Email marketing is a good Real Estate Marketing Idea. Whether you are keeping up with your clients, reaching out to prospects, or just trying to keep in touch with your target market, email marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways to market these folks.
Assuming you have uploaded your client database, added all of your business cards into that same database…now what? It’s time to upload all of this information into your email manager.
I use mailchimp.com, which will manage up to 2000 email addresses and allows you to send out 12,000 emails a month – for free!
The first email that you send out should remind the recipients who you are and how you got their email addresses. And, it’s important to let these people know what kind of information you are going to send out, and offer the option to Unsubscribe.
NOW WHAT?
Step 1 – Set up a lead capture system (or two) linking your email manager list to your website. You should be able to do this at the List page. I have several lists for my website, including; Free Webinars, Free Tools, Subscribers, etc. I set up a sign-up form for each list and have them installed at the website.
With this system, my client base is already categorized, and I have a good idea who my readers are.
Step 2 – Determine your purpose. Ask yourself the following questions;
- What useful information can I provide this audience?
- When do I send out my email marketing?
- Why would this audience want to hear from me?
Remember that the people who subscribe to you are interested in you and what you have to say, otherwise why would they opt-in. Honor this group of fans – let them be the first to know about any new and interesting information that you have to offer. Make sure that you provide useful content for your subscribers.
Keep it short, and put some personality into it!
Step 3 – Define your goals – you may want to promote a new product at your website, or maybe increase your click-through rates. Spend some time brainstorming and then line out these three things;
- What is your goal?
- How will you achieve that goal?
- How will you measure the results of your efforts?
Step 4 – Decide on how frequent you are going to email your specific lists – Once a month, once a week, everyday? You probably don’t want to go more than two months at a time without some type of email, otherwise your subscribers will forget what they signed up for. And, sending out an email everyday is redundant, unless of course you have a new product or listing to send out each day.
NOTE: Be careful to not make your subscribers feel overloaded…they may Unsubscribe, or worse yet…report you as a spammer!
Step 5 – Schedule the emails on your calendar and make a note of what you may want to include in that email.
Whether you plan to send out a promotional blast, a monthly newsletter, or a regular email – remember how special these readers are that have subscribed. Send out relevant information just often enough to be remembered, but not so often as to be annoying.