If you don’t have specialized software for SMS communication in your real estate business, you can still effectively manage SMS through the following methods: 1. Use Your Phone’s Built-In Messaging App • Organize Contacts: Save your clients, leads, and business partners in groups (e.g., “Buyers,” “Sellers,” “Leads”). • Templates: Create and save message templates for common responses or outreach messages. • Schedule Messages: Many smartphones allow you to schedule messages for follow-ups or reminders. 2. Google Voice or Similar Services • Google Voice offers free texting with a dedicated business phone number. • You can access messages from your phone or computer, making it easy to manage. • It’s great for separating personal and business communications. 3. Email-to-SMS • Use your email service to send texts via SMS gateways. Most carriers provide an email-to-SMS feature (e.g., for Verizon:
[email protected]). • This is especially useful for bulk or scheduled messages. 4. Use Free or Low-Cost SMS Tools • Tools like TextNow, WhatsApp Business, or Signal can offer a temporary solution. • These tools often support multimedia messages, group chats, and auto-replies. 5. Leverage CRM-Like Tools with Free SMS Features • HubSpot (free version): Includes basic CRM functionality where you can log interactions, including manual texts. • Trello or Notion: Use these for tracking follow-ups and logging conversations. 6. Excel or Google Sheets + Copy-Paste • Organize contacts and messages in a spreadsheet. • Copy and paste personalized messages directly into your SMS app for manual outreach. 7. Upgrade Over Time • Start small but plan to integrate software like Twilio, EZ Texting, or a CRM like Podio or REI BlackBook as your business grows.