If there is one big change in business advertising and marketing in recent years, it is social media marketing. It is new and still growing. But, it is also one of the best ways to get the word out about your business. For more ideas and inspiration for using social media marketing to benefit your business, read on.
Let your customers know that you have turned to social media for marketing. When a person joins your social network, it is common for these sites to inform their friends that they have done so. You should not underestimate the power of this free advertising. It is like a referral, so it is a lot more meaningful than a simple paid ad.
Create an open forum in which you allow customers to be part of your creative process. You will be surprised at how well your customer base can help you brainstorm an idea, create the "blueprint", and lay out the best implementation of the idea. When you have this kind of input coming from your customers, it is safe to assume they will buy when launched.
Develop quality content targeted for social media. If you are just haphazardly flinging words, advertising or any number of mundane snippets at your customers, then you are wasting your time and losing their business. Be as concerned about your social content offerings as you are for the content on your business site.
Before developing a specific social media marketing strategy, figure out which social networking site you want to use. Each social networking site works differently, so it is important that your strategy will work with the site you pick. For instance, on Facebook you can create a poll, unlike most sites.
To make sure your social marketing campaign is reaching your customers, find out where they congregate. Are many of them on Facebook or do they prefer Twitter? Depending on your niche, you might be better off looking at LinkedIn or even YouTube. Poll your customers and find out where they spend their internet hours. Pitch your tent there.
Always keep your cool when posting and replying on social media sites. There are people who will post on your social media pages with the intention of causing trouble. Maintain a professional attitude and just remove the posts. If they have a legitimate concern with your business, be respectful and always maintain a professional dialogue.
Make sure all of your posts and articles have a Facebook button at the top. This button makes it easy for your readers to share your content on Facebook. Most people will not wish to share your content on Facebook if they have to go through copying and pasting a link.
Tools such as Tweepi and Twellow are integral for social media marketing. These handy gadgets permit you to specifically target users who are among a certain area of interest and those who yield the most influence on the site. Follow others in the hopes that they might subscribe back to you.
Make sure you make your profiles public. LinkedIn and Facebook both have privacy settings you can customize: remember that you are creating these profiles to advertise your products, and that you want as many people as possible to see your pages. You can block individual users if you are having issues.
When utilizing advertisements to market on social media websites, you should take steps to make certain that the ads appear in locations on the website where they will get attention. If you forget to do this, your ads might not get viewed by the consumers you are hoping to reach.
You can have your LinkedIn updates include what you post on Twitter by adding the Twitter application to your profile. Even if Twitter posts are generally shorter than LinkedIn updates, you will be able to reach out to a larger number of people and encourage your LinkedIn friends to find you on Twitter.
Your social media campaign will not succeed without adequate knowledge of your target market. To know your target audience is to know your business. You're looking for certain things. You want to know exactly what your audience likes, how much money they have to spend, what their other habits are, etc.
You should always answer each and every comment posted to your Facebook page. This should be true even for negative comments. The idea behind this is simple. People are taking the time to speak with you about your business, so the least you can do is return the favor. Make sure you respond quickly to make sure customers don't feel ignored.
Videos are a great content for your social media marketing. Demographics show that video is the largest and fastest growing online application. You can make your old articles and posts into video presentations using screen capture and presentation tools available on the web. Add them to your YouTube profile and link them to your social media pages.
Research indicates that the peak times for reading posts on social media accounts are during normal business hours from Monday thru Friday. There are available tools which will update your sites at the times where they can receive more views and you will be able to write them at any time.
As you now know, there are a variety of different methods you can use to utilize social media with your business. Marketing with social media will increase your customer base in a dramatic way. Keep the info shared here in mind, and get started with your social media marketing plan today.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Detroit’s major employers took a hit and Now What?
The Art of Structuring a Stabilized Value Transaction
Engineering Detroit’s comeback – Speaker Herb Strather
The great recession hit Detroit harder than perhaps any other major American city. When Detroit’s major employers took a hit, the city lost middle class population and the real estate market went into a free fall. Detroit’s neighborhood real estate values is now sitting at 10-30% of it previous value. Now that the economy is getting better and jobs are returning; how do Detroit and other cities get property values back up?
This is a catch 22 question. It’s like squatting to leap and getting cooked in the squat. Appraisers rely on comparable but banks are still dumping properties at 10-30 cents on the dollar and buyer and seller cannot close deals that they have agreed upon because of the value issues There are very few good comps that appraiser can rely on.
How can you get good comps and property values stabilized again? I say by foregoing appraisers and using temporary seller financing.
For starters, most comparables in the “D” and many other cities are less than $30,000 which is the minimum loan amount for FHA and most conventional sources, therefore you could have trouble getting a mortgage because chances are you will not get a good appraisal to support the mortgage; furthermore banks do not want to make mortgages anyway because they have to put up cash reserves for each mortgage.
Smart sellers and buyers can get together and both share the upside. How you ask? Come to this special real estate investor’s network event to get the answers!
Learn how to structure a stabilized value deal and put the equity put in your pocket –TAX FREE!
This approach has several benefits, namely:
- It stabilizes market values in the community
- It enables people whose credit is challenged, time to bounce back
- It allows the seller to get a fair price and
- It structures the deal for the buyer to pull out future tax free cash
Now comes CITIBANK with great financing to allow the above to happen more easily, consider this:
- 30 year mortgages as low as $10,000 (no points)
- Refinance existing balance after 90 days
- Refinance 75% after 12 months
- Scores as low as 580
Come and learn from an expert who is succeeding today --- get the low-down on financing real estate and closing profitable deals in today’s economy.
Event Date:
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Thursday Aug 15, 2013
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Event Start Time:
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6:00 PM
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Event End Time:
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9:00 PM
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Location:
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Wayne County Community College Cooper Conference Room 5901 Conner St Detroit, MI, 48213
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Primary Phone:
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Mark Maupin 248-939-6232
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Primary Email:
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http://www.MegaEveningEvent.com Real Estate Investing Michigan
http://www.meetup.com/MegaEveningEvent-com Event site Michigan
Step by Step How to Build Your Own Website "Live Event Detroit"
Speakers: Chris Wechner and Mark Maupin
4 – 6 pm: How to build a web site on Google:
- How to get good ranking
- SEO - how to optimize for the best results
Mark and Chris will provide a step-by-step presentation on how to build a website using the Google Blogger platform. This will be done live in class – bring your lap top to follow along, build a site of your own and learn how to make it effective and visible to search engines.
6-9 pm: Presentation: Using the Internet to Make the Phone Ring
Topics Covered:
- Attracting the right customers
- Converting visitors to buyers
- Why having good Ad Copy is so important on the internet
Event Date:
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Thursday Aug 8, 2013
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Event Start Time:
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4:00 PM
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Event End Time:
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9:00 PM
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Location:
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Wayne County Community College Cooper Conference Room 5901 Conner St Detroit, MI, 48213
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Primary Phone:
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Mark Maupin 248-939-6232
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Primary Email:
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Television, Radio and Internet Radio Marketing -Live Event Detroit College
The Entrepreneurial Institute and Resource Center has arranged a special treat. Dave Wes will be sharing his interesting background in television and internet radio advertising. The following topics will be discussed:
- What is Internet Radio
- Developing Syndicated Television Shows
- Making Sales and Commercials for TV, Radio and Internet Radio
- Getting started in Television and Internet Radio
Dave Wes has been in Radio for eight years. He has also been in television for approximately the last six years. His show; ‘Dave Wes and Friends’, features a positive spin on things happening in the Detroit metropolitan area. The show covers politics, small business, health, education, entertainers and professional athletes.
Dave worked at the Detroit Mix station (92.3) for five years and co hosted shows with Steve Harvey, Frankie Darcell, Michael Baisden and Pastor Marvin Winans. He also had his own show at Detroit radio station 107.5, and additionally co hosted a show there with Mason.
On television, Dave started his show on Comcast cable, then proceeded to TV20 and finally to station WADL. Dave has a production team for both television and radio.
Event Date:
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Thursday Aug 1, 2013
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Event Start Time:
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6:00 PM
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Event End Time:
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9:00 PM
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Location:
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Wayne County Community College Cooper Conference Room 5901 Conner St Detroit, MI, 48213
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Primary Phone:
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Mark Maupin 248-939-6232
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Primary Email:
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http://rightnowmarketing.org Online Business Optimization
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Practical Tips For Buying Residential Real Estate by Mark Maupin
Purchasing a home is a major investment, and the last thing you want to do is have to invest more money than you anticipated. Finding a reputable home inspector to check out the house prior to the sale, is important to save yourself from potential homeowner nightmares. This article will give you some great advice pertaining to buying a home, without going too much in debt with unexpected repairs.
Cash:
Your debt, credit history, the type of mortgage you choose and the current interest rates will all play an important role when you go to apply for a mortgage. These will all determine, along with your income and cash on hand, the amount of money that a lender will give you to purchase a home.
Meet with a lender prior to looking at homes. Ask about the available loan options so you will get an idea of how much cash out of pocket you will need for closing costs, down payments, and any other fees. You may find yourself surprised at the amount of money that you may be able to afford due to the low interest rates.
Buying a home with cash has both positive and negative aspects. If you purchase your home with cash, you circumvent the pre-qualification process and you have no out-of-pocket expenses for loan origination fees, appraisal fees, and closing costs. You also sidestep mortgage interest. If the home is your primary residence, the downside to buying a home with cash is that you lose out on the tax advantages that are available to homeowners which have a conventional loan.
If coming up with a down payment is the only obstacle holding you back from buying a home, make sure you have exhausted all avenues before you write out another rent check to pay somebody else's mortgage. Don't be afraid to ask friends and family for assistance. Turn your unnecessary valuables, such as a boat or diamond earrings, into cash. Borrow from your IRA. Get a second job. Look for loans from non-profit organizations. Cash in your life insurance value. Do whatever you can to turn your dream into a reality.
When deciding on a home to buy, pay attention to the foundation and other structural components of the home. These things cost a lot of money to repair, so unless you are willing to invest time and a considerable amount of cash into the property, move on and look at other homes.
Keep in mind that your home can be leveraged in a second mortgage. This financial option can save your life in tough times, allowing you to bargain against the market value of your home. This may require a new appraisal of your home's value, a refinancing of your mortgage, etc., but it provides the opportunity to get cash in tough times and finance important deals if your funds run low.
Short Sales:
When you are buying a home from things like auctions and short sale places you should "play the field". You should be looking at several homes at once because you never know when someone will bid a bit more than you and take it. Many short sales don't end up working out so if you keep a eye on several homes and one falls through you may be able to swoop in and get it for a even better price.
Looking to purchase a short sale? Hire a realtor who specializes in them. Short sales can be tricky and the buying process can be long. A qualified realtor with specific experience in this area will know how they work. This will give you the best chance of getting your home at the price you want.
Buyers who need to buy a property quickly should stay away from short sales. The word "short" definitely doesn't reflect the time length of the process. In this case the bank agrees to sell the property for an amount which does not satisfy the leans on the property. This process can take months while a "regular" sale can be closed in about a month.
Make sure you understand that purchasing a home is not a quick and easy process. You have to have patience for homeowners to make repairs, and for proper documents to be signed. If time is of the essence for you, try to avoid homes that are foreclosures or short sales.
If you need to find a home to purchase in a short period of time, do not go with a short sale. Although the name may indicate that the sale of the house is quick, this is not the case. Most short sales take double the time of a normal sale.
Even if you and the seller agree on a price, there could be an issue with the price once an appraisal is done. Depending on the market, short sales and foreclosures can drastically bring down the price of a property if no other comparable sales have taken place. A mortgage company will not loan you the money for an amount that is lower then the appraisal, so something will have to be done to make adjustments.
If you are looking for auction and short-sale homes, don't stick to one prospect. Aim at several homes so that you won't be left hanging dry if one deal falls through. There are many parties in these transactions, so much can go wrong. It is estimated that only about a fifth of attempted short sales are completed.
As stated in the beginning of this article, purchasing a home is a major investment, and the last thing you want to do is invest more money than your budget allows. Having your home inspected prior to the sale can save you from unseen costly repairs. Apply the advice from this article to ensure you don't end up investing your money into a money pit.
Great Things To Consider When Making A Commercial Real Estate Choice by Gus Maupin
One of the best parts about locating commercial real estate is that the properties are usually not in high demand. You still need to know a lot about how to get the best deal on any type of commercial property you want. This article will get you started in the right direction.
In commercial real estate, go ahead and go big. If you are already going to have to go through commercial financing to work a deal, then why not look at bigger properties? The cost per unit decreases the larger the property and management of a bigger property does not require an exponential effort to the number of units. The management of a a few units is virtually the same as managing a complex.
Be patient when handling a deal with a commercial property. The initial legwork is more involved than buying a home. There are more inspections, more work to be done and more paperwork to do. Build this time into your investment plans so that you won't be caught off guard.
Make sure you can refer to other investors with more experience than you. If this is your first investment, there are a lot of regulations and expenses you do not know about. Befriend an experienced investor or hire one for their expertise, and have them assist you with the transaction.
When you are trying to consider which property to buy and you are having a hard time narrowing things down the best thing you can do is make a checklist. Review each property and the one that has the most check marks should be the one that you buy.
If you are looking at a particular commercial real estate listing, and you come into contact with a person who is at the property - be sure to find out if they are an agent or an employee of the owner of the property. It will protect the interests you have in the property.
Although it is always nice to give people a chance to show their worth, a termite inspection is not the time to be charitable. Make sure that your inspector has many years of experience. Ask to see his past work and make sure he has found termites in at least some of his inspections. There are many inspectors who just give auto-passes constantly.
Be sure of zoning and deed restrictions before you make any commercial real estate purchase. These are serious indicators of the property's benefits for your business. You have to be sure of whether your operations can be efficiently and sufficiently accommodated within those restrictions to ensure that you are making a wise investment.
Office:
Don't settle on investing residential apartment properties as a safe bet. Many seasoned commercial investors are comfortable with apartment complexes, which often leads them to overlook other potentially lucrative property types: office buildings, trailer parks, or retail spaces. Consider your specific investment niche and your ideal portfolio and look for property types that appear to be a likely fit.
Always discuss the term of the lease. Landlords favor long term tenants therefore the longer term you are willing to sign, the more items you will be able to negotiate into the lease. It is better for your business too: a company with a stable office is more desirable to customers than one with headquarters relocated every six months.
Once you are renting your buildings, do your best to satisfy your renters. You should listen to their ideas and complaints and perhaps improve your apartments or office buildings. If something does not work, get it fixed as fast as possible. Satisfied renters will stay and pay their rent on time.
Before you invest in something, you should be an expert on this type of real estate. For instance, if you want to invest in apartments, you should know about legislation, safety requirements and have a good idea of what being a landlord means. If you are thinking about investing in an office building, you should understand what a company needs.
Know exactly what your requirements are before searching for commercial properties. It's important to know the kind of office you will use. If you expect significant company growth in the near future, you may want to invest in an office that is larger than your current requirements. Given the current state of the market, it can save you a lot of money in the future.
Consider all the available options in commercial real estate. Most people are familiar with the concept of investing in apartments, and they tend to seek out those types of opportunities. However, there are a wide variety of other properties, including office buildings and home parks, that could turn into a successful venture for you. Don't miss out on an opportunity because you limited your search.
Head down to your local small business administration office to see what sort of resources they can offer you. You may be able to qualify for low interest loans or grant opportunities. They can also help give you advice on your business plans and can provide classes to help you get prepared for your new venture.
It's all about finding the best possible deal on commercial properties, whether you're attempting to purchase an apartment complex or sell an office building. The market is huge, but the demand is relatively small in comparison. Always use tips like these to help you come out on top, when making commercial deals.
In commercial real estate, go ahead and go big. If you are already going to have to go through commercial financing to work a deal, then why not look at bigger properties? The cost per unit decreases the larger the property and management of a bigger property does not require an exponential effort to the number of units. The management of a a few units is virtually the same as managing a complex.
Be patient when handling a deal with a commercial property. The initial legwork is more involved than buying a home. There are more inspections, more work to be done and more paperwork to do. Build this time into your investment plans so that you won't be caught off guard.
Make sure you can refer to other investors with more experience than you. If this is your first investment, there are a lot of regulations and expenses you do not know about. Befriend an experienced investor or hire one for their expertise, and have them assist you with the transaction.
When you are trying to consider which property to buy and you are having a hard time narrowing things down the best thing you can do is make a checklist. Review each property and the one that has the most check marks should be the one that you buy.
If you are looking at a particular commercial real estate listing, and you come into contact with a person who is at the property - be sure to find out if they are an agent or an employee of the owner of the property. It will protect the interests you have in the property.
Although it is always nice to give people a chance to show their worth, a termite inspection is not the time to be charitable. Make sure that your inspector has many years of experience. Ask to see his past work and make sure he has found termites in at least some of his inspections. There are many inspectors who just give auto-passes constantly.
Be sure of zoning and deed restrictions before you make any commercial real estate purchase. These are serious indicators of the property's benefits for your business. You have to be sure of whether your operations can be efficiently and sufficiently accommodated within those restrictions to ensure that you are making a wise investment.
Office:
Don't settle on investing residential apartment properties as a safe bet. Many seasoned commercial investors are comfortable with apartment complexes, which often leads them to overlook other potentially lucrative property types: office buildings, trailer parks, or retail spaces. Consider your specific investment niche and your ideal portfolio and look for property types that appear to be a likely fit.
Always discuss the term of the lease. Landlords favor long term tenants therefore the longer term you are willing to sign, the more items you will be able to negotiate into the lease. It is better for your business too: a company with a stable office is more desirable to customers than one with headquarters relocated every six months.
Once you are renting your buildings, do your best to satisfy your renters. You should listen to their ideas and complaints and perhaps improve your apartments or office buildings. If something does not work, get it fixed as fast as possible. Satisfied renters will stay and pay their rent on time.
Before you invest in something, you should be an expert on this type of real estate. For instance, if you want to invest in apartments, you should know about legislation, safety requirements and have a good idea of what being a landlord means. If you are thinking about investing in an office building, you should understand what a company needs.
Know exactly what your requirements are before searching for commercial properties. It's important to know the kind of office you will use. If you expect significant company growth in the near future, you may want to invest in an office that is larger than your current requirements. Given the current state of the market, it can save you a lot of money in the future.
Consider all the available options in commercial real estate. Most people are familiar with the concept of investing in apartments, and they tend to seek out those types of opportunities. However, there are a wide variety of other properties, including office buildings and home parks, that could turn into a successful venture for you. Don't miss out on an opportunity because you limited your search.
Head down to your local small business administration office to see what sort of resources they can offer you. You may be able to qualify for low interest loans or grant opportunities. They can also help give you advice on your business plans and can provide classes to help you get prepared for your new venture.
It's all about finding the best possible deal on commercial properties, whether you're attempting to purchase an apartment complex or sell an office building. The market is huge, but the demand is relatively small in comparison. Always use tips like these to help you come out on top, when making commercial deals.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Detroit Real Estate Investing Club Meets
4 – 6 PM: Q and A session with Mark Maupin and Ian Watts
Topics:
Learn how to write a buyer favorable purchase agreement- Learn how to put a great deal under contract to wholesale
- Learn the business of wholesaling real estate
6 – 8:30 PM: Keynote Speaker – Your Real Estate Attorney
Come hear the attorney used by real estate investors, real estate agents, home buyers and landlords; the man referred to by many as The Real Estate Attorney Who Saves My Assets!
Get answers to questions like these:
- Liabilities are killing me – how do you learn how to structure yourself?
- I own a house with no insurance – how do I set it up to protect my personal assets if I am sued for a slip and fall?
- What do I need to now to be in the real estate game?
The must know items for 2013! Go to the attorney sought by successful investors and real estate agents:
- Learn what not to say to real estate brokers and investors to succeed and prosper in 2013
- Learn the top 5 items that kill most investors in the market
- Learn from The Attorney who is a successful real estate investor, has set up numerous brokers’ business structure, taught hundreds of investors how to structure asset protection, and has been the attorney representing the largest real estate investor groups in the Detroit Metro area
Q & A Session on Legal Issues facing investors, real estate agents and landlords:
- How to set myself up in the real estate business to follow the rules so I do not get hurt
- What clauses should I include in my lease to protect myself
- Did you know that even if you close with a title company you might not be covered unless you get something in writing? What is that one thing they do not tell you about?
- Why is control more important than ownership? What are the top (seldom known; not talked about) ways to have control?
What is new in 2013? This is a Must-Attend meeting for all real estate professionals, beginners and experienced!
| Event Date: | Thursday July 18, 2013 |
| Event Date: | Thursday, 18th July 2013 |
| Event Start Time: | 4:00 PM |
| Event End Time: | 8:30 PM |
| Location: | Wayne County Community College Room E 106 5901 Conner St Detroit, MI, 48213 |
| Primary Phone: | Mark Maupin 248-939-6232 |
| Primary Email: | Maupin.mark@gmail.com |
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