I find the best source for marketing to Realtors is to have a brokers open EVERY TIME with an elaborate hot meal on banquet heating servers, two entress, magnificant antipasto garden salad, garlic knots and a selection of beverages.

I send out the invitation WITH THE MENU the night before to all of their email address.  I then fax the invitation and menu to every brokerage within miles with the request to post and distribute.

I have built up a reputation of feeding my target market in a manner they deserve from hard work. 

I have also created a reputation that I am fair and honest to work with and that even though I am the listing agent, they will have an even playing field when it comes to selling my listings.

Virtual tours?  I use them for residential, commercial and business brokerage!  They are on EVERY website I can get them on.

I do not use the "egg" as it makes me nausious to look at the results and it distorts the tours.  I use Visual Tour product which seamlessly sews together overlapping still photos and produces beautiful results.

I also do a 360 of the backyard and stand in the middle of the street for a 360 of the street and all the neighbors...real estate is now global and people are purchasing homes sight unseen by virtual tours.

Virtual tours will also show up first on Realtor.com.

The more photos and virtual tours, the better chance you will have to market the property.

How's that for sharing?

Gail Gladstone, Long Island Realtor

I advertise in "the real estate book".  The first ad I ran resulted a call and a closing before the next ad even came out.  I advertise every month since.  I have used the Pay Per Click...it generates web activity, but usually they don't come of anything.  I have tried the local newspaper...no good for me.

Gail - WOW! That's a fantastic idea. How often do you hold the brokers open? Sounds like a delicious way to make a great impression. What kind of budget are you working with? ;) Excellent suggestion. I might have to make it part of my marketing plan.

Paula - The Real Estate Book sounds like a great way to advertise. Thank you for mentioning the CPC advertising. Although I get plenty of impressions, the click through rate isn't great, and those that do click through don't seem to buy. Thank you for your feedback!

Crystal - Being a Realtor, I think that the best way to market to agents is to talk to them face to face. In our area some of the real estate offices are "closed", but there are still many offices that allow you to walk in and talk to agents. If it were me, I would print up some outstanding flyers that showcase your best work and go to the agent's offices and hand them flyers and ask them about virtual tours. Maybe offer to give them pointers with their own camera. Just be nice and friendly, but show how confident you are in your skills. I think agents will respect the fact that you are trying to help them and be more likely to use your services.

Ryan - Thank you so much for your advice.  It seems that many of the offices in my area are "closed" but I never thought to ask if it would be okay for me to wander back to the Realtor's offices.  I agree that face-to-face time is the most beneficial.  The relationships I build with my clients are based largely on trust.  (They're trusting me with their client. That is a big deal!)

When you say "outstanding flyers," as a Realtor, what words do you want to see?

Crystal - Sorry it took so long for me to get back to you. By "outstanding flyers" I am referring to the photo quality. The agents are going to be focused on price more than anything, but it you can show them that you can produce very high quality photos at an affordable price I think you will be able to get agents to go for it.

I do video tours.  For good clients of mine, I used to offer to give away a free video tour and photography as a 'raffle' prize for their broker open house.  In return, they promote my business in the flyer advertising the open house, and they allow me to be present with a computer and looping videos demonstrating my tours and the opportunity for face time with agents.

It's great exposure.  HOWEVER, realtors just don't GET IT.  I've given away 12 in 2 years (value $379) and only ONE agent has redeemed it.  ONE.  1 Less than Two.  ONE.  Yes.  That's what I said.  ONE.

It's beyond pathetic.  Considering most agents have more listings now than they've ever had at one time in their careers, this just boggles my mind.

These days, I have plenty of word of mouth business from the few agents that DO 'get it', so I don't even both with broker opens anymore.  Besides, nobody attends.  It's not worth transporting the computer over there!

Fred - Thank you for your feedback.  I just don't get it!  You'd think in a buyers market that realtors would use every possible way to market their properties.  By turning away free advertising -- I mean, that's just ridiculous and a big disservice to their clients.  I think this next year is going to be interesting in the world of real estate.  The few realtors that are up for the challenge will be fine but the others are bound to fizzle out.  I'm glad I'm not the only person scratching my head about this.  

Crystal, the best way that worked for me was the Face to Face meetings with the agents...  This is the toughest one, but the most effective as well... 

Also, you may want to run a first time special to get in with some of them (the success rate isn't that great, but all you need is few, then the referrals come through those few that you were able to reach)

Although, thanks to AR, I've received some work from the internet as my google rank went up

Crystal- Of all the things that I use to advertise a listing, Website, Virtual Tour, Fliers, Talking House, and The MLS. There isn't one thing that stands out. It's a combination of everything.

Home View Vide Tours offers video tours starting at $99.  So, price is no longer an issue!