You may have noticed that many of your clients, particularly the younger set, prefer to communicate via text message. In fact, it's estimated that over 8 trillion text messages will be sent this year. Texting is a convenient way of sharing information quickly, but it's not without its pitfalls for professionals.

To help you navigate the sometimes murky waters of today's digital communications trends, we've created this handy list that highlights the dos and don'ts of texting for real estate agents:

DOs

Do keep it professional. Maintain your professional image by using complete sentences and texting during reasonable hours. Avoid overusing abbreviations, emoticons and exclamation points e.g. "c u 2moro @ 5PM :) this house is gr8!!!" This is especially important when texting new prospects with whom you have not yet established a rapport.

Do send photos and videos of listings. Over 62% of mobile phone users in Canada have smartphones. Take advantage of advanced features by texting photos and videos. Sending your clients additional photos of a listing via text message will make them feel like they're getting the inside scoop. You can also create video walkthroughs of a listing to send to busy or out-of-town buyers.

Do respond as soon as possible. People text because it is a more immediate form of communication than a phone call or email. If a prospect texts you, that means he/she is looking for a response sooner rather than later. Reply as soon as possible. Even if you're busy, you can let them know you have received their text and will get back to them within the hour.