5 questions for Product Management: Major XSites changes coming

Matt Krodel has been with us since 1992! He's worked in nearly every area of the company. In fact, you've probably met Matt at some point at a seminar or talked with him on the phone. Today, he's on our product management team, specifically focused on our XSites product line. We interviewed him recently about what he's working on and thoughts for appraisers.

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1. What are you working on?
Over the last year, almost every piece of XSite code has been upgraded to use more modern server technology. Most of the changes are behind the scenes, but they clear the way for future improvements.

While things won’t look significantly different after next month’s update, there are a few features you’ll immediately notice. For example:

• The wizard and management tools will be accessible in all major desktop browsers (like Firefox, Chrome, Safari, etc.).
• There’s a new contacts interface that’s faster and better suited for XSellerate marketing.
• And there are a couple of new themes that no longer rely on Flash, so they look the same whether you’re viewing it on a big screen or a mobile device.

Then following shortly after this initial upgrade, we will introduce eight more “modern” themes and an interface that allows an amazing level of customization. We want you to have a site that really stands out, and these new layouts are just the ticket.

We started releasing this new back-end for our agent and mortgage customers recently. Now, we're working on appraisal.

2. Why are XSites important right now?
XSites have always been important for attracting non-lender clients. When anybody wants anything, they go to the web, and a real estate appraisal is no different. We often hear from appraisers that tell us they get a lot of business from the web simply because they are the only ones in their area that actively work on their sites and seek out those clients. In other words, there may not be a lot of local people competing for consumer appraisals in your area, so getting business from the web may not be as hard as you think.

3. What's your favorite XSites feature?
Right now, I really like our new Fee Quote page. It contains a simple form for someone to request a fee quote. Unlike your order form, this is much less official and more inviting. It’s something every site should have and we made it as easy as possible for you to have this method of lead capture. You can get it going in under five minutes.

It's simple and it works. We heard from a customer the morning after we released it saying that he had already gotten a new order. Then, he e-mailed again in the afternoon saying that he got another one. Every appraiser should turn it on.

(Click here for details.)

4. What advice do you have for appraisers that have an XSite but haven’t updated it in a while?
If your web presence is like an aging house suffering from “deferred maintenance”, there’s no better time than the present to update your home page to describe why you are someone’s best choice for an appraiser. Put in facts about your years of experience and any anecdotes you may have regarding how you’ve really made a difference to a client.

5. Do you have other tips for appraisers that want to boost non-lender work?
You can’t just sit around and wait for the phone to ring. Dedicate time every day to seeking out new business. Dress professionally and physically go out to visit the offices of CPAs, Realtors and attorneys. Offer short training sessions on how appraisals are used in their industry and have something compelling to leave with them. Follow up with the offices you visit on a regular basis so they remember you.

Lastly, the appraiser marketing area of our website at http://www.alamode.com/appraisermarketing has lots of great articles. Be sure to check out our free marketing webinars for appraisers too (click here for details). It's excellent training whether you have an XSite or not.