Backups Made Easy with clickfree Transformer

With all the talk about the importance of backing up your files, I had starting using some external drives for piece of mind. I had originally started using a Acomdata drive, which has served me well. Except for capacity, it's very similar to the AcomData PureDrive 1 TB USB 2.0/FireWire 400/eSATA Desktop External Hard Drive PDHD1000UFSE. The drive is now full with pictures as well as a complete backup of the 120 GB Drive on my IBM Thinkpad.

For some time I had been thinking of how I was going to use the Seagate FreeAgent 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive ST310005FDA1E1-RK I had picked this up at a very good sale and it was still in the box.

Then I read about a new easy way to back up all of your 'data' files (not system and programs). It's called the clickfree Transformer from Storage Appliance Corporation . You first connect the clickfree to a USB port on your computer. You then connect the included USB cable between the clickfree and an external drive. The clickfree acts like a smart bridge between the computer and the external drive. The built in software in the clickfree, searches your computer for virtually all of the data types and then simply copies them over to the external drive.

The first time I used the clickfree Transformer, it took approx 2 hours to copy all of my document files, pictures, movies, sound files, email backup. I did this at night, just before going to bed and I didn't wait up.

Now, the incremental backups take just about a minute or two!

As with many of my electonic purchases, I bought my Clickfree Transformer over at Amazon. As you can see, the price is very right!

Although I've never used a Mac, the Quickstart Guide does include directions for use with Mac OSX Leopard 10.5 or later .

The Big Red Fez - Internet Markting Ideas

When Seth Godin wrote The Big Red Fez: How To Make Any Web Site Better he was already credited with authoring 5 other books as well as co-authoring The Guerrilla Marketing Handbook with Jay Levinson, who has since been the author of Guerilla Marketing on the Internet: The Definitive Guide from the Father of Guerilla Marketing
.

I didn't realize what a prolific author on the subject of Marketing, that Seth Godin had become, until I saw over 160 references when you search on his name at Amazon.com. Similar searches at other online book seller sites give similar results.

As Realtors, we usually do not have much spare time, so it's good that The Big Red Fez: How To Make Any Web Site Better is a relatively short book with 111 pages. These pages are jammed with content, using 45 examples of good and bad web sites. Somed of these sites are from small local business and others are nationally know brands. In each example, Seth uses the technique of 'show me the banana'! OK, you got me to your site, now what action do you want me to do? Is it to buy? Is it to subscribe? How easy is it to complete the action! As Realtors, this is know as closing the deal.

In too many cases, the web site has made it difficult, if not impossible to close the deal. I've never heard any marketer say this before, but Seth Godin says this and it is so true..

"...once someone is online, she's only a click away from your competition."

WOW. That's something too many forget when the build their web site.

No matter what your business, this is so true.

The Big Red Fez: How To Make Any Web Site Better is an IDEA book, it is not written for 'techies'. If you're a techie and edit your own site, you can go and incorporate the lessons from the book to accomplish your internet goals. If you're not a techie, use the ideas from the book to check out your own site. Then get your web site developer to do the programing.

Seth Godin points out in the introduction, "There are two versions of what happens online. There's the engineer's version, which is that smart people, with plenty of time, who know precisely what they want from their online surfing, are able to make a considered decision with access to all the data........"
"Then, there's the marketer's version. This says that people are busy, ill informed, impatient, not very thoughtful, and eager to click on something right now. Marketers also believe that if you don't give a prospect the right thing to click on right now, he's going to click on the "Back" button and leave."
"The second version is the one that's backed up with all the data and all the successful results. Because it's the right version. The first version is what leads most web-based companies to failure"

Make your web site, web user friendly. Get and read your own copy of The Big Red Fez: How To Make Any Web Site Better

Good News From National Association Of Realtors On The Pace of U.S. Existing Home Sales

In a press release, issued today, the National Association of Realtors, said " For the first time in five years, existing-home sales have increased for four months in a row...."....The NAR chief economist, Lawrence Yun , who said he is encouraged, is quoted as saying "..the housing market has decisively turned for the better."

I know that we are seeing more activity in our real estate school with more new persons wanting to get into the business, as well as at our real estate business with more buyers and sellers.

You can read more of the Reator article at their news release site .

The Fall Real Estate School Season Is Just A Few Weeks Away

As we gear up for the September Real Estate Classes, we have a few questions. Where has the summer gone? For a while it seemed as though it would never arrive! We really haven't broken any heat records. We had a bit of an escape to Maine and a short trip to the Cape.

Annex Real Estate School is conveniently located in the Wollaston section of Quincy, near the T stop on the Red Line. The pre-licensing classes are taught by Massachusetts Real Estate Brokers who are also licensed Real Estate Instructors.

The September schedule will start off on Friday evening, September 11th, with an Accelerated Weekend Real Estate Salesperson Class. Then on the following Tuesday, September 15th will be the start of the traditional, easier paced, Midweek Classes, with Day and Evening offerings. These Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson Classes are still only $200 including two (2) professional texbooks. Annex Real Estate School uses the latest edition textbooks (not just someone's 'class handbook') to teach to the General Section and for the Massachusetts Specific Section of the state exam.

You can see the entire September and October Schedule just by clicking HERE

If you would like to learn more abut the Real Estate licensing process, start by reading THIS

When you're ready to sign up for a class,then go to the page of Annex Real Estate School where you will be able to pre-register for a class as well as download an Application.

Don't put this off, as the state legislature is favorably considering two bills that will significantly increase the number of classroom hours need prior to taking the state licensing exam.

See you in School.

You might also check out our affiliated shopping site Annex Real Estate Source You'll find books on real estate of interest to all as well as a few special gift and personal shopping opportunities.