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STOP sending me great deals

By Matthew Rathbun

Managing Real Estate Broker with Coldwell Banker Elite

January 12, 2008 11:28 PM

ATT00053

I am so tired of getting these e-mails that promise me health, wealth and a great amount of money if I sign up for a web-page that helps REALTORS sell!

Listen, I have tried almost everything out there and none of it delivers what is promised, with few exceptions. There is so much out there to help you the REALTOR make money, that it all starts seeming to be the same and my opinion it is.

But, my real issue isn't necessarily delivery of the product once it outs there, but the constant e-mails that bombard us daily and add to this the other practitioners who keep sending me their new listings.... that are in MLS.... which is where they got my e-mail address.... so, therefore I HAVE ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION ALREADY!

So, combined with other REALTORS, who should be as fed up with their e-mail boxes getting filled up with junk, as I am; we add all the vendors who seem to be pouring it on even more - I don't even want to open my e-mail anymore.

I've been on a hunt for a month now trying to un-subscribe to everything that comes across my desk and it hasn't put a dent in the 100 or so a day junk mail that comes in.

I've tried spam blockers and they just block e-mails that I really want. I've actually begun cancelling services, such as web-page providers, if I find out that they are selling my e-mail address to other folks. It's not what I bought the service for!

Anyway, if you're contributing to my junk mail, please stop. I don't care about your new listing, unless my client cares - at which point we'll do a good old fashion search in MLS. If you want your home to come up. Have at least six GOOD pictures and a virtual tour. Why, because statistically that is what a buyer is looking for.

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Gary McAdams

GMAC Schwartz Property Sales - Key West, FL

I was warned by a friend who is a computer tech doing security for The Federal Government that when you hit that unsubscribe buttons on many sites it sends your email to many other sites. It marks you as someone who was interested in receiving email marketing. He told me hitting the unsubscribe can cause you to get more spam. He suggested to block the individual sender. My spam has decreased. It is a tough call. Setting spam controls too tight can result is loosing a customer email and too loose results in being flooded with spam. A loose loose situation.

Jan 12, 2008 11:38 PM

Mike Frazier

Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN

Northwest Tennessee Realtor

Matthew,

I am starting to miss good e-mail mixed in with all the junk. This is a reason not to have an e-mail campaign. The public is just as sick and tired of this as we are.

Jan 12, 2008 11:41 PM

Lenn Harley

Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA

Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

All I can say is, if you only get 100 a day, count your lucky stars. If we expect to do business on the Internet, spam comes with the territory.

Jan 12, 2008 11:48 PM

Brian Sharkey

SharkeyRE LLC - Singer Island, FL

SharkeyRE

It's always the case with cold prospecting. It's junk! I hate it. I hate getting it and I hate giving it. If only we could eliminate junk mail, cold calls, and spam. We would be more effective at prospecting, our efforts with customers and clients would be better received and it would cost everyone much less.

Jan 12, 2008 11:49 PM

Pat Preston

Shore Realty - Nags Head, NC

Like you said, " with few exceptions", well you got to take the good with the bad. When the market was rolling we didn't seem to mind the spam as much.

Jan 13, 2008 12:17 AM

Rebecca Chandler

NewPoint Media Group - Lawrenceville, GA

According to the CAN SPAM Act, email marketers are required to provide a physical address and an unsubscribe option that is handled within 10 days of the request. If you unsubscribe and still receive messages, then block the email address. The more times an email address is blocked or reported as SPAM, Internet Service Providers will then put that address on a "Black List" and block all their emails.

Effective e-marketing should ADD value to the recipient's day. If you send email messages, make sure to test for the following criteria - relevance, credibility, and a call to action. You'll receive a more welcome reaction from your recipients and a better return on your efforts.

Jan 13, 2008 12:37 AM

Kevin McGrath

Long & Foster Real Estate Companies- Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania - Fredericksburg, VA

Long & Foster Real Estate Companies

I look at spam as no more than an interruption - and I was taught at a very young age that it is impolite to interrupt.

I had an old email address that I stopped using - 4 years ago - I still get spam there - and I blocked everything possible. It will never end.

Jan 13, 2008 12:50 AM

Ron Parise

LocateHomes.com - Cape Coral, FL

Lenn hit the nail on the head...Spam comes with the territory..100 emails a day is peanuts...I read my US mail over a trash can to dispose of the junk there and read my email with my finger on the delete button. I dont see a problem and often find something of interest in the junk. One man's trash is another man's treasure...and at age 61 the viagra ads are looking pretty good

Im not a big fan of the emails for the run of the mill listing, but find them very helpful for the special or unique property. I also enjoy seeing the emails for property outside my service area or for property outside my speciality. They broaden my knowledge base...never a bad thing

Jan 13, 2008 01:12 AM

Chris Frantz

EDU Real Estate Group - Indianapolis, IN

If it was so good people would find them. So it must not be too good if they have to find you.

Jan 13, 2008 02:56 AM

Matthew Rathbun

Coldwell Banker Elite - Fredericksburg, VA

ABR/M, CRB, CRS, SRS, ePRO, SFR, GRI

Hey folks, thanks for all the comments. All of them are good points. It was just my ranting about agents adding to the spam. I do think it's unavoidable, but I felt better ranting!!!

Jan 13, 2008 04:41 AM

FRANK LL0SA Esq.- Northern Virginia Broker .:. FranklyRealty.com

Northern Virginia Homes - FRANKLY REAL ESTATE Inc - Arlington, VA

Join www.RealtorSpam.org!

Feb 14, 2008 05:32 AM

STOP sending me great deals

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