Best SMS platforms-Launch Control, Lead Sherpa, Roor??

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Best SMS platforms-Launch Control, Lead Sherpa, Roor??

Ashley Hightower
Member since 2021 · 13 posts · 15 votes

Hey everyone,

So my husband and I have been doing SMS marketing for a few months now and we just recently tried Launch Control and I have a love/hate relationship with it. It’s a great concept, but poor execution in our experience. So does anyone have any other platforms they recommend? I’m hesitant to do Lead Sherpa because I don’t want to make a 3 month commitment and then find out they have all these same issues. 

Specifically our issues with Launch Control are we constantly have bugs. I have gotten on chat support like every day since we got it because something is not working right. It’s been different things each time. But they do not offer call whisper, so we have no clue who is calling us back when we get phone calls and it takes a while for us to look up who is calling. They also do not have any notifications, so we risk missing out on leads. And when we put a person on “DNC” the system will still automatically text their second and third numbers. So we have had people tell us “don’t ever contact me again” ans then 24 hours later we text their wife or kids the same message from the same number. Which just looks bad and there’s not a way to fix that. 

We also tried REI reply (using Twilio) and we liked it alright but we had our own issues with them that had no fixes as well because it's such a new system. We are looking into Roor. Any other systems that you have tried and liked or disliked?

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Curt Smith
Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y

Ive been a longer time user of reireply.com, they've in the last 2 mo updated to a new add on called creativereireply.com that provides leads for you based on a 50mi radius of a chosen zip. Can have multiple zips, each at extra per mo. The leads are FSBO and optionally expireds. The system is tuned for making creative offers. My focus is buying subject to for my own rentals. Most users are making lease option, rent to own and some subject to offers. I'm seeing a crazy ramp up in FSBO / expired leads now that interest rates have topped 7%trapping sellers. I see leads with vacant houses on FSBO sites. No way in heck will they sell. Just waiting for investors to buy at a discount or make creative offers.

This creative system is pricy, not sure what you'd get signing up now. I can't talk price, I don';t even know I just signed up, added a VA account, a 2nd zip and am working leads. For me its worth it since its business in a box. I dont have to lead gen (propstream), skip etc, up load to some SMS tool. I don;t have that much time to fool with tools!! So I appreciate its all wired up for me. SMS goes out on a canned DRIP system over next months. I just deal with the usual replies.

It was early luck I know, But got a nice sub to deal signed and will close next Wed so far. From the leads and SMSing sellers, I know there's alot more deals in the FSBO/expired area as stress, recession, job loss (hope not), and interest rates stay this high. Through next Spring will be tough for sellers so they will expire and really desparate will try FSBO. When you see leeds on FSBO, they are ready for offers.

Best to all, curt

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  • Jeff TumbarelloPro Member
    Real Estate Broker · Fort Myers, FL · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 323 votes
    2y

    Looks like LeadSherpa is offering SMS again

    0Reply
  • Norman Stacey
    Member since 2024 · 3 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    How about aninja? I'm shopping for a sms service and they talk a big game, anyone have any experience? Cheaper than launch with built in crm

    0Reply
  • Paul DoCampo
    Specialist · ID · Member since 2015 · 121 posts · 53 votes
    2y

    Are people still trying cold SMS for lead gen? Isn't risky now?

    0Reply
  • Gustavo Munoz Castro
    Specialist · Bothell, WA · Member since 2014 · 269 posts · 80 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Paul DoCampo:

    Are people still trying cold SMS for lead gen? Isn't risky now?


     It's always been risky, you're supposed to have explicit opt-in, but its the absolute best way to get someone to actually read something you send them. I'm wondering if with the new A2P DLC regulations people are seeing opt-outs skyrocket?

    0Reply
  • Curt Smith
    Rental Property Investor · Clarkston, GA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    I've been using an SMS platform for 4 yrs now (+/- a few mo), got a sub to deal early on nothing since.  I've done post cards etc.  I'll give some unfortunate facts!!

    - "Its the list stupid" ..   SMS is just a cheaper way to waste money on bad lists that dont target true motiviation of "have to sell" vs "like to sell".   The past years as the ave selling price grinds higher and higher has been one of sellers are spoiled silly and aren't open to negotiation.  They don;;t have to they learned.

    - So few pre foreclosures / BK's.   The tried and true source of "have to sell".   AND its some what difficult to buy a list of preforeclosures and get any  campaign to them since they are on a 4 week cycle till the auction.  >95% want to keep the house and will say no they won't sell.  You'd have to work pre foreclosures for a year or more to truely understand the craziness of those owners (who are about to loose at auction).  Sad and frustrating trying to buy from them.  Plus many logisticaly closing problems with buying and closing a day before the auction re getting a decent title search, the pay off to the bank to stop the auction.  Watchout folks if you don't have an experienced partner in pre foreclosure.  FWIW:  door knocking and talking at the front door is best for pre foreclosure.   Each state has vendors of these lists.  In GA its equitydepot.net .  

    - SMS to low equity?   No assurance they want to sell.\

    - I've marketed to FSBO and MLS expired listings. You'd think they'd be motivated. At least in GA/Atlanta great area y9ou'd be wrong!! Maybe in small town USA with few buyers FSBO would be open to negotiation. In major good jobs cities, sellers are willing to wait and re-list. ;(

    The short of any marketing tactic:  "its the list stupid".   Know what you are spending $$ on the list.  BUying lists is notorious for having dirty-data.  IE bad data that is not what you paid for.

    SMS only solves the total cost issue.  SMS does NOT solve the motivation of the seller challenge.   IMHO you need to learn how to buy good data and what data in your area is working.  Join local REIAs where old timers hang and locals are the experts.   

    Good luck, curt

    1Reply
  • Jeff TumbarelloPro Member
    Real Estate Broker · Fort Myers, FL · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 323 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Paul DoCampo:

    Are people still trying cold SMS for lead gen? Isn't risky now?


     TCPA Class Actions are a real thing. I settled on one. It is going to get worse, plus the carriers are aggressively fighting it. 

    0Reply
  • Jeff TumbarelloPro Member
    Real Estate Broker · Fort Myers, FL · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 323 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Curt Smith:

    I've been using an SMS platform for 4 yrs now (+/- a few mo), got a sub to deal early on nothing since.  I've done post cards etc.  I'll give some unfortunate facts!!

    - "Its the list stupid" ..   SMS is just a cheaper way to waste money on bad lists that dont target true motiviation of "have to sell" vs "like to sell".   The past years as the ave selling price grinds higher and higher has been one of sellers are spoiled silly and aren't open to negotiation.  They don;;t have to they learned.

    - So few pre foreclosures / BK's.   The tried and true source of "have to sell".   AND its some what difficult to buy a list of preforeclosures and get any  campaign to them since they are on a 4 week cycle till the auction.  >95% want to keep the house and will say no they won't sell.  You'd have to work pre foreclosures for a year or more to truely understand the craziness of those owners (who are about to loose at auction).  Sad and frustrating trying to buy from them.  Plus many logisticaly closing problems with buying and closing a day before the auction re getting a decent title search, the pay off to the bank to stop the auction.  Watchout folks if you don't have an experienced partner in pre foreclosure.  FWIW:  door knocking and talking at the front door is best for pre foreclosure.   Each state has vendors of these lists.  In GA its equitydepot.net .  

    - SMS to low equity?   No assurance they want to sell.\

    - I've marketed to FSBO and MLS expired listings. You'd think they'd be motivated. At least in GA/Atlanta great area y9ou'd be wrong!! Maybe in small town USA with few buyers FSBO would be open to negotiation. In major good jobs cities, sellers are willing to wait and re-list. ;(

    The short of any marketing tactic:  "its the list stupid".   Know what you are spending $$ on the list.  BUying lists is notorious for having dirty-data.  IE bad data that is not what you paid for.

    SMS only solves the total cost issue.  SMS does NOT solve the motivation of the seller challenge.   IMHO you need to learn how to buy good data and what data in your area is working.  Join local REIAs where old timers hang and locals are the experts.   

    Good luck, curt


     There are two types of basic leads:

    Interest and Intent.

    SMS can generate a ton of interested leads. Then you have to work them till they have intent. in 2 different entities from 2020 to 2022, we flipped about 350 lots. SMS was the primary lead gen. It can work but it is very labor intensive. It also causes a lot of friction. 

    1Reply
  • Zach McKinney
    Member since 2023 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    2y

    I’ve been texting for about 4.5 years as well & have done over $600k in assignment fees just from texting. It worked, but to Curt’s point, the list is important but the follow-up is key.


    I have pulled back on texting over the past several months with all the (needed) regulations & am trying other marketing. 

    1Reply
  • Norman Stacey
    Member since 2024 · 3 posts · 1 vote
    2y
    Quote from @Chris Trupiano:

    @Chavel Diaz Jr I've had a similar experience with SmarterContact. What platform are you considering switching to? I'm debating Launch Control or staying with SC. 

    I purchased Smarter In Dec and they immediately went into a system maintenance for over a week, forced to go elsewhere and they refused to refund the $597 start up fees. Still pisses me off!
    1Reply
  • Paul DoCampo
    Specialist · ID · Member since 2015 · 121 posts · 53 votes
    2y

    They're are fighting cold sms... ecommerce, real estate, etc using it as a marketing tool for their responded data base (those that said "yes you can market to me") is allowed and encouraged by carriers.


    Quote from @Gustavo Munoz Castro:
    Quote from @Paul DoCampo:

    Are people still trying cold SMS for lead gen? Isn't risky now?


     It's always been risky, you're supposed to have explicit opt-in, but its the absolute best way to get someone to actually read something you send them. I'm wondering if with the new A2P DLC regulations people are seeing opt-outs skyrocket?

    0Reply
  • Gustavo Munoz Castro
    Specialist · Bothell, WA · Member since 2014 · 269 posts · 80 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Paul DoCampo:

    They're are fighting cold sms... ecommerce, real estate, etc using it as a marketing tool for their responded data base (those that said "yes you can market to me") is allowed and encouraged by carriers.


    Quote from @Gustavo Munoz Castro:
    Quote from @Paul DoCampo:

    Are people still trying cold SMS for lead gen? Isn't risky now?


     It's always been risky, you're supposed to have explicit opt-in, but its the absolute best way to get someone to actually read something you send them. I'm wondering if with the new A2P DLC regulations people are seeing opt-outs skyrocket?


     Agreed! Folks that use it compliantly are not really the target, but even using the "reply stop" wording has really increased unsubscribe rates, its a whole new world with SMS the last 6 months, spammer need to be way more sneaky now

    0Reply
  • Nathaniel Mason
    Member since 2023 · 1 post · 1 vote
    2y

    I've been using Launch Control since June of 2023. Weve so far gotten 10 deals from it so far. This last two months weve gotten 3 new contracts from highly motivated leads, our ROI is about 238% so texting can be very profitable and it does work but it has gotten majorly difficult with the new regulations the past 6 months. Launch has an AI template creator but the templates on it are so vague and the response rates suck, so Ive been using my own templates I created which are in compliance with the 10DLC standards and we get disabled by the carrier every day lol. I have to email Launch on a daily basis to ask them to enable the batches. Even with compliant messaging we are still getting flagged as spam. While texting works and the ROI can be great I dont believe it will last long term as its getting much more difficult to use. Curious if anyone else is having success like us but has found templates that dont cause batches to get disabled every 5 seconds

    1Reply
  • Justin Buswell
    Member since 2021 · 57 posts · 38 votes
    2y
    Quote from @NA NA:

    Title: Beware of Poor Customer Service and Mismanagement at LaunchControl
    I am writing this review to share my unfortunate experience with LaunchControl, a texting service provider. As a long-standing customer, my interactions with their team, particularly a customer service representative named Mike, have been deeply disappointing and reflect a lack of professionalism and organizational competence.
    Initially, I discovered an issue with a second account that was inadvertently created under my name. This account, which I was completely unaware of and never utilized, was accruing charges fraudulently. Upon noticing this, I rightfully initiated a chargeback for these unjustified expenses.
    The situation worsened when I reached out to LaunchControl for resolution. Instead of a helpful and understanding approach, I was met with condescension and unprofessionalism, particularly from Mike. His manner was off-putting, and he insinuated dishonesty on my part, which is baseless and offensive. What’s more baffling is that, instead of rectifying the issue, Mike provided access to the wrong account – the unused and unknown one – and eventually led to the cancellation of both my accounts.
    This experience not only highlights serious issues in their customer service but also raises concerns about their internal account management systems. For a service that handles sensitive client information and transactions, such mismanagement and lack of accountability are alarming.
    The attitude and actions of representatives like Mike are detrimental to the reputation and reliability of LaunchControl. It’s disheartening to see a company that once had my trust handle a situation so poorly.
    To others considering LaunchControl, I advise looking into other alternatives. There are many services out there offering similar capabilities, often at a more reasonable cost and with a customer service team that values and respects its clients. In my experience, dealing with LaunchControl has been more of a headache than a help, and I strongly recommend steering clear of their services. They will not even let us in our account to export all our data that we spent so many long hard hours working on. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE. 


     I have to agree.  Stay away from Launch Control.  

    0Reply
  • Yogev Lifchin
    Specialist · Krakow, Europe · Member since 2019 · 87 posts · 25 votes
    2y

    @Ashley Hightower

    Over the past three years, I’ve been using most of the major off-market techniques.

    Of all the methods, texting has been a double-edged sword. It often feels like a constant game of cat and mouse with phone carriers. While it’s relatively simple and can help you find deals, it’s also time-consuming. You still need to qualify leads, and the carrier obstructions that come and go can derail your momentum. If I had to choose, I would always prefer cold calling over texting for this approach.

    The two best strategies I’ve found are inbound methods: direct mail and Google Ads.

    Direct mail can be expensive, but it can also yield highly discounted properties.

    Google Ads, on the other hand, doesn’t require data extraction like calls, direct mail, or texting. However, it does demand solid digital marketing expertise to achieve positive results.

    0Reply
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