Video Openhouse

Tour float homes for sale in Greater Vancouver.

Tour this float home provided by Ricki Willing of Sutton Group - Seafair Realty.

Tour this float home provided by Ricki Willing of Sutton Group - Seafair Realty.

Tour this float home provided by Ricki Willing of Sutton Group - Seafair Realty.

Earth Hour is gaining popularity every year. This March 28th from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm the world will unite in an initiative to save energy by shutting the lights. 2007 was the first time the event took place with 2.2 million Australians went without power for one hour. In 2008, over 50 million people in more than 370 cities world wide participated. We are approaching the third year; which is anticipated to be the most successful year yet. The World Wildlife Foundation thinks over 1 billion people in 70 countries are expected to participate this year.

Support is there; showing that people care. Will this be enough to show politicians and corporations that the public wants them to take environmental initiatives seriously? Or is this a minimalistic effort by consumers to ease their guilt over unfriendly practises year round?  Will you participate? If yes, why?

BC Real Estate Convention 2009 Spring

Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC
Ballroom A, B, C

Date                                      Exhibit Hours             Seminar Hours
February 25th & 26th 2009     10:00am - 6:00pm     10:45am - 5:30pm

The 4th annual BC Real Estate Convention 2009 Spring show. As the only real estate show in Western Canada, it will cover all aspects the BC real estate market and industry. Due to popular demand the show is extended from 1 to 2 days this year. Admission and Seminars are free. There will be influential 10 seminar speakers. The Convention is an excellent open forum with a variety of information on real estate-related topics.

Featured exhibitors include:

• Municipalities,
• Insurance companies,
• Developers,
• Home Inspectors,
• Real Estate Brokerages,
• Home Staging Companies,
• Financial Institutions,
• Law Firms,
• Accounting Firms,
• Real Estate Agents,
• Real Estate Associations and others.

www.bcrealestateconvention.com

A delegation of 5 Tibetan Monks, led by the Venerable Lophon Jampa Sopa, a master in Buddhist Mandala Arts. A portion of proceeds donated to the monastery.

From Tuesday, February 24, 2009 to Saturday, February 28, 2009 @ 10am-4pm.

Also on display: traditional Tibetan thankas by Kalsang Dawa.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall Street in Vancouver’s Chinatown
www.dzongkarmandalatour.org

Are social networking site worth advertising on? The premise of social networking is to unite individuals and expand their associations. Many people see it as a personal marketing opportunity. Large well branded companies have been effectively using this medium for years. Should businesses of all sizes use this forum to connect to their customer contacts?

Connecting consumers with other consumers means they can:

• See who their contacts trust.
• Endorse companies they like.
• Easily discuss topics.
• Quickly share information.

Social marketing creates a forum for mixed medium marketing combining audio, video, and text. Statistics show that businesses embracing social marketing effectively are reaping the rewards through sales, leads, or increased awareness.

Social marketing helps businesses:

• Build customer relationships.
• Acquire vital customer information.
• Perform market research and customer qualification.
• Direct and retain traffic in a cost effective, manageable way.
• Create a community around customers.
• Targeting specific groups.

Customers:

• Are actively engaged.
• Have a channel to voice opinions.
• Join with a related community.
• Tap into the collective wisdom.
• Listen to their network.

Interacting with the social collective on Social Networking sites is very beneficial for businesses looking to increase and maintain their client base. Consider your audience and objectives when you evaluate if this is the right channel for your business’ branding.  So many consumers are out there searching for information. Are they finding yours?

Is Social Networking a useful tool for your business? Has your network expanded since marketing on Social Networking sites? What is working for your business?

The HSBC Celebration of Light is cancelled for this year. Some people are happy to be rid of the noise and congestion. Others will miss the spectacular family event. The HSBC media release stated the not-for-profit Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society who puts of the festival was not able to raise the $4 million needed to put on the show. Vancouver will miss the over $37 million in revenues and the international exposure generated by this event. Will you?

Past participants include:

·         USA
·         China
·         Spain
·         Italy
·         Sweden
·         Mexico
·         Czech Republic
·         South America

How is the technology industry’s growth affected by the economy? Would many new products be released? Are companies holding back on launches waiting for consumer to feel confident? Deloitte is calling this the year of social networking, netbooks, smartphones and poor 3G connections. This sounds like more of the same from 2008.

Here are a few things we thought might happen:

1.    More Intellectual Property will be for sale on eBay.
2.    Release of Windows 7.
3.    DVD streaming expands.
4.    Blu-ray will be slow to catch on.
5.    New set-top boxes will be released.
6.    The economic downturn will boost bargain-hunting.
7.    Netbooks popularity will increase.
8.    The Fortune 500’s will catch on to Facebook.
9.    Mobile ads will start.
10.  Wireless devices will outsell mobile phones.
11.  Apple’s mobile share will continue to grow as others drop about.

What do you think? Are we out of touch? What are your ideas?