Just curious what you say when you contact a website lead. My initial e-mail is short and to the point. (along the lines of Thank you for visiting my website today. If I can be of any service - whether providing information on the market or helping you to buy or sell a house, please feel free to give me a call at...) I then sign them up for dripmail.

Do you have specific "first contact" wording you use? if so, do you mind sharing?

Thanks in advance!

Why not give them a call ?? Start building a realationship.

I like the warning on your web site ~ can I use that some day??

Cheers ........... Dave

Am wondering if Do Not Call list could apply?

Sorry, I forgot to mention that my website only collects names and e-mail addresses so I'm limited on my initial contact with that (I can't even guarantee they are in TN), so it would be difficult to access a phone number for them.

DNC does not apply (they gave you a phone number, and made an inquiry)

Also... there have been about a million DNC complaints in the last 5 years and a total of 12 fines, mostly to telemarketers utilizing pre-recorded phone messages and massive mortgage broker phone banks in California.

I, too, love, love, LOVE the warning on your website!

And I honor the DNC list not just out of fear of being punished due to violation of the law but out of respect for those who put their names on it for a reason. The real punishment is, if I don't respect that simple request, what else might I not respect while doing business, is likely to be the thought in their mind when I call them in spite of their request not to be called. And what they're likely to pass on to their friends about me.

Well, they gave you their phone number for a reason too.

A professional sales person follows up with all available resources.

But not without checking the DNC list first.

However, what I was responding to there was not calling people who ask you to call them, but the comment regarding the punishment rate of the DNC list, which would seem to advocate playing the odds and calling people on it anyway because of the unlikelihood of being punished. I was just pointing out that the real punishment isn't from law enforcement or fines.

I point out the fine rate to display the hysteria regarding DNC.

Unless you're running a boiler room, or using pre-recorded messages, you have almost no chance of getting fined.

Regarding DNC if a prospect makes an inquiry there is a clear exception in the law.

There is also a statement in the Federal Telephone Sales Rule FAQ that states that the FTC/FCC staff does not anticipate the law being applied to "sellers calling small numbers of personal referrals."

Anyway... you can live in fear of the DNC if you wish.

Tori

Being able to filter your internet leads is fundamental to maximizing your ROI. Do whatever you can to have your web forms changed.

The more information you make the client give you, the more you weed out the tire kickers, and insomniacs.

I make people who ask me for help give me enough info to do a reverse directory search,…. It reduces the time wasted, … and conversion rate is 80%.

Those who see value in what you offer will make it easy for you to reach them.

Good Luck ........ Dave

rwilson, I'm not "in fear of the DNC". I do respect the right of people to put their numbers on there and not be called by people who think it doesn't or shouldn't apply to them, because somehow their commercial calls are "different".

I also respect the fact that first impressions are everything and calling someone who is so annoyed by receiving commercial calls at home that they have put their number on the DNC list makes nothing but a bad first impression - one that can be passed on to friends and acquaintances and business associates of the person so offended.

It has nothing to do with fear and everything to do with (a) respect and (b) recognition that it's in my best interests not to annoy someone who I'm hoping will do business with me.

The chance of a fine is irrelevant. It's the bad image, for me and/or for my company and my industry, that's the important thing, to me.

For the record, I'm on the DNC list, myself, and when someone calls me in spite of that fact, (a) I do report them and (b) I make a note not to do business with them, because if they ignore the fact that I'm on the DNC list, no telling what other little details of business they're likely to ignore.

I just want to get this straight.

If a prospect contacts you and volunteers their phone number... you don't contact them if they are on the DNC?

I say something like this :

I'm your local real estate agent, (my name), and I thank you for signing on my site.

If you have any questions or need any help with your search, I'm here.

You will receive e-mails from me regarding properties that might interest you and are on the market right now!

Please let me know if these listings suit your needs. I may be reached by phone at 510-888-8888

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Then I give them a call to follow up with my email.

rwilson, no. I clarified that in my prior post where I said:

"However, what I was responding to there was not calling people who ask you to call them, but the comment regarding the punishment rate of the DNC list, which would seem to advocate playing the odds and calling people on it anyway because of the unlikelihood of being punished. I was just pointing out that the real punishment isn't from law enforcement or fines.

Then I don't get your issue with me stating facts

I point out the DNC statistics when people point out potential applications which are clearly not a violation of the law.

For example a previous post that stated

I pointed out the number of complaints and actual fines to illustrate how hard it is to run afoul of the actual regulations.

I point this out because too many agents are paranoid about a law that requires an awful lot of effort to effectively violate.

Let's review...

How to get a DNC fine

1. Open a boiler room making thousands of calls a day
2. Make countless pre recorded phone calls

What won't get you a DNC fine

1. Following up on leads and referrals.