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contact management software: Web based versus Desktop Contact Manager/CRM Solutions - 02/26/12 01:49 PM
A statement is often made that having a Web based CRM is clearly superior to a desktop CRM. The reality is that there are pros and cons to both. While there are many arguments over which is better and why, let's address a few of the most common misconceptions.
The first thing to do to is to realize that desktop does not mean what it used to. It is likely that many people form their opinion on the limitations of having a desktop CRM based on the most well known original ones - Howard and Friends, Agent Office and Top Producer. … (18 comments)
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contact management software: Respond is out, InTouch is in - 02/16/12 11:29 AM
Sorry to announce that the Real Estate CRM "Respond" from Pat Zaby's Systems & Seminars is no longer being offered due to issues with MS Office 2010. So as not to be the bearer of only bad tidings, I'll take this same opportunity to announce that Pat's focus is now on a new project called InTouch. You can check it out at http://patzaby.com/Products/InTouch/ … (0 comments)
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contact management software: Computer hardware and software purchases are not independent decisions - 02/16/12 08:50 AM
When smart phones first gained popularity, people started buying them without first finding out what CRMs would synch with them. When Mac started doing its marketing push and agents started going out and buying Mac desktops and laptops, they bought them and then came to me to find out if the CRM they had been considering would work on them. They were often disappointed.
Now the same thing is happening with tablet computers.
The point is that hardware comes and goes. Phones, desktops, laptops, phones, and tablets get replaced every few years. If you pick the right CRM, you may end … (1 comments)
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contact management software: Contact Managers going separate ways - 10/11/11 09:05 AM
It's been a while since I interviewed the CEO's and developers of some of the Real Estate Contact Management and CRM programs. I've been re-interviewing them to see what kind of progress they have made since we last spoke when I developed my Contact Manager Comparison Matrix. I'll let you know what I find out right here. A trend I am already seeing is that rather than all trying to be the same thing, they are developing into their own unique niche products. it's getting interesting!
… (3 comments)
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contact management software: Advantage Xi adds Facebook and Twitter Interfaces - 06/08/11 04:51 PM
A new tab is now appearing on the contact screen in Advantage Xi. It's called "Social Media". Clicking on it allows you to view the contact's Facebook or Twitter account with a few simple clicks. You no longer have to get out of your CRM to check out their FB or Twitter page. If you get a call from someone in your database, just do a "Quick search" find them, click on their Social Media tab while you are talking, and you can see what they have been up to lately within a few seconds, while they are still saying hello! They just might think … (2 comments)
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contact management software: Email, calendar, and address book phone sync using Advantage Xi - 03/21/11 11:01 AM
Let me be clear that the following solution, Advantage Xi is not right for everyone. That's why I offer over 25 different CRM solutions for Realtors. This just happens to be the one that suits my personal needs the best. If the following describes your needs as well, then maybe you should take a look at it or get a free trial by going to http://advantagexi.GaryDavidHall.com. You can also purchase at a discount on that same page.
Using Gmail and its apps to handle e-mail and contacts and calendar is OK, but it doesn't do anywhere near as much as a good CRM. … (3 comments)
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contact management software: Best Practices: Adding properties - 07/02/10 01:47 PM
To add or not to add - that is the question! Do you need to record property information in your CRM? You already have to key the property info into the MLS, and probably your Web site as well. Now the CRM too? Whether or not you do is one question, and if you decide to, the next question is how much information you are going to key into it. It depends upon what information you are actually going to need and use from within the CRM.
One type of information you want in there is information that is commonly referenced … (1 comments)
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contact management software: What could I be doing with my CRM/Contact Manager - 03/02/10 09:53 AM
The following is a list of functions that a good CRM enables you to do. Many people buy a CRM because they are told they need one, or because they want to get more organized. Often while evaluating a CRM or after purchasing one, they then end up saying that it cost too much for what they need, because it does so much that they do not need. The reality is that the CRM does so much because it is what you need, IF you want to grow your business significantly, while at the same time; having more of a personal … (4 comments)
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contact management software: Agent Office Vista 64 bit compatibility - 03/25/09 12:43 PM
Hello all. Just wanted to get the following information out there. I just received it from Emphasys Software. "We just ran several scenarios on installing AgentOffice v10.0 on to a 64bit version of Windows Vista and determined that AgentOffice is compatible with Windows 64 bit Vista...The customer needs to make sure that they have installed both the latest updates for Windows x64 SP1 AND .Net Framework 3.5 SP1. Below are the 2 links that will provide the updates needed to be installed, prior to installing AgentOffice v10.0. Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1http://tinyurl.com/W35SP1Update for Windows Vista for x64-based Systemshttp://tinyurl.com/WV64BlinkWhen installing … (3 comments)
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contact management software: Everything you ever wanted to know about Real Estate Contact Management and CRM but did not know what to ask - is now available in an informative and easy-to-use Matrix. - 03/12/09 10:01 AM
After almost six months of research, interviews and design, the Matrix is ready! It started as a way for me to be able to answer all of your questions when you called to ask about the various features of each. After mentioning it to some people and hearing the interest it generated, I decided to make it available to the public, along with some of what I know on the subject, in the form of a glossary
The Matrix allows you to compare any of currently 29 products side-by-side, across 350 features/topics/categories. Equally as important as being able to compare the product features, there is a … (4 comments)
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contact management software: How safe is your data? Web based vs. Desktop CRM's - 12/11/08 09:09 AM
Following is a little known fact. If one were to think about it, it makes perfect sense, but I had simply never thought about it. Everyone who likes Web CRMs always says, “I like Web based databases because I don’t have to worry about backing up.” Let us think about this in some detail. Let us say your computer is stolen. With a Web based product, all you have to do is get another computer, log in, and everything is there like you left it. Very nice! And that’s the type of scenario people always think about when they think about … (4 comments)
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contact management software: The Value of ‘Canned’ content in CRM’s - 05/08/08 01:34 PM
On a fairly regular basis, I hear people comment that this person’s or that program’s form letters or fliers are bad/not for their market/hokey, you-fill-in-the-blank.
The value in ‘canned’ content is not necessarily in that you can take them as they are, and start using them. While it is true that there are some things, some times, that can be good they way they are, or pretty close, it is rare. The value is in the fact that the content, the concept, is already there for you, and pretty much done. What is left for you to do is to … (0 comments)
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contact management software: Top Producer 7i & Agent Office News! - 06/04/07 03:49 PM
Regardless of what software company it is, you should never hold your breath waiting for a software release, based upon when it was supposed to come out. They make their best projections, and sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn't. You should also, as a general rule of thumb, not install upgrades for any kind of software until they have been out for a while. It's always a good idea to let the people who do not subscribe to this 'rule of thumb', be the guinea pigs. The caveat to that is if you really need what the upgrade offers right now. Wanting … (1 comments)
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contact management software: Do an export NOW if you have Top Producer 6i - 05/25/07 11:00 AM
For those of you who have not yet made a decision on what to move to if you have TP6i, you need to do this now!
If you are going to move to Top Producer 7i prior to the end of the month when support ends for 6i, you're fine. If you are going to continue to use 6i beyond the end of May 2007, you need to do an EXPORT, not a backup, now!
If your TP6i crashes after the end of this month, or your hard drive crashes, or your computer is stolen, your backup is useless. All your data will … (9 comments)
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contact management software: A History & Partial Listing of Contact Management Tools in Real Estate - Part 2 of 3 - 04/24/07 02:20 PM
What else is out there? In the RES (Real Estate Specific) arena, there are 2 programs that are based in FileMaker, which is a highly respected database platform. Agent Business Builder is one of them, that started in 1995, and has a fairly significant user base as a result. Then there is REST, a relative newcomer with what I think to be some very good potential. Based in Filemaker, these two have some flexibility with respect to report generation, using a readily available group of programmers as a third party to generate them for you. Another interesting thing about them is that they … (11 comments)
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contact management software: Learning to use your CRM software - 04/04/07 10:33 AM
First let me say that I sympathize with your situation. I cannot however, agree with your sentiments. I'm sorry, but I feel compelled to do a bit of a 'rant'. I will no doubt get flak for it, but I know there are people that have made the time to learn these programs, that will understand and agree with what I am saying. It is not my intention to pick on this particular person(their comments in bold), but rather these same sentiments expressed all too often, by many agents.
Please understand that although I am a reseller for Top Producer, I am also … (6 comments)
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contact management software: Transaction Management Platforms - 10/24/06 04:06 PM
It is inevitable that Online Transaction Management Platforms will be pervasive in the Real Estate industry at some point in the relatively near future. I've heard numbers from agents saying that it saves them 30% of their time per transaction. It saves agents, ancillary service providers, and consumers, time. That said, more players are jumping into the game...
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending upon your point of view, that means more choices, and more research to determine which one best suits you. A comment was made to my last post asking me to help "understand our options better". Would that it were … (19 comments)
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contact management software: Now affiliated with Top Producer & seven others - 10/10/06 01:22 PM
I've been getting very good feedback for some time now, from my sphere of influence, list-servs, forums, and many others. That's one of the many reasons I am now affiliated with Top Producer. I've been advising people that call me about Contact Management solutions to take a look at TP too many times in the last year or so, not to affiliate with them.
Many of you know me as the 'Agent Office' (AO) guy for many years now. I am still affiliated with AO, and still think their product fills a need for many agents. That said, we clearly have a need … (6 comments)
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Gary David Hall, RE CRM Broker, REALTOR,e-PRO,RECS
Doylestown,
PA
More about me…
RE-ACT, LLC
Office Phone: (215) 345-5222
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This blog is dedicated to the dissemination of information about Real Estate specific contact management and CRM software.
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