After months of my husband saying he’d contact a gutter company about cleaning ours, I opened the mailbox and saw postcard saying their company was in the area and they could give us a quote. With heavy rain in the forecast, I quickly texted the number, got a quote and it was done the next day.
Timing was critical in this scenario, but so was my having gotten the right marketing material at the right time. Simple and clean, the postcard made all the information instantly available to me, and I’ve since kept it in our drawer and have used it year after year.
For a realtor, timing can be everything. But having the right marketing materials to use in their right way is essential to growing your business. Read on to learn about the 5 marketing materials that every realtor must have in their arsenal.
1. Stand out mailers
A branded postcard is a tried-and-true tool for farming an area, for promoting a new listing, or to offer a free appraisal. Potential clients can be on the fence, or even unsure of how to choose a realtor and your postcard can snap them into action (right place right, time!).
One important note; remember to proofread, proofread, and then have a friend or colleague proofread again. While a postcard mailer can make a positive impact, it can also make a negative impression if there are spelling or other errors (like a price!!). I once, early in my career, missed an error on a 5,000-piece direct mail; I had a very understanding boss, but it is a mistake I will never make again!
Sending a postcard or other mailer out bi-annually or quarterly is recommended as repetition is key.
2. A good quality, beautifully designed business card
Whether digital, or physical, a business card is still essential in this business. Often a potential client will meet with several realtors before deciding on who to use and creating a strong first impression is a major advantage. Giving out your business card signals that you’re easily accessible, professional, and creates the impression that you’re successful at selling your product- you!
You can hire a graphic designer or find something pre-made online; But do pay attention to the recommended card stock. The right paper can impart a feeling of quality, which will leave an impression of value with clients and your chosen printer should be able to suggest the right product. Of course, the thicker the card stock, the more expensive, so try to think about how often you’ll use these cards and in what context before you choose.
3. A useful door hanger they’ll hang on to!
A doorhanger is a great tool that is underutilized but has maximum impact. Versatile and eye catching, we recommend having these printed and keeping them in your car to hang on doors when you’re in a neighbourhood you’d like to cultivate, or even when you’re having a nearby open house- you can spend a few minutes popping these onto doors and wait for the calls to come in.
We recommend making sure your contact information is easily found, and that your hanger is something that the homeowner will hang onto; a recipe like on this one, or spring-cleaning tips, or even a step-by-step guide on how to prepare a house for sale, are all useful tools that might be kept in a kitchen drawer for the right time.
Seasons or holidays such as Christmas, Easter Halloween, and Spring are a great theme to build a door hanger around.
4. An informative and personalized buyer’s and seller’s guide
Save yourself time and energy by investing in a personalized buyer and seller’s guide that you can use again and again. New or even veteran buyers and sellers are bound to have questions, and it’s great for them to have a reference you’ve provided to answer these. Guide templates can be found on places like Etsy and edited in programs designed to be user friendly.
I for one love having a physical document to refer to (I still read paper books exclusively), but others might like it in digital format for ease and accessibility.
5. Personalized and attractive competitive market analysis
Much like the Buyer’s and Seller’s Guides, investing in a branded CMA will up your game and save time.
Sellers will have a lineup of realtors hoping for their listing, so having an attractive and thorough CMA will project your expertise and understanding of the current market.
For many sellers this is the first time they’ve listed their home in years, and they will feel confident in your abilities if you explain clearly how you arrived at a suggested price for their home.
A template which can be used on a tablet, laptop, or can be printed is ideal and allows for flexibility, especially for a listing presentation. Your choice of these options should depend on the age and technological ability of the client, as well as the location of the meeting.
6. A great logo:
Ok, it’s not a marketing material, but a great looking logo should go on every other item on this list, so we couldn’t leave it out!
A few tips for deciding what kind of logo you like:
- First do your research: google a competitor branding and decide what you do and don’t like about it. Pinterest is a great resource for ideas as well.
- Think about the colour, fonts, and anything graphics you might like. For example: an element of a certain type of home you’d like to specialize in, like a heritage door.
- Next, find a graphic designer on Instagram or online that appeals to you, or ask around.
- Other sources of great logos are Etsy or Upwork.
Remember, you must love your logo! It should be on every marketing piece that you work with.
Choosing the right marketing materials to invest in can save you time and grow your business. Some of it is timing, certainly, but also, having attractive, informative marketing sends the message that you take your business seriously- and will invest this same care and attention into your clients.
We are two marketing professionals who love to design great templates for realtors.
Our offerings, including the best-selling “Harper Seller’s Guide” are designed to elevate your business and can be purchased here. You can also find customizable templates for business cards, CMAS, Door hangers, logos and more. Please check our little shop today!
XO
Create Digital