Which software products are the best investment? The best place to learn is to go to the people who believe in the value of technology and use it every day in their businesses.

The Allen F. Hainge CyberStars(tm) is a group that I formed five years ago from leading sales associates from around the country. Membership in the CyberStars(tm) is open to anyone who can qualify - and the requirements shoot for the stars. A sales associate must do 60 transactions a year, have a money-making Web site, use today's technology in business, and be willing to share ideas with other members in order to qualify.

I polled the CyberStars and asked which software products made them the most money. Their top four picks are:

• PREP Presentations (for printed presentations);
• Know The Neighborhood (printed and on-screen demographic presentations);
• PhotoShare (multimedia presentations: photos, voiceover, music background); and,
• Real Estate Specific Database

Multimedia software such as PREP Productions and TOP PRESENTER, have been around for awhile. These are two easy-to-use products designed to let you give multimedia presentations on your computer. Each features marketing presentations, pricing presentations, f.s.b.o. presentations, tips for getting a home in shape to sell, and more.

I feel that the biggest multimedia success story today, however, is PhotoShare. "PhotoShare makes it easy for you to arrange photos in order (photos of a home or of a market area, for example), add voice narration to each photo if you wish, add a soundtrack and slide transitions. The result is a marvelous multimedia slide show, one that can be saved to disk or emailed to prospects, buyers and sellers. Most of the CyberStars have used it for several years and swear by it.

CyberStar(tm) Wynne Achatz of Marine City, MI describes the quickest sale she has ever had thanks to PhotoShare.

"I created the PhotoShare slide tour while listing the house yesterday morning," explains Achatz. "Then, while still at the listing presentation, I emailed it to some transferees who were looking for a house similar to the one I was listing. I knew the house would sell fast because it was priced right. The folks I emailed the PhotoShare presentation to loved it and faxed an offer over to my office subject to getting here Friday for the inspection. When I got back to the office, the offer was waiting. If I only would have had a portable printer with me, I could have had the offer faxed to me at the sellers’ house as we were finishing up the listing. Then it would have been a listing and sale in under one hour. The wonder of PhotoShare and email!"

Although I asked for software feedback, a majority of the CyberStars(tm) wanted to make sure these other tools were included: a digital camera, SoftKlone and email. As one CyberStar(tm) stated, "It’s hard for me to imagine anyone competing in today's market without a digital camera, given all it does for me as a marketing tool."

When you've chosen a particular brand and model, go to one of the good discount pricing sites on the Web. I usually find the lowest prices at http://www.buycomp.com. I also like http://www.pricewatch.com.

As an example of the prices on these sites, I searched for prices on Palm p.d.a.’s. Buycomp.com had the Palm V for $347.95 and the Palm III for $161.95. PriceWatch had the Palm VII for $578. A quick comparison with prices in some of the national chain stores in your area will quickly show you the wisdom of shopping these two sources.

The lesson is simple: if you want to increase your market share, use the tools listed above. They make money for the CyberStars(tm); they’ll make money for you.

Editor's note: Great discounts on software products are also available through Allen F. Hainge. Visit www.afhseminars.com for more information.

Published: August 5, 1999

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