In the past, phone calls were a real estate agent’s primary way of communication. But in the last few years, text marketing for realtors has become more popular than ever. It’s now clear that connecting with potential buyers and sellers through text messaging is the present and future of real estate marketing and lead conversion.
Potential buyers are doing their research before they connect with a realtor. And because millennials represent the majority of home buyers and sellers, they would rather text than make a phone call. For any realtor, SMS marketing provides a quick and easy way to connect with those potential buyers and sellers.
Real Estate Text Message Marketing
Only 17% of people, according to the 2019 NAR report on Home Buyer Trends, contacted a real estate agent as their first step in shopping for a home. Their first preference was to search online before contacting a realtor. Yet, 86% relied on a real estate agent as a reliable source of information during their search for a home.
Text keywords are a simple way for a buyer to reach out to a realtor and express interest in their services. And they should be part of every realtor sms marketing campaign. Compared with a phone call, texting a keyword is easier and more casual, and motivates buyers to reach out earlier than usual during their search.
People don’t mind being put on a list, but they don’t want to be bothered with salesy phone calls. In one survey, almost 90% of the millennials admitted to ignoring phone calls. Most believe that phone calls are time-consuming, and they don’t want to deal with spam or sales calls.
They will answer a text within the first two minutes of receiving it. Texting is how most people, regardless of their age, prefer to communicate with people they don’t personally know.
Realtors Rely on Fast Communication
Many regions throughout the United States are growing, which gives home sellers a broader market to sell to. This shortens the time-on-the-market for attractive homes. Potential buyers that miss great opportunities end up having a negative experience. Ultimately, the blame gets placed on the realtor’s shoulders.
Text messaging allows buyers to quickly engage with their realtor in a seller’s market. For example, an agent can text their client about a home that fits their needs and was just put on the market. Speed is the key factor here. Being the first people to view it increases the potential for a sale.
This is the first step in qualifying good leads and converting them quickly. Plus, they prefer to receive a text from their agent that contains property details and other vital information. Texting is a way of communicating that provides a level of comfort and ease that potential sellers and buyers want.
Automate Replies & Follow Up
Realtors and their clients lead busy lives, so it’s essential to stay front of mind. But many of these efforts are extremely time-sensitive. Any delay in responding to requests or confirming appointments may become lost opportunities. Setting up an automated system can reduce those missed opportunities and provide a better experience for their clients.
Text messaging helps remove communication barriers between buyers and realtors. Keywords make it easy to get the conversation started and as a result, create new and exciting opportunities for realtors. The beauty of real estate sms marketing is that it can convert more leads into appointments and personal interactions with potential clients. Realtors still rely on relationships and text messaging is a great way to build them.