Realty Times' innovative new feature "Agent Toolbox" allows Realty Times' Realtor readers to be introduced to innovative small business-targeted marketing technologies they might not be able to find otherwise. And, through Realty Times, they can take advantage of low prices, trial periods, and easy learning curves.

“Agent Toolbox features the latest gadgets that may prove to be invaluable, cost-effective marketing tools," says John Giaimo, vice president of business development and marketing for Realty Times. "All products offered have been created for use in the real estate industry."

Why is Realty Times the right place to have small business-targeted marketing technologies for Realtors? Realty Times was among the first real estate portals to provide information on real estate-related technologies to the industry. Through Agent News, Realty Times has been doing product reviews, new product introductions and company profiles (and mug shots) for over five years.

"It’s important for agents to know what is available in the marketplace related to product and services that will assist them in their marketing efforts," explains Giaimo. "The problem is, where would agents go to preview such products? Realty Times has created a location that allows for the familiarization of new products and services and in many cases allows for a free trial period. This is definitely a page to bookmark."

To sweeten interest in the new feature by Realtors, products eligible for inclusion in Agent Toolbox must have a minimal learning curve and vendors must be willing to offer fair pricing to customers.

"Many of the products offered in this section come with a 30-day free trial period and the purchase prices are within everyone’s budget," says Giaimo.

Dan Slavin, spokesperson for Photolightning says, "Agent Toolbox is a great idea for agents because Realty Times has scoured the Web for the best software products it can find, and is providing information about these products to agents in order to help them make more money faster."

Says Curt Schooling, vice president of business development for Imprev, Inc, "It is extremely valuable for agents to have a single location to find business solutions that have been reviewed, tested and approved by industry specialists."

Says Giaimo, "Photolightning a good candidate to participate in Agent Toolbox because it is a fast, easy-to-use software product for using digital photos to make more money selling real estate. Photolightning takes digital photos right from your camera, shrinks them down for fast e-mailing, and sends them out to clients in seconds with no more annoying e-mail attachments to worry about."

"Imprev fits the Agent Toolbox profile as a company that provides incredible value, with unlimited flash presentations and virtual tours as just the tip of the iceberg, that agents just need to find out about," he adds.

Adrian Alting-Mees, CTO of DailyToast, Inc., says, "Agent Toolbox is revolutionary because it gives brokers, agents, property managers, and virtually anyone in the realty business the ability to connect with customers on a more personal level. The Internet and e-mail have become essential business tools, but they can be intimidating to use. Agent Toolbox provides agents with easy-to-use tools to harness the Internet and e-mail and, ultimately, sell more properties and services."

"Daily Toast's JotSmart was chosen to be one of these tools because it provides an essential link in the sales/marketing chain - personalized service," explains Giaimo. "JotSmart enhances agent-to-client e-mail communications through the use of words, images and audio messages. JotSmart makes personalizing listings, blue prints and drawings, pictures, and contracts a snap! Virtually anything on your screen can be marked-up and e-mailed using JotSmart."

Giaimo advises agents to check Agent Toolbox frequently for what's new in marketing tools.

"To my knowledge, there is no other location on the Web an agent can go to see the latest in marketing technology," says Giaimo. "I hope to build to the list of products very soon."

Editor's note: "Agent Toolbox" is found on the right hand side of Realty Times under Agent Marketing. For more information on the Agent Toolbox, please contact .

Published: April 2, 2003

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