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Web Based CRM

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Front Page Rankings, Inc.
OK, so you know you need a CRM, and you're asking yourself if you should choose a client side CRM or a web based CRM?

The answer here lies in what your business model is and how many people you work with (or that works for you). If you're a loan wolf agent, then a client side system can have it's benefits. It will allow you to add data when you're offline and you're not dependent on having an internet connection to work within your database. However, a web based CRM is really the way to go if you're looking at harnessing all the power a CRM can give you.

Web Based CRM Features

  • Works when you don't

  • A web based CRM will be working for you even when you aren't online. If you have webforms on your website a web based CRM can send out an autoresponder even if you are asleep.

  • Your data is more secure

  • Almost all web based CRM systems come with a robust security feature that keeps your data safe. Client side systems are dependent on whatever security you have on your laptop, and laptops are notoriously easy to steal and crack into.

  • You have availability from any internet connection

  • This way you don't have to be dependent on a machine, so if for instance the hard drive on your laptop crashes, all your data is safe and you can get a new laptop and go on as if nothing had ever happened.

  • New features become immediately available

  • With client side software you'll have to purchase the newest version and download it in order to get the newest features of the system. Most web based CRM systems use the .asp model, which allows you to get the newest features without having to pay out again for the next version.
If you're looking for a good web based CRM system I suggest taking a look at Masterdigm©, you can find them online at www.masterdigm.com. This system has a ton of features and if you fill out the Demo request form and mention you're an Active Rain member you even get a 30 day free trial of the system! It's hard to beat FREE!

I hope this helps your hunt for a good web based CRM.

Comments (7)

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Interesting. Never heard of Masterdigm, but I'll go check them out. Thanks for sharing.

Dec 12, 2008 04:40 AM
real estate real estate
Providence, RI

Tim, do you own the website?

For many CRM softwares, one big problem is performance. I have used quite a few open source ones on my server and they are very slow. You didnot even mention about performance while markeking it here. I would like to see some data on that.

Dec 12, 2008 04:49 AM
Tim Nebergall
Front Page Rankings, Inc. - Modesto, CA
SEO Web Design Engineering - Rank Better On The Search Engines

Thanks Vickie, let me know what you think.

Huiting, you'll find a lot of open source CRM systems aren't designed for performance, which is probably why the ones you've seen are so slow. Masterdigm is built using the LAMP stack (Linus, Apache, MySQL, PHP) which is the industry standard for fast moving web applications.

As I mentioned, there is a 30 day free trial, you can check it out and see if it performs up to your standards. You also might want to be sure that your machine itself is capable of handling large data transfers, if you're running old equipment, no matter what web based CRM you choose, it will not perform like you want it to.

Dec 12, 2008 05:06 AM
Kris Kombrink ~ The Kombrink Team
RE/MAX Excels - Chicago's Western Suburbs - Geneva, IL

Thanks, Tim!  I will give this a look.  I have always wanted something for our team that was web-based.  Only thing would be the learning curve since we've been on our current system for about 15 years...

Dec 12, 2008 05:55 AM
Tim Nebergall
Front Page Rankings, Inc. - Modesto, CA
SEO Web Design Engineering - Rank Better On The Search Engines

Hey Kris,

one of the things I hear all the time about this system is how easy it is to use. If you like what you see during your 30 day free trial, training is offered free with a paid subscription. If your current system is 15 years old, then you're bound to be missing out on a lot of cool things that this type of system can provide for your team.

Let me know if you like what this web based CRM has to offer.

Dec 12, 2008 06:22 AM
Anonymous
Hana

This is very true and I agree that Web based CRM software is much more effective and efficient then in-house solution.

Dec 17, 2008 05:53 AM
#6
Angela Johnson
J Philip Real Estate LLC - Nyack, NY
Chief Technology Strategist , Assoc Brkr

i hate when i visit a site and i cannot find the pricing. i really don't want to troll through all the lovely features in search of the $$ amount and therefore cannot ascertain if it is suitable for sole agent needs or is this more suitable for a team or office. 

 

Dec 27, 2010 07:35 AM