RealTown's RealTalk

Michael,

Most likely your website host allows you to set up several emails. Set up the ones you need and provide your agents with the POP (Incoming) email information…and they'll use their own ISP info as the SMTP (Outgoing email).

Hope that helps.

Jeff

Jeff Graves
JeffsCoaching@comcast.net
206.850.9996 (Cell)

PS Has anyone you know mentioned using Social Networks or blogging to increase their business? They probably have questions...please forward this link to them. Thank you. http://www.impactyoursalesnow.com/internet-marketing.htm

Microsoft Office 2007 & 2003 Training...
http://www.ImpactYourSalesNow.com

John E Cleek said:

I enrolled in the plan that allows me to add domain names at an economical price and I get 50 or so free e-mail addresses. I have about 25 domain names registered with them. I suggest you contact at least a couple of ISPs and compare price and customer service.

Again, I am not knocking Internet Crusade but when I checked a year or so ago their prices were more than I am paying.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Here is another alternative:

https://www.ixwebhosting.com/index.php/v2/pages.hostingPlans

Bart
P. Barton Erickson, e-PRO, SRS
Lamon Associates
700 Route 130 North, Suite 108
Cinnaminson, NJ 08077
Office: (856) 829-8090 x28
Cell: (856) 313-2635
Bart@HouseJeanie.com
www.HouseJeanie.com
http://www.realtown.com/housejeanie/blog

Michael Dows asked in part:

Is there a way …my agents…can use their …name @ DowsRealty.com and receive their e-mails on their computers? Or, if they choose to use their own domain for their e-mail address, how would they direct e-mail inquiries to the firm website?

I am not a techie.

Mark Jay offered in part:

The answer is YES…. The fastest, easiest and most cost efficient way to get that done is to call the Internet Crusade the sponsors of Real Talk and they will take care of you. You should transfer your Domain to the Internet Crusade and then buy the appropriate email product I think it's called "e-mail plus".

Here's a link to the Internet Crusade website http://www.internetcrusade.com and here's their phone number (619) 283-7302 found under the 'Contact Us' link. Read around on their website before you….

John Cleek responds in part:

I certainly have nothing negative to say about the Internet Crusade but I also know that most of us are counting our costs very carefully these days.

That said, I would note that most ISP's include multiple e-mail addresses as a part of their service. I joined APlus.net several years ago based on their exceptional customer service and their low prices. I transferred all of my domains to APlus at that time and have had no reason at all to change.

I enrolled in the plan that allows me to add domain names at an economical price and I get 50 or so free e-mail addresses. I have about 25 domain names registered with them. I suggest you contact at least a couple of ISPs and compare price and customer service.

Again, I am not knocking Internet Crusade but when I checked a year or so ago their prices were more than I am paying.

Good luck.

Mark Jay comments:

John has "nothing negative" to say about the Internet Crusade? …Except to say they are too expensive compared to HIS recommendation. Then John makes his recommendation and closes his response by writing… "Again, I am not knocking Internet Crusade but when I checked a year …ago their prices were more than I am paying. So he's not knocking the Internet Crusade just the price/value of their product….

On one level, John's response reminds me of the famous quote from Shakespeare's Queen Gertrude… 'The Lady doth protest too much, methinks' Of COURSE John is knocking the Internet Crusade and of course he is saying something negative about the Internet Crusade. And by saying not once but twice that he's not "knocking" the IC… well you get the idea…. On another level, how can you not knock IC but knock their product pricing? IC IS their product and service!

You can say that APlus is a better than the IC as a solution but you have to document WHY. And price can't possibly be the issue when the total price of this solution set is in the range of CENTS per day per agent making the comparison between alternative e-mail service providers even less significant.

The Internet Crusades' e-mail Plus solution includes Unlimited Rules (filters), Unlimited Aliases, Unlimited Mailboxes, Unlimited Forwarding and Unlimited Auto Responders for $25.00 per month and this is stated clear as day two clicks from the IC landing page. I clicked around on the APlus web site and couldn't figure out what their pricing structure is for the equivalent solution. So just on the basis of the issue in the last sentence; the "customer service" of the APlus doesn't match the IC…. Moreover, if the IC is $25.00 per month…and I should add here that currently, Internet Crusade offers a discounted domain for $4.95 when purchased in conjunction with any of their e-mail products or Internet Hosting services, and any Internet Crusade hosting or e-Mail clients can purchase unlimited domains for $12.95 per year, then how much less expensive can APlus be over IC in any meaningful way. If Michel wants some or all of those e-mail addresses forwarded to another e-mail address there is a small charge for that… but again it is a SMALL charge.

In other words, if Michael Dows buys an e-mail plus account for $25 per month and a couple of dollars for forwarding along with a year tacked on to his domain for 42 CENTS per month after transferring his domain to IC for a onetime charge of $35.00 and APlus is HALF that amount or ONE QUARTER that amount, is that difference going to have much if any affect on Michael's profitability? Remember, Michael is asking about a solution that will work for himself and a NUMBER of agents. Let's say he has 5 agents. That's less than $5 per month per person and the rest of the cost is really too small to count-pocket change really. And if APlus is HALF what IC is then Michael will save $2.50 per month per agent? So that makes APlus a better choice? If my business turned on that amount of monthly expense I'd draw a warm bath and open a vein.

Lastly, and I might have started with this point … Michael's closing sentence AND paragraph was… "I am not a techie". That means to me… and I hope Michael will correct me if I miss his point… he doesn't want to spend ANY time wading through a web site or trying to figure out "things" e-mail. Ideally, he would like to make a phone call and get his issue solved inexpensively… without complication …and then within twenty minutes or so of hanging up the phone be able to have his agents ALL in possession of e-mail addresses that are in the form of agentname@DowsRealty.com . Actually it will take a couple days to complete the domain transfer… but my point sticks.

The Internet Crusade was founded and is currently owned and managed by two legendary REALTORS who deeply and profoundly understand REALTORS and their technology needs and where the vast majority of REALTORS are on the Internet/e-mail mastery scale. The IC is organized BY REALTORS FOR REALTORS. I saw no REALTOR involvement on the APlus.net site. I also don't see where APlus runs something as useful as RealTalk or e-ProTalk, or MLSTalk or REALTOR Association Talk or the other cost savings and business building tools the IC does… Free Blogs, REALTOR Association secure e-mail voting and more. Of course, you can get product offerings for FREE from the IC and then go to some other insignificantly lower cost vendor for the things that IC charges for but you have to justify that… especially when you're making that recommendation FROM one of the IC's products. When you take ALL the products and services that IC provides there is NO better value for a REALTOR.

Let's see if you can provide me with proof to the contrary. Maybe we could post our back and forth here AND on the REALTOR discussion forums that APlus provides….

JackH wrote:

The guys and gals at Internet Crusade provide the best service available at the most reasonable price available. To write off the great team at IC by pointing to their price and saying "I can get it for less" is probably true. But you get what you pay for. Loyalty to clients counts for much in my book.

There is a market for price shopping. That is why you can get coffee at a convenience store for less than a dollar. But I prefer the better premium blends available at the "other" coffee shops.


I think IC gives good service, no doubt. But do not tell me the best service available at the most reasonable price available. How do you know that? Can you prove it that their service is better than any other service in the world?

You like to compare to the taste of coffee. Well, I do not like any coffee made in the stores. I prefer my own. And I have friends who only drink thee.

Just give normal comments and do not go over the edge. We are all different and we all make different choices. And when a person is happy with it and safe some money, so be it.

 

Catherine Myers, REALTOR
GRI, CRS, ABR, SRES
Alain Pinel Realtors
1646 No. California Blvd., Suite 101
Walnut Creek, CA 94596

925-683-2125 cell
925-465-1593 fax

www.DiabloValley.net
www.CCShortSales.com

Mark Jay wrote in part:

The Internet Crusade was founded and is currently owned and managed by two legendary REALTORS who deeply and profoundly understand REALTORS and their technology needs and….

Jack Harper comments:

First, InternetCrusade (formerly ReepCo) was founded by more than two legendary realtors. They remain legendary, by the way.

Second, there is much to be said about service and peace of mind. If there were nothing to these, then we would all buy cars without warranties and there would be no such thing as insurance.

The guys and gals at Internet Crusade provide the best service available at the most reasonable price available. To write off the great team at IC by pointing to their price and saying "I can get it for less" is probably true. But you get what you pay for. Loyalty to clients counts for much in my book.

There is a market for price shopping. That is why you can get coffee at a convenience store for less than a dollar. But I prefer the better premium blends available at the "other" coffee shops.

Mark Jay responds and comments:

First point…. I seem to remember that YOU Jack were involved at the very beginning but I didn't think you were in current ownership and management. And based on your early involvement and other things Saul has posted about you in the past I CERTAINLY accept that YOU remain legendary….

As to your second point and beyond…. I agree with your view but I go beyond that. My point is that using the IC for your e-mail and Domain Registration is the honorable thing to do given all that I've gotten from the efforts of John, Saul, Mike, Rich and the rest of the team. Honorable? That sounds a little "corny" doesn't it? But I think I owe them the same loyalty they've given to this community.

I've learned more about the Real Estate Brokerage business and especially agency and things about the internet than from any other source over my career. …Cell phones, wireless providers, Contact Management tools, SEO, to name a few things and there are dozens of other ideas and attitudes I've picked up here that I use every day… all delivered to me without cost or obligation. In the eight or nine years…has it been that long… that I've been participating in RT… RT has never missed a day. Some time back RT was delivered TWICE a day. Either Saul or John… maybe another IC person has delivered this ongoing real estate seminar to me without fail. Weekends, holidays, EVERY day. Sitting with family on Thanksgiving, or New Year's Day or maybe a Funeral and John or Saul looks at the e-mail and sends out the Digest. So if the cost of their product is in the market… and it certainly IS. Then they're the guys I'm going to go to. It seems like the honorable thing to do. And we're not talking a lot of money here either. A car wash a week is $15 or more… a cup of crappy frappe with a couple of drizzles and whipped topping or whatever they call it at SB is $3.00. Two couples go to a Major League sporting event followed by dinner at a nice Chop House and you're in the deal for close to $500.00….

And someone "sells away" from the IC FROM the IC's discussion forum to save $100 or $200 per YEAR? Someone can do that but it irritates me… so I thought I'd "share" my feelings. And the feeling I had at the moment was to slap John Cleek in the back of the head… figuratively, of course….