New User Interface Coming For Real Pro Systems Clients!

We are about to enter the Beta testing phase for an entirely new control panel user interface for RPS Silver and RPS Gold.  The final release will be available this summer at no extra charge to existing RPS Silver and RPS Gold clients!

We have four objectives for this project:

1. Completely rewrite the underlying software utilizing the latest technology
2. Implement suggested improvements from our clients
3. Add new functionality to support the long-term evolution of the product family
4. Converge the RPS Platinum user interface with that of RPS Silver and RPS Gold

The all new look and feel makes RPS Silver and RPS Gold easier to use than ever! Here are just a few of the highlights:

1. You now have a “dashboard” that gives you an essential update the moment you log in.
2. An all-new, clean look and feel.  In the figure below, you’re looking at the lead detail page.  Clicking on the tabs enables you to quickly see what campaigns or groups the lead is in, add notes, or check form history or campaign history.



3. The all-new “Page Builder” leads you step-by-step through the process for creating a new web page and placing it in your website menu navigation.
   The Page Builder simplifies the job of creating new pages for your website.  A step-by-step “wizard” walks you through the process.  In the screen shown, the user can select a page layout template to use for creating a new custom page.  In this case, the selected template has formatting for a photo and an embedded video, and will “flow” the text around those elements.  The guide at the top shows you where you are in the process of completing your page, and you can save a draft at any time and come back later to complete your page.
   
4. The Listings section provides a list with selectable statuses for viewing.  The listing details now include a field for capturing the listing expiration date.  The dahsboard even warns
   you when you have a listing approaching expiration! 

   
   The Listings screen now includes selectable filters so you only display listings with the statuses you care about.  The system even remembers the last settings you used!

We are moving into the Beta testing process in early June, and anticipate release in the summer.  Be sure to read all the updates coming from Real Pro Systems.  And remember, you’re getting an entirely new user experience at no additional charge.  It’s our way of saying “thank you” for your continued loyalty.

QR Code- Give It a Try!

These funny looking images that remind you of barcodes have been popping up seemingly everywhere these days, in just about every industry you can imagine.  QR codes on hamburger wrappers in Japan give nutritional information; codes in magazines give ‘behind the scenes’ content.  Wine bottles, album covers and many, many more applications are making QR almost common place.

A QR code is nothing more than a machine-readable two dimensional image, not unlike a barcode.   These are read by scanners or by applications on smart phones  to direct the user to a number of things including, text, images or any URL.  They are a fast and easy way to connect offline marketing with online initiatives.  QR codes make it much easier for people to visit you online.  But what’s more, you can  actually track the effectiveness of a print campaign through web analytics!

What are some of the real estate applications and how to incorporate them into your marketing strategy?  We have a couple of ideas:

Using QR Codes- Sign Rider

Sign riders- Adding a QR to your sign rider can be a fast and convenient way for buyers to get additional information about the home as they are standing out in front of the house.  No more lost opportunities when the home runs out of property flyers!  For example, you could have a QR code that directs the reader to a website page that provides photos, detailed descriptions, and even documents about the property.

Stealth Site Ads- Looking to drive additional traffic to your stealth sites? Why not try using a QR code?  You can create postcards for your farm area, place the code on the back of your property flyers, your business cards or even in your banner advertising!  The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

Property flyers- Provide a QR code on your property flyers directing potential buyers back to your website for more information, additional pictures, documents and even the virtual tour.

Property Flyers with QR Codes

Real Pro Systems just added auto generated QR codes to the PDF property flyers for all of our systems.  That means without your having to do anything, your property flyers generated by your Real Pro Systems solution already have a QR code integrated and ready to go!  These auto-generated QR codes send users to the specific web page that provides the details for the property.

Event or Open House Information- You can create a QR code to provide additional information about upcoming events or even directions and the date and time for an open house.

The list goes on…  Think of QR codes as your way to make print clickable!   Use QR codes to help direct people to the information they are looking for, whether it is property information or promotional materials or directions- prospects and clients alike will appreciate the direct access to the information they were looking for!

Want to use QR codes and need the 411 of getting going?  The process is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. First you need a QR Code generator.   There are many to choose from,  we suggest QRreateBuzz because it provides superior tracking.
2. In order for you and your clients to read the QR codes you have generated, you need to download a QR code reader to your smart phone.   Go to the Market or to your iTunes account and download one.
3. You’re ready to go!

Are you already using QR codes in your marketing?  Share with us some of the clever ways you have used them!

Thank you so much for your continued loyalty and support of Real Pro Systems.  We just completed our best year ever with exciting growth, quite a few new employees, and hundreds of new clients.   And while we moved into new expanded facilities last summer, we are filling up quickly and will likely be expanding again in the first half of 2011!

A lot of our growth is attributable to your kind referrals.  We are so grateful to you for encouraging your fellow agents to consider Real Pro Systems for their online marketing needs.  I often remark that my happiest day each month is when I sign referral checks to go out to agents like you who are helping us build our business!

One of our areas of focus is to ensure that our high quality service gets even better.  We have recently expanded our hours of coverage to start at 6 AM PST/9 AM EST.  And we have built new systems to enable our Client Care department to take care of many requests the same day.  We anticipate more process improvements as the year goes on.

As we look forward to 2011, we see another year of continued growth.  We have exciting projects underway, including an all-new control panel for RPS Platinum, RPS Gold and RPS Silver.  Our new Professional Services have aroused a lot of interest, such as our SEO services or our customization services.  We’re also putting the finishing touches on an all-new service, RPS Video, which is being announced this week- be sure to check your inbox for more information on this exciting new product!!

We wish you all a most successful 2011, and thank you once again for your ongoing business!

Promote your listings on Craigslist and bring traffic back to your website! Real Pro Systems is proud to offer a new Craiglist advertising template, available in your agent control panel. Simply copy and paste the code into your Craigslist ad and tranform your post with this eye-catching presentation.  Watch the video tutorial, below.

Happy posting!

The business skills that are required to run a real estate business today are different than those required 5 years ago and even 2 years ago. As the landscape of the industry has adapted to the online business model it has meant a more methodical or systematic approach to every aspect of your business processes. No longer is it adequate to generate leads and hand picking those ready and willing to do business today.

The concepts behind a sales and marketing pipeline have been available for decades within the corporate world but remain somewhat characterized by the real estate industry.

Download the whitepaper: “Applying Sales Pipeline Management to Real Estate” to learn:

• The basic principles of sales pipeline management and more specifically
how they apply to real estate.
• Lead generation, routing and accountability.
• How to establish and enforce consistent business processes.
• Balancing priorities for the most effective results.

Want to learn more, Join us for a webinar December 22, 2009 11: 00am PST