Good tip. I’ll start testing leaving a space for name and phone# for the people I give cards to. Thanks.
Have any of you guys read up and running in 30 days? It was one of the required reading books for a realtor program I am starting. I have heard that it deals a lot with marketing networking.
Hum,
never put my face on my cards, its been taught to me the less is more on cards. So I have stuck to simple cards, and I have tryed several versions. its usally we buy houses any condtion, location or situation. call 999-9999
Someone wrote "The way to do this is rather than give a single business card to everyone I come in contact with I give 2 or 3 business cards and tell them: “I give up to $500 to anyone who refers someone that I end up buying a house from, just for giving them one of my cards. Just write your name and phone number on the back of these cards. I ask everyone who calls me where they found out about me. If your name is mentioned, you get the commission. It’s that easy!”
It is against licensing laws to pay anyone a “commision” who is not also liscened.
Here is how to do it! be “very appreciative” with gift cards. Here is what to say – “By law I cannot pay you a commission in cash, however, I can be very appreciative with gift cards, wherever you choose. I can give you up to $500, depending on the price of the house”
Note: use “give you”, not “pay you”
My last closing was exactly that, a referral from client who does lots of marketing for short sales. These are deals client does not want, for whatever reason. Their lead does not go to waste. What would be a bad deal for an investor, could be a good listing for me. They are making $, no matter what. A multiple steam of income for clients who market themselves.
As a Realtor specialing in working with investors, this a great source for listings.
Jan
another thought:
My face is not my greatest asset. I’m not some hot young chic.
Now I know why old, fat Realtors use 20 year old photos. I have my first professional photo from when I got started in real estate 20 years ago. I will NEVER look that good again!
Is there anyway we could get a forum for Realtors? That would be fun!
Jan
Your business card should be a mini billboard and should mimic the rest of your marketing. Use the same colors you use on your signs and in your direct mail (as long as it’s not yellow and black please!) Also, forget putting your name, company name, or picture on the front. Instead, focus on benefits, like Kawika_Ca said. On the back, don’t list all the different reasons that someone might be selling. Geez, they know why they’re selling. Instead, list the benefits that you can offer them directly. Stay away from neon colors. It reeks of investor and with the reputation we have today, that’s not a good thing (Can you say “used car salesman”?)
As for the pictures on business cards, I’ve never really seen the point. I recognize that having a face to put with a name is great. But I still don’t get it. My husband is a former Marine. I chose to honor him by having a picture of the Marine Corp on my card. When I’m in a seller’s home, I usually talk about him with them. By having something memorable (and patriotic) on my card (and not my face), the folks usually remember me.
Also, I leave business cards every single place I go…on gas station pumps (taped), on the tables where I eat, in drive thru lines at fast food joints, taped to public pay phones, etc. Everywhere I can, I do. And it has paid off tremendously. The cards don’t make you any money sitting in a box on your desk.
One other important point…For some reason, if people feel that you’ve spent money on your card, they are hesitant to throw it away. I recommend a gloss front and matte finish on the back. That way if they want to write something down from your website or phone conversation, they can. Don’t get the ones that look like money. You are fooling someone into picking up your card and I don’t know about you, but if I feel that I’ve been tricked into something, I am less likely to follow through with the person who tricked me.
Big Cheese
Okay… I can say used car salesman… Can you?? The last post has to have some of the worst advice include in it I have read regarding advertising…
Here is what I do know about advertsing… And let me brag I did do 226 transaction last year… My business cards are BRIGHT yellow and red…
I do have my name and what I do on the front of them… AND nothing on the back…
I never deface property by taping them to a gas station pump…
And I dont need small talk to buy a house… I have an on purpose system to close deals and it doesnt have anyting to do with who I am or who my spouse was…
Good to hear he was a patriot however.
And never never never devalue what makes a seller respond to your marketing…
Track every inbound telephone call for the marketing that originated it.
I so hate it when people who havent done it tell others how it is done…
Sorry but I am passionate about marketing and do not take it litely…
Wow. That is definitely a shame. I have been investing for several years now and have learned from my own experiences as well as from the experiences of others around me.
That’s fine that your business cards are bright yellow and red. I’m glad that your business is doing so well. But I don’t think it warranted an attack like the one I just got. Put whatever works for you on your business cards. If it works, that’s fine. I was offering an alternative to what everyone else was doing to make them stand out.
As for small talk…that’s not what I NEED to buy houses. But at the same time, I’m sure you don’t just walk in, say “Hey, will you take $XXX,XXX?” and walk out. You have to establish credibility. Keep in mind that not everyone has the same buying stragegy that you do and that others might want to build trust in a city that has more real estate investors than any other in the nation. Georgia having the 1st and 3rd largest counties in the nation for mortgage fraud, some sellers are skeptical, especially if you’re buying subject to.
I wasn’t devaluing what makes a seller respond. I make my living selling and giving real estate marketing assistance to investors, so chances are I know what I’m talking about. That, coupled with the fact that I’m an investor and have been for several years…full time. My husband does this full time with me. Neither one of us work a 9-5, so our income comes from buying and selling real estate.
Don’t just assume that since someone doesn’t agree with your marketing ideas that they don’t know what they’re talking about or haven’t done it before.
I, too, am passionate about marketing and do not take it lightly. That’s why I got into the real estate marketing business to begin with. I am sorry if you disagreed with what I wrote. I guess that’s one of the things my husband risked his life for during his years of service. You have the right to your opinion, and I respect that. But I wouldn’t have gone off on a tirade about it if I had disagreed with your post.
Big Cheese
Its very important for realtors to brand themselves to gain recognition. For realtors, putting pics on business cards is a good idea because people remember the face. Alot of potential home buyers go to multiple open houses on the weekends. If all the realtors didn’t have a pic on their cards, alot of people wouldn’t be able to put the name along with the face. Thats why it’s a good idea for realtors to put pics on their business cards, flyers, website, bench ads, and open house signs to gain recognition and whenever a potential clients needs your service, they will fell comfortable and feel like they already know you.
So youre presentation is basically “if they like me they will let me buy their house”
Thats great marketing… Sign me up…
And I wasnt attacking you… I was attacking your inability to understand marketing…And then trying to convince others that you know what the heck youre talking about.
The problem with the so called " I am an expert" people is that they never give the methods for creating a positive marketing campaign they in turn tell you how bad youre doing so you buy their product…
For all of your years in marketing or investing youre promoting taping a business card to a gas pump for lead generation…
Thats is certainly an on purpose approach.
Let me stop the newspaper presses tomorrow and turn the TV spots off… And buy some tape… Is it duck tape of scotch tape?
And although I have never used a money business card for you to preach that it isnt a positive method for buying houses is ridiculous.
You market your way and have a great time doing it. I’ll do it mine and have a great time selling it. I was assuming that we could agree to disagree.