Alice, of Wonderland fame, said things got “curiouser and curiouser.” But unlike Wonderland, the Web gets simpler and simpler for Realtors.

Always Use the Correct Term

Afraid to use a big word because it might turn out to be a malapropism? That can’t happen if you look words up in the famed Roget’s Thesaurus. Not sure of a word’s various meanings or spelling? Go to the lexicon. It’s easy to be certain at Dictionary.com. Bugged because you don’t know what all those geeky, techie, Internet terms mean? Find out, and then absolutely amaze that pompously overbearing webmaster that you simply cannot stand. Netlingo.com makes it possible.

Sick of Junk Mail?

To help eliminate much of your junk e-mail, new filters and anti-spam software is a boon. Search the web for “e-mail tools” on any search engine, or here’s a list of links to some free (shareware) anti-spam tools.

Voice e-mail

Why type it? Just say it! Within a couple years, the “typing-out” of e-mail messages will be passe. You’ll just babble into a microphone to send emails. Or, translate talk into text---your choice.

But guess what? Today, you can send voice e-mail by using the free program from Rockettalk. Best of all, you can send these even to consumers who, themselves, have not downloaded the Rockettalk software. Give it a try. It’s great for e-mailing pals and relatives, too.

Chatting with Clients in Real Time

Sometimes clients prefer exchanging e-mails with you instead of discussing a transaction over the phone. In such cases, why not have the discussion with them in your own “Chat Room.” If you’re on AOL, it’s easy. Just use the AOL Instant Messenger to create a split-screen chat room box for two-way text messages. You already have the needed software included in the new AOL version 5.0. (What? You haven’t downloaded 5.0 yet???) If you’re not on AOL, merely register and download the software from AOL’s home page.

Your recipients must register their version with AOL and have their own copies of Instant Messenger, or they must actually be on AOL. Netscape has a version, too, but since AOL bought Netscape, the two are basically the same. Yahoo also provides a similar chat tool.

Another option is using ICQ, (stands for "I Seek You"). Miribilis, the creator, describes its ICQ ("I Seek You") product this way: “ ICQ is a program that lets you find your friends and associates online in real time. You can create a Contact List containing only people you want to have there, you can send them messages, chat with them, send files, configure ICQ to work with external applications and more.”

They add, “ICQ also informs you who's on-line at any time and enables you to contact them at will. No longer will you search in vain for friends or associates on the Net. ICQ does the searching for you, alerting you in real time when they log on.” ICQ’s web site provides much additional detail.

If you had your clients’ e-mail addresses placed in your ICQ contacts file, you’d be alerted each time one of them went online. And vice versa if you are among their e-mail contacts. You could then know when the person was at the computer to receive an e-mail, image, file, etc. through ICQ. And, you’d know when to set up a split-screen chat box with them.

Caution: Gain permission before using ICQ with people. Some consider “instant alerts” and pop-up chat boxes on their screens intrusive. However, you can readily see here the merits of private chat boxes to discuss stuff compared with expensive long distance phone calls.

Back-Up and Storage of Files

If your hard drive hasn’t yet crashed, losing all or most of your files and e-mails, wait! It will. I promise you. So back up your files using external Zip or Jaz Drives, or, storing your files on the web itself at free upload/storage sites like Driveway. I feel that the best backup of all is an internal tape drive. One of these multi-gigabyte units can copy not only your files and e-mails en masse, but every one of your programs, your registry and all that other expensive, arcane computer stuff, too, in a flash.

With full backup of everything, if your hard drive crashes, you just pop in a new one, transfer the stuff from your tape drive onto the new hard drive, and you’re precisely back where you were a second before the crash. You can save yourself a week of hard labor (RE-installing programs) this way.

Safety from Hackers

If you’re paranoid about hackers (or, more likely, nosey hi-tech Realtors®) ripping off your leads and client lists, why not see how safe your computer is right now by visiting Gibson Research. Then, when they show you how vulnerable you are (more so if you’re always online as with most fast web connects), you can download a free firewall from Zonelabs.com to help avoid hackers. For more on data protection, read the recent related column (where I learned about Gibson and Zonelabs) written my esteemed and brilliant, (kissing up to peers is a valuable Realtor® tool, too) fellow columnist, Stephen Canale.

Make the Web Your Lap Dog

Using proper web tools makes a Realtor®’s work easier. So why struggle? Next time you need help on something you’re doing, just go to a search engine and enter in the key words of what you think you need. That’s exactly how I found the above free tools for anti-spam. I searched for “e-mail tools.”

Remember that the Web is your friend, just like Rover was when you were a kid. Learn to love him (accept him for what he is) and he will never bite you.

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Published: March 15, 2000

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Bill Koelzer is a Web marketing consultant to web-proficient agents nationwide. He is co-author, with Barbara Cox, Ph.D., of the Prentice-Hall books, Internet Marketing in Real Estate and Internet Marketing. Bill is also webmaster of Orange County Real Estate, among the most-awarded known Realtor® sites. Visit his website, Koelzer.com or e-mail him at .