Dear CyberAgent users,

In the May newsletter we said that it "only takes one enquiry"... this month, we look at what to do when that one enquiry hits - and specifically when it originates from the PropertyGenie website.

Be INFORMED : we look a little closer at the "Keep Me Informed" feature and how your website visitors can benefit from it.

Be careful where you get your pictures from! Some of our clients are using the pictures of properties listed on the www.Privateproperty.co.za website. Privateproperty has warned that legal action will be taken to protect their copyrights.

CyberAgent Mobile is making waves! Read more below... If you have not seen it - some to the Info Session, invitation below!

Greetings!
The editor

To build on a previous article, titled "It only takes one enquiry" - where we elaborated on the features of your website and the various websites your properties are advertised on - we look more closely at enquiries received from the PropertyGenie (www.propertygenie.co.za) website. The reason we're addressing this is because we've had quite a few clients phoning in, asking to know how and why their properties are advertised on PropertyGenie and how they are to handle queries from PropertyGenie.

Who and what is PropertyGenie?
Property Genie is the "property portal" of MortgageSA - a division of MortgageSA in other words.

What is a "Property Portal"?
A "portal" is an internet term used to describe a website that offers a broad array of resources and services. Thus - a "property portal" is a portal which is dedicated to property resources and services.

Who is MortgageSA?
MortgageSA is one of SA's biggest mortgage originators and have an extensive user base (over 4,500 real estate agencies).

Why are my listings on there?
You are a CyberAgent subscriber and as an added bonus to the services received, you are benefitting from the Internet marketing campaigns launched by USP Designs. As described in previous articles, most of these campaigns deal with the listing of properties on popular South African property websites.

How does it GET there?
Your listings are synchronized to PropertyGenie on a daily basis. A scheduled run that starts around 1am is responsible for transferring all new and changed listings to PropertyGenie and removing any deleted listings from PropertyGenie.

Do I have a choice - can I choose NOT to list my properties on PropertyGenie?
Yes - this is the 21st century, you definately have a choice. Should you wish for whatever reason, not to advertise your properties on PropertyGenie, you can email the CyberAgent support and request to be removed.

Does is cost me anything additional?
No - there is not an additional charge to have your properties advertised on PropertyGenie, as a CyberAgent subscriber, this is just one more of your numerous benefits. You are actually benefitting not just from USP Designs' marketing campaings but indirectly also from the marketing campaigns by MortgageSA.

OK - now that the basics have been addressed - let's look at how you will handle queries originating from PropertyGenie.

As with telephone enquiries from your own website, or the www.CyberProp.com website, a client will phone in with a reference number that he/she has seen on the PropertyGenie website. On the PropertyGenie website, there are two reference numbers (see picture below) - one is the PropertyGenie ID (ie: 663645) of the property and the other is the Agency Reference number (ie: SPRG1000000783).

Allways ask the client if he can quote the Agency Reference number - since this is directly related to the property number assigned to your properties in the CyberAgent system. The first five digits of the Agency Reference number (ie: SPRG1) is your CyberAgent Branch ID - this is the ID that was assigned to you when you subscribed to CyberAgent. The numbers that follow after the first five is the property number assigned to the listing you have in your CyberAgent system.

How to locate the property in CyberAgent : open the Property Manager, click on "Search", go to Miscellaneous, enter reference number into the "Property No" field and click "Search".

What if the client quotes the PropertyGenie ID number instead of the Agency Reference number?
Simply visit the PropertyGenie website (www.PropertyGenie.co.za) and enter the PropertyGenie ID number into the field next to "If you know the Property Genie ID:", and click "Search". This will display the details of the property the client is showing interest in, and you will be able to retrieve the Agency Reference number from here.

The other possibility is that the enquiry can come to you via email (and sms) - both the Agency Reference number as well as the PropertyGenie ID number is displayed in the emailed message, so you should have no trouble in responding to the emailed enquiries.

Now - for the important bit : FOLLOW UP ON ENQUIRIES!!! But that's a whole different story which we'll leave for another day.

Visitors to your website may not allways find what they're looking for, but they usually would like to somehow enter their search criteria (ie: looking for a 2 bedroom flat in Centurion for under R3,500 per month). They're expecting to hear from you as soon as something like this becomes available.

The "Keep Me Informed" service will sms and email the site visitor as soon as you load a new property onto your website that match their search criteria!

This is all automated and it's available to you RIGHT NOW! Simply request this service to be activated on your website. Contact us at support@cyberprop.com or phone us on 086-11-CYBER.

To see an example of this in action, visit www.cyberprop.com and click on Tools > Your Profile.

Whether you're a new user or you wish to delve deeper into the functionalities of CyberAgent - be sure to attend this training session!

For more information on training please email Karen@cyberprop.com

May 2006: 30 new agencies joined the CyberAgent family in May!

A warm welcome to all new Agencies:

We trust that by now you are well aware of what CyberAgent can do for you. If you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Fanie at support@cyberprop.com or phone us at: +27 (0)11 955-9100 or 086 112- 9237

Internet enquiries for May 2006:

When using the pictures or textual content from another website, without permission or proper reference - especially where the item is a trademark is a definate infringement of copy right. Privateproperty.co.za is a well known South African website where members of the public can list their properties.

Estate agents who are later contracted to sell the property have learned to take a shortcut by taking the pictures for the property straight off the Privateproperty website.

Be carefull - if you're caught, you will face legal action!

No more waiting for statements and invoices. By logging on with your username and password you can now get it online at: http://www.cyberagent.co.za/uspacct/