Daily Archives: June 17, 2011

North Salem NY Real Estate Weekly Report | June 2011 | RobReportBlog

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North Salem NY real estate currently has 79 homes on the market for sale.  The median price is $679,000 and the average home has been for sale for 100 days.

 

 

79   homes available for sale

$679,000    median price

$24,900,000    high price

$230,000    low price

3469   average size

$371   average price per foot

100   average dom

 

 

Buy a North Salem NY home

South Salem NY Realtor aks what is a “Digital Marketing Strategy” | South Salem NY real estate for sale

A practical business guide to developing a Digital Marketing Strategy

So What is Digital Marketing?
Businesses face many challenges when it comes to marketing on the internet. From the dynamic rate of change on the web to the multitude of different suppliers offering various online marketing services, tools, and platforms, and the sheer volume of information online available on the subject all mean it’s becoming very difficult for businesses to make informed decisions about how to market their business on the internet.

On top of all this we have the jargon to contend with; PPC, SEM, SEO, CPA, PPC, CPC, CMS, wiki, blog, mash-ups (you know I could go on). You might have a good understanding of what all this means if you are active in the internet marketing world, however if you are a typical managing director (or even a  traditional marketing manager)  this is highly likely to completely confuse you. This post attempts to discuss a business focussed approach to marketing on the internet and key steps involved in developing an internet marketing strategy or a digital marketing strategy as it’s becoming more commonly known.

The Changing Nature of the Internet
So the web is growing (yes I am stating the obvious) and the growth statistics are staggering. The ‘Build it and they will come’ philosophy has never worked when it comes to websites and while that message has taken a long time to permeate the business world another myth has arisen – ‘facebook it’ and they will come’. The hype around social media has now led many business to believe that there is a panacea of traffic and customers they can access by simply ‘getting involved’ with the big social media sites. This is again myth and while the evolution of the web has opened up great new opportunities and new routes to market for businesses the reality is you need to act smart to get results and acting smart online means you need to be more well informed than ever.

The way the web works has changed. New web technologies have made it possible for non technical users to interact with the web in all sorts of ways and this interaction is what we typically call ‘social media’ a term which actually does a pretty poor job in defining the range of interactions happening online from business chat, support channels, consumer feedback, reviews, online video, blogs etc.  It’s not just about the big social networks. As these levels of interaction go up, the volume of content online is increasing exponentially and there are many ways to access information in many different formats.

Google and Digital Marketing
This change in the web has led a myth that search engine rankings (Google Rankings) are no longer as important as they once were and ‘social media’ interaction should be the main focus of online marketing. While you do need to look wider when planning your internet marketing efforts,  Google is still an absolutely fundamental piece of the puzzle and actually still the best place to start when thinking about marketing on the web. Sure there are lots of Facebook users but if you think about where you typically go online when looking for a product, product review, researching a topic etc then Google is still the main starting point for most web journeys. Just by looking at the Google search results these days you can see how they are blending in video, blogs, news, social results etc thereby putting their search engine right in the centre of multiple content channels and acting as a conduit to the ‘social web’. Their social search – functionality takes this one step further by personalising user search results based on their social network connections.

Online Market Research
The research phase of online marketing is possibly the most important yet probably the most overlooked step in most online marketing efforts. It’s important for business to understand the landscape they are trying to compete in before entering into a space online. The outputs from an online market research exercise should  include all kinds of information, from data on how people search for related products and services, data on specific keywords and key phrases used in search, profiles of web properties associated with target markets, Industry sites, blogs, forums, social groups and so on. This is what I would call the digital profile for a market . Once this has been mapped out the next stage becomes much clearer

Online Market Research  – Practical Steps
Simply think like a user/customer – Start with Google and start searching on keywords and key phrase related to your business/products etc and focus on your user journey. Take note of the type of sites which are ranking and also the types of content (video, blogs, forums, shopping feeds results, social results etc). After a while you will find most of the highest ranking (high authority) sites in your market as well as the sort of content which seems to rank such as video content and so on. Use the sidebar on Google to break down results into different types of content (blogs, discussion etc) and see what ranks in these sub sections, click on related searches to help you brainstorm different keywords related to your market etc.

Keyword Research – Use the  Google Adwords Keyword tool to get some real Google data on how often terms are actually searched for on Google.

Social Media Analysis – There are  lots of specialist social media monitoring/analytics tools available but you can learn a lot by just exploring what others are doing on social media sites. Check your competitors presence on Facebook and sign up to follow them on Twitter. Look out for best practice. You will know what best practice is when you see active user engagement. It’s not about the numbers of fans/followers its about how engaged they are.

Competitor Analysis – Use sites like Alexa, Semrush and Compete to get great data about competitor sites, ranking details, demographics of visitors etc. There are advanced paid options with most of these sites/tools but free versions still give you lots of good data.

More advanced toolkits are available from reputable companies such as the excellent Seomoz toolkit which I use myself and the Hub Spot products which are also very well regarded.

Digital Marketing Activity
So once your company better understands its space online and has done the ground work on online market research, competitor research etc. the next step, in theory is simple. You want to put your business, your products and your key messages right in front of your target customer audience. This means you want to rank on Google for the main keywords you have researched and you want your content to be placed on many of the relevant sites and web properties that you found when you were running through your customer journey  exercise. All of this can be summarised by the following phrases – ‘Develop great content and do very smart things with that content’ . The video below explores what this might involve in terms of what needs done on your website and what you need to do off-site (interaction around the web, social media etc).

 

Outsource Digital Marketing?
The decision on whether to outsource all digital marketing or bring in-house (or blend both) is an important but difficult decisions for many businesses to make. The video below explains some of the key factors that companies should consider before making this decision.

Bedford Corners Real Estate finds “12 cool tools for handy dads” | Inman Newsfor the Bedford Corners Real Estate Market

12 cool tools for handy dads

Make painting, woodworking easy for under $300Flickr image courtesy of <a href=

When it comes to a gift for Father’s Day, you know you can never go wrong with a cool new tool! So here are some great suggestions, listed in order of average street price, for you or the family to consider for Dad this year.

Kreg Square-Cut ($14.98): Here’s a simple, easy-to-use tool that lets you accurately align your circular saw to your pencil mark when cutting wood to length. Adjustable to align perfectly to your specific saw, for fast, repeatable cuts in lumber, siding, and a variety of other materials up to 12 inches wide.

Craftsman Ratcheting Wrench Sets ($17.99 and up): Craftsman is offering a wide range of open-end and box-end wrench sets with ratcheting mechanisms for added convenience. There’s a four-piece open-end set in metric or SAE (standard size) that lets you turn nuts and bolts without removing the wrench. There are also seven-piece open-/box-end Elbow Ratcheting sets, also in metric and SAE ($79.99), with ends that adjust and lock at different angles.

True Temper Graphite “Shock Zero” Hammer ($19.99 and up): A very comfortable hammer with a tough graphite handle and non-slip grip. It features a wider striking face, and a handy magnetic nail holder that helps save your fingers. Well-balanced and virtually indestructible, these 16- and 20-ounce hammers should last a lifetime.

Craftsman Max Axess Mechanics Tool Set ($70): This is a truly unique, open socket and wrench design that allows the bolt to pass through the socket and even through the ratchet. It eliminates the need for deep sockets, and even allows the use of a socket wrench on threaded rods. The complete kit includes 42 sockets in SAE and metric sizes, 1/4-inch and 3/8-inch ratchets, extensions and other fittings, in a great case that holds things very well. It’s all the sockets a do-it-yourselfer should need around the house or shop.

Black & Decker 12V Piranha Pruning Saw ($79.99): This handy pruning saw cuts through branches up to 3 inches thick, and features a pivoting clamping jaw that grabs the branch for a clean cut with less vibration. The 12-volt lithium battery has enough power to cut more than 50 one-inch branches per charge. The saw also accepts any “T” shank jig saw blades, so you can use it for cutting PVC pipe, copper pipe, plywood and lumber.

Dremel Trio ($99): A versatile tool for a variety of DIY projects, the Trio gets its name from its ability to cut, sand and route. The handle pivots 90 degrees for more versatility, and the non-marring foot telescopes for accurate depth control. Great for wood, plywood and drywall. Features variable 10,000 to 20,000 RPM speed control, and comes in a kit with a case and several handy accessories.

DeWalt DCF815S2 12-Volt Max 1/4-Inch Impact Driver Kit ($139): DeWalt offers several different tough, compact tools that utilize the new 12-volt lithium ion battery technology. This is their impact driver, which drives screws and lag bolts with ease. Three LED lights circle the bit for great visibility, and the clever flat, bottom-mounted battery design lets the tool stand up on its own. Very powerful, but light enough and small enough to easily fit in a tool belt. The kit includes two batteries, charger and a soft case.

Ryobi TEK 4 Inspection Scope ($139): If you need to know what the framing’s like inside the wall, where that leak’s coming from, or exactly what’s going on behind the dishwasher, here’s the perfect tool at an affordable price. With a bright LED light, 3-foot waterproof cable, 2-times digital zoom, and a bright, clear viewing screen, now you can see inside walls and behind hidden objects with ease. Uses interchangeable 4-volt TEK 4 batteries. Charger and battery included.

Milwaukee 2411-22 M12 38″ Cordless Hammer Drill Driver Kit ($159): This is one of Milwaukee’s line of compact, heavy-duty 12-volt lithium ion tools, offering 275 inch-pounds of torque while weighing only 2.8 pounds. Has a two-speed gear box (0-400 RPM and 0-1,500 RPM), with 0-22,500 beats per minute (BPM) in hammer mode. It also has an bright LED work light, on-board fuel gauge, and 30-minute charger, all in a fitted case. It’s a lot of tool in a small package.

Wagner 515040 Procoat Max Airless Paint Sprayer ($299): Here’s an affordable airless paint sprayer that can tackle all your big projects, including home exteriors. Sprays 0.26 gallons per minute at 2800 PSI, with a 1/2-horsepower motor and variable pressure for spraying a variety of materials. Includes a 25-foot hose with a professional-grade, all-metal spray gun with reversible tip and filter. Telescoping cart allows painting from a 1- or 5-gallon can.

Husqvarna 356BT Back Pack Blower ($479.95): For larger yards, Dad will really appreciate the unique design of this lower-emission, two-stroke, gas-powered backpack blower. The engine, fan housing, and exhaust tube are all designed and insulated specifically to dampen noise. The blower operates at only 64 decibels, which meets many community noise ordinances, and the tone is a lot gentler on the ears. The comfortable padded and ventilated backpack harness has nice wide shoulder pads and a hip belt. The fan generates 177 MPH of air flow, with a tube-mounted throttle control.

Porter-Cable 77240 24-Inch Omnijig Joinery System ($579.95): If Dad’s a woodworker, here’s the ultimate gift that you might want to get the whole family in on. The well-designed Omnijig works with any router to cut a variety of dovetail and box joints in wood up to 24 inches wide, and from 1/8 inch to 1 1/2 inches thick. Templates allow half-blind dovetails to be cut with a single pass of the router. There are also fingers that are independently adjustable for a unique, hand-cut dovetail look. The various color-coded on-board instructions, depth guides, and bit stops minimize test cuts and ensure greater speed and accuracy.

Remodeling and repair questions? Email Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com. All product reviews are based on the author’s actual testing of free review samples provided by the manufacturers.

   

Chappaqua Realtors reads “Seth’s Blog: Who pays for the news media?” | Chappaqua NY Real Estate

It's easy to act as though the news media is something that is done to us. Some alien force, projected onto all of us, pushed out by them.

Of course, that's not true. It's something we buy, something we pay for.

We're paying for superficial analyses, talking points, shouting heads, *****gate of the moment, herd journalism and silly local urgencies instead of important international trends. We're paying for fast instead of good. We believe we're paying for hard questions being asked, but we're not getting what we're paying for.

We might pay with a dollar at the newsstand, but we're probably paying with our attention, with attention that is turned into ad sales.

Too often, we fail to stop and say, "Wait, I paid for that?"

Almost everything else we buy is of far higher quality than it was twenty years ago. The worst car you could buy then was a Yugo… clearly we've raised the bar at the bottom. Is the same thing true of your news?

As the number of outlets and channels has exploded, media companies have faced a choice. Some have chosen to race to the bottom, to pander to the largest available common denominator and turn a trust into a profit center. A few have chosen to race to the top and to create a product actually worth paying for.

I fear that the race to the bottom will continue, but it's hard to see how anyone could be happy winning it.

Their civic obligations aside, it's up to us to decide what to buy.