The automations I have set up in my real estate business.
Automations.
My best friend, well after my husband, kids, Jessica, Tina, and Amerah. Lol.
I love automation.
They saved me a couple years ago.
This was before my virtual assistant(s).
Let me see if I can make the world of automation not sound boring as I break down the different categories of automation I have running, what they do, and how they benefit my business.
The first type of automation I have running are some “if this than that” automations thanks to the Zapier platform. I have my Zapier connected to a handful of platforms, but most of my zaps (what Zapier calls the automations) are a connection between my Sierra Interactive account and my email provider.
I have three different zaps set up in connection with Sierra Interactive notifications.
When a client saves a listing, I ask them if they would like any more information on the listing, if they would like the disclosures, and I ask them if they would like to set up an appointment.
When a client returns to the site after x amount of days, I have a beautiful email set up to touch base.
And my most elaborate zap is when someone registers to my website. I have a series of emails that go out. The first one is the one that I get the most replies to. I call it the “just in case” email, and it gives them my “personal” cell phone number.
I have another set of automations in connection with my MailChimp account and my email provider. I have created landing pages for each of my different ebooks, and when a user downloads the ebook, I send them an email sequence with two different emails.
Sierra Interactive (SI) is my IDX-based website. You can view it here: https://search.byjoandco.com/. SI can do a lot of behind-the-scenes work for you. I have forced registration set up, and one could have sequences in coincidence with that. I have e-alerts (new listing emails) automatically set up that use the user’s initial behavior on the website as the search criteria. Those e-alerts go out daily.
SI is also what one could consider a CRM. One of my methodologies or philosophies in real estate revolves around, “if a client doesn’t want to work with me, then I don’t want to work with them,” so most of my marketing “tactics” are passive. I don’t lean into my CRM as much as others. I have had mixed emotions with my that choice, but in the end, I think it has helped me more than it has hurt me, by saving me time, and allowing me to spend that saved time with my family.
When my team was really big (I had everyone on salary, including agents), we used Monday.com to keep all of our marketing efforts, transactions, lead generation, and leads organized. What initially won me over in the decision to use Monday.com was all of the automations I could set up. I was really “sold” on Monday.com by an outside consultant, and although it is really cool, I regret how much money I spent with the consultant and the “level” of Monday.com I had signed up for.
I have since downgraded my Monday.com membership. I don’t use it as much as I should, and I should probably cancel my membership, but I have invested so much in it, and it does have a lot of really cool capabilities, that I might lean back into one day. With the market slowdown last year, I decided to cut down on as much overhead as possible to ensure that my net income was affected as little as possible.
One of my most used automations starts with my Calendly account. My primary call to action is encouraging potential clients to schedule a call with me. The platform I use is Calendly. Once they schedule a call, I send them a lovely email and encourage them to fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire lives within my Monday.com. Once someone fills out the questionnaire, I am alerted.
The majority of my other automations revolve around social media.
I use two platforms to make “doing” social media easier: Loomly and ManyChat. Loomly is a scheduling platform I chose a few years back after much research. I struggled to find a platform connecting to every platform I posted on. Loomly was the best solution; I have stuck with it ever since. ManyChat is an automated chat-based platform that works with Instagram and Facebook. ManyChat allows me to have easy and automatic call to actions on each piece of content. I promised myself some months back that every piece of content would have a call to action. No more pointless content.
The journey through automation hasn’t been without its learning curves — evaluating the worth of investments like Monday.com and adapting strategies in response to market changes are a testament to the dynamic nature of integrating technology in business. Yet, the payoff in terms of saved time, increased efficiency, and the ability to maintain a personal touch in communications while juggling family life demands has been immeasurable.
As I look to the future, the goal remains: to provide exceptional service to my clients while ensuring that my business operations are as efficient and effective as possible. I like the idea of introducing more automation, but only if it makes sense, and only if it is invisible.
If you are considering the leap into automation, please prioritize choosing tools that align with your business needs and personal philosophy. Automation is not just about leveraging technology for the sake of it; it’s about finding meaningful ways to enhance your service offering, connect with clients, and balance the scales between professional success and personal fulfillment. Ultimately, the automation I’ve set up in my real estate business are more than just time-saving shortcuts; they’re the building blocks of a thriving, client-centered practice that allows me to live the life I love, surrounded by the people who mean the most to me.
Are you interested in mastering the art of creating efficient systems, automating your workflow, and developing a powerful marketing strategy that generates leads even as you rest? All of this without compromising your work-life balance? If so, I invite you to join the waitlist for the course I’m currently crafting. This course is designed to transform your approach to business, ensuring you achieve success and maintain harmony in your personal life. Sign up now to secure your spot and embark on a journey toward seamless productivity and growth. Click here to sign up.
What’s next? Are you seeking both personal and professional growth without sacrificing? We are looking to work with those who are building a business while seeking a balance between family and work, and they don’t want to do it alone. We provide coaching, build-outs, training, step-by-step guides, mentorship, and one-on-one consultations.
Empowering you to build a successful business that complements, not complicates, your family life, offering you the tools and support to make it happen,
With love,
Jo
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