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Marketing Yourself....Holiday Gifts

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with CELLing Realty CalBRE #01445865

Life is full of surprises, and it is full of the unexpected.  This is supposed to be the slow time in our Real Estate Market- the Holiday Season. This is supposed to be the time we spend more time with our family and friends....time to give thanks, and time to reflect and plan for the coming year.

While times are slower, and some people's financial situations might be a little uncertain, Nature has some Wonderful Gifts for all of us. If you need to give a gift......Photography can be a great gift.

December in Hawaii

 

December in S. Calif 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos make great Holiday (or anytime) Gifts, and Great Marketing Tools.  Your Clients, Family, Friends, and Just about anyone appreciates Custom Gifts.  

  • Puzzles- This can be of the Grandkids, Kids, Adults, a Certain Home, anything...
  • Mousepads  - customize for anyone that uses a computer, useful and unique
  • Calendars - almost any Drug Store can make these if you don't have a Photo Printer, or order online
  • Personalized Thank You Cards -  (we all need Thank You Cards, and they can be done inexpensively, yet Professionally)
  • Stamps- This is a great gift for anyone.....(this is just one of many sites....Oprah recommended this site ) You can even put your logo, Web site, anything to Market Yourself (just make sure if you use words they can be read)

Another Photo Tip:  If you have a Photo Printer you can change the setting and use Watercolor Paper (it's not photo paper) to really get a special print for framing.......play with the settings first. I use this to get a special effect on my Prints.

 

Nature gave me this Gift this morning, and I'm sharing it with all of you :) :)  Happy Holidays..........

December in S. California

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by:   Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty 

Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Ryan-it's quick and easy to sign up for an account....I just did it, however the puzzles are 24.95 or $10 more for a larger wooden one.......my old Photo site where I made everything closed down recently after years, they were less expensive on Puzzles, but about the same for the mousepads.....it was a great site but a little research and you can find another place to make these.....I like the Dazzle site.
Dec 10, 2007 06:50 AM
Faina Sechzer
Henderson-Sotheby's International Realty - Princeton, NJ
Real Estate Expert - Princeton, Montgomery ,Hopewell, NJ
Kathy -these are great sites to know. I will have to check them out later as I am on the computer for just a few minutes. Your photos are gorgeous.
Dec 10, 2007 08:18 AM
Vickie Barrington
Bluewater Real Estate - Atlantic Beach, NC
Carteret County Real Estate
Kathy these are great pictures. They look like a postcard. You are also a great photographer and you have given me some great ideas. Thanks!  Do you think I mentioned great enough?
Dec 10, 2007 10:11 AM
Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker
Kathy - Okay, that is good to know. I think the puzzles will cost too much. The max tax deduction for a gift is $25. I can get 18oz smoked salmon fillets in really nice custom boxes for $22.00.
Dec 10, 2007 10:17 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Vickie- that's funny....yea, you did mention Great a few times :)  Your imagination is the only thing that would limit you when it comes to using photographs as a  part of a gift.....

Ryan- True, but not everyone likes smoked Salmon....and once I ate it I am done with it :)  Maybe the Puzzle idea at that company isn't the best option.....for the tax man....I am done with my holiday gifts, but if I find another good company for less I'll let you know :)

Dec 10, 2007 12:09 PM
Joeann Fossland
Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ
Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents
Kathy  Your photos are great and so is the discussion you've spawned. How about taking a photo of the house the buyers have decided on and using the B&W option to make some coloring pages for the kids!
Dec 10, 2007 12:25 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Joeann- that's a great idea.....and you could even carry that one further.....do a few houses (listings), with maybe an address, and make coloring pages for people that come to see them....you know how kids always show the art work to the parents w3hen they're done......and sometimes it gets hung on the fridge.....:)
Dec 10, 2007 12:29 PM
Midori Miller
Talk 2 Midori, LLC - Daytona Beach, FL
Online Marketing For Real Estate Professionals
Kathy-your photo's are breathtaking!  I really love the last photo.
Dec 10, 2007 01:13 PM
Susan Trombley
Trombley Real Estate - Wake Forest, NC
Broker/Realtor, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest, Youngs
Amazing what we think about in the wee hours of the day. I hope you got some sleep along with those great ideas.
Dec 10, 2007 01:15 PM
Ann Heitland
Retired from RE/MAX Peak Properties - Flagstaff, AZ
Retired from Flagstaff Real Estate Sales

Great ending picture -- doesn't look like California! But then, the picture on my post today won't look like Arizona to most people.

BTW, the stamp option is pretty expensive - I've checked it out on the USPS site.

Dec 10, 2007 01:17 PM
Erby Crofutt
B4 U Close Home Inspections&Radon Testing (www.b4uclose.com) - Lexington, KY
The Central Kentucky Home Inspector, Lexington KY

Cute photo!

 Keep the snow to yourself!  Thanks.

Dec 10, 2007 01:17 PM
Ryan Martin
Pacific Continental Realty, LLC - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Commercial RE Broker
Kathy - I would like to find an inexpensive puzzle company. Let me know if you come across one.
Dec 10, 2007 01:31 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Midori- thanks....I loved it when I saw it and just glad it actually turned out, as my other "better" truck one didn't :)

Susan- Sleep what's that :)  My mind pops up with ideas 24/7 :)

Ann- I am coming to see your new pictures....and when I ordered my stamps they were only a few cents more than the normal postage which made the "gift" not so expensive since they could actually use it.  Mine was a BIG hit with the client:) :)  but yes, if we don't do our own photography gifts they can get somewhat expensive.....I say pick and choose....there is always someone we need or want something different, or unique, and will spend the extra dollar for.  Mostly I make my own things, except mousepads of course :)

Erby- Oh but I love to share :) :)

Ryan- You got it :) :)

Dec 10, 2007 02:27 PM
Julie Neerings~Lifting Hearts ♥ Building Dreams~
Agent Referral - Salt Lake City, UT
Kathy-Your posts are so well put together.  I love the way you present each post with time and care and that shows what kind of person you are to your clients as well.  You have some really wonderful ideas in your post and the pictures are great.  Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us my friend.
Dec 10, 2007 06:14 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Julie- Thanks....I try to do my best for all clients and anyone that wants to buy or sell in my area :)
Dec 10, 2007 07:11 PM
Jacqueline Fortier
JC Penny Realty - Davenport, FL
Homes for Sale in Central Florida

Great Ideas Kathy!

I love the snowman with a shovel.  ^_^

Dec 11, 2007 07:53 AM
Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed

Wow Kathy, what a beautiful photo. Is it really snowing in Banning?

Dec 11, 2007 09:43 AM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate

Jackie- Thanks.....:)

Teri- Yea, it was really snowing in Banning....I took this picture about 8:30 or 9ish in the morning....it had stormed all night, then in the morning the sun was out, blue skies, and mostly white clouds....it was beautiful :)

Dec 11, 2007 10:27 AM
Joeann Fossland
Advantage Solutions Group - Tucson, AZ
Master Certified Coach to Motivated Agents
Kathy, I like the taking the coloring book idea farther! This is such a great brainstorming venue!
Dec 11, 2007 12:20 PM
Kathy McGraw
CELLing Realty - White Water, CA
Riverside County CA Real Estate
Joeann- I love it when people put their heads together to come up with ideas :)  thanks for being a part of the brainstorming......
Dec 11, 2007 01:05 PM