This article was originally published on the Home Value Leads blog.
The real estate industry as a whole has done a good job of adopting technology. From creating their own websites to comprehensive CRMs to VR, real estate agents realize the importance of being up-to-date with the latest and greatest more and more quickly. When it comes to marketing, however, an oldie but goodie that may never be replaced is the business card.
Why Use Business Cards
Real estate agents, as do most professionals, may still be using business cards. However, it doesn't hurt to remember just why they are effective.
Business cards bring a lot of obvious value to both an agent's business and also to the recipient. The contact information, optional image of the agent and social media handles, for example.
People are used to that three-inch-by-two-and-a-half-inch card, too, so it makes their collecting a business card comfortable and easy.
New Ways to Use Business Cards
If you want to provide real value to your real estate leads and perhaps incite more action from you business cards, then make them more valuable! How can you do this? By providing information that someone receiving it may not be expecting and that stands out from the competition.
Creating a business card worth using means getting creative.
One way is to take advantage of the fact that a business card has two sides. On one side, you can include the typical contact information. On the other side, let people know who you really are and what your real estate business is all about.
For example, if you are a real estate agent who specializes in a particular type of property, mention that on the back. Include an image that represents that type of property then include your tag line or simply mention your expertise in a short phrase such as "Your Local Mid-Century Modern Agent". The same goes for specializing in luxury properties, certain areas of town or having a focus on first-time home buyers.
Don't Just Tell...Show
Another way to create value is by including information on a particular extra service you provide. If you subscribe to Home Value Leads, as an example, include the link to your HVL site.
You can decide to brand your cards or simply have one with just your site on them.
Distributing Your Business Cards
Outside of handing your business cards out personally, you can distribute them any number of ways. In one of our precious posts, we gave a few ideas:
- Pay some kid $10 per hour to put cards on all of the windshields at a local mall. (Remember, these are NOT branded, so if it upsets some people, they won't be upset at YOU!)
- Put them in with the check when you pay for lunch/dinner at a restaurant (hopefully, you are a good tipper...)
- Any time someone asks you "How's the market?" you can hand them a business card and say "It's great! Want to know what your home is worth? This site will tell you instantly."
- Social events aren't the best place to talk business, so hand them a card, tell them to request a value, and if they have questions to give you a call.
- Hand them out while you are door knocking.
- Hand them out at Open Houses.
- "If you had someone money, you hand them a business card." is an old adage that would fit well in this scenario. Give them to your doctor, your dentist, your dry cleaner, and the list goes on and on.
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