DPI Showcase Websites: Personalizing websites by understanding realtors and their business   

Real estate has always been a popular industry, over time with new technology; the industry has grown even further, bringing customers and clients across barriers to discover properties through the advancements of digitalization. IDX websites are advancements in the industry that changed the way realtors do business; they essentially provide real estate agents their own websites with the latest property listings.

Founded in 2008, DPI Showcase Websites is a company that uses technology to their benefits, by creating high-end websites for real estate professionals, linking their sites to MLS (Multiple Listing Service).

CIO Bulletin had the opportunity to talk to Mark Weithorn, Founder & CEO of DPI Showcase Websites.

Q. What made you start DPI Showcase Websites? How has the company grown since its founding?

DPI was originally Digital Printers International, located in North Miami Beach, Florida. One of our niches was printing postcard mailings for Realtors. In 2004, at a Realtor’s trade show in Atlanta, I met a young, dynamic programmer who had created a website system for Realtors. We instantly teamed up. We spent six months retooling the system and started marketing websites to Realtors.

As technology changed, printing was declining and the website division was growing, so we sold off the printing division and rebranded under DPI Showcase Websites. The company has had consistent growth for the past 19 years.

Q. How is DPI Showcase Websites uniquely positioned to fulfill the website needs of realtors in the US?

Most Realtors are not tech people, so we have modeled our system to work with these types. Most of the functions on the websites are automated, so the Realtor doesn’t have to learn how to use a new system.

Our system also has many tools, all bundled into one system. This way, the Realtor doesn’t have to pay for multiple services. In addition to having a property search that’s linked to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), we also have a built-in CRM (Client Relationship Management System), a database of new developments with floor plans, auto blogging and auto-posting on LinkedIn, and other features.

The system also has automated drip-email campaigns like daily Listing Alert emails, weekly eNewsletter emails, and holiday emails. It also alerts the Realtor when the client is searching on the website.

Q. Why are websites built by DPI integrated with the Internet Data Exchange (IDX)? How advantageous is this technology for realtors?

Realtors work very hard to obtain clients and maintain their relationships. The challenge these days is that most clients go to websites like Zillow or Realtor.com to search for properties and listed on these websites is the contact information for other Realtors.

The IDX allows clients to search for properties on the Realtor’s website without seeing the names and phone numbers of other Realtors. All the listings show up with the property information but leave out the listing agent’s name and number. This way, the client has to contact their Realtor for more information.

Q. What is DPI’s built-in CRMauto? Can you briefly explain how Realtors benefit from this?

Many other CRMs are complicated to use. A Realtor must take the time to learn how to navigate these programs. Since most Realtors are not tech people or do not have the time, they tend not to use these programs and end up losing touch with their clients. Therefore, DPI has automated many of the functions of the CRM.

For example, if a client sees a property they are interested in, they click on Contact Agent, and then enter their name, phone number, and email. The Realtor then instantly receives an email and a text message alerting them that they have a lead. The client is then automatically entered into the CRM. They then start receiving daily Listing Alert emails, weekly eNewsletter emails (which are automatically created), holiday emails, and various reminder emails. The Realtor is then alerted via email and text when a client is looking at properties on the site. This entire process takes place without the Realtor having to lift a finger.

Q. What are the other services provided by DPI Showcase Websites?

We do one-on-one training with each Realtor to show them how the website works and tips for marketing. We also make sure their social media pages are set up properly.

We also do not charge for edits to the site.  The challenge these days is that the programmer who may have created a site for you may have disappeared.  So, when you are looking to update your site, you have no one to turn to.  At DPI, we give you peace of mind knowing that we are always here to assist you.  We assign a designer to your account. Just email them any changes and it is taken care of. 

Q. In what ways does DPI Showcase ensure that its clients’ websites are content-driven?

Each website has a blog page on it. Every day, a new blog article is placed on the website. This places content on the website, which is good for search engine optimization. Then every week we send out an eNewsletter email to all of the Realtor’s clients. These emails have the previous week’s blog articles all linking back to the website.

Can you explain the different plans DPI Showcase Websites offers to its clients? Does the company offer a yearly contract?

Our plan is simple. There is no charge for setup or design. The monthly hosting fee is $59 per month. This is paid monthly, and there is no yearly contract. The monthly hosting fee is all-inclusive. It includes the IDX, edits to the site, and all the automated functions of the website.

Q. As the CEO of DPI Showcase Websites, you also conduct various classes for realtors. What has been the impact of these classes?

Over the past 20+ years, I have taught over 30,000 students.

The challenge with being a Realtor is that it is a very lonely business. Many brokers are not familiar with all of their agents. The Realtors in the office view other Realtors as competitors, so they don’t talk to each other. New Realtors tend to be lost; they have no training. That is where the classes come in.

These classes are “how to” lessons. The Realtors are taught how to do simple tasks in order to get new clients. They are tailored for non-technical people.

In addition, DPI’s YouTube channel has dozens of training videos. These are called “Two-Minute Tech Tips.” These show Realtors how to easily perform various tasks.

We get lots of feedback from former students on how these simple techniques have helped them grow their businesses.

Q. Would you like us to highlight something important happening in your company that we may have missed asking about?

Presently, DPI is starting to create various AI apps for the real estate industry. The challenge with AI is that the average person doesn’t know how to effectively use the AI programs that are out there. They don’t know what questions to ask or how to verify the data. DPI is looking to bridge the gap between AI programs and the average person.

A brief biography of the CEO

Mark Weithorn is the Founder and CEO of DPI Showcase Websites. He graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC with a degree in marketing and commercial photography. His professional career has evolved over the years. He first started as a commercial photographer with a studio in Miami. Then he was a partner in Khameleon Communications, an ad agency that specialized in product development. To grow vertically, he started DPI, Digital Printers International. Part of their niche was printing postcard mailers for Realtors. He then developed DPI Showcase Websites.

“Not only do we have the experience and expertise to develop an integrated real estate IDX website, but we also take the time to fully understand your business.”