Thread: Text Messaging - SMS Marketing

Sorry for repetition...

Greetings,

Through this post, I just want to get opinions of professionals in real estate field. I don't mean for this post to sound like self-promotion, therefore I will not provide any names or addresses.

I'm looking into launching a service that will be utilizing "text messaging" (also known as SMS) on mobile phones to provide information on behalf of real estate agents about specific properties, and at the same time capture people's phone numbers (the ones who requested information).

It would work like this:

1) Potential homebuyer sees a sign (regular "for sale" sign), on which it says:
Text BLAH-BLAH to 55555 to get instant information.

2) Homebuyer sends a text message as specified above, and receives instant information (not too much: whatever can fit into the screen with 160 characters)

3) Real estate agent, moments after, receives an email saying that somebody requested information with such and such phone number

Problems:
1) 160 characters is not enough, so why not use (if somebody wants to) answering machine service
2) Can real estate agent ruin the potential sale by calling him/herself? Is it ethical in general?
3) Do people really know how to use text messaging?


All opinions are appreciated.


Thank you

I like the idea, being a younger individual I use text messaging alot and I know a great deal of people who do. I think it is more popular than most people seem to realize. The owner of my company sends me text messages so it is very popular overall.

I'm sure you'd have to check into restrictions on how people would be able to call them after the text is sent. But yes, the problem could be the 160 characters, its really not that much info to put in...

Interesting idea.

I like the idea also. As for texting in general i dont like it. I was working overseas a few years ago and had to use text as a primary means of communication. When i came home i was so glad to done with text...even though i was good at it...that i refused to have it. Well a couple of months ago i had to go and have it activated. I learned that i get a better and faster response by using text with my younger clients as well as younger mortgage brokers as opposed to leaving a message on their cells...so i guess i will learn to like it or go broke!

Thank you for your opinions. Additional comments would be greatly appreciated.


Greg

I have created a marketing solution for real estate agents and am trying to find some realtors interested in it. Please go to the "How It Works" section on our website - driveMLS.com - to see how it works.

These systems already exist and those the push them and continue to follow up with the potential customer do very well. I feel that over time systems such of these are going to lose favor as the consumer learns that they capture their phone numbers.

As a consumer I am sure most that don't mind you having their phone numbers would have called you directly. Those who do not want you to have their information will not use these services once they are clued into the call capture component.

Do I find it unethical? No not really do I think these systems are useless no they can be helpful, but not as a lead capture tool in the long run.

Sorry jamesww, I am going to have to respectfully disagree. The solution I have posted - driveMLS - does capture the user's phone number, but DOES NOT give it to the Realtor unless the user specifically requests it.

I researched several other solutions before developing mine, and found no other solution that offers what I do. I created the first real estate SMS marketing solution that has the BUYER in mind because, if I remember right, when I was working at a grocery store in my teens, they always told us "the customer is always right/first." Here are a couple features that I have implemented in driveMLS:

- Buyer privacy protection (buyer initiates contact with Realtor)
- Stores the buyer's listings on a website where they can be retrieved via a computer from anywhere
- Buyer can browse listings via map or list, and sort listings ascending or descending by several fields of data

I like the idea but not in general,just like internet marketing, SMS marketing is also spreading.It is the most convenient way of getting in touch with the client.

Originally Posted by driveMLS

Sorry jamesww, I am going to have to respectfully disagree. The solution I have posted - driveMLS - does capture the user's phone number, but DOES NOT give it to the Realtor unless the user specifically requests it.

I researched several other solutions before developing mine, and found no other solution that offers what I do. I created the first real estate SMS marketing solution that has the BUYER in mind because, if I remember right, when I was working at a grocery store in my teens, they always told us "the customer is always right/first." Here are a couple features that I have implemented in driveMLS:

- Buyer privacy protection (buyer initiates contact with Realtor)
- Stores the buyer's listings on a website where they can be retrieved via a computer from anywhere
- Buyer can browse listings via map or list, and sort listings ascending or descending by several fields of data

There really is not any benefit to an agent if your service does not provide contact information sent to the agent. The likelyhood that your product will catch on is slim. I say this because most agent will not invest in it since they do not recieve the customers information. On the consumer side of things you are looking at trouble as well. It will be difficult to penetrate a large enough of the market to make your service useful to the buyer.

I like the idea with this simple marketing plan maybe it will lead you in a better position.. Why don't you try it.. there's nothing else to loose...