Following Connect from Afar

As much as we'd love to have everyone at Connect SF - understandably, some folks won't be able to make it.

That's why this year, we've made it even easier for you to follow the conference online so you won't miss a thing.

We've created a Connect SF Feed Blog (Bookmark it!) that pulls in all coverage of Connect from all across the Internet. You can visit daily to catch up on photos of the event, blog posts and shared links; they are even all aggregated in one monster Connect RSS feed for you to subscribe to.

Just click on the big button to get the feed.

But for the Connect SF Feed Blog to truly be the best source of Connect coverage, it depends on YOU to share with the community... Here's three ways you can contribute:

1. Bloggers - Tag all of your Connect blog posts with the "connectsf" (no quotes) tag on Technorati.
2. Attendees - Tag your photos with "connectsf" on Flickr.
3. Vendors/Companies - Making an announcement at Connect? Tag your press releases with "connectsf" on del.icio.us.

Thanks for your help! Check back often to see all the latest goings-on.

Your favorite SF dining spot?

Looking to dine in style while you're here?

There's no shortage of upscale restaurants in San Francisco. Some of our favorites include Boulevard along the Embarcadero, Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio, and the aptly named seafood restaurant Aqua. For more casual fare in the South of Market area, we recommend Ristorante Umbria at 2nd and Howard for Italian food or Tres Agaves on Townsend and 2nd for Mexican. There are dozens of other choices within a few blocks of the hotel, so you might also just want to stroll around and see what you find.

For those of you who have been to the city before or are from here, what are some of your favorites?

Getting from Oakland Airport to The Palace Hotel

A while back I blogged about getting from SFO to the Palace Hotel, and Tim asked about getting there from Oakland airport. Well, here goes...

Pretty much all the same options apply, though taxis and shuttles may be slightly more expensive since the Oakland airport is slightly farther away.  Taxi and shuttle services are fairly easy to come by right outside the terminals, but if you want to call ahead of time and schedule a pick up, you can find a list of service providers here.

Bart also runs right past the Oakland airport. Here's information about how and where to pick it up.

For more information on getting from either of the airports to downtown, try this page at SF Gate.com.

Hope that helps!

Program .pdf now online

This year we are providing an electronic version of the conference program so that you can review it ahead of time and bring it with you to the show. Consider it your playbook for a successful show. The .pdf version can be found here.

Because we have so many speakers covering so many topics, the program’s biographies section alone takes up many, many pages. So instead of including the complete bio for each speaker, the new electronic format allows us to link over to the InmanWiki, where you’ll find everything you need to know about all of our speakers.

This method has allowed us to reduce the number of pages in the program guide by more than 25%. So in that sense, you could say that the InmanWiki helped save a tree!

Planning Your Schedule at Connect

by Mike Rohde

Real Estate Connect is just around the corner. If you're looking ahead to to plan your days in San Francisco, just click on this button to import the conference schedule into Google Calendar.



Mac OSX iCal and Windows Outlook users can also click on this link to download an .ics file, or you can view an HTML version of the events.

You can also download a printable copy of the full program here. (PDF 12.1MB)

Technorati Tags: ConnectSF, Real Estate Connect, Inman News

Social Networking the Old Fashioned Way

by James Thomas Rowe

Let's grab a beer!

Beer with Bloggers grew out of an informal gathering of real estate bloggers just before Connect in New York last January. This time around we're doing in bigger and even better.

The good folks at Zillow are sponsoring the event, which will be going down at the Thirsty Bear. This should make Matt very happy.

Beer with Bloggers is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime real time "social networking" event. This is your chance to meet and chat with some of the most influential voices in the real estate industry.

The bad news is, Beer with Bloggers event is open only to registered Bloggers Connect attendees. But the good news is, there's still time for you to get tickets - registrations will be open until Sunday night.

See you there!




Technorati Tags: Bloggers Connect, ConnectSF, Beer with Bloggers, Networking

Where to find a cup of joe

Let me answer one of the most important questions anyone will ask during the event: Where can i find a good cup of coffee nearby?

The hotel serves fresh brewed coffee every morning, but for those of you who prefer to sip an espresso or specialty coffee, there are several choices within a short walk of the hotel.

My favorite is Café Madeleine at 149 New Montgomery St. between Minna & Natoma. They serve great coffee and even better baked goods.

Of course, there’s also a Starbucks located at 74 New Montgomery Street between Aldrich Alley & Jessie Street. And there’s a Peet’s right around the corner at 595 Mission Street between 2nd and Anthony.

R U Ready to Sound Off?

Real Estate Connect San Francisco is just around the corner, August 1-3, 2007 and this year there is an even better opportunity to be heard.  There are 6 exciting new Roundtable sessions that are sure to be lively!  We're sure you'll have a lot to say about each one of these hot topics.  Be sure to check out these sessions while you're at Connect and use this time to sound off and be heard!

Compensation: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

Moderator: Jeffrey Bastress, President, Startpoint Realty

60 Minutes: Is the Media to Blame for the Housing Blues?

Moderators: Jessica Swesey, Managing Editor, Inman News &
Ilyce Glink, President, ThinkGlink, Inc., Syndicated Columnist

How to Web 2.0 Your Company?

Moderators: Pat Kitano, Managing Principal, Domus Consulting Group & Joel Burslem, Social Media/Interactive Mktg Manager, Inman News

How to Think About Real Estate Data: Foreclosures, Listings, Protecting It and Getting It Out

Moderator: Ryan Slack, CEO, PropertyShark.com

Luxury Marketing
Moderator: Laurie Moore-Moore, Founder & CEO, The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing

Who Owns the Customer: Have the Online Companies Taken Over?

Moderator:  Kenneth Jenny, CEO & Managing Director, tranCen.com, Inc.

Exhibit Space is Sold Out, but...

Any of you who might still be harboring thoughts of exhibiting at Real Estate Connect, sorry Charlie,  we are officially sold out of exhibit space. The last lucky three to get space are PlanetRE, Comcast Spotlight and House.com. Congratulate them when you visit their booths or demostation in the Sunset Court.
              

We are also welcoming LiveDeal as a our registration sponsor. I'm sure you won't be able to miss their logo while you're at our registration desk.

                                                                                           

If you are looking for ways to reach the attendees at this late date, let Peter or me know. We still have a couple tricks up our sleeves. You can reach us by email at (alice at inman dot com) or (peter at inman dot com).

Project Blogger Coaches Corner: Week 13 & 14 Summary

Project Blogger has officially wound down. Now we're just waiting for the winner, which will be announced at Bloggers Connect in a couple of weeks. You can see the final weekly ranking on ActiveRain, as well as a Week 13 Round Up and Week 14 Round-Up of the Apprentices posts.

And so, for one last time, on to the Coaches Corner...

Jeff Turner (Real Estate Shows)
Real Estate Blog - The Best Of Julie Ferenzi - This Is Not The End

Teresa Boardman (St. Paul Real Estate)
Real Estate Blog - 101 blog post topics for Real Estate Pro's

Jim Cronin (Real Estate Tomato)
Real Estate Blog - What Can Real Estate Bloggers Learn From Betty Crocker and Oprah?
Real Estate Blog - The Real Estate Blogsite Myth

Ardell DellaLoggia (Seattle Area Real Estate Blog)
eal Estate Blog - Farewell, Kevin Tomlinson
Real Estate Blog - Project Blogger-The Last Day-Managing Comments
Real Estate Blog - Project Blogger-The Last Day-Strong Opinions
Real Estate Blog - Today is the LAST day of Project Blogger - The hardest part
Real Estate Blog - Is Active Rain a Social Network for Industry Insiders?
Real Estate Blog - Project Blogger - The Final Week

Pat Kitano (Transparent Real Estate)
Shifts from Coach to Judge for the final week
Real Estate Blog - Project Blogger Reviews Week #13

Greg Swann (BloodHoundBlog)
Project Blogger: An objective post-mortem analysis — I hope

Frances Flynn Thorsen (theRealtyGram)
Project Blogger Winds Down

Joel Burslem (Future of Real Estate Marketing)
Paul Chaney (Blogging Systems)
Dustin Luther (RainCityGuide)
Drew Meyers (Zillow Blog)
Sellsius (sellsius real estate blog)

Project Blogger is a blogging competition co-sponsored by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network and Inman News.
12 blogging coaches selected 12 apprentices to mentor and set on the
path towards real estate blogging superstardom.


Finally, a big thanks to Cheryl Johnson for her Project Blogger Links page which was a big help for all of us following the contest.

See you all in San Francisco!


Technorati Tags: Project Blogger, Real Estate Connect, Bloggers Connect, real estate blogging, real estate blog

Business Cards 2.0

If you're like me, you're probably starting to psych yourself up for the trip to San Francisco for Connect. If you've never been to a Connect event before, it's a pretty intense couple of days. You'll be meeting a lot of new people. And how are you going to keep in touch of with them all once all's said and done?

Business cards are an old standby. But let's be honest, who hasn't taken a whole handful of business cards home from a conference and then promptly thrown them in the trash.

I don't think it's that the medium (a printed card) is obsolete - rather it's what we put on our cards that makes them kind of useless.

This year then - why not try something different? Check out moo - an online printing company, based out of the U.K.

Their mini cards are half the size of a regular business card and they can take your Flickr photostream and output different images on every one of your cards. How's that for standing out?

On the back, forget the regular contact info... try putting the following info on there:

• Your blog's URL
• A link to add you on Facebook or MySpace
• Your Twitter identity
• A link to your LinkedIn profile

That way you'll have more than enough ways to connect virtually with people after Connect's all wrapped. There's already 143 members in Facebook group and 195 members in the LinkedIn group, making contacts before this thing has even started!
 

Getting from SFO to The Palace

Haven't figured out yet how to get from the airport to the hotel? Don't worry, it's easy. Here are 5 simple ways you can do it...

1. Cabs are always waiting at the airport (at the Baggage Claim levels of all terminals) and can drive you to the hotel for somewhere between $35 and $45.

2. You can pick up a shuttle at the airport for more like $15 - $20, if you don’t mind riding with other passengers and making a few stops along the way. The major shuttle services include Super Shuttle and Bay Porter Express.

3. The airport also houses most major car rental companies (on the fourth floor), including Hertz, Avis, Budget, and more. A full listing can be found here.

4. You can also take the BART train from the airport to the city. Take the Dublin/Pleasanton train to the Montgomery St. station and you'll be about 2 blocks from the hotel. Here are directions.

5. Or, if you prefer to arrive in style, call 4 Seasons Limousine at (415) 225-2959. Tell them Brad Inman sent you!

Seven brokerage companies vie for top award

Seven real estate brokerage companies will compete for the Inman Innovator award this year in the Most Innovative Brokerage or Franchise category, which recognizes excellence, innovation and success in the real estate brokerage business.

The 2007 finalists for brokerage include @Properties, Coldwell Banker, The Corcoran Group, Foxtons, Iggys House, John L. Scott Real Estate and Real Living.

More information about the finalists:

@properties

@properties is a fast-growing real estate company based in Chicago. The company was founded by agents Michael Golden and Thaddeus Wong, who teamed together during the late 1990s. During its first three years, @properties earned three consecutive Golden Eagle Awards from the Chicago Association of Realtors, honoring Chicago's top-selling agent. The company rocketed to more than 550 agents serving Chicago from four city offices.

Coldwell Banker

With more than 120,000 sales associates in 3,800 offices across the globe, Coldwell Banker is one of the most recognized brands in real estate. In the last few years, the company has maintained a focus on ColdwellBanker.com as a focal point for its agents and consumers. The company has added multimedia features, enabling consumers to view a full library of streaming videos. Consumers also can use satellite mapping, widgets and RSS feeds to locate properties at the site. Coldwell Banker in 2007 became the first national real estate company to sell homes within the 3D virtual community Second Life, which has more than 7 million users.

The Corcoran Group

The Corcoran Group was founded in 1973 as New York City began an historic transition from being a market predominately composed of rentals to one of individual ownership. Corcoran grasped the implications of this change by targeting specific neighborhoods and concentrating on higher-end properties. Since inception, the company has acquired major real estate companies in Manhattan and Brooklyn, making it among New York City's modern brokerage leaders. The Corcoran Group's Web site, Corcoran.com, serves as one of the go-to places for listings information in New York City.

Foxtons

Foxtons is a brokerage company serving New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, offering "full service for less commission." The company routinely includes virtual tours for every listing, floor plans, location maps, multiple photos and slideshows, and online exposure for sellers. Foxtons is headquartered in New Jersey and has about 500 employees in six locations.

Iggys House

Iggys House was launched in 2007 by BuySide Realty, a discount brokerage company started by brothers Joseph and Avi Fox to offer online services at lower prices. While BuySide is a buyers' service, Iggys House is a free service for sellers. Home sellers can post property information, photos and videos at the IggysHouse.com Web site, and the company will enter property information in an MLS database that can be accessed by agents from other real estate companies. Both companies were founded by the creators of pioneering online stock brokerage company Web Street, which launched in 1996, went public in 1999 and was sold to ETrade in 2001.

John L. Scott Real Estate

Pacific Northwest-based John L. Scott Real Estate has 141 offices and more than 4,700 sales associates located throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho. The company's Web site, Johnlscott.com, receives more than 1 million user visits a month producing more than 9 million listing views. John L. Scott's site features Microsoft Virtual Earth mapping, comparable home sale information, high-definition home search and the recently added Neighborhood Wizard, which enables consumers to draw on a map the parameters of the neighborhood in which they seek home information.

Real Living

Real Living is a Midwest-based brokerage company with nearly 4,000 sales associates and employees in more than 160 offices across the country. The company launched the MyRealLiving 2.0 portal, which enables agents and consumers to work together in real time. The portal replicates an in-person experience with an agent online, enabling consumers to organize, personalize, save and share properties with their agent, family or friends. Buyers can flip saved property cards and add personal notes on the back, bookmark articles, and organize appointments and open houses, among other things. Sellers can track online views of their properties and view online marketing materials from their agent. MyRealLiving 2.0 has about 85,000 members and grows at about 2,000 users per month, according to a company tally.

Beer Lovers visit the ThirstyBear

Looking for a good place to grab a home brewed beer after the conference? Head over to the ThirstyBear Restaurant and Brewery just around the corner at 661 Howard Street. Directions from the Palace Hotel are here. They serve 7 organic house brews every day, including the Polar Bear Lager, Valencia Wheat, Golden Vanilla, Meyer E.S.B, Howard Street I.P.A. and Kozlov Stout. But my personal favorite is the Brown Bear Ale, pictured here.

Art lovers check out 'First Thursday'

If you're coming to Real Estate Connect in San Francisco this August and you love original, non-hoity-toity, nitty-gritty, fresh-off-the-innovation-train art, you are in luck! This year's Connect conference falls during the first Thursday of the month (Aug. 2), which San Franciscans know is the best night of the month to take yourself out and tour the art galleries around downtown. If you're not sure where to go, visit Yelp.com and search for "First Thursday" and you'll find a few galleries listed to get you started. Start with one nearest your hotel and ask some of the other attendees where the next closest gallery is. It's that easy. Nearly all the downtown galleries will be open to visitors and have plenty of art to check out.