According to TheStreet – Pending home sales rose by 7.3% in November to the highest level since April 2010, according to a National Association of Realtors report.

The index, which measures the number of contracts signed to buy previously owned homes in the U.S., rose to a reading of 100.1 in November from 93.3 in October as homebuyers look to finalize purchases before the homebuyer tax credit expires at the end of the year.

“Housing affordability conditions are at a record high and there is a pent-up demand from buyers who’ve been on the sidelines,” said Lawrence Yun, chief economist with the NAR. “The sustained rise in contract activity suggests that closed existing-home sales, which are the important final economic impact figures, should continue to improve in the months ahead.”

What does that mean? It means start your marketing engines! Architectural Illustrations are a vital tool for marketing and advertising your projects to the public and planning commissions.

What I mean is, are “you”–the provider of services, products, events, etc.–ignoring “me”, your audience?

Recently I’ve discovered a product that I could not live without! Seriously, I love it. I love it so much that I’ve posted about it several times on my social media profiles with links back to their profiles, I’ve voted for their business to win a grant with a very nice testimonial, I’ve told an endless number of people about it AND I just bought this product again to bring across the country as a gift for someone else. Guess what? They have NEVER responded. Not even with a simple “thank you”. Really?!

Is it clear that any company would want someone like me being a marketing advocate for their product or service? We all want gads of people out their doing our advertising for us. That is the beauty of social media. The possibility is endless, free, and everyone else doing it for you! 350 MILLION users with an average daily session time of 25 minutes a day. Your social media profiles offer an exceptional chance for visibility on Google. Do you get that yet?

Ignore your audience at your own risk. I’m just sayin’…

WordPress Back Ups, that is.

Do yourself a favor and be sure to back up the content on your WordPress Website or Blog. The worst thing we hear is “I don’t know what I did, but I’ve lost everything.” Ouch! Don’t let this be you.

It is crucial that you back up the content on your blog and it’s really quite easy. While logged into your WordPress blog on the left-hand sidebar there is a tab called “Tools”. Under that tab is an option called “export”. Click there and you will see all the choices for your back-up needs. If none of this makes sense, watch the video below. A backed up blog is a happy blog.

How To Back Up your WordPress Blog

Click here to view the embedded video.

The thing you’ll probably be doing most with your WordPress Blog is writing and publishing posts. This is a short video showing you how to get started.

Click here to view the embedded video.

What’s that? You don’t have a blog?
We can help you with that too!

Custom Wordress Websites & Blogs

Automating email marketing is all about “doing more with less”. It’s like having a private “virtual assistant” working for you so you can focus on growing your business. You’ll profit by saving time and increasing sales and customer retention. And higher sales bring higher profits, so you see, this game really is a “win-win”.

Just like newsletters and product promotions, automated email messages play an important role in your marketing mix. Whether it’s a one-time “triggered” email or a lengthy series, all you need to do is create your list, compose your message(s), set the delivery intervals, schedule and forget about it! And of course, you can always tweak anything you need to at any time. But most importantly, automated email messages have the power to keep your audiences engaged and informed instantly, or over a period of weeks, even months − without investing an extra minute (or dime) of your time!

To simplify email message automation for you, we’ve highlighted some common uses so you can get measurable results right from the start.

Welcome messages

Say ‘Hello!’ to your new customers and stay in touch by sending timed emails designed to introduce them to the benefits of your product, brand and company, and how to get the most benefit from their purchase or subscription. These emails, called autoresponder or follow-up campaigns, usually include 2-4 emails sent over a period of 2-4 weeks, but, of course, it varies depending on your audience profile, timing, etc. These welcome and follow-up messages will get your subscribers revved up and ready for more!

Drip campaigns

We all know it take 5 or more contacts to make a sale, so most successful campaigns contain an element of automation called a “drip campaign”. Much like the welcome messages, these emails include a series of emails sent over a period of days or weeks, but they are much more focused on bringing the customer along the sales cycle and to the point of purchase. The messages should be informative, targeted, and carefully choreographed to answer their objections and build interest in your product or service. This type of campaign is probably the most powerful revenue generating tool you have in your email arsenal!

Trial tips

Your Free Trial subscribers are like a vein of gold waiting to be mined! Don’t miss your chance to convince subscribers who are already using your product or service of the benefits of upgrading to the real deal! Send them automated messages with value-added materials, tutorials, and testimonials from other enthusiastic customers, etc. This type of autoresponder campaign is a “power tool” for sales and sign ups!

Event/webinar campaign

Don’t let your clients miss the event they signed up for! It could mean lost sales or worse, lost customers! Use email automation to send them some or all of the following to get them back on track: event information, invitation, schedule, potential benefits, or everything summarized in an eye-catching template. Make it easy for them to remember why they signed up in the first place. Let them know you encourage their participation because it will help their business!

Birthday and anniversary greetings

Show your customers that you remember the important milestones in their lives! Whenever a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary draws close, choose the perfect template for the event or business, and personalize it with a message just for them. If possible, include a special coupon or small gift to let them know you value their loyalty. Remember, you can do all this ahead of time, and it will go out on time − automatically!

Surveys

Know your customer! It’s really important to monitor customer satisfaction with your products, company, support and service, etc. – and not just once in a blue moon! There are many ways you can do this and some involve…you guessed it – email automation!

For example, you can set up a “triggered” email message to automatically ask recipients for feedback every time they consult Customer Service. Or you could schedule a short survey to go out to every customer that purchases a certain product or service. There are a million good reasons to find out what your customers are thinking…and doing. Remember, customer satisfaction is the key to your success, and email automation can help!

Transactional messages

The traditional goal of these automated messages is to confirm an action. While some have broadened the definition to include anything that confirms OR requires and action, we think that just confuses. Automated transactional messages are usually sent when a recipient signs up for a newsletter, downloads an e-book, makes a reservation, wins an online auction, buys a product in an e-shop, etc. They provide a record of the transaction and an e-bookmark to easily find the document at a later date, but − that doesn’t mean they have to be boring. It never hurts to add a tasteful ad or special offer in one corner of the document!

Educational campaigns

These automated campaigns help to keep your Value Proposition in the recipient’s mind. Subscribers really appreciate information that helps them gain more benefits from using a product or service. For example, if you run a job portal, you could schedule an educational series on how to create a stand-out CV; another one might be on how to deal with stress, and so forth. Everyone appreciates receiving helpful and useful guides and tips – especially when they’re free! Remember, helping customers succeed helps your brand succeed.

Inactive lead campaign

What if recipients stop responding to your emails? Even if it seems like they’ve forgotten about you, you shouldn’t give up! Most subscribes live busy lives and deal with a lot of inbox clutter. To renew their interest, you’ll want to develop an email automation campaign similar to your Welcome and drip email series, except this time target recipients who have been inactive for say, the last 6 months. The purpose of these messages is to remind them of the value of remaining a subscriber and “sweeten the pot” with some special offers to motivate them to action!

Renewal reminders

Most customers appreciate it when you remind them with an automated email that their subscription-based contract is about to expire. It spares them the trouble of an unexpected termination notification, and lets them know you value them as a subscriber.

We hope we’ve provided you with enough automation options to start with, or perhaps to update what you’re currently doing. How and when you use the power of automation depends completely on your knowledge of your business and your customers. Of course, having the right email marketing tools is essential…but we’ve got you covered there!

Good luck and please send us any stories or tips you’d like to share about email automation!

I just finished an architectural illustration of a new project being started by SunRiver St. George. This project will be nested within the beautiful valley of Green Springs in St. George, Utah.

This was a rush project created from designs by Jeff Andrews of Jeff Andrews Custom Home Design, Inc. Jeff is a wonderful designer bursting with creativity and a skilled knowledge of function. We both had only a few days to design and complete a rendering for this proposed 26,000 sq.ft. facility with all the fixins’ inside and out! Jeff has designed a beautiful garden for the residents to stroll through. I look forward to seeing the final built project.

This is what our client had to say about working with us

Jeff and Tina

Just Finished  the meeting for the community.  Both of your drawings and work received  rave reviews.  Thanks to both of you for all of your hard work in a very short period of time. I know that both of you lost many hours of sleep accommodating our timeline. It turned out well.

Thanks again!

Janeen

Here are just a few symbols you can copy and paste to use in your emails and status updates. Really, it’s just a few. I could spend the rest of my life searching and updating this post. Have fun!

To use, you must copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) these symbols in your status messages, comments, wall post, etc. Some facebook symbols may not appear (showing up as squares, or ?) if the user doesn’t have all the fonts required installed.

Smileys

(✿◠‿◠)       (◡‿◡✿)       (◕‿◕✿)       (✖╭╮✖)       (≧◡≦)       (¬_¬)       (◑‿◐)       (◕‿-)       ✖‿✖       (-’_’-)       (╥_╥)       (╯_╰)       (╯3╰)       (o_-)       (¬‿¬)          (⋋▂⋌)       (॓_॔)       ‹(•¿•)›       (╯︵╰,)       (︶︹︺)       (∩︵∩)       (｡◕‿◕｡)       (⊙_◎)       (~￣▽￣)~       (︶ω︶)       (+_+)       (◕^^◕)       (∩▂∩)       (¬▂¬)       (｡♥‿♥｡)       (✿ ♥‿♥)       ♥╣[-_-]╠♥       ٩(͡๏̯͡๏)۶       ٩(-̮̮̃•̃)۶       ٩(̾●̮̮̃̾•̃̾)۶       ٩(-̮̮̃-̃)۶        {｡^◕‿◕^｡}       (ñ_ñ)       (u_u)       (*_*)       (º_º)

Holidays

(\ /)
( . .)♥
c(”)(”)

¯`°º·¤.¸¯`°º·¤.¸¯`°º·¤.¸ (¯`v´¯) ¸.¤·º°´¯¸.¤·º°´¯¸.¤·º°

.¤·º°´¯¸.¤·º°´¯¸.¤·º° Happy Mother’s Day¯`°º·¤.¸¯`°º·¤.¸

╠╣αppy Ѽ ╠╣αlloween♥ ツ ٩(●̮̮̃•̃)۶‌

⋱ ⋮ ⋰
⋯ ✰ ⋯
⋰ ⋮ ⋱
….| _▄▄_
….|.(◑ჴ◑)
….|..▶★◀
…↺(_____)↺
….|(______)
★ ⋰⋱ ★ ⋰⋱ ★ ⋰⋱

_____________*_______________
____________*o*______________
___________*o*o*_____________
__________*o*o*o*____________
_________*o*o*o*o*___________
________*o*o*o*o*o*__________
_______*o*HO~HO~o*_________
______*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*________
_____*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*_______
________*o*o*o*o*o*__________
_______*o*o*o*o*o*o*_________
______*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*________
_____*o*~HO~HO~HO*o*_______
____*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*o*______
________*o*o*o*o*o*__________
_______*o*o*o*o*o*o*_________
______*o***MERRY***o*________
_____*o* CHRISTMAS *o*_______
____*o*o*o*o & o*o*o*o*______
___*o*o*o* HAPPY *o*o*o*_____
__*o*o*o*o* NEW *o*o*o*o**___
_*o*o*o* YEAR 2011 *o*o*o*___

Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ˚And a happy new year:’)

…………(¯`O´¯)

…………*./ | \ .*

…………..*♫*.

………, • ‘*♥* ‘ • ,

……. ‘*• ♫♫♫•*’

….. ‘ *, • ‘♫ ‘ • ,* ‘

….’ * • ♫*♥*♫• * ‘

… * , • Merry’ • , * ‘

…* ‘ •♫♫*♥*♫♫ • ‘ * ‘

‘ ‘ • Christmas . • ‘ ‘ ‘

‘ ‘ • ♫♫♫*♥*♫♫♫• * ‘ ‘

Happy Birthday

♥ •*♪♫ ♪♫•*♥ hApPy bIrThDaY tO yOu !! ♥*¨*••*¨♪♫♪♫•*♥

•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆ ★ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆

╔╗╔╦══╦═╦═╦╗╔╗ ★ ★ ★
║╚╝║══║═║═║╚╝║ ☆¸.•°*”˜˜”*°•.¸☆
║╔╗║╔╗║╔╣╔╩╗╔╝ ★ BIRTHDAY!!! ☆
╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╝╚╝═╚╝ ♥￥☆★☆★☆￥♥ ★☆ Wishing You All The Best!!♥

—————()–()–()–()–()–()
—————||–||–||–||–||–||
————-{*~*~*~*~*~*~*}
———-@@@@@@@@@@@@@
——–{~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
—-@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
—{~*~*~*~*~ HAPPY~*~*~*~*~*~}
—{~*~*~*~*~BIRTHDAY~*~*~*~*~}
—{~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~}
—-@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

♫♪♥♥[̲̅̅H̲̅][̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅P̲̅][̲̅̅P̲̅][̲̅̅Y̲̅] [̲̅̅B̲̅][̲̅̅I̲̅][̲̅̅R̲̅][̲̅̅T̲̅][̲̅̅H̲̅][̲̅̅D̲̅][̲̅̅A̲̅][̲̅̅Y̲̅]♥♥♫♪

Love

─▀██▀─▄███▄─▀██─██▀██▀▀▀♥─
──██─███─███─██─██─██▄█───
──██─▀██▄██▀─▀█▄█▀─██▀█───
─▄██▄▄█▀▀▀─────▀──▄██▄▄▄█

(¯`•.•´¯) (¯`•.•´¯)
*`•.¸(¯`•.•´¯)¸.•´ ♥
☆ º ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥

╔ღ═╗╔╗
╚╗╔╝║║ღ═╦╦╦═ღ
╔╝╚╗ღ╚╣║║║║╠╣
╚═ღ╝╚═╩═╩ღ╩═╝
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ YOU ஜ۩۞۩ஜ

♥
(¯`v´¯)
.`•.¸.•´ ★
¸.•´.•´¨) ¸.•¨)
(¸.•´(¸.•´ (¸.•¨¯`* ♥
★

….. (¯`v´¯)♥
…….•.¸.•´
….¸.•´
… (
☻/
/▌♥♥
/ \ ♥♥

.♥/(,”)\.(“.)♥★
..★/♥\♥/█\♥★
.♥_| |__| |_ ♥

Misc

┊　　┊　　┊　　┊
┊　　┊　　┊　　★
┊　　┊　　☆
┊　　★
☆

__̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡̡.__

One Liners

๑ + ۩ + ۞ + ۩ + ๑ = ๑۩۞۩๑
๑۩۞۩๑ Type your status message!! ๑۩۞۩๑

๑ + ۩ + ๑ = ๑۩๑

๑۩๑ Type your status message!! ๑۩๑
★·.·´¯`·.·★Type your status message! ★·.·´¯`·.·★

Do you ever wonder why when you tag a page or someone in your status that it doesn’t show up on their wall? Well, I did so I went out searching for the answer and I’m sharing it with you.

If your privacy settings are set to anything less than “Everyone” for your status updates then it will not show up. This is true especially for pages since these are designed to by public. So if you don’t want to change your global privacy settings, you can change them per status by clicking the padlock next to “share” button. Just click on the padlock, click customize from the drop down, and make the status visible to “everyone”. This is a ONE SHOT deal unless you choose to make this your default setting by checking the box in the bottom left hand corner.

Hope this takes one of the mysteries out of tagging.

Recently, I had business colleague say that they had received my invitation through Social Media for an event Core Zero was having but was unable to attend. She said she had not RSVP’d to the event because she didn’t want me to be offended when she said “no”.

Quite honestly, I would rather have any response than no response. Whether it’s yes or no, a response enables me to make decisions on what to expect at my event for food, space, marketing materials, etc. No response leaves the event coordinator wondering if they may need to prepare for a larger group. Giving a response could save the event coordinator time and money.

On the marketing side, after you’ve responded leave a comment on the event wall. This is great visibility for you! Don’t leave a comment selling your product/service! It can be as simple as saying “Thank you for inviting me, but I am unable to attend. Have a great event!”

One more thing… Share the love! It’s what social media is all about! Share events you’ve been invited to whether you can make it or not. Write a personal message to the people that you are sharing with. A personal note with an invitation has been proven to create better attendance at an event. I promise if you share your network’s events they will in turn share yours.

So, save money and just say “No”.

We are please to have launched a new website for Pinetree Retirement in August 2010. We love a challenge and this website was certainly that. The client wanted public information for potential clients and recruitment of new agents. They also wanted a private section that would only be accessible to agents with their own individual logins. This private agent area provides extensive training to agents, company reference material, and a blog to provide new information to agents. Here is what the client had to say about their new website:

“I wanted to let you know, I was in a situation where a new hire was considering joining another agency who was offering less support but a bit more money. We talked about the different benefits Pinetree provides and he said “I’ve been following your website on a reg basis, the tech support is amazing, I know it will help me to achieve success.” He choose our team! We are seeing the benefits in so many different ways….my annual certification saved me at least 5 hours. Seriously searching for the sites, finding log in and passwords were such a hassle…NO MORE! Karla has improved our training library. This is saving me 1000′s of dollars on in-house training. What I use to do in 40 hours of classroom training, can now be done in about 16 hours.

I am so excited and pleased with the site. My team has caught on quickly how to manage (with a little help from Tina now and then) the pages.

Thanks again- I am thrilled with the final product.”

Melinda Small, Owner of Pinetree Retirement