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constant contact...

By
Mortgage and Lending with www.JakePlanton.com 209327
The market is doing very well right now, as are rates. If things can just stay like this for a while, my life would be so much easier. Because of the way the market is changing, and I need a way to stay in contact with my clients, I have decided to start a market update email that I will be sending out everyonce and a while, especially as these things change. I have gotten a pretty good response from my clients/associates that I have asked if they would like to be added to the email list. I think it is important to constantly be touching base with my clients. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! :)

Comments (8)

Leesa Finley
RED Properties - Wake Forest, NC
RED Properties - Raleigh NC Real Estate
Jacob - You sort of answered your own question and didn't know it!  Constant Contact is a service that I use for newsletters, liting announcements, etc.  Great tracking tools there as well.  If you hear of any others let me know.
Mar 20, 2008 06:22 AM
Lisa Heindel
Crescent City Living LLC - New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Real Estate Broker
Jacob, I use Constant Contact as well and it's terrific.  I use it to create my monthly e-newsletter, to announce new listings and open houses and to send holiday greetings to clients, friends and family.  Well worth the money, and you can take a free trial period to see if you like it.  Good luck!
Mar 20, 2008 06:30 AM
Mary Smartt
Lawton Associates / www.LawtonAssociates.com - Berkeley, CA
Smartt Moves with Mary Smartt
I recommend the Buffini program for running a referral-based business.  I've been using it for about 9 years, and it has proven quite successful through strong and weak markets.  Really helps lay the groudnwork for a steady stream of clients.  There is a Buffini forum here on AR if you want to check it our or ask questions.
Mar 20, 2008 07:32 AM
John Dirgo
Aloha Coast Realty - Hilo, HI
R, BIC, e-PRO, ABR, EcoBroker, GRI, CRB

I love Constant Contact.  Its an easy, low-impact way to stay in touch without being obnoxious.  Every time I send out a Constant Contact email, I hear from several people (who may or may not be on the market now).  Sometimes they want me to research properties for them, but even if they just say "hey it was great to hear from you, glad things are going well -- stay in touch!", I know its one more impression of my name and profession into their minds.  Then, when it is time, they will say "I need to get in touch with John".

Thanks for the tip about the Buffini program, Mary.  I've always heard his name, but I didn't know there was an ActiveRain group about him and his programs -- I'll check it out!

Mar 20, 2008 08:28 AM
Rick Tourgee
Robert Paul Properties, Inc. - Provincetown, MA
Provincetown and Cape Cod
Jacob- like Mary stated above, I highly recommend Buffini & Company.  Please feel free to call or e-mail me anytime with any questions.  I am a HUGE believer in having a system to stay in contact with previous, current and future Clients!
Mar 24, 2008 03:26 PM
Leonard Thomas
RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs - Plano, TX

Jacob, I encourage you to have a multiple pronged strategy for farming your sphere of influence.  As easy as email seems to be when you have hundreds (or more) people in your sphere, I submit to you that you will make more money every year calling 10 people on your list than emailing 100 people on your list.  Further, I submit that you will make more money seeing 2 or 3 people on your list than calling 10 people on your list.

As such, I suggest emailing/mailing monthly, calling quarterly, seeing yearly.  Divide your sphere of influence by 12 and that's how many of each you should do each month.  Your sphere of influence is absolutely bar-none the best time investment you can do in real estate, in my experience.

Best success in selling. 

Mar 24, 2008 03:39 PM
Charles G. Hennebeul
AMERICAN CASH SOLUTIONS INC - Melville, NY

Just be careful about switching to referrals only--I know a borker that required all to use Buffini and sales went down for 4 of the agents who used telemarketing, two used FSBO, and the 3rd used a combo....when they switched to Buffiini it probably wasn't his program that  was the problem..they probably didn't follow it properly .....

NEW BUSINESS is just as important as referrals and mining your customers.  All the Fortune 500 have at least 30% of their sales from new business.  Zig Ziglar said in one og his books that the leading cause of failure for sales people is not enough leads...even if you are a half decent sales person..if you have enough leads you will do good and in some cases better than the guy who doesn't have enough leads but has great sales skills!

Mar 30, 2008 01:27 PM
Kathy Torline
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Real Estate Blog 719-287-1049
I do a combination of monthly newsletters and an update by email on a monthly basis.   I find the combination of online and regular mail seems to work to constantly remind people I'm a Realtor.   I also have divided by Sphere of Influence into an A list, B list, and C list.  The A list are the people I think are most likely to give me referrals and I really focus on my A list.  They get special mailings and I try to see everyone on my A list at least once a quarter.  I still mail the B's and C's, but really focus on the A's.
Mar 30, 2008 10:54 PM