Chris Dowell works in Kansas City, one of the Top Markets For Real Estate Agents, according to an Inman Special Report.
Chris “CD” Dowell is a self-described “Kansas City Real Estate Specialist” and he has the Twitter followers to prove his “Specialist” credentials. Dowell sells real estate in one the US’s hottest markets and he is using all of the latest technology to do it.
Dowell, a graduate of the Kansas State University School of Engineering, bolsters his lead-generating websites with the economic data that buyers need to make smart decisions in a challenging economy. Dowell let InmanNext in on which technologies help his business thrive.
What is the #1 “tech challenge” you are faced with?
The #1 challenges are staying up with the trends and mobile access for consumers.
Are you involved in social networking – I.e. Facebook and Twitter. If so, briefly tell us how you use it to build your business. If you are not, please tell us why.
I have over 4500 friends on Facebook, 20,000 followers on Twitter, 200+ readers on my blog daily and now I’m using Google+. Anytime a prospect connects with me, I use my online social media tools to find their hobbies, likes and dislikes. My goal is to connect with my prospects and try to make them my clients.
Do you use tools to work “paperlessly” like Docusign or DotLoop? Why/Why not? How important is that to you?
We use Docusign and find that it saves us lots of time and gas.
Tell us about your website and/or blog – how many leads do you generate from your site on a monthly basis? Is that an important part to your business?
I have several websites with many of them ranking high on Google. They are the #1 source for prospects for my real estate team. In a typical month, we’ll generate 500 prospects. I use sites like Compete, iwebtool.com, Hubspot, Google Keyword Tool, and Google Analytics to help get our site ranked high on the search engines. High ranking on search engines is essential for reaching sellers.
How important do you feel content creation is to your business – I.e. social media posts, blogging, email newsletters? Do you create content yourself or do you outsource part of it?
I believe content creation is important. I have hired out to social media experts to produce material but it is not nearly as effective as doing the work myself. In a typical day, I will write about a question that has been presented to me by a real buyer or seller. My Facebook updates, Tweets, and blog posts have been very effective in connecting me with new clients, and sellers connecting with potential buyers.
How do you balance your time? Are there any tools you use to make juggling everything easier?
Balancing my time is hard. I use applications and programs like HootSuite, Blog This!, SGPlus, Ping.fm, OnlyWire, and ScribeFire to help me with social media.
What is the most important tech tool or app you use on a daily basis?
Google Voice on my Android Based HTC MyTouch Phone
What type of smartphone do you use? iPhone, Droid, Blackberry?
Android HTC MyTouch
Do you use a tablet device? How has it changed your business?
I have 2 tablets, a Netbook and a couple laptops. My phone is #1. I can’t live without it. When it rings, we’re making money!
What is a specific lead generation campaign that you did in your local market that worked well and why?
I made a series of blog posts and videos about the real facts of “Why Short Sale”. Although we had no one directly call us and say they saw our videos, the series of blog posts worked well. We got 7 direct short sale clients within 60 days.
Interested in seeing more “Agent Profiles” at InmanNext? Please leave us a comment.
