Services and Features

Basic Membership ($2 per month)

Our Basic Membership package is designed for agents that either already have a website or who do not desire a major online presence. Basic Membership features include:

• Access to the Think Flooring! blog. The blog is a showcase for advice, announcements, and other useful bits of information for all Carpet Direct agents and brokers. The blog itself is inside a secure, password-protected location that is only available to paying members. This advanced security allows high-ranking Carpet Direct officials such as Regional Coordinator Preston Hickman to write detailed and indepth articles about the things that matter to you and your business.
• Access to the Think Flooring! forum. This secure forum allows every member to post questions and to reply to the questions and comments of other members. It creates a secure and protected area where Carpet Direct agents and brokers from all over the nation can communicate, in real time, with the issues that they want to talk about and without any fear of their conversations be over-heard or intercepted.
• Listing in our upcoming Directory. Every member of our program will have their name, business address, business email, and preferred phone number listed in our up-coming online directory. This feature will be searchable and will be available to the general public as well as to other members (although members can opt-out if they do not want to be listed in the directory).
• Up to one (1) hour per month of professional advice on all technological issues. From SEO tips and online security advice to hardware recommendations and internet connection issues our skilled support staff are available by phone 24 hours per day.

Standard Membership ($10 per month)

Our Standard Membership package is designed for agents and brokers that want the benefits of a website but who do not feel a need for a full database-driven back-office. Standard Membership includes all the features of our Basic Membership package, plus:

• One domain name. We will obtain one domain name on your behalf and host it for you on our dedicated servers. Upon request, secure ftp access and a unique IP address can also be supplied if desired. If you already have a domain name then we can either secure you a second one or else offer you a one-time only rebate of $10 on your membership fee.
• One website. We will set up a standard website for you that is based upon our custom Carpet Direct Database Content Management System (CDDCMS). Your website will include a secure control panel that you will be able to use to change many aspects of your site. Using the advanced control panel options you will be able to configure your site's color scheme and some of the content. You will also be able to set up tracking with Google Analytics and even add banner adds to your site to generate revenue. For an example of a CDDCMS site, take a look at www.thinkflooring.com/sample1/.
• A built-in email auto-responder. Your site will include forms for vistors to request appointments and to refer their friends - and this information will be automatically emailed directly to you. Not only that, but your site will automatically email the visitor with a polite "thank you" for their submission.
• A limited database. A limited database will be set up to collect information from the referral and appointment request forms on your website. While you won't be able to use this information with only a Standard Membership it will still be recorded so that if you upgrade your membership later it will already be there for you, intact and organized.
• Standard members may receive up to two (2) hours per month of professional advice, instead of the limit of one hour limit for basic members. This advice can include help in setting up Google Analytics accounts, Google Adwords accounts, or even for help in customizing your website.
• Mirroring. Your website can be duplicated up to three times and hosted on up to three different domains. These "mirror images" can be configured to use the same control panel settings or each mirror can have its own control panel settings.

Agent Premium Membership ($20 per month)

Agent Premium Memberships are for agents and brokers who have reached a point where they are ready for something more - they are ready for an online database application that offers them a suite of powerful options to increase their efficiency and effectively target new leads and referrals. In addition to all the features of a Standard Membership, an Agent Premium Membership provides:

• Complete management of all leads, referrals, and customers. New leads and referrals are automatically generated each time a visitor to your site asks for an appointment. In addition, you will be able to manually enter old leads and referals if desired and have all your information available in one easy location, as close to you as the internet no matter where you are.
• Real-time warehouse inventory information. The system is designed to allow a warehouse manager to enter information about newly arrived products and this will automatically be reflected in your database. In about the same time it takes to check your email, you can see what's arrived, who delivered it, and who signed it into the warehouse.
• Advanced html emails that are more than just plain text. You will be able to select from a number of pre-designed quality html emails, or even request that we custom build html email templates to your specifications. These templates will become a part of your database and will be available for you to use over and over again, or even to share with other agents and brokers if you desire. Html emails can include animated banners, links, quality images, and unique layouts that will make your emails special.
• Direct mail options. Part of any good marketing campaign is still good old fashioned mail and our system includes a "direct mail" request system where you can choose from options such as "Customer's Birthday" or "Christmas Wishes" and have a real physical card mailed to listed leads, referrals, customers, or even other agents and brokers. The first 3 direct mail requests each month are free and additonal direct mail requests will be billed separately at the end of each monthly cycle at a rate of $3 each.
• Access to secure pricing and product information pdf files online, at your convenience. These pdf documents will be updated regularly so that their prices and information are always current and up to date when you need them.
• Custom mailing lists. Agent Premium Memberships include the ability to make and manage up to ten custom mailing lists. These mailing lists will be maintained on a dedicated mail server that only handles secure mail for our members and clients. Each list will be manageable directly by you and will automatically include opt-out options to make it compliant with all US SPAM laws. An optional "newsletter" sign-up section can be added to your website if desired.
• Custom banners and graphics. Agent Premium Members can request custom banners and graphics instead of more basic advice for their two hours of monthly advice. HTML code can be generated to help link these banners and our professional staff can help set up banner exchange programs if desired.

Broker Premium Membership ($50 per month)

Broker Premium Membership is designed for brokers that want their business to run like a well-oiled machine. It includes all the features of the Standard Membership plus FOUR actual accounts:

• One Broker Account with all the features of an Agent Premium account plus additional administrative powers to help manage an extended database that can track and report data from ALL of a broker's agents.
• One "Manager" Account with enhanced warehouse inventory features and the ability to handle most of the administrative duties that are available to a full broker account. Unless a separate domain is provided, the Manager account will be set up as a sub-domain of the domain provided to the Broker.
• Two "Agent" Accounts with all the features of a Standard Membership plus database functions that are sufficient to maintain the records for the primary Broker account.

More than any other category of membership, a Broker Premium Membership is customizable. Features can be tweaked and changes made to suit the needs of each premium broker. To find out if our program can meet your particular needs, please contact us today!