Have you thought about using Wordpress as your main real estate website or blog? Are you concerned about not having the lead capture forms and automated contact management system built in? Well, I might have a solution for you!
I recently moved my real estate virtual assistant website from a standard site, and jumped in and got my own Wordpress blog/website combo. I don't have the need for as many lead capture points on my site, but I decided that I DID need to do a better job at collecting visitor information, needs, wants, and I wanted a way to streamline the process, build my relationships, as well as build in some email marketing capabilities which I hope to add into my action plans as well. I'm no web designer/guru and I didn't want to spend a ton more money on another CRM solution.
In looking over my options I quickly made the realization that there aren't an outstanding number of real estate CRM systems that are quite equipped to handle many of the things traditional real estate websites do, it takes some extra additions. For example the challenges might be:
- Adding lead capture forms to your blog that include What's Your Home's Value, Dream Home Finder, Market Stat Reports, or your Company newsletter/new listing alerts
- Converting seller/buyer leads from your website to add to Top Producer or Outlook (requires manual input)
- Based on contact type you have to input the contact info to your drip campaign, e-newsletter etc.
Before you know it, you are managing multiple accounts for your website and blog etc. That is not streamlining! So, here is the most affordable solution I have found so far, and will be adding it to my online business management systems. By using the user-friendly system Batchbook I can create a customizable CRM powerhouse for my business.
For $9.95 per month I have the ability to:
- Create customizable lead capture forms that AUTOMATICALLY are added to my contact management list for that form. (no need to add it to another system).
- Automatically create and send email marketing campaigns through my Mail Chimp account (Mail Chimp is free up to 5000 emails a month, with upgradable accounts).
- Track communications of my contacts and create TO DO lists.
- Import and Export my Outlook and Gmail contacts.
- Enter information such as Twitter usernames, Twitter feeds, blog feeds and LinkedIn profile URLs (plus many others!) on a contact record.
- Log emails, phone call notes, or any other communications with your contacts.
- Use a list to easily generate mailing labels, export, or back up your data or create customized, printable reports from your contact data. Use these reports to generate call lists, add to presentations or to take notes when you’re traveling, in the field, or working off-line.
- Super-Tag your contact types so you can easily sort them by birthday month, anniversary, buyer, seller, past client etc.
- Have your emails delivered to your mobile iphone, Blackberry or smartphone with the email forwarding so you never miss an email from a lead.
If you are thinking about your current CRM system, or need something to enhance your Wordpress blog or website, (or another web platform) and need a great way to streamline, I definitely recommend taking a look at Batchbook. (and check out my sleek capture form below as an example..its easier than adding a widget!)
I am the CEO of Creative Agent Solutions.com. My team and I assist real estate professionals in implementing online marketing strategies, Wordpress, social media, and business systems to catapult exposure and dominance in their marketplace, while focusing on productivity and the bottom line.
Copyright 2010 Laura Monroe | Real Estate Virtual Assistant
Creative Agent Solutions.com 916.343.3823
This looks very interesting Laura. My contact managewment is all over the place and way out of control. I really need to get some organization. I will check out batchbook
Hi Broker Bryant~ I am seriously impressed with the sytem, and since I know you are a do-it-yourselfer like me I think you will too:) Plus, with your Short Sale webinars that you are doing you can automatically get all of that into one place when you need to commincate with your attendees again. I've also incorporated the Freshbooks accounting system as well for my clients..LOVE that feature! HUGS!
looks very interesting...
Laura, thanks for the heads up! I spent 2 entire days last week teaching myself how to get a self-hosted WP blog up. It doesn't look good right now, but it's addictive! This may be just the thing I need for my CRM solution. Thank you!
Laura, Batchbook looks like something we all need! I will check it out!
Thanks Laura for the heads up on Batchbook. It looks like something that could be quite useful for me.
Thanks Maureen :)
Hi Maggie~ Congrats on your Wordpress site..you are so right it is addicting. Yes, its important for us to have some "back-end" solutions to help build and keep track of your database. Here is a link the their screencasts of different features, so yu can see how it works.
http://batchblue.com/screencasts.html
Hi Marcia~ Very user friendly thats the best part..:) thanks for stopping by.
Hi Dan~ Definitley check it out. Lead capture is so important even on a blog :)
I joined... just the free one until I can play with it a little bit... an I did not go back and play but I got an email from them last night!
Maureen~ that's what I did for a while as well. I also use the Freshbooks, (invoicing) so it only made sense to upgrade and bring in MailChimp and Freshbooks..plus you can add in the Showbox.com which adds the your collected business cards to your database. :)
Now I am overwhelmed...
I will get up to speed eventually. Thank you for suggesting it.
Laura - your site looks great. How hard was it to migrate, and how long did it take. I really need to move my First Time Buyer blog from Wordpress.com to being self hosted but the thought is unnerving.
Jeff
Hi Jeff~ It was a little daunting to me at first as well, not because of the move itself, but I wanted a whole new look in the design as well, so picking a theme that had a website plus a Blog was important.
The move itself is painless (once WP.org is installed on your hosting account it takes 1 min to have it up) as you can export your .com posts into a back-up file, and import them on your .org site with just a few clicks:) Then the fun begins with plug-ins and widgets etc..its really all very fun:) If you would like to chat about moving it let me know..it doesn't take long really:)
Hi Laura - I first heard about BatchBook from Chris Brogan. Now that you've shown us the possibilities, I'll need to really take a good look at this.
Hi John! It is a really cool, simple to use system. And for those agents who have a hard time with really complex business systems like Top Producer this is a great way to have a basic CRM. Just the customizable web forms and HTML generator are a huge time saver!
Wow Laura, it sounds like it is over my head, but I am going to go check it out anyway. I am in the process of uploading all my local subdivisions, I am about 25% done. I don't know if I can take on another task just yet, and yet, it is intriguing! Thanks for the suggestion, I think...
Laura ~ I am definitely going to check out Batchbook! Thanks.
Laura, so glad to have stumbled upon your post while looking for info on Wordpress. Batchbook sounds like a good solution for multiple sites.
Hey Laura, sorry I'm late to this party! ;-)
Stumbled on this looking for info on WordPress blogs. Going to be installing WP and using that as my one and only platform.
Good info on the CRM stuff. Will be looking at BatchBook for that later on. Will also be looking at MailChimp for email marketing too! Nice to know all this stuff integrates!
Just subscribed to you blog too!