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Realtors, Want Free Advertising? Wear Your Name Badge

By
Real Estate Agent with Jackson Erwin Realty, Inc.

 

I Know, I Know,

This may sound like the "obvious" to any real estate professional. But did you know that this is one of the top, most overlooked advertising tools that Realtors fail to implement. Prime Example: How many of us have been to a nice restaurant, your child's school function or stood in line at the grocery market while wearing our name badge? Quite a few, I'm willing to bet. 

For those of you who make this a daily routine, you are fully aware of the enormous power it brings. By wearing your name badge daily, you are in essence, a walking billboard----an instant messenger---a wealth of knowledge to many potential clients. It only takes seconds for someone to glance, read, and comprehend your line of expertise.

Furthermore, name badges provide a great opportunity to spark a conversation. Many times, without you initiating. For example, I remember while I was standing in line at one of my favorite stores, picking up some treats for my favorite two boys, when a gentleman noticed my name badge and began inquiring about the market. Well, needless to say, this "gentleman" ended up being my client and he is now a proud, new homeowner.

Second story: One of my colleagues was in a nail salon getting her nails done. A man had walked in dressed in overalls covered with patches of dirt. He was at the salon to get a manicure and relax from a hard day's work. Noticing her name badge, he sparked up a conversation about real estate. Needless to say, my colleague engaged into the conversation. This "man" was actually a millionaire who needed land in a highly expensive- well, sought after area. Not only did my colleague help him, but she also became his sole real estate professional to list & sell several other multi-million dollar homes he constructed! Yes, he could have looked in several real estate advertising magazines, on the web, or even called in to an office. However, he made his decision based upon a face to face discussion he had with a live, real estate professional in a relaxed atmosphere. This could have not been so, without first recognizing the agent's name badge.

1 Name Badge = Several Sales= More Income!   Cost of Advertising, Priceless!

Posted by

Jaclyn Erwin
Broker, Realtor®, ABR, SFR
Jackson Erwin Realty, Inc.
Direct: 980-939-6057
Website: www.JErwinRealty.com

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"By the way, my practice is built on my wonderful family of clients and the awesome referrals they provide. There may be someone you know who will purchase or sell real estate here in North Carolina this year. There's also someone you may know who's in need of saving a home from foreclosure. I can help! Please refer my services and/or contact me directly and I will personally take care of them promptly."

Comments(13)

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Michele Connors
The Overton Group, LLC Pitt & Carteret County - Greenville, NC
Your Eastern North Carolina Realtor
I wear mine...alot! It starts many conversations ! That and a smile of course...you have to be wearing both!
Jan 06, 2007 03:11 AM
Dee Copeland
Copeland Group Realty - Austin, TX
Principal Broker
See...for us introverts, the fear is that a stranger will want to talk to us. I try to wear my namebadge, but it's sooo hard since I'd rather not have to talk with strangers. Regardless, I do think this is 100% true.
Jan 06, 2007 04:43 AM
Jaclyn Erwin
Jackson Erwin Realty, Inc. - Charlotte, NC
ABR,SFR, REALTOR®/BROKER, Charlotte NC.

Dee,

This is defintely a difficult task for introverts. However, I am a true extrovert by nature. My personality test was off the charts as an extrovert. However, I'm sure you know this---positioning your practice with those that can compliment your team, usually where we as professionals are lacking, will help tremendously. I'm sure your team has extroverts that can employ this skill and talk the heads off of potential, soon to be clients! (LOL).

Jan 06, 2007 06:25 AM
Allison Stewart
St.Cloud Homes - Saint Cloud, FL
St. Cloud Fl Realtor, Osceola County Real Estate 407-616-9904
Works in the hot tub too!  It was the last place ANYONE ever expected to see someone wearing a name tag. One guy asked "what do you call the other one?"  It was a GREAT ice breaker!  Funny too.
Jan 06, 2007 07:18 AM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!
Someone did a post a long while back actually about wearing the Realtor pin, as Anthony suggests, but either way it does spark conversations so we don't have to. It's much easier for us if someone asks us about it first. Even for introverts. Thanks for the reminder!
Jan 06, 2007 10:53 AM
Leigh Brown
Leigh Brown & Associates, RE/MAX Executive - Charlotte, NC
CEO, Dream Maker - Charlotte, NC
Allison-that is OUT OF CONTROL. =)  Jaclyn-this is one of the things I hammer at new agents-get out there and wear the badge-and if you're an introvert, it actually makes things easier since people come and approach the conversation with you first, you don't have to strike it up yourself.
Jan 06, 2007 10:59 AM
Jaclyn Erwin
Jackson Erwin Realty, Inc. - Charlotte, NC
ABR,SFR, REALTOR®/BROKER, Charlotte NC.

Allison: LOL !

Carol: Ooooh, I like the idea of T-shirts for marketing! Super.

Anthony: The Realtor Pin is a great idea too. I love explaining to clients that not all real estate agents are Realtors!

Jan 07, 2007 01:08 PM
Kevin Cahill
REALTY Funnels & REALean brokered by eXp Realty - Seattle, WA
REALTY Funnels software, 6 Figure Month coaching

Hey Jaclyn:

In November, I ordered a few polar fleeces from Lands' End with my office's KW logo on them... I bought three in my size, and one for my wife, and one for each daughter... I gave one to my team leader for Christmas, and then sold one to another agent who expressed interest while I was at my computer at the office... these cost less than $50 each, with a logo on the front left chest, and another logo centered across the back.

My Team Leader loves it and wears it often... looks professional with jeans or a dress shirt and slacks.  Comfy too.  My daughters were 'em to school...

I received a compliment from a client... she said it looked great and comfy for Cleveland's weather... I asked her if she'd like one.  She said red is a great color on her, so yes, she'd love one.

My wife had yet another of her brilliant thoughts... order them for all your key "allied resources"... the people who send you business.  Give them as Christmas gifts... I ordered 42 from Lands' End, but I added my website to the logo... these fleeces say "Kevin Cahill Group .com" above the KW logo...

My boxes arrived, and by the way the good people at Lands' End take great care of me... I printed a gift label on my printer, and just stuck those labels right on the plastic wrap of each fleece.  Christmas Eve morning, I drove around Cleveland Heights and Shaker Heights, just dropping these off to my key people.  That day, and after Christmas, I received thank you calls from dozens of influential people... people who work in public spots, people who know many people... and everyone loves the jackets.  I have dozens of key individuals wearing my branded advertisements all over town. And I wear them in multiple colors, and my wife and daughters have new ones too.

In the spring, I'll buy my advocates lightweight windshirts, and for the summer I'll get them lightweight polos.

Along with my Ohio license plates (KW CLEVE) and the low key decals on the rear end of my car, there are many ways to passively get the message across...

One last thought, the people who send you business love this!  They love to help you succeed, and feel good sending you referrals... they know this helps you too, so don't feel bad giving them something to wear.  I spend less on these than I would on a fruit basket or a great bottle of wine.

 

Jan 07, 2007 02:11 PM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Kevin,

That sounds like a great idea. Does Lands End have a minimum order when you order a logo?

Jan 07, 2007 02:18 PM
Kevin Cahill
REALTY Funnels & REALean brokered by eXp Realty - Seattle, WA
REALTY Funnels software, 6 Figure Month coaching

Well, I created a logo, and there was a $95 set up fee for that... and it took a few days for the design people at Lands' End to create an actual stitch sample... they sent me an image of it, and then I approved it once I felt it looked right (couple of modifications to get the letters to look perfect).

Then there is a $5.50 application fee for each item... so when I had a logo put on front and back of a jacket, I paid $11 plus the cost of the jacket or windshirt... and I've ordered polos and oxfords in the past.  There is some savings by ordering three of the exact same item (color and size), so I tend to order in threes... 3 navy, 3 red, 3 black...  my total order came to somewhere around $1,700 for 42 items, shipped fast for the holidays, which included the $95 set-up fee and a $100 rush fee, and a bit more for overnight delivery... I thought overall it was well worth it.

Jan 07, 2007 02:36 PM
Diane Rice
Rice Prprty Mgmnt & Rlty, LLC, South Holland, IL - Lansing, IL
SFR, SRES, CNC
Jaclyn, thank you for your great suggestion!  I will DO it!
Jan 07, 2007 02:46 PM
Karen Hurst
RICOASTALLIVING.COM - Warwick, RI
Rhode Island Waterfront!

Kevin,

Thanks for the detailed info. I think I may look into that for myself.

Jan 08, 2007 12:28 PM
Jaclyn Erwin
Jackson Erwin Realty, Inc. - Charlotte, NC
ABR,SFR, REALTOR®/BROKER, Charlotte NC.

Kevin,

That's a superb idea! Nice way of advertising your brand and at the same time, provide the public with something they need & want: clothing:). I will definetly take this in consideration. Currently, I am working on furhter developing my brand. I am in the process of getting my logo designed. Thanks to the members of Active Rain, I am learning an enormous deal abolut this wonderful business!

Jan 08, 2007 02:10 PM