You have mentioned some good ideas. It's important that you talk to people and you have to go where they are in order to meet them. Mailings doesn't work as well because everyone else is doing them.

I'm doing a lot of blogging and a lot of public networking.  Wearing name tag all over.  Wearing GMAC shirts out a lot.  Happy hour.  Grocery store is a great place to meet people.  I leave pens with my info everywhere I go.  Get recognized.

I just pick up the phone or go see previous clients and ask them if they know anyone who has any real estate questions or needs to buy or sell, if not I ask if it is okay if I call again in a few weeks and check on them.  I keep calling and asking until I find what I am looking for.

I have to agree with Steve everybody is sending out postcard - go to things that have alot of people and talk.  Good luck

I hired a licensed assistant. We are marketing to Expireds and FSBO's as well as pounding our SOI with positive messages. And blogging -- can't forget about local information.

Hi- I agree with Gary, do what you are doing, wear a name badge, talk to everyone you meet. Have a great day.

Steve - I agree, plus to cost of stamps are going up.  I bet mailers will slow down then.

Gary - I like the happy hour thing :-)

Nannette - Follow up is important

Vincent - Thanks Vincent

Andrew - I've been posting locally like a mad dog...

Thanks all for the comments!

Pam - thank you, you slipped in when I was typing.

Just keep that beautiful smile of yours.  That will work.

Thank you Ken

I agree with Gary.  I am big on personal branding, always wearing my name tag (to the grocery store, local coffee house, favorite lunch spot).  It drives my wife crazy, but it is the least expensive form of "personal advertising."  Thanks to the media, they make our market sound as if it is worse than it actually is.  I had pens and pads of paper made with all of my contact info including website. 

I just did a two-hour time slot at the Home & Garden Show, while it wasn't a great facility for selling a house (new construction - my builder paid for the time spot), I gave out 200 pens and a lot of candy.  Somewhere down the road, it could pay-off with a buyer or seller.

New to AR, I have started to inform my COI and my sellers and buyers of blogging, postlets, etc.  Great new tools to brand yourself!

Garrick - Do you post to localism yet?  I've been doing focusing on posting, but I'm not as artsy as some with their clipart and pictures.  I'm working on it though.

Dorene, you answered your own question, all of the above. One of the most reasonable forms of advertising with a good return on investment is handing out your business card to everyone. Come up with a short introduction when handing out your card. Don't say, "Hi I sell real estate, here is my card." How about saying something like, "My name is ___________, I help families fulfill their dream of home ownership. Thank you, here is my card."

Good Post!

Thanks Michael.