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Do you use Constant Contact?

By Leanne Zumbrunnen

Home Stager with Z Touch Design Services

August 31, 2010 04:55 PM

woman at computer

I have been using Constant Contact for my on-line newsletters for about 6 months. I was using Vflyer but they didn't seem to offer as much when it came to tracking my results and housing my e-mail addresses. I send out e-mails about once a month. It will have one of my most recent staging jobs (before & after) as well as a few tips or hints. I e-mail to a large list of Real Estat Agents as well as other contacts and friends. The subject line is always "Another Home Staging in... Olathe (city changes)".

Constant Contact tells me what % has bounced back, what % was opened, what % clicked through to other links (and which e-mail did it!). It has an opt-out feature (an absolute must) and it tells what % opted out (and which e-mail did).

Sometimes I get a lot of responses and sometimes I don't. Constant Contact also gives me the option to create an on-line survey which I think would be interesting. I am curious to see if these e-mails have "changed peoples opinions regarding staging", "would they now consider calling a stager if they hadn't before?", etc. What kinds of questions would you ask? If I do the survey I will definately post the results here with my collegues.

Do any of you use Constant Contact? VFlyer? Do you do online newsletters? Who do you use?

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Cathy Lee

CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I do not because too many Realtors tell me they do not read emails as they get hundreds in a day. I do have several agents tell me when they meet me, please stop sending me your newsletter and I tell them I do not send one.

Aug 31, 2010 05:01 PM

Mike Mayer

Mike Mayer, Broker/Owner - i List For Less Realty, LLC - Lafayette, LA

I have not used either. I am in the process of incorporating a change to my web site for information, news, and such.

Aug 31, 2010 05:07 PM

Kristyn Grewell

CENTURY 21 Goodyear Green Edmond, OK - Edmond, OK

Edmond, OK Homes, Oklahoma Relocation Services

C21 offers an e-newsletter that I use. However, I don't get the statistical information. How much does constant contact cost per month if you don't mind my asking?

Aug 31, 2010 05:11 PM

Eileen Liles

970-216-0530 http://WeSellDeltaCounty.com - Cedaredge, CO

Macht-Liles Real Estate Group - Cedaredge, CO

Wow, Leanne, how tacky for a Realtor to tell you "stop sending me your newsletter"! They don't have sense enough to just "unsubscribe"? I have been considering using Constant Contact for a monthly newsletter to friends and past clients. Just a short market update and something useful. I get many emails in a day and I would certainly look at a home staging one, because I love to see before and after pics. That would surely be something I would forward to clients - many need to SEE before and after and maybe they would be more agreeable to changing their own home.

Aug 31, 2010 05:28 PM

Kathy Burke

Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA

S.F. East Bay Home Staging

I do use Constant Contact....sparingly...once a month. I also find that many realtors do not open this type of mail....BUT some do and it does keep your name out there and top of mind.

Aug 31, 2010 05:36 PM

Wade Kawahara

Dominion Real Estate Partners, LLC - Phoenix, AZ

I have heard of constant contact but haven't used it. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip.

Aug 31, 2010 05:49 PM

Gayla Worrell

Windermere Real Estate/Everett, Inc. - Everett, WA

Real Estate Webworks

I use Get Response to manage subscriptions and mailings for a few different mailing lists. I send weekly updates for most of my lists but don't do a monthly newsletter to everyone. Decided today that I really need to start doing that and I can't imagine doing it without some type of service to manage the mailings.

Aug 31, 2010 08:46 PM

Leanne Zumbrunnen

Z Touch Design Services - Lenexa, KS

Cathy - I agree that the majority don't read the e-mail but it has brought me some jobs

Kristyn - My version of Constant Contact is $38 per month. I think that is good for up to 5,000 emails, limited number of photos

Eileen - I concur, hitting the 'unsubscribe' button is the online way of saying "removing me from your mailing listing" politely. I'm with you - I love before & afters. I think a lot of women do and hopefully that get's them to open it.

Kathy - That's why I do it - "it keeps me in front of them" and I believe it is a cumulative effort.

Sep 01, 2010 12:54 AM

Margaret Oscilia

Creative Concepts-Home Staging and Contracting, Salem Oregon - Salem, OR

Home Stager, Salem Oregon

I use icontact which is similar to constant contact. I use it sparingly and keep it brief. Our open rate is pretty good, and it does keep your name in front of your potential client, which is a great thing.

Sep 01, 2010 01:03 AM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

I've heard that newsletters can be worth their weight in gold. However, I know how I handle the newsletters I receive (which is that I don't read them) so... have opted not to send. With all that said, I'm always glad to hear that it works successfully for others.

Kathy

Sep 01, 2010 01:06 AM

Julia Maher

Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT

Connecticut Home Stager

I use CC for my monthly newsletter, which is sent to people I have contacted first, then added to the mail list. New contacts and a small subset of priors will open the newsletter on a regular basis. I usually get one or two calls from it. Not all my topics have to do w/ Staging - some are about things like paint or updating light fixtures. Don't want to beat them over the head. HOWEVER, perhaps I will just do B&As for a while - people do like to look at those! Julie

Sep 01, 2010 01:36 AM

Sandi Gerrard

Toronto, ON

I've used Constant Contact for my monthly newsletters for over 3 years now and I really love its ease of use, and the ability to track my success with online marketing. I think it's great value for the cost.

Sep 01, 2010 02:48 AM

Claudia Andrade-Desbiens Los Angeles Modern Staging

Modern Mecca Home Staging, Luxury & Architectural Real Estate Staging, Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles, CA

Home Staging Los Angeles & Orange County

I used Constant Contact for over six months but I was not too happy with their services and fees. I have recently switched to Mail Chimp - same features as CC but much more fun, easier to use and better prices. I'm in love. With the newsletter, not the monkey : )

Sep 01, 2010 02:30 PM

Linda Sticklin

Home Staging & Organizing - Berwyn, PA

Like Claudia, I have recently switched from Constant Contact to Mail Chimp. I'm still figuring out how to use it.

Sep 02, 2010 07:57 AM

Claudia Andrade-Desbiens Los Angeles Modern Staging

Modern Mecca Home Staging, Luxury & Architectural Real Estate Staging, Los Angeles, CA - Los Angeles, CA

Home Staging Los Angeles & Orange County

Leanne and Linda,

Hi again!

Check out Mail Chimp support videos. They teach you how to use the newsletter step-by-step. Have fun!

Sep 02, 2010 09:53 AM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

I have had it for a while but not utilized it as much as I want to. I can see there are 2 sides here. I figure better they see you and delete you, than not see you at all. They can unsubscribe very easily themselves!

Sep 02, 2010 03:52 PM

Charles Stallions Real Estate Services

Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL

Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

All this becomes very interesting as I try to figure out which one to use thanks for sharing view

Mar 20, 2014 02:00 PM