Why You Should Use a CRM in Your Real Estate Business (even if you think you don’t need one)

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In our highly-connected world, we communicate through various channels – text, phone, email, and social media. In real estate, the more communication opportunities, the higher a client’s expectation for communication, and the harder it can be to recall past conversations.

Using one system to track client notes and communication history is essential for maintaining relationships. Without one, details get lost, follow-up is forgotten, and prioritizing communication strategies is difficult. If you aren’t using a CRM in your business, you’ll continue to lose out on new, repeat, and referral opportunities. 

CRMs (Customer Relationship Manager) remain a popular topic within the real estate industry because studies prove that Realtors earning $100,000+ are twice as likely to use a CRM compared to those who do not.

The right CRM can help you convert more leads, stay connected with referral partners, and increase repeat business. For a CRM to help you win more business and earn more commissions, follow these basic strategies:

Work From the System
Login to the CRM each morning to determine your priorities for the day, including prospecting efforts and follow-up outreach. After you reach out to each contact, add a note to summarize the conversation and set a follow-up reminder for the next steps in the CRM.

Add Your Contact Records
It’s just as important to add past clients, sphere, and referral partners to your CRM as new leads. Housing information for all contacts within your network in one secure and accessible system will ultimately save you time.

Leverage The Tools
Your CRM is only as good as the information you input, and the tools are only helpful if you put them to work for you. Use the Task Reminder tool to set follow-up actions, keep contact information updated, and use automation tools to eliminate necessary but repetitive communication.

Personalize Your Communication
When creating automated email funnels, use personalization tools to avoid a system-generated feel. Plus, personalized emails are more likely to arrive in inboxes and have higher open rates. Use segmentation tools to organize your list to send the right messages to the right people.

Stay Focused 
As with any endeavor, you can try to do too much too fast and become overwhelmed. Master the basics before focusing on advanced features or system customization.

Ask Questions
If you get stuck, ask for help. As a real estate expert, no one expects you to be a CRM expert, too. 

If you’re struggling to reach your goals, it’s time to re-evaluate your strategy. Managing your business from a phone and spreadsheet limits your option. An effective CRM will allow you to increase lead conversion, automate repetitive communication, remember follow-up tasks, and maintain valuable relationships. Choose a CRM with on-demand training and access to support by chat, phone, and email.

Are you ready to employ a CRM but aren’t sure where to start? Use these tips to choose the right system for your real estate business.