Text Blasts as Lead Generator
I want to incorporate text blasts into my lead generation. Any recommendations for a company to use and why would be extremely helpful.
I believe texting is a good way to reach people who are getting bombarded with calls all the time. The receiver can read and contemplate the initial reach in their own time and it's less disrupting.
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@Connor Stark take these responses with a grain of salt, of course no one on these forums wants to get text blasts, unless your target market is cynical real estate investors. But that doesn't mean they don't work. My guess is no one on here wants to get cold calls or direct mailers either, but yet they keep coming so they must work for someone. I don't have any insight into text companies, but hopefully someone on here who does can chime in.
I don't want to see TV commercials for ambulance chasing attorneys, but there they are every day, so they must be reaching their target audience. I'm just collateral damage. Leads aren't going to ring your doorbell, if that were the case there would be no need for marketing anyway.
@Connor Stark
Facebook ads to your CRM
Try that instead
@Connor Stark they immediately get blocked by me. Super annoying.
I'm wondering how many of you check the national DNC list every 31 days as required by law if you're telemarketing.
The FTC will gather complaints about an organization violating the do not call rules. The fine is up to $40,000 per number contacted, texts included, on the DNC list.
If I get a cold call about a property I own I'm filling out a complaint form with the FTC and there are many people out there that will as well. You should be checking any lists you get against the DNC list and making sure there's something the consumer did to consent, and that it's not expired. A prior business relationship allows you to contact for 18 months, an internet form only 3. Check the age of any list you receive.
I think you're much less likely to receive a complaint about a text because it's easy to ignore but the rules still apply and you're creating exposure for yourself.
I know I’m late to the conversation but I wanted to add my opinion on this since I have done the text thing for an entire year. This will also help with anyone that is looking towards this style marketing. The market that I am in is DC, MD, Virginia.
We pulled and skip traced the following lists( I’m on a team so these lists were not my idea):
MLS expired , withdrawn , cancelled
All lead programs that have ”vacant, absentee owner” (prop stream , privy, remine, list source etc you name it we used and pulled it ).
Post office vacant lists
I believe we text about 20-30k owners over the course of a year. The text messages do land, no they are not group messages they are in mass but come as an individual text.
I believe it does work depending on the market and message.
In competitive markets like DC sending messages that say I will buy your house cash or make an offer doesn’t work. We (the team I’m on) missed a lot of good opportunities in DC as each property ended up with a realtor and sold.(maybe we should have sent a nice message to list the property as we are realtors).
On the other end of the spectrum (Baltimore city) the texts are more responsive and the “we will buy your house cash” more so works in that area as it is lower end. People in lower income areas probably have more of a need for “cash for their home” than people in DC where the median home price is $800k
In conclusion if I could do this over again. I would market to the homeowners as an agent not a cash for your houses buying investor. One year of missed out on commissions vs 0 wholesale deals :/ wasted time and money. Texting does work, however the context and market is important.
I delete and block text messages from random numbers. I hate any spam. I wish I could turn off apple's notifications on my iphone.
I only hand write marketing letters, and only respond to hand written marketing letters (so none).
One other point to consider: Let's say that you are contacting truly potentially motivated sellers. By texting them, you get one shot and if they are not ready to sell at the moment, you've wasted that shot. I find that my direct mail campaigns bring me leads up to 2-3 years after the piece was sent.
Many sellers may fit the profile of motivated seller, but the decision to sell often takes weeks or months of coming to terms with the reality of the situation that is the source of the motivation to sell. And having my written letter or postcard in hand means the when they are ready to sell, my name and number are right in front of them while your text is long gone in the cloud.
I'm sure that given the sheer volume of texts that are possible, you will get some deals, but I think the success rate will be very low.
I don't think I've ever seen such negativity on this website. All I can say is WOW! If you have nothing good to say, then be quiet! If anyone is interested. REI REPLY $49 a month right now. It's a decent service, they even have someone contact you and literally train you on the software, and that person will send you a copy of the training. Like I said it's decent. Try it out. I even got a call from one of the owners, I forgot her name, but there's a man and a woman that are co-owners, she didn't know I knew she was the owner, but I recognized her voice from a you-tube Q&A. Anyway, I digress. Check them out.