Cody, making the process easy and understandable is a process and make sure everything is clear, expectations

Modern Email Etiquette for Today’s Agents

In today’s tech-forward culture, consumers are constantly inundated with promotional emails, alerts, invites, and social media blasts. As a real estate agent or a loan officer, how do you stand apart from the noise? What’s more, how do you stay relevant in a digital landscape that’s constantly changing?

For starters, there are a few timeless techniques you can apply to up your skillset when it comes email and digital communication: asking questions that inspire conversation, politeness, and following up regularly—to name a few. Likewise, there are surely new tricks you can add to your arsenal to stay ahead of the curve. Let’s outline a few ways you can refine and update your email etiquette to compete in today’s virtual marketplace.

Make your subject line count Too often, we labor over the content of our emails without giving much thought to subject lines.

Though email is no longer a new-fangled invention, there are certainly ways you can modernize its use and take advantage of its ubiquity.

However, these little headlines can go a long way in luring the consumer to open your email and ultimately click through to your website in search for your services. An enticing subject line should be short and sweet, ideally less than fifty characters. You might also include the name of the recipient, and be up front (though concise) about the subject matter of your message. Remember: the first thing a client will see is your name and subject line—be sure to make this prime real estate shine.

Think mobile

Research tells us that 79% of Americans check their phones within fifteen minutes of waking up. In fact, much of modern day correspondence occurs by smartphone. Accordingly, you’ll want to account for email readability on a mobile phone. For instance, incorporating paragraph breaks for each new thought allows information to be parceled out in a palatable way for readers utilizing small screens. Also, any sort of graphic flair or links within your email should be shortened and streamlined for mobile consumption. Send yourself an email every now and again and access it from your phone—you’ll be able to double-check that all the elements of your emails are working well on a mobile platform.

Incorporate email tools There are excellent tools out there to enhance your email experience. With just a quick download, you can add spellcheck, a URL address shortening feature, or a delay option that holds emails for thirty seconds before they’re sent. Think about the possibilities! Haven’t you sent an email without including the attachment you intended, or realizing you sent correspondence to the wrong client? If that’s the case, a delay feature can help you save face and build in a window for error— just in case. Regardless of which tools speak to your email habits, there are plenty of add-ons out there that can revamp your digital correspondence style.

Use email to maximize your online presence

These days, there are plenty of ways to communicate—email, text, phone, apps, and social media. When you interact through email, consider it an opportunity to invite your client to follow you elsewhere online. Ensure that your email signature includes unobtrusive, streamlined links to your social media accounts, professional website, or review page. This will build in an opportunity for clients to engage with your brand, and you may even add an online follower for the long term.

Though email is no longer a new-fangled invention, there are certainly ways you can modernize its use and take advantage of its ubiquity. Keep these approaches in mind as you reenergize your email technique and fortify your communication in the digital era.

CAROL ANNE HAZELMAN

Carol Anne Hazelman had a long professional history in outside sales before making the ultimate transition to real estate. After wedding her mortgage banker husband, she renewed her interest in the industry and soon made the transition to becoming a buyer’s agent. “That’s how I got started,” she remembers, “and things grew from there.” Now, years later, Carol Anne has built a reputation as an agent known for her due diligence, transparency, and personal touch. Today, Carol Anne spearheads her work solo under the banner of Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners. There, she serves clients across the greater Savannah Metro area and drives a business almost entirely generated by repeat and referral clientele. Buyers and sellers alike trust Carol Anne’s base of knowledge, amenable communication style, and proven track record. “I take time to get to know my clients,” Carol Anne says. “I warn them up front that I’m going to ask a ton of questions, because it’s my job to take the time to listen. The more I understand their needs, the better I’m able to help them. I consult with all of my clients before we start the process and make sure everything is clear, expectations are set, and people really appreciate that.” What’s more, staying in touch with clients past and present comes naturally, since Carol Anne carefully manages her database, in addition to cultivating relationships that stand the test of time. “The majority of my clients end up becoming like friends and family,” she says. “We enjoy each other’s company, and I really care about what goes on in their lives.” accolades that underscore her industry staying power. These include continued induction into the Savannah Area Realtor’s Distinguished Sales Society, receiving the Silver Award for inclusion in the top 15% of all teams and Realtors nationwide in her former brokerage, serving as the 2020 President of the Women’s Council of Realtors, and earning the official real estate designations of SRS, MRP, PMN, and ABR.

Beyond the office, Carol Anne stays involved in her community by participating in worthy causes and events and gives back through the Keller Williams’s KW RED Day Initiative, KW Cares, through the Savannah Area Association of Realtors’ support of Lifeline for Children, and through local animal rescue efforts. In her free time, she most enjoys time spent with family and loved ones, traveling, practicing yoga, and hanging out with her own rescue pets.

As for the future, Carol Anne intends to keep progress going steady. “The future of my business is to continue to grow, learn, and give back,” she concludes. “I measure success by how happy my clients are, and as long as I continue to do business the way I’ve been doing it, by always putting clients first, it will keep growing exponentially. If you do the right thing and take care of people, the rest will follow.”

When listing properties, Carol Anne cites a hybridized approach that blends the best of tried-and true marketing techniques with a tech-savvy spin. This includes premium documentation for all listings headed to market, in addition to email and postcard campaigns, and neighborhood outreach. Likewise, all listings enjoy exposure across the leading online listing platforms and strong social media campaigns. Over the course of doing business, Carol Anne has earned a host of designations and

To learn more about Carol Anne Hazelman

call 912-441–7550, email CAHazelman@KW.com,

mailto:mag@topagentmagazine.com