I remember it was in January of 2009. I got an inquiry about a property that we had listed and the buyer asked if they could see it right away. I showed the home to the older couple and learned they were down from Utah and looking for an off-season place in the Phoenix area.

Two days later they wanted to get an offer in on the house, but they had returned to Utah. It was Saturday night and after talking to the buyers realized fax was not going to work easily as the nearest fax machine was not close to them, it was at a Staples which was over 30 minutes away.

I sent out a quick Tweet asking people for ideas on good electronic signatures. A few trusted friends responded back quickly and recommended DocuSign. So I signed up. During the sign up process I was in a rush and as happens, made a mistake and could not get it to work.

I had told the buyers they would have the contract before late on Saturday night, and here it was about 7pm. I sent out a quick Twitter alert that I was having problem and needed advice on how to fix it. Within minutes I received responses from both @DocuSign and @tgonser on Twitter. I would not realize until later that @tgonser was the owner and president of the company.  I was very impressed with their support on the Internet at 7pm on a Saturday. From there I was sold.

DocuSign not only helped me get that deal done, they have saved me dozens and dozens of hours of chasing contracts over the last 8 months. I have said it many times, besides my car and Blackberry, it may be the most useful tool I have in my real estate career.

One of the great challenges I have faced my whole life is my name. I have joked for a long time that I want to change my name to Dean Skywalker, or something a little easier to spell. Dean Ouellette is not the easiest name in the world to spell, but it’s my name.

Towards the end of last year I decided I needed to control my name. Being in real estate and meeting a lot of people I wanted to be easy to find and when you searched for  Dean Ouellette you would find me and not an artist in San Francisco.

As most who will read this also know I am a big believer and user of social networking. I am very active on Twitter, Facebook and Linked In. I also knew it was not going to be easy for someone to find me on Facebook as more often then not when they typed in my name they would not be typing “Ouellette,” but likely “Ouelette” or “Oullette” or “Ouellete” or… you get the point. It is more often than not my last name is misspelled.

I decided to steal an idea I had seen someone else use and I registered DeanOnFacebook.com.  I would then take that page and make it a direct link to my Facebook page. No worries about name being misspelled again.

I could not see a reason why Facebook would have a problem with that. After all if you were to look at the back of my business card, see DeanOnFacebook.com and wonder what that was you would be sent directly to a Facebook page. In theory more traffic for Facebook and more people seeing their advertising. It’s not like I created a parody site or I am trying to make money off it, just trying to make my Facebook page easier to find.

(Maybe instead of Dean Skywalker I should change my name to Dean Facebook.)

Here is the letter they sent me today. And it is a good thing I got it on my Blackberry because it went into my Gmail spam folder and would have never seen it. Glad to see Ethel and her crew have so much important work to do at Facebook. I would think if they actually knew what happened when you went to the URL they may be ok with it.

We are writing concerning your registration and use of the domain name deanonfacebook.com, which contains the famous Facebook trademark.

As you undoubtedly know, Facebook is the leading online social network service.  Facebook adopted the name and trademark Facebook in February 2004 and, since that time, Facebook has actively used the Facebook name and trademark in connection with its online social network service, including maintaining the web site www.Facebook.com. The term Facebook is one of the most famous trademarks on the Internet.  Facebook owns exclusive trademark rights to the Facebook name in the United States and internationally, including related common law rights. Accordingly, Facebook enjoys broad trademark rights in its name.

Facebook has made a substantial investment in developing and providing its services. As a result of Facebook’s pioneering efforts and devoting substantial effort and resources to providing only high quality services, the Facebook name and trademarks are widely known among the consuming public worldwide, and the name and trademarks embody substantial and valuable goodwill.

Accordingly, we were concerned when we learned of your registration and use of deanonfacebook.com.  As we hope you can appreciate, protection of its trademarks is very important to Facebook. Your registration and use of deanonfacebook.com violates the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq.) because it infringes and dilutes the famous Facebook trademark.
Infringement occurs when a third party’s use of a company’s trademark (or a confusingly similar variation thereof) is likely to confuse consumers as to the affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement of the third party’s services.  Trademark dilution occurs when a third party’s use of a variation of a company’s trademark is likely to lessen the distinctiveness of the company’s famous trademark.

We have filed several proceedings before the United Nation’s World Intellectual Property Organization’s arbitration panel. Facebook has prevailed in each case and the domain names at issue were all ordered to be transferred to Facebook.  Facebook is concerned that your unauthorized use of the Facebook name may cause confusion as to whether you or your company’s activities are authorized, endorsed or sponsored by Facebook when, in fact, they are not.

We understand that you may have registered deanonfacebook.com without full knowledge of the law in this area. However, Facebook is concerned about your use of the Facebook trademark in your domain name.  As you may know, the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act provides for serious penalties (up to $100,000 per domain name) against persons who, without authorization, use, sell, or offer for sale a domain name that infringes another’s trademark.

While Facebook respects your right of expression and your desire to conduct business on the Internet, Facebook must enforce its own rights in order to protect its valuable and famous trademark. For these reasons, and to avoid consumer confusion, Facebook must insist that you immediately stop using deanonfacebook.com and disable any site available at that address. You should not sell, offer to sell, or transfer the domain name to a third party and should let the domain registration expire.

Please confirm in writing that you will agree to resolve this matter as requested. If we do not receive confirmation from you that you will comply with our request, we will have no choice but to pursue all available remedies against you.

Sincerely,
Ethel
Legal Dept.
Facebook, Inc.

The world is changing right before our eyes, are you changing with it. If you are not staying ahead of the curve it will be almost impossible to keep up. This is just a stunning 4 minute video on the world and the way it is moving.

H/T to @Ribeeze for finding this.

A fellow agent in my office recently asked me to put together something on Twitter and how real estate agents could utilize it. We are Realtors, there is one thing we all love to say when introduced to anything new, “I’m to busy for that.” And while it is true you, like I, may be very busy, it is important to look at what we are doing with our time and is it leading us to where we need to be down the road.

Twitter is one tool many of you have probably heard of, but have little clue what it is. The short answer is Twitter is a micro-blog social networking tool. My goal here is not to teach you the ins and outs of what Twitter is, but why as a real estate agent you should be using it.

Purpose

There are three main purposes I am going to focus on in hopes of convincing you Twitter is a tool you should be using.

1. Presence: Have you ever searched your name on the Internet? What do you find? If you were to meet a potential client in your day-to-day activities and handed them a card what do you think they would do when they get back home? They are going to Google you more often than not. What will they find? Twitter is a tool that can help you control what they find. Not only does Twitter rank well so your actual Twitter account will be found, but Twitter can also be used as a tool to drive people to other sites that control your message as we will discuss more below.
2. Build your sphere: Twitter is a great tool that can be used to build your SOI. This is something we all work on consistently (or should work on). So how does Twitter help you build your sphere? Much like you may spend time in public meeting people and adding people to your sphere, you can do the same on Twitter and probably meet a lot more people in a lot less time.
3. Education: If you want to be a great Realtor you need to stay up on the latest. What does the recent legislation or tax incentive mean to your client? Did you even know about the latest program your community may be running? Twitter is a great tool for keeping up with the latest happenings in our industry with minimal effort. As you engage with other Realtors on Twitter you will constantly be seeing what they are talking about you will be kept in the loop about the latest happenings. Twitter is also a great way to share ideas and ask opinions of other Realtors and get their feedback. Twitter will make you a better real estate agent.

Process

While I could spend hours talking about the process you go about to get up and running on Twitter and how to use it day-to-day, this is going to be the abridged version.

The first thing you need to do when creating your account is fill out your profile and fill it out in full. Take a minute to upload a picture or icon that represents you, this makes it easier for others to remember you when they see your Twitter updates.

Make sure you fill in a link to your blog and please don’t forget to enter your location. There has been more than one occasion where I have looked for a Realtor in another state, gone to my Twitter followers to find one and open a profile of a known Realtor and they do not have their location filled out. How can I send you a referral if I don’t know where you live?

After your profile is completed then start following Realtors who are known as Twitter experts. Watch how they are using Twitter and start interacting with them. Not only does this build connections that could lead to a referral, this also builds friendships in which you can build on not only online, but offline too. These relationships will help in your growth online.

Find local Twitter users to follow. Once you find local users who you have similar interest in start interacting with them on Twitter. When they mention something you may have a similar interest in jump in on the conversation. You are going to find that many of these people get together for local “Tweet Ups.” A Tweet Up is when a group of Twitter users who usually have something in common get together at a local establishment for networking opportunities. This is a great chance to build your sphere.

Some basics on using Twitter to remember. First DO NOT SPAM. Who wants to read “I’m a local real estate agent, send me your referrals.” Not me, not many people. If you interact and engage with people they will come to know you and know you are an agent without you cramming it down their throats.

Interact, don’t dictate when on Twitter. Have you seen all those late-night comics talk about Twitter saying its a bunch of people sitting in front of their computer typing “I’m eating pizza watching Seinfeld.” Does it happen, sure, do those people have much interaction or followers, no.

I would say you should be starting half, maybe even as much as 2/3 of your Twitter updates with the @. What is the “@” in Twitter? If you were to talk to you me, and my name on Twitter is DeanOuellette you would start it out @DeanOuellette (message). That is considered a reply and will only be able to be seen by me, you and people following both of us.

So why should half your Tweets be replies? Because that means you are interacting and talking to people, not just telling people what you are doing. If you have a group of friends that you are out to dinner with you don’t just sit there for 2 hours talking about yourself and shutting them out, you have a conversation. That is how Twitter should be used too.

Payoff

So what is the payoff? Twitter is a great chance to interact with hundreds or thousands of people in a short period of time. In the last year I have added over 2500 followers to my Twitter account. Let’s say in a conservative estimate I only interacted with 20% of them. That means I added 500 people to my sphere in the last year. How many do you add through traditional prospecting? All of a sudden that time investment doesn’t seem so bad.

Twitter can also help other online efforts like your blog. When I write a new post I take 2 minutes and send out an update on Twitter to let people know I updated the blog and what the latest post is about. You will be amazed after your Twitter account grows how much this can help your blog. Not only does it send people to read that post, it also shows people who may not have known you had a blog that you are out there. All this leads to more traffic, more links and improved search results in Google.

Twitter takes time, you are not going to have 1000 people you follow and that follow you overnight and that should not be your goal. Twitter is not about how many followers you have, it is about how many you interact with on a fairly regular basis. It is about a community, a community you build.

There are dozens of other suggestions I could come up with for Twitter, but I am not out to write a book. If you have any suggestions to add to this conversation or any questions please leave a comment or better yet, Tweet me!.

It’s just a few days away, Thursday April 23rd Phoenix area real estate agents gather for our first REBCPHX event. And an event it will be. We have over 300 people signed up and we hope to have over 300 attend.

The first question most real estate agents will ask is what is a bar camp? Bar camp is not a conference. Bar camp is an un-conference. There will be learning sessions going on throughout the day, but there are no sessions planned yet and there will be no sessions planned before you arrive.

So how does it work? When you arrive you will see white board that is broken up into 4-5 columns. Each column represents a different room at the Scottsdale Stadium. The day will be broken up into roughly one hour segments and each segment in each room something different will happen.

Who determines what will be talked about in each break out room? Everyone who shows up. Maybe you want to learn how to build your business paperlessly and mobile. It is a subject I think many are interested in hearing about. Or maybe you will want to talk about Twitter, SEO, basic intros to blogging, it will all be discussed if those who attend want to learn about it.

Don’t just take my word on what the Phoenix Bar Camp is, check out the website dedicated to the event then RSVP. It’s going to be fun and it’s going to be a learning experience.

Still undecided? Check out this video.

I want to thank DocuSign for asking me to do an interview for their blog. I want to take a few minutes and go more into my history of how I made the move to use their service. If you are a real estate agent I recommend you sign up immediately if you have not done so already.

After I had written a few dozen real estate contracts I realized after I had been in business a few years I was going to be overwhelmed by paperwork, it was stacking up quickly. When you consider the Arizona Real Estate Contract is 9 pages, then you add in the buyers advisory, home owners association addendum, as-is and more, a real estate contract could easily become close to 30 pages.

If I was just writing five offers a week I would be printing out roughly 150 pages a week that would need to be signed. That is 150 pages of paper, ink and 5 folders, all of which can add up quickly. I was looking for a better way. Not to mention that 30 pages grows after an offer is accepted because of the seller addendums.

After printing out the contract and having the client sign all the pages, I would then need to fax it back to myself or scan it as many agents want to receive contracts via email. That took time.  I had heard about people going paperless, but I really debated if I wanted to purchase a tablet pc just to have people sign contracts.

So earlier this year I turned to Twitter to help find an answer. A couple agents I respect a lot, Jay Thompson and Nick Bastian suggested I check out DocuSign. Not more than a few minutes after that An, the person behind @DocuSign on Twitter, reached out to me and offered some suggestions. That had me thinking DocuSign was the way to go.

I set up an account, but in a rush to do so I made a mistake and had technical issues. Within minutes I received a call from @DocuSign and a tweet from @tgonser helping me out. I had no idea at the time that Tom was the founder of the company. The kicker was this great service happened at 9pm on a Saturday night.

Over the last two months I have written roughly 30 contracts, every one of them was done in DocuSign. Not only does it save money, it saves time. The speed I can get a contract done and signed saves me several hours a week. I do not get paid by DocuSign, I am just a fan and recommend you check out their services if you are a Realtor.

I wanted to let you know about the SEVRAR / BlueRoof360.com Technology Conference on the 27th of January 2009!

We’re holding it at the Mesa Convention Center in Building B and we have some FANTASTIC people lined up to speak!

Jack Peckham - Founder and CEO of the Real Estate Cyberspace Society (www.RECyber.com)
Greg Tracy - REALTOR and Founder of www.BlueRoof360.com 
Joeann Fossland- GRI Technology Instructor and Business and Life Coach -www.Joeann.com 
Chip Lambert- LinkedIn Master Instructor from www.IntegratedAlliance.com 
Bill Austin- Social Media Guru & the 3rd most linked person in Phoenix on LinkedInwww.azhttp.com 
Jay Thompson- Blogger Extraordinary - www.PhoenixRealEstateGuy.com 
Chris McKeever- NAR Center for REALTOR Technology -http://www.realtor.org/technology
Jeff Raskin - Microsoft Expert - http://technologyforrealestate.net/
Kathy Lunak- AAR Transaction Management - http://www.aaronline.com/TM/

In addition, ARMLS will be doing training all day long on the following topics

Custom Views and Q & A
Business Cards, Flyers and Q & A     
Personal Preferences and Q & A
Wireless flexmls and Q & A

If that was not enough you will get the opportunity for one on one time with experts in:

Blogging
Twitter
LinkedIn & Other Social Media
Search Engine Optimization
Tablet Computers
Technology Tools
Transaction Management

SEVRAR Members and Non-Members planning on attending the Keynote Address shouldSign up with this form so you can order lunch (the address is over the lunch hour 12:00-1:00).

As always, SEVRAR Members who don’t feel they need lunch can sign up atwww.SEVRAR.com

Our Keynote Address by Jack Peckham is over the Lunch Break so please DON’T FORGET TO ORDER A LUNCH when registering!

Thanks to our sponsors for keeping this event FREE to EVERYONE!

www.BlueRoof360.com
www.SendOutCards.Com
www.REALTOR.org
www.ORHP.com
www.magnustitle.com
www.DiverseSolutions.com
www.Zillow.com
www.HWA.com
www.VisitMyLuxuryHome.com
www.mycomputerworks.com
www.ARMLS.com
www.Superlative.com
www.DynamicPageSolutions.com
American Title Agency

e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government and Digital Communities magazine has named the City of Mesa one of the top digital cities in the nation through its eighth annual Digital Cities Survey. The 2008 Survey examined how cities use technology to create a seamless environment between local government and constituents.

The City of Mesa has recently started using Twitter. For those on Twitter you can follow me here.

I have always been a technology geek, but to date have tried to avoid social networking.  I must admit, over the last couple of weeks as I have been playing with it I have become fascinated by it.  I am now on twitter. Send me a tweet at @deanouellette. Who would have thought that posting everything you do would be so addictive, but it is. Not only is posting addictive, but following others is just as fun. It is a great way to stay in tough with friends, family and business associates. Be honest, when you are going to hire a real estate agent to help you with the biggest transaction most people will ever want to make in their life, don’t you really want to know who you are dealing with? Twitter is a tool to not only let people know about you, but to learn about others. Join today, it’s free and fun.