Sample inquiry emails for property owners

Subject: You received an inquiry on Riobeachrentals.com

Howdy!

You received an inquiry about your property: #200A – 2 Bedroom Duplex Penthouse with Pool

Message Details

Name: Chad Hutchins
Email: cjutchins@gmail.com
Phone: 888 888 8888

Arrival: 11/17/2011
Departure: 11/24/2011

Number of Guests: 1

Click here to log in to view your Admin Panel.

Cheers,
The WebChalet Team

Visit us at http://www.webchalet.com/
Follow us at http://twitter.com/webchalet
Email us at support@webchalet.com
Check out our online help desk

—————————-
Key elements:
Subject: include the website the inquiry is coming from as owners list their properties on a variety of websites.
Content:
-Name and link to the property that has been inquired on
-Users name, email, phone number to contact them back.
-Dates interested
-Number of guest are good to show too.

Other important things:
Owners like to be able to hi “reply” to inquiry emails, so the system should be set up to make the “from” email the entered email in the inquire box.

Few cool sites of note

Sony introduced me to: app.net last week, this should have some legs. Smart way for app’s to have their own web presence outside of app stores. I’m intrigued because this is similar to our single vacation home theme websites.
-I’m partial as I have a stake in surfbreakrentals.com, but it’s a niche vacation rental directory built for surfers. All the surfbreaks are indexed around the world, then beach vacation rentals get associated to them.
-Tourwrist.com – really cool solution for vacation owners that want to provide 3d tours. It’s an iphone app, they host the video, they offer awesome embed script for you sites.

more to come…

Vrconnection directory payment page

Each week every company seems to be changing their payment pages. I’m going to start keeping track of the different options out there to determine best model…
Here’s vrconnection.com directory payment page: view page

Usability testing – usertesting.com

This is really smart, will be keeping this one in my notes for future use. http://www.usertesting.com/

Google+ promoting Black Eyed Peas on Homepage

Special shout out and congrats to Robinhood.org who have worked in partnership with Black Eyed Peas and Google+… they are promoting their benefit concert in NYC central park on the HOMEPAGE of Google worldwide. Concert is tonight (Sept. 30th, 7pm) in central park, here’s the google+ page.

How to work remotely in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

I’ve actually been working really long hours and haven’t had time to write up much. So here’s some quick notes:
-Skype: everyday I’m amazed by skype and the same goes for everyone that is still discovery this service. For team meetings/conference calls it’s works fantastically. I love how within one click I can also go to video which offers a friendly face and reduces home sickness.
-415 phone numbers: once again skype has offered a fantastic soluiton, I signed up for the “online phone number“which cost $18 for 3 months. I give that number out to friends, family and clients and when they ring 1 415 670 9444 it calls my computer/skype. There’s voicemail too.
-FREE calls to the U.S.: unbelievable, google voice has come through big time. You see that “Call Phone” link in your live chat section:

If you set up a google voice account for free you can call the U.S. for FREE! It’s crazy and it totally works. Call quality is actually better than my Att Iphone in San Francisco.
-Internet connection: great connection in the apartment here.
-Productivity: I’ve really enjoyed being 4 hours ahead and getting work done before anyone is up. It’s made for long days as I usually work in the morning here, then do San Francisco hours, then most people work their side projects when get home…so, 14 hour days have been common. BUT, it’s partially why I am here in Rio. To focus on work and physical therapy…with surfing in between.
-Cafe’s to work from: I have yet to find and cafe’s that offer internet. Actually, I haven’t even seen someone working on a laptop yet in public (I’ve been all over the city too).
-Mobile phones: this is amazing…Rio is way behind the times when it comes to technology. You see very few people on cell phones in public and don’t even bother selling your mobile business models here. Smart phones are even more scarce.
-Shared office space: I haven’t found any shared work spaces in Rio De Janeiro yet. Please send along any that you may know of.

More to come…Erik

Product Dev. tool: Balsamiq for wireframes

I was introduce to balsamiq recently, great tool for wireframing.