It is clear that text messaging is a powerful and effective
way to bolster workplace communication, and therefore
workplace function, across fields. Perhaps less obvious
is the potential marketing power texting holds for fields
like realty. Realty marketing can be costly, making
it ideal to cut marketing costs and increase return
on investment. Text messaging, when used right, can
do just that.
Automated texting is one way to save real estate agents
time and labor. By offering customers a means to text
in codes to automatically receive additional information
about a listing, such as important details or answers
to frequently asked questions, real estate agents could
save large amounts of time taking calls or answering
emails.
This function may also be performed using QR codes,
which are easy to generate, take up little space on
advertising, and are almost effortless for customers
to use. Real estate agents can provide QR codes on advertisements
that, when scanned, can trigger an automated text message
to the customer containing important information about
the listing.
Offering these features not only saves realtors valuable
time issuing redundant information, but it can offer
customers a more pleasant, efficient, and easy experience.
Text messaging is ever growing as the favored mode of
communication, particularly among younger generations.
Not only is it the most effective way to engage clients,
but clients may be happier for it.
By using texting as a mode of contact with customers,
realtors can also develop a collection of contact information
for their customers. They can use this information to
expand their marketing reach by sending mass texts regarding
new listings to customers who may find them interesting.
In this way, texting can be not only a tool used in
marketing, but the vehicle of marketing itself.
Of course, more conventional applications of texting
are also relevant, and important, to realty. As texting
rapidly grows in favor, realtors have to become more
comfortable with conducting business via SMS, to an
extent. Touching base on fairly simple, concise matters,
such as confirming appointments or asking basic questions,
might best be done with the convenience and speed of
SMS.
Text messaging can also be a valuable bridge between
realtor and seller, both of whom benefit from more convenient
and quick communication for simpler, more concise matters.
When working so closely with others, it can be overwhelming
and inconvenient to conduct all remote business via
phone call or email, especially as text messaging rises
in preference as a major mode of communication.
The advent of professional texting carries many benefits,
but must, of course, be approached in a measured way.
Though we keep growing more comfortable bringing more
and more of our lives to SMS, texting still has its
limits; some things are simply best reserved for the
human voice. Bad news or any conversations that may
involve sensitive information, for instance, should
be saved for phone calls or in-person meetings.
Texting is increasingly being used not only to bolster
communication, but marketing, and realty is no exception.
A more convenient future of real estate, for realtors,
sellers, and customers alike, lies ahead with the aid
of texting.
About the Author -
Sharon Housley is the VP of Marketing for NotePage,
Inc. a software company for communication software solutions.
http://www.notepage.net
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