Do you even know if they opened your email or clicked any links?  If not, go here first.

Now we have that out of the way, lets talk about how to increase that open rate.

I presented at the Agent Reboot conference in Seattle and had the opportunity to watch Darin Persinger from Productivity Junkies talk a bit about leads and how to respond to them.  He explained the process of how a consumer searches on Realtor.com and connects with the site.  That consumer then fills out a form and is then presented with an email from “Kelly Agent”, which might not ever get read.  Why you ask?  Watch the video below to find out and learn what to do to overcome this dilemma.

Succeed with 8 magic words:

1. Because (“Because we haven’t had a second showing, we’re going to have to reset the price”)

2. Now

3. Imagine

4. Thank you

5. Please

6. Use their name only twice (any more than that and they won’t trust you)

7. You are in charge or in control

8. With your permission

- Sandy Raines

Make a short video to introduce yourself. “Hi, I’m Trevor Ainsworth. I just wanted to let you know I’m a real person and I hope you are too.” – Trevor Ainsworth  

I had a great conversation with Trevor on Saturday about this technique.  It’s simple, builds rapport and generates great results.  Programs like Bomb Bomb allow for quick and easy recording right on your phone.

Guide the lead on a path and they will follow you. Make sure the agents ask open-ended questions. If you’re the person asking questions, you’re in control of the conversation. – Tiffany Lachnidt

If you can’t get through to someone on the phone, immediately send them a text. For example, “Just a quick question: would you like me to send you listings from area xxx?”- Trevor Ainsworth

If you don’t get a response to someone, text them “I’m really sorry, have I done something to upset you?” Your phone will ring really fast! – Tiffany Lachnidt

“Whether you’re looking to buy in 2 months or not for 2 years, I’m ok with that.” – Unknown, but this is a great line!!!!

Do role-playing every day so that agents are the masters of their scripts. – Tiffany Lachnidt

These hurdles can range from just finding accurate inventory data, to decimating the correct information to their buyers usually implementing a laborious process of cutting and pasting details.  Just attracting and capturing new home shoppers was a tedious process that most Realtors aren’t prepared for.

Lee Goldstein, COO of Builders Update, looks to change all of that with his new search tool!

Once added, clients can peruse your site and search for new homes in a similar fashion to searching for previously owned properties.  Map searches, list views, detailed property descriptions, photos and even buyer registration features are now accessible to your website visitors.

Check out the video below to watch the interview as well as view screen shots on how the Builders Update system works.

providing them with all the details they requested and a nice call to action to engage them.  Sometimes after you send that important follow up email, you mentally block that activity out of your mind and push it into the archives of your brain.  The problem is your leads can slip through the cracks without a gentle reminder, informing you if that person responded.

Yesware, a free(ish) email tool, just released a new update that will help you with all of your non-responders.  Draft an email, hit the reminder button and set a time.  It is that simple!  

Watch the video below to get a quick 1 minute overview on how it works!

Do you feel you offer a better marketing strategy than the next Realtor?  

You do?  Good!  

Now, can people easily see that on your site? Uh-oh, this is where most agents are getting tripped up.

While perusing a fantastic Google+ community page called Photography for Real Estate, I stumbled upon an excellent video pitting “other” Realtor’s images compared to what the Connie Barnes’ team is producing.  Rather than just telling you how genius I think this video is, please watch it.

After watching this and being floored, not only by the presentation of the video, but the content contained therein, I knew I had to interview Connie and her team.  It’s not just about the plethora of comparison videos she has, but also her marketing centric posts like this one on the iPhone and this one explaining their team’s marketing plan.  They are front and center, fully transparent, and showing the world why they are the best in their local area.    Check out her numbers below.

Also, after visiting her site www.conniebarnes.com, look at her website traffic and you will quickly see how having such compelling marketing can lead to $48 million in sales.

Remember, your website isn’t here there to draw people in from the web, it’s also there to provide reassurance to clients you have already met and continue to tell your story long after you left their house.

I wanted to dive deeper into Connie’s marketing plan, motivation behind her site structure, and how she started off on her path of marketing transparency.

After watching the interview,  if you have any questions for Connie or her team, please post them to their Google+ page!

I know this interview is quite long, but worth all 15 minutes. Enjoy!