I’m not cursed with having to get things perfect. I don’t know if the 70% solution describes me either. My goal is the 90% or better solution with 20% or less of the effort it may take others to get there. Tools like engenu warm me to the core!
The Unchained crowd sets a complete new standard for real estate folks I’ve been around. I have work to do on everything after Unchained. But, at least I know a bunch of things to do, and who to talk with if I get stuck. I can’t think of anything more powerful than that.
So, my list includes most everything. In no particular order, webinars, SEO, engenu sites, focused CPC advertising, social media and what is for me the most fun, the Gonzo, unforgettable marketing.
But that sales funnel management still has me flummoxed. I don’t give much due to the “automated” touch from a system. I’m so good at filtering that type of thing, and give it so little credit, that I know that my incredibly smart friends and clients won’t like it either. The experience from these systems just seems so lacking. But I won’t argue that they can work successfully for a business. Maybe I just don’t have the discipline to sustain them properly.
For me, a funnel that integrated with something like facebook might be better. All I might really need is a periodic reminder to say something to those I’ve forgotten to contact in awhile. If it automatically tracked who I had been in touch with, it becomes easy to use. Frankly, that would be a great way to make sure I’m keeping in touch with my friends as well. Which brings me to the crux of the issue; my clients and associates are a great many of my friends. I need a reliable approach that treats them that way.
Do I feel like I need to “touch” my clients a dozen times a year? Maybe not if the times I do engage with them are actually meaningful, memorable or gonzo enough.
Once I get some of the other things done, I won’t be able to put this one off. In the mean time, I would love to hear what funnel management is working for folks that treats their clients like respected friends. Thanks in advance for your thoughts, my friends!
Ryan Hartman says:
Cool post Al, I hear you… The only thing that’s really ever worked for me is to set anyone and everyone up for auto email listing updates (whether they already bought or not) in conjunction with a recurring task in my calendar that says only… “fu Al Lorenz!”
Fu? Well you know… Follow Up…About what? Whatever…your brain knows where you and the contact stand…Because at least for me, everything else over at GaryDavidHall.Com just seems to harm the relationship rather than help make it better…
May 7, 2009 — 3:41 pm
kerry melcher says:
Al–I feel exactly the same about my clients. I think Gonzo, er Ryan, is right–a fu as a recurring task through out the year is the way to go. I finesse the dates based on the location and/or wants and needs of my clients. One exampl–some homeowners in North Central Phoenix qualify for a rebate from Salt River project,one of our local utility companies. I will time one of my communications with these contacts when I can help them request, complete and process the form in the hopes that 100’s of dollars will arrive in their mail weeks later. It’s a win win. I’m happy to provide something or some information of value and they look forward to my phone calls.
May 7, 2009 — 5:19 pm
Don Reedy says:
Al,
I, too, struggle with “customers in a can” marketing, even with the oft scintillating talent that promotes such marketing techniques.
In a recent TV sitcom (Two-and-a-half-men) with Charlie Sheen, his brother is trying to find out how he gets laid so often. (I was going to use another word, but the more conservative I got, the gonzier I felt). Anyway, Charlie’s response was a simple one. “I’ve got a knack for it”, he says.
If I understand you, you’ve “got the knack”, so what you are asking for is just a tickler system to let you know that it’s “knick-knack time”, and to unleash your inherent skill set. That said, I think Ryan’s got it right, but wrong. How about this (I haven’t tried it, but I am going to as soon as I finish this post). Set up an auto email to yourself for each person you want to “knack” away at, when you want to “knack” away at them. Example: “Knack Don Reedy on Facebook. Lie to him, or whatever, but let him know he’s still important to me.” Or, “Knack Kerry, just because I can’t get that smile of hers out of my mind.”
You get it. So will they.
May 7, 2009 — 7:51 pm
James Boyer says:
I hear you, though I find that the real estate consumer has a very short memory when it comes to websites, e-mails, and contacts received from Realtors.
I have had pleanty of experiences where a real estate consumer would work with almost anyone that is competent, and pick the most recent contact from a Realtor once they have made the decision to get more serious. If I had not had a touch that they had seen for a week but they do something like visit a open house chances are if the Realtor at the open house is good, he /she converted them and then they are a total lost Leeds. On the flip side, there have been those who got serious, traded e-mail with me for a week or so, moved on the the open houses, and stayed with me when it came time to look at more homes and actually buy a home.
Facebook may be good for some real estate customers but not enough right now to just go down that road. It is a good avenue to spend some time on though.
May 11, 2009 — 8:03 am