SubscribeMeebo: Web 2.0 “Floor Time”
January 22, 2007
Mike Simonsen at Altos Research just introduced me to Meebo, another nifty little blog tool, which I suspect will start popping up all over the place shortly. Following Mike’s lead, I installed it — it’s the “Chat” box on the far right side of the screen.
What does it do? In geek-speak, it’s a web-based universal chat client.
What does that mean? In Realtor speak, it enables Web 2.0 “Floor Time.”
Floor Time is a venerated lead-generation real estate tradition, the equivalent of doctors being “On call.” The agent on floor duty has first dibs on incoming phone queries and on walk-ins; success in landing clients is mixed at best, but it certainly never hurts to try it.
Back to Meebo … if somebody is browsing my site, they can see whether or not I’m online. If I am and they have a question, they simply pop over to the chat box and type it in! I respond the same way — by typing. If I’m offline, they can still type a question, and I’ll get it when I next log in.
Very nifty!
Tags: Meebo, Real estateComments
15 Responses to “Meebo: Web 2.0 “Floor Time””
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Contributors
Kevin Boer
Broker/Owner
3 Oceans Real Estate
Menlo Park, CA
650.387.2860
(DRE 01404898)
Chris Iverson
Realtor
Ventoux Homes
Palo Alto, CA
650.450.0450
(DRE 01708130)
Christine Kani
Mortgage Broker
Equitas Capital
San Jose, CA
408.200.3816
(DRE 01730869)
Cindy Lin
Stager
Staged4More
Burlingame, CA
650.293.7458
Bart Marchioni
Realtor
Keller Williams
San Jose, CA
408.266.3100
(DRE 01385188)
David Roberson
Attorney
RHRC
San Jose, CA
408.261.4252
Eric Trailer
Mortgage Banker
Absolute Mortgage
Palo Alto, CA
650-493-3600
(DRE 01361721)
Oh good! Something else to keep me at my computer even longer. My wife will love this.
I have often thought of adding a “live chat” feature to my website. I think it will be an excellent tool to develop some rapport with visitors. Let us know how it works for you Kevin.
Talking about [blog tools] (www.BitWine.com) BitWine enables you to place a widget on your blog that let people call you.
But here is the killer app: you can charge for that call.
People can set appointments so you do not have to be on-line even though it helps the buyers that are looking for a quick solution or consultation.
It is a Desktop Taskbar (not a toolbar) so you can be doing other things and not even notice that. It downloads from within Skype 3.0 as an Extra, (tools do-more, get extras, featured) It installs in seconds.
Think of it as meeb o with Instant Billing capabilities.
You do not have to charge your callers, but if you do, the payment is instant. The call enjoy all the tools of Skype, Audio Video, Chat, Whiteboard, Call Recording and what ever Skype tool that works for you.
The system uses PayPal as a main payment platform and It is free.
Check this one out for instance:
http://www.bitwine.com/users/11265_canadian_mortgage_wizard
NM
Noni,
Interesting, very very interesting. While I personally can’t imagine charging people for interacting with me on this site, I can imagine leadgen companies or brokerages setting something like this up and charging the agent (not the prospective client) for the call.
[...] I had thought about adding this before, but got inspired to actually do it by Mike Simonsen’s post yesterday. I noticed that his post also got Kevin Boer, a Palo Alto agent, to add it to his site as well. [...]
Being on a team that generates a huge amount of leads that get distibuted to the respective agent on floor duty, this is a great tool!
Currently, many of the leads that come via email (people signing up for MLS searches through our company site) leave bogus email addresses and/or phone numbers because they do not want to be bothered. They may have questions, but are scared that they will get emails or phone calls if they give their info.
By giving them a way to anonymously interact with an agent, they may be more inclined to ask questions. This will help build a relationship and possibly a client in the future.
[...] Kevin Boer at Three Oceans described Meebo as creating virtual floor time - the equivalent of sitting in the office (usually with a good book) waiting for the phone to ring. It was this analogy that caused me to take the plunge. I spend a good chunk of my day in front of the computer anyway, and the chat provides another method for readers to make contact. [...]
[...] I found this Meebo post at 3 Oceans Real Estate by Kevin Boer quickly followed by seeing it appear on: [...]
This is an awesome tool. Thank you for sharing it with us, Kevin.
[...] While online chat clients for blogs and websites can improve chances of turning readers into clients (check out Kevin Boer’s blog on this topic), I had to be online at the same time as my blog readers to receive the chat immediately. With days full of open homes and client meetings, I imagine many agents are in the same boat. [...]
[...] Kevin Boer at Three Oceans described Meebo as creating virtual floor time - the equivalent of sitting in the office (usually with a good book) waiting for the phone to ring. It was this analogy that caused me to take the plunge. I spend a good chunk of my day in front of the computer anyway, and the chat provides another method for readers to make contact. [...]
I agree, my wife gets upset with my time on the machine - but I will probably entertain this great idea, thanks
[...] buyer of one of Bob’s listings, however, may well go through to the agent on “floor duty.” That agent turns this phone call into a client, who goes on to buy a different listing, [...]
[...] Kevin Boer [...]
[...] buyer of one of Bob’s listings, however, may well go through to the agent on “floor duty.” That agent turns this phone call into a client, who goes on to buy a different listing, [...]
More technology to follow.