Posts Tagged ‘generation y’
I Sent My Real Estate Agent A Text Message And He CALLED Me!
Friday, October 1st, 2010
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again communicating with Generation Y is so important if you want to appeal to a very large group of people on the market right now.
Still, for most of you, Facebook, Twitter, and especially texting seems like a foreign language.
To help ease the frustration that may come with texting and sometimes even emailing the Generation Y group, here is a quick list of text abbreviations your Gen Y clients may be using. Use it as your cheat sheet. Print it out on a piece of paper and keep it with you throughout your day.
Text Abbreviation Cheat Sheet:
• IDK: I don’t know
• BRB: Be right back
• TTYL: Talk to you later
• LOL: Laughing out loud
• L8r: Later
• 2moro: Tomorrow
• BTW: By the way
• B4: Before
• TX: Thanks
• G2G: Got to go
• TY: Thank you
• NP: No problem
• .02: Your (or my) 2 cents worth
• TMI: Too Much Information
• 4COL: For Crying Out Loud
• JK: Just Kidding
• AFAIK: As Far As I Know
• CULA: See You Later Alligator
• BOT: Back on Topic
• : – ) or =) Smiley Face
• 
Big Smile
• 
Frown
• ; ) or ; – ) Winky Face
• 
Cheeky, Playful
• :-O Surprise, Shock
• :’( Crying
• : | Straight Face; Grim
• : – / Skeptical
• ^5 High Five
When you see it spelled out for you, it seems to make perfect sense. But when you are in the midst of your day and you receive a text from your FTHB (First Time Home Buyer) client saying “IDK how I feel about it yet 
I G2G to class & will call u L8r or 2moro 
,” you can whip out your cheat sheet and figure it out right away.
Also, note that a lot of phones now make the Emoticons available as a texting option. You simply have to put your phone into “Emoticon” mode while texting and you should find a variety of smiley faces, sad faces, winky faces, etc. – already typed out for you.
We hope this short list helped. There are a lot of other ways that Generation Y is shaking up the way we do business today. We are guessing next on your list will be social networking. We’re here to help with that as well. We all are aware that Facebook and Twitter are making a big impact on the Real Estate world. Just like texting, there is no use fighting it. If you can’t beat em’, join em’!
TTYL!
Carrie Gable and the team at RealSupport, Inc. are our “VA Quick Tip” columnists offering expertise in real estate marketing, technology and more. RealSupport’s office and team of 9 full-time staff members is located near Chicago, IL. Their successful team works virtually for many top real estate agents and brokers nationwide. Pioneers in the Real Estate Virtual Assistant industry, RealSupport offers marketing, branding, website and logo design, listing marketing, lead generation, technical support, transaction management, social networking, blogging and much more… Just ask!
Click to Text Widget for Your Website and Blog
Friday, May 14th, 2010Last week we wrote about speaking the language of Generation Y. With all that we know about this demographic, it only makes sense to offer as many avenues of communication for them as possible on your website. Here is a widget that will allow your prospects to send you a text message from your website and/or blog – best of all – it’s free! Keep reading to find out more and follow the 3 easy steps to get this widget installed on your own website and/or blog…
What is it?
It is a no pressure way for your prospects to contact you via text message, while browsing your website. Simply paste the code that is given to you on your website and a small form appears that allows visitors to text you via the website. This sends a text message to your cell phone. And get this, you now have their cell phone number so you can send a text message back! Think of this as another lead capture form for your website. You’ve now got a hot prospect’s cell phone number!!
However, let me warn you – DO NOT CALL THEM.
Whether you’re dealing with a Generation Y’er or a Boomer, you must adapt to the way THEY want to communicate with you. If someone opts to text you from your site, they do not want a phone call. If they wanted a phone call, they would have called. Use this opportunity to start a relationship using texting as your avenue of communication. At some point, you’ll have the opportunity to ask if you can call them or if they can call you, but again, I warn you, do not do this too early in the relationship. Let them begin to feel comfortable with you via texting first! Bottom line, you must speak your prospects language!
In three easy steps you can start capturing these prospects on your own website:
1) Download the Code:
Go to http://www.realestatetechnologyonline.com/widget/ and fill out the form. You’ll need to indicate your cell phone number as well as indicate your cell provider so that the widget can generate the appropriate code for you. You can choose from two different widgets, both are very nice and sleek. Here’s a screenshot of the two options:
After you fill out the form to receive your widget, you’ll be given a text box with the html code for your very own widget. Copy that code.
2) Adding the Widget to Your Website
If you’re not too tech savvy, you may need help with this part, so send the the code to your webmaster, website service provider, or virtual assistant (or better yet, just send them to this blog and ask them to implement this for you). Indicate where on your site you would like the widget to be placed.
If you know html code, great! Add this code to your website, putting it in the place you want your widget to appear.
3) Test the Widget
Regardless of who ads this widget to your website for you, you’ll want to test the service to make sure it is working properly! (UPDATE: This widget will not work on WordPress without installing a plug-in that will allow you to post iFrames. Email me if you need more information on this!)
You’re now in business and soon you’ll be communicating to this new and exciting generation that is entering the real estate market with money in their pockets and an eager drive to buy their own home. This widget may also work on your blog and perhaps some of the social networking sites!
Share your experiences with us please. We are excited to hear how this will work for you!
Carrie Gable of RealSupport, Inc. is our “VA Quick Tip” columnist offering expertise in real estate marketing, technology and more. RealSupport’s office and team of 9 full-time staff members is located near Chicago, IL. Their successful team works virtually for many top real estate agents nationwide. Pioneers in the Real Estate Virtual Assistant industry, RealSupport offers marketing, website and logo design, branding, lead generation, technical support, transaction management and more.
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