Having a silly e-mail address. Get rid of “cutebutt”—or at least save it for your closest friends—and get a professional e-mail address that looks and sounds like you mean business.- Not using e-mail. When you say to a client, “I’ll have to mail you a hardcopy because I don’t use e-mail” you might as well be saying, “I’m hopelessly behind the times.” Most of today’s buyers and sellers are using the Internet and they expect you to be doing the same.
- Not being on Facebook or LinkedIn. Here again, this communicates that you’re just not with it when it comes to Internet marketing.
- Not having a smartphone or some other way to check e-mail on the go. When clients send you a message, they don’t expect to have to wait until next week to get an answer.
- Getting lost on the way to the property. Between Google Maps and electronic GPS systems, there’s no excuse for not being able to find the home. If necessary, do a dry run in advance so you’re sure you know how to get there.
- Using social networking sites to blatantly advertise yourself or your listings. It’s OK to let people know what you’re doing, but obvious advertising is a no-no.
- E-mailing large files or pictures. Learn to create documents and optimize photos so they download quickly and don’t clog the recipient’s e-mail inbox.
- Sending an e-mail blast to everyone you know. People like getting e-mail that contains valuable information addressed to them. They hate getting e-mail that’s been mass-mailed to them and a hundred other people. It reminds them of that meat product that comes in a can!
