Looking for digital tools to streamline your work can be a headache after one Google search returns hundreds of different options.

 

“Technology has really made aspects of the business move more quickly.” (Inman)

 

But fear not, agents, we’ve done the legwork for you by parsing through to find the best tools for success used by other agents. Here are the top 7 tools you can’t live without.

 

Mailchimp

 

Far and away, this easy-to-use platform is enthusiastically reviewed on any software review site.

Whether you’re sending a quick newsletter or property listings, Mailchimp makes communication with clients a breeze. With a clean interface and drag-and-drop features, you’ll have graphic designer-level content even without an artistic (or technical) bone in your body.

Best of all, with Mailchimp you get feedback and analytics for your SEO standing—everything from the strength of your headlines to your click-through rates.

Their platform provides lots of convenient integrations, and they even have free plans, so if you’re a budding agent looking to save, this could be the one.

 

InfusionSoft

 

When it comes to finding your contacts, (and even maintaining current contacts), InfusionSoft is at the top of the game for real estate agents.

With this marketing automation software, each potential client gets sent to a follow-up sequence (much like an email drip campaign), and you get sent reminders to follow-up with each without worrying that you’re over (or under) communicating.

What’s more, you can even “monitor the click patterns of your leads and measure a searcher’s level of engagement, as well as determine his or her real estate preferences.”

Based on those preferences, Infusionsoft will automatically send the user customized content relevant to his or her specifications. Clients put a lot of trust into their agents—after all, buying a home is one of the most important steps in a person’s life.

That’s why this is just one more way to maintain that level of personalization to each customer while also maintaining your own lead growth.

 

Docusign

 

When your clients have their dreams (and bank accounts) weighing on the hopes of scoring a new home, the last thing they want to do is be bogged down in paperwork.

DocuSign makes all of this a cinch, by centralizing documents and completing the signing process in the blink of an eye. It’s great for you, too, since you can juggle more clients at once no matter where you are—in the office, while waiting for potential buyers to arrive for a property showing, or even from a sandy beach while on your hard-earned vacation.

Signatures are saved in the cloud so that everything is safe and permanently retrievable, and you can monitor progress of any signature request for ultimate convenience.

 

Trello

 

Whether you’re collaborating with your internal team or a specific client, project management is a major part of any real estate agent’s worklife.

Think of Trello like a digital pinboard—it’s made up of individual cards that can be moved from specified columns (with their own additional additions) for extreme visual organization at a glance.

The cards allow you to set deadlines, create to-do lists or projects, attach files, and communicate with other participants. Plus, you can monitor the progress of each one throughout its timeline.

 

Slack

 

When it comes to communication, it’s most efficient to have one dedicated spot for messaging, especially for the times when it’s more informal or time-sensitive than an email.

And that’s where Slack comes in. Use it to ping any of your internal team whether from your office, or from your phone while out on an appointment.

You can create a unique channel for each person or group you’d like to keep in a separate but always easily accessible spot. You can even connect here with multiple clients, too, although it’s best meant for the type of communication you’d have with team members.

 

WeVideo

 

Content Marketing in 2018 should be primarily focused on video. 

“In today’s fast-paced world, video marketing is one of the few types of online material that provides the value, relevance and flexibility consumers need, all while catering to the on-the-go lifestyle they want.” (Forbes)

Shoot video of:

  • Open Houses
  • Featured Neighborhoods
  • Seasonal Messages
  • Information pieces
  • Testimonials

This sounds very hard.  I know.  I had sidestepped video marketing for the last 2 years out of fear.

Until I found the WeVideo App.  This app turns your cell phone into a Video Production Studio and it is pretty simple to use.

There is a free version… but if you sign up for their Power Plan, you can get upgraded features and remove the watermark for just $4.99 a year!

Here is a sample video tour of Meadowdale real estate I made using the app.

Matterport

 

Give them more than fact sheets and 2D photos… give them a 3D Experience.

Matterport is not video with 20 images that slide or fade together with music playing in the background.  That is a slide show.  And quite honestly not anything that should be displayed on any listing ever.

Matterport is not a narrated tour of the home with a video camera.  First of all that is not 3D and second the viewer is not in control of the tour.  Although, as I mentioned above, making a true video production of the home is also a great idea.

“…the experience [Matterport 3d Tour] is transformative. I toured a home from thousands of miles away. I remember the master bedroom and how it was connected to the kids rooms down the hall. I remember the ensuite bathroom and the fixtures inside. To this day, it still feels like I have walked through that home”, says Joel Burslem of 1000Watt.

A true 3D Listing Tour puts the viewer in control of where they would like to go and what they would like to see.

 

 

Thanks to these automated tools, you’ll appear more organized, knowledgeable, and professional to your potential buyers. And with all of that time saved on administrative duties, you’ll have more time for personal interaction with your clients—for helping people find the homes of their dreams. And after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?

 

 

Lauren Pezzullo is an east-coast-raised Austinite and musicophile who writes about the latest software trends for TrustRadius. She’s currently at work on her debut novel.