Prospecting Software?

Sep 28, 2006 9:15 am

I see we've read Liar's Poker.  What do you mean by "prospecting software" (i.e. leads or contact management?).

Sep 28, 2006 12:11 pm

BSD, please allow me to disabuse you of a notion before it grows...if you believe that you can set up your computer to drive qualified leads through your door, you're sadly mistaken.  Forget technology.  Get out and meet people.  That's how simple (and complex!) it is.

Best of luck to ya!

Sep 28, 2006 12:20 pm

If you can find them, there is something called "Three by Five Cards."

They are ideal for keeping track of your prospects. You can sort them in an infinite number of ways, they can be used as a "Tickler" to remind you to call somebody, you can keep track of what was discussed the last time you talked and a host of other uses.

Oh, and you can use them to keep track of birthdays so you remember to send a birthday card.

Finally, they can be obtained in different colors which makes it visually easy to keep track of what you're trying to keep track of.

Sep 28, 2006 1:23 pm

Yes I have read Liars Poker, it’s an amusing read.

I’m looking for something to organize my prospecting efforts.  Some kind of contact management system I guess?  3 x 5 cards are a bit too old school for me…

Sep 28, 2006 2:43 pm

[quote=BigSwingingDick]Yes I have read Liars Poker, it's an amusing read.

I'm looking for something to organize my prospecting efforts.  Some kind of contact management system I guess?  3 x 5 cards are a bit too old school for me...
[/quote]

Try this:

www.billgood.com

Bill has the most comprehensive system on the market today. Absolutely a must have if you want to be successful.

If you find the $15000 ,more or less, price tag a little steep, well, there are those old school 3x5 cards. Good luck and welcome to the business.

Sep 28, 2006 3:00 pm

Use the 3x5 cards or you will spend more time fooling with your prospecting software than actually prospecting.

Sep 28, 2006 3:03 pm

[quote=downtown]Use the 3x5 cards or you will spend more time fooling
with your prospecting software than actually prospecting.[/quote]



Something else.



If a prospect pisses you off you can burn their card in a ceremony attended by everybody in the office.



“The Tribe Has Spoken” type stuff.



Certainly a lot more fun than hitting the delete key.

Sep 28, 2006 3:04 pm

Oh, and if the prospect tells you not to call again it’s so easy to give that card to a newbie.

Sep 28, 2006 4:19 pm

I’m not a broker, but my entire business is based on tracking people.

Suggest you start with the simplest and most flexible system possible.  3x5 cards are a good example.

While you use the basic system, start making a list of the features you want in a full-fledged system.

After six months to a year, your list will be pretty big.  Do a little research and pick a computerized system that meets all of your needs.

This may sound complicated, but it’s MUCH better than picking a program and trying to make your practice fit the system.

Or you may find that 3x5 cards do everything that you want.


Sep 28, 2006 9:21 pm

Starka was kind enough to suggest ACT for me.  I purchased a copy online for about $50 and have been well pleased with it.  It’s not Bill Good, but it fits my needs well thius far.  No doubt Bill Good is a very fine system if you want to be a BSD, but that’s beyond my aspirations at this point.

Sep 28, 2006 9:24 pm

[quote=Soon 2 B Gone][quote=downtown]Use the 3x5 cards or you will spend more time fooling with your prospecting software than actually prospecting.[/quote]

Something else.

If a prospect pisses you off you can burn their card in a ceremony attended by everybody in the office.

"The Tribe Has Spoken" type stuff.

Certainly a lot more fun than hitting the delete key.
[/quote]

Instead of burning the card, we used to pass it around the boardroom so EVERYBODY could call the SOB!

Sep 28, 2006 9:25 pm

[quote=downtown]Use the 3x5 cards or you will spend more time fooling with your prospecting software than actually prospecting.[/quote]

I totally agree.

Sep 28, 2006 9:37 pm

[quote=Indyone]Starka was kind enough to suggest ACT for me.  I
purchased a copy online for about $50 and have been well pleased with
it.  It’s not Bill Good, but it fits my needs well thius
far.  No doubt Bill Good is a very fine system if you want to be a
BSD, but that’s beyond my aspirations at this point.[/quote]



You’re an odd duck when it comes to ambition.  Are you getting younger so all your goals are backwards for the rest of us?



How do you think you’d do on those “Would you rather pull wings off of
butterflies or make love with your mother?” type of exams that are
given by the real brokerage houses?

Sep 28, 2006 10:19 pm

...I'd rather pull wings off butterflies.  Thankfully, I never had such a question and at this point in my life, I don't have any more of those tests coming.

I'm 40-something, but still get carded.  No doubt, I'm not a typical wirehouse personality...I'd like to ramp up to about a half mil in production in the next five years, and then level off...maybe up 5% per year.  At that point, I'll take home about $350K in a location where a very nice home can be had for $250K, and the average Joe makes 40-50K/year.  I'm not lazy, but I'm not obsessed with big numbers either.  If you view me as an enigma and are entertained by that, then good for both of us...

Sep 29, 2006 12:01 am

Do you know what you get when you pull the wings off of a butterfly?

A butterwalk.

Oct 2, 2006 8:18 pm

More like a butterflop I’d say.