RealTown's RealTalk

Does anybody have some good marketing ideas for farming, mailouts or online campaigns? I'm always looking for creative ways of getting in front of people, rather than using the same materials/ideas of every other agent.

One idea that I just put together (that I've seen used in the past) is a custom magnet that is about 4" by 5.5" with local utility phone numbers and commonly used home service numbers (ex/ painter, electrician, plumber, etc.). So....include some useful info on the magnet that encourages the homeowner to throw it on the fridge. The average fridge gets opened 37 times a day!

Tyson Robinson, E-Pro
Tarbell, Realtors
Direct: 951.970.5740
Fax: 866.730.1082
www.tysonrobinson.com
Selling Southern California

Marketing that provides a service, such as your idea, is always remembered. 

You could support a local charity or have a drop off for Toys for Tots at your open houses or help recycling, or a dog walk - whatever is needed in your market area.

Barbara Erskine, Real Estate Virtual Assistant
Virtual Business Solutions
www.virtualbusinessolutions.com

Toni Grundstrom, Marketing Manager
Stay in touch with your customers, court your prospects, and entice new clients with direct mail marketing.

http://MyPostcardCompany.InternetCrusade.com
Direct Mail Marketing ... Easy, Fast, and Simple

customerservice@perfectreach.com
651-426-6696

got an email the other day from this site.

http://www.NeighborGab.com

interesting new concept trying to get agents to stimulate a social network to help connect the homeowners (preferrably your clients) in the neighborhoods they farm. Once built, theoretically, you now have a way to communicate with your farm for free.  may or may not work.  be interesting to watch.

Marianne Doyle
www.mariannedoyle.com

Using technology to help you market is something that you should take a closer look at. Using an agent profile video to help people who don't know you yet will help familiarize people with you - who you are, from both personal and professional perspectives, will help 'sell you.' Also, using a video to feature your happy clients in a testimonial video will help those clients see you too.

To brand you as an expert in a specific community, having you host a video tour of that community in video will show your expertise as the go-to person in that community. Then, showing your listing(s) in video tours will help showcase those properties and create interest in them.All of these videos will, of course, be resident on your website (you do have a good website, don't you?). The links to them can also be sent in an email to encourage the viewer to visit your website to learn more and see what other inventory you have. Lastly, you can have these videos packaged into DVDs for direct mail purposes to targeted audiences.By having the technology do the selling for you in this way, you can get more time for living the rest of your balanced life.Dave Lyons760-271-9264

I am probably the worst person to talk about this since I'm not a farming kind of gal...I like the magnet idea, but in my opinion you should make sure that whatever other business that are on there, you would personally use. I know some companies allow contractors to pay a fee and be on their preferred list, but that does not mean they are good.  If you put a really horrible plumber on that list, it is a reflection of you!

While I advertise for my clients in the tradtional places which gets me exposure, the one thing I do every year is sponsor a charity event and invite all of my clients to the event as a client appreciation night. This year I sponsored an event for $1,000 and then paid $27 for each ticket for my clients. It was a charity auction (silent auction so like ebay) and they got free dinner and wine.   I had several tables at the event, and they had FUN.  Plus, when they thanked the sponsors my clients gave me a huge roar (which makes other people think about who the heck are you??).  My clients enjoy looking for the invitation every year and I get to SEE them every year.

I remember another RT'er hosted a "welcome to the neighborhood party" for buyers, which I thought was a great idea also.  He served as waiter and made the dinner I think.  This only works if you are a good cook. 

Final thought...I was at a recent training event and was sitting at a table with someone who had been an agent for 20 years or so. She said she recently took out an ad in our local newspaper since her referrals had dropped. She wanted to remind her clients that she was still in the business.  She spent more on her one month of magazine advertising than I do on my charity event.  People are constantly inundated with marketing materials.  It's important to do something that is meaningful and remembered by them.  I think you get much more loyal clients that way. 

Melina Tomson, MS
ABR, e-PRO
melina@tomsonburnham.com
www.TomsonBurnham.com
ph: 503-371-6515
fax: 503-588-1628