Texting short codes for more information about listings came and went. Now it's back again.
You can never respond to a listing lead too quickly.
Texted short codes have been around a while, but new software is making it a more valuable marketing tool than previous attempts.
Software developer is also a licensed agent.
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RealtyFlux is text message marketing and lead response software.
Platforms: Browser; mobile-optimized
Ideal for: All agents, teams looking to augment lead response times
Top selling points
Intuitive admin tools
Easy campaign creation and control
Delivery of multiple forms of content
Top concerns
Included rapid home valuation tool may raise questions with sellers and other agents.
What you should know
“Text Nancy77 to 50505” to sign in for an open house, find out what your home is worth or get a property brochure. An agent could market to consumers this way using RealtyFlux, which offers a pleasing, easy-to-manage backend where users can create and edit keywords, devise campaigns and track responses. The software is fully TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act) compliant.
Of course, RealtyFlux didn’t invent the idea of using texted short codes on for-sale signs and other platforms. RealtyFlux’s Sean Marshall admitted this at the start of our call. (Glad we got that out of the way.) But Marshall, who is also an agent in Las Vegas with Marshall Stearns Real Estate and Property Management, built one of the better products in this space, and there are quite a few.
Agents can use keywords and short codes to deliver a HomeJunction-backed home value report, have a property brochure delivered, or send to prospects pretty much any form of marketing collateral one cares to create.
Home value reports push interested sellers to a slick, minimally-branded landing page to add some marketing heft to the process. It’s a nice touch, and the reports can be shared as Facebook posts as well.
RealtyFlux short codes can be used to register for open houses, too. The delivered link asks for name, email and phone number in exchange for a brochure on the house.
There’s nothing in RealtyFlux’s system that allows users to share that they are already working with an agent, and I don’t think it’s as elegant as some of the iPad sign-in solutions out there, especially Spacio.
I think the iPad feature of RealtyFlux is ultimately its weakest, as it feels like a last-minute add-on. Still it doesn’t take away from the software’s overall value, which is based on its rapid-response capabilities.
From the backend, users can view text conversations and a handy list of contacts and listings about which they texted. It is this information that RealtyFlux plans to integrate with a host of CRM partners in the near future.
That will be very valuable upgrade.
All campaigns can be included on any form of print collateral or web media. I’d put them on everything, even an email signature, which would link to a video file about my brokerage.
Agents are charged by the keyword. Setup is fast and easy, and everything you need within the admin interface is barely a couple clicks away.
It’s true that text short codes have been forgotten about by a lot of agents. Like QR codes.
However, I think RealtyFlux is sponsoring their comeback.
Source: inman.com
