Transaction Management Consultants

April, 2008

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S.Y.S.T.E.M. News

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This publication is brought to you monthly by Transaction Management Consultants, the premier provider

of real estate coordinating services. For more information on TMC and the services provided to Realtors, Investors and

Developers throughout the country please visit www.ProTMC.com

Technology Corner

Cool tips and services to help you in your business.

Quiz - which do you enjoy more, going to the post office or the DMV? No, this isn't a trick question. It's an example of how spending time in either of these places can bring unpleasant memories Fortunately we don't have to visit the DMV too often, but the post office is another story. If you're a small business owner or a soloprenuer, you used to only have two choices; invest in something clunky and expensive or head to the post office and wait. Now, with Stamps.com there is no equipment to buy or trips to the post office. For a low monthly fee of about $10, you are able to print just the postage you need and never have to wait in line. You receive a scale when you set-up an account to ensure you are paying the correct amount for each item you send. After learning of this service we did a few calculations and discovered that we'd been spending more than necessary for each CD we mail. While a few cents on each item doesn't sound like much, it adds up to more than the monthly fee charged by Stamps.com The best part is we no longer have to stand in line at the post office. How did we live without the internet? Visit their website to find out more about Stamps.com.

** Administrative

Professionals Day **

Wednesday, April 23, 2008, Don't forget to thank your Administrative Assistant for all he or she does to help you with your business.

**Central Florida**

Business in the 21st Century - Virtual Resources to Grow Your Business. June 24. Think practial approach to The 4 Hour Work Week. Led by Michelle Spalding, call The Knowledge Shop to register at (407) 671-9505 or visit them on the web at The Knowledge Shop.

How to Start Your Own Consulting Business - May 13, 2008, at The Knowledge Shop - led by Elsom Eldridge, Jr., Ed. M., CPC, CPMC

Are you being paid what you're worth? Are you in a job that doesn't utilize all of your skills? Have you been laid off? According to a recent survey, the average consultant makes between $800 and $1200 a day. Aside from the money, consultants also enjoy the virtually unlimited personal freedom. If you've dreamed of escaping the corporate rat race to venture out on your own as a consultant, this is the class for you. You'll get loads of practical tips and how-to's for starting up your own consulting business, and find out exactly what you need to know to start building or enhancing your new career as a consultant immediately. You'll learn: the 5 "musts" for success more important that your expertise; How to set, raise, disclose fees; how to avoid giving away your know-how for free; How to identify consulting opportunities; How to write proposals that prospects will buy; How to build your consulting reputation; Do's and don'ts of a home office.

Held at The Knowledge Shop, to register at (407) 671-9505 or visit them on the web at The Knowledge Shop.

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To schedule Michelle for a presentation at your sales meeting or to customize a special training for your office please email Michelle@ProTMC.com

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What do you think of when you think of an expert? What do you imagine your prospects and clients think? How do you become one?

According to Dictionary.com, an expert is a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field. So you're an expert, aren't you? This doesn't mean that you can't learn more. Especially about how to promote yourself and your expertise to potential clients.

In this edition of S.Y.S.T.E.M. we will share with you more about one of our favorite places, The Knowledge Shop, the latest details on Andy Tolbert's Foreclosure Symposium coming up this weekend and also info on how to be the obvious expert in your field by applying the information found in this month's featured book.

Staying Young, Meeting New People, Learning Something New

According to the author of Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Dr. Daniel G. Amen, learning something new will help keep you young. Sounds good, right? As a real estate expert, this doesn't mean learning a new sales stategy, it means a new hobby, new skill or even taking up dancing.

If you've been thinking of taking up a new hobby or wanted to learn a skill then you have to check out Central Florida 's best kept secret, The Knowledge Shop. Located in Casselberry , this unique learning center was established in 1990, and offers hundreds of different classes on everything from dancing, to investing, to computer classes, to personal enrichment courses and so much more. Each instructor is an expert in their field and will provide you with valuable information. Classes are generally held in a short interactive seminar format.

Stop by their website and take a look for yourself. I'm sure you'll find a subject you've been wanting to learn more about. Join their mailing list as well to keep posted on the latest events and classes. The Knowledge Shop is also an excellent resource for specialized training and meeting space.

Go ahead, get out, meet new people, learn something new and be sure to let them know TMC sent you.

Michelle's Corner

Have you Read.......?

Yes, I confess, I love to read. I read for business advancement, personal improvement, fun, inspiration, pleasure and a host of other reasons. Each month, it's my pleasure and my privilege to share a few thoughts on a book I've recently read and a bit about what I learned that I hope you find helpful.

The Obvious Expert by Elsom Eldridge, Jr. and Mark Eldridge

This is one of my most recent and favorite by far business "how to" books. It's a blend of ideas and examples that will help you position yourself as an expert and leave your competition in the dust. The book is written primarily for those in or wishing to establish a consulting and coaching business. However, I feel almost any business could benefit

from most of the lessons in this book. It's step-by-step approach is practical and perfect for those on a budget. Here are a few of my favorites:

Start Talking! Find opportunities to speak to groups about your service. As a Realtor, seek opportunities to speak at local civic, neighborhood or HOA meetings. Provide content that the participants can use, not just about your services. This is an opportunity to position yourself as the neighborhood expert.

Publish Your Newsletter. Simple enough, but often challenging to get going and maintain. You could deliver this in an email format to those you've met at open houses, worked with to maintain contact or my favorite is to create a newsletter for your farm area. To cut down on the level of work required of you, have neighbors submit stories and maybe even locate a high school student who is interested in journalism to help you out. Be sure to make it entertaining and informative. Your goal should be to provide your readers with something that will make them anxious to read it every time it arrives and perhaps even to pass it along to others for you.

Start Writing! Adding content to your website is easy and very cost effective. Even websites created from templates should have informational resources about your targeted area of your expertise. This will provide a resource for those looking in this area and also increase your SEO rankings organically. Not sure where to start? Hire someone to write you a few articles or reports specific for your area of expertise. You could also try interviewing residents and local business, then transcribing them into reports for your website.

There are many other fabulous ideas in this book and I hope youadd it to your must-read list soon. To pick up own copy, click on the book cover to the left.

Become a Foreclosure Expert!

Foreclosure Symposium - Saturday, April 19, 2008

If you missed the last Foreclosure Symposium, you absolutely must attend this one. Andy Tolbert does an excellent job at educating the attendees on the current relevant information relating to short sales and foreclosures. You'll learn first hand how to help your buyers, sellers and even invest properties yourself. This one day symposium is happening here in Orlando this Saturday. Don't miss this opportunity, reserve your seat now.

REAL ESTATE HUMOR

Life is full of funny moments. At TMC, we believe the more the merrier. How

ever, we understand and respect that when our days are challenging or not going the way we'd like them to, it can be tough to smile, let alone laugh. Honestly, that's when we all need a good laugh the most. So to do our part in helping spread a few laughs, we have added a Humor page to our website. Just click on our laughing dog to be taken to the month's feature video.

Enjoy!!

Transaction Management Consultants is dedicated to helping Realtors, Investors and Developers streamline their contract-to-close processes. Our team of transaction coordinators is ready to help Manage the Details. For more information on our services, please visit our website at www.OnlineTMC.com or call (407) 622-4862 .

To schedule Michelle for a presentation at your sales meeting or to customize a special training for your office please email Michelle@ProTMC.com