Even if your real estate office doesn’t have a big marketing budget, there are dozen of tips, tricks and tools you can use to let people know who you are and how you can help them.
· Order a vanity license plate that tells people you’re a real estate agent. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/brandyourbusiness.html.
· Write articles for newspapers and magazines explaining how people can buy or sell a house, save money, or do it more easily. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/articles4newspapers.html.
· Reprint articles in which you are quoted and give them to prospects during your initial meeting. Also take the articles to seminars and conferences you attend. http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html.
· Frame newspaper articles about you and hang them in your lobby for visitors to see.
· Ask your employees to submit ideas for media articles about your real estate office. Turn it into a contest. The employee who comes up with the most creative story idea wins a pair of movie passes. If the media use the idea, throw in dinner for two.
· Write a tip sheet ("10 Ways to Save Money on Your Next House") and submit it to newspapers and magazines. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html.
· When someone gets a front-page story in the local newspaper, and you’re wondering how they did it, call them and ask. Then do what they did.
· Set a goal of meeting one new media contact in your community each month. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/pitchingtoreporters.html.
· If you do public speaking, offer to write a short article summarizing the speech for the group’s newsletter. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html.
· Give an annual “media award” to the media outlet that does the best job covering the real estate industry.
· Post favorable media stories written about you at your website. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html.
· Use a signature file at the end of your e-mail messages to let people know what you do and how you can help them. Most e-mail software programs allow you to create a signature file that includes information such as your address, phone and fax numbers and a motto or tagline.
· If your Rotary Club or local chamber of commerce is inviting someone from the media to speak to your group, be sure to sit at their table and get to know them better.
· Compile an “experts list” for the media. The list should include names and phone numbers of people in your office and their topics of expertise. Send copies to local and national media and post it at your web site.
· Visit the web site of the newspaper or magazine where you want coverage. You might find contests, special offers, guest books or other features designed to let them find out more about you.
· Post your web site address everywhere—in brochures and on business cards, on bumper stickers, on promotional products such as mugs and towels, in print ads, in business directories and in other people’s newsletters. http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html.
· When a reporter interviews you for a story or you are a guest on a local radio shows ask “Who else do you know who might be interested in knowing about me?” Reporters and radio talk show hosts often have valuable contacts in other markets. http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/reports.html.
· Every time you get publicity in a statewide or national publication, send a news release to your local newspaper or magazine. See http://www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/marketing-tapes/doityourselfpressrelease.html.
· Consider hosting your own TV show on your cable TV station’s public access channel.
- Donate your time and services for local charitable groups and let the media know.
