Pat Zaby's
DIGITAL EDGE FOR REALTORS
Strategies that keep your clients coming back—and referring more. Tips and tools to strengthen your real estate connections.

Monday, September 29, 2025

In today's real estate market, success depends on more than just great service; you also need a strong, consistent digital presence. But between showings, closings, and client communication, who has time to plan, research, write, design, and post fresh content regularly? That's where a third-party content service becomes a game-changer.

Creating compelling content isn't as easy as it sounds. Coming up with valuable topics, writing them clearly, making them visually appealing, and publishing them to multiple platforms takes hours. And that's before you even analyze results or try to optimize what's working. The smarter, faster solution? Let a professional service handle it.

Third-party providers bring time-saving efficiency and deliver high-quality content tailored to your audience. With experienced writers, designers, and marketers working behind the scenes, your brand gets the polish and professionalism it deserves—without adding to your to-do list.

You'll benefit from:

  • Consistent Branding: Your voice, logo, and message are kept consistent across email, social, and web.
  • Industry-Specific Expertise: Real estate-focused teams stay current on market trends, helping position you as a knowledgeable pro.
  • Engaging Social Media & Email Campaigns: Active profiles and well-timed messages keep you top-of-mind with your sphere.
  • Diverse Content Formats: From blogs and newsletters to infographics and videos, your marketing covers all the bases.
  • Audience Targeting: Sophisticated tools allow content to be tailored to your ideal client segments.
  • Scalability: Whether you're busy or expanding, your content output keeps up with your growth.
  • Legal Compliance: Professional providers ensure your messaging meets real estate marketing regulations.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: You get a whole team without the overhead of hiring one.

You don't need to do everything yourself to look like a pro. By outsourcing content creation to a trusted third-party service, you free up your time, elevate your brand, and ensure your marketing works for you—even while you're with clients.

If you're ready to elevate your marketing without adding to your workload, InTouch Systems is here to help. We specialize in automated email newsletters and social media posting tailored specifically for real estate professionals.

Visit www.InTouchSystems.com to browse sample posts, watch short explainer videos, and explore what consistent, professional marketing can look like for your business. Take the free trial and see firsthand how InTouch can help you stay top-of-mind, nurture your sphere, and grow your repeat and referral business...without doing it all yourself.

Monday, September 15, 2025

Staying in touch with former clients is one of the most effective ways to grow your business. Even if you've done an outstanding job for them, consistent communication shows that you want to remain their trusted real estate professional for all future needs.

But remember—clients won't stay engaged if all you ever talk about are listings and market stats. The real goal is to be a resource for all things homeownership—not only when they buy or sell, but throughout all the years in between.

Newsletters as a Foundation

A bi-weekly newsletter is an excellent vehicle to share homeowner-focused content. Today's consumer prefers quick, digestible articles, 350 to 600 words, paired with strong visuals. Covering topics like maintenance, seasonal tips, market updates, and financial insights positions you as an ongoing educational resource while keeping your name top of mind.

Additional Ways to Stay Connected

  • Homeowner tips: Share maintenance, gardening, decorating, and entertainment ideas that show you care about their daily homeowner experience.
  • Annual property reviews: Provide an annual snapshot of their home's value, equity growth, and potential tax appeal opportunities.
  • Service providers: Offer referrals to trusted contractors and professionals.
  • Information guides: Provide professional reports on topics like downsizing, rental property, moving, taxes, or the role of a buyer's agent.
  • Personal touches: Remember birthdays, anniversaries, and home purchase dates with a call or note. As the saying goes: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
  • Community calendars: Share schedules of local concerts, festivals, or farmer's markets to connect clients to their community.
  • Customer appreciation events: Host activities such as pie giveaways, shredding trucks, or family picnics to thank your sphere.
  • Local merchant spotlights: Highlight favorite restaurants or shops to provide extra value and strengthen local ties.
  • Financial insights: Simplify concepts like refinancing, equity growth, and investment property benefits.
  • Social media: Consistently post on the top platforms to extend your reach and reinforce your expertise.

Why It Matters

It costs 5...7 times more to attract a new customer than to keep a current one. Building client relationships for life translates into a business that grows stronger year after year and extends far beyond the average retirement age.

With a plan and commitment to long-term connection, your past clients can become lifelong advocates. Consider how InTouch Systems  can complement your efforts and make staying in touch effortless.

Monday, September 1, 2025

The concept of an Emotional Bank Account was popularized by Stephen R. Covey in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and serves as a metaphor for the trust and goodwill built in relationships through positive interactions.

How It Works in Communication

Think of each relationship as having an emotional bank account, where every interaction is either a deposit (building trust and goodwill) or a withdrawal (eroding trust and causing strain). Just like a financial bank account, a healthy balance leads to strong relationships, while overdrafts lead to broken trust and difficulty in communication.

Deposits: Building Trust & Connection

  • Active Listening: Genuinely listening and seeking to understand the other person.
  • Keeping Promises: Following through on commitments and being reliable.
  • Showing Appreciation: Expressing gratitude and recognizing efforts.
  • Being Respectful: Speaking kindly, avoiding sarcasm, and showing empathy.
  • Apologizing Sincerely: Owning mistakes and making amends when necessary.

Withdrawals: Damaging Trust & Connection

  • Breaking Promises: Failing to follow through on commitments.
  • Not Listening: Ignoring or dismissing someone's concerns.
  • Criticism or Harsh Words: Speaking negatively or being overly critical.
  • Lack of Empathy: Being dismissive of feelings or situations.
  • Dishonesty: Any form of deceit or lack of transparency.

The Impact on Communication

This concept applies to everyone, whether you're working with clients, colleagues, or even family and friends. The Emotional Bank Account is a powerful metaphor because trust is built the same way in every relationship. If you're struggling to connect with someone, it might be a sign that your account is overdrawn. Strong, lasting relationships with your sphere of influence require consistent deposits—small actions that build trust over time. Invest wisely, and you'll create connections that lead to long-term success.

Just like with money, the health of your Emotional Bank Account depends on consistent deposits over time. For REALTORS®, those deposits are the newsletters, posts, and updates that educate, inform, and make your sphere of influence better homeowners. Each touchpoint builds trust, credibility, and goodwill ,so when the moment comes for them to make a move, you're the professional they already know and trust.

If you find yourself short on time to make those deposits consistently, that's where InTouch Systems steps in. We'll handle the communication for you, keeping your account full and your relationships strong—so you can focus on what you do best: serving your clients.

National Trainer Pat Zaby

Pat Zaby is a distinguished leader in the real estate industry, serving as a charter member of the Residential Real Estate Council (RRC) and a past national president. With a career spanning over five decades, he has been a senior instructor since 1983, earning recognition as a national speaker, author, and developer.

His extensive contributions have established him as a respected authority in the field. As the co-owner of InTouch Systems, a digital marketing company, Pat continues to provide valuable insights and resources to real estate professionals, helping them thrive in an ever-evolving market.

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Achievements

  • Lifetime Achievement Award 2024 – Residential Real Estate Council
  • Over 200 articles published in national real estate periodicals
  • Senior instructor for the Residential Real Estate Council
  • Convention speaker at the NAR® and numerous franchise and state associations of REALTORS® for over 25 years
  • Past President, Residential Real Estate Council
  • Past President - REALTORS® National Marketing Institute®
  • Recipient of Omega Tau Rho, National Association of REALTORS®
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