8 simple real estate marketing tips... and looking for more!

Holly!!

First of all, let me say that I LOVE this post!!! It's right up my alley...and I like the things you're already doing!! GOOD FOR YOU!! I especially like the branding you've done with Holly and the Holly Barr Bar (of course, I'm a confirmed chocoholic, so it's not too surprising that I'd like THAT idea!)

In any case, I own a company that specializes in real estate marketing for agents. Before starting FlyersToYou seven years ago, I enjoyed a successful real estate career here in Southern California.

One of my most effective tools...was actually one of the least expensive and least time consuming. It was a jumbo gloss postcard that said in big bold letters on the front: "Dave Daniels Announces Another Real estate Transaction In YOUR Neighborhood!"

But there was a catch.

They weren't necessarily MY transactions. Now, before anyone gets upset...you have to read the entire reply here. Nothing "fishy" was going on....and I wasn't out to steal anybody else's thunder. I simply wanted a marketing piece that I could order by the thousands (I always bought 10,000 at a time, as in color printing the more you buy, the cheaper they are.)  and prepare on a consistent basis without spending a tone of time and/or energy.

It took about 2 hours a week and I was paying less than .07 each for a high-gloss jumbo sized postcards on very heavy paperstock. Unbeatable! And it was VERRRRRY effective!

Here's what I'd do:

Every Friday morning, I'd go into the MLS and search all activity in my farm. I had almost eactly 1,000 homes in my farm, broken down into 5 sections of approximately 200. I did the search for real estate activity in each of my "farm sections". Let's call the sections A, B, C, D and E.

If section A and D had a new listing, then I sent the "Dave Daniels Announces Another Transaction...." postcard to everyone in sections A and D that week. Four hundred homowners received a pre-printed postcard (no, I never imprinted the details of those transactions on the back....too expensive, too time consuming....and too much work.) And frankly....not important. What I really wanted was for the homeowners in my farm to know that I was the neighborhood expert on everythhing real estate. And I had found an inexpensive way to teach them that.

Remember that I was only announcing that another transaction had taken place...NOT taking credit for it.

The following week....a new listing in section C....and an expired in section E. Everyone got a postcard. The very same postcard every single time. My photo, my contact info, my elegant design.

Now, it's likely that the homeowners receiving these postcards....were drawing the conclusion that it was I who did another real estate transaction. That was okay by me....but didn't sit well with a few of my competitors. In fact, someone reading this reply may even have 'interesting' thoughts about it, but keep reading.

If ANYONE ever called for more details on what the transaction(s) were...it was my delight to say "Barbara Johnson from Century 21 just took a new listing right around the corner from you Mr. Seller. Are you thinking about selling your home too?"   You see, there was NEVER, EVER a taking credit for something that I didn't do. I was simply publicizing that another real estate transaction had taken place in their neighborhood. And I wanted them on the phone. If the other agent didn't do any marketing (which was usually the case)...and I sent a postcard and got a phone call...well, I earned that call. And once again, I NEVER took credit for a transaction that wasn't mine. EVER!!!

But here's what ultimately happened however.

After receiving "Dave Announces Another Transaction" postcards from me for weeks....or months...it was natural for those 1,000 prospective sellers to conclude that I was the only agent doing ANYTHING in the entire development!!

Mailing 400-600 postcards per week cost me about $250.00. My nearest competitor, on the other hand, sent a postcard out about once every 6 months (and only to 100 people). My marketing plan was better...and it was extremely efficient because I used the same postcard, the same lists and the same mailing labels each time. It was like clockwork.

Did it work?

Well, you could have walked up to any homeowner in that neighborhood and asked who'd they recommend as a real estate agent....and 9 times out of 10 (or more)...it was me.

I think we all have a tendency to make real estate harder than it needs to be sometimes. A little proactiveness...with a touch of "outside the box" thinking can go a long way toward making ANY real estate career a more successful one!

Good luck to you Holly....and thanks for starting this topic!!!

Now, how do I get a Holly Barr Bar??? Hmm???

Dave

David Daniels
President/CEO
www.FlyersToYou.com
(951) 652-8365