keep in touch: The Abundance Myth Dispelled - 05/16/13 12:19 PM
I particularly like the post below from real estate coach and trainer Richard Robbins because of how it highlights the importance of adding value to your sphere of influence (SOI) over time. Many REALTORS® understand the value of keeping in touch with past clients but don’t realize the significance of actually “adding value.”
Here’s how to add value to your relationships with clients and past clients:
1. Send out a monthly real estate newsletter that’s packed with great tips and advice for homeowners. The best real estate contact management software, such as IXACT Contact, will come with a professionally written and designed monthly e-Newsletter … (2 comments)

keep in touch: Fun 30 Second Quiz: What’s Your Time Management IQ? - 05/14/13 07:45 AM
Take this fun quiz to see how well you’re doing at staying organized and managing your time effectively. It’ll take less than 30 seconds to complete. Circle either true or false and at the end of the quiz add up all your “true” answers.
I follow a daily calendar and task list.     T/F I use drip marketing programs to automate some of my “keep in touch” work.     T/F I use listing and closing Activity Plans so nothing falls through the cracks.     T/F I set up automatic prompts so important meetings, commitments, and activities are not forgotten.     T/F All of my contacts … (4 comments)

keep in touch: Getting Busy? Seize the Opportunity to Care For Your Clients! - 05/09/13 07:03 AM
This great blog post below, from IXACT Contact partner, real estate trainer, and author of “Sell With Soul,” Jennifer Allan-Hagedorn, is a good reminder to focus on servicing the loyal client base that you already have, and doing what you can to ensure you benefit from their referrals and repeat business.
The best source of future business is current business and if you’re not building on the relationships you currently have and, as Jennifer puts, it “knocking their sox off with your service,” you’re missing out on great opportunities down the road.
Here’s how you can use your IXACT Contact real estate … (0 comments)

keep in touch: 4 Super Fast Ways to Build Your Real Estate CRM Database - 05/07/13 09:02 AM
A REALTORS® most valuable business asset is their real estate CRM database. In fact, it’s the only tangible asset an agent has. Things like experience and track record are intangible assets.
The more quality contacts in your real estate CRM database, the more repeat client transactions and referrals will likely come your way. Of course, you need to keep in touch with these contacts over time and do so in the right ways.
But perhaps you’re just starting out in real estate sales and don’t have a lot of people in your real estate sphere of influence (SOI). Or, maybe you’ve been in the … (5 comments)

keep in touch: Sitting down with Alistair Powell, Broker/Owner of Engel & Völkers, The Villages - 04/09/13 12:35 PM
Alistair Powell is the Managing Broker and owner of Engel & Völkers, The Villages, a global luxury real estate firm. Originally from the United Kingdom, Alistair joined Hamptons International realty to become the youngest ever sales manager. He owned his own brokerage at the age of 21 and established locations in Panama, the Middle East, London, Shanghai and Manila.
He arrived in Florida in 2009 to be closer to family and to see what kind of success he could achieve in the U.S.  He joined Sotheby’s International Realty in Miami where he was the recipient of several awards including the “Young Guns … (2 comments)

keep in touch: 7 Tips for Following Up Effectively After an Event - 03/28/13 02:04 PM
Today I'm re-blogging a great article by Katie Lance, chief strategist for Inman News and CEO/Owner of Katie Lance Consulting. Katie discusses how REALTORS® can make the most of the relationships they form at the various events, conferences, and parties they attend.
Enjoy!
I have the good fortune of attending dozens of real estate events and conferences throughout the year – usually two or more per month. After I leave each event, I always have a stash of business cards, receipts, photos on my iPhone and more “stuff” to go through. I am a firm believer that there is a small … (2 comments)

keep in touch: Infographic: 3 Key Facts Every REALTOR® Should Know - 03/21/13 07:34 AM
The great infographic, below, was created by the team here at IXACT Contact. We’ve summarized key research by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and the implications for real estate agents. Make sure to pay attention to the key takeaways at the bottom of the graphic. You’ll quickly realize the importance of a real estate CRM in helping you keep in touch and build strong relationships with your past clients. This is precisely how you’ll build that coveted referrals-based business.
 

Has this infographic been an eye-opener or were you already well aware of NAR’s findings?
FREE 5 WEEK TRIAL! Sign up for a … (2 comments)

keep in touch: Real Estate Sales Best Practice: Do More Than Just Return Calls - 03/15/13 07:40 AM
I always return my phone calls,” a real estate sales professional insists. “I get back to my clients and real estate leads as soon as I can — usually the same day.”
Does that sound like great service to you? Most REALTORS® would think so.
Surprisingly, however, leads and clients waiting for a call-back don’t always see it the same way.
That’s why, when you return a call — even promptly — the person can sometimes sound frustrated or even irritated with you.
What’s happening? Look at it from your client’s perspective. While real estate may be everyday business for you, buying or … (0 comments)

keep in touch: Take this Fun Real Estate CRM Poll! - 03/12/13 08:07 AM
Take this fun, interactive poll now. Do you agree that the automatic prompts in your real estate CRM help keep you organized?
Quipol
 
Did you give a thumbs up or down? Let me know by leaving a comment below!
… (0 comments)

keep in touch: Will I Refer My Real Estate Agent: Part Two - 09/20/12 08:35 AM
 
In our last blog post, I shared a chart with you and explained that while 89% of buyers and 85% of sellers say they would recommend their agent or use their services again, a very small percentage actually do.
I promised that I'd share my thoughts with you on today’s blog post about why we think this is.
Here’s the bottom line: many real estate agents simply fail to keep in touch with past clients after the transaction ends. These agents likely aren’t using a CRM for REALTORS®.
The close of your first transaction with a buyer or seller shouldn’t … (2 comments)

keep in touch: Top 5 Time-Saving Tips for REALTORS® - 08/07/12 07:27 AM
Time management is a great skill to have but mastering it isn’t always so easy, especially when you’re running a busy real estate sales business. Below are five great tips to put some time back into your day and make you a more productive Realtor.
Time Saving Tips for Real Estate Agents
1. Make use of drip marketing plans. Use your real estate contact management system and assign your contacts to a pre-designed drip marketing campaign. This helps you automate some of your marketing because emails will automatically be sent at various time intervals on your behalf. In addition to using drip … (3 comments)

keep in touch: How Do You Know If You Need a Real Estate Contact Management System? - 05/24/12 06:53 AM
Perhaps you’ve been thinking about a real estate contact management system and whether it’s worth the investment. Maybe you’ve heard of other agents in your office using IXACT Contact’s real estate CRM (customer relationship management) solution or another contact management system, and the amazing things they’ve been able to do with it, but you’re still hesitant. If you can relate to any of the four key indicators discussed below, it’s time to try out a CRM for REALTORS®.
Indicators That You Need a Real Estate Contact Management System
1. You have contact information scattered all over the place
If your client and prospect contact … (3 comments)

keep in touch: Real Estate Contact Management 101: The Most Important Five Minutes of Your Day - 05/08/12 07:50 AM
What are the most important five minutes of your day? Is it promptly returning a client’s phone call? Sending out a real estate marketing email? Following up on a hot new real estate lead or referral?
Of course, all these activities are important because they are directly related to building your business, income and future.
But there is another activity that some REALTORS® don’t take as seriously. That’s unfortunate because it is just as vital to building a solid business as all the others — perhaps even more.
Let us give you a clue. The activity is real estate contact management related.
It’s updating your … (0 comments)

keep in touch: Are All REALTORS® Really #1? Differentiate Your Real Estate Marketing - 05/01/12 07:25 AM
Look around you. It’s likely that you’ll see some type of billboard or ad with a REALTOR®’s face on it. But have you noticed that Realtors seem to sell themselves in the same way? “I’m the best!,” “I’m #1,” “I’ve won 10 awards!”
So the question is, how do you differentiate yourself and your services? How do you set apart your real estate marketing from that of your competition?
When all agents are essentially saying the same thing (that they’re the “best” or “top performing”), you need to take another, more effective approach.
Do you go above and beyond for your clients? Have … (0 comments)

keep in touch: Make Your Real Estate Newsletters an Invited Guest - 04/17/12 06:37 AM
Say a REALTOR® completes a transaction. The client is pleased with the services, the price for which the house sold, the quality of the home purchased, etc.
Then, a month later, the client receives a real estate e-Newsletter that the Realtor has sent through their real estate contact management software. Even though the publication is professionally designed and written — packed with valuable information — the client does not read it.
Why? Most likely the client didn’t know they were going to receive the e-Newsletter in the first place. 
It’s uninvited. 
A client receives countless unsolicited e-Newsletters, e-Flyers and other emails every … (5 comments)

keep in touch: The Biggest Failure of the Real Estate Industry – Communication - 03/08/12 09:20 AM
This is a re-blog from an article written by Lani Rosales of AGBeat. It underscores the importance of communication and how it directly impacts client satisfaction. As one of the key benefits of using a real estate CRM is the ability to ensure you’re keeping in touch and communicating appropriately with your clients and prospects, this article was particular fitting for a re-blog.
With your IXACT Contact real estate contact management software, you can plan and schedule “keep in touch” activities with your contacts, from quarterly keep in touch calls, to a monthly e-newsletter to a client appreciation night. And with … (2 comments)

keep in touch: Using e-Newsletters to Keep in Touch and Propel Your Business Growth - 02/23/12 07:49 AM
Sending out a monthly e-Newsletter is one thing that you, as a REALTOR®, can do to stay in touch with prospects and clients over time. In fact, it should be an important part of your real estate marketing strategy. Later in this article, I'll talk about how your real estate contact management system can help with this.
Here’s a good plan for deciding exactly who in your database to send out an e-Newsletter to: categorize your database (group your contacts) by A-List, B-List, and C-List. Your group of A-List contacts will be comprised of mostly past clients who you value the most (perhaps they’ve given … (5 comments)

keep in touch: Are You in Real Estate Sales? 7 Easy Ways to Stay Memorable - 02/09/12 10:11 AM
This is a re-blog from a recent article in Inc. Magazine, called “How to Be the Most Memorable Person in the Room.” I thought I'd re-blog it because as a REALTOR®, you’re constantly dealing with prospects and clients so it’s so important to stay memorable and “top of mind.”
What really stood out to me in this article is the when the author, Christina DesMarais, states “Be interested in what’s going on in other people’s lives.” If you’re an avid reader of the IXACT Contact blog, “The Real Estate Contact Management & Marketing Blog” you’ll know that this is something we’ve always highly recommended.
… (4 comments)

keep in touch: Top 5 Reasons Your New Years Resolution Should be to Start Using a Real Estate CRM - 01/06/12 11:10 AM
It’s 2012. Can you believe it’s here already? What steps do you want to take to improve your business in the New Year? In our last blog post, “I’ve Lost So Many,” we shared the story of Keller Williams agent, Brenda Mullen, who for years went without a consolidated database and proper real estate contact management system and lost tons of potential business. Perhaps your resolution for 2012 is to begin using a real estate CRM (customer relationship management) solution. If it’s not, maybe it should be. Here’s why:
You’ll be more organized and efficient. Is your contact data all over the place? Maybe it’s … (2 comments)

keep in touch: Quiz: How “Referral Worthy” Are You? - 11/22/11 09:56 AM
Think you’re “Referral Worthy”? How good a job are you doing in getting referrals in real estate? What can you be doing better? Answer the below questions and see for yourself.
 
 
 

See how you scored:
10 or more true answers: You’re a referrals expert.  You have the right mindset when running your business and you know that getting referrals doesn’t “just happen.” You work in a highly proactive manner and understand what success in real estate sales means.
7-9 true answers: You’re on the right track but you still have some work to do to ensure you’re 100% “Referral Worthy” and … (4 comments)

 
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Rich Gaasenbeek

Toronto, ON

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IXACT Contact Real Estate CRM

Address: 137 Bentworth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6A 1P6

Office Phone: (866) 665-0018 x 245

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This blog focuses on the importance of effective contact management and real estate marketing to long term success in real estate sales. I share ideas on contact management strategies and implementation, and tips on how to better manage and grow your business through effective contact management. http://www.facebookloginhut.com/facebook-login/
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