As a real estate professional, you know that follow up is essential.  The bigger the purchasing decision, the more important following up gets. Of course, a home is one of the biggest buys the average consumer will ever make--and there is just as much at stake when someone wants to sell their home. 

There  may be three, five, seven, or even more contacts with a prospective client to close a deal, especially if you don't know precisely when they'll be ready to move forward.

Even the most-experienced real estate agents have difficulties following up with prospective leads. For someone building a real estate business from scratch, it can seem there are always more pressing things to do. Still, if you embrace follow up, you'll grow your practice faster.  

The Ideal Time to Follow Up Might Surprise You

When some real estate agents think about making a call--for the first time or to follow up--they often wonder about the "best" day or time.  Of course, what time seems best varies by individual and the results they've had before. Every client is different, so everyone has a different idea about the "best" time!

Success may not hinge on a particular day or time; however, timing is what makes the difference in one truly crucial way.

In short, the "best" time to call is relative--based on the client's needs.  And for most clients, that means right away.

Your best chance to make contact with a lead is within a few minutes of that lead popping up on your radar (i.e., giving you a call, sending you an email, or filling out a form on your website).  Any longer and your odds of getting in touch with that lead can diminish to nearly nil.

Online Leads Help Orchestrate Great Follow Up

To turn following up into a system, you need to be alerted to leads at the moment they happen. There's no better way to do this than by generating online leads. But: What can you do to ensure those leads come in consistently? Does it mean "tweeting" all day long?

The truth is, there are great ways to make your website work for you in lead collection.  It all starts by ensuring your website is equipped to collect leads and forward info to you instantly.

Where do you go from there? Try these methods:

• Give Something Away
  As a real estate agent, you're the expert on the local housing market. If you can distill insights into a form clients appreciate--a quick report on the most popular neighborhoods, for example--they will trade their email addresses for your content, giving you an "in."
• Monitor All Your Channels
  Facebook and Twitter are the two most commonly used platforms for REALTORS®, with LinkedIn clocking in third. If you're active on these platforms, make sure everything is set up so that you get an email alert right away when people interact with you.
  Become a Thought Leader
  Although LinkedIn isn't as well-trafficked as the other social platforms, it is home to many high-value clients. The trick: People on LinkedIn are looking for authoritative, informative articles. If you post these regularly, you can develop a new source of online leads.

Why a career in real estate? Because your work matters! Join BHHS Homesale Realty and we'll help you with the latest techniques and technology to craft your successful business. Contact BHHS Homesale Realty to learn more.