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Can Your Prospects Read Your Attachments?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

If I could have my wish, programs wouldn't become obsolete. New programs and old programs would work together in harmony, and this annoying problem wouldn't exist.

I don't get my wish.

This week I was reminded of the importance of saving Word files in the old format rather than the new. Because as much as it seems like everyone is rushing to upgrade computers and buy the latest software, some folks have other priorities. They keep using the old things just as long as they work. (Sounds sensible to me, which is why I used my old computer until it was gasping for breath.)the lady is stressed

So twice this week I got emails from agents who had purchased the Holiday Listing Letters and couldn't open them. They were .docx files. I sent them both the .doc files. Then I "fixed" the problem at e-junkie, so it won't happen to anyone else.

Now I need to go back and check all the rest of the more recent letter sets to make sure that none of them are .docx. (Way to give myself extra work!)

At least new programs will read the old ones - for now, anyway.

So - If you use Word and you're sending special reports to your clients, past clients, prospects, and sphere of influence, check to make sure you're sending .doc files. Since what you're sending in that situation isn't a purchase, they might simply delete instead of telling you that they can't open the file.


Image courtesy of Dreamstine

Comments(5)

Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

One of the most annoying things is how quickly things change and then become incompatibile with one another.  So very frustrating.

Nov 29, 2012 05:00 AM
Brian Kuhns
Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber - Fort Wayne, IN
Fort Wayne Real Estate by Brian Kuhns

another options may be to save word docx files as pdf's...seems to work for me, but it does seem like we spend way too much time keeping up with technology

Nov 29, 2012 05:39 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Chris Ann - Yes, it is frustrating. And if we're dealing with a wide variety of people, we have to keep buying more in order to communicate. The other thing that annoys me is updates to programs. When something works just fine, why "improve" it so it no longer works fine?

I bought Top Producer way back in the dark ages when it first came out. Then I stupidly bought the upgrade... and from then on it was a problem.

Brian - You're right - PDF would work for a lot of things.

Nov 29, 2012 05:53 AM
Jordon Wheeler
The Jordon Wheeler Group - Fairburn, GA
J W Group Real Estate Sales and Service

Hi Marte,

There is a lot of duplicity to keep up with.  I had a client tell me I needed to get an iPhone and be up with the times.  No thanks I'm happy with my Android that's a little older.  Great post.  Best of continued success to you this year!

Nov 30, 2012 04:32 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Jordon - I'm lucky. I don't have to have an iPhone, an Android, or any other kind of fancy gadget. Cell phones don't work where I live, and since I work from home, I'm usually right here if someone needs me.

And... unlike real estate clients, the real estate agents I work for don't seem to expect me to be available 24 hours a day. 

Nov 30, 2012 04:44 AM