Does it matter where you are?

Does your location matter when you send an email?

Again today I had a real estate copywriting inquiry from an agent and Googled her area code to see where she was.  I like to put that in my notes so that I won't inadvertently call too late in the day if they happen to be in the Eastern time zone.

I Googled it because while her email had a phone number, it didn't offer a location.

I got curious... 

Just out of curiosity I went back to 3 months of inquiries and checked to see if the agents had revealed their location. 71% did NOT. Some had their full name, their agency name, and a list with phone and fax numbers, but no city and state. Some had no signature block and only offered a first name or a first and last name.

These were the inquiries that did not go any farther. Many were "What do you charge for an agent bio?"  

Then I looked at emails from my current clients and found that 89% DO include their city and state in their email signature.

What a difference! But what does it mean?

Does that mean that letting everyone know your location leads to greater success – so you can afford to hire a writer? I have no idea, but I do know that I think including your location in your email signature is a good idea.

Think about these scenarios:

1. A person thinking of relocating to your general area gets captured by your web form and you write them back with an offer to provide more and better information. They were looking at 4 or 5 towns in your general area, but now have narrowed it down to 2. How do they know which town is "yours?"

2. A client asks for your advice on some topic and you write such a good answer that he or she forwards it on to a few friends. They forward it again – and this time it ends up with someone who is thinking of relocating your city. But since they aren't yet familiar with all the area codes, they have no idea that this smart agent is right there, willing to help them.

3. You come across a particularly moving poem, picture, or essay and you send it to a few clients. They forward it on and it ends up with a person or two who needs an agent in your city – but they have no idea that YOU should be that agent, because you've never revealed your location.

If you've got an email signature with all that other information, why not take a minute to add your city and state? It can't hurt and it might help.

And… if you have no email signature, it's time to create one. Even if you're only writing to current clients, having your phone number handy is a convenience for them.

Your goal in marketing yourself should always be to make it as easy as possible for clients and prospects to contact you, so take a few minutes and create a signature that attaches to every email you send. 

marte@copybymarte.com
www.copybymarte.com

Priest River, Idaho
208-448-1479

 

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