Real Pro Systems Launches Social Networking Solution, Builds Relationships, Network, Referrals

 Print Article

RISMEDIA, Jan. 9, 2008-Real Pro Systems, a real estate Internet solutions company, introduced VillageMaker, one of the first online social networking solutions designed specifically for real estate agents and their clients.

According to the company, VillageMaker enables agents to create their own sponsored “semi-private” village network, and invite past clients, prospects, and charitable organizations to participate. Village membership is only available upon invitation from the sponsoring agent to ensure a true community-based membership.

Members of each agent’s village can blog, post photos from a computer or mobile phone, meet new friends within the village and link to friends outside. VillageMaker is designed to be extremely easy to adopt and use by agents and clients alike. It empowers agents to keep client relationships current. Since the only advertising allowed is a banner ad for the sponsoring agent, VillageMaker builds referrals from visitors to members’ sites.

“The introduction of VillageMaker makes social networking technology practical for real estate agents and their clients,” said S. Caine O’Brien, Real Pro Systems general manager. “Agents recognize the power of social networking for connecting to one another, but harnessing it effectively for agent-client relationships has been a distant dream. VillageMaker provides invited members a community-based, fun and relatively safe environment to share online.”

“I had the privilege of participating in the Beta program for VillageMaker, and it was very exciting from the first moment I saw it,” said Sam Miller, a top-producing agent with RE/MAX Stars Realty, in central Ohio. “It’s super clean, very easy to use, and very smooth and straightforward. I’ve used MySpace and Facebook but I couldn’t wait to roll VillageMaker out to my clients even before the Beta period was over.”

The recent proliferation of social networks on the Internet has resulted in sites that are typically inundated with loud advertising, tasteless content, or both. They also attract members without any local connection which is contrary to the interests of real estate agents.

With VillageMaker, the company says that agents are now able to leverage the technology to build networks that are local, where their sponsorship is the only advertising, and where they can exert control over inappropriate content.

VillageMaker is an all-new platform built to Web 2.0 standards, incorporating AJAX, XHTML, CSS, and others.

VillageMaker production begins on January 15, 2008. The introductory price for initial setup is $495.00; regular price is $695.00. Ongoing service is $50.00 per month which includes an unlimited number of members in each village.

For more information, call 503-686-0015 or visit www.realprosystems.com.

RISMedia welcomes your questions and comments. Send your e-mail to: realestatemagazinefeedback@rismedia.com.

For more industry news, be sure to read:

When Receiving Cash Back at Closing is Legal  
Five Tips to Jumpstart Your Career in 2008  
Three Things Every Agent, Seller and Buyer Should Know