Creating Social Media Visuals for Greenville SC Real Estate Do you need easy to use tools for visuals to help boost your content strategy? If you do, here are some free tools to help with Creating Social Media Visuals for Greenville SC Real Estate. PicMonkey PicMonkey‘s free option has a wide variety of frames and special effects. It also includes lots of options for font types, touch ups, textures, and basic editing. In our experience, it is a great tool for any social media image edits that you may need to do. It even offers banners and buttons for your social media accounts. LiveLuvCreate LiveLuvCreate is an image-creation website most anyone will find easy to use because you can easily pick from a variety of design layouts in just a click of a button. From one image as a backgroun... 01/23/2014

Efficiency Through Technology Greenville SC Realtors We’re in a golden age of technology, and there are dozens of amazing high-tech solutions and tools to help you maximize your efficiency at work, giving you more time to improve your marketing and grow your business. Here are some top ideas to help you expand your bottom line and your business in the New Year. Spend the money on your tech tools. It may cost a little more, but it’s well worth it to get the phone, the computer, the fax/scanner/printer, and the software that’s going to make every working day just a little smoother. Don’t skimp on the tools you use every day and that you rely on to keep your work moving forward. If your phone is dropping calls or your network isn’t backing up, it’s you who loses business in the long run, a... 01/22/2014

Economic News in Review Greenville SC Here is last week’s economic news in review Greenville SC. Last week’s economic headlines saw gains in retail sales, along with consumer and producer price increases, a return to more measured performance in short-term employment activity, and new home construction ended the year on a positive note. Retail Sales Retail sales enjoyed a bump in December thanks to holiday shopping and sales of winter clothing and related goods, according to sales numbers released last week by the Census Bureau. Looking at December’s performance, retail and food services sales grew by 0.2 percent over November to hit $431.9 billion, the Bureau reported. This marked a 4.1 percent gain over December 2012, and total sales for the 12 months of 2013 were up 4.2 percent from ... 01/21/2014

2014 Blogging Strategies for Greenville SC Real Estate   It’s a new year and with that comes some changes on how we should approach our 2014 Blogging Strategies for Greenville SC Real Estate.   Write for a person not a search engine –make sure that you are still putting priority on optimizing: •    page titles•    meta descriptions•    images•    opening paragraphs•    page headings•    internal links Long tails in your Blog – blogging is a great way to get in front of your customers & industry professionals.A big reason blogging works so well is that it gives you the chance to target more keywords….short and long.   Another reason why blogging works is the ability to expose your knowledge on a topic regarding your business. A good amount of leads canbe established through showing your... 01/19/2014

Mortgage Pre-Approval Process in Greenville SC Wondering how the mortgage pre-approval process in Greenville SC works?  Look no further. First thing we need to do is collect some basic information: Residence History Job History Asset Information Credit Score We'll go over you goals for payment, sales price and down payment goals and compare them with the loan programs available. We'll also collect some documentation from you to submit your file to an underwriter for a loan approval.  This process makes us different from other mortgage companies, we get everything fully approved at the beginning of the process so there are no last minute surprises. Look forward to working with you. Have a Big day, Randy View Randy Shamburger Greenville Mortgage Lender in a larger map 01/18/2014

If you happen to stop by in Greenville SC, try to visit Greenville Falls Park and I tell you, this is probably one of the best things you will remember when you think of Greenville. This  32-acre park adjacent to downtown Greenville SC is like an oasis within a city. This is where people gather to play, unwind, take a walk, and just celebrate life.  The unique pedestrian bridge that curves around a waterfall on the Reedy Rives is one the highlights of this beautiful park. It’s so beautiful that it is named as one the best parks in the US by Trip Advisor. There are many activities to do for all ages in this park.  There are public gardens, a wall from the original 1776 grist mill, and many other public art. You will surely enjoy your time here. http://www.flickr.com//photos/citygreenvil... 01/15/2014

Things to Do in Greenville SC Most people visiting Greenville SC find our beautiful downtown area and Falls Park but there are 2 places that visitors often overlook.  The next time you’re looking for Things to do in Greenville SC, don’t forget to check out these two places.  Bon Secours Wellness Arena Road Warriors Hockey The Greenville Road Warriors AA hockey league. The team is affiliated with the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers of the NHL. The Road Warriors play 36 home games.  Save up to 40% off game day prices through Road Warriors Season Ticket and Group Discounts. Monster Jam Date:January 24 and 25 Times: Friday - 7:30pm Saturday - 2pm and 7:30pm Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Date:  January 29, 30, 31, Feb. 1, 2 Times: Wed - 7:30pm Thurs - 7:30pm Fri - 10am a... 01/15/2014

New Qualified Mortgage Rule is No Big Deal for Greenville SC Real Estate. A lot of Talk, But Little Impact. There has been a lot said about the impact that the QM rule that took effect last Thursday, January 10, 2014 would have on the real estate and mortgage industry in Greenville, SC. And there have been a lot of assumptions, misguided statements and flat out inaccurate information disseminated throughout the industry from many sources. The changes may temporarily slow down the under-writing process a little as mortgage lenders get used to using yet another set of forms to properly document each loan has met the new standards set forth in the Dodd-Frank Law. Some portions of the rules are simply not really going to affect any of us at all:But it will quickly be ‘business as usual’ onc... 01/15/2014

Restaurant Week in Greenville SC Restaurant week in Greenville SC starts this weekend. January 9th – 19th, 2014 Something for every budget…diners can sample a variety of special menu items and promotions all at a discounted price. Here are the one’s joining Restaurant Week in Greenville SC: 17 - Chef Adam Cooke's vision for Restaurant 17 is to lead a team of talented sous chefs, pastry chefs and bakers to realize an ever-evolving, "constantly moving" food philosophy that is, in his words, "refined, light-handed, vegetable forward, ingredient-driven cuisine." American Grocery Restaurant - American Grocery Restaurant strives to serve the finest in refined American Seasonal Cuisine, featuring products sourced from local and regional farms and from artisan producers from within the United ... 01/09/2014

Peace Center Performances in Greenville SC If you are visiting Greenville and looking for some live entertainment to put on your schedule, check out a local favorite...the Peace Center! These are just few of the Peace Center Performances in Greenville SC Don Williams Known as "the Gentle Giant”, Don Williams has been making country music hits for decades.  His commanding presence yet laid-back style appeals to a very broad audience.   Show Dates: Friday, Jan 17, 2014 8:00 PM Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess The Winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, is hitting the road with new staging and includes well-known songs as "Summertime," and "I Got Plenty of Nothing." Show Dates: Tuesday, Jan 28, 2014 7:30 PM Wednesday, Jan 29, 2014 7:30 PM Thursd... 01/09/2014

Cowpens South Carolina VA Loan - the best loan program in the country! VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today for active duty and honorably discharged Veterans. Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program:  Zero Down Payment, 100% financing.  Monthly mortgage insurance is not tacked on to your payment.  Compared to other types of mortgage loans, easier credit-qualifying requirements. Low fixed mortgage rates result in a low monthly payment. How do you know if you qualify for a VA Mortgage Loan in Cowpens South Carolina? You must first verify your eligibility. Eligibility for a Cowpens South Carolina VA Loan is verified by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. An approved SC VA loan lender can order your COE for you, or ... 01/08/2014

Winter Bluegrass Jubilee in Pickens SC When: January 18, 2014 Hours: Saturday 10:30pm – 7pm Where: Pickens High School Auditorium Highway 178 North Pickens Schedule of Events: Click Here Tickets: $12, Free admission for 12 and under(accompanied by adults at all times) Purchase Tickets:Click Here     Winter Bluegrass Jubilee in Pickens SC It will be a day filled with music from morning to night. This event is not only about great music but the 2014 Winter Bluegrass Jubilee also serves to support the Pickens High School Bluegrass classes and the Young Appalachian Musicians Program. You will not only enjoy great music from various bands and band competitions, you will also get the chance to let your young ones experience music workshops. There will be various instrument workshops like guit... 01/07/2014

Facebook Apps for Greenville Real Estate Agents By now, almost the whole world knows about and/or uses Facebook however there are still some things that we might not have fully taken advantage of to help us grow our business. Here are some Facebook Apps for Greenville Real Estate Agentsthat you might want to know more about: ShortStack This app will help create a number of specialized tabs for your page. Anything from contests to customized contact forms are offered which makes it a great way to engage fans and gather leads. The free option can handle Pages with up to 2,000 fans and premium upgrades are also available. YouTube Tab Allows you to easily link your fan page through a customizable YouTube Tab, it is free, click here for an example.  Google+ Tab Fans don’t usually like being ... 01/06/2014

Why Google+ for Greenville Real Estate Agents Here are some reasons Why Google+ for Greenville Real Estate Agents might be a necessity for your online marketing business efforts. G+ facts: There are over 1 billion Google accounts. Accounts under the Google umbrella include YouTube, Google Search and Gmail. There are over 540 million active users. Of that, over 300 million are active in the G+ stream. Features Include: Google Reviews:  It's social proof that others like your service.  They show up on Google search, Maps, Local & Google+.  Also believed to help your Google ranking.   Hangouts:  Free video chat options for an unlimited amount of people. Google+ communities: Allowing 2 types of communities, public and private, gives more freedom for users. Google+ communities are a relaxed ... 01/04/2014

VA Loan in Seneca SC VA Loan in Seneca SC and 100% VA Loans - the best loan program in the country! Designed for both active duty military and honorable discharged Veterans, VA Mortgage Loans are one of the best mortgage loan programs available today.  Here are some of the great features of this fantastic program: Up to 100% financing, with no down payment required. No monthly mortgage insurance added  to your payment. More lenient credit qualifying standards than other types of mortgage. Low rates compared to other loan programs. So how do you qualify for a VA Loan in Seneca SC?  The first step is to verify your eligibility. You can verify eligibility by ordering your Certificate of Eligibility or COE. A Colorado VA loan lender can order your COE quickly for you, or you can go directly... 01/01/2014

Happy New Year from Your Greenville SC Mortgage Lender! Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year and a safe night of celebrating with your family and friends. Having a successful open heart surgery earlier this year, gives me a lot of things to be thankful for! I'm grateful for God and my family but I'm extremely grateful for my real estate partners and clients who have trusted me and my team to help them with their mortgages.   Handing over keys to a new house at the closing table never gets old...it's my favorite part of the process.  I look forward to working with you all again in the years to come.   Wishing you a prosperous, healthy and Big 2014! Randy View Randy Shamburger Greenville Mortgage Lender in a larger map Happy New Year from Your Greenville SC Mortgage Lender 12/31/2013

Helpful Pinterest Apps for Businesses Pinterest is the 3rd largest social media platform to date.  If you’re using it for business you might be interested in some apps that can help you keep track of your follower’s activity, enhance images, get alerts and link with other social media platforms. Here are some Helpful Pinterest Apps for Businesses:        Tailwind It has the ability to track growth of followers, boards, likes and re-pins. It also can find trending pins trough audience engagement details. It has Google Analytics integration capabilities for better ROI tracking.  PinAlerts As the name suggests, it sends an alert when items are pinned from your website It allows you to choose what websites to track even if it is your competitor's. You can also customize how often you receiv... 12/30/2013

You only have few seconds to grab the attention of your prospective buyers. Within a span of 3 seconds, if you were not able to grab their interest, they will move on to the next listing and you lose a chance to sell your home. With so many homes listed in the market, how can you stand out? Here’s how. HDR photography. What is HDR photography? High Dynamic Range photography is more than just your average point-and-shoot photograph allows you to offer photos that “pop” to capture the buyers’ eye.  While regular cameras have limited exposure range that may cause loss of details, HDR images can represent more accurately the range of intensity levels found in real scenes. Check out the images below and see how images have greatly improved with HDR photography. Photos make a huge difference ... 12/29/2013

New Year Events in Greenville SC Looking for something to do to ring in the New Year?  Grab your friends and check out some of the happenings downtown.  Here are a fewNew Year Events in Greenville SCthat you might be interested in: The Handlebar is having a “Blue Year’s Eve” with music by the True Blues.  Tickets are only $10.00   Hyatt Regency offers an upscale New Year’s Eve festive atmosphere.  The event will benefit Shriners Hospital for Children.   SIP will offer some free bubbles on New Year’s Eve so if you are a wine lover, this might be the right place for you to spend your new years.   To know more about New Year Events in Greenville SC: click here Have a Big day, Randy View Randy Shamburger Greenville Mortgage Lender in a larger map 12/27/2013

2014 Social Media Predictions for Greenville SC Real Estate Agents It is just a few days before the year end and it seems to be a good time to make some predictions of my own for social media trends in the next year.  Here are a few 2014 Social Media Predictions for Greenville SC Real Estate Agents. 1. Short form videos like podcasts or webinars will take over many marketing efforts. Visual story telling seems to be moving towards that direction as short concise videos can impact more than pictures. 2. G+ will continue to grow both in size and importance. There is simply too much that Google can do to integrate G+ usage with other Google functions that it should not be ignored for 2014. 3. Paid advertising on social media – more and more business will feel the need to make use of paid a... 12/26/2013