Spokeo At Work
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Check for dirt (before it surprises you) with Spokeo at Work

Don't just Google a potential new client -- "Spokeo" them with the company's new business services
by Craig C. Rowe Staff Writer
October 21, 2016
Spokeo At Work
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  • Internet searches for the purpose of vetting prospects, leads and job candidates are more common than ever.
  • Spokeo, a people search website that aggregates data from online and offline sources, has recently launched a new set of services aimed at businesses called Spokeo at Work.
  • The software combines social media, white page information and public records to assemble data profiles and enables users to research individual properties.

When a prospect comes into the fold of our businesses, it’s natural for us to “Google” them. Or maybe we jump on Facebook to find out more. Spokeo at Work accomplishes this in aggregate by pulling public records, white pages data and public social media information to assemble personal profiles.

Have suggestions for products that you’d like to see reviewed by our real estate technology expert? Email Craig Rowe.

Spokeo at Work is the recently launched business arm of the popular people search engine that now offers prospect and property research.

Platform(s): Browser-based; mobile-optimized
Ideal for: All size teams, sales assistants, luxury and investment property agents

Top selling points

  • Deep research using social media profiles, white pages, public sources
  • Intuitive
  • Sex offender look-ups

Top concerns

  • Might be overkill in terms of prospect research given availability of social profiles

What you should know

When prospects come into the fold of our business, it’s natural for us to “Google” them. Or maybe we jump on Facebook to find out more.

Spokeo at Work accomplishes this in aggregate by pulling public records, white pages data and public social media information to assemble personal profiles. The underlying goal is one of safety — proving that prospects are who they say they are (or that they fail the test).

The profiles are neatly assembled and juxtaposed with an address history, a list of court records and an array of contact options. You can also monitor the record.

spokeo-profile_12

The new arm of the 10-year-old Pasadena, California, company enables users to research individual properties as well, a value-add that I believe is worthwhile for real estate agents because it lists nearby sex offenders.

This is always delicate subject for agents to communicate with clients even in states where disclosure laws are black-and-white.

Additionally, the property search results provide a clear breakdown of a home or apartment building’s physical features in a more pleasing interface than you’d find trudging through online tax records.

spokeo-profile_22

Additional uses

Spokeo at Work is a good option when exercising the long-standing industry practice of “being the source of the source.”

The software can also benefit luxury agents who dig deep into potential new clients to further verify buying power. Investment property agents would find the software equally beneficial.

Notably, however, Spokeo isn’t to be used for job prospects, according to the company — it’s against their terms of service to determine a person’s eligibility for a job with the tool.

spokeo-address_12

 

This is an add-on type product, a tool that’s good to have when you need to know something more about the people you’ll be working with over a decent period of time.

The power of people data is growing in value every day for all lines of businesses, and software like Spokeo is helping us leverage it.

Have a technology product you would like to discuss? Email Craig Rowe.

Editor’s note: This post has been updated with information about Spokeo at Work’s terms of service regarding job candidate vetting. 

Article image credited to Poprotskiy-Alexey
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