G R I Marketing Comm Technology - Presentation Transcript
Amy Smythe Harris
GRI Marketing – Communications technology
3 NOTE CARDS
WRITE DOWN YOUR FAVORITE TECH TOOL
WRITE DOWN ONE THING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN IN THE NEXT 2 DAYS
KEEP THE LAST ONE BLANK
PUT THE NOTES IN THE BUCKETS AS IT IS PASSED AROUND
GRI Marketing – Communications technology
Connectivity
Hardware devices and tools
Software
Computer security threats
Communicating in today’s world
E-mail capabilities
Learning objectives
Address issues of connectivity
Prioritize your technology dollars
Identify and be familiar with trends and resources for buying and using hardware and digital communications equipment
Evaluate your need for a smartphone
Create professional e-mails and maximize their effectiveness
Learn tips to communicate with clients
Does this feel like you?
Section 1: Connectivity-pg. 5 Your broker makes decisions at the franchise office, but most agents today work from home and need to make connectivity decisions there.
Dial-up Internet access-pg. 5
Inquire about the following features:
National numbers or an 800 number
Number of e-mail accounts
Restrictions on attachment size
Storage capacity
Extra charge to use your own domain name
Pricing for unlimited monthly use
DSL: Digital Subscriber Line-pg. 5
Uses existing telephone wiring
Much faster than dial-up
Costs have decreased substantially
Offers increased functionality and reliability
Availability depends on the distance of your location from the switching facility or the central office
Visit DSLreports.com for reviews or call the provider to ask questions
Cable Internet access-pg. 6
Another common form of high-speed Internet access; uses the same cable that provides TV service
Contact your local cable network to find out if they offer Internet services in your area
Speed can be 100 times faster than dial-up
Speed can be hindered by the number of subscribers accessing the system at any given time
Fiber to the home-pg. 6
Being rolled out in larger cities and integrated into new subdivisions
Has an enormous amount of capacity
More power, more services, more reliable
Check out bundles from providers in your area.
ISP criteria-pg. 6
Ask others in your area who they use.
Look at:
Reliability
Responsiveness
Network maintenance
Space for your POP account
Size limitations for attachments
Use of distribution lists
ISP criteria-pg. 6
Security
SPAM filters
Web hosting space options
Installation fee
Modem – do they provide one?
Research to make an educated decision.
Wireless-pg. 7
It give users more flexibility, convenience, and mobility.
It is relatively inexpensive because it requires only two pieces of hardware:
Wireless network card for your computer
Access point
How wireless (Wi-Fi) works-pg. 7
Wi-Fi stands Wireless Fidelity
It uses tiny waves that can pass through most solid objects; some objects, like bricks, can cause difficulty for waves in the 2.4 Ghz range
Wireless network standards-pg. 7
802.11a
operates at 5GHz with rates up to 54 mbps
incompatible with 802.11b hardware
802.11b
11 mbps
hardware is lower priced than 802.11a
802.11g
operates at 2.4 Mhz and 5 Mhz
802.11n
operates at 2.4 Mhz and 5 Mhz
uses multiple antennas for a clearer signal
Hot spots-pg. 8
Places where you can connect to a public wireless network
Widespread use of hot spots in coffee shops, bars and restaurants, airports, public libraries and college/university campuses
Use hot spot directories such as HotSpotList.com to find area hot spots
Section 2: Hardware devices and tools-pg. 8
Hardware review-pg. 8
Questions to ask:
What will I benefit from most?
What do I own that is most outdated?
What frustrates me when I use it?
Do I have something that already does this?
Will I really use this?
Can I learn to use it and adopt it into my routine?
Hardware review-pg. 9
Technology will eventually need to be replaced. Think of:
- cassette tapes
VHS tapes
DVDs
Blu-rays
You can still get a lot of functionality out of technology
Hardware review-pg. 9
Do your homework:
online resources
product reviews
store personnel
friends, family, or colleagues
Hardware decisions-pg. 9
Identify your needs
buy at the upper level of your budget
Research features and models before deciding on a manufacturer
Go out and look at the items – touch and feel; check retail prices
Go online to look for a better deal
Check into manufacturers warranties
Product review resources-pg. 9 & 10
CNET.com reviews all kinds of products
ComputerShopper.com
ConsumerReports.org
Networks-pg. 10
Some simple network terminology includes:
NIC
Cable
Modem
Hub
Switch
Router
Access point
Networks-pg. 10
Local area network – can be the network at your house with your computer, router, printer and laptop
Personal area network – often referred to as Bluetooth; a very small network where two devices communicate
you transmit a photo from your phone to your PC
you transmit a photo to your friend’s phone
Networks-pg. 11
Large networks:
CANs, MANs, WANs
Routers
Allows you to create a wireless network at your house; typical range is about 100 feet
Plugs into your modem and PC and transmits a signal so that your PC can access it (the signal) even when not plugged in directly
Hardware purchases-bottom of pg. 11
Group exercise
We’ll review some of the features to consider before you make a technology purchase. In groups, research your assigned hardware purchase online and present your findings to the class.
Remember – ask friends and colleagues, do research, check out online reviews, look at what you want to buy to see if you like it!
Laptops-pg. 11
Learn more about the following features:
Battery life
Type and speed of the processor and system memory
RAM – you want lots
Wireless capabilities and compatibility
Technical support and warranty
Laptops-pg. 11
Size and weight
Screen size
Keyboard and cursor controls
Docking station
Type and size of the display, storage and ports
Video memory
USB or SD Ports or slots
DVD-R/W
Printers-pg. 12
Consider the following:
Speed
Quality
Quantity and what types of materials you print most often (this may affect your decision regarding quality)
Faxing – most printers double as faxes
Scanning capabilities
Color printers require four ink cartridges
Scanners-pg. 12
Consider the following features:
Dimensions, shape and construction
How does the lid work?
Connection ports that support multiple operating systems
Document feeders
Color depth and optical resolution
Speed of scanning
Image quality
Digital cameras-pg. 13
You’ll want to explore:
Placement and easy-to-use buttons
Access to different settings
Viewfinder sharpness
Outside screen visibility
Battery life
Shutter lag
How quickly the lens functions
Recovery time
Digital cameras-pg. 14
For a more in-depth product review, consider additional features:
Resolution and lens type
The exposure modes
Wide angle lens
Flash
Video mode
Digital cameras-pg. 13
It’s a good idea to purchase an extra battery as back-up.
Don’t forget to charge it!
You can download photos from your camera to your PC with a USB attachment.
Battery life, zoom time, write speed will affect digital camera performance.
Disposing of e-waste-pg. 14
An average computer contains a lot of recyclable material:
40 percent steel
40 percent plastic
10 percent aluminum
10 others metals
Disposing of e-waste-pg. 14
Approximately 1.5 million computers are discarded in Texas every year; between 100,000 and 200,000 are recycled
Remove all the valuable data
Donate old computers or phones to shelters, churches, or emergency facilities
Don’t throw them out with the trash
Check into local recycling resources or venues
Where can you recycle in the area?
Section 3: Software-pg. 15 Use the tools you already have to your benefit!
Keyboard shortcuts-pg. 15
CTRL X
CTRL ALT TAB
CTRL P
ALT 0174 OR CTRL ALT R
SHIFT DELETE
Keyboard shortcuts-pg. 16
A list of keyboard shortcuts appears in your book for your reference
For Apple users, the Apple key can be used instead of the Ctrl key in the Windows environment for many commands
Example:
Windows – Ctrl X Cut
Mac – Apple X Cut
Excel templates-pg. 16 & 17
Check out Microsoft Excel templates
Personal use
Business use
Customer use – examples:
Mortgage amortization calculator
Home maintenance schedule
Adobe PDF-pg. 17
Get more out of PDF
Use the print selection to create a PDF
Once created, you can add, remove, or replace pages within a PDF document
Explore other features such as:
Watermark
Adding text fields
Password protection
Explore pdf995.com
Online Tutorials
Cnet.com offers great online computer classes.
Most software programs offer free online tutorials to learn how to use many programs.
Section 4: Computer security threats-pg. 19 Group Breakout- What computer viruses you have encountered & how fixed it – 5 minutes
Viruses and friends-pg. 19
Identity theft & online fraud are the fastest growing crimes in today’s world.
Viruses attach themselves to a legitimate program or file
Worms are self-replicating and can gobble up network resources
A Trojan horse masks as a useful program & is designed to steal passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information .
Viruses and friends-pg.19
Drive-by Downloads refers to the installation of any malware without user action or consent or knowledge
Worms, Drive-by Downloads and Trojan horse are all types of viruses .
Infections-pg. 19 & 20
Viruses can cause problems. In the tech world, the problems are called payloads.
They leave behind bots which repeatedly execute simple malicious tasks. A bot is short for robot and it is a piece of software that can be used for good or bad
The computer becomes a zombie in a botnet!
Infections-pg. 20
Keyloggers log your keystrokes with the intent of stealing your personal information and even opening up fraudulent accounts.
Rootkits attack your operating system.
Spyware may deploy keyloggers.
Adware tailors ads and pop-ups to your surfing habits or on particular Web sites.
Has anyone seen the IRS phishing e-mail?
Remedies-pg. 20 & 21
Buy a reputable security software
- Remember all that research and surveying you’ve been doing?
You’ll want:
A firewall
Anti-virus capabilities
Anti-spyware capabilities
Don’t forget to back-up!!!
Remedies-pg . 20 & 21
Set your PC to automatically download and install Windows updates and patches
Open attachments from trusted sources
Make sure you’re visiting reputable Web sites
If it gets bad, hire a professional
Section 5: Communicating in today’s world How do we communicate… let me count the ways.
RSS – really simple syndication- pg.21
Content that a Web site updates and publishes which visitors can subscribe to
If you’re the publisher, you create the content and push it out to others
If you’re a subscriber, the updated content is automatically pushed to you & can be read from your Favorites on the Internet toolbar
You’ll need an RSS reader or aggregator
Check out the RSS feed on TexasRealEstate.com
Podcasts-pg. 21 & 24
Listening to a free audio broadcast of informational content over the Web
Media files are automatically distributed to Web visitors
You can subscribe to podcasts or simply listen- you don’t need an IPOD to listen
Pop quiz-pg. 24
OMIK
STD
Does anyone know what these frequently-used text abbreviations stand for?
ADAD
PIR
Text messages-pg. 24
A good way to contact a client without interrupting him
Stores the information on the phone for retrieval later
Look up chat acronyms if you need to interact with younger generations
Use them on sign riders to provide information on a house and capture a potential customer’s phone number!
Smartphones-pg. 25
These phones offer a lot of functionality:
Access the Internet
Download e-mail and read attachments
Send IMs
Sync data with your PC
Use a GPS
Watch videos
Listen to MP3s
QWERTY keyboard
Let’s explore some of these features
QWERTY keyboard-Smartphones
The keyboard is key for heavy texting
Make sure it’s widely spaced
Look for tactile feedback
Some have backlights
Attachment support-Smartphone-25
All Smartphones include dedicated e-mail apps
Most let you review documents
Not all smartphones let you edit them; you can purchase an add-on to give you this functionality if your phone doesn’t have it
Organizer and Web access-25
Allows you to edit your contacts, calendar, tasks and memos
You can sync to your PC wirelessly or through a USB
You can set your PC and smartphone to automatically upload information to the other
Access any site using an HTML browser
GPS-pg. 26
This feature is built in to some phones, or can be added on
Typically take up lots of memory and potentially battery life because there’s constant communication with satellites to establish location points
Mapping software may become outdated and need to be updated
Smartphones OS-27
Smartphones have robust operating systems – easily handle all applications mentioned with the ability to add new ones.
OS include:
Palm
BlackBerry
Windows Mobile
Symbian
Add-ons-pg. 27
You can add on a variety of features to:
Edit Microsoft documents
Run seller proceeds
Forward calls to another number
Store PINs
Play games
Group exercise-pg. 28
In groups, research your assigned smartphone to learn about its features, capabilities, and cost.
Share your results with the class.
Points to ponder-pg. 28
How many text messages does your plan allow; does it charge for incoming texts?
What are the monthly fees for any add-on services, in addition to monthly phone charges?
Why do I need a Smartphone?
Do I need insurance
Can I use it to access lockboxes?
Do I really want to be this techy?
Section 6: E-mail effectiveness and efficiencies Email is one of the most powerful communication tools available.
E-mail client software
E-mail affords efficiencies that enhance the relationship with the customer.
It can alleviate phone tag
It creates a permanent record of what you said
It allows you to communicate the same message to many people
We will look at some typical features that are found in Outlook and most e-mail management software
E-mail host-pg. 29
The entity that provides your e-mail service; it may be your ISP
You will have a POP account
Consider the following:
Size restrictions and costs of additional space
Size limit for attachments
Ability to access e-mail from the Internet
Re-directing or forwarding your e-mail to another domain name
How many people you can add to districution list
Your business presence-pg 29
Your e-mail is your electronic business stationery.
It should:
Reflect you and your image
Be professional
Reinforce your brand
Adhere to NAR guidelines
Your domain name & email can be used as a marketing tool
Your business presence-pg.29
While free services are popular, they can have some limitations. They may:
Limit e-mail size or attachment sizes
Come with SPAM filters that eliminate legitimate e-mail
Contain their domain name, not yours
Conflict with your professional image
Omit previous correspondence when you reply to someone
Signatures -pg. 29
These can be automatically inserted at the bottom of any message
You can create multiple signatures and change them by right clicking your mouse and selecting another option
Many REALTORS include their contact info, designations, their picture, their Web site, and a slogan
Signatures-pg. 30
To create a signature in Outlook, from the toolbar menu, go to:
Tools > Options > Mail Format > Signatures
Features-pg. 30
Hyperlinks and attachments
Send consumers more info by including links
Out of office assistant
Use this when you’re out of the office, on vacation, or as a way to let people know you’ll follow up
You can create default messages and apply them to certain e-mails
Features
Folders
Organize your files
What method do you prefer?
Address book
Organize your contacts
Map their location
Distribution lists
Address book
Keep all pertinent information about your customers
Make a habit of setting up each new customer in your address book
Use the address book when sending your e-mails so you get it right
You can set up contacts on the left-hand side shortcut bar by clicking Contacts
Important e-mail Use when e-mail is important – but only when necessary.
Flag for follow-up
Clear flags
E-mail etiquette-31
Avoid the use of all capitals
Respond to e-mail promptly
Always use spell check
Always proofread before you send
Always type in a subject in the subject line and make it relevant to the content
E-mail etiquette -32
Realize e-mail can be forwarded; make sure you’re ok with what you’ve said, in the event it’s sent to someone else
Avoid sending large attachments
Cool your emotions
File e-mails or create a system to help you stay organized
Minimize the e-mail string
Always use a signature
E-mail Software
Is an important business decision
Should comply with NAR guidelines
Is your electronic business presence
Spam-32
The CAN-SPAM Act sets standards for e-mail marketers
Because of the way it’s set up, some legitimate e-mail may accidentally be deposited into your spam folder
Be careful when using the remove feature from an e-mail when you don’t know the source; some spammers use this to verify your e-mail address
Filters
Header filters
- E-mail headers contain the recipient, sender, subject, and the servers used to deliver the message
- Scan the header, but spammers may add false information to prevent being tracked
Content filters
Scan e-mail text and compare it against junk mail text
Permission filters
Block unauthorized e-mail
Show and tell
What’s your favorite device? Be prepared to discuss:
Pricing, terms and warranty
How you use the device and how it has helped you
Compromises or upgrades that you made
What features you recommend and use
What features are not up to your expectations
Advantages and disadvantages
Why you selected the manufacturer
What you would do differently
Goal of Technology
Is to help you:
Effectively utilize the tools at your disposal to better market yourself and save time
Help you think about the tools your really need for your business
To make you aware of the types of things to consider before making a technology purchases and how you can research products online.
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