Real Estate Marketing Tools

Many underestimate the positive impact a direct mail campaign can have on their business. With the increased popularity of paperless marketing methods and social media marketing, this is understandable. However, direct mail is still a powerful weapon in your marketing arsenal if you approach it correctly. Read the following Do’s and Don’ts of direct mailing to use this old-school marketing method effectively.

Do Follow the 40/40/20 Rule

The 40/40/20 rule of marketing is still applicable even when it comes to direct mail. Your rate of return is dependent on three main factors. Some 40% is based on the effectiveness of your mailing list, 40% is based on the quality of your offer and 20% is based on the design, text and the overall look of your mailing.

Do Make Your Message And Imaging Clear

Make your message clear within your direct mail piece. Those in your farm who receive your direct mailer should instantly know what action you want them to take next. Also, use pictures or graphics that tie into real estate as this is your market. In other words, though the photo of a man fishing or a field with flowers might be pretty, it could also confuse your audience. Caveat being if your mailing is tied to a theme like Spring Top Local Places to Enjoy the Outdoors. For the most part, it’s wise to keep your message and your imagining clear and concise. Visit ReaMark for an example of some postcards that fit the bill. Speaking of design…

Do Spend Time on The Design of Your Mailers

In order to get a good rate of return from your direct mailing campaign, you have to create a well-designed mailer. Otherwise, your recipients will likely skim over your ad, not giving it more than a cursory glance. To prevent this, ensure you give plenty of attention to the design of your mailer. Create an eye-catching headline and bold colors to make your mailer stand out.

Don’t Underestimate The Power of a Proper Audience

Don’t blanket an area aimlessly as this is a great waste of money. Instead, use your resources to discover the most effective areas to target in your direct mail campaign. Many businesses make the mistake of focusing only on the material they send, which is important, but in so doing they neglect to properly identify their ideal audience. The end result is a wonderful piece of marketing material being put into the hands of people who won’t take action on it. If you don’t already have your ideal farm chosen, you can discover them through testing. Send out a small number of mailers and keep a close eye on the rate of returns from them. This allows you to tweak your intended audience until you have the ideal farm to target.

Don’t Exaggerate or Over Promise

Be sure you can back up anything promised in your mailer. If you say, “we will sell your home in three months,” make sure that’s a reality. Otherwise, tone down your promises. Your readers will see through overblown fluff and exaggerations, so make sure you can back up what you say.

Follow the above Do’s and Don’ts in order to construct an effective direct mail campaign. Visit ReaMark today for a full range of products to consider for your next direct mailers.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with real estate professionals taking advantage of digital marketing and social media opportunities. Many have found success in their online efforts and should continue to do so. Real estate agents and brokers shouldn’t, however, ignore proven real estate marketing strategies have consistently produced results across the country. Here is why and how you can grab the attention of real estate prospects using direct mail pieces.

WHY Use Direct Mail in this Digital Era?

The answer is pretty simple: Because it works. You should also understand, however, why it works.

• You can target your market. Direct mail allows you to target specific neighborhoods or zip codes to “farm”. There is less waste than “broadcasting” your message.
• It reaches prospects at home. This lets the person receiving your piece know you are interested in them and their real estate goals.
• You can “own” this vehicle in reaching prospects. Some agents never use direct mail marketing. This provides a marketing opportunity you can drive a truck through. You may be able to own direct mail marketing for real estate in your community.
• They are tangible. Direct marketing pieces are perceived to have more value and their messages carry more weight. This can help position you as a stable, trusted source.
• Pieces can have a long shelf life. Direct mail pieces like calendars, sports schedules, recipes, and motivational or scenic cards can stay in a home for an extended period of time, often on display where they may be seen by others.

HOW to Use Direct Mail in Real Estate

Direct mail is a versatile way to reach real estate prospects, giving you plenty of options on how to use it.

• Use EDDM to reach prospects. Every Door Direct Marketing is the perfect way to reach every home is your specific target area. It is a great way to introduce yourself and your services.
• Create an annual direct mail marketing plan. When your prospect gets a new recipe, decorating or home improvement tip every other month, it builds your brand and name recognition. You are providing prospects with something of value.
• Send out Just Sold or Just Listed postcards. Who isn’t interested in what a neighbor’s house is listed or sold for? When combined with a free home valuation offer, these informative cards often turn up multiple leads.
• Use to promote your digital marketing efforts. Use direct mail pieces to reinforce your online media by promoting your website and social media. Include your email address for prospects to sign up for a newsletter or enter a contest.

Get Professional Assistance

For 18 years, ReaMark has been creating effective direct mail, marketing, and promotional pieces specifically to help real estate professionals grow their businesses. Our marketing professionals can help you choose items to help you reach your goals. Our design department will help you build your brand and help you turn prospects into leads and leads into sales. Contact ReaMark today and put the power of direct mail marketing to work for you!

If you’ve been involved in real estate for any length of time, you’ve experienced the rising impact digital marketing has had on the industry. Initially, some veteran agents and brokers may have been reluctant to embrace digital marketing and social media. Now, of course, many use social media and content marketing strategies like blogs and articles to help promote their business.

If you want to create a high powered real estate marketing strategy in the new year, you should consider creating a more balanced print and digital content marketing mix.

The Goal of Content Marketing

The goal of content marketing is two-fold. First, you want to funnel leads and prospects to you by providing valuable and useful content. This can be done through tips, tricks, the latest real estate news, and even updates on real estate that may be available in your target market or that which has just sold. Secondly, the information you provide can position you as an expert and trusted resource for real estate for your target market. The goal is that when they are in the market to buy or sell, they are more likely to reach out to you.

The challenge is to get the attention of potential leads in the first place. This can be accomplished to some degree by promoting your content on social media. It can also be done by using effective search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. As you know, however, real estate is an extremely competitive business and SEO takes specific skills and can be time-consuming.

The answer is pushing visitors to your content through print, including direct mail.

Postcards, newsletters, and promotional materials to promote your web presence can bring a whole new set of eyes to your digital marketing efforts. Tempt prospects to your website or blog with invitations to “Learn what your home is currently worth”, “Discover 10 ways to save on your next mortgage” or “See what homes are selling for in your neighborhood”. Of course, these direct mail pieces would include your web address or the address of a landing page designed specifically for that promotional piece.

At ReaMark, we can help you develop a more balanced digital/print marketing mix that can supercharge your digital marketing efforts. We can also help you better target your market with EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) strategies that are proven effective.

Contact ReaMark today and learn about our buy five get one free and buy 10 get two free special offer postcard program. Inject new energy into your digital content marketing plan with print marketing materials from ReaMark!

Virtually every successful real estate professional has learned the value of goal setting. Much of this goal setting revolves around sales and income. It can be valuable, however, to set goals on other aspects of real estate like the number of leads or prospects generated in a month. It can also be important to set goals for and track real estate marketing efforts.

At ReaMark, we specialize specifically in real estate related marketing and promotional pieces. Through the years, one of our most popular programs has been our real estate postcards. Real estate marketing postcards reach consumers directly in their homes and can be targeted neighborhood by neighborhood. They have repeatedly been proven to be an effective real estate marketing tool. But having the proper goals and expectations is important for postcard mailing campaigns. Here are some tips for goal setting when developing your postcard mailing campaign.

Setting Proper Expectations

It is widely accepted in direct mail marketing that a 2% response rate is successful. While on the surface that may seem minimal, consider the impact. A 2% response rate could potentially translate into 20 solid leads and prospects. That can turn into a significant return on investment.

You should be aware, however, that response rate will be impacted by a variety of factors. If your postcard includes a free offer, it may get a better response than if it is more passive. If you are new to real estate, your response may not be as high as someone who already is known in a community or neighborhood.

Be Consistent

The best way to build your brand and increase lead generation is through consistency. ReaMark can help you accomplish that through a wide selection of timely real estate postcards and a program that gives you a free design for every 5 deigns purchased and two free postcards for every 10 purchased. Reaching consumers every month or every other month builds familiarity and name recognition.

Be Patient

Remember, you are building your business. Many of our postcard designs are designed to provide helpful information, tips, or timely reminders. While your potential prospects will appreciate the information and view you favorably, many will not immediately respond. After all, the percentage of people who are in the market to buy or sell real estate at any given moment is relatively small. Your campaign, however, can eventually bring leads into the marketplace and more importantly, keep your name front and center when they do.

Contact Our Professionals for Assistance

We invite you to contact our marketing professionals at ReaMark to assist you with your real estate postcard marketing campaign. We can even help with EDDM and custom graphic designs. Let us help you reach your real estate marketing goals at ReaMark.

One of the truly effective ways to reach leads and build sales in real estate is by building relationships with your target market. One of the easiest ways to do this is through a direct mail newsletter filled with helpful information about real estate, mortgages, homeowner maintenance tips, recipes, and more. A well constructed, consistently delivered newsletter helps build your brand and deliver your message. It also demonstrates you are in touch with your potential prospects and helps build trust.

If you are considering sending a  Spring newsletter to your farm, here are five timely homeowner tips to include.

1. Gardening Tips
   Of course, the Spring is a perfect time to talk about gardening. Including tips about either flower or vegetable gardening is an effective, attention-getting real estate marketing strategy that appeals to many.
2. Spring Cleaning Tricks 
   Include tips on how to make Spring cleaning easier or safer using natural homemade cleaning products. Discuss the benefits of less clutter and the fresh feeling of a freshly scrubbed home.
3. Helpful Home Maintenance Strategies
   The Spring is the time to visually inspect your home after the colder weather and take steps to keep it well-maintained. This includes clearing the area around your outdoor A/C unit, cleaning gutters, picking up your yard, inspecting the roof, changing HVAC filters, and more.
4. Steps to Take for Severe Weather SafetyThe spring is tornado and thunderstorm season throughout much of the country and supplying some reminders about severe weather safety can be well received. Explain the difference between watches and warnings, where the safest place in a home can be during a tornado, and even provide some severe weather safe driving tips.
5. Spring Break and/or Summer Travel Ideas
   Many families get cabin fever during the cold weather season and the thought of planning a trip is often very welcome. Be sure to include some destination ideas, packing tips, and money saving strategies.

ReaMark newsletters are chock full of timely information and are designed to be sent throughout the year. They also provide enough space so you can customize your newsletter to best fit your area, your image, and to build your brand. Newsletters are available in black and white or full color and in a half-fold or tri-fold series. We have sold over 10 million newsletters to real estate agents and brokers just like you! Start building relationships with your target market the easy, proven way through ReaMark real estate marketing newsletters.

There may be a variety of reasons you entered the real estate business. You may enjoy working with people, you may like the freedom and flexibility a career in real estate can offer, and you may even appreciate the financial rewards. It’s not likely, however, that you entered real estate because you love marketing and advertising. Nevertheless, marketing is a critical component of a successful real estate career.

At ReaMark, we specialize in real estate marketing products and in helping real estate professionals just like you put together marketing plans that work. Here are some tips to help you put together a yearly marketing plan.

1. Build your marketing program seasonally, around events and holidays. Consider Spring time change reminders for February, free home evaluations in March at the beginning of real estate season, and football season in August/September. Of course, the holidays at the end of the year are perfect for greeting cards and calendars.
2. Finance your plan sufficiently. Make sure you have enough “fuel” to build that fire you are trying to create.
3. Use a variety of tools. While you’ll want to invest in promotional and direct mail items, you’ll also want to include low to no cost strategies like social media, email, and getting involved in community and charitable events. Marketing is all about visibility and consistency.
4. Use your marketing plan to build your brand. Make sure your marketing efforts deliver your core message consistently using the same colors, logo, and font. Ask yourself how you want prospects and clients to perceive you and build upon that.
5. Know who your target market is. While many agents feel their market is “everybody”, that is simply not practical unless you have unlimited time and resources. Target a demographic and/or area and go after it. Of course, that doesn’t mean you’ll turn down business that comes to you but make sure your annual marketing plan is targeted to your audience.

At ReaMark, we can help you construct the foundation of an annual marketing plan with promotional items, newsletters, postcards, sports schedules, and more. These items can make sure you stay in front of your target market consistently. We make our graphics team available so you can build your brand in a visually appealing way. We can even help you farm specific neighborhoods through Every Door Direct Marketing (EDDM). Act now and take advantage of our buy five and get one or buy 10 and get two free postcard special.

Remember, people usually don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan. Create your annual real estate marketing plan today with the help of ReaMark!

Dear Fellow Real Estate Professional,

Hello! I’m Richard Brown, president of ReaMark. I have been in direct marketing for over 30 years, with the last 18 years helping professionals like you substantially increase their listings, sales and, ultimately, their income.

There has never been a better time to increase your business with a regular contact strategy to anyone who knows you and can refer clients. All signs are pointing to a steady rise in the real estate business since interest rates are at record lows. In addition, inventory of homes are still low so listings are being sold quickly and for top dollar.

Each year I personally take hundreds of customer calls and the same question keeps coming up time and time again: “Rick, what works best? How can I make more money?”

So, last week I sat down, got away from the kids, and really thought about all of the success stories, trials and errors that Realtors have shared with me over the past two years. To help answer their question, I had to come up with several of my own:

• With all being equal why are some realtors more successful than others?
• What does actually work?
• What has been proven time and time again to be the Golden Truth’s of success?
• What makes a top agent?
• How can my business survive when I have less money to spend because I am making less money?

One glaring fact I couldn’t ignore is that my business only makes money if the programs we recommend to you make you money. After much thought, I came up with four things you should be doing if you are serious about increasing your yearly income.

1. You MUST reach out to your past client contact list at least every month
Over 50% of your business should come from referrals. If you are not mailing your contact list you are losing money. You contact list should includes anyone who knows you, your friends or your family. The larger the list the more successful you will be. You really need to sit down and put this lists into a workable database.

2. Mail Just Listed/ Just Sold / Market updates and Open House Postcards
Announce your success! Since referrals are the largest part of your business and you want to build up your contact list, these marketing postcards are the second most effective tool at your disposal. You should mail the entire neighborhood and also your current contact list. If your budget is strained these could be part of your planned monthly but for better results you should be doing these mailings in addition to your contacts.

3. Track your results over time
The beauty of direct marketing is that is affordable and trackable. If you have 400 contacts then you could be mailing them twelve times per year for as little as 47 cents each or $188 per month. One sale and you pay for the entire year.

4. Become known as a specialist of your farm
A business with no prospects will die. You need a reliable consistent source of leads. Since most consumers perceive all real estate professionals to be pretty much the same, you must find ways to differentiate yourself. I get calls every day from customers thanking me two years later telling me that they now get 50% plus of all listings in their neighborhood. Walk your neighborhood twice per year with door hangers or notepads, submit articles to your local paper, become an advertising sponsor on a community podcast, create a neighborhood newsletter of community events or post educational videos about the local real estate market to your social media.

I feel great about sharing these strategies with you for a very simple reason: if we can help you become more successful in your business then ReaMark will be more successful in our business! Call one of our Marketing specialists today at 1-800-932-2957 and we will help you develop a plan to meet your budgets and sales goals.

I hope this letter has been helpful and has either confirmed what you are already doing or inspired you to call us. I am always available to help.  Please don’t hesitate to call me directly.

Best Regards,

Richard J. Brown
President,
ReaMark

Do you need a tax write off?

Don’t miss your opportunity to make one last marketing write off for the year! We are now taking last-minute orders from hundreds of our customers so they can take advantage of the tax benefits of 2017.

We will be open and working over time to get orders, proofed, printed and shipped by Friday, December 29th. In addition, when you order by Tuesday, December 26th, we will give you additional discounts:
$25 off orders of $149 or more OR
$50 off an order of $299 or more

Mention or enter this special offer code: Save2550

In addition, we are still accepting calendar orders where you can save up to 30% off and use the same offer code above for additional savings! One last reminder: the order deadline for 2018 Spring Time Change items is Sunday, February 25th.

Hurry, don’t wait to get your marketing materials for 2018! Call us at 1-800-932-2957 if you have any questions.

What comes to mind when someone mentions they got a new magnetic calendar in the mail? Just another mini advertisement from your local insurance agent? Something to clutter up the refrigerator front? Another supply of “tacks” for your child’s artwork? With a little creativity and thoughtful design, the 2018 magnetic calendars you send out this year can do so much more than occupy a spot on the cold storage locker in your kitchen!

We’ve all seen the magnets with a handy list of national holidays displayed, cooking substitutes and metric conversion charts. But, there are some unique ways to use your mailers as an extension of your community outreach and overarching marketing strategy. You can create beautiful real estate marketing pieces designed to make life easier for your farm with these Reamark tips.

1. Use the generous space to showcase local upcoming charity events.
2. Provide names, addresses and phone numbers for businesses every homeowner may need at some point during the year – think plumbers, HVAC service companies, small engine repair shops for the lawnmower or snowblower, emergency maid service, roofers, landscapers, insurance agents, and on-demand contractors.
3. Create a list of public service contacts – the mayor, constable, police, commissioners, animal control, and other elected officials.

Draw attention to special classes or community events your agency hosts. If you routinely carve out a couple of hours a month to present informative talks at the Senior Citizens Center or local college, take this opportunity to post your annual schedule.

Here’s a tip: If offering free workshops isn’t already part of your marketing plan, consider it. No-strings-attached presentations let your community know you care about them, even if they aren’t currently working with you. You can personalize talks for diverse groups. For example, seniors often look for information on retirement planning, converting a residence to a short-term rental while they head south for the winter and tips on downsizing. College students will appreciate educational content concerning saving for a down payment, finding a low-interest loan and tips on reducing student debt.

A calendar can be a tool to simply locate the date, or a valuable resource that homeowners refer to frequently throughout the year. Intentional, thoughtful design ensures your name stays in front of current and potential clients.

Inspired to create a unique marketing piece that reflects your agency values? Call a live Reamark operator to get started designing your professional custom 2018 magnetic calendars today. The call is free and so is the consultation.

The most successful real estate careers are built on solid, enduring relationships with clients. With fall now firmly entrenched and the holiday season fast approaching, many agents are thinking about their client relationships and how they can keep them healthy and productive in 2018.

Successful Agents Rely on a Time-Tested Relationship Builder

Using greeting cards for real estate marketing is a time-tested marketing strategy that successful real estate agents and brokers have relied on for years. Surprisingly, many are finding them to more successful now than ever before. With most communication now handled through impersonal email, the receipt of a brightly colored holiday card with a personal message from their real estate agent or broker is more apt to be warmly remembered and cherished than ever before. The only question then becomes how to make sure that any greeting card for real estate mailings you do will have even more impact.

Customizing the Mailing to Stand Out From the Crowd

While any holiday card mailing is a positive message that tells your clients that your remember and care about them, there are still some ways in which you can maximize your efforts. One excellent way is to consider sending out a holiday card for Thanksgiving or New Years, instead of a traditional mid-December holiday card.

If sending a Thanksgiving card, consider adding extra value by choosing postcards with turkey cooking tips or a delicious recipe to help the recipients enjoy turkey leftovers. When sending a New Year’s greeting card, consider including a customizable magnetic calendar for their fridge to help them keep you top of mind throughout 2018.

Streamline the Process With These Holiday Card Mailing Tips

The holidays are busy times for agents and brokers both at home and at work. Unfortunately, this level of activity can push marketing activities to the back burner, even when agents and brokers know how critical they are to their continued success.

To avoid this problem and ensure that your holiday card mailings are sent out exactly when you need them to be, speak with your ReaMark customer service specialist about ordering early and having them handle the entire mailing process. By doing this, busy agents and brokers can relax and enjoy their own holiday season, all while knowing they have successfully reached out to all their past and current clients and their entire sphere of influence.