Friday Freebie: 67 Text Message Templates that Get Replies
Emails can be missed, phone calls can be screened, but text messages? With a 90% open rate, they have one of the highest engagement levels of any type of communication. But just because a real estate lead is likely to read your text doesn't mean they'll respond to it. How can you up your chances for starting a conversation with real estate leads over text? This week's Friday Freebie to the rescue! Today, we're highlighting a collection of 67 text message templates that are designed to reach leads and initiate a response. Read on to find out more. Free copy of 67 Text Message Templates that Get Replies from Real Estate Leads, courtesy of Zurple Here's the good news: Most text messages are read by recipients within 90 seconds. The bad? Not everyone is willing to respond to text messages from people they don't know—and real estate leads don't know you…yet. Zurple's text messaging guide aims to help you change that. The guide offers insight into why leads respond to texts, and provides text templates for various scenarios and lead sources, including cold leads, follow-up on free home valuations, referrals and more. Here's a brief glimpse at what's included: Text messaging tips that increase replies Text message templates for general leads Text message templates for homebuyer leads Text message templates for home seller leads And more! Ready to start engaging more leads? Download 67 Text Message Templates that Get Replies from Real Estate Leads now!

Clever Ways to Use Text Message Marketing for Real Estate
As a real estate professional, many things you do are time-sensitive. It's possible that you can lose out on a deal simply because you were waiting for a buyer to listen to the voicemail or check their email and they acted too slow. Text messaging allows agents to provide updates to buyers and sellers that are quicker and more immediate than email. Communication in real estate is critical. Text messaging or SMS (short message service) gives agents, Realtors, and brokers a valuable channel where prospective buyers can easily contact them, allowing them to increase sales. If you didn't already know, text message marketing in real estate is a powerful tool when used right. Let's consider the following statistics: 93% of real estate professionals prefer to communicate with their clients through text messages Text messaging as a whole has an open rate of 98% 90% of text messages are opened within three minutes compared with 20% of people who open an email Text messages have a response rate of 45% compared to email's 6% 68% of buyers would rather receive property info via text messages And even more telling, people respond to a text message within 90 seconds—by contrast, they respond to emails within 90 minutes. There are many benefits to leveraging text message marketing in real estate. Text messages can be a great way to send important reminders to your current clients. In Amarki, you can schedule and deploy automated text messages to remind clients of any important dates. One example is to set up an open house reminder text message that will send two days prior to the open house and then the morning of. It's cost-effective and generally less expensive than other forms of marketing, such as direct mail. Text messages create a far more personal touch to your marketing efforts. It's easy for clients to miss your emails in the sea of other messages they receive in their inbox. As people don't typically get as many text messages, they will at least see your SMS message. You can even launch mass text message marketing campaigns, but before you do this, you should ask your contacts how they would like to hear from you. While millennials may prefer texts, older generations might prefer email or even a phone call. Automated text messages can also be a great way to stay in touch after your clients have closed on their home. Here are just a few examples of text message templates you can consider setting up: Two weeks after close check-in: How is everything going? Are you getting settled? One year anniversary after close: Can you believe it's been a year since you bought your home? Congrats! On the client's birthday: Happy Birthday, [name]! You may not realize it, but sometimes even the smallest touch can have a big impact. Incorporate text messages as one more touch in your marketing strategy. Using the right tool or platform is a big investment in your bulk text message marketing strategy. It will empower you to reach potential buyers effortlessly and save you time and money. Here is how you can benefit from a perfectly chosen text message tool: Initiate a personalized, one-on-one text conversation with clients or prospects Increase attendance and engagement by scheduling important reminders Entice new clients with special keywords and calls-to-action So, do not limit your clients to just calling or emailing. Make your new home listings, price drop alerts, and links to real estate video tours available for them by choosing the right tool or platform, like Amarki. About Amarki: Amarki was built by real estate experts for Brokerages and Agents based on years of industry experience and firsthand feedback. We developed a marketing tool accessible to anyone, no matter the experience or marketing budget. By providing an intuitive tool that works "for" the agent, Amarki is able to remove the complexity of marketing tasks making agents more active. Check us out by clicking here.

Put the Power of Text Message Marketing to Work for You
As you read this story, four out of five Americans own a smartphone. Include in that number those folks who use phones that aren't app-friendly, and you get 96%. It's a sure bet nearly everyone who needs your real estate services also uses a mobile phone daily. And although not all phones can play Angry Birds, virtually all are designed to receive text messages. Formally called SMS text––the acronym stands for Short Message Service—text messaging has exploded in popularity over the last decade. And texting isn't just for teens any longer. During 2017, experts estimated that about 26 billion text messages were sent each day in the United States. That adds up to over 780 billion texts monthly and more than 9.3 trillion every year. People of all ages use text messages. Because they will often text with friends and loved ones instead of calling, texters are likely to check their messages within minutes of a new notification. Sure, there are some caveats. Most people aren't checking texts in the middle of a meeting at work––we hope. All in all, though, mobile research firm MobileSquared says 90% of people read a new text within three minutes of getting it. Three minutes! Not surprisingly, this means text messages rock for real estate professionals. In a report published by the National Association of REALTORS®, 94% of REALTORS® said the method they preferred to communicate with clients was text messaging. In 2020, there are huge horizons for growth. And there are plenty of good reasons why you should take advantage of text messaging for your real estate business. Stop Calling, Start Texting If someone reaches out to you on your website, calling them right away makes good business sense. Calling a prospect back within five minutes is estimated to increase your chances of a successful contact by a factor of 100. After all, they are expecting it. And the faster you are, the more impressive it is! But what about all those times when a prospect or lead isn't interested in a call? An unwanted phone call is about as interruptive as it gets. It's exactly what people think of when they think of pushy, unwanted sales behavior. On the other hand, people willingly look to text messaging when they want to communicate––but don't want to stop their whole day to do it. With that in mind, text messaging is a phenomenal way to stay in touch. From the sales associate's perspective, texting makes plenty of sense. Texting is extremely cost-effective. Compared to virtually any other marketing technique you can name, you'll pay fractions of pennies for your text messages. You can customize texts and even automate the process based on each prospect's interests and past behavior. That means texting gives you a superpower all associates should have: Personalization. From email to social media and everything else in between, effective digital marketing thrives on personalization. Every communication should be relevant, friendly, and helpful. Text messaging makes it easy: Your messages arrive when your prospect is most likely to see them and contain only information useful to that person––without having to do it all by hand. But there is one caveat before you begin. Understanding the Ins and Outs of Opting Out Are you using your real estate website to turn prospects into leads? You should be! The odds are good you're already collecting some information about your prospects as they use your site. You may even already have an email subscriber list. Just as you can't send emails to people without their consent, you also need to be sure they affirmatively opt into texts. Rules about this are much more strict in Europe, but the U.S. is catching up. America's most comprehensive data privacy rules recently went live in California, and other states are following. So, whenever you collect phone numbers, be sure you set expectations upfront. Forms should never come with an "accept text messages" box pre-ticked, and your text should let subscribers know how often they can expect to hear from you before they commit. Likewise, anyone on your list should be able to withdraw consent at any time by texting back. Sending unwanted texts after an unsubscribe request could expose you to fines. Luckily, many of these issues are automated for you with the right software. How to Use Text Messages to Convert More Leads Texting has a tremendous amount of potential. But how do you tap into it? Luckily, there are a few powerful formulas for effective real estate text messages: Text Important Property Listings and Updates - In 2017, the National Association of REALTORS® found that 62% of all buyers prefer having property info sent to them via text message. You can start this process even before you speak to a prospect, based on the listings they've spent the most time on while browsing your website. Once the relationship develops, a text is a great way to send leads info about a weekly spotlight property. Start New Conversations With a Question - It's important to talk with prospects, not at them. Text messages should provide an opening for conversation––and a question is very difficult to ignore. Keep it short, simple, and personalized: "What's the #1 thing you're looking for in a home, Bob?" will get Bob thinking about his ideal next home and give you details to start narrowing down his interests. Follow Up From Live Events Like Open Houses - Open house attendees are active leads, but they can still take months to make a decision. Follow up with your event attendees by text – right away and again if you don't hear from them in three to five days. The property they saw might not have inspired them, but the text can keep the fires burning. If they're still interested, roll out those property listings! Rekindle Cold Leads with Follow-Up Texts - Since it only takes a few seconds to read and respond to a text, most people don't mind getting them even if they've fallen off the radar. Again, a question works well: "Hi, Joan. Are you still interested in a home here in Walnut Creek?" In most cases, the worst thing that can happen is nothing at all. But now and then, you could open the way to another great sale. A Quick Text Can Move Mountains In a service-oriented field like real estate, the key to marketing is to be where the customers are. It only takes a quick look around at a store or restaurant to see most of them are on their phones! Phones are now an intimate part of our lives, shaping our daily experiences. And even the most important professional relationships, like yours with your clients, can start and develop there. Sure, you won't do all your marketing by text message. But it is a powerful way to expand your presence and augment the other marketing you do on your website and in person. In real estate marketing, the right emoji at the right time can be worth a thousand words! Not getting your copy of Delta Media Group's magazine, Real Estate Marketing & Technology? Sign up today. Your subscription is FREE. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

Close More Real Estate Deals with Text Messages
It's no secret as real estate professionals you've had to adapt to our changing times to keep your businesses going strong. From mastering the art of virtual open houses to guiding your clients through the uncertainty of real estate during the coronavirus, you adopted new methods to close more deals. At one time or another, you've also inevitably faced the challenge of dealing with people who don't answer your calls and emails. Often this isn't because they're trying to avoid you, but they're too busy or don't want to feel put "on the spot." So what's the answer? Start text messaging! Texting is one of the most effective ways to cut through the noise and ensure that your message reaches your prospect. There are many different ways that you can use text messaging to close more deals. Here are a few ideas to help you get started. Use Keyword Ads Even if a prospect has your business card with all of your contact information, there's a good chance that they'll forget or just put off reaching out to you. You can get around this barrier by creating ads that prompt leads to text a single keyword to a designated phone number. This makes it easy for people to make the first move while also opting in to receive your messages. Even better, using unique keywords gives you the ability to segment your leads by interest, so you're only sending relevant information. Text Closing and Listing Updates You take pride in helping your clients through every step of the process. However, it's challenging to stay on top of things when they don't see your messages. Nowadays, people get so many emails that it's easy for even important messages to get lost in the shuffle. However, it's much less common to miss a text message. Using text messaging to send important information about new listings or requests for the client to complete paperwork will make you a more effective real estate agent. Not only will this help you close more deals, but when clients see how proactive you are, they'll be happy to send you referrals. Send Scheduled Reminders It's no fun when a prospect forgets to show up for a scheduled appointment or showing. Sending scheduled reminders decreases the chances that this will happen and makes it easier for them to text you back if something has come up, and they're not going to make it. This will save you time and frustration and streamline your closing process. Ask for Reviews Studies show that 91% of people read reviews, and 84% trust the reviews they read online as much as a personal recommendation. One of the best ways to make sure you're a top-rated agent is to ask for reviews shortly after the closing. Increase the chances that your clients will follow through by texting them a link to submit a review. You can send the same message to multiple clients at once, simplifying the process for you and them. It's a win-win! Ready to Get Started with Text Message Marketing in DeltaNET 6? We Can Show You How! If you're ready to get started with text message marketing, contact us. We'll help you set up your system and create a perfect marketing plan for your individual needs. You'll be surprised by how quickly this simple move will improve your closing rates and contribute to your bottom-line. To view the original article, visit the Delta Media Group blog.

Warm Up Cold Real Estate Leads with SMS Texting
The real estate industry is changing, and so are the needs of clients. These days, people want speed and convenience. Providing rapid, responsive service is crucial for top-notch customer service. One of the best tools for growing rapport is something you probably use daily but might not have applied to your business just yet. It's SMS texting.

RU Getting the Most Out of Txting?
Texting has quickly become the favored mode of communication between friends and family, outpacing voice calls and emails. But how do consumers feel about businesses using text to communicate with them? Turns out, they are receptive to it. A nationwide survey found that individuals actually read 82 percent of text messages sent from businesses within five minutes of receiving them.

Text Templates for Getting Homebuyers Interested
How often do you find yourself stuck with a "poor quality lead"? While some dead ends are inevitable, most "bad" leads are simply good leads that weren't contacted soon enough. Speed to lead is critical for turning leads into closings. And texting is one of your best tools for contacting those leads quicker and with higher response rates. In fact, by using text engagement instead of email, our clients saw a 450 percent increase in lead responses.

Friday Freebie: Text Messaging Stickers for Real Estate
From smiley faces to common objects to various fruits and vegetables, emojis today cover just about every situation imaginable. That is, however, except for one--real estate. That's all changed, though, thanks to an Arizona-based brokerage that has released a collection of real estate emojis that integrate right into your smartphone's keyboard. Now real estate agents can use emojis that range from various houses to sales related icons like "Offer Accepted," "Price Drop," and more in their communications with clients. Read on to find out how you can nab this real estate emoji collection for yourself!

Real Estate Email Marketing: How to Run Email and Text Drip Campaigns
The secrets of real estate email marketing may seem cryptic and confusing at first. Why are some agents so successful with their email newsletter campaigns when others struggle to get a single open? Is it the time of day? Is it the quality of their email lists? Is it as complex as the right subject lines or is as audacious as learning graphic design and typography? Email marketing is a powerful marketing tool when in the hands of the right marketer. In the hand of the wrong person, it can yield undesirable results. In fact, real estate is the no. 1 offender for email spam and list abuse according to a 2017 study by MailChimp! If you are seeing unexpected results from your real estate email marketing campaigns, or if you want a quick refresher to improve click-thru rates and see better engagement, this is the guide for you.