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SPAM and the Importance of Getting Your Message Through

By
Real Estate Agent with MacMillan Real Estate

 

To all of my fellow Realtors out there, here is a bit of a wake-up call. If you are using a free email service such as AOL, Yahoo! and any other that places ads at the bottom of your emails, you may not be getting through to your intended recipient!

 

SPAM is a huge issue for internet users these days. The statistics are mind-boggling. According to SpamCop.net, there have been 3,839,116 SPAM messages sent in the last 24 hours. This is averaging 64.2 messages per second. Last year they estimate that 1,014,443,942 SPAM messages were sent. This is about 90% of all the messages sent. This is on the rise every day. As Security providers such as McAfee and Symantec add to their filters, less and less is getting through. Good news... usually.

 

Again, if you are using an email service that places ads on your emails, you MUST follow-up with a phone call. You contact with other Realtors and Clients can be crucial to your Buyers and Sellers! "Time is of the Essence" and where does the time go if your message is not received? Many of these email messages will be filtered into SPAM or Junk-Mail Folders, never to be read. It happens all of the time. Depending on how users have their email clients, like Outlook for example, set-up, these messages could be automatically deleted. "Didn't you get my email about it?" "No, I have not gotten anything from you." OOPS! Opportunity missed. Credibility and reliability are out-the-window!

 

Free email services are not free! These ads on the emails are how the provider makes money. If an end user clicks on the ad, the provider either makes a few pennies per click or if they actually buy the product or service. You are doing their marketing for them every time that you send an email.

 

Get smart and get an email account that does not have such ads. Most Realtors with National and Regional Brokerages have access to email accounts through their brands. If not, buy a domain name with email. You can usually get one for as little as $10 per year. You do not need a web site to have your own email address without any ads. Not to mention, you will look for professional! If you would like more information, feel free to email me... with any luck, I might just get your message.

 

Comments(4)

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Goodbye Active Rain
Out of Real Estate

I always check my SPAM folder just in case.  Sometimes emails slip through that I like to see or I am waiting for.  Usually the title tells me if it is worth viewing.

Jun 04, 2009 02:05 AM
Scott Hoen
Carson City, NV
Carson City Clerk Recorder / Public Administrator

All the more reason to have your own permanent email address that is even more professional.  Would you rather work with an agent that has scott@yahoo.com or Scott@YorbaLindaRealEstate.com

Run your business as a business and that starts with your email and website domain.

Jun 06, 2009 04:11 PM
Noman Syed
Freelance Programmer - Detroit, MI

Get Google power!! Filter out all messaging threats including SPAM and VIRUSES before they reach your network with Google Apps.

Aug 20, 2009 07:13 AM
James Bath
Gulf Shores Realty - Venice, FL
REALTOR® , AHWD® , SRES® ,e-PRO®

I agree with the Google comment above.  If you do not check your SPAM you are not being the professional that you may think you are.  And. just because a message logs in your Sent Mail doesn't mean that it was delivered!!! Really!  Be sure to followup with a phone call (or telegram) whenever you send something real important, like a contract over email. Most of the Profession are not computer literate and they, unfortunately, believe that the one area they may have mastered, email, can't let them down.  Sorry, it can and DOES!

 

Beware and check that SPAM or let all your mail come through and filter it yourself.

 

Cheers from Thawing JIM in Florida!

Jan 20, 2010 10:55 AM