Google Gives Great GoGo Juice as a gift, and they're doing it on Virgin American Airlines

This will be my first post ever from a plane flying at an altitude of over 37,225 feet.  I just couldn't resist.  My options were to either sleep on the 5 hour flight to New York, finish reading "Crush It" by Gary V, or write a blog post. Well, here I am. lol~  I'm actually hoping that in the next five hours, I can accomplish a little bit of all three.  :-)

It was a really cool thing to arrive at the Virgin American Air gate this morning to see that they had Wi-Fi available for all us passengers.  Then I was greeted with a handshake and a smile from one of the Virgin Air employees at the front desk, followed by seeing my name in lights on the "BIG" board.  Wow, I have to say I got pretty excited, and was very impressed with their unique great customer service.  I really appreciated that warm and fun reception.

I can tell already this is going to be a great trip to RainCamp and Inman Connect!

First thing after boarding the plane, I run into Derek Overby and Mike Mueller, both nearly as excited as I am to get to New York. (Actually, Mike Mueller is behind me sleeping right now, but I know he's excited).  I just sent him an IM using this new "seat to seat chat" they have on board, but looks like Mikes getting his zzzzz's instead right now...

I digress.  So how cool is this that I am writing this post from seat 18D aboard a flying aircraft.  I have written many Blog posts and from "many" different places, but never while flying on a plane.  Here I was thinking and dreading the worst of a long 5 hour+ flight from the West to East Coast.  I sure am glad that Google has a hot thing going on with Virgin...wait...that doesn't sound quite right, but I think you know what I mean right?  FREE WiFi on a plane, Man I just love that they've finally able and doing this.

Now I'm spoiled, I will never want to fly without Internet Access again.  Google, please keep your "GoGo" coming, and provide it on all airlines, not just Virgin's.   You've got my vote, it sure is making the time and flight go faster, and it's much more enjoyable knowing my email is not getting backed up over the next few hours.  Thanks to Virgin Air and Google for bringing me my "first ever" Airborne Blogging experience.  I'll probably want to travel a lot more now and you both know where I'll "GoGo" when it comes time to "FLY!"

Looking forward to landing in New York in a few hours, and I'm really excited about being a part of both Inman Connect and RainCamp this year. I hope I'll get to see you at either one or both.  ...and I still can't believe I'm writing this while flying on a plane. :-))

Over the past few weeks, we've been sending out emails discussing what RainCamp™ is all about and why we think you should be there. With the tickets being donation based, meaning you can pay whatever you can afford, you'd be crazy for not joining us.

I'm serious, you would be crazy!  Just yesterday, Garrick Werdmuller, a loan officer in Alameda, CA who joined us last month in San Francisco, posted to his AR Blog and said "I would have to say it was the best event I have ever attended as a mortgage professional and I have attended most of the big mortgage and real estate marketing events. If you get a chance, GO!"

What had Garrick so excited?  I'm sure it was that he learned how to get his content on the first page of Google. Or maybe it was the techniques he learned to help him actually get business because of his interactions on Facebook and Twitter. Maybe it was some of the connections he made and relationships he built with the people that surrounded him.

I'm certain those all played a part in forming his opinion of RainCamp.  But for a Real Estate technology lover like myself, who just can't get enough of staying on the cutting edge of marketing, it was a chance to immerse himself with 450 other Industry professionals with the exact same mindset and goals.

Sites like Facebook, Twitter and ActiveRain give us an incredible opportunity to exchange ideas from the comfort of our living room. Still, there is no way to replace the real life networking opportunities afforded by being in one location with 450 of your peers, all with a common goal, maximizing their online effectiveness while still connecting in real life.

Next week, I will be in New York, along with four of the most influential people in real estate: Jonathan Washburn, our CEO and Founder, Bob Stewart, AR's Chief Evangelist, Spencer Rascoff, COO of Zillow and Ben Kinney, Mega Agent from Keller Williams in Seattle. We'll be talking about a variety of strategies to improve your online presence and help you get business using the web and Social Media.

Next week at RainCamp, we will:

• Show you how we have helped thousands of our members rank at the top of the search engines for searches in their market.
• Share how Donna Harris, a RE/MAX agent from Austin, Texas used her blog to make $122,000 in commissions over the last two years doing something you can do in your own market right now.
• Reveal how a plan and some guidance can help you use blogging to impact your business and get the same results as Donna.
• Provide you with a full day of great info to take home with you and implement immediately!

At the end of the day, Real Estate is a people business, and no amount of technology will replace old fashion networking and sharing, in person.

Come Join us on Tuesday, January 12th in New York City for RainCamp to learn and build cohesive, meaningful relationships with colleagues that will carry you into 2010 and beyond. Click here to register today, we are filling up fast and the last seats will be gone before you know it. I can guaranty that you don't want to be the one that didn't take the time to learn this stuff. 

I'm excited and looking forward to seeing you and connecting in NYC.

MLS TECH FAIR 2009 - New York

I am really excited that ActiveRain and the MLS of Long Island have invited me to be a guest speaker and part of their 8th Annual MLS Tech Fair this year.  The days schedule will be filled with great speakers, topics, breakout sessions, and an exhibit hall full of new and exciting products from some of the Top Industry Service Providers.

The list of Sponsors for this event is nothing short of impressive.  If you happen to be anywhere near Long Island, NY this week, you should take a day out and spend it with us.  Once you see their site and all that is being offered, I think you'll agree that this is the Grand Daddy "Tech Fair" of ALL Tech Fairs.  Come join us if you can, I'd love to see you there.

"Discover Innovative Ways To Recharge And Grow Your Real Estate Business!"

Some of the topics and panels I'll have the pleasure of participating on include:

Plaza Room: 11 to 11:15

How to Use ActiveRain
Start networking with the largest online gathering of real estate professionals in the world.
Speaker: Brad Andersohn, ActiveRain

Blogging Tips and Strategies: Dirty Secrets Experts Know

Starlight Room: 1:45 to 2:15

There may be a lot of real estate bloggers, but are there a lot of GOOD ones? Hear from the experts what defines an effective blog. Learn how a commitment to frequent, newsworthy and content rich blog posts can expand your sphere of influence, generate trusting clients and transform your business. Get a chance to ask the experts your blogging questions.

Panelists: Dan Green, Bring The Blog
Brad Andersohn, ActiveRain
Marc Davison, Partner with 1000Watt Consulting

Leveraging the Power of Social Networking 

Plaza Room: 3:15 to 4:00

Session highlights the strengths of the various social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, real estate community sites and real estate search/valuation sites and helps you choose what’s right for you and where you should focus your energies. Learn how social media sites enable you to reach large numbers of consumers in a powerful & interactive way. Hear the importance of managing your time, difference between networking & selling & how effective social networking today will plant the seeds for a successful future harvest. We’ll save time for Q&A with you.

Moderator: Brad Andersohn, ActiveRain 
Panelists: Kelly Roark, FrontDoor.com
Sara Bonert, Zillow.com
Diallo Stevens,CRS,GRI,SRES, RECS,e-PRO – Century 21 Best
Rudy Bacharaty, Trulia 

A very special thanks goes out to Jenny Natale and Katie Windham for helping put all this together and for getting me to New York in "style!" They are a couple of "first class" ladies that I'm really looking forward to meeting this week. Also thanks to Jon and Bob for letting me take a little break, and even though I'll still be working, you can bet I'll be having some fun too!

If you want to follow us and participate from where ever you are, the twitter hashtag is #MLSTF. There will be plenty of twitter updates I'm sure. I'll be using that hashtag to solicit questions from our audience and any other followers during the last session. (3:15 to 4:00pm) Anything you'd like to know or ask our panel regarding "Leveraging The Power of Social Networking? We'd love to hear from you. :-)

For more information, please email them at info@mlstechfair.com or call 631-661-4800 ext. 11.
Here's Directions To The MLSTechFair

 

 

          

 

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"May this blog be just one more planted seed of wisdom that helps you or your business blossom today!"

39 comments • Brad Andersohn • September 30 2009 01:47AM