contact management: Activity Plans and Assistants
- 05/21/13 01:25 AM
If you have an assistant, how long did it take to train them? How many hours did you lose in productive listing and selling time? Your production went down did it not? And now if that assistant quits next month you have to start all over again. One way to minimize the time it takes to train a new assistant is to have an Operations Manual. The problem is that If you have ever written an Operations Manual you know that the day after you get it done and printed up, it is already on its way to becoming … (0 comments)
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contact management: Do you send something like this to your buyers?
- 05/14/13 06:14 AM
There is usually no shortage of phone calls and questions coming from the client just prior to closing. Two things I always tried to accomplish throughout my transactions was to keep the client informed, and to reduce time consuming/unneccessary phone calls to a minimum by doing so.
Following is an e-mail/letter that is in my Trans-Plans Listing and Closing Plans. I would send this out about ten days to two weeks prior to closing/settlement. It's a template e-mail and like all template e-mails, it can't be perfect for everyone's personality and market. But it's a good start that you can use … (2 comments)
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contact management: Do you Target Market?
- 05/07/13 10:52 AM
Can you target market? Not if you don’t keep the right kind of information on your sphere of influence in your database.
What if you used categories or some other searchable field in your CRM to store information like hobby, alma mater, favorite kind of food, favorite sport, favorite team, favorite kind of books, favorite kind of movies, favorite actor, etc.
You need to get into the habit of asking those kinds of questions when you’re working with your clients. It can’t happen overnight, but over the months and years you will develop an extremely valuable set of demographics for your client … (2 comments)
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contact management: Shadow an agent using CRM software to its potential
- 05/06/13 08:05 AM
Why are Real Estate specific CRMs promoted as opposed to Outlook or other generic CRMs? Is it really worth having one? What real benefits are there? The best way to answer these questions is to see an example of what they can do for you in a real life setting, so let's do that.
We will now walk through a scenario made possible by using a CRM solution to its maximum potential. It is important to note that there are several CRMs available today that will do the vast majority of what follows. This is no futuristic … (0 comments)
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contact management: Recorded CRM Webinar invitation
- 02/18/13 10:01 PM
I am proud to invite you to a recorded Point2 Success Webinar I presented on Tuesday the 12th. The webinar is entitled "Tips to Better Use CRM's to Generate and Cultivate Leads". You can view the recorded webinar by going to the link below. It is approximately 45 minutes in length and followed by participant's questions. At the end of the webinar a link will be provided to a Yardi eLearning tool which is also free with no obligation. In there is a review of six of my favorite CRMs entitled "Comparing CRM Tools to Find the Most Effective One for … (0 comments)
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contact management: Top 10 features to look for in a CRM
- 06/19/12 02:10 AM
While everyone has their preferences of what are the most important features to them, the following should be basic requirements for everyone. Each of the following is a topic which I have written about extensively in my book, but the following is a brief description of each.
E-mail stored with the contact record – This is a major issue about which I have written an entire article in the past. Please click here to see that article. Bulk e-mail – If you don't already do a periodic e-mailing to your sphere of influence, you should. It must have a good perceived … (0 comments)
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contact management: All Clients adds Gmail Integration
- 10/06/11 03:33 AM
You can now bring up a client record and not only see the emails you sent to them from AllClients, but also the emails you sent and received from your outside Gmail account for this client. It will work with a standard Gmail account as well as a Google Apps Gmail account. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwH0In6UDpg Also, in case you didn't hear, They have also added powerful Team functionality that will allow you and others to share a database, or have separate databases, assign each other tasks, work deals together and all the info rolls up nicely … (7 comments)
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contact management: Is Top Producer a good value?
- 12/03/10 04:51 AM
I posted this in another spot and then decided to post it here as well.
I would like to comment on the cost of TP. I want to be clear that I am not addressing any faults it may have, as all of the CRMs have faults. I am solely addressing cost. Bear in mind that while I am a reseller for Top Producer, I am also a reseller for almost 30 other Real Estate specific CRMs. There is no "Best CRM". There is only the best one for your individual needs.
A common characterization agents make is "I am paying $100 or … (4 comments)
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contact management: Need help setting up your CRM/Contact Manager?
- 04/15/10 06:18 AM
A question I get every day is, "After I buy this CRM, how do I get started?" If you have had a Contact Manager or CRM before, and the one you just got is relatively intuitive (easy to learn), then you may be fine. However, if you have never had one before, you may find yourself spending too long just sitting and staring at it. Also, just because you have had one before, does not mean you did not get into many bad habits.
With regards to learning how to use a CRM, many people are fine if they have training … (2 comments)
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contact management: DO NOT BUY A CRM… unless you are committed to:
- 03/22/10 09:46 AM
Making the time to learn it - note the use of the word making as opposed to getting the time. It is so very important to understand that this one point can make all the difference in the world between someone who implements the CRM and reaps the benefits, and someone who eventually simply regrets spending the money, and blames it on the CRM. Maybe you have heard the time management axiom that a meeting takes as long as the time you allot to it. The same goes for your Real Estate day. You cannot keep putting off learning your CRM … (35 comments)
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contact management: What do Top Producer, Agent Office, Active Agent & AdvantageXi have in common?
- 03/02/10 02:40 AM
Trans-Plans!
If you have one of these programs, are you using the Activity Plans capability? Most people are familiar with using plans to automatically follow up with prospects, or to follow up with clients after closing, but what about in between?
What will Real Estate Transaction Management Trans-Plans do for you?
Reduce your overall stress level more than ANY other single action you can take
Stop the details from "falling through the cracks"
Save you approximately 150 - 200 hours by not having to create and key in the plans yourself
Keep you in touch with automated letters or e-mails, for … (3 comments)
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contact management: Contact Management & CRM's - A healhty dose of patience can be required
- 06/16/09 07:35 AM
Based on many conversations I continue to have where certain issues keep coming up, I think it is time to re-visit a few points about trying to find, and learning how to use, Contact Management and CRM Solutions.
1) Do not judge a CRM by its graphics alone. There are several products available that may not appeal to the eye aesthetically, but if you look past the graphical appearance, you might be surprised. There is one product I have in mind in particular that definitely looks dated, but in actuality it has been improved more frequently based on user suggestions, and for a longer time, than any … (5 comments)
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contact management: How safe is your data? Web based vs. Desktop CRM's
- 12/11/08 01:09 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: CRM or PDA? - Chicken or Egg?
- 07/23/08 01:51 AM
Someone recently asked:
I'm getting a 1st gen iPhone as a gift from my brother and am very excited to get going with it. Before I jump in I'm looking for suggestions, tips & ideas from the iPhone users out there:
1) What CRM solution are you using & how does it work with your iPhone?
This person may have no choice. She is getting the iPhone as a gift. What I have been running into a LOT lately, is people going out and getting an iPhone, and THEN asking me what CRM to get, that works with an iPhone. That … (18 comments)
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contact management: Top Producer 8i - What's different from Top Producer 7i?
- 03/24/08 08:34 AM
Following is a list of the core differences, as communicated to me by Top Producer. If you have any questions about other things it may or may not do, feel free to e-mail me about them.
Technology:
Top Producer 7i is based on Microsoft Java technology which does not come installed on new computers. Microsoft's Internet Explorer is the only web browser supported, leaving users of Firefox, Safari, and other web browsers with no way to use the program.
Top Producer 8i is based on ASP.net and Ajax. It is compatible with a wider range of web browsers. Top Producer 8i also places … (10 comments)
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contact management: Lead generation doesn't get any easier...Top Producer 7i "Market Builder®"
- 10/02/07 08:29 AM
If you started in this business in the late 80's or before, as did I, you appreciate the fact that there are now so many tools available to generate new business, which never existed before. Some are good, and some are not so good, but it is inarguable that there are many available. Cold calling, door knocking, and mailings with recipes and homeowner tips, have been replaced with automated listing updates e-mailed to the prospect, automated drip campaigns, third party mailing services, lead generating Web sites, and so much more. If one is willing to invest some money, there are tools … (0 comments)
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contact management: Agent Office Compatibility - Version 10.0
- 07/05/07 08:38 AM
I have had people ask me what 'Vista' is, so I'll start out by saying it is the Windows Operating System (OS) which succeeds Windows XP.
AgentOffice has just released Version 10.0.
99.9% of the difference between Version 9.x and Version 10.0 is Vista compatibility. The other .1% is aesthetics. By the latter I mean the icons on the top of the screen are a different color and slightly different design. I wouldn't call them better, just a different look. You also have the option of choosing the background color, and/or placing an image in the background, like you can on your Windows desktop. … (9 comments)
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contact management: A History & Partial Listing of Contact Management Tools in Real Estate - Part 3 of 3
- 05/08/07 04:12 AM
Believe it or not, there are many more out there! I spend much of my time asking people specific questions to determine their needs, and then recommending the solution that best suits their needs. Let me please make one thing clear. There is NO one program/application that is THE BEST! Which one is the best depends upon you. I have my opinions about which ones are the best, generally speaking, for most agents, but I don't believe any one of them is clearly 'the best'. It all depends upon your level of comfort with technology, your current needs, and your future … (4 comments)
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contact management: Get ready for a huge variety of opinions!
- 04/25/07 03:12 AM
It's always intrigued me that this subject often generates some very strong opinions. Many people feel that they have gone through so much 'pain' to arrive at their decision, that they know which Contact Management/CRM solution is best for everyone.
I've been involved with Real Estate CRM since 1989, and as I say in the description of this group - "There is no 'best' one'. There is only the one that is best for you. There are many different solutions. The most difficult part is finding the one that does as many of the things that you need it to do as possible.
What will help … (0 comments)
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contact management: "Stressed out? Get Organized with Activity Plans"
- 09/15/06 09:38 AM
One of my other posts about combining activities in plans, prompted me to expand on that topic and go a little further. The result is the following post. Some of it is a repeat, but most is not.
There are a fair number of ‘Agent Productivity’ software programs and services available that enable the user to create ‘Activity Plans’, or ‘Campaigns’. These Plans have several tremendous benefits, and if you are using one of those programs (listed below), and you have not yet seriously looked into using the activity plan capability in them, you are missing out on an incredibly valuable tool … (6 comments)
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