In episode 442 of the Mail-Right Show, Robert Newman and Jonathan Denwood provided a comprehensive review of CINC, discussing its suitability as a tool for real estate agents. Robert Newman is the founder of InboundREM, a marketing company specializing in real estate lead generation and SEO to get started with inbound marketing efforts. Meanwhile, Jonathan Denwood co-founded Mail-Right, a lead generation system that offers exceptional WordPress websites, ranging from theme-based and semi-custom to fully customized designs. This episode dives into Cinc’s features, functionalities, strengths and weaknesses, and user experience.
What is CINC?
CINC, short for Commissions Inc., is an established all-in-one CRM lead system that has been a prominent player in the industry for over a decade. Their main value is quick searches and landing pages. They charge you for an advertising campaign and then throw everything into the CRM.
Despite its decline in popularity in recent years, CINC remains highly regarded for its sophisticated backend system, which continues to satisfy a group of large teams and brokerages. The platform is particularly valued by large brokerages that require a robust backend capable of integrating various aspects of their operations, such as transaction coordination, banking, mortgage connections, and commission splits. CINC excels in meeting the specific needs of these organizations, ensuring seamless connectivity across different facets of their business. More than that, they can provide a custom solution to integrate into various third-party API systems.
Latest News from CINC
Several brokers and brokerages have honed their skills using what could be considered old-school technology formats. These individuals are well-versed in navigating complex tools, reminiscent of the early days of Microsoft Excel with its extensive range of options. Complicated CRM systems like LionDesk or CINC might seem suitable for those who thrive in such environments. However, CINC has become increasingly expensive over the years, raising questions about its value and cost.
On May 16, 2024, John Jennifer O’Connell, the Content Brand Manager for CINC, announced significant updates to their CRM system. These changes included improved connectivity with mobile phones and addressing long-standing feedback from their audience. Despite these updates, Sync has faced criticism for its lack of regular blog updates, often going an entire year without new content.
While the service offers significant value to certain niche groups, it can be perceived as overpriced for others, especially considering what is provided. Additionally, the product requires users to undergo training classes, sometimes offered at an additional cost depending on the state and availability.
The CINC system is generally best suited for businesses with a dedicated operations manager actively involved in its implementation. A thorough examination of the platform, which took around 45 hours of research, revealed the extensive time and effort required to understand it fully. This experience can lead to frustration and reluctance to engage with the platform again.
CINC Product and Service
An evaluation of the CINC website’s performance in the 2024 market would place it at a two or three out of ten. The site primarily consists of a self-generated AI-based landing page that lacks substantial content, something that could easily be created by anyone. If CINC has not yet implemented automated systems to handle this task within a short timeframe, it indicates a need for internal improvements in its systems and processes. Overall, the website is seen as very basic and needs significant enhancements.
The rating for CINC’s product or service would likely fall between a four and a five. This assessment considers comparability with KV Core, which, while not highly regarded in some aspects, has been aggressively priced through certain providers. The performance issues associated with KV Core are noteworthy, yet the websites produced by KV Core are somewhat superior to others in the same range. Overall, the rating reflects that CINC’s product or service falls in the lower end of the four to five range, indicating room for improvement.
Hyper-Local Lead Generation and IDX Websites
The approach to lead generation employed by many companies often revolves around quick searches that redirect users to different pages. Real estate agents must know that the correct URL is essential for accessing the intended content. For instance, in the show notes, you have reference PalmBeachHomeFinder.com, an excellent example of an IDX website, but the link provided contains an error. Or a user might click on a button labeled “homes for sale” in a specific area, such as Loxahatchee, FL, and be presented with a few open house listings on the left side of the screen. Numerous quick search options are displayed below those listings, pre-programmed into the website. However, this method offers little to no value in terms of branding.
Effective lead generation should be paired with branding, and content marketing or SEO can be valuable. At Mail-Right, the focus is on combining branding with lead generation, providing a visually appealing template that can be customized and generating leads primarily through Facebook. Integrating branding into the lead generation process is crucial, yet the previously mentioned method fails to offer any real branding opportunities. Mailwright is among those companies that provide better alternatives at a lower cost. Real Geeks, for instance, offers a superior website at a price slightly under $300. Additionally, Mailwright offers a deal where signing a six-month contract reduces the cost to $149.
Several companies deliver value in different ways. Pro Agent Websites, for example, provides a website with IDX functionality developed by a skilled programmer. While it represents excellent value for the cost, it essentially functions as a digital business card. It is important to distinguish between a lead generation company and a branded website company, as well as between a search site and a content marketing site.
Alex, CINC’s AI Bot
A recent review of Alex, Cinc’s AI bot, by a source with some credibility in the real estate industry has raised concerns about the review’s integrity. The review appeared to be more of a paid advertisement than an objective analysis. While some might view the review as honest, it was actually quite misleading. For those unfamiliar with the platform or who do not regularly follow the source, the review could give a skewed impression of what Alex truly offers.
Unfortunately, this issue is not uncommon among popular real estate websites. These sites often have strong partnerships with their advertising partners, which can lead to biased content. To explain, many website owners enter into affiliate agreements with other companies, earning a commission when they promote and sell their products.
Guaranteed Sales Program
CINC offers a guaranteed sales program. However, participation in this program requires fully utilizing their platform according to specified guidelines. To ensure results, one must complete all their training and use the platform as prescribed by their requirements.
CINC Pricing
There have been some noticeable changes in CINC’s pricing, with current rates ranging from $8.99 to $12.99 monthly. A new option for AI services, priced at $200 per month, has also been introduced.
How some companies leverage AI and market it to uninformed audiences can be highly damaging. Successfully applying large language models and various ChatGPT scripts requires a nuanced approach. However, there is now a growing interest in these technologies, especially as the industry approaches what is being referred to as the third iteration, as mentioned by Sam Altman. The five levels the experts outlined did not garner much interest in the first two stages, but level three drew significant attention. A deeper examination of AI’s potential is now being considered, particularly after witnessing impressive advancements in recent ChatGPT capabilities.
