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Doug’s RE BarCamp prep-class for newbies – 2009
July 17, 2009 by Doug Francis · 1 Comment
Oh, to go to RE BarCamp…in Virginia Beach.
So I woke up extra early and made the three hour drive to Virginia Beach yesterday. Luckily the State Troopers had already pulled over speeders (everyone was going 70+) and the Interstates were wide-open… so it was an easy trip listening to my XM stations.
In classic RE BarCamp style, it took place at Buffalo Beach Restaurant/Bar which handled the crowd of 50+. I was impressed with the cool banner out front, table set up, name badges, people with lap tops, and a cast of people who I have been following, such as Bill Lublin from Philadelphia. As “ad-hoc” as they made sound on the official blog, it was very organized and I really appreciate the effort Tina Merritt put into making it worth the trip.
Okay, I consider myself a t-shirt collector (some people do comic books) and that’s the only spot where the cool factor got away. Wow, the logo for this event was top-shelf but the front of the shirt was hijacked by a well meaning sponsor. So putting my money where my mouth is, the next time I will volunteer to put the t-shirt together with something that the cool people will want to wear to the grocery store.
Here is my Prep-Workshop for beginners:
It seemed like the room was 46% people who had a clue, and 54% people who were hoping to buy a web site, circa 2002. If you fall into that 54% (beginners) and want to go to RE BarCamp, then you should do a little homework beforehand so you don’t feel totally out of your element. It may get your creative juices flowing!
Look at some blogs:
- Read through mine, or look at my “Blog Roll” on the right side since these are some of my favorites. Most people write about their lives and experiences, real estate and personal.
- Start writing “comments” on the posts that you enjoy and appreciate. It’s like a practice blog for you without the actual blog work, and it’s easy!
Social Media:
- Take a look at Facebook.com (free), Twitter.com (free), LinkedIn.com (free)
Research Google:
- Get an idea how Google works (type that phrase into the Google Bar)
- Google the just mentioned social media list too. There are lots of good tips to get you started and most will take a minute or three to read.
Online News sources:
- Read and start following online mags like Inman News.com or AgentGenius.com
What is a blog anyway?:
- Look at WordPress.org or .com, or Blogger.com, or GoDaddy.com
I hope people will add to this list, but it is a good start and will help the 54% learn about blogging, Google, and social media. Plan to spend a day, two or a week to this prep-work and you will get much more out of the experience of being around great people at your next RE BarCamp.
Today's Real Estate sites all show you the listings, but home buyers and sellers need real, strategic advice more than ever. You can start right here! Northern Virginia areas like Vienna, Oakton and McLean have some excellent home buys right now. My blog has plenty of insight into today's market, some practical advice, ideas to get you moving, and also a way to search for homes. I live here, know the market, and look forward to talking with you about real estate. Cheers! 
Doug I think you are right it is important to “do your homework” if you are a beginner attending an RE Bar Camp but most have no clue and manage to wander in anyway. About half of the attendees may get it and half of those may apply what they have learned. I am not here to “reform” anyone. But if you have a passion to learn and embrace these tools than we have a lot in common. I can’t wait to see you in Lynchburg at the R E Bar Camp in October!