The Online Property Sales and CRM Solutions

Tuesday, 6 May 2008

Our resident property writer at Probis, Bernadette Costello, finds out why Microsoft has used a massive chunk of its annual $7.5 billion research budget on CRM, why agents are mad about Web 2.0 and why more property firms are investing in Search Engine Optimisation

CRM costs Microsoft billions but saves you a small fortune!

Probis was one of the first technology companies to make its CRM system web-based so that agents and developers could log on and update their clients' sales data quickly. Last week I was given a first-hand demonstration of Microsoft's updated CRM system at its London head office and found that it has become web-based, too.

The upgrade of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, on behalf of its 650,000 users in 80 countries, has cost the software giant a substantial part of its $7.5 billion annual research budget. But it seems money well spent after the audience at the demo-day told Microsoft's CRM manager Jason Nash why they found CRM systems useful.

The reasons were plenty: The customer life-cycle is managed easily; Campaign management; Increased business intelligence; Integrated emails; Higher customer satisfaction; CRM distributes leads quickly; Document management; Order processing and pricing; Workflow; Case management; Event management; A web portal for partners; Online services; Survey management; Blackberry and mobile integration; Can log on from home; Tracking sales better; Customer service issues dealt with quickly; Reporting and analysis; Customer segmentation; Personal email campaigns that ensure click-throughs are high; Response through the website; Identifying users who want information.

When Microsoft recounted a story about one of their major clients, Gartner, I found another reason, better cashflow. CRM was used by Gartner as an end-to-end business process and increased their cashflow by 250 million. The system managed payment terms down from 120 days to an average of 33 days. Microsoft says this was because Gartner was able to see a 360 view of their own business.

Nash from Microsoft told us: CRM also recognises your top 10 clients, your top 100 and bottom 20. CRM knows when, where and how you've worked with clients before and it understands your clients' needs. It identifies past or present issues and it improves customer service and customer retention.

As the leading property CRM firm, Probis, I'm sure, would love to have even a fraction of Microsoft's $750 billion for its own research budget. Even so, Probis has still invested a substantial amount in its product to offer exactly the same benefits for those using its CRM system to sell overseas property.

Click here for your free Probis trial

Is Web 2.0 for you?

You've heard of blogging, Search Engine Optimisation and social networking sites like YouTube and Facebook. You may even have heard of link baiting and RSS feeds. If you haven't, try typing in the name of your rival firm into Google and see how high they come up the rankings, do they have rolling news stories and presence on other websites? Annoying isn't it?
Overseas property agents are now fanatical about these new internet activities that are being grouped

under the heading Web 2.0. It's a sales and marketing method used by internet-savvy professionals who are using the web as an affordable way to reach thousands of prospective clients. Although I don't know many overseas agents who are videoing themselves and putting it out on YouTube, I do know that in this credit crunch era, agents are all looking at ways to cut costs and increasing their presence on the internet.
At A Place in the Sun Live in ExCel London last week I spoke to the marketing managers of several agents and developers about how they're spending their marketing budgets and some replied: What budget!
One talked about their contra-deals with new business partners, two were gutted they didn't exhibit at the show because it was really busy, but they were all hoping to find a Search Engine Optimisation specialist who could get them more brand awareness on the internet.
As more agents compete in an ever-competitive marketplace you should consider two new services from Probis Website design, which can generate hot leads from your own website, and Search Engine Optimisation, a service that helps you climb Google rankings fast.

Zoomf news

And some news from Zoomf, the UK property search engine. It's launched a new advertising product for agents, Zoomf Boost. Agents only pay on performance, compared to the monthly or yearly subscription they would pay to property portals.

Mike Carter, co-founder of Zoomf, says that by using Zoomf Boost agents will be able to monitor where their money is going and will see the breakdown of the results.

The product was launched at a seminar hosted by Zoomf.com, called Capturing Online Leads and is bound to make portals more accountable to their subscription-paying clients.

Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Bernadette Costello, the former editor of overseas property magazine OPP, is our new blog writer at Probis. Here, she says it's crunch time for overseas property sales so time for agents to improve their online marketing.

While researching the Brazilian property market recently I came across a website which took my virtual property tour experience to another level. Using Google Earth technology, and the relaxed guitar strums of a Brazilian band, the developer flew me to the north east corner of Brazil and down the coast to the secluded fishing village of Taiba.

A zooming camera then circled me along miles of coastline to surf and stroll and then landed on the beach in front of its development at Taiba Village (http://www.taibabeach.com). The music added atmosphere to a high quality CGI tour that did a brilliant job to sell Brazil for its laid-back lifestyle, its stunning white beaches, water sports, friendly people, quality of build and investment potential. It actually got me thinking about making a little trip there.

I know several journalists who've been taken on a press trip abroad and snapped up property within hours of stepping off the plane. But to have the seeds planted in my head after a flying visit with Google, and a classic Brazilian tune, is an impressive achievement by IT experts and a marketing department. Here is a perfect example of how property professionals are reacting to innovation in technology and improving the user experience.

But I fear Taiba Village won't be alone in using innovation to the max. At MIPIM Asia recently, property specialist CB Richard Ellis unveiled its version of Google Earth to show agents and developers how easy it is to create their own professional virtual tours. The CBRE's online training video shows you exactly how to order these maps and use them effectively in your marketing. In an industry that's getting tougher it's worth taking a look (www.cbre.com).

Adding to the mapping frenzy is Microsoft's Virtual Earth which allows property sellers to zoom their clients up close to a project on the other side of the world and see it in 3D. Buyers can see where airports, hotels, roads and trains are in relation to their future purchase and can make decisions based on this breakthrough in technology. Now, companies such as Loreo are breaking the mould with their Stereo Viewers, which allow the buyer to put on some large glasses with extra large windows [where the lenses usually are] and view their property in extra large 3D. These unusual spectacles can be viewed at www.widescreen-centre.co.uk

Here at Probis, the CRM experts tell me that it takes time and dedication on your part to use mapping and virtual tours correctly for marketing, but you shouldn't half do the job. If you're using Probis CRM technology to keep your sales leads close to your fingertips then how about using some better technology to attract them in the first place.