Let’s get this out of the way right now: I am not a CRM implementation expert. My job is to train and strategize with Online Sales Counselors (OSCs) and companies to help them thrive in their roles and their adoption of the CRM across all departments. It’s important for the marketing, sales, and online salespeople to all be rowing in the same direction when it comes to big tools like the CRM. I’ll give you the ideas and the parameters, but I leave the nitty-gritty of CRM setup to the techies and specialists. What I do know is what a CRM should be able to do for you as an OSC in the homebuilding industry. It’s up to you to become the expert on the platform your company uses. And let’s be honest—often OSCs end up being the CRM experts in their companies. So, roll up your sleeves, dive in, and figure it out. Here’s the good news: there are resources everywhere. Your CRM likely has a support team, a knowledge base, and (bless the internet gods) YouTube. You can Google just about anything these days. Or—and here’s a crazy idea—you can play with it. Tinker, explore, and press all…
Read MoreChecking Out The International Building Scene: Costa Rica!
“I’ll go with you!” As soon as my Realtor friend, Dawn Miller, said she was going to Costa Rica to check out some new homes communities for her international real estate business, those were the words that immediately flew out of my mouth. “I’ll go with you!” If you read my travel blog, you’d know I’ve been going through major travel withdrawal, and so the idea of taking a business trip to Costa Rica sent…
Read MoreSinging The Facebook Security Blues in Costa Rica
Facebook’s silly new security measures at work….to hinder work. I’m on a business trip in Costa Rica right now and ironically facebook shut me out of my own account…. Let me explain. As I was passing time in the Charlotte Airport on Saturday before my flight out to Costa Rica I came across a rant by a friend about facebook’s security policies and making it difficult for business owners. I really didn’t give it much…
Read MoreCrazy Facebook Fan Pages: Why Do You "Like" Them?
There are all kinds of crazy fan pages, or “like” pages as they now seem to be, popping up on facebook. To me a lot of them seem like time wasters and I’m not really understanding the point of them. I see people liking crazy things like: We Will Be The Old Ladies Causing Trouble At The Nursing Home Don’t give up on God because he never gave up on you…:) I Would Love To…
Read MoreRealtors: Should You Push Your Listings on Facebook and Twitter?
Are twitter and facebook the best places to push out your listings? If all I ever did was talk about my travels around the world, people would shut their ears, roll their eyes, and walk away. If people can’t identify with what you are doing they tend to filter it out. The same goes for listings on facebook and twitter. I’ve noticed one local brokerage puts out listings only on twitter, and they do it…
Read MoreQuestion: Who Wears The Pants in The Home Shopping Process? Answer: The Buyer!
I’ve been shopping some builder websites for an international project I’m working on. Perhaps I’ll finally be able to combine both my love of travel and my love of selling houses, but more to come on that later. It amazes me how much money is obviously put into some of these websites, yet they aren’t getting their money back out. So far I’m on 72 hours out, and no follow up off of 3 different…
Read MoreBuyer’s Market Misconception
Here is the gist of a current phone conversation I had with a potential buyer exhibiting a total lack of understanding as to what the term buyer’s market really means. The phone rings on an evening after 9:00 pm. Me: “Thank you for calling our builder today, my name is Leah, how may I help you?” Caller: “I’m looking at your community online and I want a 1 story house.”Me: “Great, we do have homes…
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