As much as we may not wish to believe it, print media is still important in the advertising campaigns of real estate professionals. One of the most powerful tools that real estate agents use is the signage with their picture and phone number, stuck in the front lawn of an impressive property. People who are not even in the market notice the same names appearing over and over as they drive by . In their minds they are think ling wow, that so and so does a lot of business. She must be a good agent.. . . Not to mention the fact (everyone has this story) Buyers who are already working with agents often call the agent named on a sign or walk in to an open house advertised with signs and ask to work with the agent that has the listing - even when they have been working with a Buyer's agent - they suddenly forget because well, this agent just seem more convenient or better because her name and number are on the sign on the house that I want.
As far as print advertising, it is not a far stretch from the sign on the front lawn to the newspaper that sits on the front porch. If people read the name of the listing agent associated with a property that they like in the Sunday paper - they are likely to call that number and suddenly the agent has two sides of the transaction. The internet provides the same opportunity, but do not forgo the print advertising. People are still using it on Sundays etc. . . and if they do not find you there, they may find someone else. . .
Perhaps the most powerful print advertising / marketing that you can do is the "Thank You" card or letter. An email is just not the same as a card in the mail. One of my goals this year is to work on a Thank You campaign of direct mail cards to real estate agents and bankers who send me referrals or who I happen to work with on a given transaction. People deserve a personal contact - a hand written card means a lot - I know that I keep them when I get them! Tell me what you think. . .
