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7 affordable marketing strategies you need

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Morris Real Estate Marketing Group

7 affordable marketing strategies you needThis post was originally published on Inman.

Whew. Where did the time go? The new year is here, and it is time for a fresh start to all of your real estate marketing initiatives. There is no doubt you want this year to be even better than last year. Kick off 2016 with a good start so you can generate more referrals and repeat clients.

Luckily, it can be done. With a systematic and strategic approach and some out-of-the-box ideas, you can jumpstart your marketing success.

Here are 7 affordable marketing strategies you need to succeed in 2016:

1. Pick five of your best clients to reach out to, and ask for testimonials

Testimonials tell prospects and colleagues that you have a reputation for building long-lasting, solid relationships with clients. They also make all your marketing communications and presentations more believable.

Because this is a new year and a fresh start, it’s the perfect time to reach out to some clients you have not received testimonials from yet.

It's the perfect time to reach out to clients and you have not received testimonials from yet.

2. Record a podcast of yourself

A podcast is a digital audio file people can listen to. It does not include video. In the podcast, interview past clients, home renovation experts, or talk about market trends.

Then upload and host the podcast on your website. Promote it across your social channels, email marketing, and direct mail to get the word out about it and attract an audience.

3. Create an animated video

This idea might seem intimidating, but there are many creative professionals out there who could help you make this fun, innovative video. Use it to bring your brand identity to life in an entertaining, creative way. It will definitely set you a part from your competitors.

4. Become a columnist in a local newspaper or magazine to share your expertise

Visibility is key to increasing brand recognition and allowing prospects to learn more about you. Thought leadership through content creation is a perfect outlet for that visibility.

It also provides valuable information to a target audience, allowing you to come across as an attentive and helpful real estate expert.

Visibility is key to increasing brand recognition and allowing prospects to learn more about you.

5. Create a Pinterest board to showcase your listings

Pinterest is an ultra-visual social media platform, so it’s a great channel to showcase your listings. Create an individual board to display all of your newest listings.

Label it “January listings” or “Winter 2016 listings,” and keep it updated with appealing images, website links and descriptions.

6. Get some useful items branded, and give them away

Just like becoming a thought leader is great for visibility, so are branded items such as bottle openers, t-shirts, and for more ideas click here. Be creative with the products you choose.

Pass them out at events, open houses and showings. If it’s something useful, your clients and prospects will use it on a regular basis and consistently be exposed to your brand, which keeps you top-of-mind.

7. Shoot a video of yourself

Upload your video to YouTube, and share is across your social channels, email newsletters and other communication channels. Nowadays you don’t need expensive video equipment to create videos.

If you have a smartphone that captures decent image and sound quality, you should be good to go. Keep the video short and to the point, and use it to cover the most useful information possible.

These 7 affordable marketing strategies you need will help you garner attention, leads, and referrals. Cheers, and have a great new year with a stellar marketing plan.

Key Takeaways

  • You don't have to keep doing the same marketing tactics year after year, silently hoping for better results.
  • It's time to incorporate some fresh, innovative ideas into your plan and benefit from an increase in referrals and repeat clients.

We offer The Referral Marketing System which includes: direct mail, email newsletters, website, and the best real estate CRM that will help you manage your entire real estate business.

Contact us today to find out more and get the first month free: http://www.morrismarketinggroup.com/the-referral-marketing-system/special-offer/

 

Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

Hi Lina Poka, MBA - Great List!  I already am doing 1-3-5 .  I am procrastinating on the others.  But this is going to help me motivate myself to to the video.  I am going to go to BLAB instead of doing the podcast.  IF you are not familiar with it you should check it out.  I think this may be a great alternative to podcasts.  It is live video tied to twitter. 

Jan 14, 2016 08:49 AM
Anonymous
Janet Thompson

Great ideas, Lina, thanks for sharing. It helps to be different, to stand out from the sea of other Realtors.

Jan 14, 2016 08:51 AM
#7
Janet Thompson
First Team Real Estate - Aliso Viejo, CA
"Let me help you with your real estates neeeds"

Great ideas, Lina, thanks for sharing. It helps to be different, to stand out from the sea of other Realtors.

Jan 14, 2016 08:53 AM
Jerri McCombs, Broker/Owner
Dogwood Real Estate Services - Hendersonville, NC
Hendersonville Living

I think the referrals are such an under used way of showing how we are doing with past clients. And free is the best kind of advertising we can get! Thanks for the reminder!

Jan 14, 2016 09:06 AM
Anonymous
Jerel Richardson

Great advice. Fiverr.com might be able to help with an animated video. I had them create a cartoon and a caricature for me and they did a good job.

Jan 14, 2016 10:21 AM
#10
Jerel Richardson
HomeSmart Realty Group - Portland, OR

Great advice. Fiverr.com might be able to help with an animated video. I had them create a cartoon and a caricature for me and they did a good job.

Jan 14, 2016 10:22 AM
F U
nobody - Alamance, NT
Dead

Good tips, we just had a fashion photographer come take up to date pictures, action shots and launch a new website. The phone hasn't stopped ringing, update yourself, best idea yet.

Jan 14, 2016 11:08 AM
Mandi Null
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN

I loved reading your blog Lina! These are great tips and I'm saving this blog so that when I have my license I have a great plan for my marketing! Thanks so much for sharing this great knowledge!

Jan 14, 2016 10:21 PM
Morris Real Estate Marketing Group

Thank you Mandi, I really appreciate it!

Jan 19, 2016 06:08 AM
Eva B. Liland Century 21 Doug Anderson
Century 21 Doug Anderson - Lancaster, CA
Glad to be of Service 661-714-1643

Some great ideas Lina! Any suggestions on how to do a podcast, maybe a link? Thanks again.

Jan 14, 2016 10:26 PM
Morris Real Estate Marketing Group

Glad you enjoyed the post Eva B. Liland with Century 21 Doug Anderson 


Here is a podcast link: http://www.digitaltrends.com/how-to/how-to-make-a-podcast/ 

Jan 19, 2016 07:11 AM
Vera Gonzalez
RE/MAX Suburban, Inc. - Sterling Heights, MI
Gonzo For Real Estate

It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes "If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got."

Jan 15, 2016 12:04 AM
Mary Hutchison, SRES, ABR
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate-Kansas City Homes - Kansas City, MO
Experienced Agent in Kansas City Metro area

I've never thought of creating a pinterest board with listings. I'm not a pinterest user but I can see how this would be useful. Thanks for the tips!

 

Jan 15, 2016 12:27 AM
John Dotson
Preferred Properties of Highlands, Inc. - Highlands, NC - Highlands, NC
The experience to get you to the other side!

Lina,  I have tried Pinterest for my office and have not seen the interest - no pun intended - that I had originally thought it might generate.  At first I thought it would be great to put up all the listings we had, but after awhile I realized it takes a lot of work to keep another set of information up to date.  I finally started putting up scenic pictures of our area and that did get a few folks to "re-pin" but still not something I am excited about.  Maybe an assistant would help...

Kinda the same on a newspaper column - it does take some diligence to come up with a new topic every week or so.  Especially one that is local-market focused.  I did find out that you can buy in to a real estate related writing service that will provide new and fresh columns when you need them.  Now, that was easy!

Jan 15, 2016 02:12 AM
Debbie & Rick Miller
Paradise Realty of SW FL LLC - Fort Myers Beach, FL
Fort Myers Beach Real Estate

Good advice. I was recently updating my listing presentation and didn't have any from this past year to include.

Jan 15, 2016 05:36 AM
Laura Anderson
White Bear Lake, MN

Thanks, Lina!  I do a few of these and am intrigued by a few others.  Great post.

Jan 15, 2016 05:59 AM
Ron Aguilar
Gateway Mortgage Group - Saint George, UT
Mortgage & Real Estate Advisor since 1995

I know agents are busy but you need to accomplish most of this list. Pick a slow day and get it done...

Jan 15, 2016 07:40 AM
MaryBeth Mills Muldowney
TradeWinds Realty Group LLC - Braintree, MA
Massachusetts Broker Owner

2016 is going to be a great year for real estate and with your ideas it is sure to be even better than we anticipated.  Thank you Lina Poka for your ideas!

Jan 15, 2016 10:50 AM
Dan Derito
Success! Real Estate - Brockton, MA

These are all good ideas Lina. 2016 should be the year of expanding into video, and I agree with MaryBeth that it's going to be a good one.

Jan 17, 2016 04:10 AM
Randy Elliott
RE/MAX Gold - Lodi, CA
REALTOR : Lodi / Stockton, CA

Great tips, Lina. It's always a good idea to showcase ourselves in our best light. Branding and promoting is always going to be important. 

Jan 18, 2016 10:44 AM
Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Great creative thinking!  I still haven't done video, maybe too shy!  I'll give it a whirl someday.  Love your other ideas with branded items, too. 

Jan 26, 2016 02:27 AM
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

These are some great marketing strategies Tony Cesario. They are especially good for those who are really into social media.

Mar 05, 2016 02:57 PM