February 2008 - Posts

Need Law for Public Restrooms
27 February 08 10:00 PM | dickbetts | 3 comment(s)

I want to air a major complaint about public restrooms!  I understand the concept of air dryers replacing paper towels to save our planet, BUT their should be a law that states, if you do not provide towels to open the door, the door MUST be able to be pushed open and not pulled.

I can't count the number of times I see people coming out of stalls or standing then go directly out the door just grabbing the door knob.  Meanwhile I am washing my hands then trying to figure out how to open the door without touching it.

Please don't tell me to carry napkins or rubber gloves, I am a man who can barely remember my head let alone a tissue to use when I visit a restroom.

Please don't tell me use TP either, there is nothing thinner in this world then public restroom TP, and I really don't want to go in there anyway.

So please everybody write their congress people and let's start a gound swell movement, gee maybe a poor choice of words, RESTROOM DOORS MUST OPEN OUT!

*** Betts, the fed up National Real Estate Speaker who hates using public restrooms that the door opens in!

***@DickBetts.com

www.DickBetts.com

Expect a War Between Cell Carriers
24 February 08 06:53 PM | dickbetts | 1 comment(s)

I predict good things will be coming our way shortly with our cell carriers.  Not long ago Sprint named Dan Hesse as CEO, he has already helped us with both competition and pricing.  Mr Hesse was the CEO with AT&T for 23 years and pushed the industry to package roaming charges into a set fee (our phone bill as we know it today) and he started free evenings and weekends which rest of the industry reluctantly followed.

I look for him to start a price war which will include packaging all services into a neat unlimited bundle.  Some of you might already heard about packaging all services together for a set price.  For the first time in the industry we will be able to compare apples to apples instead of low balling one service then over charging for others.

Yes I know many of you are unhappy with your carrier and customer service, but if we opened this up to be a complaint department about carriers we would overload AR, so let's not!  Instead let's all beware that the industry will be changing and the battles will be bloody for them and we will benefit in the end.

*** Betts

Technology Speaker to the Real Estate Industry

National Real Estate Speaker

www.DickBetts.com

Setting up email on Smartphones
24 February 08 12:54 PM | dickbetts | with no comments
My friend Angela Chan took my classes in Nanuet, NY and spent too much of her life working on setting up her email.  She asked that I share this information somewhere to help agents setting up their email.  So here it goes.  I will post this on my website soon so help others out you know that are pulling their hair out!

Setting up email

Setting up email

Phone Purchased through Verizon

Phone Purchased through Sprint

and using a personal email address

First you must have an email address that is

isp is optonline

Set up with Sprint.  You can not put your

 

Personal email address in there, it won’t work

 

 

In this example the personal email address

In this example the personal email address

is through godaddy

is through godaddy

 

 

New: Account Name Go Daddy

New: Account Name Go Daddy

Mail Service: Other

Mail Service: Other

Protocol: POP

Protocol: POP

Tap Next

Tap Next

 

 

Username: someone@someone.com

Username: someone@someone.com

Password: Insert your password

Password: Insert your password

Tap Next

Tap Next

email address

email address

someone@someone.com

someone@someone.com

 

 

Incoming Mail Server

Incoming Mail Server

pop.secureserver.net

pop.secureserver.net

 

 

Outgoing Mail Server

Outgoing Mail Server

mail.optonline.net

smtp.printpcs.com

Tap Next

Tap Next

Tap Advanced

Tap Advanced

 

 

You'll now see:

You'll now see:

Port - type in  110

Port 110

Use Secure Connection (SSL) leave unchecked

Use Secure Connection (SSL) leave unchecked

use Authentication (APOP) leave unchecked

use Authentication (APOP) leave unchecked

Tap Next

Tap Next

 

 

You'll now see:

You'll now see:

Port - type in 25

Port 25

check use authentication (ESMTP)

check use authentication (ESMTP)

 

 

username:

username:

someone@optonline.net

someone@sprintpcs.com

password: type in the password created when

password is the one sprint gave me: type in your password

you set up your account with your isp

Tap Done

 

Tap Done

 

 

Go Back to your main screen on your pda

Go Back to your main screen on your pda

Tap the envelope icon

Tap the envelope icon

Tap Get

Tap Get

Your email should pop right in.

Your email should pop right in.

Stop Giving Away Your Commissions!
24 February 08 10:22 AM | dickbetts | with no comments

I keep reading blogs and hearing in my classes about the number of companies (people) who want to get a piece of your commission.  My wife the REALTOR gets mail and email almost daily from somebody offering her a deal she just can't refuse!  Guys just stop it!  Take a look around you as times tighten up on how you can save money and prepare yourself if things don't recover as quick as we would like!  From companies wanting you to pay $40 a month to keep your contacts and calendar to the crazy amount of money people are paying for web presence, JUST STOP IT!

This company will blog for you, over here we have a lead company, oh how about getting you number one in Google, folks just say NO.

I teach and believe REALTOR's need to stop giving away their commissions to companies that will not deliver what they say they will and roll up your sleeves and work smarter.

I recently picked up a new coaching client who was spending $90 a month for in her words a "Suckie site", currently we are building a kick a** site for $10 a month.  Her opening email to me "you are awesome, and seem to be frugally minded (I don't know if frugally is a word?), so I believe this is a good value and I trust what you say".  I am sure she will be happy.

So guys take a look at where your money is going and who is promoting the "greatest thing since sliced bread" and be sure it's a service you can live without!

*** Betts

www.DickBetts.com

National Speaker Real Estate

Technology Tour
23 February 08 10:28 AM | dickbetts | 2 comment(s)

I have been on a run of giving my "Newest, Latest, Greatest Technology Out There" classes and e-PRO Workshops and my I am learning so much.  These classes are turning into forums with agents telling the room things they are doing to help them market themselves and their business.  The exchange of information is free flowing and while somebody in the class is giving what they do I watch as most of the room quickly take notes.

My point even though your competitors you are willing to share what works for you with others.  Maybe it's working because the room has other folks who have taken the time to come learn so it's a more select group.

So I want to extend my thanks to those of you that have attended and made my classes I feel more worthwhile by helping me teach.  Maybe I should share my pay with you, second thought, never-mind!

 *** Betts

National Speaker Real Estate

National Real Estate Speaker

www.DickBetts.com
Guess you guys that attended my class know what I am doing with signature

The Power of the Blog!
17 February 08 10:29 AM | dickbetts | with no comments

I was speaking in Nesbit, MS this past week and Wednesday morning as I was setting up I checked my email.  I had an email from The News Journal in Wilmington, Delaware business reporter.  Here is part of the email "I'm putting together a story on the use of text messaging in real estate, and saw a recent blog you did on the subject. Would you be available for a quick telephone interview sometime today?"

The power of blogging hit home AGAIN!  Now I live in Arkansas have no connections to Delaware and out of the blue here comes this request.  It was not a good day for me to speak with The News Journal so I turned it over to my Business Manager/Wife/REALTOR/Speaker/e-PRO Trainer and she called the reporter.  They did an interview and the next day they story was published with her getting  the following tag "Shelby Betts, an Arkansas based REALTOR who teaches agents high tech tips"

You can buy national exposure or you can be found like we were which of course leads to business and what cost?  Writing a blog every couple of days about the business.

If you would like to read the article here's a link;

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/BUSINESS/802150324/1003

I have posted on my website information about texting and the REALTOR, check it out;

http://www.dickbetts.com/tipstricks/palmos.html

*** Betts

National Speaker to the Real Estate Industry

http://www.dickbetts.com/

What a great day in Reno!
09 February 08 01:20 AM | dickbetts | with no comments

It was so great making my 4th or 5th trip to Reno!  so many faces in the room I have seen at each of my visits to this fine city.  The room was full with more then 80 attendees and we had a blast.  Every time I see Reno on my calendar i know I am for a good time as the folks there are so eager to learn all they can. 

I don't know about you the attendees but when I saw 4:00 I could not believe we had burned from 8:30 in the morning to closing down the class for the day.  I had so many "Warm and Fuzzies" from many of you as you told me on break and lunch how I have changed the way you do business.  I will be back and maybe in the area soon so watch my website and hope to see ya'll real soon!

 *** Betts

National Speaker to the Real Estate Industry

My First Hire from Blogging
06 February 08 02:22 PM | dickbetts | 2 comment(s)

Recently out of the clear blue I was contacted by a title company in Waco, TX interested in hiring me for a full day training they were offering local agents.  The lead hit the normal channels in my office with Shelby doing the follow up and finding out what they wanted from us.  We decided on a class schedule of;

"Everywhere is my Office"

"Newest, Latest, Greatest Technology Out There"

"Fundamentals of PDA's and Smartphones"

They sent there check for the deposit and we worked out all the details and piggy backed them on a trip I had to Plano to save them money on travel.  The whole time I assumed they were referred to me by the local Association which I worked at in April of 2006, or somebody local had attended my training and recommended me.  Derrick Rosas with Home Abstract was our host and invited me to dinner when I hit town.  So in conversation he told me he had found me on my blog site!  My jaw hit the table, with me speaking about 185 days a year I just figured there was another reason they called me.

 Part of the classes that day we cover Blogging, guess Blogging got it's money's worth that day.

 *** Betts

National Speaker to the Real Estate Industry

Extra Help with Smartphones and Technology
03 February 08 05:02 PM | dickbetts | 1 comment(s)

EXTRA HELP?!?!

Still frustrated with your Smartphone?

Is technology making you pull your hair out?

Let us know!

We get questions on a daily basis from people needing help or advice; a majority of these are simple to answer and we are willing to respond with a quick answer or a point in the right direction.  There is a handful though that require more - they have a problem with a software program or issues with synchronizing their new Smartphone or Palm device.  We have even had requests for private coaching sessions for blogging, business planning/goal setting, building a website, training for third level domain marketing....the list goes on!  Well,

YOU ASKED FOR IT, YOU GOT IT!

  We have decided to start our own Geek Squad training service.  Similar to what is offered when you call Best Buy for their geeks; we will work with you on an hourly basis to help you with your technology woes.  Dependant upon your particular issue or coaching request we will quote you a "per project price". 

Send us an email with complete details of your needs/project; one of us will be in contact to work with you.

Shelby and I will review your needs and decide which of us are best suited to help you.  For more information please check out our website www.DickBetts.com and the courses we currently offer to see areas we can help you.

*** Betts

National Speaker Real Estate

Collin County and Waco, Thanks
02 February 08 06:19 PM | dickbetts | with no comments

Collin County what a great time I had this week visiting with new friends in Texas.  For two days we held classes in Plano and had a core group that attended all four sessions.  Besides the fact I was reminded many times of my Washington, DC roots and I was standing in the shadows of the Cowboy's Star we had fun.  When you have a good group I find myself enjoying myself and being able to cover more material and a much better interaction between myself and the class.

Great news for Collin County we are going to start sending articles for your newsletters and working on a return date.  So for all of you who attended thanks for your support and start finding coworkers and friends to bring back for my next visit!

Waco, we all need to thank Home Abstract for arranging and funding this jammed pack event.  Again I made new friends with both Home Abstract and REALTORS from Waco.  This was my second visit to Waco the last time being April of 2006.  What a great room we had, you guys just about filled every seat.  With the broad range of topics we covered you all did great following the information we shared.  And talk about first class, Home Abstract had everything we needed for the day.

Again great news for Waco, David, Derrick and Jennifer are planning on my returning and maybe next time adding an advanced class for some of you!  in the mean time you all better start working on your web sites, blogging and all the other things we covered.  I will be watching!!!!

*** Betts

National Speaker to the Real Estate Industry