MODERN EMAIL

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.

JACQUELINE REVOIR

Jacqueline “Jackie” Revoir began her real estate career in early 2016. Her mom is a Realtor®, and after working in the fitness industry for several years, Jackie decided to switch gears and pursue a career in real estate. That was almost 5 years ago, and Jackie hasn’t looked back. Her clients value her hard work, organization, and the personal service she provides in helping them achieve their real estate goals.

With Keller Williams Hometown Realty in Mullica Hill, Jackie services the Central and South Jersey areas. She also belongs to a worldwide referral network, allowing her to assist people not only in all of New Jersey and throughout the nation, but internationally as well. About 90% of her business comes from repeat and referral clients, a truly impressive feat that speaks to the loyalty and confidence she inspires. “Five years in, I’m already relisting and reselling houses I’ve sold in the past,” Jackie says. “I get the bulk of my business from people I know or who have worked with me before and have spread my name around.”

It’s easy to see why people keep coming back to work with Jackie again, and again. “Clients tell me they appreciate my communication and how available I am for them,” Jackie says. “I carry them throughout the process and give them recommendations and referrals for everything they need. I’m always one step ahead of where they’re thinking, and that puts their minds at ease.”

The personal connection Jackie forges with her clients is priceless, and it helps her to serve their individual needs. “Throughout a real estate transaction, I’m not just there to talk about the business aspect,” she explains. “I want to connect with them personally. Real estate is a relationship-based business, and I try to foster those relationships.” Her approach is customer-focused from beginning to end. “I care about getting my clients to where they need to go on time, with the least amount of hassle, while keeping them fully informed. It’s not a numbers game or a timeline game where things have to go a certain way. It’s really specific to the client.”

When it comes to marketing her listings, Jackie uses a mix of old-school and newer methods including the latest technology. She sends out both e-cards and physical mailers for each listing, but she says, “Social media marketing is really the big thing for me. I do a lot on my business Instagram and Facebook, and I make sure to promote listings on my stories and pages.” Jackie also constantly updates her website with new listings.

The results speak for themselves: Jackie’s total volume was about $7.5 million last year, and she is on pace to do the same or better this year.

When she is not working, Jackie likes being active outdoors with her husband and their 1-year-old son. She enjoys fitness, getting outside, and traveling.

In the future, Jackie plans to team up with her mom, with a goal of eventually earning her broker’s license. “I would like to get into doing my own investment properties and grow my business so that I can deal in different forms of real estate,” Jackie says. Above all, Jackie wants to continue giving her clients the best service possible. “I’ve always been a people person, and I like having those connections with people,” she says. “I enjoy sharing my positive attitude and outlook, and keeping my clients in the right state of mind.”

To find out more about Jackie Revoir, please call 609-468-4219, email jackierevoir@kw.com, or visit www.jackierevoir.kw.com

SHIRA ROST

When Shira Rost took a year off before starting law school, she had no idea her decision would lead her to a highly successful and acclaimed career in real estate. Since then, her business has earned numerous awards, and she has built a reputation as one of the most trustworthy, dedicated, and passionate realtors in New Jersey.

Shira spent the early part of her career in luxury real estate marketing. “I loved the strategic creativity, brand development, contract negotiations, and the multi-tiered partnerships,” Shira says. “Working in luxury marketing taught me how to develop an eye for detail and produce results-driven growth.” When she moved with her family from Manhattan to New Jersey, she decided it was the right time to return to her original passion, real estate sales, and she applied her skillset to new challenges. Since then, she has earned consistent accolades for her business, including the prestigious New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence Award. Shira is ranked in the top 1% of New Jersey Realtors, has been a Top Producing realtor, and is now a founding member of Compass Short Hills.

Shira’s business consists primarily of referrals, a testament to her fierce commitment to her clients. “It’s about trust,” Shira says. “My clients trust me to work harder, to go to bat for them.” She covers a wide geographical area, serving New Jersey towns all within one hour of Manhattan, including Short Hills, Livingston, Maplewood, and Chatham. “I’ve found that having expertise about many towns is helpful to my clients,” Shira says. “When they come to me, many of them aren’t sure where they want to buy, and my knowledge of diverse markets is invaluable to them.”

Shira’s fresh take on customer care and marketing gives her business an edge. Ahead of the curve on the use of multimedia, Shira also actively cultivates local knowledge, helping her clients find homes not yet on the market. With her background in luxury marketing, Shira knows how to sell homes in their best light. “What I always think about is how to get buyers to notice one house out of a thousand, and how I can help my clients’ homes stand out from the crowd.”

Outside of running her successful business, Shira loves spending time with her family, which includes her husband, her three children, and two dogs. Active and engaged in the community, Shira donates a portion of every sale to charity in her clients’ names. She also serves on the board of Temple B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, specializing in community service and philanthropy.

Shira’s passion for real estate is palpable in how she speaks about her profession. “I love how it changes every day, every second,” Shira says. “I’m the kind of person who loves a new challenge. It is an incentive to do better, to think differently, to work hard for my clients.” For the future, Shira plans to continue to be involved in every aspect of her business. “I think my clients appreciate that when they work with me, they get me,” Shira says. “My plan is to keep making my clients happy.”

To find out more about Shira Rost call 856.214.2639 or 973.768.9003, email shira.rost@compass.com or visit shirarost.com/meet-shira