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Corny, Clever or Cool? 3 Low-Tech Marketing Ideas

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Education & Training with ApartmentToolKit.com

Corny, Clever or Cool?  3 Low-Tech Marketing Ideas

Being a little off beat and corny gets you noticed these days. Marketing is about getting noticed.  About being different. About building a brand.

It seems like everyone is flocking to social media to market themselves.  Don't get me wrong.  If you use social media the "right way", you'll get tons of business.

But with everyone doing it, you might want to add some low-tech marketing to your marketing strategies. 

Here are 3 low-tech (yes, even corny) marketing, using trinkets & premiums from the Oriental Trading Company catalog to get noticed (and talked about) beyond the social media clutter. 

Here are 3 items I found, with suggested tag lines, costing less than 10 bucks!

Oriental Trading Puzzle Mind TeasersPuzzle Mind Teasers - $5.99 per dozen

Marketing Suggestion - It's not easy to get a mortgage loan these days.  Send to prospects with the headline "Puzzled about buying your next home?" "Puzzled about your Credit score?" Puzzled about financing?" 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oriental Trading Tool KeychainTool Keychain - $4.99 per dozen                                              

Marketing Suggestion - Send to potential sellers and buyers,    

"I have the tools to help you sell (buy) the home of your dreams..." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oriental Trading High Five TrophyHigh-Five Trophy - $9.99 per dozen

Marketing Suggestion - Send your buyer or seller after the loan has closed.   Add a label to the base of the trophy with your name, phone number and either the name or the property address of the closed deal. 

 

 

 

 

 

Choose lightweight items than can be easily mailed.  People like getting "stuff" in the mail.  Mail gets past the "office gatekeeper".  Mail is not "regulated" (like email (spam) and do-not-call rules).  Oh, and remember that the post office has free envelopes and boxes if you plan on mailing bulky items. 

Corny? Clever? Cool?

Ask yourself this question - what would you think if you got one of these trinkets in the mail?  I'll bet you'd remember what you got, who you got it from and the message is conveyed for a long time to come.

 

Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Karen, I like the way you incorporated the various items into your marketing material. Not "corny" at all. Good job.

Oct 15, 2010 02:20 AM
Anonymous
Linda Hood

One of our mortgage lenders gave us a roll of holiday wrapping paper to help us "wrap up" our year.Also, we received individual hand warmers to remind us that interest rates were still hot!

Oct 15, 2010 02:23 AM
#25
Peggy Chirico
Prudential CT Realty - Manchester, CT
REALTOR® 860-748-8900, Hartford & Tolland County Real Estate

Very clever ideas! It pays to do something that not everyone else is doing! Thanks.

Oct 15, 2010 02:28 AM
Karen Deis
ApartmentToolKit.com - Minneapolis, MN
When In-house training is not enough!

Linda, that's what I'm talkin' about!  The wrapping paper and hand warmers made you "remember"  the mortgage company/loan officer, when you heard the word "mortgage". 

Do people remember you when they hear the word "real estate"? If not, consider this one of the "tools" to use :)

Oct 15, 2010 02:32 AM
Earl Miller
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Solano County, Contra Costa,Benicia Real Estate, 707-280-6366

Great ideas......anything to keep you in their mind......Thanks

Oct 15, 2010 03:12 AM
Kelly Willey
Coco Plum Real Estate, Kelly Willey, FLORIDA KEYS - Marathon, FL
Florida Keys Luxury Sales, Marathon, Key Colony

Yes they are corny, but they are also memorable and show that you are aggressive and creative...Keep it up!!!

 

Kelly in the KEYS

Oct 15, 2010 03:15 AM
Sheldon Neal
Bergen County, NJ - RE/MAX Real Estate Limited - Maywood, NJ
That British Agent Bergen County NJ

Cool Cool Cool !!!! I'm all about these things ! Love 'em !!

They're not for everyone's style, but they work for me ! ...going to check into them now ...

Cheers Karen !

Oct 15, 2010 03:34 AM
Karen Deis
ApartmentToolKit.com - Minneapolis, MN
When In-house training is not enough!

Oriental Trading has most of this stuff online, but I recommend that you get on their list to get their printed catalog.  You'll get 4 catalogs a year and it's easier to look at the "pictures" and see how you can use it in your marketing. 

Plus, it's sooooo inexpensive--

Oct 15, 2010 03:58 AM
Brent Wells
The LivingWell Team - Prosper, TX
Dallas - Fort Worth

Karen,

Brillance! You need one of those high-5 trophies...

-Brent

Oct 15, 2010 05:50 AM
Dee Neal
Palmer House Properties - Alpharetta, GA
Atlanta Area Real Estate

hey i LOVE this idea. corny is cool.

Oct 15, 2010 06:00 AM
Billie Hillier
http://702IsHome.com - North Las Vegas, NV
Savvy Home Realty Solutions

I used a trash can once with a crumpled piece of paper inside and said something like "I would have sent you this flyer but instead I took the opportunity to throw it in the trash for you"

Oct 15, 2010 06:46 AM
Rebecca Diamond
Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Bryn Mawr - Bryn Mawr, PA
Main Line Homes for Sale

I agree with Dee: corny is cool! Here is another one: Oriental Trading also sells mini magnifying glasses. You could send this with the tag "Looking for a Great Realtor?". 

best of luck!

Oct 15, 2010 06:47 AM
Karen Deis
ApartmentToolKit.com - Minneapolis, MN
When In-house training is not enough!

Billie - love your trash can idea...where did you the trash can and how did you "distribute" it to your clients/prospects? 

Christine, think of this as the "prize" inside a cracker jack box--only it's real estate we're selling here. LOL

Oct 15, 2010 07:42 AM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

I love these ideas.  I'm going to order some keychains right now.

Oct 15, 2010 09:26 AM
Barbara Hensley
RE/MAX Properties - Rockwall, TX
Homes for Sale in Rockwall County, Texas

I love these!  Will order some.

Oct 15, 2010 11:08 AM
Elizabeth Bolton
RE/MAX Destiny Real Estate Cambridge, MA - Cambridge, MA
Cambridge MA Realtor

Hi Karen ~ I LOVE these! Often agents will describe my market as "too sophisticated" for all sorts of things but I would send these in a heartbeat. Your taglines are brilliant and I was psyched to find more ideas in the comments.

A few years ago I was on the receiving end of regular mailings like these from a mortgage broker. It was very interesting - I enjoyed getting the letters and trinkets and it does start a mental process where you want to give back by sending business their way.

Liz

Oct 15, 2010 04:22 PM
Li Read
Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC
Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

All of the above, and a great idea!    Catches the attention, and that's the whole point, right?

Oct 22, 2010 09:40 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Stuff is a good thing...I was an ad specialty distributor in another life...stuff with your name on...way cool,..way effective...good ideas !

Dec 13, 2010 10:50 PM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Karen,

I'm not big on trinket items but these are clever! I carry little compasses in my car to give to clients who are always asking what direction the house faces! Thanks for your ideas..great post!

Dec 14, 2010 12:17 AM
Karen Deis
ApartmentToolKit.com - Minneapolis, MN
When In-house training is not enough!

Dorie - love the compass idea - could even send in the mail to a farm area saying something like, looking for directions?  Call for my free report....

Dec 16, 2010 09:56 AM