Don't Even Bother With "Happy Thanksgiving."

How true, make it personal!

I am not in the habit of sending out email Blasts of saying Happy Thanksgiving or any other messages for that matter because I personally like the personal touch ... phone call, in person, even texts or on line in social media.  But to address each person by name and to give your message "from the heart" -- that's where it is for me.  In the meantime, Greg Nino ... congratulations on the Feature and here's wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!  

Sometimes being too automatic with those greetings just does feel like SPAM.

Well, they were kind of cool back in 2004 or so, but like everything else, time moves on. And what was cool back then is not so cool today.

Dear Greg,

Good point. I have probably already deleted around 300 of these in the past week. Nicer to hear it from the nice check out gal at the hardware store, than one of those canned messages. I do not even look any longer to see, who came up with particularly popular ones, since there always seems to be a theme emerging. Pumpkins with a green border is one I have gotten around 10% of the time this year.

 Greg,

Well I disagree....just sold a couple of homes to folks that have been receiving my  junk, spam, crap, BS or whatever you want to call it for the last 8 years.  They appreciated that we stayed in touch with them, and mentioned we were the only ones that did, and felt like they knew and trusted us because of our 8 years of follow up.  You may call it what  you want....but to us, it is making money (lots) by playing the numbers game....and if you believe anything else, you are not being truthful with yourself. 

We have well over 20,000 email addresses  in our data base, accumulated over the years, and it always amazes me, how many of those turn into real money.  Of course the majority of your AR followers will agree with you and continue to, however, to make money in this business, do you really need to touch everyone personally without templates, and email, spam? 

Consumers are buying homes over the internet, without seeing them, or meeting the agents involved....social media, networking, door knocking, open houses, and other now outdated forms are being replaced by the numbers game AGAIN!  Just look at Amazon, Ebay, and even Craigs List!! ...they are the real world competition....so we use templates, and the "non personal" touches you think are useless,  if they and the folks on my email database (that did sign up for this feature) do not appreciate the follow up with the "Happys" then that is what the delete or unsubscribe button is for!!  Which I think is another benefit....it will save us time... not screwing around with looky lous, non buyers, and the non committed!  It is a Numbers Game!!!  Always has been , always will be....and with the numbers we all need in this new real estate environment, you need email, and lots of touches!  You may be able to sell in todays world....but tomorrow, you had better be "touching" as many people as possible like the big boys are doing now!

I'm off my soap box.....You and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

Tripp Jones, #5, states it well. Send out the personal emails, FB comments, etc, and mean what you say. Dick and Sandy Beals, #12, have a point about the numbers and staying in touch over the years. I do that with my monthly newsletters to my farm, personal emails, notes and calls to clients, sphere and others. I do not send out general holiday wishes, reminders to set your clock ahead or back, etc.

Gergg,

You are so right.  It means so much more when done either in person or with a card.  It shows that you had taken the time to think about them and send them a wish.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Brigita

I despise the templated emails and also have to wonder if sending them has any effect on subsequent emails being sent to the spam folder. Let me be the first to wish you many happy clicks on Cyber Monday!

Got a text from my son this morning wishing Happy Thanksgiving! Text him back the same; Wait what the H***?!! Called him back.  Sorry about the text but you need to call your mother and I needed to hear your voice.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE!

Greg - I agree with you, mostly. The cards that come in the mail go straight to my "round file" if all they have is a printed signature. I've actually gotten cards in the past from people who were supposed to be friends - and the signature was printed. They mean nothing beyond the fact that the person felt they had some kind of obligation to send a card. 

Even the ones that are from the staff at the dentists office, etc. and are signed by a half dozen people don't mean a darn thing. 

I don't send anyone a greeting card unless I take the time to add a personal note. 

Too late, tacky spammy Turkey email went out already to the 'thousands' that love me .....

I like to send snail mail  on the holidays and then many of my past clients will text and thank me for the card or send me a picture of them or their kids. I like to stay in touch and postage is not that expensive.

You just reminded me to start gettting my Christmas Cards ready.  No e-mails

I would not mention that, but I did delete most of those emails without opening them. And I did not send mass emails myself....too spammy, seems we all receive hundreds of them these days. 

Greg Nino - isn't that the culture we have got ourselves into?

" it's like sitting on the couch with your kids and texting, "I love you" instead of saying it where they can hear you."

Sad but true, isn't it?

Greg - A personal message/phone call/visit, will always trump a templated email attempting to do send the same message.

I can see where you are coming from.... No spam for me during the holidays unless its a side dish from a can!

Greg, I always enjoy your pithy, tongue-in-cheek, heart-felt blogs! Love your humor wrapped in truth!