If you're doing any business in today's market, you probably have your own website, send emails to clients and customers and follow-up with every inquiry; but did you know there is a right way and a wrong way to follow-up with clients and customers? There are even rules for websites that don't just follow the state, federal and NAR rules that should be common courtesies. Are you going to repel business if you don't follow the rules... possibly... but more importantly your actions reflect upon you as a business professional and the rest of the real estate industry. Here are some common considerations and courtesies that should be followed in your website and emails.

Your Website:

• Make your text simple and readable - Sure, it's nice to have big words and many colors and even blinking words to attract attention, but it is annoying to average users. Keep your text colors to 3 maximum and avoid harsh color blends. Also, if your focus is drawn away from the text on your website, no one is getting your message.
  
• Flashy is 'pretty' but not always practical - You can really go all out these days with technology and have spinning 3-D pictures of yourself and your properties, but is it necessary? You have to know your audience. If you are catering to only affluent buyers, then cater to that crowd and make sure your website design reflects it.
  
• T M I - "too much information" - There a 2 distinct philosophies when it comes to website content: 1.) give them everything they need to make a decision.  2.) give them just enough information to entice them to call. In real estate and most sales businesses you don't want to give away the sale before you make the deal... so, give your website readers just enough information so they will call you for more 'expert' information.
  
• Know what you are saying - There are some pretty bad websites online by real estate agents who have no idea what is on their own website. Don't use jargon the average user won't understand. Keep your sentences short and precise. If you have to, hire a copywriter to put content together for you. Your website visitors don't care how hard your trying to get at the top of the search engines, they just want valid content and information about you and from you.

Your Email:

• Only use your business email address for business email. It's easy to get mydog2358@yahoo.com, but it is NOT professional. Make sure you are projecting a professional image at all times. (example: MyName@sellstate.com)

• NEVER send jokes or cutesy emails to your clients or customers. Why? It's not professional and it could be offensive to someone on your email list that your didn't think it would offend.

• Don't REPLY ALL to your messages unless you really intend to let everyone know of your email response. Comments to emails usually should be individual.

• ALWAYS SPELL-CHECK!!!!!  There's is probably nothing more unprofessional than blatant misspellings, especially when every email program comes with a spell-check built in. If you don't know how to set it up automatically, get in the habit of pushing that spell-check button.

• Bad Bulk Mail - If you're not using a mail distribution program to send bulk mail, you could be in trouble. Did you ever get an email with 50-100 email addresses in the TO: or CC: area? NOT GOOD! Don't send bulk mail to your clients and customers and send them everyone else's email - it's even worse if you send it to other agents. Now you've just given away your client list to your competition.

• What's with the AUTO RESPONDER?  Yes, it's convenient if you're on vacation or busy during a meeting and don't want to miss an important email, but come on!!! We all know your busy showing homes and can't get to their email immediately - who can? Turn it off unless you really need it. Then make sure you respond to every email within 24 hours. It's important to follow-up as quickly as possible.

• Don't use your business email to sign-up for websites or offers. Keeping your business email professional can be difficult, but if you want to sign up for something, use another address - not your business email. Your business email should only be for business. As soon as you start using your business email to sign-up for everything on the web, you'll get so much junk! You might as well start another email account just for junk and use it for everything else!

MORE TIPS NEXT WEEK!
Keep working your plan for success!