a la mode news & marketing tips — posted August 31, 2005

XSites' aerial mapping tool makes national headlines

You may have seen us mentioned in Lew Sichelman's nationally syndicated real estate column, which appeared in the August 28 issue of the The Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune to name a few.  We’ve also appeared in other publications recently, including Inman News, Broker Agent News, Real Trends, Relocation Business News, National Relocation & Real Estate and more – all covering our new Google Earth aerial mapping technology that‘s now available on your Agent XSite at no extra cost.

When renowned publications cover our technology it means that we’re seen as a leader in the industry. But what does that mean for you, you ask?  It means you can be confident you're working with a technology provider that's dedicated to giving you the latest tools to enhance your clients' home buying/selling experience. 

Promote expertise via your XSite's Staff Profile page

Credibility is crucial to the success of your business — you want your clients to view you as an industry expert.  Since your XSite is often the first means of communication you'll have with clients, your Staff Profile page is one of the best places to outline your skills, experience and professionalism.

Your profile should highlight the most important aspects of your experience in a way that successfully demonstrates your credibility.  Think about your clients and what they would like to know about you that would make them want to use you for their real estate services.  Feel free to boast a little. For example, if you've been in business for 20 years, say so!  If you received awards for service, be sure to include it in your profile!

In addition to your name and title, here are some items you may want to include in your profile:

• Why and how you got into the real estate business.
• How many years of experience you have.
• Your business philosophy or mission statement.  In other words, what your customers can expect when they work with you.
• Any industry associations to which you belong.
• Describe any awards or special recognition you've received.
• Identify what sets you and your company apart from everyone else.

In addition, you might want to give your profile a more personal touch by including information about where you're from, your family, your hobbies, your favorite sports team or even an anecdote about your first home buying experience. 

If you have employees in your office, include their profiles as well. They should be similar to yours but you might also want to describe their job, how long they've been with your company and how your clients might interact with them.

Remember, while you want your clients to get to know you, your staff profiles shouldn't be more than a few paragraphs.  And once your XSite visitors have had a chance to meet you and your staff, encourage them to contact you with questions by including a lead generation form at the end of your Staff Profile page.

FAQs about Google Earth for XSites

In the last e-newsletter we introduced you to the new Google Earth feature on your XSites that's been integrated into your listings, giving you a powerful addition to your listing presentation.  Since then, many of you have come to us with questions about Google Earth and using the feature on your XSites.  We've compiled the most frequently asked questions below:

Do I have to pay for this service?
Absolutely not!  While some website providers may charge for Google Earth services, we provide it free to you as another tool to differentiate yourself from competitors and to give your clients a tool that makes the home-buying process more efficient and fun!

How long does it take for a client to see a new listing in Google Earth?
Here at a la mode, we automatically update your listings every four hours, so your clients can simply load Google Earth at any time and see your current listing inventory. 

Are these pictures live?
No, according to Google the images displayed were taken by satellites and aircraft sometime in the last two years.  The images in Google Earth are updated on a rolling basis.

Google has recently added additional data to its Primary Database which includes over 100 new or updated cities.  You can view these on the Google Earth Community here.  And you can click on this link to view more information about Google Earth coverage.

Why are some of my listings are blurry?
According to Google, because Google Earth combines data of different resolutions to offer a seamless viewing experience, some locations can look blurry.  Google does offer high resolution imagery (greater than 1-meter) for thousands of cities and says that more are on the way soon.

Why is the address I look up inaccurate in Google Earth?
Google employs a technique called "address interpolation" to match up addresses, which Google says is simply, "a fancy way of saying that we take our best guess."  Google takes the total number of addresses in a given block and assume an even distribution of the addresses along that block.  For example, if there are ten addresses for the 800 block of Main Street, Google assumes that the fifth address is located at the halfway point.

If your addresses are coming up inaccurate, Google suggests entering the nearest intersection of roads into Google Earth's "street address" field along with your city, state and ZIP code. For example, enter "Fifth Street and Main Street."

If you have any more questions about Google Earth for XSites, feel free to e-mail us at info@alamode.com.