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Find out how California Associate Tina Maraj-Shah promotes herself with a Halloween coloring contest. Then share your own holiday marketing ideas. |
Associate, Tina Maraj-Shah, sponsors a Halloween coloring contest that gives children in her Fullerton, Calif., market a chance to win a $25 gift card to either Borders or Toys 'R' Us.
The response, she says, has been frighteningly positive.
"Last year, we had more than 30 entries and I hung all of them up in our office," says the Sales Associate with RE/MAX North Orange County in Fullerton. "I include the contest flyer in the 1,600 newsletters I mail out to past clients and my sphere each month.
"I love Halloween and I thought a coloring contest would be a great way to do something fun and positive for the community."
Maraj-Shah also included other agents in her office who are spreading the word about the contest.
All the children who send an entry receive a Halloween treat bag filled with candy and Play-Doh - along with a small card that lists Maraj-Shah's contact information and photo. The winners are chosen from three age groups: pre-kindergarten/kindergarten; first through third grade; and fourth through sixth grade.
This isn't the first time the Halloween enthusiast has done marketing for the holiday. She used to send out Halloween note pads - something she started when she became an agent in 1989.
"The pads said, 'Your graveyard specialist,'" she says with a chuckle. "I've also put small flashlights for trick-or-treating in the past. These are great marketing and self-promotion tools that help set up my campaigns for the next holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas."
Her biggest piece of advice to agents who are looking to do special marketing for a holiday is simple.
"It needs to be genuine and something that doesn't take from the consumer," she says. "People have a perception that Realtors are always looking to get something out of them. It's important to get your name out there, but do it in a fun and positive way."
By Deborah Ball, RE/MAX Times Associate Editor
Copyright © 2008 RE/MAX International Inc. 10/28/08
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