“Out of the box” thinking in a real estate recession is an available necessity

As a realtor, you work hard at selling real estate, especially in our infamous recession. This leaves you little time to think out of the box, or strategize new channels for home sales. However, consumers are increasingly turning to the internet for local business research, underlining the competitive necessity of having an online presence. So, how do you make sure you appreciate a strong ROI (Return of Investment)?
It’s easy! Unlike most professional services, realtors have a multitude of real estate marketing solutions available at their fingertips. Vendors competing for your purchase of their real estate marketing tools often spend $5- $10 just so you click on their website… a gamble it is.
In terms of cost and immediacy, website templates work best. A real estate template offers an inexpensive, yet comprehensive solution allowing you to establish your online presence, while still supplying a level of individuality through various designs and options. Additionally, certain template providers provide user friendly administrative controls which allow you to edit content, images, & property listings, allowing you to optimize your website appearance & delivery, as you grow to understand your online audience.
Why is this important? In the very competitive real estate market, realtors in your area are competing to appear higher on the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, etc.). Content plays a huge role in your buyers’ ability to find you before your local competitors. Although, it takes about 6 months for you to effectively see the results from utilizing optimized content, some Real Estate Template providers offer “SEO – search engine optimized content” as part of their website template package. This technical content is strategically created based on scientific principal(s) defined by the combination of diligent research & consumer search analysis.
Interaction also works to keep buyers engaged, and realtor templates oblige with options to showcase floor plans, message boards, property searches, 3dwalkthroughs, and virtual tours, a 360-degree view of a property. A potential buyer can “tour” a property on your website, while sitting on their couch, and narrowing down the property listings they want to see – an excellent way to optimize your time. Consider also that many of these interactive elements have become expected features for a real estate website.
Additionally, property search parameters provide a catalog of user information, turning online home searches into a valuable consumer behavior study . Some template provider(s) offers a service that sends tailored property listings to a visitors’ email, a great method for generating leads, while providing excellent customer service.
A realtor solutions’ combination of comprehensive website editing controls, optimized content for search engine exposure, interactive services for buyer engagement, and consumer search data reports for strong forecasting, can establish the resulting website as one of your premier online marketing tools. And how much does this cost?

Research says you can get all of the above for less than $500.

DPS launches innovative property marketing tool for Realtors

DPS Technologies recently announced the launch of a comprehensive Real Estate website solution for agents, with advanced functions such as 100% content & image mgmt. controls (yes, including their logo!), mgmt. of property listings, mechanized consumer search analysis, and automated buyer profile acquisition, property matching, & emailing of customer(s) with a personalized list of available home listings. This inclusive real estate website service offers significant promise & confidence to realtors in a very bumpy real estate market.
DPS Technologies’ Real Estate Website solution is an affordable, user-friendly means to create a dent in the ever growing online market. A secure administrative portal, allows a realtor complete control over each section within their website(s) framework. Using this website solution does not rob the agent’s real estate website of originality. DPS provides a number of unique website designs, in a variety of colors, so a realtor can tailor their website to a desired flavor, matching their existing brand identity (logo). The ability to edit all content and images, allows realtors the ability to optimize their appearance & delivery as they grow to understand their online audience.
An enticing lead generation tool convinces buyers to register & receive automated deliveries of property listings as they enter the real estate market, as well as engage in conversations over the agent monitored (optional) message board. Visitors can also utilize a wide array of website function(s) such as quick & advanced property search tool(s), mortgage calculator, submit homes for sale (optional), and get assistance with financing their home (optional).
Ultimately, it’s the realtors who benefit most from this extensive solution. With a click of a button, they can select to turn on or off individual website function(s), review consumer search trends, create and edit their open house calendar, and list as little or as much information about each property listing as they like. Realtors can add as many home image(s), upload floor plans, virtual tours, 3dwalkthroughs, school information, exterior and interior amenities, individual room details/ dimensions, and much more!

As if they haven’t just created the ultimate home marketing tool, DPS’ insider(s) just announced that all realtors within their network will have free access to “search engine optimized” content utilizing the latest real estate consumer search trends.

Outsourcing can define your company fate, so look before you leap

According to a recent survey of company executives who pursued an outsourcing strategy, the number one reason for BPO/ offshore investments was expected cost savings. Yet, 25% of those services who outsourced saw no change in costs. Among those who did reduce costs by outsourcing, the average savings was 19%, well short of the high hopes that typically motivate a BPO strategy. Common factors that affect savings include miscommunication, service quality, & security.

However, not outsourcing is even riskier. The competitive environment has become harsher as a result of a historic market depression. Global competition & automated service processes (software driven) have made it even harder for businesses to strengthen their ROI. The most efficient producer is the one who successfully weaves together the best and lowest-cost segment within their company to the finished product.

The risk(s) of offshore investments segments can be assessed, managed, and controlled through proper strategy & service implementation. Independent outsourcing surveyor, Ventoro Institute, found that the leading causes of failure were a lack of preparation by the American purchaser, exclusion of a joint- operation & communication map, and outsourcing the wrong service segment. Each could be avoided with greater diligence on the part of the outsourcing client. “As a rule of thumb, the outsourcing buyer should be the one pushing for greater clarity throughout the entire engagement”.

Ventoro estimates that proper service strategy could lead to cost savings of 30%, or greater. So, how do you select a strong BPO vendor?

• Communication: A clear point of contact must be available in person. The point of contact must offer practical intelligence & support you in mapping your service strategy. The “point of contact(s)”, are often labeled as the “middle-men of outsourcing” are in many ways a local, and essential agent to the BPO production.
• Quality Control: Check certifications & portfolio. In India, the globally acclaimed program, “ISO 9001-2000” (see example) certifies company(s) for service quality. However, the certification does not guarantee strong ROI.
• Security: If your service maintains sensitive data, ask your BPO vendor to discuss security protocol with you & provide evidence. The ISO 9001-2000 certificate(s) does certify internal security procedures, but does not cover higher level security procedures as required by US federal programs.

BPO specialist, Rohit Barman, the President of DPS America, the exclusive consulting hub for 30 year old global outsourcing firm encourages businesses to “conduct a background check of each company, senior staff members, ask for references, and ensure the company has catered to American clientele for 5+ years.” He adds that “you should never take a leap of faith in outsourcing, let proper research define your leap”. The result of all this is that if a service fragment can efficiently be outsourced for cost savings, it should be. And those who fail to optimize their service by outsourcing will be competing with others who have conducted their research, and gained ground in the overall market share, with greater ROI & investment potential.