| Businesses who are responsible for finding sales leads | | | | calling them if they are paying for the call. Automatic |
| have often taken advantage of the unique technology | | | | Number Identification (ANI) has one large advantage |
| offered by call capture. The real estate industry has | | | | over basic caller ID. It is very difficult to block a number |
| particularly made use of the technology in order to | | | | when using ANI. Thus, business owners have the ability |
| both generate high quality real estate leads and to | | | | to connect with more of their sales leads by using this |
| determine the effectiveness of their marketing. | | | | service. |
| However, some business owners are still not aware | | | | Real estate agents have most likely come to |
| that different levels of call capture exist. The three | | | | understand ANI in association with toll free real estate |
| main levels are basic caller ID, ANI (Automatic Number | | | | call capture systems. When real estate agents use |
| Identification), and finally the integration of call capture | | | | this technology, the customer dials a unique toll free |
| with online reporting and tracking. | | | | number that is routed to a system that the agent has |
| First, caller ID is a basic form of call capture that | | | | set up to provide information about specific properties, |
| comes standard on many phones and phone services. | | | | general real estate information, or allow interested |
| Although most businesses have this type of caller ID, it | | | | buyers and sellers to reach the agent directly. An |
| is a technology to which even individual consumers are | | | | extension number that the customer dials determines |
| now accustomed. Caller ID displays a list of numbers | | | | which message the caller should hear, and the ANI |
| that have called a line on a small screen generally | | | | captures the lead for the real estate agent. |
| attached to the phone. The advantages to caller ID | | | | Finally, the newest development in real estate call |
| are twofold. First, it will allow you to see numbers that | | | | capture technology is the ability to capture and then |
| have called the business line. Many potential customers | | | | accumulate all leads generated in one place where |
| do not leave messages because they are unsure | | | | they can be viewed by the agent. This way, agents do |
| what to say. Caller ID allows the business to return | | | | not have to waste time scrolling through a phone's |
| calls even when customers do not leave messages. | | | | caller ID. Instead, lead lists are pre-generated. As well, |
| The second advantage of basic caller ID is cost. Caller | | | | leads are reported with the extension number dialed |
| ID is often just a few extra dollars a month. However, | | | | so agents know which property or recording the caller |
| disadvantages of basic caller ID comes in the form of | | | | was interested in. This provides for better follow up |
| limitations. Most importantly, caller ID will not capture | | | | and allows ad tracking to evaluate marketing |
| blocked or unlisted numbers. | | | | strategies. |
| The next level of call capture is Automatic Number | | | | Real estate agents, especially, can benefit from call |
| Identification. Like caller ID, this service provides | | | | capture for lead generation. Because of agents' busy |
| businesses with incoming call numbers even if the | | | | lifestyles, spending time tracking down numbers is not |
| caller does not leave a message. However, this | | | | time spent efficiently. Real estate agents can have |
| technology is actually older than Caller ID, having been | | | | their leads forwarded to them immediately as they |
| created by AT&T in association with long | | | | come in on their cell phone or email or run reports at |
| distance calling and billing. Today, it is even used by 911 | | | | the end of the day for follow up. Generating a higher |
| operators in order to identify numbers. Toll free | | | | quality and quantity of leads means more sales for the |
| numbers also use ANI due to the fact that the FCC | | | | agent. Using call capture to generate leads is also |
| has ruled that businesses have a right to know who is | | | | more cost effective than purchasing outside leads. |