5 Reasons Why Salesforce Needs a CRE Marketing Platform

Posted on by sofia

Salesforce isn’t only the most widely used CRM, it’s also the leading choice in the CRE industry. Robust, versatile, and cloud-based, Salesforce provides on-the-go solutions for busy commercial real estate brokers. However, it isn’t without its drawbacks.

Salesforce is built for every industry, not your industry. And over time, you may find that your brokerage needs a more customized, insightful option when it comes to customer relationship management. The good news? SharpLaunch can provide the missing link between a powerful sales CRM, and an unstoppable Commercial Real Estate Sales and Marketing Platform.

Let’s discuss the features, benefits, and details of the most popular types of native SharpLaunch + Salesforce integrations we offer. But first:

Why Salesforce needs a CRE marketing platform

You might have already run into a few of these challenges, others may pop up as your firm continues to grow. Fortunately, you’re already doing your research. Discover how to turn these common Salesforce obstacles into advantages using SharpLaunch.

1. No insight into lead activity

As with most CRMs, the value of your Salesforce system depends entirely on your team manually inputting data. But hard-working brokers don’t have the time to input every client interaction into Salesforce when they’re on the move showcasing properties and negotiating offers. Without a snapshot of what’s working, who’s engaged, and how to reach them, your team puts in more effort for less payout.

SharpLaunch + Salesforce: Get the data you need to close deals faster

SharpLaunch automatically tracks all of the most insightful user behavior and sends it to your Salesforce account — providing a complete picture of who’s interested in your portfolio and when and where to reach out. With this, your team can pinpoint the most engaged leads to follow up more effectively and, ultimately, close deals faster.

2. A lack of industry-specific features

Salesforce is designed as a broad, all-encompassing CRM solution for a wide range of industries. However, it often lacks the specific features and functionalities required by the commercial real estate sector. Branded listing display and management, lease agreements, tenant communications, and market analysis require specialized tools that are not natively included in Salesforce.

SharpLaunch + Salesforce: Everything your team needs in one place

SharpLaunch is built around how commercial real estate brokers operate on a daily basis. Our fully-integrated platform connects to your website to take care of the CRM basics (real-time lead capture) and go above and beyond (email marketing, document management, and reporting features). It also offers automated tracking capabilities of user behaviors such as CA execution, document downloads, and email engagement. With SharpLaunch, you’ll know as soon as a lead is interested and have the tools to quickly make the best first impression.

3. Complex customization requirements

To tailor Salesforce to meet the specific needs of the CRE industry, you’ll need to get creative. Customization can involve creating new objects, fields, workflows, and even hiring a Salesforce specialist — all of which can be costly in both time and resources. While Salesforce’s flexibility is one of its strengths, the complexity can be a significant hurdle.

SharpLaunch + Salesforce: Plug-and-play personalization

SharpLaunch offers both native and enterprise-grade integrations with Salesforce to help streamline your commercial real estate operations. We’ll take care of the process from start to finish, without extra time investment on your end. The outcome? To start, an always up-to-date CRM without the copy-pasting. More importantly, you’ll have a complete CRE marketing toolkit at your fingertips with interactive amenity maps, branded property search engine, and stunning property listing sites.

4. Inefficient document management

Managing documents such as lease agreements, contracts, and property brochures is a crucial aspect of commercial real estate operations. Salesforce’s document management capabilities might not be able to meet your firm’s needs, where extensive document storage, version control, and easy retrieval are essential. Instead of helping, the added admin work can cut into valuable selling time.

SharpLaunch + Salesforce: Your own virtual assistant

Combining the power of both platforms, you’ll find it easier to share marketing and sales documents, reduce time sending emails, and better track prospect activity. You can easily drag and drop documents into the SharpLaunch Document Portal, plus see how many times they’ve been downloaded and by who. In addition, you’ll enjoy the ability to include online CA agreements for clients to digitally accept.

5. Reporting and Analytics Limitations

While Salesforce offers robust reporting and analytics capabilities, they aren’t tailored to the CRE sector. Commercial real estate requires specialized reports and dashboards that analyze property performance, prospect behavior, and market trends. Creating these custom reports in Salesforce can be complex and time-consuming.

SharpLaunch + Salesforce: Your own virtual assistant

With SharpLaunch, you’ll have access to branded reports in a snap. Get a snapshot of key metrics and trend analysis each month for your entire portfolio. What’s more? Our platform is SEO-optimized, meaning it’s built for more prospects to automatically find your properties. SharpLaunch offers visible insights into where your visitors are coming from, letting you track the performance of your sources.

 

 

Getting started with SharpLaunch + Salesforce

We understand that smooth integrations are crucial in our industry. You can’t risk any downtime or losing lead and property data. That’s why we’ve created multiple options for native Salesforce integrations that are built to suit the specific needs of CRE firms of all sizes.

Here’s a breakdown of each.

Native Integration: Basic

The Basic Integration syncs lead contact data in real time from SharpLaunch to Salesforce, without any copy-pasting. 

The Basic SharpLaunch Salesforce Integration:

  • Directly imports leads from the document portal and contact forms on SharpLaunch property sites to your Salesforce account
  • Lead data includes: name, email and phone number

Native Integration: Premium

This option can help radically streamline contact management for any SharpLaunch client using Salesforce, and provide the full picture of a prospect in real time.

The Premium SharpLaunch Salesforce Integration:

  • Directly imports leads from the document portal and contact forms on SharpLaunch property sites to your Salesforce account
  • Lead data includes: name, email, phone number, document downloads, email correspondence, and property page where lead was captured

Native Integration: Enterprise

This is where the breadth of our experience shines. Adam Siegel of CBRE confirms, “SharpLaunch helped us migrate all our publicly facing transactions and got our listings to market in weeks rather than months – 5x faster than other providers.”

“SharpLaunch helped us migrate all our publicly facing transactions and got our listings to market in weeks rather than months – 5x faster than other providers.”- Adam Siegel, Database & Analytics Manager, CBRE

The Enterprise SharpLaunch Salesforce Integration:

  • Is a custom option, built to your needs including requests specific to your brokerage
  • Offers complete two-way data flow between the platforms
  • Features all of the benefits of Premium Integration

Ready to supercharge your Salesforce?

SharpLaunch + Salesforce helps streamline your marketing and sales efforts into one easy-to-use system. Increase sales and lease volume with real-time data sync, customized insights, and a complete property listing and management digital toolkit. Reach out to us today to find out which SharpLaunch and Salesforce Native Integration is right for your brokerage.

Streamline Your Outreach with Tag-Based Email Campaigns

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We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Tag-Based Email Campaign feature, designed to revolutionize your email outreach process. This innovative tool allows admins to categorize leads by applying tags, simplifying the distribution process and enhancing campaign efficiency.

How It Works

Admins can assign specific tags to their leads, creating distinct categories for targeted email campaigns. For example, if your company targets both investors and buyers, you can tag each lead accordingly. When it’s time to send a campaign, simply select the desired tag, and you’re ready to go—no need to move leads between stages or select multiple properties.

Key Features

  • Multiple Tag Selection: Enjoy the flexibility of selecting multiple tags for your campaigns.
  • Tag Sorting by Lead Count: Tags are intelligently ordered based on the number of leads associated, making it easier to prioritize.
  • Tag Search Functionality: Quickly find specific tags with our efficient search tool, even in extensive lists.
  • Lead Visibility: Click on the lead count next to any tag to open a new tab showing all leads filtered by that tag, offering comprehensive visibility into your audience.

This powerful feature empowers admins to organize leads effectively, target specific segments with ease, and streamline their email campaigns, leading to improved marketing efforts and overall efficiency.

Happy emailing!

SharpLaunch Announces New Integration with LandSearch

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We’re excited to announce a groundbreaking integration with LandSearch, a prominent online marketplace for land and property listings. This partnership marks a significant advancement in the accessibility and visibility of property data, leveraging the robust capabilities of SharpLaunch’s API to seamlessly transfer comprehensive property information to LandSearch.

With this integration, property details, images, descriptions, and relevant metadata hosted on SharpLaunch will be automatically and effortlessly synced to LandSearch. This development not only streamlines the data-sharing process but also enhances the user experience for both property owners and potential buyers.

This integration is specifically relevant to the land and ranch selling market, offering a seamless platform for listing and browsing properties of this nature.

Here are the key highlights you need to know:

Streamlined Property Data Sharing

Through this collaboration, SharpLaunch aims to eliminate the manual efforts typically associated with property data uploads. By enabling direct API integration, property managers and marketers can now ensure their listings on LandSearch are always up-to-date with the latest information from SharpLaunch’s platform. This automation fosters efficiency, reduces the risk of errors, and ensures consistency across multiple platforms.

Enhanced Property Visibility

The integration amplifies the reach and visibility of properties listed on SharpLaunch. LandSearch’s extensive network and user base offer an invaluable opportunity for properties to gain increased exposure. With accurate and detailed listings readily available, potential buyers can make informed decisions quickly, enhancing the overall market dynamics.

​​About LandSearch

LandSearch is an innovative and engaging online marketplace dedicated to land and lifestyle real estate. The platform offers a wide range of listings, including homes with land, vacant land, rural properties, commercial lots, and more.

About SharpLaunch

SharpLaunch is an all-in-one digital marketing platform specifically built for commercial properties. It provides a powerful suite of marketing tools that boosts efficiency, accelerates time-to-market, and maximizes sales and lease volume.

SharpLaunch Welcomes Avison Young’s CIO, Martin Jepil, to Its Technical Advisory Board

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Industry Leader to Bring Strategic Vision and Enterprise Expertise to Propel CRE Marketing Innovation.

We are proud to announce the appointment of Martin Jepil to our esteemed Technical Advisory Board. Jepil’s extensive experience in enterprise architecture and technology leadership will further enhance SharpLaunch’s capabilities in delivering cutting-edge solutions to the commercial real estate industry.

Martin brings a wealth of experience garnered from his distinguished career, including his current role as Principal Global Chief Information Officer at Avison Young, where he oversees enterprise architecture and technology strategy. He now joins a select group of industry leaders, each bringing unique insights and expertise to SharpLaunch’s mission of revolutionizing CRE marketing and sales operations:

  • Samantha Hallowell, Senior Managing Director at Newmark
  • Mart Martindale, Managing Principal at EDGE Capital Markets
  • Jeremy Neuer, Senior Managing Director, Investment Sales at JLL
  • Barbi Reuter, CEO at Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR
  • Steve Schrenk, Principal at Forged Real Estate
  • Adam Siegel, Investment Sales Manager at CBRE

“We are thrilled to welcome Martin to our Technical Advisory Board,” remarked Bob Samii, CEO & Founder at SharpLaunch. “His wealth of experience and strategic vision will be instrumental in propelling SharpLaunch’s mission to provide cutting-edge solutions in real-time data and analytics within the commercial real estate sector.”

The addition of Jepil reaffirms SharpLaunch’s dedication to staying ahead of industry trends and delivering innovative solutions that empower CRE professionals to thrive in today’s competitive landscape

About SharpLaunch

SharpLaunch is revolutionizing commercial real estate marketing by providing a unified platform that boosts efficiency, accelerates time-to-market, and maximizes sales and lease volume. To learn more about SharpLaunch and its mission, please visit www.sharplaunch.com

Media contact – Sofia Guzman – sofia@sharplaunch.com

Driving Innovation and Technology Adoption in Commercial Real Estate

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In the realm of commercial real estate, the integration of innovation and technology is not just a luxury but a strategic necessity. Embracing innovation in this sector can bring substantial benefits, from enhancing efficiency and reducing costs to attracting tenants and optimizing property performance. However, driving innovation and technology adoption requires a complex approach that combines leadership, experimentation, and collaboration.

At the forefront is the recognition that technology is not just a tool but a transformative force capable of reshaping the entire industry. From advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence to virtual reality, the possibilities for innovation are endless. Successful implementation depends on leadership that prioritizes quickness, adaptation, and continuous improvement. By creating an environment that values innovation and embracing emerging technologies, stakeholders in commercial real estate can position themselves to lead industry evolution, driving consistent growth and competitive advantage.

When discussing the role of technology in CRE, many key points can be brought up. Here are six different observations and strategies for technology adoption and optimization:

Full Adoption Driven by End Users

The full adoption of technology in real estate depends significantly on the demands and expectations of end users, particularly tenants. As the primary occupants of commercial spaces, tenants have significant influence over the direction and pace of technological integration within the industry. This influence stems from their increasing expectations for seamless, tech-enabled experiences that enhance not only their productivity but also their overall satisfaction.

Companies like HQ exemplify this trend by pioneering tenant engagement platforms that prioritize personalized experiences and  interaction with property management and amenities. Such platforms not only address the evolving needs of tenants but also serve as a catalyst for broader technological adoption across the real estate ecosystem. By placing a premium on enhancing tenant experience through innovative technologies, landlords and property managers can not only attract and retain tenants but also drive the broader industry towards a future characterized by digital transformation.

Tech Stack Complexity

As the landscape of technological tools continues to evolve and diversify, navigating the selection process for inclusion in a tech stack becomes increasingly complex. The challenge lies not only in identifying the latest innovations but also in deciding which solutions are best suited to meet the specific needs and objectives of commercial real estate stakeholders. Because of this complexity, the importance of aligning technological investments with the ultimate customer’s needs and preferences is undervalued.

Rather than adopting technology for the sake of novelty or industry trends, a customer-centric approach prioritizes solutions that directly address pain points, enhance user experiences, and ultimately deliver tangible value. This emphasis on understanding the unique requirements of end-users serves as a guiding principle in shaping the composition of a tech stack, ensuring that every component contributes meaningfully to driving efficiency, effectiveness, and satisfaction across the commercial real estate ecosystem.

Here are a few areas where your tech stack can be improved:

  • Data Analytics and Business Intelligence: Enhancing capabilities for data collection, analysis, and visualization can provide valuable insights into market trends, tenant behavior, and property performance, enabling more informed decision-making.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Utilizing AI and machine learning algorithms can automate routine tasks, such as property valuation and lease management, and provide predictive analytics for risk assessment and investment decision-making.
  • Mobile Apps and Tenant Portals: Developing mobile apps and tenant portals can improve communication and engagement with tenants, offering features like rent payments, maintenance requests, and community events notifications.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Systems: Implementing CRM systems tailored to the commercial real estate industry can centralize client information, track leads, and automate marketing campaigns to enhance client relationship management and drive business growth.

Evolution of Real Estate Technology

The trajectory of real estate technology is a result of rapid digital transformation, where traditional practices are being revolutionized by innovations spanning from smart building systems to blockchain-enabled transactions. Embracing these advancements isn’t a matter of convenience but a need to unlock new opportunities, streamline processes, and enhance overall performance metrics.

Failure to adapt to this shifting technological landscape not only risks falling behind competitors but also jeopardizes long-term sustainability in an industry increasingly defined by its capacity for innovation and adaptation. The evolution of real estate technology outlines the critical importance of not only recognizing but actively utilizing the potential of emerging technologies to navigate the complexities of modern real estate markets and thrive in constant change.

Niche Specializations

Niche specializations in commercial real estate represent focal points where innovation and technology converge to revolutionize traditional practices. Within these specialized areas, such as construction tech and logistics, groundbreaking advancements are poised to reshape the industry landscape fundamentally. From modular construction methods to sustainable building materials, the adoption of these technologies not only accelerates project delivery but also fosters environmentally conscious development practices.

Similarly, in logistics, technological innovations like drone surveillance and autonomous vehicles are revolutionizing supply chain management and distribution networks within commercial real estate. These advancements facilitate smarter site selection, optimize warehouse layouts, and expedite last-mile delivery, thereby meeting the evolving demands of modern consumers. As the industry continues to embrace these specialized technologies, the traditional boundaries of commercial real estate are being redefined, unlocking opportunities for growth, efficiency, and sustainability.

Technology Adoption Challenges

The conversion towards technology adoption presents a significant hurdle to realizing the full potential of innovation. Traditionally, the industry has been characterized by old practices and a reluctance to depart from tried-and-tested methods. This often stems from concerns about the perceived risks associated with new technologies, as well as a reluctance to disrupt established workflows. Moreover, the pace of technological advancements can be overwhelming, leaving people uncertain about which innovations to prioritize and invest in.

To overcome these challenges, proactive strategies are essential. One approach involves a deeper understanding of emerging technologies and their potential impact on the industry. This requires ongoing education and engagement, where industry professionals actively seek out opportunities to learn about new technologies through workshops, seminars, and industry conferences. Additionally, cultivating a mindset of curiosity and experimentation can help break down barriers to technology adoption. Encouraging individuals to explore and test new technologies in controlled environments can streamline the process and build confidence in their capabilities. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the industry can accelerate adoption by facilitating the exchange of ideas and best practices.

The integration of autonomous technology into transportation systems is poised to revolutionize urban mobility, potentially altering the dynamics of property location preferences and commuting patterns. With the prospect of reduced reliance on personal vehicle ownership and increased efficiency in transportation networks, commercial real estate developers and investors must consider the implications for property value, accessibility, and design. As smart city initiatives gain traction, the convergence of autonomous vehicles with other technologies such as IoT and predictive analytics presents opportunities for innovative urban development strategies that prioritize sustainability, safety, and efficiency.

Despite the advancements of technology and automation, the enduring importance of human interaction in real estate transactions is crucial. While technological advancements undoubtedly streamline processes and enhance efficiency, the complexities inherent in commercial real estate transactions require human negotiation and relationship-building skills. From navigating intricate lease agreements to resolving disputes and fostering tenant relationships, successful real estate professionals understand that interpersonal dynamics play a pivotal role in achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

Want to learn more? Watch our webinar Driving Innovation and Technology Adoption in CRE with Senior Managing Director of Investment Sales at JLL, Jeremy Neuer, where we go into further detail about innovation and technology in commercial real estate Watch here!

 

Try SharpLaunch today

Learn how to streamline your CRE marketing operations and amplify your digital presence with an all-in-one solution built for busy commercial real estate teams.

Get a Free Demo

SharpLaunch Announces New Partnership with BuildingEngines

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BuildingEngines, renowned for its industry-leading building operations platform Prism, has selected SharpLaunch as the exclusive provider of CRE marketing tools for Prism users. This integration marks a significant milestone in the evolution of CRE technology, offering seamless integration between top-tier property management and cutting-edge marketing solutions.

The integration of SharpLaunch’s comprehensive CRE marketing platform with Prism’s robust building operations capabilities empowers property managers to elevate their leasing activities and enhance tenant experiences. By harnessing the combined strengths of these platforms, BuildingEngines customers gain access to a suite of best-in-class marketing features designed to maximize Net Operating Income (NOI) and drive greater asset value.

“At SharpLaunch, we are thrilled to be chosen as the sole provider of CRE marketing functionality for Prism,” said Bob Samii, CEO of SharpLaunch. “This partnership represents a commitment to innovation and excellence in the CRE industry. By combining BuildingEngines’ Prism solution with SharpLaunch’s advanced marketing tools, we are enabling property managers to unlock new opportunities for growth and differentiation in today’s competitive landscape.”

Daniel Russo, President of JLLT Property Management Technology (PMT), highlighted the importance of selecting a partner that can deliver measurable results in a rapidly evolving industry. “Today’s CRE landscape demands marketing solutions that can keep pace with industry trends and drive tangible outcomes,” Russo stated. “By partnering with SharpLaunch, we are confident that we can provide our clients with a holistic solution that streamlines operations, enhances tenant experiences, and ultimately drives leasing volume.”

This comprehensive offering ensures that BuildingEngines customers have access to everything they need to effectively market their properties and attract tenants. Effective immediately, SharpLaunch is available to BuildingEngines customers, enabling them to leverage the best and only marketing solution they need to drive leasing volume and enhance tenant experiences. This integration represents a powerful synergy between two industry leaders, poised to transform the way CRE professionals approach marketing and property management.

For more details, please refer to the Building Engines integration page.

​​About Building Engines

Building Engines, a JLL company, improves net operating income and performance across the world’s most successful commercial real estate (CRE) portfolios. Our customers increase building efficiency, deliver the best tenant experience, and reduce operating costs with Prism – the industry’s most innovative and powerful property management platform.

About SharpLaunch

SharpLaunch is an all-in-one digital marketing platform specifically built for commercial properties. It provides a powerful suite of marketing tools that boosts efficiency, accelerates time-to-market, and maximizes sales and lease volume.

Marketing Toolkit for Real Estate Investment Sales

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Building a healthy pipeline. Attracting the right investors. In commercial real estate investment sales, the marketing phase plays a critical part in generating interest and elevating your brand. To position yourself at the head of the pack and command attention from your target prospects, you need the right tools and resources.

Success in modern investment sales requires a digital toolkit that helps you stand out from competitors, increase exposure for your properties, and streamline the process to drive more results, faster.

Discover what you should have inside your real estate sales and marketing toolkit. Let’s get started.

Digital Presentation

The first piece of a well-structured marketing strategy for investment sales is an online presentation of the opportunity. No longer optional, an online presentation allows you to quickly pique the interest of prospects, reach a wider audience, engage instantly, and provide that “wow” factor for your listing.
Here are the top digital presentation features you should look for inside a real estate investment sales and marketing platform:

Property Website

Your website serves as an interactive teaser to pique interest in your properties and get buyers interested in a potential deal. It allows you to differentiate yourself from other commercial property offerings, standing out from static or poorly-designed competitor pages. A company website is important, but so too is a property specific website that highlights the key selling points.

Property Search Engine

Inside every real estate investment broker’s toolkit is their digital listing portfolio. One property website can perfectly display all of the amenities of one listing, but once you start to scale, some digital solutions can lag behind. How can you make sure that potential buyers can easily navigate all of your offerings? A property search engine (PSE) can display all of your current properties automatically, right on your own website.

When searching for the right PSE, make sure to consider integrations. Top tip: look for a platform agnostic software solution — meaning it can easily work with your existing software.

Appealing User Experience & Content

Good content conveys key information and investment highlights for prospective buyers. Your property website should offer a summary of the offering along with the investment highlights – what benefits should catch their eye immediately and how can you provide value to them based on these responses? At the same time, you can engage your users with interactive elements including a local amenities maps, photo gallery of both inside and outside the property, and video coverage of the space. Broker contact information should also be provided in several relevant points on your website.

Tracking & Reporting Tool

Digital marketing allows you a much greater degree of visibility into the performance of your marketing efforts. Using tracking tools, you can measure progress in visits, traffic channel performance, executed CA agreements, total downloads from your site and more. Are people leaving too quickly? Are they spending a lot of time on a certain page that you can better highlight? This information is freely available and helps to improve your marketing efforts.

Online Document Portal

A user-friendly document portal can streamline the process of completing and sharing relevant selling documents. This is an important step in the process because it can reduce the number of back and forth emails and shorten the time spent on cumbersome paperwork.
Here are the top online document portal features you should look for inside a real estate investment sales and marketing platform:

One-Click Document Sharing

A commercial real estate optimized document portal offers 24/7 access to private real estate documents, making it easier to share all your sales and marketing materials with prospects during the sales process. It can reduce time spent sending emails, allow you to better track prospect activity when they engage with your documents, and improve insight into the deal process.

Additional Lead Capture Opportunities

A document portal not only reduces the number of back and forth emails and speeds up the agreement process but also helps capture new potential leads interested in your property. Look for a tool that lets you track how many times your documents have been downloaded and captures the information of the leads who download. This is another way to build up your own proprietary database of prospects for future deals. This can serve as an effective means to build up your own proprietary database of prospects for future deals.

Email Marketing Tool

Email campaigns are one of the most powerful tools for real estate investment brokers when engaging and following up with prospects. An effective email blast consistently provides better ROI and overall results than almost any other channel, but must it be efficient.
Here are the top email marketing features you should look for inside a real estate investment sales and marketing platform:

Drag-And-Drop Contact List Segmentation

Your contact lists must be carefully structured to target people based on specific segmentations. That means separating out investors and potential tenants, segmenting by location, budget, and property, type, and managing each list of prospects – whether past investors, potential investors, or cold prospects who have been dormant for a long period of time. A good email marketing tool will allow you to easily tag and segment your lists to make sure you send the right emails to the right people.

Responsive HTML Email Templates

There are many email marketing best practices to consider when communicating with prospective investors. Not only do these ensure higher engagement rates; they can improve deliverability and overall engagement by those prospects with your content. One of these best practices? Your emails should be responsive HTML, designed and tested for all browser types on all device sizes.

Campaign Tracking and Performance Visibility

Your email marketing tools can also help to measure the results you achieve from these campaigns. Focus on open rate, the click rate percentage, and the number of people who unsubscribe or mark your emails as spam.

CRM (Client Relationship Management) Tool

Every toolkit for real estate investment sales brokers includes a CRM. But not all CRM systems are one in the same. A good CRM system keeps track of each lead and proactively manages your pipeline. A spreadsheet or email system has too many cracks through which prospective deals can fall, taking potential revenue with them.
Here are the top CRM features you should look for inside a real estate investment sales and marketing platform:

Clear Lead and Pipeline Management

The right CRM allows you to individually manage each contact record and associated deal, assigning lead owners, attaching emails and documents, and assigning future tasks. You can also accurately measure the volume of your current pipeline by assigning each lead to a different stage in the process, along with associated deal win percentage estimates and deal values.

Automated Follow-ups

CRM systems remove much of the risk of human error from the equation by consolidating all follow-up activity into one system. Look for an easy-to-use and lightweight solution that can automatically assign follow-ups for key prospects and offers a meaningful overview of lead activity at a glance.

Key Selling Documents

Document management is a major part of any investment sales transaction. While it may not be the most exciting part, it’s an important part of making a lasting impression on a buyer. And digital tools can help to streamline and improve the process substantially.
Here are the top selling-document tools you should look for inside a real estate investment sales and marketing platform:

Appealing Offering Memorandum

Professional, high-quality offering memorandums, designed specifically to match both your company and individual property branding can make a huge difference in the progression of a sale. Inclusion of key property photos and location highlights, street maps, sale and lease comparables, floor plans, site maps, and demographics, all specific within the memorandum for each property is an important part of the marketing process for each property in your portfolio.

Consolidated Flyer

A shorter, easier to share document that highlights the key points of your offering memorandum in 2-4 pages, the consolidated flyer is a valuable tool that you should have available at meetings and online alike.

Digital Confidentiality Agreement

Preparation and delivery of your confidentiality agreement is crucial in investment sales. By integrating it into your marketing workflow, alongside a professionally designed offering memorandum, and within an easy-to-use document portal, you can make sure it’s delivered on time and in a format that elevates your brand.

The Final Word

By adding all of the above to your real estate marketing toolkit, you can be sure to stay ahead of the competition. With greater transparency into what works and what doesn’t, a strong digital presentation, and streamlined communication, you’re ready to lead the next generation of real estate investment sales.

Hungry for more? Download the guide: 4 Ways SharpLaunch Can Help Your CRE Brokerage Firm Grow in the Digital Age

Top 20 Commercial Real Estate Brokerages

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Commercial real estate companies and brokerage firms provide services for investors, owners and tenants by combining local market insight, specialized expertise, premier tools and resources. They assist clients with all things real estate and cater to their individual needs.

While there are hundreds of commercial real estate companies worldwide, we compiled a list of the largest brokerages in the commercial real estate industry broken down by number of employees, total sales, annual revenue, and EBITDA.

4 Ways SharpLaunch Can Help Your CRE Brokerage Firm Grow in the Digital Age

Download this eBook outlining four ways SharpLaunch can provide for all of your brokerage marketing needs.

Here are 20 of the largest commercial real estate firms, including both public and private companies:

CBRE

CBRE Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 commercial real estate company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s biggest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2023 revenue). The company has more approximately 115,000 employees and serves real estate investors and occupiers through more than 480 offices worldwide.

CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services including facilities, transaction and project management, investment management, appraisal and valuation, property leasing, strategic consulting, property sales, mortgage services and development services.

  • Employees: 115,000
  • 2023 net income: $986M
  • 2023 annual revenue: $39.95B (3.64% increase from 2022)
  • 2023 annual EBITDA: $2.2B (24.25% decrease from 2022)

Website: www.cbre.com

JLL

JLL, or Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated, is a global real estate services and investment management company, renowned for its professional expertise in the real estate industry. With a presence in over 80 countries, JLL operates as a trusted advisor and partner to clients seeking innovative solutions for their real estate needs. The company’s diverse services encompass property and facility management, leasing, project and development management, and investment management.

  • Employees: 103,000
  • 2023 net income: $226.2M
  • 2023 annual revenue: $20.76B (0.49% increase from 2022)
  • 2023 annual EBITDA: $736.7M (40.94% decrease from 2022)

Website: www.us.jll.com

Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield is a global commercial real estate firm delivering exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest commercial property management companies worldwide with approximately 53,000 employees in 400 offices and 70 countries.

In 2023, the firm had revenue of $9.49 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services.

  • Employees: 53,000
  • 2023 net income: $205.6M
  • 2023 annual revenue: $9.49B (6.06% decrease from 2022)
  • 2023 annual EBITDA: $570.1M (36.57% increase from 2022)

Website: www.cushmanwakefield.com

Colliers International

Colliers International Group Inc. is an industry leading global commercial real estate company with more than 18,000 skilled professionals operating in 68 countries. Colliers professionals provide a full range of services to real estate occupiers, owners and investors worldwide.

Services include strategic advice and execution for property sales, leasing and finance, global corporate solutions, property, facility and project management, workplace solutions, appraisal, valuation and tax consulting, customized research, and thought leadership consulting.

  • Employees: 18,000
  • 2023 net income: $132.6M
  • 2023 annual revenue: $4.34B (2.79% decrease from 2022)
  • 2023 annual EBITDA: $595M (5.63% decrease from 2022)

Website: www2.colliers.com

Newmark

Newmark Real Estate is a dynamic real estate services firm that specializes in providing a wide range of solutions to clients across the commercial real estate landscape. Leveraging a strategic and client-centric approach, Newmark excels in investment sales, leasing, property management, and valuation services, offering expertise to investors, tenants, and property owners.

Newmark’s 7,000+ professionals operate from more than 170 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.

  • Employees: 7,400
  • 2023 net income: $62.4M
  • 2023 annual revenue: $2.47B (8.69% decrease from 2022)
  • 2023 annual EBITDA: $430M (3% increase from 2022)

Website: www.nmrk.com

Marcus & Millichap

Marcus & Millichap was founded in 1971 with the goal of being a new kind of commercial real estate company – one driven by long-term relationships and built on a culture of collaboration.

They are the industry’s largest firm specializing in real estate investment sales and financing, with over 80 offices and nearly 2,000 investment sales and financing professionals throughout the United States and Canada.

  • Employees: 2,000
  • 2023 total sales: $43.6B

Website: www.marcusmillichap.com

Avison Young

Avison Young is the world’s fastest-growing commercial real estate services firm. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Avison Young is a collaborative, global firm owned and operated by its Principals. Founded in 1978, with legacies dating back more than 200 years, the company comprises approximately 5,000 real estate professionals in over 100 offices in 15 countries.

The firm’s experts provide value-added, client-centric investment sales, leasing, advisory, management and financing services to clients across the office, retail, industrial, multi-family and hospitality sectors.

  • Employees: 5,000
  • 2023 total sales: $15.7B
  • 2023 annual revenue: $5.1B

Website: www.avisonyoung.com

Lee & Associates

Lee & Associates is a commercial real estate brokerage, management and appraisal services firm. Established in 1979, Lee & Associates has grown its service platform to include offices in the United States and Canada.

Every Lee & Associates office delivers world class service to an array of regional, national and international clients – from small businesses and local investors to major corporate users and institutional investors.

  • Employees: 1,400
  • 2023 annual revenue: $106.8M

Website: www.lee-associates.com

TCN Worldwide

TCN Worldwide, a consortium of independent commercial real estate firms, provides complete integrated real estate solutions locally and internationally. TCN Worldwide ranks as one of the largest service providers in the industry.

Across all property types and service groups, TCN Worldwide’s 5,500+ brokers and salespeople have a well-earned reputation for independent thinking and cooperative problem-solving in more than 200 markets worldwide.

  • Employees: 5,500
  • 2023 net income: $121.8M
  • 2023 annual revenue: $1.15B (29.75% decrease from 2022)
  • 2023 annual EBITDA: $560M (8% increase from 2022)

Website: www.tcnworldwide.com

SVN International

SVN International, a full-service commercial real estate franchisor of the SVN® brand, is comprised of over 2,000 commercial real estate Advisors and staff, in more offices in the United States than any other commercial real estate firm and continues to expand across the globe.

With over 200 offices serving 500 markets, SVN provides sales, leasing, corporate services and property management services to clients across the globe.

  • Employees: 2,000
  • 2023 total sales: $21.10B

Website: www.svn.com

Berkadia

Berkadia, a joint venture of Berkshire Hathaway and Jefferies Financial Group, is an industry leading commercial real estate company providing comprehensive capital solutions and investment sales advisory and research services for multifamily and commercial properties.

Berkadia is amongst the largest, highest rated and most respected primary, master and special services in the industry.

  • Employees: 2,900
  • 2023 annual revenue: $633.4M

Website: www.berkadia.com

Northmarq

Northmarq Real Estate is a prominent real estate services company that operates at the intersection of investment, finance, and property management. With a focus on commercial real estate, Northmarq offers a comprehensive suite of services, including capital markets, investment sales, debt and equity financing, asset management, and advisory services.

With over 1,000 professionals around 40 offices across the country, Northmarq foster’s a culture of collaboration, communication and creativity in the pursuit to deliver an exceptional client experience.

  • Employees: 1,100
  • 2023 total sales: $37B

Website: www.northmarq.com

Coldwell Banker Commercial

Coldwell Banker Commercial® (CBC) is a worldwide leader in the commercial real estate industry, and is part of the oldest and most respected national real estate brand in the country, Coldwell Banker Real Estate.

With a collaborative network of independently owned and operated affiliates, the Coldwell Banker Commercial organization is comprised of approximately 3,100 agents working in approximately 200 companies throughout the U.S., as well as internationally.

  • Employees: 3,100
  • Operates in 39 countries

Website: www.cbcworldwide.com

Kidder Mathews

Kidder Mathews is the largest independent commercial real estate firm on the West Coast with 900 professionals in 20 offices across 5 states.

They offer a complete range of brokerage, appraisal, property management, consulting, project and construction management, and debt and equity finance services for all property types.

  • Employees: 900
  • 2023 total sales: $10B

Website: www.kidder.com

Transwestern

Transwestern is a privately held real estate firm of collaborative entrepreneurs who deliver a higher level of personalized service. Specializing in agency leasing, asset services, occupier solutions, capital markets and research, their fully integrated global enterprise adds value for investors, owners and occupiers of all commercial property types.

They leverage market insights and operational expertise from members of the Transwestern family of companies specializing in development, real estate investment management and research. Transwestern has 33 U.S. offices and assists clients from more than 219 offices in 37 countries through strategic alliances with France-based BNP Paribas Real Estate and Canada-based Devencore.

  • 33 U.S. offices
  • 2023 total sales: $3.76B

Website: www.transwestern.com

Matthews

Matthews Real Estate is a firm that specializes in providing comprehensive and innovative solutions across the real estate spectrum. Matthews Real Estate engages in property development, investment, and management, offering a diverse portfolio of residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

Since 2015, Matthews has experienced unprecedented growth adding over 600 real estate professionals to serve clients. Founded in El Segundo, CA, and strategically positioned in 20+ offices across the United States, they continue to expand into new markets.

  • Employees: 800
  • 20 U.S. offices

Website: www.matthews.com

Stream Realty

Stream Realty is a leading real estate services and investment firm that provides innovative solutions across the entire real estate lifecycle. With a focus on delivering exceptional value to clients, Stream Realty offers a diverse range of services, including leasing, property management, development, and investment services.

Since its inception in 1996, Stream has grown to over 1,300 talented experts in 15 key markets across the nation.

  • Employees: 1,300
  • 2023 total sales: $6.9B

Website: www.streamrealty.com

Greysteel

With a focus on multifamily and retail properties, Greysteel excels in investment sales, leasing, and capital markets transactions. Leveraging a combination of market expertise and innovative technology, the company assists property owners, investors, and developers in navigating the complexities of the real estate landscape.

  • Employees: 120
  • 2023 total sales: $10B

Website: www.greysteel.com

Lyon Stahl

Lyon Stahl is committed to delivering personalized and strategic solutions, utilizing cutting-edge technology and market insights to optimize outcomes for both buyers and sellers.

Lyon Stahl conducts business in the Los Angeles area with 4 offices and 80 real estate professionals.

  • Employees: 80
  • 2023 total sales: $3.15B

Website: www.lyonstahl.com

Voit Real Estate Services

Voit offers a wide range of services, including leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, asset management, and strategic consulting. The company’s seasoned team of professionals combines deep market knowledge with modernized strategies to optimize real estate portfolios and enhance property values.

With over 250 employees across 10 different offices in the Southern California area, Voit has earned a reputation as one of the top brokerages in the state.

  • Employees: 250
  • 53,500 all-time deals

Website: www.voitco.com

How to Create an Offering Memorandum that Wins Over Investors

Posted on by sofia

In the fast-paced world of commercial real estate investment sales, an Offering Memorandum (OM) serves as a powerful tool to attract serious investors, instill confidence in the opportunity, and ultimately facilitate successful transactions.

In today’s fiercely competitive CRE landscape, the value of a polished offering memorandum cannot be overstated; it’s the catalyst that ignites productive discussions with potential buyers and serves as a direct reflection of your team’s professionalism

Here are 6 indispensable strategies for crafting a winning OM that captivates attention and positions you for success.

1. Hire a professional to design it

Investing in a professional graphic designer to craft your Offering Memorandum is indispensable. There is no substitute. Period. 

Whether you choose to have a designer in-house or outsource the task, prioritizing this aspect is crucial for the success of your investment sales team. A skilled graphic designer can elevate your OM with attention-grabbing visuals, clear layouts, and cohesive branding, thereby enhancing its impact on potential investors. 

By recognizing the value of professional design, you’re making a strategic investment that can significantly contribute to the overall effectiveness and professionalism of your marketing efforts and help speed up your marketing operations.

Where to find high-quality OM designers:

Option 1 – Get your own outsourced graphic designer

Option 2 – Hire a specialized CRE design agency

Option 3 – Work with an on-demand design platform

2. Invest in photography

The photos used to showcase your commercial properties wield significant influence, serving as the initial point of contact that can profoundly affect potential tenants, brokers, or investors. By employing photography best practices, even the most unattractive properties can captivate a broader audience and ignite curiosity. This, in turn, has the potential to elevate engagement levels and drive greater interest in your offerings.

In today’s visually-oriented world, investing in high-quality photography is not just advisable—it’s essential for making a memorable and positive impression in the competitive real estate market.

Ed-wolkis

Buying good photography can actually give you a substantial return on your investment. You may be inclined to go with a less expensive photographer, but consider that the images you show can make a big difference in how long it takes to sell your property and the price that you may get for it.

Ed Wolkis Photography

3. Be clear and concise

Your OM must be meticulously structured to facilitate clear and concise understanding for all readers. Utilizing elements such as bullet points, headings, and subheadings aids in organizing information logically and enhancing readability. 

It’s crucial to steer clear of jargon or overly technical language that could potentially deter or confuse potential investors. Instead, strive for simplicity and clarity in conveying complex information. By presenting the content in a user-friendly format, you can ensure that investors can easily navigate through the document, grasp key points, and make informed decisions. 

Here are some tips to consider:

  • Remove unnecessary words like “very” and “really”
  • Strengthen adjectives for clarity and impact
  • Keep paragraphs concise and focused
  • Utilize clear headings and subheadings
  • Ensure flawless grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting
  • Consider hiring a professional copywriter or editor for review
  • Edit ruthlessly to eliminate clumsy errors and maintain professionalism

4. Accentuate area amenities

Consider incorporating a custom illustrated map into your offering memorandum to enhance its visual appeal and convey professionalism. By opting for a custom design, you can ensure that the map seamlessly integrates with the overall aesthetic of your document, reinforcing your brand identity. 

Additionally, overlaying labels or call-outs on the map allows you to spotlight key features such as nearby amenities, transportation hubs, and corporate neighbors. This contextual information provides valuable insights for potential stakeholders, helping them better understand the surrounding environment and the strategic positioning of the property. 

A well-crafted illustrated map not only enhances the presentation of your offering memorandum but also adds depth and clarity to your property’s value proposition.

5. Optimize PDF file size

In today’s fast-paced digital CRE world, optimizing file size of your offering memorandum is essential to reduce friction for your buyers. By optimizing settings, you can facilitate fast download speeds, delivering a seamless user experience for investors accessing the document online.

Prioritizing file size optimization not only minimizes barriers for your buyers but also fosters positive impressions and engagement for your investment opportunity.

Here are some tips to remember:

  • Compress the PDF file to reduce its size for faster downloading and sharing
  • Aim for the file size of your OM to be between 2MB to 10MB
  • Test the PDF on various devices and platforms to ensure compatibility

6. Include a clear call-to-action

Guide potential investors towards the next steps with a clear call-to-action at the end of the document. Whether it’s scheduling a viewing or submitting an offer, a well-defined call-to-action encourages forward momentum in the sales cycle.

Here are some tips to remember:

  • Include multiple contact options to accommodate different preferences and streamline communication
  • Make the call-to-actions (CTAs) prominent and visually appealing to draw attention
  • Use persuasive language that conveys a sense of urgency and importance
  • Personalize the CTA whenever possible by addressing the specific needs or interests of the target audience

 

Try SharpLaunch today

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What Leasing Brokers Should Look for in a CRE Marketing Platform

Posted on by Sergi

In the fast-paced commercial real estate industry, leasing brokers need a streamlined solution to effectively market properties, simplify day-to-day operations, and stay steps ahead of the competition. The natural solution? Turning to innovative technology. But once you’ve decided to start your search for CRE marketing software, the journey’s only started. Let’s dive into the essential features that you should look for in a potential platform:

investment sales listing

Centralized property data management

Without the help of technology, managing property data from hundreds of listings can be overwhelming for even the most experienced broker. A CRE marketing software that centralizes property data can act as your trusted assistant, ensuring that you and your clients always have easy access to up-to-date information.

Plus, a centralized platform rids the need to juggle multiple programs or databases — working to streamline operations and boost efficiency. Look for a solution that updates and displays new listing data in real-time, with just a few clicks.

Seamless website integration

In today’s digital age, a strong online presence is a must for attracting tenants and closing deals.

Prioritize a marketing software that allows you to display property listings directly on your own site. This integration ensures consistency across the board, elevates your brokerage’s impact, and provides a seamless user experience for potential tenants when browsing.

Efficient listing management

Time is of the essence in the competitive world of CRE. From creating new listings to updating existing ones, you should be able to manage your portfolio quickly and easily — without overly-complicated processes or technology.

Look for a tool that allows you to display your properties on your commercial real estate website automatically. Because any time saved on admin is time that can be spent on high-value sales.

4 Ways SharpLaunch Can Help Your CRE Brokerage Firm Grow in The Digital Age

Download this ebook outlining how SharpLaunch can propel your online presence

 

Premium website designs

A visually appealing website can set your brokerage apart from the competition and lead to higher conversion rates.

In fact, studies show that digital first impressions are up to 94% design-related. And nearly half of consumers make a decision about your credibility based on your website’s visual appeal.

The solution? Stunning designs with a pleasant user experience to match. Attractive and easy-to-navigate property websites can help you capture and engage your prospects in the digital landscape. 

In-house marketing control

Can you imagine having complete say over your marketing efforts, without relying on the timelines and whims of external agencies or designers?

Certain CRE marketing platforms offer the ability to create and customize your marketing materials with ease — offering the flexibility and autonomy you need to tailor pitches at a moment’s notice.

To stand out in a crowded market, you need to be able to reach the right audience.

CRE marketing software that offers built-in search engine optimization (SEO) can help you expand visibility for your properties and attract more qualified leads. By maximizing exposure across multiple channels, you can achieve your leasing goals more efficiently.

Consistent offline support

Once you’ve made the decision to modernize your brokerage with a new CRE platform, what’s next?

This pivotal moment can either set your firm up for a world of success or complications to come. Look for CRE software solutions that offer a dedicated Client Success Manager, allowing for minimal time investment on your end.

SharpLaunch solutions for leasing brokers

Main pain points SharpLaunch can solve:

  • Centralize property data & display property listings on their website
  • Open system that easily integrates with providers that store property data
  • Streamlined and efficient listing management
  • Premium website designs that set them apart from the competition
  • Have control of their marketing, doesn’t have to rely on an agency or designer
  • Expand visibility for their properties, have an optimized marketing foundation that can be shared on different channels to get maximum exposure

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Fortunately, there are a variety of CRE marketing solutions available for leasing brokers today. But, knowing where to start makes all the difference when committing to a new technology. By investing in software tailored to your specific needs, you can help your brokerage to stand out, amplify your digital footprint, enhance efficiency, and ultimately drive success.