With all the new regulations impacting telemarketing, you may be looking for a different way to use the phone in your business. With businesses looking for other alternatives to travel, teleconferencing either by regular phone or by videoconference is now the hot way to hold meetings. If you have never considered how leasing your own teleconference line could benefit your real estate business, here are seven great ways to use teleconferencing to strengthen your customer service as well as to prospect in an entirely new way.

1. If you're working with relocation clients, a teleconference call allows your homesick clients a chance to have a "virtual" reunion with up to 25 friends and family members back at home. If any of your clients are stuck at home and feeling lonesome, it's also a great way for them to link up with their support system in their old town. This is a great way to provide a service and keep your name in front of prospects and clients.

2. If you're presenting an offer by phone to owners in two or more different locations, the teleconference technology is a simple way to link up all the parties. This is especially useful when there is a divorce or some other type of conflict going on between the parties where putting them in the same room together is a poor idea. Because the parties hear only the voice (they miss all the "dirty looks") there is a greater probability the negotiation will go smoothly.

3. If there is a transaction problem where you need to have more than three people on the call simultaneously, a teleconference line is the simplest way for them to connect. It also lessens the possibility of conflict for the same reasons mentioned in #2.

4. Use teleconference lines for "First Time Buyer Seminars." Have a lender, a title person, and escrow/closing agent on the call. This is great PR for all involved and allows potential buyers to ask questions about all aspects of their first purchase. You can reference the calls in your prospecting materials and during your open houses.

5. Give your clients a "gift" of a one-hour teleconference call to hold family reunions at the holidays or on a monthly basis. This is a great way for them to "get together" with family members who may not be able to travel. It's also an excellent way to show your appreciation.

6. Use the teleconference line for "client appreciation events." You may want to invite a guest speaker who would be of interest to those with whom you do business. Some examples of people to invite include people from the National Speakers' Association who can speak on a wide variety of topics, Certified Financial Planners, an expert of trusts and probate, or a representative from the mortgage industry to discuss interest rates and when is the best time to refinance.

7. Form your own mastermind group. Many of the high-priced speakers on the real estate circuit use this technique to gather great ideas from agents working in the field. Link up associates from your office with agents from other non-competing areas. Not only is this a great way to surface new ideas for building your business, it's also an excellent way to create an on-going flow of referrals.

These are just a few of the ideas that can be used with your own teleconference line. If you are concerned about the price, why not get a couple of other agents to split the cost or ask your broker to consider getting one for the entire office? A teleconference line is one of the few methods of prospecting that allows you to both deliver a service (or gift) and stay in personal contact with prospective, existing, and past clients.

Editor's note: To obtain information on where to obtain the best price on teleconference lines for up to 25 people send an email to teleconferencerental@teleclass4u.com or click on http://www.TeleconferenceLine.com. They normally charge $900.00 per year for 24/7 access and are currently offering their lines for $675.00 through 10/31. Each caller pays their own long distance fees to call Nevada where the lines are located.

Published: October 24, 2001

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