For Immediate Release:
July 2, 2008
NJAR® REACHES THE PUBLIC AND MEMBERS THROUGH NEW MULTIMEDIA AND WEB INITIATIVES
(Edison, NJ) The New Jersey Association of REALTORS® (NJAR®) today announced its use of several new multimedia and web initiatives that enable the Association to connect with its members and the public through a variety of different means. Consumers and NJAR® members can now get information about the Association and its activities through a variety of mediums that fit their lifestyle needs.
"As our membership and the public are increasingly on-the-go they are turning to a variety of products and services to make it easier for them to get the most up-to-date information on all things real estate," said NJAR® Executive Vice President Jarrod Grasso.
"Utilizing these new multimedia and web tools is an excellent way for NJAR®
to connect with people who want more interactive and faster methods of receiving
information about the Association and its activities."
Some of the new technologies NJAR® is using include:
Facebook
NJAR® recently created a profile on Facebook. Facebook is a social networking website that allows users to join, free of charge, online communities organized by city, occupation, school, and region, and interact with other people. On NJAR®'s Facebook page, visitors can view pictures, read about upcoming events and recruit fellow NJAR® members to join the NJAR® group.
LinkedIn
NJAR® also developed a profile on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site that is mainly used for professional networking. The website is also free to users and offers them a way to expand their business contact list.
Second Life
Additionally, NJAR® has purchased property within Second Life, an interactive, virtual world on the Internet. NJAR®'s virtual office is open for business at
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Lamprey/182/37/21. Users can sign-up for a free presence on www.secondlife.com so that you can view NJAR®'s virtual office, however, Second Life does charge a fee for some transactions, such as buying property.
RSS Feeds
NJAR® has created RSS feeds for its members, including feeds for a weekly association newsletter and njar.com updates. The RSS feeds make it possible for people to keep up with the NJAR® website in an automated manner that can be directed into special programs or filtered displays on their computers. Members of the public and the media can subscribe to NJAR®'s press releases feed through www.njar.com/rss.php.
Podcasts
NJAR® employs podcasts to connect with its membership and the public. Podcasts are downloadable audio mp3 files that you can access through media player software, such as Windows Media Player, RealPlayer and/or QuickTime. Currently, an audio newsletter is available to NJAR® members but in the coming months more programming will be made available to consumers.
"More and more REALTORS® and consumers are drawn to the Internet and the latest technological gadgets to research, market, buy and sell real estate," added Grasso.
"NJAR®'s use of these new tools will ensure that we are in
lock-step with the ever-changing needs of our membership and the public."
For more information on these new technological initiatives, visit www.njar.com/connect.html.
The New Jersey Association of REALTORS®, with approximately 53,000 REALTOR® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members, is one of the largest trade organizations in the state. NJAR®'s membership is comprised of real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and are members of the national and local REALTOR® organizations. As the leading advocate for the real estate industry and private property rights in New Jersey, NJAR® is committed to protecting the dream of homeownership. For more information, please visit www.njar.com.
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