outlook vs yahoo mail plus

Created by: Lora Wiley, Licensed Real Estate Agent, Hemet, CA

Date: Aug 25, Number of Replies: 8

This is my first post. I am on module 3 of the epro course and have been reading a lot about setting up my outlook software. I am currently using yahoo mail plus and am wondering what benefits outlook offers that yahoo doesn't. I have unlimited space on my account. I don't need to automatically filter my files. I would rather read them and then move them to the designated files that I have created for each transaction. I have a permanent email address and signature. I'm not sure about auto responders as I have not yet looked to set that up on yahoo. "Mail Plus" from yahoo is a $19 per year subscription and it is very user friendly. It's "the one I use". Anyone else using yahoo mail plus? I would love some feedback either way.

Lori

Lori@LoriWiley.com

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Jeff Graves Educator, Kihei, HI

Date: Sep 4

Lori,

The two most common uses for Outlook are email and to manage a database. The biggest advantage is you only have to use one program…not two (Outlook and Yahoo).

As an email program…some advantages are:

I use Outlook to check 3 different email accounts - any emails received are brought into my Inbox in Outlook.
I can use multiple signatures (one for buyers, one for sellers, etc.)
I use the mail merge feature so I can send out email to a group…but each recipient's email is personalized to them. (This is not to be confused with a distribution list.)
Setting up email reminders
Organizing the emails not just by folders but also by category…so you could follow up with a particular group (category) of people based on most any criteria (i.e. internet leads)
I can drag an email over to my calendar or task button and schedule a follow up

As far as Contact Management is concerned…

Outlook provides great flexibility in the ability to sort and drill down into your list to extract the contacts you want to send a personalized group email, form letter or generate labels.
No need to download your contacts to create labels or generate form letters…the mail merge feature is powerful if you are maintaining a database.

I have used EarthLink for years (like Yahoo) it does provide me with two great features:

SPAM filter - everyday I get an email in my Outlook that shows me what emails I received that are suspected of being SPAM. If I see one I want to read I click a link, log in and click a button to add them to my EarthLink contacts - now all their subsequent emails will be passed through when my Outlook checks my EarthLink account. It's rare that I receive junk email in my Outlook Inbox.
When I am out of town I can access my email (using EarthLink) from any computer with internet access.

I do not however…maintain my database on Earthlink…that only resides on my computer in Outlook.

I provide one-on-one training for Outlook: www.ImpactYourSalesNow.com

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jeff

JeffsTechTraining@earthlink.net

Executive Coyote

August 25, 2008 3:26 PM

This is my first post. I am on module 3 of the epro course and have been reading a lot about setting up my outlook software. I am currently using yahoo mail plus and am wondering what benefits outlook offers that yahoo doesn't. I have unlimited space on my account. I don't need to automatically filter my files. I would rather read them and then move them to the designated files that I have created for each transaction. I have a permanent email address and signature. I'm not sure about auto responders as I have not yet looked to set that up on yahoo. "Mail Plus" from yahoo is a $19 per year subscription and it is very user friendly. It's "the one I use". Anyone else using yahoo mail plus? I would love some feedback either way.

Lori

Lori@LoriWiley.com

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Lora Wiley Licensed Real Estate Agent, Hemet, CA

Date: Sep 6

Thanks Jeff. That's a lot of good information. I may be checking out your course on how to do all the things you talked about. Again Thanks. Lori

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Kelli Kelchen

Date: Sep 9

I too have been wondering about converting from Yahoo to Outlook...I only use the Outlook calendar right now and am not sure how to forward my other email address to outlook. What did you decide?

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Lora Wiley Licensed Real Estate Agent, Hemet, CA

Date: Sep 15

I haven't yet. I'm still setting up my office. However, when I do I'll share all the details.

Lori

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Kathleen Crannell-hettick Licensed Real Estate Agent, Red Bluff, CA

Date: Sep 15

Hi! I'm on Mod 3, too and use Yahoo Mail plus. I'm having trouble having input for signature line. Right now I use Outlook for business and Yahoo for personal stuff. This class is an eye-opener!

Kathy/Realtor/ERA

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Samantha Lorefice Licensed Real Estate Agent, Oro Valley, AZ

Date: Sep 25

I love using Outlook because of exactly what was mentioned before; you can have your calendar, database and emails all in one application. I also have a Blackberry that I sinc with Outlook so I have all of my informaiton when I'm out in the field.

I used Top Producer for a while but found it not nearly as user friendly. I can even set up reminders with alarms for appointments, expirations, calls to be made, etc...

I also keep records of all emails to and from my clients by creating a seperate file for each of them in Outlook. It's handy to be able to refer back when a question is asked or they said they didn't receive a message.

I can also send out email flyers to any group I choose with Outlook. I'm sure there are countless ways to use the program that I don't even know about.

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Kathy Cox, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

Date: Nov 18

Regarding Outlook vs. Yahoo or other online management systems. In my opinion Outlook is the tool of choice. I would definitely recommend it. I have had experience with other real estate database managers, an in my opinion Outlook provides all the capabilites to efficiently handle the complex needs of real estate professionals - from database management and tracking, to orgainizing tasks, calendars, and appointments, and e-mailing complex files and documents. The "free", domains are cumbersome with certain files and attachments and simply cannot meet the needs of someone who uses this system for business purposes. Also, you can pull into Outlook mail from any other sources you have. Good luck!

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Jennifer Lee

Date: Dec 1

This is my first post as well. I have used Outlook and Top Producer in the past. I currently use Outlook and am happy with all the tools is has for my needs. The main reason I stopped using TP is because I wasn't using half the options it had to offer while paying full price. Now that TP8i has come out, many of the user friendly issues may be resolved but I am still going to stick with outlook. As someone else stated, you can create your own attachments with ease and send them out via email just as easily. Good luck with your search for the right software for you.

Jennifer Lee,Keller Williams, Apple Valley

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