Most local businesses spend thousands of dollars acquiring new leads, while completely ignoring the hundreds or thousands of contacts sitting dormant in their CRM or spreadsheet. Reactivating old leads is the fastest, cheapest way to generate cash flow on demand.
The 9-Word Email/SMS Strategy
Pioneered by real estate investor Dean Jackson, the 9-word message is designed to restart conversations without being salesy. It simply asks a direct question:
“Hi [Name], are you still looking for a [Service]?”
For example: 'Hi Sarah, are you still looking to get your roof repaired?' or 'Hi John, are you still interested in booking a dental cleaning?'
The 3-Step Reactivation Campaign
- Step 1: Segment your list. Separate past customers (who might want to buy again) from unconverted leads (who inquired but never booked).
- Step 2: Craft an irresistible offer. 'We have 3 openings next week for a discounted AC tune-up. Reply YES if you want one.'
- Step 3: Send via SMS. Text messages have a 98% open rate compared to 20% for email. Always include an easy opt-out.
Handling the Responses
When you run a reactivation campaign, be prepared for an influx of messages. Have your calendar link ready, or use an AI-driven SMS bot to handle the scheduling automatically so you don't get overwhelmed.
