How to Use Email for Lead Generation
30/11/07 12:20 Filed in: Generate
Leads |
Real
Estate
You may think that if you send out enough emails to
people who may be thinking of selling property, that
you will get some good leads. It sure beats cold
calling on the telephone, right? You may get the odd
lead by doing this, but don’t count on it. There is a
better way.
You need to have a website dedicated to your realtor business, even if you work for someone else. People who view real estate websites do so because they are interested in buying or selling, so the visitor is already a warm lead. But you need more than just a website; you need an email sign-up mechanism - on every page.
You also need to have a Web analytics program so you can see which pages are useful and which have a high abandon rate - and what to do about it. People come to your website to get specific information. They will happily part with their email address to get it. But the email form needs to be above the fold of your page, because a lot of people don’t bother scrolling. You want their email address so that you can implement a deeper relationship with them. If they recognize your name on the email that you then send them, they won’t be so likely to delete it as Spam.
Don’t ask for too much information for the sign-up. This will create a barrier and the person may leave without giving you the information you need. Keep all your sign-in forms the same, otherwise people may be confused and think it is something different. Keep any questions relevant to the topic of real estate.
Allow your prospective customers to dictate the terms of the relationship. If they can choose whether they want to be contacted by phone, email or just receive the newsletter, they’ll feel more in control. No one wants to be hassled with a phone call, unless they say so. An email suggesting they give you a suitable time for a phone call can be an effective way of disarming people who may initially be resistant
Use an automated email service to get your products or service out there. You need to have a clear call to action and your contact details. A sequence of five or so weekly emails will make prospective customers more familiar with your name and so more likely to contact you when and if they need your services.
You need to have a website dedicated to your realtor business, even if you work for someone else. People who view real estate websites do so because they are interested in buying or selling, so the visitor is already a warm lead. But you need more than just a website; you need an email sign-up mechanism - on every page.
You also need to have a Web analytics program so you can see which pages are useful and which have a high abandon rate - and what to do about it. People come to your website to get specific information. They will happily part with their email address to get it. But the email form needs to be above the fold of your page, because a lot of people don’t bother scrolling. You want their email address so that you can implement a deeper relationship with them. If they recognize your name on the email that you then send them, they won’t be so likely to delete it as Spam.
Don’t ask for too much information for the sign-up. This will create a barrier and the person may leave without giving you the information you need. Keep all your sign-in forms the same, otherwise people may be confused and think it is something different. Keep any questions relevant to the topic of real estate.
Allow your prospective customers to dictate the terms of the relationship. If they can choose whether they want to be contacted by phone, email or just receive the newsletter, they’ll feel more in control. No one wants to be hassled with a phone call, unless they say so. An email suggesting they give you a suitable time for a phone call can be an effective way of disarming people who may initially be resistant
Use an automated email service to get your products or service out there. You need to have a clear call to action and your contact details. A sequence of five or so weekly emails will make prospective customers more familiar with your name and so more likely to contact you when and if they need your services.