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What Every Agent Should Know About Real Estate Sign Riders

 

Most real estate brokers and agents are investing heavily in the use of online marketing tools. It’s true – most buyers are starting their journey online. However, not all are ready to click the “get more information” button online to begin working with an agent. Rather, they gather data, turn on their GPS, and track down homes in the area that seem interesting to them online. When they pull up to the curb, these would-be buyers make an instant decision about whether to look further or to drive on to the next property.

For real estate agents and buyers hoping to capitalize on those sales, it comes down to the real estate sign riders. These seemingly simple tools are one of the most interactive and lead-driven tools available. As that would-be buyer is sitting outside the home, looking at what it may have to offer, he or she has a phone in hand. If that real estate sign rider provides enough of the right information, that buyer is going to send a message or contact the agent on the sign.

If that rider isn’t there and the information is harder to get, they are generally going to have to go back to the website they gathered information on and try to find the home again. This slows down the process of capturing the buyer’s contact information. Yet, a simple rider – which a few key updates – can deliver a higher return on investment than much of the marketing done online. For the real estate broker and agent who need to improve profit margins and reduce the number of leads lost, this is a critical first step.

Text for Information is a win-win proposition. Quickly give consumers what they want, while capturing their contact info. This feature is so flexible; it can be used for just about any industry. Want to send potential homebuyers information about a specific property? Need to generate leads by offering a free download or white paper? Want to quickly “Open House” invitation details and to prospective clients? Text for Information is perfect for you!

Text or Scan for Info

Agents and brokers capture leads by offering prospective clients the ability to “text for more information” about a property listed for sale or rent – giving them the opportunity to connect the way they want when they want. This means that a prospective buyer can access information on a property virtually immediately, without having to stop to record any details manually. And the agent benefits by obtaining the client’s contact details at the moment the client sends a text message.

What Are Real Estate Sign Riders?

Most agents know the value of placing a sign in the front yard of a listing. This sign designates the home for sale, communicating to anyone passing by the area that it is available. Yet, it is not as simplistic as that. These signs provide key communication tools, allowing agents to network and build leads. It’s clear from the research that these signs not only build interest in that specific home, also open the door for new opportunities. If the buyer contacts an agent listed on the sign, he or she may not buy that particular home. However, the agent has the buyer’s information and, if marketing properly, can then begin to build a relationship with and sell to that buyer across a larger spectrum.

The real estate sign riders, though, are a detail not to overlook. The sign rider is the small component added to the real estate for sale sign. In some situations, they look like afterthoughts. The rider is added to a company-wide sign. It provides a bit of information or a phone number. Some areas are simplistic as saying, “call us” or “for sale.” Those are ineffective and missing a key opportunity. As a real estate agent or broker, it is important to recognize the value that this Laser Flyer rider can offer in the grand scheme of marketing the property.

Know the Goal of the Real Estate Sign Rider

The goal of using a real estate LASER FLYER rider is simple. Use it to communicate a specific step or the offline version of a call-to-action to the person driving by the home. The sign itself provides the initial advertisement and Brand recognition. Properly positioned in place of a flyer box at the height of those drivers passing by, the sign itself should catch their attention. As a person drives past, they initially should look up at the home. And, as they continue to go back and forth over the next few days, they stop and look. They want to learn more. They use the information on the laser flyer rider to connect them with the actual agent selling the home.

All agents should have a LASER FLYER rider that communicates their information, of course. In its most simplistic form, this rider needs to give the would-be buyer a way to contact the agent to get information.

Are They All the Same?

Many agents may be wondering why this one component makes such a big difference in the sale of a home. It may not, but designed properly, it can help the agent to capture important and increasingly difficult to obtain leads.

Real estate riders like this are not all the same. They should be customized to include the agent’s contact method. Use them to communicate a specific step the buyer should take to get the information available. They should also be very durable, brightly colored, and designed to be easy to view from the window of a passing vehicle. Yet, aside from those basic rules, there are plenty of ways to customize them. In doing so, it may be possible to capture the attention of more buyers.

There are a few simple tips to consider, but before focusing on that, consider why it is worth spending a bit more on these riders than on other types of marketing.

The key to remember about a rider is that it creates a bit of personalization for the would-be buyer. Every real estate for sale sign tends to look the same, offering the same basic information, broker logo, and details. Yet, that rider gives the customer some basic information, points them to the right steps to take, and can help them to get the information they need to buy. Again, even if they do not buy this property, they may buy another property the agent can show.

It does not have to be expensive to invest in real estate sign riders. In many situations, the very best versions of these are designed to be long-lasting. They are also customized to fit a specific need. In short, this is an inexpensive way to invest in marketing your property. Options exist to choose fairly good quality products without spending much.

What is SMS Auto-Responders?

Similar to email auto-responders, SMS Auto-Responders allow you to send an automated response via text message as soon as a prospect utilizes your “Text for Information” service provided by Smart Lead Capture. Here are a few examples of SMS Auto-Responder SAMPLE messages:

123 Hill St – Open House this Sunday from 1-4 pm. More info: http://www.ochouse.com

1057 College Ave – 4 Bedrooms & 4 Baths ochouse.com – JJ Agent (800) 826-5126 www.ochouse.com

Thanks for requesting our Real Estate Trends Report! Click Here to view it: ochouse.com

Getting leads is critical to helping agents and brokers grow their businesses. But quick follow-up could mean all the difference between a dead-end lead and a closed deal. That is why Smart Lead Capture also includes two very important tools to aid real estate professionals in their ability to follow up with leads in a timely manner. Text Auto-Responders will allow agents to enter a short message that will be dynamically sent to any prospect as soon as they text for more information about a property. Lead Alerts allow the agent to receive leads via a text message sent immediately to their mobile device so they can follow up with the prospects in real-time. Both of these SMS tools were designed to help agents and brokers turn hot leads into real clients.

Marketing via text message (SMS) is one of the smartest, most effective options available. In today’s consumer environment, where more than 73% of cell phone users send and receive SMS and MMS messages, text messaging is flat out better than email. Here’s why:

Text response times trump email response times nearly every time. Take this statistic from CTIA.org – It takes the average person 90 minutes to respond to an email, but just 90 seconds to respond to a text message.

Too many emails end up unopened and unread, lost to the spam or trash folder – some 88%, in fact. But 98% of SMS messages are opened, 90% of which are read within 3 minutes of receipt.

There is no better or more powerful tool for capturing leads and potential clients than SMS. And Smart Lead Capture makes it all unthinkably easy.

Taking It to the Next Level

A simple sign can only do so much. Imagine having a real estate sign rider hanging from a for sale sign in front of a high-valued home. That would-be buyer is sitting in front of the property, smiling and dreaming of raising a family in that home. It can be an incredible opportunity not just for that buyer, but also for the agent. To ensure this happens, consider an upgrade to a different type of real estate sign rider.

Some of the most advanced options provide more information and support to the agent as well as to the customer. For example, imagine real estate QR and text sign riders. These allow for an agent to receive leads right from the sign rider delivered to their smartphone. As that buyer is sitting there, watching the home, they are able to send a message directly to the agent who can respond immediately.

There is no doubt this provides an immediate opportunity to capture that lead. What may be even more important to recognize is that if that agent does not take the steps necessary to connect with that buyer right away – at that first moment – that buyers are going to move on to the next home and the next agent who does respond faster. The typical sign rider is a good start. However, a real estate text rider goes further.

Consider Digital Flyer, for Example

A real estate text sign rider provides an opportunity to do more with a lead. The process using Digital Flyer, a leading tool in this sector, is incredibly simple. The would-be buyer sitting in his or her car can send a simple text message using the info on the sign. It sounds simple enough, but what happens next is what allows the best brokers to capture more leads and turn more leads into buyers.

The Digital Flyer system automatically sends the buyer a detailed text with the listing information. They get all of the information they need including photos of the interior, pricing information, and any other information the agent deems valuable. All of this heads right to the user’s mobile phone.

Consider this before considering the other components of the service. Now, that buyer is sitting there learning about the home. They are not driving past and planning to look it up later. Rather, they can check out the photos and see whether the home seems like a good choice for their needs. They also get pricing information that is clear – not just a simple price tag on the for sale sign. This allows the buyer to instantly make a decision – should they get more information or pass on this property for a potential sale down the road?

What Digital Flyer Does in the Background?

Here’s what makes a service like Digital Flyer worthwhile, though. That QR, text message from the buyer using the data from the rider is instantly accessible. The service immediately sends the phone number to the agent. The agent receives a text message about the buyer’s decision to gather information about the property and the phone number.

That means that the agent is no longer waiting for the buyer to make the next move. Rather, the agent is empowered because he or she has the number of the buyer in hand. Consider sending an autoresponder message within 3-5 minutes or calling that buyer the next day (or even later the same day). Follow up on their request about the home. Gather insight into what they are looking for in a property. And, get their contact information to add to your marketing efforts.

In this simple step, the agent has the information he or she needs to begin the process of selling a buyer a home. Most people who are looking at homes like this, and requesting details in this manner, are not working with a real estate agent. Or, if they are, they are frustrated that the agent has yet to provide them with communications about this property (and potentially others).  This is a buyer who may already be pre-qualified to buy a home. Or, he or she could be brand new to looking for a home. In either case, they need help to continue on the sales journey, and the agent with their phone number can make it happen.

The Benefits of Using Laser Flyer’s Sign Riders with an SMS Feature

As noted previously, the use of any real estate sign rider is a very good investment. It is also an inexpensive one. Brokers and agents who want to do more with this tool, though, can do so using the Laser Flyer sign QR and text rider. It allows for a number of additional benefits.

Again, take the example of Digital Flyer. How does it work for a specific sale? What are the benefits of using it?

• The QR / text sign is easy to use and provides the would-be buyer – sitting in front of the property – immediate access to key information. This allows that buyer to get insight into what he or she may be able to find in this home immediately.
• It allows the real estate agent to immediately gain access to the buyer’s phone number. It is sent directly to the agent’s phone, co-lister, broker, and his or her email address. It can also be imported directly into the company’s database and lead capture system, allowing for the user to begin marketing efforts.
• It saves the agent time – there is no need to spend time driving around trying to refill paper flyers in front of homes. Most of these rarely get a second look but sit on the floor of the car. QR / Text messages provide instant information.
• It allows the agent to take the buyer to the next level. Many times, these are buyers who want information and are ready to act. Yet, they do not yet have an agent to work with. As a result, they are the ideal buyer to begin a buying journal with as an agent.
• It allows agents to sell more homes. The simple SMS message is more than just a single text message. It is a tool to open the communication between those who have listings and those who wish to buy.

As a broker or an agent, it becomes critical to take into consideration what types of marketing are going to turn a true result for any type of home listing. While digital marketing remains important, using tools like this that allow for interactive engagement with the would-be buyer right in front of the home is powerful. It also is one of the best investments in terms of ROI.

While even that basic and simple real estate sign rider is a good first step, the SMS tools are far more powerful. It allows for an effective way of connecting to an interested buyer in a fast and easy manner. It also allows for that phone number to enter into the lead capture system, allowing for nurturing to begin. What’s more, it may allow an agent to be able to provide services far sooner than what most other agents will get access to.

Digital Flyer is an excellent example of the real estate text sign riders that are working to turn a basic text message into a home sale. Designed to be highly efficient and effective, it saves an agent time while also improving his or her turnaround on leads. It can be one of the best investments made.