The Real Estate Prospecting Hack That’s Blowing Up Our Inbox (In a Good Way) | Rethink Real Estate S4E34

In this tactical episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady reunites with Harcourts Auctions' Director of Marketing, Chris Cochran, to break down a surprisingly effective shift in outreach strategy—leading with a text message before sending an email. Learn why this simple reversal is getting agents up to 20% more engagement and how to apply it directly in your real estate marketing.Chris shares recent campaign data where text-first messaging sparked conversations that emails alone couldn’t. They also explore how this strategy applies beyond auction marketing, from farming your neighborhood to promoting newly sold listings. Whether you're building a pipeline or just trying to cut through the noise, this episode delivers actionable insights on how to make your outreach feel more human—and get actual responses.You’ll also learn the tools that make this scalable, how to avoid spam traps, and how to structure messages that prompt replies (instead of being ignored). If your listings aren't turning into conversations, this episode is your fix.Timestamps & Key Topics:[00:00:00] - Intro: Why This Follow-Up Method Matters[00:01:14] - The Rise of Text-First Prospecting[00:03:26] - What to Say in Your Initial Text Message[00:04:44] - Real Campaign Results: 15–20% Reply Rate[00:06:43] - Turning Listings into Value Conversations[00:07:36] - Why You Shouldn’t Use Just Your Phone[00:08:41] - Preventing Spam Flags & Getting Delivered[00:10:03] - Building Trust When Using a New Number[00:11:35] - Reverse Prospecting: The Right Order[00:13:16] - Final Takeaway: Text Is Where Attention Lives🔗 Related Resources Below:📱 SalesMessage (texting software we use): https://www.salesmessage.com🌐 Learn more about Harcourts Auctions: https://www.harcourtsauctions.com📩 Want our example text/email templates? DM us @harcourtsauctions🔗 Connect with Ben Brady and Harcourts Auctions:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-brady-0b223517https://www.instagram.com/harcourtsauctionshttps://www.facebook.com/HarcourtsAuctions🎧 Enjoyed this episode?✅ Like the video✅ Leave a comment✅ Subscribe for weekly strategies on auctions, listings, and growing your real estate business.