Virginia Varela, Hoboken REALTOR® Obtains e-PRO Certification To Provide Consumers with State-of-the-Art Services

For Immediate Release
Virginia Varela, Hoboken REALTOR® Obtains e-PRO Certification To Provide Consumers with State-of-the-Art Services
Contact: Virginia Varela,
Tel: (551) 358-8375
E-mail: Virginia@VirginiaVarela.com
Monday, July 27, 2009 – As more and more consumers begin their search for real estate-related information on the Internet, it is critical that real estate professionals stay on top of the latest technology for the benefit of con mers and real estate practitioners alike. The e-PRO Technology Certification Program fills that need.
Realizing the importance of technology training, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) created a comprehensive Technology Certification course in 2000. And now that course, e-PRO , has been completely updated to include information on Social Media and Web 2.0 aspects that is, and will continue, to change the real estate business.

“The real estate industry has undergone a fundamental change over the past five years,” Virginia Varela said. “Today, more than 85% of all buyers and sellers begin their search online. As an e-PRO certified specialist with over 15 years in on-line marketing, web and graphic design, I have the unique knowledge and skills needed to provide my clients with the information they need and the customer service they demand.”

The all new e-PRO certification course — the only technology certification program offered by NAR — is designed to prepare real estate professionals to make the most of Internet technology and to identify, evaluate, and imp ment new Internet business models. The elite group of course graduates represents only four percent of all REALTORS in the country including Virginia Varela.

The e-PRO certification course is an educational program unlike any other professional certification or designation course available, comprehensive and interactive. It is specifically designed to provide real estate professionals with the technology tools needed to assist consumers in the purchase or sale of a home.

The exclusive e-PRO certification course is presented entirely online and certifies real estate agents and brokers as Internet professionals. The course is designed to help REALTORS stay at the leading edge of technology and identify, evaluate and implement new Internet business models.

Once completed, the e-PRO certified real estate professional joins the ranks of a special community of highly skilled and continuously trained professionals who provide high quality and innovative online-based real estate services. Consumers can identify the e-PRO through the exclusive e-PRO Internet Professional logo.

Both the content and the delivery platform were created by the San Diego-based technology company InternetCrusade®. Graduates use the skills they’ve acquired to provide clients information on properties for sale, lo communities, and the local real estate market.

For more information, e-mail Virginia Varela at virginia@virginiavarela.com or call (551) 358-8375.

How to Make Your Website Wireless Device Friendly!

With the Average Joe turning more and more to their smart phones, Ipods, PDAs and other wireless devices for instant information it is imperative that your website is “WAP” friendly.

What is the simplest way to keep your website WAP friendly? Well….keep it simple.

1. Although Flash is cool and looks great on your desktop or laptap, most wireless devices cannot read Flash. Websites designed entirely in Flash are INVISIBLE on a WAP device, therefore by all means use Flash as a banner or ad, but understand it will not appear on most wireless devices.

2. Use MOSTLY text and a few graphics nicely organized in a simple table, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR LISTINGS! The more complicated a table, the more scrolling the web surfer will have to do, and it may confuse and frustrate your audience.

3. Use text AND graphics instead of just one large image or image map on your webpages, and make sure your images are less than 72 DPI each, so that your website loads quickly.

4. Use text links as hyperlinks, and place them at the bottom of your website. Mouse-over images are fine, but a web surfer wants to be able to read your buttons, menus, and navigation, not squint and guess if they’re going to the correct web page.

REMEMBER, wireless devices are smaller than PCs, MACs, and laptaps, and still don’t have all of their functions. A simple, useful, and well-organized web site will look good and load quickly on either a wireless device or a computer. Good web design is good web design!

Check out both desktop and mobile versions of websites from your computer AND wireless device and note the differences. Either way, you easily find all the information the website has to offer.

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Virginia Varela is a New Jersey Licensed Real Estate Agent in Hoboken New Jersey. She has over 15 years experience as a web and graphic designer and received her Web Master Certification from New Jersey Institute of Technology.

How to Make Your Web Site “Search Engine Friendly”

You’ve put in the work to have a great website, but noone seems to be able to find it. What do you do now? Well, here are some tips for getting your website to be “Search Engine Friendly.”

1.) Your Domain Name/URL/Web Address should reflect the related top search terms, for example….. Top Search Term: “Hudson County Real Estate” >> Domain Name: www.HudsonCountyRealEstate.com

2) The Title of only your Home or Landing Page should also reflect related top search terms, for example…. Top Search Term: “Hudson County Real Estate” >> Web Page Title: Hudson County Real Estate

3) Your Home Page should contain text, NOT just Flash with your top search terms, for example….”We specialize in Hudson County Real Estate……” and other related information.

4) Keep the design of your website, especially your Home Page simple. You can include Flash and Images, but use mostly text so that your website is also “WAP Friendly” meaning it is viewable on Mobile Devices, including mobile/smart phones, wireless devices, PDAs, Blackberrys, Iphones, etc.

6) Create a short Video and upload it for free on YouTube.com and have its title reflect a related Top Search Term with a description of the video. File: HudsonCountyRealEstate.avi, Title: Hudson County Real Estate

7) Create images that reflect related Top Search Term. File: HudsonCountyRealEstate.jpg

Blog about the related Top Search Terms, for example your title and text should include, “Current trends in Hudson County Real Estate.”

9) Sign Up for On-line Social Networks like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter under the Top Search Term, for example….Welcome to Hudson County Real Estate on MySpace.

PS. SEO has been confused with spamming but the difference is posting UNRELATED information. I am suggesting you use RELATED Top Search Terms in your marketing. For more information on Spamming and SEO, please check out any of the Search Engine’s guidelines.

Hudson County Real Estate Sales and Marketing

With over 15 years in marketing and as a local Jersey City resident, Virginia Varela specializes in the on-line and direct sales and marketing of condos, rentals, and other residential properties in Hudson County. As a Sales Associate in Hoboken, Virginia Varela is committed to personal service and customer satisfaction. Make an appointment today and Virginia will assist you with all your real estate needs.

www.virginiavarela.com

• Full-Time Real Estate Agent
• Local Market Experience
• Local Demographic Insight
• Advanced & Current Research
• Personal & Customized Attention
• Superior On-Line Marketing
• Sophisticated Web Resources
• Certified Web Design
• Expert Graphic Design
• Professional Desktop Publishing