Unlocking CRM Potential: What to Look for and Why

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…

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Can’t We All Get Along: I Think People Have Lost Their Minds

October 17, 2009

The current economy seems to have given people permission to lose all common sense. Especially in the realm of New Homes Sales. Apparently as long as you site “The economy” and the current state of the housing industry, you should be able to do anything you like. New rules seem to dictate that you should be able to ask new homes sales agents to show you property at all hours of the day or night…

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Youtube Reality Check: No Limits, Watch Nick Vujicic

October 15, 2009

Youtube is crowded with entertaining mindless videos of cats caught on ceiling fans, manatees bumping into aquarium glass, and giant slides that will land you in a kiddie pool of water…but every once in a while you come across a gem that brings tears to your eyes and teaches you real life lessons. This is why social media can have such an amazing impact on our lives. I used to teach kids team building, leadership…

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Are Jobs in Sailing And Real Estate Both 24 Hours A Day?

October 8, 2009

Why is it so difficult at times for buyer’s agents and new home sales agents to get on the same page? We all share a common goal, to help someone find their dream home. Doesn’t that makes us on the same team? Yet at times it’s like we are in two completely different professions. As an Online Sales Consultant for a new homes builder I deal with many different people all over the world on…

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Facebook Vacation Tip: Diving in the Turks and Caicos

October 4, 2009

New Media and incredible vacations… I never would have thought they’d have much in common until recently. When the Aggressor Fleet hit 1000 fans on facebook they offered a special $1000 trip on the Turks and Caicos Aggressor. For a diver, a trip on any of Aggressor’s 12 luxury liveaboard dive boats is probably on the short list of trips we’d love to take. So when they offered an amazing deal of more than 50%…

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Social Media, Scuba Diving, Fan Page, Fantastic Vacation!

September 21, 2009

Social media, scuba diving, facebook fan page, Aggressor, what do all these have in common? They are the elements that make up my next great vacation…and my dream job! During my diving days, I worked for a liveaboard dive boat called the Cayman Aggressor. Recently, while exploring job possibilities I did some preliminary chatting with a couple of liveaboard dive companies about doing their internet sales. I believe that my job as an online sales…

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Step Away From The iPhone: You Might Find Yourself Up On A Reef…Or Worse

September 16, 2009

Step away from the iphone…or any other gadget that distracts you while driving a car. We’ve become such a tech savvy society that many feel the need to be connected at all times, it’s like we need facebook and twitter to be intravenously fed into our veins otherwise we feel disconnected from our peeps. Or at least that’s how it seems when you’re out driving on the road. You look left, someone is on their…

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