We are all familiar with “Apps” for our phone, and iPad – but are you familiar with the “Apps” that are available for the Browser that you are using? Real Estate Agents need tools that are available across the “Cloud” and if you are using a Droid (for instance) you should find these Google Tools time saving! Most apps will work with FireFox and Chrome – but since Chrome is the “true” Google Browser – we’re going to look at the apps from that perspective.
Not sure what these “App” things are, or if you’d use them? Well, remember the old Internet Explorer Toolbars, that had the Weather, and a link to MSN, and whatever else on there? These apps allow you to literally “build” your own toolbar for your browser! Check this out – these are some of the simple apps you can add that will make your Real Estate Business generate more Internet Leads!
How to Add Apps to Chrome: I’m going to assume you already know how to add Chrome as one of your Browser options. Once in Chrome, you can literally “Google” the term – Google Apps (or follow this link). Once there, we think some of the tools you might want to add would include:
Yesware! This adds Templates, tracking and Prospecting tools. Yesware! also TRACKS the email and let’s you know when it’s been opened or forwarded. It also works with CRMs like SalesForce, Zoho or Sugar – it will export directly to it. It will give you Team access, and gives you Pipeline information! It will also integrate with Droid. (this is Waay Cool!)
Crowdbooster: This is a Social Media Dashboard that doesn’t just give you “analytics” about how your mass email message did – it will give you Targeted Recommendations about how you can better reach the audience you are looking for and what times are most efficient to send your messages. WOW!
Universal Contact Manager & Smart Mail: If you are part of a team, or maybe you are in a new home neighborhood, and it would make like Soooo much easier if everyone could see the same contact database – you might want to consider Universal Contact Manager. This is a free “cloud” contact system (for up to 5000 contacts) which will work with MULTIPLE Google Apps, including Smart Mail. Smart Mail will allows you to send our “canned” messages as auto replies, copy the folks that need to be copied, add the graphics you need – and track the progress of the email. It is a GREAT Campaign tool (IMHO) for teams working off of a large database.
Send to Evernote & Evernote Web Clipper: If you are dong a Listing Presentation, you might find images or information about the competition that doesn’t “fit” well into the CMA. You can clip that information, picture, video… Tweet – and keep it in an Evernote file to pull out later! How cool is that?
SEO For Chrome: The SEO for Chrome app (extension) gives you easy access to Analytics, PageRank Checks, Keyword Research and competitive analysis. Wouldn’t it be nice to know the number of links pointing to your competitor’s website, or the number of bookmarks and shares a site has? It’s all available, and can be part of your Chrome Toolbar!
Firebug Lite for Chrome: If you do much “tweaking” with a WordPress site – you’ve probably used Firebug. It’s one of the best web tools available when you are looking for snippets of code on a site. It’s now available for Chrome!
Once you start browsing the tools – you will also find MULTIPLE task related tools, and note tools that allow you to make a note, set a list of tasks that need to be done, share the list and update the tasks. Remember the Milk (for instance) is a way to add items to the household Grocery list that the people in your family can share and access!
There are also Financial Calculators that you can add to your toolbar that can be REALLY useful as you are talking to Real Estate Customers! Remember, when you create the “custom” toolbar, once you login to Google (from the office, from your phone) you’ll have your new tools available to you!
If you need more help creating great Real Estate eMail Campaigns, or you have other tools that help your Real Estate Business, let me know! I love helping agents who are trying to improve their search, and generate Internet Leads! I’d love to help you and learn more about what’s working in your market! Are you on Facebook and Twitter? Let’s Connect!
