We just released another update to WoodsBros.com and HomeRealEstate.com today, packed with a bunch of backend enhancements and some very nice customer-facing updates.  The first of which has been heavily requested, and that’s the addition of social networking “buttons” to your profile on your agent website.  They look something like this:

We can add them to your profile for you, and the best part is that we can add only the social networks that YOU want added.  In my case, you can check it out in action here where I have my linkedin, facebook, twitter, and blog all added.  I guess the BEST part really is that it stays on the left side of every page on your agent website, giving the consumer one-click access to your various social networking resources. I like this one, a lot.  Thanks to everyone who requested it, we’re happy it (finally!) came to fruition.

Next up, the map search got a look and feel overhaul.  It looks like this now (from HOME’s website):

The options are the same, but the redesign is aimed at enhancing consumer experience, one big suggestion was that gold box in the middle, which helps let the consumer know they need to narrow down their search parameters – this was a major complaint of the previous release.  It’s also aimed at the future, giving us a more modern modular design that we can customize a bit better.  Finally, it got a bit of a speed boost – if you remember the first map search we rolled out, let’s face it – it was a bit slow.  The latest verison is fast, fast, fast – and will continue to get better.  As a whole the buyer prefers the map search, and we’re doing everything we can to enhance it for them.

Those buttons at the top of the map search are designed to streamline the results that you get.  In particular, the “list view” was focused heavily on, and it looks great:

Finally, the listing report graphs will now show up when you email the listing report to your consumer.  I’m sure several out there (me included!!) are pretty happy about that one, previously it showed the graphs – but they didn’t show up in email. Lots of other minor updates to the “backend” of the site to make it faster and more reliable – and as always, let me know of any suggestions.  Two of the three major parts of this release were requests from our agents – you folks are out there doing the work and know exactly what the consumer wants.

Tech Explosion Recap:

Wow, great turnout!  Thanks to everyone who came to the Club last Wednesday, and definitely thanks to all the vendors.  Every vendor was blown away at the turnout, and they all learned something from it.  Sprint was ready to order new devices and plans for those who showed up, but he said from the second we started that there was just no way – he had no idea there would be that many folks!  The Verizon reps, yup, they were bummed too that they couldn’t bring functional phones – but my guess is next time they’re going to correct that problem.  Microsoft’s partner, Sogeti, who came on their behalf (our MS rep had a last-minute meeting come up in Minnesota) was blown away by the questions and the interest for Windows 7.  Next time you can bet they’ll have a larger presence!

So.. I know everyone is a tad miffed that there were no laptops or cameras there.  Our two big vendors on that front, Best Buy and Rockbrook, seem to have lost out big time by deciding at the 11th hour (literally) to pull out.  I know I ordered a laptop for one agent online, and a desktop for another with several who were going to go home and order them on their own.  Yikes!  That’s a lot of sales!  Obviously I have my opinion about it, and next time we do it we’ll secure a more reliable vendor to bring in some really cool toys.

Yes, we’re definitely going to do this again, and we’re going to space the time out a bit longer so that you can buy actual devices/plans/etc while there.  We’re going to secure more reliable vendors to bring some tech in, and we’re going to expand it to include some speakers.  Stay tuned in 2010, but in the meantime, thank you everyone for coming!  Below the pics are several links discussed at the show.

Speaking of staying tuned, how about that Schaefer’s display?  Wow, that TV and Sonos system really got my interest!

Sogeti/Microsoft brought out some great giveaways, I’m guessing I’ll be seeing some Windows 7 bags around the offices!

And Trevor from Sprint had quite the crowd (I had to hold the camera over my head!):

Sprint HomeServices online ordering page

Mission Bean Coffee gift baskets – order form

Again, thanks for coming out!  If you have suggestions for next year, let me know!

Quick Tip of the Day: Have you kept up with our Twitter account?  I try to post at least one good computer/tech deal a day on it, along with other random info.  It can be found here: http://www.twitter.com/hsne