G R I Marketing Comm Technology

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

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.

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.

G R I Marketing Comm Technology

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