Real Pro Systems » Real Estate Marketing Blog

What We Think We Do

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:54:27 +0000

Early last month, on a rare occasion that our entire team is in the same place at the same time, we decided to try a little experiment. We’ve all seen those posters that say: “What society thinks I do” “What my friends think I do” “What my mom thinks I do” “What I think I do” Well, we wanted to know “What we think we do.” So we decided to find out… We asked the entire team what THEY think we do by asking two questions: 1. At Real Pro Systems, we… 2. We do this because… We wanted everyone to be as candid as possible, so we allowed them to keep their responses anonymous. What we discovered was that everyone on our team - from IT to Customer Service to Professional Services to Sales - has a pretty clear grasp on what we do. In Marketing, we were pretty impressed by how well they were able to articulate it when asked. They were eager to share it too! As you would expect, words like “Internet,” “Service,” and “Success” came up a lot. In fact, the majority of responses were very similar. That’s not surprising. In a close-knit company with dedicated focus, everyone should be on the same page. We thought you’d appreciate hearing their thoughts too. At Real Pro Systems, we: Provide websites, lead capture, lead management, lead incubation, and content management tools for Real Estate agents. Create highly-flexible and functional professional-branded websites and lead management systems for Real Estate agents. Help Real Estate professionals succeed by providing tools, strategies, insight and education into online marketing. Provide a robust Internet website solution for Real Estate agents. Provide fully-supported business productivity and marketing systems for Real Estate professionals and teams. Offer Internet marketing solutions to help Real Estate professionals increase their Internet business, increase commissions and maintain their work life balance. Help our agent clients generate leads, cultivate them, and close business. Build websites and web solutions for Real Estate professionals. Provide the best client care and continually strive to improve our product to benefit our clients. Provide comprehensive Internet marketing systems that increases Real Estate professionals’ bottom line. Provide Real Estate agents with the tools they need to be competitive in today’s online market. Provide better customer service than any other provider of these services. Pride ourselves on our customer service. We also enjoy Nerf dart wars. (Editor’s Note: That last part is true. If you’re ever in our offices, be on the alert for flying Nerf darts.) Go above and beyond to make our clients happy. We do this because: Customer support is the backbone of our service and the face of the company for our clients. We want our clients to feel like a part of Real Pro Systems. Their success is our success! We want to be the best at what we do. We can maintain a competitive edge because our company is guided by Real Estate professionals who know what agents need. Our unique background puts us in a position to understand and meet the needs of Real Estate agents. The market demands it. Agents need tools to be successful. We love what we do and we understand what Realtors need. We have experience and expertise in all of the needed fields: Real Estate, web development, software development, and marketing. There is no more rewarding business model than to be a small part of our clients’ success. It serves as the foundation for our growth. It’s fun (Like, really). We care! We rock! One of our team members summed it up in this way: At Real Pro Systems, we do what we do in order to give the new agent the best chance of success, the above average agent the tools to grow and the superstar agent the ability to stay on top. What do YOU think we do?

Meet Our Leadership (Part One)

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:44:49 +0000

It’s funny how time plays tricks on us. Ten years feels like a lifetime and like yesterday all wrapped in one. Real Pro Systems is somewhat of an accidental company. If you had told the founders that they would one day start an industry leading web solutions company, they might have laughed at you. Back then, they were a couple of real estate agents and a techy guy with a passion for technology and getting things done. They saw a hole in the market and set out to fill it, for themselves. They were pleasantly surprised when their peers inquired about the tools they were using and wanted a system just like theirs. Some things have definitely changed since those early days in an 8 x8 office with one employee. We've added to the team a bit, and under the direction of our General Manager today we have nearly 50 employees, and 8000 square feet of space. On the other hand some things haven’t changed. Those two agents are still active in their markets today, and the techy guy- well he’s the head of Client Services. We wanted you to know them like we do, and learn a little bit about what they think of Real Pro Systems, so we asked each one a couple of questions: What is your fondest memory at Real Pro Systems (so far)? Rob Levy: I would probably have to say the early days with three people working out of an 8X8 office. It was crowded and fun, but we got it done. And to think- here we are today with over 40 people and 8,000SF. Caine O’Brien: There are so many wonderful memories… I would have to say it came at a Star Power conference where we introduced RPS Platinum, a ground-breaking system on which I had worked long and hard. I was demonstrating it to a long-time RPS Gold client. He kept asking me “can it do this?” type questions. As I answered “yes” to question after question, I could see his excitement building higher and higher. Finally, with tears in his eyes, he ran out of words and gave me a huge bear hug!! Did you ever imagine Real Pro Systems would be where we are today? Rob Levy: I always knew if we provided what the agents were looking for we would grow as a company. What we did was hire stellar staff, listen to our clients and most importantly keep Galand and myself as Realtors - which kept us in the clients’ world, not the vendors’ world. This enabled us to see what was missing in agents businesses and then create products to fill that gap. So no, but I am sure proud of where we are now. Caine O’Brien: Yes, I really did. Joe, Galand and Rob, had built something extraordinary, and I recognized that it “had legs” before joining the company. Leveraging their vision into a much larger organization required systems and procedures, exactly what we have been teaching agents to do with their businesses! And I can say with confidence, that there is nothing in the market, and nothing from our competitors that will prevent us from growing far more in the years to come. It’s up to us to define and fulfill our vision; what’s more exciting than that? What do you envision for the next five years at Real Pro Systems? Rob Levy: As the market is (finally) improving I see us continue to be on the leading edge of creating tools for Realtors to do more business in less time. I have seen and am participating in what we are creating right now, and it’s exciting! Caine O’Brien: We have grown rapidly through the worst depression in real estate in 75 years. Can you even imagine what we would be able to do with a tailwind brought by a recovering market? This is as exciting as anything in the dot com era. I can’t go into our strategic plan in this blog post, but I can tell you that we are motivated to make sophisticated systems and technology accessible to all agents, regardless of their current level of business or technical skills. That vision will absolutely carry us for the next five years. Can you share what drives you? Rob Levy: To do the best job I can and not disappoint folks. Whether selling houses or providing RPS products to Realtors – many of whom are my friends – I always want to make sure everyone gets what they want and need. If that happens, the businesses grow and everyone is happy. Caine O’Brien: People. There’s nothing that galvanizes my attention more than hiring, training, motivating, and providing clear direction for the best people we can find. Helping them develop their careers so that they are figuring out where to take Real Pro Systems next. RPS is too big for any one of us to single-handedly make it happen anymore; our success will not come from a power boss who calls all the shots, it will come from empowering the next set of leaders who will take an increasing role in defining our direction. Providing the direction, structure, and culture to enable and empower that next set of leaders is in front of me every minute of every day. Up next a view of Real Pro Systems from Joe Lininger and Galand Haas.

Ten Year Anniversary of Real Pro Systems

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:51:01 +0000

Presenting the story of Real Pro Systems, to date, told in an infographic. Ten years ago this month, Real Pro Systems opened it's doors and has been serving agents across the country ever since. Real Pro Systems' products have changed tremendously over the past decade. Rather than rely on legacy systems or outdated technology, the company continues to innovate. Over the course of the next ten months Real Pro Systems will highlight some great moments from the company's past and share sneak peaks into the future through social medial, blog posts and events. Please join us in celebrating this important milestone.

10 Years of Real Pro Systems

We Want YOU! Real Pro Systems Users Groups in February

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:37:40 +0000

Mark Your Calendar During the month of February, Real Pro Systems will be hosting two users groups! This pair of great evenings will be filled with like-minded agents along with great food and drink. There is no cost for attendance and we can’t wait to see you there.

Dallas Marriott City Center

February 16, 2013

5:00 pm- 9:00 pm

Register at http://rpsatkwfr.eventbrite.com/

Monte Carlo-Las Vegas

February 24, 2013

5:00 pm- 9:00 pm

Register at http://rpsatremax.eventbrite.com/

Help us Shape the Agenda! We want to make this users group the best one yet! Help us by telling us more about the topics and speakers you would like to hear from. In the past we've covered topics like "How to Successfully Market Stealth or Niche Sites", "Using Offline Marketing to Drive Online Traffic", "Search Engine Optimization Basics", and" Writing Custom Content" and many more. If you have 5 minutes or 35 minutes you'd like to share, send us an email at marketing@realprosystems.com or call our Marketing Manager, Tara Sybrant at 541.743.8515.

When RPS Platinum knows where it all goes- that’s logistics.

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:53:48 +0000

The University of Oregon doesn’t have the only team in Oregon that knows logistics! The business of helping people buy and sell real estate is a complicated one with lots of moving parts. From initial awareness, lead generation, winning a listing, managing a team, and closing a deal; each individual activity can boost your bottom line. But in isolation none of these activities will help you succeed; you do these simultaneously and more. In order to manage it all and to focus your resources and staff to deliver the highest ROI possible, it takes logistics. Managing it all on your own without help of some kind is practically impossible. Enter the help you need: RPS Platinum. Real Pro Systems know logistics, and RPS Platinum was built for agents by agents who know the complexity of the business and who live those moving parts every day in their own businesses. With RPS Platinum, all of your key online business and lead management tools are consolidated into a single system, giving you unprecedented visibility, insight and control over your logistics. Over the next several weeks we will highlight the different components of RPS Platinum. First up will be the business dashboard.

RPS Platinum Dashboard

Think for a moment about your numbers for last year: Numerous agents, dozens (if not hundreds) of sales, prices running the gamut, and leads from many different sources. How did you keep track of it all? The RPS Platinum business dashboard shows the entire business pipeline at a glance, consolidating key data from each agent’s individual dashboard. This single screen uniquely tracks leads, active prospects, pending deals, and closed deals. In addition, this screen tracks website visitors, incubation activities and emails sent. Having this information available at a glance is invaluable. Now, you can cover all of those moving parts that are often so difficult to nail down. In time, the RPS Platinum business dashboard allows you to predict future business opportunities and pinpoint potential problems in business flow. For more information RPS Platinum or a product demonstration contact our experienced sales consultants at 541.743.8510 or sales@realprosystems.com.

Once in a Lifetime

Tara Sybrant — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:24:14 +0000

Howard Brinton was one of those people who come along once in a lifetime. His passing this past week from a long battle with prostate cancer is felt by the many who knew him, admired him, and loved him like family. The world lost a pretty amazing man who taught an industry how to connect and share to grow in their businesses and in their lives. Here at Real Pro Systems we feel that loss. Many of our own are grieving this loss and here are a few words from them. Rob Levy, Co-Founder of Real Pro Systems, Star Power Star: Howard, for those of you who don’t know, was indirectly a major catalyst of the formation of Real Pro Systems and to its beginning success as many of his students (including Galand Haas and I) are Howard Brinton’s Star Power Stars. He provided real estate education and conferences taught by “the stars”. Real Pro Systems first really big sales were at one of those conferences. Howard was a major influence in my business life from the first time I started listening to the cassettes (yes, cassettes back then) of top agents interviewed back in the very early ‘90s. I then started attending his conferences and learned much of how I run my real estate business from Howard and the stars. Howard will be missed and is survived by his three children, his grandchildren and his wife Babs. Galand Haas, Co-Founder of Real Pro Systems, Star Power Star: Howard really is responsible for Real Pro Systems ever coming to be. Without the relationships that were made through Star Power we never would have got Real Pro Systems off of the ground. I will never forget the Star Advance in Tucson where I did a break out session and showed everyone the buyer stealth site and the crude back end that Joe Lininger had attached to it with the database and drip e-mail campaigns. I was asked to give a private session to a couple of the Stars to go over it in more detail. There must have been 30 plus that showed up and gathered around the fireplace that night to get a demo. The rest is history. Howard supported all of us and Real Pro Systems from the beginning. He was a great mentor, great friend and had an electrifying personality like no other. Howard will be missed by many who had lives that were touched by him. Amy Stoehr, Founder/Director of Real Estate Masters Guild (Worked with Howard for 12+ Years): Facebook asks, "How are you feeling, Amy?" in the status box. I honestly don't know how to respond to that today. For those who haven't yet received the message, Howard Brinton passed away a little past 3 a.m. today. He wore a lot of hats and titles - mentor, coach, leader, friend, father figure, motivator, industry leader, entertainer - and after nearly five years battling cancer (and laughing at it, thriving in spite of it, working through it), I'm still a little shocked, I guess, that he's gone. Thank you, Cathy Russell for introducing me to Howard and STAR POWER. Thank you, Howard, for believing in me for nearly twelve years. Thank you, Patrick Hiban & Patrick Stracuzzi for being there for Howard in his final moments. Let us ALL be thankful for the way Howard touched each of us individually and let us all take the best of what this family gave us and carry it forward for future generations. And God - I sure hope you're ready for Howard! Terri Renella Sales Director: (former Sales Manager for Star Power): Howard Brinton touched so many lives in a profound and positive way and I feel blessed to have known him. I only worked for Howard for a short time but I have many things to thank him for but the two most important………..He taught me to live by the Platinum rule, treat others as THEY want to be treated. And he introduced me to Rob, Caine, Joe and Galand connecting me with Real Pro Systems and a job I love. Howard was a connector, he knew how to connect individuals at a heart level and he will be missed. Caine O’Brien General Manager: My very first introduction to the real estate market was at Star Power in 2006. There, Howard Brinton opened the conference by coming onto the stage in a tuxedo singing “New York, New York.” The crowd went wild, and I realized I was witnessing an extraordinary force in the industry. What I observed at that conference and all that followed, is how Howard had built a community, one committed to selfless sharing by the best of the best in real estate. He leaves a legacy of success, selfless giving as well as down-to-earth accessibility that is an inspiration to us all. His impact on Real Pro Systems was enormous, touching all of our lives, and he will be deeply missed.

Wishing Everyone a Happy Thanksgiving

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:35:53 +0000

I don’t know how I let this happen to me each and every year but I’m finding it hard to believe that in a few short days the holiday season will official be here. It seems like just last week it was sunny and warm (my recent vacation isn't helping me with this) and yet evidence is all around. The leaves turning beautiful hues of orange and red and falling to the ground and coupled with the copious amounts of wind and rain would indicate otherwise. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because we are reminded to focus on the things that we are thankful for, well that and turkey, but mostly being thankful. This year, as every year, we at Real Pro Systems have a lot to be thankful for. As a company we continue to be very fortunate in so many ways. This next year will mark our tenth year in business and we continue to see growth through new talent and product enhancements. I say with all sincerity that we are truly grateful for each and every person we have the privilege of working for. We know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that we wouldn’t be where we are today without the support and loyalty of our amazing clients. We truly enjoy sharing with you what we are thankful for and this year is no exception, here are a few thoughts from members of the Real Pro Systems team on what we are thankful for this Thanksgiving season: Joe Lininger, Real Pro Systems Co-founder: I am thankful for the many people in my life who share the journey in good times and bad. It’s not about what we have; it’s about who we are and who we are becoming. I’m thankful to God for bringing new opportunities into our lives each day, and for unending love to share with those around us. Caine O'Brien, General Manager: I’m thankful for family and friends, good health, and the abundance we enjoy in this country. I’m grateful for our system of government; even though we ague and fight, we truly have freedom of expression, even if it is a little messy. I feel blessed to be part of Real Pro Systems, with wonderful employees, loyal clients, and more than enough to keep each day interesting! There is no blessing greater than family, and this year I rejoiced in the birth of my first grandson to my daughter Meghan, and the wedding of my son, Jamin, to a wonderful woman. We also enjoyed the first garden harvest from our country home after three years of renovation. Jason Parks, Software Developer: I am thankful for the opportunity to be with my friends and family and to live in the beautiful Willamette valley again. Terri Renella, Director of Sales: This year I am especially grateful for the wonderful sales team I have the pleasure of coaching, mentoring and managing on a daily basis. Much of this year has been challenging for us yet each team members comes to work with a positive, upbeat and unstoppable attitude while maintaining a fantastic sense of humor. Thanks team for your dedication to succeed no matter what and for brightening up my day and the lives of those you touch. Valerie Warner, Finance Manager: I spent 2011 commuting to Portland for work each week. I am most grateful that I was able to return to Eugene in 2012. The simple pleasure of waking up each day in my own bed, in my own house, with my husband and dogs around me, makes me feel peaceful and safe. I feel grateful to Caine and Joe for inviting me to be a part of Real Pro Systems. My work here is challenging and fulfilling and I look forward to each new day. All of my family members are healthy, happy and employed and while not close in a “GPS” sense, I feel very connected to them all and am very grateful for their Skyped presence in my life. Finally, I am thankful to my fellow Americans for their wise votes in 2012. I have a renewed sense of optimism for planet earth, for the 99%, for the dreamers and for all of our futures. Miranda Wilcox, Client Care Administrator: I am thankful for the challenges in my life and the people in my life that have helped me through these challenges. The challenges have helped me grow and become who I am. Jamin O’Brien, Senior Sales Consultant: I am very thankful for my wonderful wife, friends and family this year. I am also very thankful that my wife and I are both employed! Times are still tough out there and we are very happy to have what we have. Becky Pfannmuller, Client Care: This last year has been a very trying yet monumental one for me. I moved for the first time in my life, from California to Oregon because of the bad economy and lack of work. Once I made it up here, I was truly blessed to have been accepted here at Real Pro Systems. I moved up here with no family and the only people I knew were my roommates. Working here, with the wonderful and open crew, I have made friends in the process and absolutely enjoy coming to work every day. I miss my family dearly, however, I am very thankful to still have family to go visit when the chance arises. There are so many things to be thankful for this season and always- Family, friends, work, a home and my dog Bubba. Don Durham, Client Care: I am thankful for my children, a loving wife and to have a good job in these tough times. Rob Wilkins, Client Care: I am thankful that I am fortunate enough to have both of my parents, and all of my children and grandchildren and the love of my life, alive, healthy, and together for the holiday. I’m also thankful that I live in a uniquely charming city in the greatest country in the world. I’m also thankful to work with such a fine bunch of people at Real Pro Systems! Last minute shout outs: Running water – indoor heat – the internet - $5 Pizzas – gas under $5 – DVR – HDTV – A rebounding Real Estate Market – Weekends… Ann Burrows, Sales Consultant: I am so thankful for my family, friends, my health and my faith. I am thankful for living in the greatest country in the world and for all the men and woman that fight for our freedom. And, I am extremely thankful to work for a great company with so many wonderful and talented people! Amy Stoehr, Founder & Director of Real Estate Masters Guild: As I reflect on 2012, there are so many things I’m thankful for. Those who know me say I’m not capable of keeping the list short. So, in the spirit of less is more, here are just a few:

Unconditional love and support from my husband, Jeff
An outstanding educational experience for my kids
Growing consumer confidence and recovering real estate markets
Continued health and strength as I grow more fit each day
And, of course, chocolate.

I’m very grateful to all the wonderful coaching clients who have accepted challenge and partnership with me this year. Here is to an even better 2013! Dan VanOrdstrand, Video Production: I am thankful for my new wife, our home, the delicious chocolate chip cookies that she makes at random times, and a great place to work here at Real Pro Systems! Tara Sybrant, Marketing Manager: Today I am thankful for all of the people who touch my life and never even realize what they’ve done for me. I am grateful beyond measure for the friends and family who love me unconditionally. I am blessed to be living the life I have designed for myself with the luxury to make changes as I see fit. My world wouldn’t be complete without the gift I have in my dogs, for they remind me to be happy every single day, no matter what. What are YOU thankful for?

Mobile-Friendly vs a True Mobile Website

Tara Sybrant — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:31:48 +0000

As the mobile space continues to see unprecedented growth it has been said that in all likelihood more people on the planet own a cell phone than a toothbrush. Experts predict that by 2013, more searches will be done from hand held devices than from desktops. So ask yourself “Am I ready for mobile”? Just a few years ago a mobile website meant that it could be viewed on a mobile device. The site would be small, but it was visible! Today that’s what’s called mobile- friendly. Mobile-friendly works, well sort of-you may need glasses and tiny fingers. Too say it’s a poor user experience is an understatement. With the introduction of the iPhone and other touchscreen devices mobile-friendly sites became tolerable but lacked functionality. Scrolling left to right, zooming in and out is time consuming and frustrating as well. As mobile technologies are becoming more and more prevalent they are affecting every level of the home buying and selling process from search through transaction management. This is where a true mobile website becomes not only relevant but a necessity. A true mobile website is designed specifically for the size and the functionality of a smartphone. The navigation is simplified for efficiency; there is no scrolling right to left and no need to pinch your screen to see the text. Additionally, a true mobile website has images that are optimized to load quickly and tap to call, email and view maps is also enabled. Remember that a poor user experience is a lost opportunity. Do viewers who visit your website from their smartphone move on to your competitor with a mobile site? Embrace mobile and stay a step-ahead of your competition. For more information on Real Pro Systems mobile websites, call our sales team today 541-743-8510.

Facebook Business Pages Tips & Tricks: Part Four: Disable Messaging on Your Business Page

Tara Sybrant — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:20:23 +0000

Part One: How to Star, Hide or Pin a Post Part Two: Add a Milestone or Create an Event Part Three: Scheduling a Post for Later In today’s post, our final post on Facebook business page tips and tricks, it is time to decide whether or not you’d like your Facebook business page to accept private messages. The latest version of the business page Timeline has a feature that allows businesses to receive private messages for the first time. This is in addition to the ability to post on wall. Just like you would see on a personal Facebook profile, the end user sees a “Message” button under your cover photo, pictured below.

With messages enabled, any messages received will show in the Admin portion of your page on the upper right hand corner, like this: There are lots of great reasons to keep messages enabled on your business page; however if you feel that this feature isn’t right for your business page, or you don’t have the resources to keep up with private messages, there is a very simple way to disable them through your Admin panel.

In the Admin panel, simply hit the Edit Page tab and select “Manage Permissions”. By simply unchecking the “Message” button the button will no longer show on your business page.

With messaging enabled, there are a few things for business page owners to note, Facebook has put a few restrictions in place to prevent spam and to protect the user privacy.

As a business page you cannot initiate a message to a user, the fan must be the one to initiate the conversation via private message.
Message ratios: for every message sent to a page by a fan, you can only respond twice. If the conversation will need more back and forth communication, it may be that exchanging emails would be a better mode of communication.

For more information on how to use Facebook business pages in your business, give Real Pro Systems a call at 541.743.8500.

Facebook Business Pages Tips & Tricks: Part Three: Scheduling a Post for Later

Tara Sybrant — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:09:35 +0000

Part One: How to Star, Hide or Pin a Post Part Two: Add a Milestone or Create an Event When it comes to managing your Facebook business page, and creating true engagement, one of the most difficult pieces is having time to sit in front of the computer and post at what experts tells us are the most optimal times. There have long been applications like TweetDeck and HootSuite that would allow you to schedule posts in the future, but now Facebook has built that right into the Timeline update. In order to be able to use the scheduling feature you must first add a milestone (See Part Two: Add a milestone, ask a question or create an event). To schedule your post for a later day or time, start by filling in your status as you normally would in the status box. Locate and click on the clock symbol in the bottom left hand corner of the status box. Clicking the clock will open options to add the year, then the month, the date and then the time of day to schedule the post. Once your status has been added, and the date and time set, hit schedule. After the post has been scheduled you will receive a message confirming your scheduled message and instructions on how to edit, or cancel the upcoming post from your Activity log in your Admin Panel.

A post on Facebook has approximately a two hour shelf life and so there are several types of posts that can benefit from being scheduled ahead of time as not to clog the news feed of your fans with multiple notifications at one time. Scheduling posts is a fast and convenient way to spread out your Facebook posts for the most impact. Posts to Schedule: • Upcoming open houses (2-3 week prior to the open house) • Space out new listings over a couple of days to give each listing the most impact • Blot posts or links to real estate news articles • Event posts Come back next week for our fourth and final in this Facebook Business Page Tips and Tricks Series where we show you how to disable messaging on your business page. Are you looking for your own Facebook business page? Check out Real Pro Systems Facebook Business Pages!