Post by Melissa Smith on Apr 20, 2005 15:32:48 GMT -5
Even with the message board, I often get the same questions asked of me. I have decided to take a few spots on here and post the answers to those questions. One such question was one I received about an hour ago. It reads:
"Kevin how does the software help the loan officer get leads? Placing ad's
in newspapers etc???"
Here was my reply:
It helps in a variety of ways. Some LOs run ads that say things like "Should
you rent or buy? Our FREE SOFTWARE will tell you! Get yours today!". They
place them on flyers, run ads in papers, magazines, directories, etc. They
put flyers on bulletin boards. Whatever it takes to get the software into
people's hands. Some just take calls and collect names and numbers and send
the software by mails. Others direct people to download from their website -
sometimes using a form to first capture information, others just allow a
direct download.
Some people make it available for download on their website. Others hand
them out on business card CDS at home shows. Some hand them out person to
person and others put up little stands at cash registers that say "Free Take
One!"
It's hard to pin down the most common ways it is used and that is why I put
up the message board. The key is to get it into people's hands. You are
giving something away, not asking for something. This makes it a great
ice-breaker. You can even use to at a party to say "Hey, look what I have!
Everyone take a copy!
The point is, it makes it easier to stick your name in front of people. On
top of that, it is always on their desktop. When they need to cal;culate a
payment., they go to you rather than Google for a mortgage calculator. When
they need a form, why go online when they already have it?
The software gently pushed the customer to call the LO if they have more
indepth questions. This forms a basis for a relationship and that
relationship is exactly what you are after.
It also helps with referrals. I am sure it is rare that someone is talking
to a friend and says "I just have to tell you about this great broker that
helped me with my loan!". On the other hand, they are very likely to say
"Hey, I have some software that may be able to help you with your home
shopping". This is bacause it states clearly in the setup program that the
customer may make copies to give to friends and family.
There are just so many ways that this helps that it is difficult to pin it
all down. Every time I think I have found every way,. along comes another.
The most recent was a loan I did for a customer that got the software from
the friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend. (That's 5
levels!) After I closed their loan, The others started needing loans. It was
crazy! 3 loans and a HELOC from a single copy of REA. I was simply amazed.
Of course I have been using REA myself for almost 2 years, but still, I
would never have had those loans without it.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
"Kevin how does the software help the loan officer get leads? Placing ad's
in newspapers etc???"
Here was my reply:
It helps in a variety of ways. Some LOs run ads that say things like "Should
you rent or buy? Our FREE SOFTWARE will tell you! Get yours today!". They
place them on flyers, run ads in papers, magazines, directories, etc. They
put flyers on bulletin boards. Whatever it takes to get the software into
people's hands. Some just take calls and collect names and numbers and send
the software by mails. Others direct people to download from their website -
sometimes using a form to first capture information, others just allow a
direct download.
Some people make it available for download on their website. Others hand
them out on business card CDS at home shows. Some hand them out person to
person and others put up little stands at cash registers that say "Free Take
One!"
It's hard to pin down the most common ways it is used and that is why I put
up the message board. The key is to get it into people's hands. You are
giving something away, not asking for something. This makes it a great
ice-breaker. You can even use to at a party to say "Hey, look what I have!
Everyone take a copy!
The point is, it makes it easier to stick your name in front of people. On
top of that, it is always on their desktop. When they need to cal;culate a
payment., they go to you rather than Google for a mortgage calculator. When
they need a form, why go online when they already have it?
The software gently pushed the customer to call the LO if they have more
indepth questions. This forms a basis for a relationship and that
relationship is exactly what you are after.
It also helps with referrals. I am sure it is rare that someone is talking
to a friend and says "I just have to tell you about this great broker that
helped me with my loan!". On the other hand, they are very likely to say
"Hey, I have some software that may be able to help you with your home
shopping". This is bacause it states clearly in the setup program that the
customer may make copies to give to friends and family.
There are just so many ways that this helps that it is difficult to pin it
all down. Every time I think I have found every way,. along comes another.
The most recent was a loan I did for a customer that got the software from
the friend of a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend. (That's 5
levels!) After I closed their loan, The others started needing loans. It was
crazy! 3 loans and a HELOC from a single copy of REA. I was simply amazed.
Of course I have been using REA myself for almost 2 years, but still, I
would never have had those loans without it.
Let me know if you have any other questions.