How can you increase lead capture rate with a full time job?

Question

I'm graduating this August and will be working a FT job.

I've heard that 50% of sellers hang up if they reach an answering machine pre-recorded response. Now I'm not aiming this question to those of you who just started taking your calls live, which I understand is the best way to get experience & learn this business, but I would like to hear from someone who worked a j.o.b. and took sellers leads using a system to eventually run an real estate investment business full time & quit their job.

I understand after your phone system you can:

a. answer calls live (not an option for me until after work)
b. use a virtual assistant to answer your calls live
c. use a live answering service, like PAT live
d. use an answering machine
e. use an internet call capture service

Whatever the system is that works the best, it has to fit in my business model to create repeatable profits. The whole point of me doing this is so I can hit my first goal of $5000 profit or more per month so I can quit my job to run my business full time. I am creating systems so I can outsource a lot of the technician work to others I'll add to my marketing and operations team. I appreciate your input.

Brian P. · Answer

Peter Saw the Hayward thing, are you getting a degree from up on the hill, Cal State? Anyway it brought back memories of taking our dates up there to watch for flying saucers in the 50's. I know you think the question is simple but the fact is on lead capture is whether by getting a immediate contact is worth it. In my career my motto was to get there first-est with the most-est. In the following years I began to question if this effort was worth all the trouble. People that needed an answer to something yesterday and had you jump through hoops usually turned out to be flakes. We didn't have all the tech stuff we have now and I used an answering service that I had answer using my company name, they were told I was out with a client or whatever and would be checking in shortly, and I could return their call then, or at sometime of their choosing which might be more convenient for them. Later with a pager, things were a little better for a quick response. Finally with the walkie- talkie size mobile phones that cost you a buck every time you got a wrong number and a phone bill equal to some peoples income, you had the so called immediate response. You know what?, the day I gave up getting to each caller right now proved to me I wasn't giving up much by using a more relaxed approach. And the quality of the leads I did make contact with actually improved. So I only lost doing business with a lot of time wasters. The occasional real prospect I lost was more then offset by spending that effort on my marketing ten-fold. I don't know what your new job is going to be but some friends of mine are able to take calls on the job with their cell phones, maybe you will be in that position. Plus a good website will reduce some of these calls and maybe a sort of partner where you can help each other out.

Peter Haymond · Answer

Brian I am! You remember Carlos Bee Blvd still? Haha thats awesome! I'm graduating this summer. Yeah I completely agree with you that you just need to get out there and do it. Meaning that innovation isn't the issue: it's execution. How many hours are you spending executing? Likewise you related that you need to get out there and talk to sellers like Matthew said which totally makes sense. By the way, I was totally blown away by the history lesson you gave me there on taking calls and how you advanced your career over time in this industry. I'm going to be proud to one day tell other new investors similar stories when I get older, knowing that less than 10% of them will actually enter the industry and less than 5% will become successful consistently. It's all about setting up systems to build a repeatable profits business right? Thank you again for your time and input on my question. I really appreciate it. Best of luck in your business this year!

Peter Haymond · Answer

Matt I appreciate your response. I'm definitely going to start young (hey I'm 22 right? what better time?) and gain experience this year by talking to sellers while dealing with objections. Thank you again advice man!

Matthew Rose · Answer

Peter, we are in the same boat as far has having FT jobs and goals of getting out of the rat race. What I've found is that using marketing to drive sellers to either an answering machine or website works just fine. On my current lead generating campaign, using PatLive messaging service (not saying use them, sure they're are tons of similar out there), I've had maybe 2 out of 10 hang-ups. The call report will reveal the phone nos. that hung up, if they do not have caller ID blocked. In the past I've used a 24 hr message linked to an answering service, and honestly can't say if it's made a difference. They are basically just taking down info & helping you 'screen-out' leads, and I admit it may make you appear more legitimate as a business to some people. But the actual lead conversion occurs when you are engaging with sellers directly and proposing how you can help meet their needs. No way around that.