Great ideas Jason!

I have found free websites to advertise the best and they seem to improve ur ranking! I have a list of about 50 sites that are FREE that I currently advertise on and it seems to be working!

Give it up Heaather, we all like free

Key chains, friddge maginets, pens anything with your name and site on it. Open Houses are great for new agents to meet buyer clients and if you ask around a bet a more seasoned agent would love to have you sita few. PS bring your pens and maginets with you....

I just started putting my listings on self made business cards.  Just go to your local Office depot, buy the business cards. On the front, put a picture of your listing on the front with your info on it.  On the back put the info of the home on the back, give a dozen of them to your home owner and show them at your listing presentation, prospects, leads groups, everywhere.   I have gotten leads from the owners friends, and want  me to list their home.  Its just the little things.  Cost about $30 for 100 cards.

Customer's love to see how you are willing to put that little extra into their listing.  No one else does it around here, that I have seen.  Good luck

Gena,

That's a great idea, making individual business card listing sheets.  I have used the Office Depot blank business cards to make various personal and company business cards for years, but never thought to put listings on thwm.  

I have heard of agents printing the listing info and photos on the front and back of white T-shirts and wearing them everywhere, but that is more expensive.

Number 7 above:  We have had in our city a happy hour once every couple of months for many years.  It includes realtors, brokers, bankers, mortgage brokers, insurance agents, title companies, government officials, and area business people.  A mortgage banker started it and emailed everyone connected with real estate.  Anywhere from 50 to 200 people have showed up.  Great for networking.

Create a flyer with your farm real estate market report, attached your business card mail or go door to door every couple months and become a source of neighborhood real estate report.

This may be done alot in the States but it is not in Canada.  When you are making your open house feature sheets for the weekend use the back too!  I put the home on the front and up-to-date stats for the area, market standings, website info and marketing plans that I do to sell homes on the back.  If they are looking they are not always listed yet.  Cost depends on your broker - mine is set up to charge per paper, not per side.

I LOVE the business card idea.  Definately out of the box!

Gena.

You are my new hero!  That is a GREAT idea!  Thank you so much for sharing it!

Phil

I've used the business cards. They area wonderful, having your clients handing them out at work showing off their home. Is a great advertisment for yourself as well as the home.

Gena, Mark, Phil:

For $25 you can get 100 cards printed in full color. And you don't have to do it! $50 for 250 cards & $80 for 500 cards - 24hr. turn time

Not affiliated with them - just a link I found.

Try this link: http://www.24hourbc.com/NewFiles/about.html

I have been going the old fashioned way because,well, im cheap. I walk apt complexes and neighborhoods and i hand out a cup (8 for a $1 at Walgeens) and I hand them to everyone who shakes my hand. No hand shake no cup. I go to Sams buy a bag of candy and put in 3 or pieces along with a business card and a fridge mag. i make the fridge mags and business cards at home. I have 6 boys ages 5~15 and i made them and hubby tees on my computer. Iron on transfers are $8.99 and the ink is already paid for in my printer. They say: My Mom Sells Real Estate on the front and the name of the realty and my contact info on the back. I gave the laundry matron a $10 gift card to Wal Mart to keep the business my card holder full at the laundry mat. She calls me when its empty and is ready for another gift card. I got 3 apt dwellers out of their apts!!!!~Cindy

Oh yeah! Hey Heather give up the name of the free web site!!~Cindy

Get involved in your community, make your name well known - volunteer and wear your name badge.  If you have children and are planning to attend an egg hunt this weekend, make sure to take plenty of cards and wear your badge.  Make eye contact with people and smile.

Great suggestion, Gena.

Thanks for the 24 hour turn around link, Pete and Theresa.

Gotta love the P2Cru!!!!!!!

The listing business card idea is great one. I am going to start to impliment it this week. I have used T-shirts in the past and need to get them going again. They are a bit more expensive though.They were great to wear to baseball practice, soccer practice and so forth. I have pretty good luck with postcards when I send them out and I always send them to past clients. Remember to give them a reason to call you, not just bragging about yourself or a specific listing that you have. People always get realtor postcards and they are the same for the most part. Realtors always send out just listed and just sold on a specific listing, give them more to call you on.  What are those free websites, please post.

Aloha Everyone

Continued Success to you all

I have implemented Bicycle advertising, as year round weather here permits, all my new flyers, listings, open house directions go on here.

My Bikes are locked in strategic designated bike stands in high volume foot traffic areas! See my website www.deborahjkirk.com Waikiki HI for pictures. Referrrals are the heart of my business please share me with your friends & Family

Warmest Aloha & Subscribe to my Podcast with Itunes http://www.tuneinrealestate.net/listen/?author=139

All very good ideas... I am going to add a simple one, I have a Winter jacket with my Prudential logo on it and a spring/fall jacket with the Prudential logo and my first name on it. It's a real easy ice breaker for people to talk to me.

Selling homes one step at a time

http://www.realestateinkeswick.com/

The title company I used to use made those business card flyers. They were great and home owners LOVE them.

Another cheap idea... buy a domain name (you can get them for $8 and up)  using the Listing address as the site name

(www.123MainStreet.com) you can also link it. It has tremendous appeal to the Seller, will add specific exposure helping secure the sale, and it's a great listing tool.

I love point 2,With point agent I've been told its one of the best site that a buyer has seen in the real estate market.My site gets me over 10 buyer a day WOW........

We have also implemented the listing domain names for all of our properties.  Right now, you can purchase .info sites for $.99 at godaddy.com...we advertise this in all of our print advertising, and it's proving to be great!  Sellers love you for it, and it's an easy way to track & entice buyers.  This really makes you look like a technology expert to the public, as you're offering something extra that no one else in the home book currently does.  

We're currently in the process of trading advertising with local business owners.  We are offering an online ad on our website in exchange for a link on their website.  We're also placing business cards at their establishment.  They've provided us with brochures, discounts, etc. to offer all of our clients.  This is a great way to establish yourself with the business owners!

I write a letter (on my personal letterhead) to everyone in a target area and my assistant personally delivers them!

Great topic! There are a lot of great ideas here.  Gena, I really like the business card idea.  I have done something similar in the past with post cards.  My title company will typically pay for them, but if not I use http://www.overnightprints.com.  They have fast turn around, good quality and great prices (only $14.95 for 100 2-sided color business cards).

I put my website address on my signs. A .info website for each property with a rider for it would be great too. I also always use the back the of my listing flyers to promote my other listings and my website, offer free home evaluations & market reports, free access to the mls, etc.

Heather - please share your list of sites. I have used the syndication through P2, and posted my listings on craigslist and zillow.  Other sites I have found but not used yet include:

http://www.postyourproperty.com

http://www.neighborhoodopenhouse.com

Personally visit and hand out business cards to 5 neighbors surrounding all your vacant listings.  Let them know to contact you should they see anything unusual, plus ask them when their planning to move or if they no anyone else thinging of moving.

A great idea to increase traffic to open houses is to organize a community open house, shoot an email to all agents in subdivison and pick a day to do it. That way all agents will advertise and drive more traffic so you get more showings, Another idea that works is to advertise your site not just you since there are so many agents out there advertise your site as a number one resource for real estate in the area, offering fre mls searching, home evaluations etc.. . People will be more likely to go see it. Also a great thing for sellers is to do cd virtual tours of property and leave them at the home that way when an agent shows the propert potential buyers can take the tour with them and refresh their memory. I use tourfactory.com for all my tours and they provide you with the link to download to make the cd.

For $50 you can create an AdWords campaign for a specific property.  I've done it and it works great.  At about $0.05 per click, you will receive 1,000 unique visitors.  When they click on the ad, take them directly to your listing.

Not bad and it works.

Think outside the box.

Speak to a groups like Rotary. Chances are they will even buy you lunch.

So many great ideas!  Here's one for the group. Have you seen those Hersey Mini Candy Bars with the Custom wrappers? Being used alot at weddings, things like that?  We make them up for open houses with the house picture on it and our contact info as well.  It's easy to do, search for the templates on line or here's a link to buy some below. No connection.   These folks even have a real estate related one. But easy and inexpensive to do yourself. I had forgotten about that one. Thanks for making us think outside the box and pull out a few tricks!

http://www.a1candybarwrappers.com/

The sellers love it and if you have any left over, give them to the buyers! They eat them up! lol

Who can resist chocolate?

While we are all waiting for Heather Yocum - I will share VFlyer, Postlets, and FreeFLyerAd.com

Started Free Info Sessions in the office. Need a boardroom... or just the web...

Reason: evolves around an event (i.e. new condo release?)

Got 5-10 people (each group/couple evenutally signed up)

COST: Coffee and donuts $10

Advertising? 3 days prior on Craigslist - Website - Other free classifieds - Possibly a 3 liner in a local newspaper ($15) - Submit Page to Google

My First Success? 15 actual signups for a new condo development ready in 2010! Yipee! Hopefully a FAT commission cheque next month...

My plans?

Two 1-hour sessions a week:

- One on Sat or Sun 12 pm

- The other Mon-Fri 6pm

And from now on,

Two Power of Sale Information Sessions:

- Same concept only Friday 6 pm and

- Saturday after the Condo session!

Love real estate...

TIDBIT: Don't forget... wheneverything goes wrong, people eventually turn to leasing... Leasing specialists always have food on their table...

I create a "We've Moved" virtual tour for my buyers. I combine photos of the home with pics of my clients in front of the home, at signing, etc., and comments from them about what they love about the home.  I send the link to them in an email they can forward on to friends and family.  

They love it because they get to show of their new home and let everyone know their new address.  I love it because the virtual tour has my contact info, link to my website and links to tours for my other listings.

I also sometimes offer to sponsor my buyer's housewarming party (buy food, drinks or dessert). The cost is minimal and it gets me an automatic invite to the party where I can meet and network with their friends and family.

Am I allowed to expand on Gena's Tip?

Print them cards for all your properties and put them all in a card holder with your name and logo printed on the cardholder.

Give it to your commercial clients or those that usually hand out cards (lawyers, accountants, etc). Every time they take out their card, they will see you and associate themselves with you!

People are happy when they give out cards. You are always there when that happens...!

Now you know I cant give up my secrets lol......unless ur not my direct competition so email me and tell me how very far away you are and ill be happy to share!!!!!

wow...I should have sold this list lol lots of response! Please give me a little while to transfer the list from explorer to word and then I'll get it to all you far far far away agents!!! Sorry Kentucky agents would love to share but...well you know how it is!

I love the  business card idea!  I never thought of that.  I think its a great idea.

I get on google for over 101 search phrases...

Cost = $0  

:)

Heather, please send me the free sites as well.  Great ideas!

Heather, me too please!

Heather, I am in Arkansas and would love the list..... You're the best... together everyone achieves more....

Heather, I would like to know the web addresses to the free sites too. I am in Palm Coast, FLorida. I think that is far enough away, Huh?

Thanks

palmcoastbroker@aol.com

To get started finding some of your own free websites to link to, search different search engines with your key words.  Often the top result sites will have a way to link to them. Prospecting for leads?? Look for FSBO sites and find listings in your area and send helpful info to the sellers.

Same here Heather...another Idea I've used in the past was vitual tours for FSBO's (not branded). Leave either CD's with the owners or post a web link in front of there house. No cost to the Owner! Just ask for the leads that call in or visit. Great for getting buyers and 9 times out of 10 that FSBO will end up using you to sell their home. Use Point2Agent for both Virtual Tours and web link.

Try postlets.com. They post your ad on several free sites such as craigslist and backpage.com. I found them on a forum I visited yesterday.

Heather, I'm in Michigan could you send me the free sites?

http://www.postcardsplus.com/ has some good UV coated postcards for 40cents each if you upload the address list. I've had people keep them for months before calling me.

Drop off a pre-listing package to expireds, list them and get more of your signs out.

Website on your vehicle, with all the miles most of us put on our cars use it as a mobile ad.

I'm in sunny Pensacola, Florida.   Great ideas here... my favorite so far is the business cards.   Here's my contribution:  If sitting a festival booth/Open House during summer months, create inexpensive personal fans.  Use tongue depressers/popsycle sticks and cut out house shapes.  Assemble as fans, and print out listings on one side, and your website/contact info on the other.     Keep cool!

Oh yeah, Heather I would love to receive your list of free websites as well.....I'm in Pensacola, Florida!  Thanks

Heather,

I am in Idaho and would LOVE to have your list.  Thanks so much!  

The business card idea is a winner to, along with so many others, thanks for sharing.  

I email a "flyer" of my listings with links to the virtual tour and mls.  There are some companies that will do this for a small fee, but I just cut and paste when others don't BCC their emails.  My virtual tour stats go up dramatically when I do this.

HEY, THIS THREAD HIT OVER 1000!

WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS A FEW WEEKS AGO, GUESSING WHICH ONE WOULD HIT 1000

YOU DID IT DUDE!

Another freebie is www.lowesrealtorbenefits.com!

If you have a simple name buy the domain for it and put it on you name riders. I have www.johnrogershomes.com for all my riders instead of my name and notice a big difference in traffic when i have them on a listing. It's only about 9 bucks per rider.

Hey Guys

I have sent the list to several agents and have a list a mile long of more agents requesting it! I'm working on getting it to everybody who has requested it so please be patient! I didnt realize there would be such a demand for "the list".

As Devon Says "together everyone achieves more". Guess I have done my good deed for the day! And I hope you guys will all remember me when you get some Kentucky leads!

Oh yeah and I wish I had clients beating down my door like all you agents! lol

Hi Heather, I'm in Culpeper, VA and would love to have a copy of your list. If I have a site that I use that is not on the list I will post it on this thread.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Heather, I would love that list as well, I live in Daytona Beach.  Thanks, your the best

Hey heather, being inundated with free requests is interesting. I offer 28 free Buyer/Seller/Other reports on my website. Google Alerts is a great tool to track website searches for free. Of course, you get more when you pay more!

Hey Jason,

Another inexpensive thing you can do is talk to a few agents at your brokerage and ask them if you can borrow their listing. The best listings to put on craigslist are homes in price range of first time home buyers or 2nd trade ups, those people who are looking for a bargain. Create a listing on your web site and then create and post and ad for those listings on your local craigslist.com. It is an inexpensive way(free) to get people to your web site and if you have agents in your brokerage who aren't using point2agent.com or are computer illterate you look like a real hero because your helping get their listings exposure that they were missing out on.

Thanks, Dino Alvarado, that idea about giving fsbo's free virtual tours is invaluable! I can see myself feeling a lot more confident calling and door knocking, knowing what I am offering is a lot less likely to get me a "no thank you," or a "call me back in a month." To elaborate on what you said, ( or repeat, for my own reinforcement in my mind,) 1.)contact fsbo, (I would even tell them that I respect their decision to sell by owner and that I am not trying to get them to  list but am offering a free way to get them more exposure to the 80% of buyers who search for homes on the internet) 2.) offer a sample of your virtual tour, maybe by having them visit my website, 3.)ask if they'd like to have a virtual tour on my website absolutely free, they say yes, I take some pics, go make a virtual tour on tourfactory.com, (thanks to theother poster!),put it on my website, (would it have to be in a different area since the point2 are my listings and handshakes? I could make a special FSBO page..) give them a few cd's w/ their tour on it, and give them sign in sheets, pens, etc, ask for all leads that call them or attend their open houses. I think that's such a fair trade because you're not making them list if they don't want to, but you're receiving a lot of business with practically no expense and little work. AWESOME!! I am actaully going to get started on this today.

I LOVE the meeting people at egg hunt idea. Now I have to go find an egg hunt for my kids. They're 7 and 11, so I figured we'd skip it but they will be forced to go and LIKE IT! Love the my mom sells houses shirt! I am making 14 today, one for each kid for each day of the week! ( JK) That is an awesome idea. I am fired up. THANK YOU!!

Care to elaborate on the search phrases Lonn?

And the sessions Sam? I was not following, sorry.

www.homesaletosa.com

Heather

Hi Heather,

Send the free sites to me, too. I am in California.

Thanks everyone for the great tips.

Liane@LianeThomas.com

WOW...great ideas out there. I have never posted, just lurked around.

I have to say that Sean hit the nail on the head with using other agents listings from your office. Out of 125 agents in my firm in Downtown Boston there are only a handful of us that really use the internet to its fullest potential. I am one of those heroes that Sean mentioned because I am giving their listings that extra exposure that they never would have gotten before.

Another thing you might want to do, along the lines of the business card, is insert a one page into all of your beauty sheets. Then every time you are giving them out at open houses or at individual showings, you are cross marketing all of your listings that they might not see otherwise. Another opportunity to showcase your fellow agent’s listings as well, if they allow you to use them. Put about 9 pics with description in a grid format, without the lines of course, and your contact info and website. On the other side, put a description of your buyer/seller services. Self promotion is not a bad thing.

And one last thing, try www.SinglePropertySites.com for all of your listings. You can track how many people see your properties and it is really easy to use.

Good luck to all and happy relationship building!!

Hi Heather,

Thanks for sharing this great idea with us and if you do not mind, please send me the websites.

In case you are wondering, I am in Frederick Maryland. HOOAH!

Hi Heather,

Please send me the links as well I'm in Hudson, WI. Looks like you're going to busy.

Thanks.

jacque@jacquehoward.com

Great Job Jason keep up the good work World Vision Properties Realty, LLC

I get a list with e-mails from my sellers of their SOI. I then e-mail their SOI the seller's listing. I get 4-8 leads and 1-2 deals.

Hi Heather,

When you get the chance, I would also appreciate it if you could send me the list!  I am in Estes Park, Colorado.

Thanks a bunch!  

culhane@pruteam.com

Hi Heather,

Why not provide a link in this thread which we can all download on our own, might save you a whole lotta time.  Thanks

Gail

Hi Heather,  

Please send me the list as well.  I'm in Jacksonville, Florida.   Heather - I will remember you if I have any leads for Kentucky.  

Hey Gena - thanks for sharing your listing idea on business cards.  

Thanks,  John

www.BuyJacksonvilleHomes.com

Heather,

When you get the chance, please send me the FREE websites as well.  I am far away from you in the great state of Utah.

Thanks to everyone else also for the great ideas.

Jerry Pierce

Real Estate Consultant

JustUtahHomes.com

I've been away for a few days....Wow!

I noticed many comments about business cards.  If this one was mentioned already, I aplogize....I'm trying to catch up.

Rather than print new business cards for each property, buy labels the size of the card, insert the picture of the home with the MLS#, a brief description (you can't fit much) and your website.  Stick them on the back of your existing business card, give them to the seller and everyone in the area.  Even if someone's not interested in the house, they still have your card.

I make recipe cards on an index cards and put my listings on the back, a postcard from Avery will do also. I stick them in with the grocery store recipe's , I also have some of my grandmothers old recipe's I give out. Like now I am doing her coconut chocolate covered easter eggs.

If you send them to favorite clients, give them one of those cheap plastic index card box's to put them in. You find they share them also.

:) Happy Easter Egg Hunting

Blog with Melissa~

Hi Heather...I'm in Chicagoland...very far away from you...can i get that list of free websites...please...great ideas everyone. i pay 30% referal fees...thanks again Heather

Hi Heather, I'm in Texas. Please send me the info!

Thanks,

Martin Barker

Awesome... Awesome... AWESOME!!!  Thanks to everyone :)

Heather... bet you'll think twice next time you decide to be SO generous.  When... or rather IF... you get the time... me too!  Here's my email address:

idahomesnorth@aol.com

http://www.idahomesnorth.com

Heather,

When you get the chance, please send me the FREE websites as well.  I am far away from you in Virginia.

Thanks

Mohamed Mekhimar

mmekhimar@cb-pro.com

Heather,

I'm in Michigan.  Me too.

Thanks, Mary Lou

www.home-matters.com

mlaporte@kw.com

Dear All!

I thought i should share here a not very common idea, have you ever thought of social networking online, i just created a VIP NETWORK for UAE residents, in a week's time i have 97 Friends. It is a great way to have your prospects listed in one facebook account, and keep them informed of your latest listings writing notes, and since most of the members accept friendships it is a great way to promote your website. You can check what i am talking about, God Bless!

This has been great!  I spent most of Thursday trying to make temp business cards with a featured home on back - with unacceptable results.  Tonight, after reading further comments, I ordered from Postlets, signed up with Lowes, contacted Heather, looked at freeflyerad.com, Al Candy Bar Wrapers, etc.  Here's my offering: I like www.emailflyerads.com.  I also like networking on www.wannanetwork.com (which I learned about at Point2).

WOW! Incredible information.  Thank you to everyone.  Heather, please send me your list.  I am probably the furthest away being in Ottawa, Canada.  My email is mrowe@kwottawa.ca

Heather, can I get the list as well.  Why don't you create a blog post with the info and hten we will quit bugging you!  Is that possible?  

I personally would hate to have to contact so many folks (like me) to send the same info.  Just a thought.

Either way I still would love the info if you are willing to share!

Anyone notice that this post suddenly blew doors on everyone else in terms of the number of view.  A few weeks ago someone posted the question as to who would be the first to break 1000 views.  Well this post is almost at 2000!  Boy Jason are you popular!

I just realized why Heather said she didn't want to post her info openly (sorry, it took a while to read all the posts).  I personally would not have worried about other local agents competing but maybe Kentucky has more P2 members than my state.

I am in Missouri so would love the info!

In my above contribution, I forgot to put the most important thing that I've done as a result of reading this blog.  I bought business cards from www.24hourbc.com which have a picture of a house that I'm trying to sell on the back.  I'll let you know if that works as good as all of us think and hope.

Jowell

In my above contribution, I forgot to put the most important thing that I've done as a result of reading this blog.  I bought business cards from www.24hourbc.com which have a picture of a house that I'm trying to sell on the back.  I'll let you know if that works as good as all of us think and hope.

Jowell