Where do you spend your advertising dollars?
Just wanted to do a little survey from my Active Rain peeps as to where you choose to spend your advertising dollars, and why?
Which forms of advertising have you found have worked for you?
Print? Radio? Television? Cable? Internet? Bus Benches? Door Hangers?
I'd love to hear your success AND your flop stories!!
I did an online ad with the local paper that has not done nearly as much for me as Twitter and AR
I blog, do direct mail, stay in touch with my SOI, do open houses, and use yard signs/pointers.
Ralph, I'm going to bookmark this to get other ideas, but I spend some money every month on a lead generating website and some other money on purchasing leads.
I have all but stopped advertising in print. I spend a couple hours a day searching out new online methods for posting listings. Biggest flop would have to be EBAY. I always get 4,000 views but never an offer. I still use a billboard and get a lot of compliments from that.
direct mail. . . strategic marketing is what is all about. . and of course PPC
Print Media? NOPE!
I pay Active Rain first. Then do a newsletter in print and in email every two months. That about does it. I guess the sign posting fee is advertising. As are business cards.
Online, online, online! Print media is out. My signs get A TON of response, as they are unique and eye catching as are my business cards.
Hi Ralph - I don't do paid marketing. My promotions are done through my contact database, ezines, blog posts, social media and word-of-mouth.
This is all very interesting information from everyone.
It's great to see everyone's unique mix.
I suspect that the frame of reference needs to be, "advertising for one agent" or "advertising for a brokerage".
For individual agent business in a small niche or area, direct mail works, as does targeting Internet sites.
For brokerages seeking business for a wide geographical area, the Internet works if one understands Internet advertising.
The Internet has been my most successful venue since 1995.
Worst?? TV. Expensive flop.
I have had a lot of success with a monthly newsletter that I mail to specific neighborhoods. Other than that....Internet.
Ralph....this is a great post and I just did a post and included a link to this one.....most of my money is spent on sponsoring athletics through the schools and the town, providing supplies for many elementary classes in the town with our name and number on the materials ( pencils, erasers, rulers)....plus sponsoring clubs and organizations within the school....music boosters, art clubs, etc......I never say, ever, say no to anything with the kids.
Hi Ralph. I noticed that Lenn reblogged this post of yours. It's an excellent topic. I've since cut out most hard copy ads in magazines. I focus on blogging, JL/JS postcards, Expired Listing letters, etc.
Ralph, came here from Barbara's reblog. We spend our money on internet advertising - cut out print a year ago. We still pay for Realtor.com upgrade because our Sellers like it and it helps get listings, but AR is our best ROI overall.
Ralph ~ I tried the local newspaper spring this year, mostly under the pressure of my seller client. Three ads and $600 later I got zero return for it. That classes as a flop!
Internet on the other hand works like a charm. Realbird, AR and Craigslist is where I've gotten my buyers. Up to now just one seller from the internet, (he found my market reports).
I started working on my internet presence a year ago so I think these are pretty good results so far. I'm thinking of looking at Trulia next.
Denise
GREAT survey Ralph. Please be sure to share your data when you have it. I'm very interested in the results. Thanks
Monthly newsletter (print and electronic) to a farm, clients, SOI; blogging; individual property websites. Virtually NO print media. Open houses. Targeted letters and postcards.
For me it's a mix of things.
After 25 years in this business,
I've spent money on everything but today, I keep it simple.
Website, Monthly newsletter, Bloging my telephone bill and car allowances. Baking and cooking supplies; I bake a lot of cookies... for my friends and clients. I visit and call my past clients and contacts, visit them a lot, and get most of my business using this type of advertising. My posts prove it...
Nothing else.
thank you very much for the informative and interesting post. I get so much out of the active rain network.
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