Special offer

Is this a goofy real estate marketing idea or a good one?

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Marte Cliff Copywriting

Real estate marketing has changed drastically over the past few years - with more and (hopefully) better ways to get yourself and your listings in front of the "right" people.

You put your listings on so many Internet sites that it makes my head spin just thinking about it. And your clients may be helping out by posting links or information on their social networking sites as well.

Here's another way they can help you help them. Maybe you're already doing it and I just haven't seen it anywhere...

You know your email signature has value.

And you know that if you attach it to interesting market information (or pictures of cute puppies, or a funny joke) it’s apt to get passed around to someone who doesn’t know you yet – and they’ll call you as a result.

So why not teach your listing clients to use their own email signatures to help sell their homes?

Choose an attractive photo of their home and supply them with a thumbnail North Idaho Duplex for Saleimage – along with a link back to their home’s page on your site. Then have them add that photo, along with a linked title that says “Yourtown Home For Sale” to all of their outgoing email messages. Most of your clients will know how to add a signature, but if not, you can show them.

If your clients are the kind who send emails that others forward on, someone might just see that thumbnail, follow it back to your site, and turn into "The Buyer."

Comments (66)

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

Marte, this is a great idea. Signature files are easy to make up and a great way for additional exposure.

Mar 03, 2012 10:46 PM
Maria Morton
Platinum Realty - Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Real Estate 816-560-3758

Marte, I think this is a great idea! Have the client send out emails to their database to expand your coverage. 

Mar 03, 2012 11:21 PM
Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Marte - We think that's a "Capital" idea if you know what we mean. Now if we could only get our clients to open their emails.... haaa Seriously, most of our clients usually don't want to know the technicall end of what we do unless it's a younger person... Their eyes get glazed over when we tell them about the marketing of their homes already.... But we do think this is a great idea....We're gonna try it...

Mar 03, 2012 11:44 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Pamela - Photos do tend to catch our eyes

Gabe - Well, if they forward everything and all their friends do too, it might get their listing seen by hundreds of like-minded individuals.

Andrew - I love that twist on the idea. What neighbors don't want to have some say in who lives near them?

Christensons - That's what I was thinking. It would be more like FYI - if you happen to know someone...

Pat - Thank you.

Bryant - Who likes staying in boxes?

Michael - From what I hear it's easy with some programs and not so easy with others. But if you know how...

Maria - Yes, whether on purpose or just as part of their regular email activities.

Robert & Lisa - I suppose it does depend upon the age and attitude of your clients. I have 2 neighbors, both retired but about 15 years apart in age. The younger man sends email all the time, the older one has no interest in evening turning on a computer.

Mar 04, 2012 01:14 AM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Marte, that's far from goofy. That's a brilliant idea. I normally just make sure they send the pic with a link back to my site to all their peeps, but having it in their signature is awesome!

Mar 04, 2012 04:20 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Erica - You just never know when a seller might be able to pull in a friend of a friend. Or even a friend of a friend of a friend.

Eric - Yes, in marketing repetition is often the key. So the friend who sees the signature today might not think about it - but when they see it again next week, it might trigger the thought of someone who would love that house.

Mar 04, 2012 05:14 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

I love using "signatures" but never thought of having my clients "advertise" their own home.

Superb idea and your clients have got to love it.

Thanks to Joni for the reblog and sending me over.

Mar 04, 2012 11:48 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thanks Margaret. I'm sure it will depend on the clients - and how much they understand the concept.

My thanks to Joni too... guess I'd better go say so to her!

Mar 04, 2012 12:46 PM
Rose King
David Tracy Real Estate - Friendswood, TX
Friendswood / Pearland / Houston Bay Area

I missed this one the first time, but got here from Joni's reblog, thankfully! This is a wonderful idea! Can't wait to implement it!

Mar 05, 2012 10:09 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Rose - Joni is a sweetie. I hope the idea - and some of the ideas in the comments - help you get a few more sales, faster.

Mar 05, 2012 03:03 PM
Elizabeth Straessle, MRP
All American Home Group - Newnan, GA
~Military Spouse~ AllAmericanHomeSourceRealty.co

Marte- Great idea! Posting on facebook is another thought. You could even have your clients bring flyers to work.

Mar 06, 2012 01:49 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Elizabeth - there are many ways to involve your clients in marketing their homes. I even read once of an agent who had T-shirts made for the kids in the house. They had a photo on the back with "For Sale" and the agent's phone number.

Mar 06, 2012 02:04 AM
David Grbich
Realty One Group - www.FindCARealEstate.com - San Juan Capistrano, CA
Orange County Real Estate - 949-500-0484

It is certainly worth a try and gets sellers bought into the idea that they can help market and sell their home - great idea.

Mar 06, 2012 11:14 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

David - Some may think "That's not my job," but I think others will welcome the opportunity.

Mar 07, 2012 02:30 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Great idea Marte, guerrilla marketing for the twenty first century, it's great to teach our clients ways to help.

Oct 23, 2012 02:27 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Hi Bob - You really found an oldie here! I think this might be effective - and the price is certainly right.

Oct 23, 2012 02:39 AM
Mary Sheridan
Keller Willliams - 1033 Hamilton Place,Johnson City TN 37604 - Johnson City, TN
Creative Marketing, Buyer Agency 423-943-7655

I never thought of this.   Back before internet, I used to send flyers to everyone my sellers gave me - Christmas list, family, etc.    This is a great modern version, and much easier.   Sellers like to feel like we're a partnership and this helps.

Oct 25, 2012 09:14 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Mary - Internet has opened up a world of opportunites for inexpensive marketing - but of course it also places a whole lot more demands on us!

Oct 25, 2012 09:21 AM
Rebecca Lee McAnallen
RGS Title, LLC - Culpeper, VA
Big city experience, small town service

Very interesting angle. More should use this as a tool in home selling. The more eyes that see something, the more likely it is to sell!

Oct 25, 2012 09:40 AM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Thanks Rebecca -That was what I thought. You just never know who might see it.

Oct 25, 2012 11:14 AM