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Important Email Marketing Facts You Need to Know

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Second Self Virtual Assistance

Email marketing is probably the most misunderstood kind of marketing out there. There are other ways to market your business but I’m here to break the email marketing myths with a few facts.

 

MYTH: Email Marketing is Annoying

FACT: 74% of active online adults prefer to receive their marketing messages through email rather than direct mail. There’s a common misconception among online marketers that most leads find marketing emails annoying.

 

MYTH: Targeting Leads Isn’t Really Necessary

FACT: Segmenting your contacts increases email click‐through rates by 16%. This means that by targeting your leads through individual personalized profiles you will increase your chances of getting people to not only check your emails but also of getting them to click through your links.

 

MYTH: Yeah, Messaging is Important But…

FACT: A well‐crafted marketing email increases your conversion rates. 66% of online consumers have bought something based on an email marketing message. 71% of people aged 45 to 54 made their purchasing decisions based on email marketing messages.

 

MYTH: I Need a Large List to Be Effective

FACT: Large mailing lists can distort your results. This is because you’ll be sending emails to lots of people that are never going to buy something from you. By simply deleting email addresses that haven’t engaged with your emails in the past 12 months can improve your delivery rates, click‐through rates, and conversion rates by 3% to 5%.

 

MYTH: Subject Lines Aren’t That Important

FACT: Subject lines are more important than you would imagine. Short subject lines (around 9 characters long or less) open rates can reach up to 58%. Personalized subject lines such as those that used the recipient’s name, were 22% more likely to be opened. 64% of recipients will open an email based on the subject line alone.

 

MYTH: Social Media Is Better Than Email Marketing

FACT: Email marketing is way more effective at acquiring new customers for your business than social media efforts. An email marketing campaign is 40 times more effective at customer acquisition than a Facebook or Twitter campaign. 72% of people favor promotional content through email over social media.

 

MYTH: Email Marketing Takes Too Much Time

FACT: Automation is taking over in the email marketing industry. Most email management tools are being used by about 82% of business-to‐business and business‐to‐customer companies. This has helped them increase their conversion rates by as much as 50%. Automated email marketing messages average 70.5% higher open rates and 152% higher clickthrough rates.

 

So What Does All This Mean?

FACT: It means that if you’re not using customized, targeted, interesting email marketing, you are leaving money on the table. It’s a must for both customer acquisition and retention.

 

Other posts of interest:
Email Marketing Works! 
3 Email Marketing Trends for 2019 
3 Email Marketing FAQs & Answers 

Comments (47)

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

We were discussing this today in the office, saying how important an email newsletter is. I like the idea of culling your list, but as real estate is oneof those things I can think you only open when there is some interest you may cull someone who is not ready now, but who your want your name to be top oif mid with when they are ready.

Oct 10, 2019 11:38 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 - You make a very good point, Nick. Not everyone is ready to make a move now but it's important to be top of mind when they are. I have people contact me after getting my emails for 2 years. They haven't been removed from my list because I know they are reading my emails and have an interest.  Thank you for sharing your important insights.

Oct 10, 2019 11:42 AM
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Wow thanks the kick in the seat of the pants . I need to do more of this !

Oct 10, 2019 05:21 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Michael J. Perry - With everything else you have to do, it can seem like just "one more thing". Good luck with your email marketing efforts.

Oct 11, 2019 11:20 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

The messaging definitely has to be consistent and move in the direction of what you need to be and has to feel right, in my experience.

Oct 10, 2019 09:12 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Laura Cerrano - No one knows your market better than you do. You are right. Your messaging and purpose need to be "consistent and move in the direction you need to be". Thank you for your thoughtful comments.


 

Oct 11, 2019 11:22 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Going to go through this again. Good points - great read.

Oct 10, 2019 09:18 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Diana Dahlberg - Thank you. I'm so happy it reached you.

Oct 11, 2019 11:23 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Great post. I'm a believer in email marketing so long as it adds value and isn't just a stupid drip campaign that says little. People can always tell when they are simply being "dripped." Over the years I've converted many a lead who stayed on my email marketing list and never responded, until.... one day they needed an agent and I was the last man standing after many years in terms of staying in contact.

Oct 11, 2019 01:31 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Nina Hollander - I am so glad you brought up drip campaigns. The canned emails are just what you say they are.  Thank you for your insights.

Oct 11, 2019 11:25 AM
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

You make great points and challenge all of us to rethink what we are sure we know

Oct 11, 2019 05:03 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Lise Howe - Some of the "old school" ways are still the best.

Oct 11, 2019 11:26 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Before emails were tainted with misuse they got the attention they should get

Oct 11, 2019 07:59 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Richie Alan Naggar - We need to be sure we're not the "spam callers" of email.

Oct 11, 2019 11:27 AM
Stephen Turner
House Broker Realty - York, PA
The BIG Guy of NEW HOME SALES

impressive list of guidelines for email marketing. Thanks for sharing this info with us!

Oct 11, 2019 08:47 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Stephen Turner - Thank you for your comments. I hope you are able to use the list to your advantage.

Oct 11, 2019 11:28 AM
LeAnn Anest
Elite Realty Group - Morristown, TN
Real estate agent serving the Lakeway Area

Great tips. As a new agent it's great to have this information.

Oct 11, 2019 10:41 AM
Pamela Cendejas

LeAnn Anest - Congratulations on starting your new real estate career! The fact that you're on Active Rain is a great way to learn from other very talented agents.

Oct 11, 2019 11:29 AM
John Alesi
Century 21 Award - Mission Viejo, CA
(Orange County California Real Estate)

Time to up my email game. Great post. Thanks for the tips.

Oct 11, 2019 11:17 AM
Pamela Cendejas

John Alesi - Thank you! Have a wonderful weekend.

Oct 11, 2019 11:30 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Thanks for all the myth busters!

Subject lines are more important than you would imagine. Short subject lines (around 9 characters long or less) open rates can reach up to 58%. Personalized subject lines such as those that used the recipient’s name, were 22% more likely to be opened. 64% of recipients will open an email based on the subject line alone.

Oct 12, 2019 07:34 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Sham Reddy CRS - Important information to know, don't you think?

Oct 14, 2019 09:43 AM
John Henry, Florida Architect
John Henry Masterworks Design International, Inc. - Orlando, FL
Residential Architect, Luxury Custom Home Design

Thanks for bringing in some statistics on this.  I have been using Vertical Response for about 6 months and am afraid to report that in spite of trying to work the best ideas into the campaign, as you have noted, I am getting absolutely zero business from this.  But I also tried direct mail cards and had the same response. Zero.  A few local contacts mention my emails and I am more likely to be contacted I feel, but right now nothing seems to be 'working'.

Oct 12, 2019 02:06 PM
Pamela Cendejas

John Henry - Do you have your contact categorized so that your message is meaningful to each one?

Oct 14, 2019 09:44 AM
Kimo Jarrett
Cyber Properties - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

Great information but where would agents secure email lists in targeted markets? 

Oct 13, 2019 04:10 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Kimo Jarrett - The best place to start your list is with people you've already worked with. Create a list of buyers, sellers, locals, etc. and send targeted emails to them. If you're doing a mailing, you can get info from tax records and sometimes your title company.

Oct 14, 2019 09:46 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Thanks for some important information to keep in mind - I can definitely improve my email marketing. Bookmarked.

Jeff

Oct 14, 2019 12:04 PM
Pamela Cendejas

Jeff Dowler, CRS - Thank you for sharing your comments.

Oct 14, 2019 12:08 PM
Krystin Mitchell, CPA CFE
KLSM CPA Firm, PLLC - Houston, TX
Strategic Accounting & Tax Solutions

Hi Pamela – I will have to consider this regarding my email marketing. Thanks for sharing this information!

Oct 15, 2019 10:27 AM
Pamela Cendejas

Krystin Mitchell, CPA CFE - Good luck with your marketing!

Oct 15, 2019 11:03 AM
M.C. Dwyer
Melody Russell Team at eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Felton, CA
MC Dwyer-Santa Cruz Mountains Property Specialist

These are important concepts - thank you for sharing.    I'm tweaking one of my e-mails right now based on your post!     Bookmarked!

Oct 22, 2019 12:40 PM
Pamela Cendejas

M.C. Dwyer - Good luck with your email. I hope it brings a lot of success your way!

Oct 22, 2019 01:42 PM