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A drip is not a conversation

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Pareto Realty TN #251071

In April of this year . . .

I and 2 of my team members participated in the NINJASelling installation at Greater Nashville REALTORS. This was 4 VERY full, motivational days of intense learning. For years, I’ve been aware of the NINJA selling program, and I haven’t signed up because I’ve been practicing and coaching my own “way” of running a highly productive real estate career as a business while enjoying a high quality of life.

I’ve named my program “Life Rhythm“. It’s an amalgamation of bits and pieces I’ve gathered in my first 15 years of building and operating my own personal way of doing business. In 1994, I saw Stephen Covey speak and was blown away by his “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” . . . Then I participated in Joe Stumpf’s “By Referral Only” coaching program . . . added the principles and law of Open Space Technology and the universal wisdom of the FourFold Way . . . and the icing on the cake was all of the great education and coaching from Gary Keller and Keller Williams Realty.

For all of that time, I was aware of the NINJA Selling program and was aware that many (most) of the content in that program was also in my Life Rhythm program, so I didn’t spend the time and money to experience it . . . until April.

It was, indeed, a fabulous experience. I re-learned much of what I already knew and picked up some great new “tools”/Process enhancements in terms of scripts/dialogs and daily habits.

Since our “commencement” of the NINJA Selling program, all participants have received 2 email drips every week with tips and reminders designed to nudge us to stay on this course of implementing everything we learned. I have appreciated these email drips and have forwarded much of it to my team.

Occasionally, I receive a more “personal” email that acknowledges me for “staying engaged” because they can see that I opened every email and video they send me.

When I received the first of those, I was impressed because it came from Larry Kendall (The creator/founder of NinjaSelling). The email mentioned that Larry could not respond to all messages (He’s a busy guy). I sent an email thanking him for this gift of the NINJA Selling program . . . crickets . . . no response . . . ever.

Turns out, ALL of the communication has been one big drip campaign . . . a one way flow of information.

THIS is NOT “engagement”.

This is not a conversation!

Don’t do this to your clients!

They deserve better, authentic communication once in a while.

Don’t we all?

Published by Barry Owen

Strategist-CEO of Pareto Realty Real estate sales Professional Inviter-Facilitator-Practicer of Open Space Technology Opening safe space for people & organizations to self-organize around issues & opportunities BarryOwen.US Invite-Listen-Love

Posted by

Barry Owen

Founder
Principal Broker
Pareto Realty
Nashville, TN

615.502.2080
www.paretorealty.co  
Call me: 615-568-2123
email me: barryo@comcast.net

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Lottie Kendall
Compass - San Francisco, CA
Helping make your real estate dreams a reality

How disappointing to realize all communication was simply a "drip." Especially since the program itself was really great. 

Jul 25, 2019 07:04 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Barry, one of the things I like to do in an initial email to new website signups is drop in the phrase "real human here" and something current (e.g. maybe weather related) to let them know it's not some auto-blast coming their way.  Most don't respond (and I don't really expect they will), but some do and actually make a comment regarding the "real human" statement.  Bill

Jul 25, 2019 07:29 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

What a let down! It's sad for someone to think themselves too important to respond to a personal note.

I don't hear from many of my newsletter subscribers, but when someone does write, I write back and thank them for taking time to contact me.

Jul 25, 2019 08:04 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Barry...I hate drip/canned mail... and I can always tell when I'm being subjected to it. Why do realtors think their leads, prospects, and clients can't tell when they are being dripped?

Jul 25, 2019 09:22 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

In a world where folks are being inundated with robo-calls, and canned speeches, a good ole authentic phone call and conversation can be really refreshing. 

Jul 25, 2019 10:59 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Barry- I love your title and your post. Just the word "drip" has a negative connotation for me. When President Bush (41) was Ambassador to the UN my mother wrote him about a concern she had. Busy as he was he sent her a typed letter that was several pages (I'm sure it was from a form or something) but at the end of it he hand wrote a note apologizing for the delay in getting back to her.   Now that's the way it's done. 

Jul 25, 2019 06:51 PM
Barry Owen

Absolutely! So many VERY famous people write personal notes . . . like Peyton Manning http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap2000000321945/Peyton-s-letters

Jul 26, 2019 05:52 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                   

                                        Thank you, Barry.

Jul 27, 2019 06:56 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

We agree completely, drip campaigns, without the personal touch, are rife for the unsubscribe button, which we often do.  Thanks Barry, for the great reminder. 

Jul 28, 2019 07:18 AM
Barry Owen

Un-huh . . . "unsubscribe" - True that! Thank you!

Jul 28, 2019 10:54 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good morning Barry Owen - my take away from this is that engagement is great but don't automate it or it will have a worse effect than no engagement at all.

Jul 28, 2019 07:27 AM
Barry Owen

Grant! you hit that nail on the head. Thank you!

Jul 28, 2019 10:53 AM
Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Great post! I can see why Kathy chose to highlight it this week!

Jul 28, 2019 07:54 AM
Barry Owen

Thank you Kristin!

Jul 28, 2019 10:52 AM
Wayne Zuhl
Remax First Realty II - Cranford, NJ
The Last Name You'll Ever Need in Real Estate

The conventional wisdom has always been to put your name/face in front of them all the time to remind them of what you do. Engagement and conversation is MUCH more important. Great post.

Jul 28, 2019 08:03 AM
Barry Owen

Thank you . . . YES - "Important"

Jul 28, 2019 10:52 AM
Leanne Smith
Dirt Road Real Estate - Golden Valley, AZ
The Grit and Gratitude Agent

People confuse conversation with a dialogue.  Socrates with his Socratic dialogues actually developed a relationship.  Unfortunately for some in marketing, they believe a "drip" campaing creates a relationship which is necessary in sales.  A one way conversation only distracts and builds distrust. Thanks for sharing your experience Barry Owen 

Jul 28, 2019 09:04 AM
Barry Owen

"Builds Distrust" - My thoughts exactly. From A program that proselytizes SOI and realationship building  Disingenuine!

Jul 28, 2019 10:50 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Good info but the drip stuff is nerve-wracking.  Everything is set on automatic.  You deserve to be miffed.  Thanks for the post.  Zig Ziglar is another sales guy that has great stories.  One of his sayings went like this:
So, you watch TV for hours every day watching people having fun making a living while you do nothing for your future!!  

Jul 28, 2019 09:14 AM
Barry Owen

Thank you John! Yes . . . it does require action, eh?

Jul 28, 2019 10:46 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

A drip-campaign is definitely not a conversation! I think eventually we'll go back to personal conversations being a must and drip-campaigns being useless.

Jul 28, 2019 09:33 AM
Barry Owen

Thank you Kat! I'm OK if with drips if they are timely and relevant . . . But without ANY interpersonal communication, where's the love?

Jul 28, 2019 10:44 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Great point - the drips are good to start the conversation but then you have to have the conversation! 

Jul 30, 2019 05:07 AM
Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA
Independent architectural histor'n - Wilmington, DE
Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS

Automated selling is automatic boring junkmail.

Jul 30, 2019 08:24 PM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I think that's why I don't do the drip campaign emails...I have tried it but seems so impersonable...I would rather send a quick email or text when I see something that makes me think of that person...I do send handwritten personal birthday cards!

Aug 01, 2019 01:52 PM