VoicePad- Just another AVR or the next generation?
May 30, 2008
In our brokerage (120 agents, 1 office in Louisville Kentucky), we were looking for more than just another AVR (automated voice response) solution. Hotlines where you can call in and get recorded information about properties have been around for years. Actually decades. Is there something THAT special to make the VoicePad Mobile IDX solution different. After 8 months here are the results…
Our ‘benchmark’ has always been to compare results from an Automated system to simply putting a cell phone number on a rider. Which brings more leads? In today’s market, success has to go beyond being a “listing tool”. It HAS to grab buyers to be worth the time and money invested.
In terms of ease of use (needed to get enough agents using it), mobile IDX cannot be beaten. Their staff was great. The fact that users do NOT have to record their own voice or even have to do anything (the data comes nightly from IDX data and is converted to voice files)., is truly amazing. Currently over 2/3 of our agents actively use the product and promote it to their clients.
The last 3 months we have averaged 1,200 leads to our agents (from about 300 listings with signs in front of them). Agents get a text message while the person inquiring is in front of the house calling. The prospect can click through to the agent’s cell phone and one in five times they do. This is encouraging for us.
For more information on how we use the system, feel free to contact me and I will provide you with complete details for your brokerage. And for the record, I am not an investor in VoicePad…just happy to tout something that is working for us in the hopes that it will help others.
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8 Responses to “VoicePad- Just another AVR or the next generation?”
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Eric – I went to a meeting last week at RE/MAX Indiana about this product. I loved the possibilties and it sounds like the product has been a huge success for you.
Thanks for the review.
Howdy Eric-
It’s great that you have found something that brings leads. I’m always curious about the lead/conversion. 1200 leads is a lot on 300 homes! Can I ask how many have become clients?
@Paula- Thanks. I have been talking with Don Hintz (your regional Tech guy) about it . as well.
@Teri- GREAT question. The best I can do is estimate (since we have 120 agents in the office). Based on what I am hearing currently, about 2% are becoming clients.
That varies from month to month and I don’t grill our folks about it, but 24 new clients a month over time turns into closings. The reason that the conversion is low (IMO) is that some of the “leads” a neighborhood lookey-loo’s and nosey neighbors. We try not to pester anyone. Just follow up quick and see if they need anything.
Some agents have a problem with working on a 2% numbers game, but our agents LOVE it. If I tried to shut this off right now, I’d be looking for work (grin).
24 new clients each month in our office is a pretty good thing.
Hope that helps.
Best;
Eric
Additional note- I would love to hear the experiences of others with other brands of IVR types of products as well. Would be really interesting to benchmark them out.
Thanks for Sharing. I would love to hear more about how to incorporate it into the brokerage. I am going to be at the Summit so I will see you there.
Hey Dena!
I look forward to seeing you as well! Gonna be a fun time! Please make sure and ask me about how we are incorporating into what we do.
Best;
Eric
Although it sounds like a good idea, VoicePad doesn’t separate themselves from others, actually makles it harder on the users. Their new mobileIDX solution seems to be a nice idea, but the fact the competition gets all the leads doesn’t help the agent much. Also, the system isn’t very user friendly for the buyer as you might have to listen to several properties with the same address.
I know the VoicePad mobileIDX and the leads are not sent to the competition. The leads on competitors listings are routed back to YOU or YOUR brokerage depending on how you have chosen to set it up. It is the most powerful lead generation tool we have ever encountered. The best part is that our agents have something of value to offer prospects, inquiring on any listing without talking to another competitor agent. As they drive around and call on listings I can track their activity on a Google map and I don’t have to drive them around. When they decide to talk to an agent on any property they press the 1 key on their phone and the call routes to me. I have tripled my income on buy side transactions and have not lost a listing since I started using VoicePad. All this has happened in a down market!