I am reposting the article that I wrote just over a month ago...I have had several agents contact me and say that while they would love to implement most of my ideas, they just don't have the resources to bring on a Real Estate Virtual Assistant right now. I understand, really. So, I have come up with a way to offer you the advantages of utilizing the card sending program without having to have a Real Estate VA of your very own, or to have your own account with the program.
Please read my article below, The 12 "Ways" of Christmas, and then scroll way to the bottom to see the offer that I will make to members of Active Rain who would like to utilize the program... Enjoy!
We’ve all heard the song, The 12 Days of Christmas, and of course this article is just a useful play on that. Don’t waste one of the biggest marketing opportunities out there, implement as many of my 12 “Ways” as possible to see the maximum outcome and to get 2009 off to a great start! Here we go…
- Book extra time with your Real Estate Virtual Assistant for the last couple of months of the year. The holiday tasks needed to put you at the front of your potential client’s minds are time consuming and will take your REVA outside the scope of her normal Real Estate Support Service duties for you. If you don’t already work with a REVA, now is a great time to start!
- Work with your REVA to get your client list in order. Organize it so that you know who are your A contacts and who are your B contacts.
- Be first – you know that old saying that you only get one chance to make a good first impression??? It’s very true. Thanksgiving is the first official occasion of the holiday season – don’t miss the opportunity to let your clients know that you are thankful for them. I am big on “token” gifts for Thanksgiving. I think custom imprinted travel mugs with your contact information on them are a great option, with a giftcard to Starbucks, to help them relax and find joy in the hectic season ahead (happy blissful people are more apt to provide referrals ;-). These token gifts would go to all of your A clients, along with a card that says you are Thankful for their business and referrals. Your B clients would simply get the card.
- Real Estate Professionals work with lots of vendors year round, and they get very little glory for all the assistance that they provide to you. From your property maintenance people, to your Title reps and Mortgage people…they are there for you all year long. Therefore, this time of year, I also like to recognize them. This can be accomplished in the same manner as in #3 above, with your A vendors and your B vendors. The message on the card can be revised to “Thank you for all the support you provide to me throughout the year, you are much appreciated.”
- There’s still time to get a property into escrow and closed before the New Year. Start a holiday promotion like a $500 gift card at the close of escrow for all properties that close between now and the end of the year. Have your REVA add the promotion to your website, post about it on your blog, create an html email blast to go out to your contact list, etc… The promotion can be whatever you choose and you will think will entice people to close deals quickly, this may vary by your geographic region.
- Give back – and make it known. There is no better way to say “Thanks” to your community for letting you in and allowing you to earn a living by servicing their real estate needs, than by giving back. Have your REVA organize a charity food drive and have drop off locations at your office as well as all your open houses between now and the end of the year. Weigh all the food donations you receive and do press releases on your website and blog, as well as sending them out to local media, about your progress. You’re doing a good thing and getting good press in return.
- OK, time to get the “Happy Holiday” cards printed. I have said this before (read previous article on this topic here), but I am a huge fan of Send Out Cards. Your REVA can upload your contact list to the Contact Manager in the system and create a custom holiday card with whatever images you want: team photos, photo of your office building, photos of your closed properties over the year, calming holiday graphics, an image of your family, etc… For all your B clients, simply send the card – directly from within the system. No stuffing envelopes or adding stamps. They do it all for you. Now for your B clients, utilize the gift giving options. There are gift cards, tasty treat items, relaxing teas and coffees, restaurant cards, etc…take a minute to look through the gifts yourself and then personally select which one you think each of your A clients would most enjoy – then let your REVA take over again and make sure that it all gets done and shipped in time for their holiday enjoyment, without any trips to a shipping annex!
- Just because Thanksgiving is over, doesn’t mean that you should stop saying “Thank you”. For any gifts that you receive throughout the season, no matter how small, make sure that you have your REVA send out Thank You notes, also through the Send Out Cards system, preferably with your personal handwriting font.
- Don’t forget your personal gift giving needs. Your REVA can do all of your shopping for you online, have the items giftwrapped and sent directly to the recipients or to you so that you can deliver them personally. Do you have lots of nieces and nephews or grandchildren on your list? Visa or American Express gift cards are great options that everyone enjoys receiving.
- Have your REVA organize a Holiday Open House at your office. Your REVA can arrange for carolers, catering and Claus…Santa Claus that is, with toys for the children. Here is where you would first announce the final quantity of food that you collected for charity with your food drive. This is a great opportunity to invite the community to get to know you, they always enjoy a chance to be a little festive in a kid friendly environment (if you have the space in your parking lot, renting a jumpy house would be a great touch). Nothing fancy is needed. Just some tables and chairs, good music and a little food…people really just want to “be together” at this time of year, and they will remember you for bringing them all together. A raffle at this event is also a great idea, and a door prize.
- It’s now the New Year. Happy 2009! Have your REVA send out Calendar Cards through the Send Out Cards system, with a message that you are looking forward to a prosperous year ahead and are ready to service their real estate needs and their referrals as well. (If you have another calendar manufacturer that you would like to go through, you can of course send out full size calendars at this time as well.) Calendars are great, because even if your contact can’t possibly use another one, no one throws them away because it seems so wasteful, so they almost always give tem to a family member or friend…instant referral. Another idea is to buy special calendars in bulk, I am a huge fan of Thomas Kincade items, and having very nice stickers with your contact information added to them…or turn your business cards into stickers and affix them. The calendars can be ordered in bulk and shipped directly to your VA to send them out for you.
- Get organized for 2009! It’s time to schedule a meeting with your REVA to go over your marketing plan and budget for the year ahead. You know what they say; people have to see your name 7 times before they will do business with you… Well, just by following the ideas in this one article, you have gotten in front of your potential clients almost that many times! Be smart, get 2009 off to a great start – partner with your Real Estate Virtual Assistant to make your name stand out and be the first on your potential client’s tongues.
I hope some of the items above will make your holiday season a little less stressful, a bit more productive and a lot more profitable! If you still need to find your perfect Real Estate Virtual Assistant to work with, contact me directly via the form at the right, or check out the Member Directory and RFP Center at The Virtual Assistant Chamber of Commerce today to find just the right REVA for you. I hope you have enjoyed these 12 “Ways” of Christmas!
OK - so, I hope you liked the article! Here's a quick synopsis of my offer:
If you send me your contact list in Excel Format, I will upload it into my contact manager and send out real, high quality, glossy cards to your entire list...printed and mailed with a first class postage stamp. You need to allow 7-10 business days for the cards to arrive, plus 24 hours turn around time for my portion of the services. You can choose from thousands of cards (I will send you a guest username and password to give you temporary access to the card catalog once you email me that you are interested), or send me an image to put on the front for you. I can also create a completely customized card for you for a small additional charge. You won't need to lift a finger once you send me your list...no folding, stuffing, sealing or stamping...it will all be done for you!
The fees for the cards will be as follows: (There is a 25 card minimum)
- 25-50 cards @ $2.50 each
- 51-100 cards @ $2.25 each
- 101-200 cards @ $2.00 each
- 200+ cards (1000 limit) @ $1.75 each
If you're interested, send me an email to ceo@eRealtyNetwork.org and I will send you a very simple one page form to fill out, along with form to fill out, and also send you the guest user name and password so that you can browse through the product catalog. Sample cards available upon request.
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