The real estate industry is ever-changing and highly competitive. Real estate agents must use SMS marketing to stay ahead of the curve and reach potential customers. Real estate text message marketing has been proven to be one of the most valuable and low-cost ways to reach your target audience. By sending short texts with the right message and tone, you build trust and authority, which are essential for any lasting relationship.
The real estate industry is unique because buyers are often already interested in properties before they even start looking. Consequently, agents must be present when potential leads are ready to buy. SMS can be beneficial for real estate agents when scheduling appointments, promoting services, sending invitations, and supplying clients with the required information. Nonetheless, many real estate agents feel anxious about delving into text marketing.
The 9 effective SMS marketing tips for real estate agents are listed below
1. Include Setting Up Appointments & Reminders in Text Messages
2. Provide Relevant Listing information
3. Use Short Codes and Keep Text Message Short
4. Promote Open Houses With Pictures Using MMS
5. Send Invitations to Events for Possible Leads
6. Customize Your Text for Contacts
7. Use Effective SMS Templates and Be Clear
8. Use Keywords for Each Property.
9. Sending Follow-up Text Messages
1. Include Setting Up Appointments & Reminders in Text Messages
Similar to other industries, appointments can be made in person or by phone. However, text messages have recently become a more popular way to do so. You can easily set up an appointment or reminder by sending a text message. It is convenient for you and your potential clients who may be busy with work or other commitments.
You can use a service like Calendly to create a link to your calendar quickly. Send it off to clients to schedule phone calls, appointments, or presentations with you. With automatic reminders included in Calendly, clients won’t have to worry about forgetting their meeting time with you. They can confirm, cancel, or adjust their appointment as needed without hassle on either of your parts.
2. Provide Relevant Listing information
Your potential clients are interested in your listings, so send them information relevant to their needs, including the property’s price, photos, location, and other vital details.
Automated texts are a great way to keep your contact list updated on new properties that may interest them. With an SMS marketing platform, agents can send targeted property listings to segmented audiences and gather data about what buyers are interested in. It allows you to tailor your strategy specifically to your clients’ needs.
3. Use Short Codes and Keep Text Message Short
Shortcodes five- to six-digit phone numbers that realtors use, and people can text to get information about a property. You should add these codes to your print marketing materials, like open house signs, flyers, and listing magazines. That way, prospective leads can easily reach out and learn more about your properties.
Some advantages come with using a shortcode over other number display methods. Shortcodes are more concise and easier to remember, for one thing–this comes in handy during marketing campaigns. For example, you can ask potential customers to text you a keyword to opt in and gain new leads.
Using a short code coupled with a clear and concise message makes real estate marketing SMS appear more trustworthy when received by clients.
4. Promote Open Houses With Pictures Using MMS
An MMS is a multimedia message that includes text, images, and video. You can use MMS to give potential buyers a sneak peek of an open house or property listing before they even step inside. It benefits those interested in the property but unable to attend the open house.
You can not only send text with written content, but you can also include pictures to capture leads visually. Put together a text that looks like an open house flyer, complete with an alluring photo and details about the open house, like time, date, address, and listing price. To increase your open house attendance, use a text message marketing platform to attach an image to your text. It will help capture the attention of prospective buyers.
5. Send Invitations to Events for Possible Leads
Invite potential leads to events that interest them, like open houses, seminars, or other real estate-related gatherings. If you have an upcoming event that would benefit your contacts, send them a text invitation! It is a great way to connect with leads and further engage them in buying.
Planning a real estate event can be stressful, but there are text message invite systems that make it easy to keep track of all your guests. All you need are the contact number of your invitees and their permission to text them. Once you have these, you can easily send out invitations and track who is coming to your event. You can send them customized invitations and event reminders and record your RSVP list with minimal effort.
6. Customize Your Text for Contacts
With SMS marketing, you can send mass texts to your contact list without worrying about them sounding the same. You can customize each text message according to the recipient’s needs and preferences. This way, your contacts feel like you’re speaking to them directly– increasing the chances that they’ll respond positively to your offer.
Customizing messages is one of the best ways to achieve your marketing goals with SMS messaging. Adding a personal touch to your SMS marketing can significantly improve your chances of reaching and engaging potential customers. Prospects will respond positively to your marketing campaign if you make it feel like a personalized conversation.
7. Use Effective SMS Templates and Be Clear
You put so much time and effort into your real estate marketing– make it all worthwhile using SMS marketing templates! With text messages, you can send appointment reminders and other important contact information to individuals interested in availing of your services. If you have templates that have succeeded in the past, use them!
Prepare SMS templates for potential clients to invite them to your website or open house, or have a draft for communicating with your current clients. Your message should be engaging and courteous, containing all the relevant information the recipient needs. Be sure to proofread your template before sending it out, and test it on a small group of people first to gauge its effectiveness.
8. Use Keywords for Each Property.
If you want to promote multiple properties at once, use keywords! Keep your keywords brief, easy to remember, and different from those used by other businesses. By doing this, you’re giving your contacts a chance to opt-in for future text messages, meaning that you’ll be able to get in touch with them at a later date.
You can showcase a particular property using keywords such as SanAntonio1 as the keyword. When potential clients text the keyword, they will receive a message containing all the details about that specific property.
9. Sending Follow-up Text Messages
After meeting with a client or having them visit your open house, you must follow up with them. A quick text message is the best way to do this, as it shows that you are interested in their business and want to keep them updated.
Your follow-up message should be concise and to the point. Sending messages at regular intervals express your interest in working with your clients and keeps them engaged.
What is SMS Marketing?
SMS marketing is a process whereby businesses send promotional or transactional messages to customers via text messaging. By incorporating text marketing into your company’s growth strategy, you can increase the number and value of online transactions made in your store. Ultimately, this will result in improved financial performance for your business.
When asked, what is SMS marketing for realtors, SMS marketing is a perfect way to keep your real estate clients and potential buyers up-to-date with the latest offers, news, and reminders. There is no doubt on what SMS marketing should be one of the main strategies any agency implements.
What is the SMS Marketing Stats for Real Estate Agents?
SMS marketing is a powerful communication tool for real estate agents. Even with the growing use of new technology, most home buyers still prefer the personalized touch and convenience of text messaging at every point of the home-buying process. Here are a few SMS marketing stats from the National Association of Realtors, “Real Estate in a Digital Age 2017 Report,” showcasing the effectiveness of SMS marketing for real estate agents.
- The preferred mode of communication for REALTORS® is email (94 percent), followed by text messaging (90 percent) and instant messaging (34 percent).
- Most Millennials search online for homes, compared to only 89% of Older Boomers and 77% of the Silent Generation.
- A mere 63% of Gen X visited an open house in their home search, while 77% of Millennials did.
- During their home-buying process, Older Boomers used mobile devices at a rate that was half what Millennials use.
- Younger and Older Boomers used online video sites to look at homes more frequently compared to other age groups.
- Most Millennials and Generation X found their homes using a mobile device, while only 33% of Younger Boomers did the same.
- A higher percentage of Millennials found their agent using a mobile device (13%) compared to Older Boomers (10%) and the Silent Generation (7%).
- Buyers are increasingly using mobile devices to find homes and agents. 58% of buyers found their home on a mobile device, and 14% found their agent through a mobile search.
What is the Importance of SMS Marketing for Real Estate Agents?
SMS marketing has become an essential tool for real estate because of its advantages and effectiveness. Businesses that send SMS responses see a 295% higher response rate than those that make phone calls. According to a study, 62% of clients prefer that agents send information about properties through text messages.
These numbers show the potential reach that real estate agents can have when they use SMS marketing for their business. It is also beneficial when SMS is proven to have 98% open rates and 45% response rates.
SMS marketing is a perfect way to keep your real estate clients and potential buyers up-to-date with the latest offers, news, and reminders. There is no doubt that SMS marketing should be one of the main strategies any agency implements.
SMS, or short message service, is not just a way to communicate with others quickly but can also answer questions immediately and nurture current or past clients. You can even send them listings or free reports. They’re also incredibly convenient for scheduling showings and other meetings.
Furthermore, adding photos or videos to the text message creates more dynamic communication that leads faster in the sales cycle than emailing would.
For example, please send your email list a short text to create curiosity around what they will find in their inbox. For brand-new leads, texting shows them that you are always available for last-minute questions or ideas.
What is the Best Marketing Tool for Real Estate Agents?
The best marketing tools for real estate agents include a real estate CRM tool, SMS and email marketing platforms, and a good old-fashioned personal website. Although SMS marketing is unfamiliar to many agents, it can be an excellent asset for your business. As you research different providers, think about how the platform would fit into your existing marketing strategy and tools and what growth goals you hope to achieve. Here are some examples to consider for your real estate marketing.
- Real Estate CRM Tool – A real estate CRM tool will help you keep track of your clients, their contact information, and their property preferences. It is essential because it allows you to segment your client base and send targeted content relevant to their needs. Some examples of real estate CRM tools are LionDesk and DocuSign.
- SMS and email marketing platform – SMS marketing tools allow you to send text messages and emails to your clients and leads. These platforms are typically pay-as-you-go, so you only pay for the messages you send. Some examples of SMS marketing platforms are JookSMS and Klaviyo.
- Personal website – A personal website is a great way to showcase your listings and brand. It is also an excellent way to capture leads who are interested in your properties. You can use a platform like WordPress or Wix to create a professional website.
- Lead Generation Tool – A lead generation tool will help you capture leads from your website or blog. These tools can segment your leads and send them targeted content. Some examples of lead generation tools are HubSpot and OptinMonster.
- Marketing Automation Tool – A marketing automation tool will help you automate your marketing tasks, such as email marketing, social media, and SMS marketing. It will save you time to focus on other aspects of your business. Some examples of marketing automation tools are MailChimp and Autopilot.
Do Real Estate Agents Need to Remain Compliant with the SMS Marketing Regulations?
Yes. Realtors and real estate firms must understand SMS legal compliances and adhere to such rules in implementing their SMS marketing campaigns. These laws are designed to protect consumers from unsolicited commercial messages, texting spam, and other unwanted communications.
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), for example, requires real estate agents to obtain prior express written consent before sending any SMS marketing messages to consumers, especially if those texts will be sent using an automated system. This law also applies to phone calls, so real estate agents should be familiar with the do-not-call registry and honor any request from a consumer to opt-out of receiving future communications.
In addition, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) CAN-SPAM Act establishes specific requirements for commercial emails, including those sent by real estate agents. The law prohibits false or misleading header information, subject lines that deceive recipients about the message’s content, and deceptive opt-out mechanisms.
Educating yourself about these laws will help you stay compliant with your SMS marketing strategies.