokèmon brand and get awesome reach without having to pay to boost your post. Many are advertising the fact that they have a Pokèmon stop near their business.  The discounts that they are giving to patrons are extremely creative and a lot of fun. This type of promotion is a great way to introduce yourself to a new audience.
  3. Market Research – The Pokèmon craze gives you a sense of what those around the globe are finding interesting.  Game play, nostalgia, mobile, getting outside, learning about a variety of landmarks, and the list could go on and on. Take note of how you could apply this to your business. Do you have an app that you are creating? Can you incorporate some of these elements in to your app? Can you add some sort of game play to a promotion that you are running? Now is the time to think out of the box and capitalize on this new platform that is only going to grow.
  4. Stand Out From The Crowd – Pokèmon Go is one of the first virtual reality mobile games that have been successfully created. This is the first of many more to come. To date, we are already seeing some copy cat apps trying to ride the wave. If you feel something in your gut, go for it.  Pokèmon Go actually started from employees at Google working on their side project.  Ultimately, Google decided to let them go because they thought that it would be better for the growth of their company to be a stand alone.  As they say, the rest is history.

Pokèmon Go is actually celebrating 20 years.  Be sure that you check out their celebratory website and post your favorite memories from Pokèmon over the years using the hashtag #Pokemon20.

Take a look at this video from The Verge that will really take you back through the Pokemon history.

The High Museum of Atlanta Presents The Rise of Sneaker Culture

The High Museum Of Art Atlanta has a very creatively displayed 155 sneakers that have origins dating back to the mid-nineteenth century. This exhibition is a ‘Sneakerheads’ heaven. The shoes are displayed with descriptions and years of the time that they were created.


What is most interesting to do while at the exhibit is to watch someone reflect back on a pair of shoes they see that they may own, what they were wearing with the shoes, and even such memories as how they used a toothbrush to keep the shoes clean.

Sneakers have been a part of the hip hop culture for quite sometime. Many feel that when they select a sneaker to wear, they are making a statement as they round out their outfit with a nice pair of “Kicks.” RUN DMC made a statement that led to one of the first marketing collaboration with their 1986 hit My Adidas. 

This basically boils down to a very successful influencer marketing strategy that still works today. Here is how to story goes of how the partnership came to be:

Setting the scene – Adidas was not a very popular brand among kids in the early ’80s. At the time,  Fila and Reebok were bigger. But, this song made it the apparel of choice. RUN DMC had the good fortune of being managed by Russell Simmons and in early 1987 when this song became a crowd favorite, he arranged for executives from Adidas to attend a show. Before performing this song, DMC (Darryl McDaniels) asked the crowd to “show us your Adidas,” and about 3,000 audience members lifted their sneakers for display. Extremely impressed, the Adidas executives signed a $1.6 million deal with Run-D.M.C. and created their own line of laceless footwear.

To this day, RUN DMC still makes money off of this deal. And, they have opened the door for so many that have come behind them.

Michael Jordan’s story is also an interesting one when it came to the elevation of the Air Jordan and the relationship with Nike that almost did not happen. This Bleacher Report video shows that Jordan’s mom had to make him go speak with Phil Knight and the team at Nike in Oregan. Remember, in 1984 Nike was basically a start up, entrepreneurial company. What ultimately sold Jordan on the idea to go with Nike was their ability to creatively think outside of the box in how they would portray the brand.

Marquis Henderson enjoying the exhibit

This exhibition originated at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto, Canada. You can see from their site and the images below that they have a passion for all types of shoes.


The High Museum is of coarse more then any one installation. From the art lab for kids to the interactive installations on the Carroll Slater Sifly Piazza, this is an excellent destination for families, couples on date, or simply someone who wants to take it in on their own.

Sage having fun in the Art Lab

The Business Take-A-Ways:

  1. Find brands that you can parter with in an arrangement that is mutually beneficial.
  2. Track your data. Brands want to see the numbers behind any influencer strategy that they may consider. Remember, it’s more important to garner engagement as opposed to numbers that you can not move to action.
  3. Like Jordan, don’t be afraid to push the limits of creativity to stand out from the crowd.
  4. Find ways to blend your story in to the narrative of culture. This technique will make your product or service part of the conversation for a lifetime.
  5. It’s ok to go with the underdog when trying to partner with a brand. You never know where that journey may take you.

The Rise of Sneaker Culture is on view through August 14th.

The BET Award Show was LIT!

From the moment the 2016 BET Awards show opened with Beyonce to the after party where DJ Khaled released his new video, this awards show will be remembered as one of the best productions that BET has produced in many years. Even with all of the fun that was being had during the entire awards show experience, the bottom line is that this show was about business and each of the artists and actors that were on the show used the global platform to promote the projects that they had coming next.

We will explore The BET Award show from the business aspect.

The PreShow

Typically, you see newer acts perform during the preshow.  Acts that perform here are trying to break from being considered a newbie. So, although you have an act signed by Puff Daddy, they still have to work their way on to the main show. Diddy understands promotion and marketing on a level that many have been educated in marketing still do not get to this day. His act performed, he made an appearance in the audience, and he shared it out in social media.

The lesson for entrepreneurs here is not to be afraid to use a testing ground before you hit a ‘MAIN’ stage.  This will allow you to do some preliminary research before you release to the masses. But, when you do testing like this, its best to bring your A Game.  Testing out your B Game is a complete waste of time.

The Opening

 

Beyonce has not graced a BET Awards Show stage in many years, but this year she used her presence to the fullest. Sisters Chole and Halle Bailey, one of the first signees to Beyonce’s Parkwood Entertainment, were able to have a prime time for performing during the show.

The lesson here for your business is to always think about how you can negotiate to the benefit of your business. BET is going to benefit heavily for at least the rest of the year from Beyonce’s performance. So, in return, she has the right to also gain a little extra for her time to prepare and perform on the show. The searches that their website will get, the buzz that is created because of her performance, the boost to the BET brand is all things that Beyonce can bring to the table and deliver on.

What you have to do is to understand what you are bringing to the table to use as leverage as you negotiate for your business?

The After Show

DJ Khaled, who has a highly engaged Snapchat following, was allowed to perform at the PreShow and also promote the fact that he was releasing his new video that features JayZ and Future. What you have to remember is that DJ Khaled is a DJ, not a rapper, but he has a HUGE rap album with a mega collaboration being released.

There is a lot of business behind this act from numerous directions. The first element is that DJ Khaled can now be considered an influencer on Snapchat. The idea that he will be promoting the BET Awards show and the release of his new album on his Snapchat channel is a WIN for BET.

Secondly, DJ Khaled is touring with Beyonce on the Formation World Tour. JayZ looked at this as an AWESOME way to THANK DJ Khaled for stopping what he was doing to tour with his wife.  But, it really was a WIN-WIN-WIN for all involved.

Think about ways that you can collaborate with other business owners that can make for a mutually beneficial situation where everyone wins.  These collaborations have benefits that go beyond that of the actual act.

 

Perspectives: Women, Confidence, & Success

You might look at these 3 words and say where is she going with this article OR … you may look at these words and say that you know exactly how intertwined these words can be for women.

Question: Do you know how to exude confidence?

Over the past week, I have attended a number of women’s conferences and leadership events. And as you may expect, there are several common themes that I can pull out as jewels for women business owners.

First and foremost, as women we must learn how to boost our own confidence. In order to have a higher level of success, it is critical to take risk, raise your hand to be heard, and take on leadership roles. One thing that many of the keynote speakers noted was that you typically do not see men afraid to voice their opinions. It’s almost equivalent to Michael Jordan being scared to take shots. If MJ was scared to fail at taking some of the shots he did, he possibly would not have won all of the championship rings.

Growing up, many of us were taught that our looks do not matter…that what matters is on the inside. Unfortunately, we are in a society that makes its impression based off of how you look. I am not talking about perceived beauty, I am referencing the idea that you should do the best you can with what you have to present yourself appropriately for the role you seek. If you are seeking to work in the ‘corner office,’ than you need to ensure that you present yourself in a manner that those making that decision can visualize you in that role. Being well groomed can be done at any price point with a little effort. When you look good, you feel good!

Define what success means for you! When you take a look at women that have obtained an extraordinary level of success, you see a confidence that they have developed over their journey that can not be shaken. They walk with confidence, they dress with confidence, and the speak with confidence. They have also mapped out what success looks like to them. They have an end goal in mind and a plan to get to it. The major key here is that these women do not allow anyone to shake them away from their end goal.

Self doubt can be crippling! It can actually keep you from releasing your gift to the world. As women, we benefit from hearing the journey of other women. Be mindful of your circle friends. Ensure that these friends are the ones that will lift you up and constructively criticize you when necessary. Also, take the time to invest in yourself. Have you ever taken note of how you feel when you leave a conference and a dynamic woman speaker has just left the stage. There are times in your journey when you need to be around this additional knowledge so that you can grow to your next level. 

In all actuality, that same feeling that you get from attending an awesome conference is one that you can give to other women by sharing your story and living in your purpose. You simply have to have the confidence to do it!

Spot The Story

As an advocate of your brand (be it corporate, entrepreneurial, or personal) you have to be able to spot stories that are around you. This skill may not come naturally, but you can train yourself to do it.

First understand that something in your average day may not be so average to someone else. Your shopping mall may look interesting to someone else in a different part of the world, your meal preparation techniques may be different then someone in your own neighborhood, someone may have no idea how you do what you do in your business. Each of these activities are stories that go behind the curtain (so to speak).

Spotting even the most basic story may lead to a viral push for your brand or message. Consumers are now more drawn to the story of people than a logo. Once the authentic nature of your brands story is told, then you will begin to attract an audience to you that remains loyal to your brand.
Everyone has a story….

So often we hear the complaint that I don’t have anything to share. My answer to that complaint is simply, “YES, everyone has a story and many of us tend to pass by all of the stories that are right at your fingertips.” Start with sharing your journey. How did you get to the point that you are at today. Better yet, WHY are you at the point that you are at today? When you share your WHY, you will be surprised how the right people gravitate towards you.

The obstacles that you faced and the lessons that you learned from those obstacles are all great sources for content. This is content that may find someone stuck in their journey and really help them through a tough spot.

Also, consider sharing the real benefit from what your product or service will offer along with what problem it actually solves. This will require true authenticity on why someone would need to purchase your product or service if you can clearly state what “problem” you are solving.

Additional ideas on creating content around your brand….

1. Look at sharing your milestones (i.e., your business anniversary, your birthday, a move to a new building)

2. Check the trending list on Facebook and Twitter. These list can give you an idea of what the “majority” of people are interested in. Figure out ways that you can tie in your story to stories that already have a bit of virality.

3. Share info about the people in your organization. This is a win all the way around. People love recognition and the people outside of your organization will love to learn who makes your organization tick.

The Business of Beyoncé

It seems as though Beyoncé is on top of the world at the moment. She has managed to take a very private situation between her and her husband all the way to the bank. As the saying goes…she has turned lemons into lemonade.

Let me start by stating that I am a HUGE Beyoncé fan. My bias tends to swing in her favor (admittedly).

What I do want to share in this post is the business take-a-ways that we can all learn from and apply to our businesses immediately.

TOP QUALITY PRODUCT 

Before you take anything to market, you have to make sure your ducks are in order. Meaning, you have researched, tested, and reviewed each and every aspect about what you are about to share with the world. You may notice that Beyoncé releases her albums when and how she wants to. This creative control makes it easier for her to live with the success or failure of what she puts out.

Now, I want to relate this to our organizations.

There are times that I have seen entrepreneurs put out their product or service still needing work on the back end. For example, you have your product images, but you do not have a way for people to place their order. Or, you do not have any good images at all and you are simply hoping for someone to support you. It’s not about perfection, but it should be as close to perfect as you can get it.

UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE

One thing that Beyoncé knows is her audience. She understands what her audience will and will not withstand from her brand. This is the reason that she can now release a song or an album in the middle of the night and it still break records. This is also why she can put her work exclusively on Tidal for a period of time and still eventually break records. Lemonade was released on February 6, 2016 with a limited release strategy. In true genius fashion, Beyoncé used her Super Bowl time to not only make a statement, but she also announced her tour dates.

The BeyHive (as Beyoncé’s community is affectionately called) has become true brand ambassadors for Beyoncé and anything that she puts out. This is the true benefit of developing a community. Now, we are not all Beyoncé. We can not sparsely attend to our communities and think that they are going to gain any sense of loyalty to us.

Pay attention to what your community wants from you and what you want from your community. Add value to your community and it will add value right back to you.

EXECUTION

Many of us have a variety of ideas for how we would like to follow our passion and make a living. The problem is that we do not take the time necessary to bring thes ideas to life. The difference between success and remaining average is in the details of the execution.

Set goals and build a strategy of execution towards those goals. When you set measurable goals, it is much easier to line up what you need to do to get to your desired outcome.

If Beyoncé has time in her day to execute a new album, the videos, a clothing line, and a global tour, we should also be willing to put in the work necessary to bring our ideas to fruition. Beyoncé does have a team that many of us are not fortunate enough to have at the moment. But, from her interviews over the years, it’s easy to see that she has a specific routine for buckling down when it’s time to focus. The lesson here is to have laser focus when it comes to executing your ideas.

The best results come from when you are able to tune out the clutter. If you are spending hours on Facebook when you need to be focusing on your business, then it may be time to make some changes in your daily schedule. This all depends on the level of growth you desire. Focus in on what it will take to reach your goals, develop a strategy, and implement flawlessly.

THE NUMBERS 

Ivy Park – Launched on April 14, 2016 and will be sold in North America in Top Shop, Nordstrom, and Hudson Bay. With items ranging from $50.00 to $265.00, Mashable reports that this is the most popular fashion brand on Instagram in terms of engagement before it even launched. The video used to launch the brand ask the question, ‘Where is your park?’

Lemonade – Beyoncé’s latest work sold approximately 200K on the first day. When it is all said and done, the album priced higher then most at 17.99, is expected to sale upwards of 600K albums. 

The Formation World Tour – The tour kicked off on April 27, 2016 in Miami. Originally slated for 41 shows, Beyoncé was set to make close to 50 million dollars. Now, with the add on of the additional shows the estimated amount that Beyoncé will bring home from the concert alone could reach 75 million.


MIAMI, FLORIDA – APRIL 27: In this handout photo provided by Parkwood Entertainment, Beyonce performs during the opening night of the Formation World Tour at Marlins Park on April 27, 2016 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Parkwood Entertainment via Getty Images)

WTRMLN WTR – 10 days after Lemonade, Beyoncé announced that she was an equity partner in a 3 year old startup that makes cold-pressed watermelon water. The water was featured in the Ivy Park launch video and is also sold at the venues that Formation performances are taking place in. So, Beyoncé is not only making money from the concert, she is making money from product sales. Can you say “cha-ching?”

In 2015, Bey brought home 54.5 million and in 2014 she sat on Forbes Celebrity Top 100 at 115 million.
 

 

 

 

Take-A-Ways From Attending DIGSOUTH

This was my first time attending the DIGSOUTH conference in Charleston, South Carolina.  I have attended many conferences and I have to say that this is now one of my favorites.  Because I was selected to live tweet some of the sessions, I have the perspective of an attendee and staff.

This is the 4th year of the DIGSOUTH Conference and on day one, the conference opened with upwards of 1500 people in attendance. The stage was beautifully designed and the music playing in the background always kept the atmosphere fun.

DIG Stage

POWER

The theme of the conference this year was POWER.  I saw the concept weaved in and I love the idea of the power that we all posses with the support of technology, collaboration, and innovation. This is a great time to be an entrepreneur.  At your fingertips, you now have access to the world.

The Venue: The Galliard Center

The Galliard Center is a new facility located in the heart of the historic district of Charleston. I was able to easily walk to King Street for lunch, catch a trolley that drove around the historic district, and find a nice hotel to stay that was within 2 miles of the venue.

The inside of the venue is what made the conference. From a ping pong table to rooms properly equipped for presentations, this venue was perfect for this style of conference.  The only negative was the fact that the sponsors that participated in the Trade Show were kind of tucked away from the main elements of the conference.  Because they were off the beaten path, many did not think to go visit the sponsor area.

As a side note, I was impressed with the number of sponsors that supported the conference. It may be worth considering to have a lot of small sponsors as opposed to going for just the bigger sponsors. As I put together conferences in the future, I now have a few ideas of how to add in some benefits to some sponsors that may not be able to shell out the big bucks.

Networking

Almost every person that I chatted with stated that they loved meeting the great people that are in #DIGNATION.  People were exchanging information in each of the sessions that I was in, at spaces in the hall ways, and sitting outside on the benches.  Those that attended this conference were a special group of start-ups, seasoned entrepreneurs, techies, e-gamers, and so much more.

Content

The comment that I heard most from attendees was, “I am now even more inspired to go after my dreams.” People left DIGSOUTH with information that they could apply to their businesses today.  Many of the speakers talked about situations that they really implemented on a limited budget. All of the speakers were approachable and willing to share everything that they experienced.

Top Business Take-A-Ways from DIGSOUTH

  1. It’s all about the story you tell about your brand that will encourage people to want to do business with you.
  2. Pay close attention to the e-Gaming industry. It sold out Madison Square Garden in 9 minutes.
  3. Don’t look at social media as a marketing tool, but as a medium to connect.
  4. Focus on the voice of your brand and post good content.
  5. 70% of social videos are watched without audio. – @Shonduras
  6. Humans’ attention span is now less than a goldfish.
  7. Innovation does not care about your feelings. -@GaryVee
  8. Don’t be afraid to use plain text emails. It’s a great way to stay out of the promotions tab on Gmail.
  9. If your demo is 30 and under spend 50% of your budget on Snapchat. -@GaryVee
  10. If pitching an investor, be sure to build necessary relationships first so they will be inclined to pay attention to your pitch.

Learn Community Building from Anita Wing Lee on March 29th

Community Building with Anita BLOGThe app Periscope has introduced the world to many AWESOME people and allowed them to share their gifts with humanity. Anita Wing Lee is one of those individuals that is using platforms such as Periscope to bring stories to the world that may not have gotten told in their purest form. Following her path as a light worker, she has managed to build a pretty amazing community.

Anita will be in Atlanta for one day to share her tips on what it takes to build a community that will support your initiatives. On March 29th, those of us in and around Atlanta will have the opportunity to learn from someone who has really accomplished what so many large brands struggle with currently.

You will learn:

  • Community Building
  • Storytelling
  • Tips to using visual cues
  • The beauty of delegating work to community members
  • And, so much more!

Note: This event is a fundraiser with all proceeds going to help Anita’s efforts in the refugee crisis. In an effort to keep the majority of her doantions going directly in to the camps, guest will have to purchase their own lunch. Valet parking is validated with the purchase of your lunch.

Entrepreneurs Think Tank Launches on Periscope

Entrepreneurs Think Tank BannerPeriscope has presented many benefits to those that take advantage of the power of live streaming. From humanitarian work to increasing profits, we now have the ability to take our efforts globally. Recently, the team at Selsi Enterprises was discussing how great it would be to bring entrepreneurs together on a regular basis to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly of entrepreneurship.

We presented the idea to Parachute TV on Periscope and a few months later, we got the green light to bring the show to life.  Our first show went great and the numbers were great for our first time on their channel. We had a quiet audience in the background, but hope to bring our audiences in to the discussion. The mission of the show is for entrepreneurs to help other entrepreneurs reach their full potential.

We did a lot to prepare for the show from checking the lighting to prepping the guest. We also did a little prepromotion for the show. Prepromotion is one of this most important task to do when launching an effort like this one.  Your followers may not realize what you have planned and may miss being there for the live broadcast.

I am not going to spoil the content that you are going to see in the video, but feel free to comment about additional information that you would have asked our guest. These seasoned entrepreneurs are open to sharing all that they have learned along the way.

Thank you to our friends at Sis and Moon’s for letting us come in to their space.  Follow Sis an Moon’s on all social media platforms from their website www.sisandmoons.com.