RealtyTechBytes.com

11March2012

QR Code Rant (And a tip for YOU)

Posted by Jerry Kidd under: How to...; Rants.

<Begin Rant>

A real estate magazine arrived in the mail yesterday and as is my normal procedure, I looked through it to see who was advertising homes in print these days.  Now this rant is not about why you advertise in print, I get it. There are still some sellers out there who think that print ads sell houses. But, the latest NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers should put that argument to rest forever.  You need to get it if you don’t already have it and be prepared to show the sellers Exhibit 3-9 on Page 50.  ‘Nuff said.

No, this rant is about QR codes.  This particular magazine trumpeted on the front cover that their QR code technology sends home information to any mobile device.  While this isn’t entirely accurate (The mobile devices needs to have a scanner app installed) the idea itself is very sound.

The problem arises in the execution.  When I scanned all of the QR codes in the magazine, some of them would not resolve into a website.  They simply did not work. The issue arose when I was able to scan a QR code and was taken to a scaled down version of the agent’s website.  Folks, think about this for a moment.  Someone is reading a magazine. They whip out their phone (somewhat unlikely, but I’ll grant that Gen Y would do this) scan the code and get taken to a miniature version of what they could see if they simply entered the agent’s website address into their desktop or laptop computer!  After all, all of the ads also contained a website address along with the other contact info.  

In order to view one of these miniaturized sites a person would have to zoom in and then pan back and forth and then up and down in order to find something.  If they are looking at your ad and decide to scan a QR code, then it is very likely that they want more information.  Why would you then send them to a site that they couldn’t see?  Maybe it’s because you simply don’t know what you need to do in order to make this marketing technique effective.

So here are a few hints.  First of all, don’t use a QR to send people to your regular site.  They were not built to be viewed on the small screen  And scaling it down or miniaturizing it only makes it difficult to view.  Secondly, DO have a mobile optimized site.  A mobile optimized site is one where the navigation is large, easy to view and is limited to things that can be easily done on a phone.  Like a Call Me button, a map and simple directions to the home being advertised, a way to send an email and some photos.  Scan the code on this page to see an example of a mobile optimized website,or if you don’t have a scanner app, type this into your phone’s browser: http://jkfbmc.com/mdgre/

Another good use for a QR is to put it on your flyer box and have it send viewers to a page devoted to that one listing.  That page could be part of the overall mobilized site or it could be a standalone site. Take a look at the flyer box in the picture to see what I am talking about. Here is the link to a dedicated page to that listing: http://jkfbmc.com/mdgre/gallery.php, again type that into your phone’s browser.

So, in closing, QR codes are a good tool that can be used to help you reach the Gen Y buyers and sellers.  They want to communicate using the tools that they grew up with and they will respond when you give them a chance.  But sending them to your regular website via a QR code only serves to tell them that you have no idea what you are doing…and we both know that that isn’t the case! </end rant>

If you want to see what your website looks like on a mobile phone, simply type the address into your phone’s browser.  If you don’t like what you see, don’t use a QR code to send people there!  They won’t like it either!  Then get in touch with me and I’ll help you fix the problem.  Here is a link to flyer that will give you special pricing on mobile websites…but hurry because it is only good until 3-18-12!

4March2012

Mosec Mobile Secretary for Android Phones

Posted by Jerry Kidd under: Cool Freebies; Product Reviews.

iPhone and Blackberry users can sit this one out, as it’s all about a cool new Android app.

For the past few months I have been in an email dialogue with Bernard Huang who is the CEO of Mosec, a startup based in Providence, Rhode Island.

We’ve been discussing his app that is aimed at real estate professionals and seeks to provide a tool that will help agents get a better handle on their communications with prospects, clients and others.

The latest version of Mosec hit the Android App Store early last week and is available for downloading now.  It’s a free app and you can get it here: https://market.android.com/details?id=com.getmosec

In Bernard’s email to me that told me about the launch he said, “Mosec’s goal is now to help REALTORS® communicate and follow up better by letting them take notes, schedule appointments or remind them to call back later after calls.” More information is available on the Android site. 

Given that it is free and it seems to provide a useful service, I think that if you are an Android user you’d be missing the boat if you didn’t go get it now!

Disclaimer:  I don’t have an Android phone as I am a died in the wool Apple fanboy!  So, that means that I haven’t tested it out.  However, you could test it and report back!  I am sure that Bernard and his team would love to hear constructive suggestions as to how to make this product even better.  And if he hit a home run on this one I know he’d like to hear that too!  You could leave your comment here, or at Mosec’s blog at http://blog.getmosec.com/

26February2012

How to REALLY know what cell phone carriers will work where you do!

Posted by Jerry Kidd under: Buying Technology Tools; Cool Freebies.

The biggest hurdle in purchasing a new cell phone has got to be determining which carrier has a strong signal in the areas that you intend to use the phone.  If you get this one wrong you are going to be stuck with a phone that frustrates you at the least.  And for a two year period at that!

In previous articles here I talked about the importance of carefully selecting your carrier before buying a phone.  (http://realtytechbytes.com/what-cell-phone-should-i-buy and http://realtytechbytes.com/how-to-choose-the-cell-phone-that-is-right-for-you-2)

While the information in those articles was good then and still is now, there was a lot of room for interpretation…in other words, it is difficult to accurately determine whether or not a carrier had a good signal available at any given location.

A new website, http://opensignalmaps.com, uses the many Android phones that are out there to gather information about cell tower locations and signal strength to draw two maps.  One map is of the location of cell towers and the other map is a heat map showing signal strength overlaid on geographical maps.

You simply plug in your zip code and you get a map back that shows you whether or not your carrier will work in the area you have chosen.  You can plug in zip codes, one at a time, for every area that you think that you’ll be traveling to or through to compare carriers.

The site is easy to use and it is the best one that I have found for determining signal strength.  The only better way would be to get phones on all the major carriers and drive around yourself and compare bars!

If you have an Android phone, and you want to contribute to the project, they have a free app that you can download and install.  They claim to gather no personally identifying information in the process.  And you don’t need an Android phone to make  use of the site.  Sounds like a good deal to me!