I think the ideal marketing budget for me -- as an agent would be the following necessary items:

$20/month IDX feed from my MLS (this kills me to pay it -- I believe the MLS we already pay dues to should give us this for free. Another moneymaker for the MLS, using our own data to sell it back to us for our use.

$0 - free Wordpress site, set up by either the agent (I do mine myself) or a one-time set up by a consultant, then you manage it yourself. I do this because I want the ultimate control over my own site. I want to be able to do all my own tracking and updating. After having 4 different website vendors in 5 years, I learned in 2011 that I needed to do this myself, and I did. Check out my site to see how it looks: www.SchuylkillRealEstate.com

$40/month IDXBroker. I love their tracking capabilities and reports. The custom links and saved links are a lifesaver when you're doing blogging on neighborhoods. Great SEO!

$200/month ad in real estate journal. Yes I still advertise there, but my ad pushes the buyers to my website. My ad is very different looking from all my competitors with the same ads -- little photo, text, price, call me. My ads are heavy on text, a couple BIG color photos of select houses, and driving people to my website for more info. It works for me.

$75/month for my memberships in Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. I get a lot of referral business from these sources.

$49/month Zillow Premier Agent listing with the free website. Use the free website to build a niche site like mine. Premier Agent status brings you to the top of the list when people search for something on Zillow, and gets your logo/photo on your listings. 

$40/month TruliaPro status and $76/month on buying at least 25% marketshare in my main zip code, 17901.

I am shocked that the ActiveRain infographic they published this month states that agents spend more on their cars than on their own personal marketing. I have always spent my own money on marketing, even when I was an agent. I was surprised how few agents around me did the same. They always want the broker to pay for everything. This is short sighted. You are all captains of your own small business. Small businesses spend money on marketing. $500 is not too much to do this if you are a successful agent. 

 “This post is an entry for the $500 Real Estate Marketing and Tech Challenge.  Learn more about this ActiveRain contest atwww.activerain.com/marketing-challenge.”