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How to Engage Leads Through Texting

By Janelle D. 3 min read | Lead Nurturing, Scripts

Do you call and email your leads and await a response that never comes? There’s a better way to connect with your leads! Text your real estate leads using the script examples provided below and watch your engagement grow.

Speedy delivery of information and quick follow-up is ingrained in today’s culture, making texting indispensable to communicating with real estate leads. With a 98% open rate (Foster & Sullivan), texting gives you the most incredible opportunity to make a connection with your leads. 

Don’t keep your leads waiting! Text them!

 

pexels-monstera-5997313As a real estate agent, you most likely follow up with your leads through phone calls and emails. What kind of engagement are you getting? Are nearly 100% of your emails opened? Are most of your phone messages returned? Most real estate agents would agree that they are not getting a reasonable rate of return from their emails or voicemails. That’s where texting shines. 9 out of 10 people open their text messages! 

“9 in 10 people open their text messages.”

- Mobile Monkey

When it comes to business texts, 48.7 million people chose to receive them in 2020, per Text Local. If you’ve got a lead’s phone number, you should be texting them home buying and selling information until they opt out.

 

“95 percent of texts from businesses are read within three minutes of being sent.”  - SalesGravy

 

Asking if the lead wants to receive communication via text, demonstrates a willingness to give them the form of communication they prefer and reflects your desire to deliver information efficiently. Don't text the lead if they prefer other forms of communication.

  • Ask if you can communicate via text
  • Provide something of value
  • Give them what they’re asking for
  • End with a question

Start your texting relationship by providing something of value vs. outlining your qualifications to improve the likelihood of your lead opening future texts. End the text with a question to encourage continued conversation. Give them what they are asking for and remember to keep the text short and deliver it quickly. Empathize if they are struggling to find a house in their price range or favorite neighborhood, for example.  

 

“I’m preparing the list of fixer-uppers you requested and will send you a link soon! [Name, Agency]…. Do you want to see a list of homes in the ___ neighborhood?”

 
Email

 

If you tend to use email to deliver information to your real estate leads, realize that many people don’t use email anymore (enter the younger generation). Even if they do, your email might get lost in a crowded inbox. In addition, nearly half of 30-49-year-olds use a smartphone to go online and 58% of 18-29-year-olds do the same (Pew Research). If you deliver something to your lead via email, consider sending a text to let them know and ensure the email gets read.  

 

“Thank you for requesting a list of HUD properties! I’ll email it soon. You might enjoy these listings too, [link]. Please send me a quick text with any questions.”

 

Get more emotional engagement by sending a short video or voice message via text. A video message provides an opportunity to say more than you could in a written text, it’s personal and creates more of an emotional connection. This message doesn’t have to be refined (ex. created in a studio); it just needs to get the point across. Record the video in good light and smile the whole way through. Record a voice message in a quiet part of the house or outdoors.

 

“Hi! This is [name] with [agency] getting back to you about the list of fixer-uppers you requested. I’m so excited to see which homes interest you the most! I’ll get a list out to you shortly. Please send me a quick text with any questions! Thanks!”

 

45% of potential clients would choose a product or brand after receiving a text message (keep getting your brand out there, it’s working!). - Slick Text

 

Prepare texts, and automate them if possible for specific groups: first-time home buyers, sellers, investors, and those looking for particular types of homes (ex. fixer-uppers). Automating texts will make your life a lot easier and you’ll quickly satisfy the lead's needs. Take a look at the capabilities of your CRM to see if you can use it to send text messages automatically.

 
Support System

 

A lead might not be ready to buy or sell right away, but they’ll always have questions. Encourage them to text you whenever they have questions. Not only will this provide an opportunity to stay in touch, but your brand will be top-of-mind.

Note: As you start your relationship, be upfront about your availability when it comes to texting. “I return texts between 8am and 8pm.”

 

When to Make the Call

 

Although texting is more comfortable than a phone call for many, there comes a point where having an actual phone conversation is necessary. Ask via text if it’s ok to call the lead when you have a lot to share or need to explain something in detail.

 

“I have so much new information to share with you! How about I give you a call in 5 minutes?”

 

Use text to ask leads to opt-in to receive the latest listing, auctions, home selling/buying tips, etc., and to create more lifetime value.

 

78% of consumers say that checking, sending, and answering text messages is the activity they do most on their smartphones throughout the day.  SimpleTexting

 

Closing

 

Texting isn’t just a great way to nurture your real estate leads, it’s a great way to follow up after a closing. A week or two after closing, text the home buyer or seller to ask for a review. Thank them for the review via text and offer a coupon for free ice cream or an Amazon discount code.

Today is a good day to reach out to your real estate leads via text! Utilize text to strengthen lead engagement and convert leads into clients.

 


Get more tips on real estate lead nurturing in our comprehensive guide:

Reazo Lead Nurturing Guide

 

Janelle D.

I've worked in the real estate sector for more than a decade and enjoy sharing my knowledge on the subject and researching the latest trends. In my free time I like to craft, spend time with my family and dog, participate in outdoor activities like hiking, and I'm passionate about photography.

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