How I Run My Business for $13/month

Just starting out as a realtor? Or maybe you're a seasoned pro looking to cut costs without sacrificing productivity? Either way, you know the struggle of balancing a tight budget with the need for powerful tools. Let's explore how you can leverage these tools to boost your productivity and grow your client base. 

(PS I only share about companies that I truly believe in, and some of the links in this content are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them.)

Budget-Friendly Real Estate Tools: Website, Marketing Automation, and More for Under $13/Month 

There is nothing wrong with spending money to get the tools and resources you need to run your real estate business. Part of the fun in owning a business is deciding the best way to run everyday processes. However, it can be stressful to choose from the zillions of options especially if you are looking to keep a tight budget. Even when I have a bigger budget for my business, I like to keep the back end expenses low (without sacrificing quality) in order to spend more on fun things like taking clients to coffee, business photoshoots, and stuff like that. Here are the tools I use to run my business on a budget without sacrificing quality.

Website: This whole website is built using Google Sites, a free platform for anyone with a google email address. I like how easy it is to get the functionality and aesthetics I want without needing to know how to code. I run my business using a lot of the Google Suite apps, like Google forms, and they integrate easily with Google Sites. I used to use Wix for my website, but it wasn't as user friendly to develop or maintain. Plus, I did not need a lot of the capabilities Wix offers like selling products or log in feature. Additionally I like the storage capabilities of Google Sites compared to the free version of Wix. I do pay to have my own domain, but it is the equivalent of $2 every month. (Basically order a smaller size coffee every month, and the cost will be covered!)

Canva: A lot of the realtors I work with use Canva Pro, and it works great for them! Having an easily accessible library of layout, images, and graphics streamlines their business. Additional features like the branding kit help ensure consistency across designs and easy access to logos and headshots. I use the free version of Canva and use project folders to create my own "branding kit." This hack allows me to easily access brand images, fonts, and headshots for my business without paying for Canva Pro. I also use Adobe Stock free images since the free version of Canva has a limited selection of pictures. The one draw back I have experienced with the free Canva account is storage limitations. I only had this problem when working on several personal large projects at the same time. (For example, I uploaded a lot of my wedding pictures to design a wedding album. That was close to 800 pictures...) When I just use my Canva to make marketing and social media posts for my business, the free version is more than enough!

Zapier: I use the free version of Zapier to automatically send emails when people fill out the Google Forms on my website. This is similar to what Flodesk does, but Flodesk is around $35/month. I will say that Flodesk is awesome! It is definitely worth the price because you can send unlimited emails every month. Zapier just works for me for now! I have helped agents set up emails, forms, and workflows in Flodesk, and I am impressed at how easy it is to tailor the value you share with different segments of your database. (Plus for KW agents, you can use a FREE Zapier account to automatically import contacts from Zapier to Command!) When I need to scale my business and send a higher volume of emails in the future, I will switch to Flodesk in a heartbeat! 

(PS Click here to get 50% off one year of Flodesk!🥳)

Google Workspace: I pay for the individual google business account. It is $11/month, and it grants me access to more storage, longer Google meet calls (which I actually haven't needed yet...), and my personal favorite feature - Google Layouts in Gmail. Layouts differ from typical templates because they allow you to really showcase your brand. I love how you can insert pictures, links, and layouts that are user friendly and professional. A bonus about Google Layouts is that most realtor emails provided by brokerages offer this feature! That means you wouldn't have to pay extra to utilize this feature. As I mentioned earlier, the most practical way I have found to implement this tool is for transaction emails, but it could also work for newsletters if you have your entire database in Google contacts. (I recommend doing research on email sending limits for your specific google account before adding all your contacts to Google.) My second favorite feature is scheduling capabilities through Google Calendar with a paid Google account. For example, I set up the consultation link on my website's home page using this feature. (Click here to see what scheduling through Google calendar looks like.)

Google Forms: I briefly mentioned how Google Forms integrates smoothly with my Google Site which is SO convenient! I also like that it keeps all my contacts in Google since that is the program I run my business out of. Admittedly Google Forms does not look as sleek as Flodesk forms (which you can also use on Google Sites by the way!), but it suits my needs. I use the forms to collect client information and send them value much like realtors do for their clients. For example, I use this form to send out a freebie. With Google Forms, I can have people sign up for different segments just like in Flodesk; it just takes a little more set up on the front end to streamline sending them the right info. However, I enjoy that kind of set up, and it does not take me a lot of time. Even Flodesk requires some time to set up your different drip campaigns, segments, and templates, so it really just depends what works for you, and Google Forms works for me. (But if Flodesk is more your speed, Click here to get 50% off one year!🥳)

Regardless of how long you have been in business, you can be successful without spending the big bucks!

By leveraging free and affordable tools, you can streamline your operations, boost productivity, and attract more clients. Remember, success isn’t solely determined by your budget. It’s about how you utilize your resources and implement smart strategies. So, don’t let financial constraints hold you back! You are capable of greatness!

If you want more ideas of tools to use in your real estate business, sign up for my newsletter to join the community of agents who are taking their systems to the next level. You are a next level agent, and your tools should be next level, too! (Don't forget that next level tools aren't always the most expensive though! 😃)