Use this common marketing tool to its best advantage.

I just went through the several hundred cards I collected during my seminar
for a State Association recently.  I collect cards of those who to
subscribe to my blog or to my free online
newsletter. 

As I looked at them, I realized that it might not hurt to include here a
brief review of how you can better use your card as a real estate
marketing tool. alt=”Real Estate Business Card Example” hspace=9
src=”http://www.goldelementdesign.com/images/projects/wallacebuscard.jpg”
width=172 align=left vspace=9 border=1>

First, make sure the front of your card looks
good!  Some of the cards I collected look unprofessional.  Of
course, if your company dictates your business card format, you’ll have to do
some negotiating in order to get permission to design a better one.

Second, make sure your Web site address is on your
card.  A good 20-30% of the cards I collected did not have a
personal Web site address on them.  Remember: the overwhelming
majority of today’s consumers go first to the Web when beginning their research
for an agent or a home.  No Web site address = lost business!  One of
your main duties is to promote your personal site in any manner
possible…including on your business card!

Third, use the back of your card wisely!  Most of the
cards I collected had blank backs.  Those that didn’t had:

• A plea for referrals (not bad)
• A mortgage amortization table (good grief!)
• Important local phone numbers (not bad)
• Football schedules (like a true fan is not going to know his/her team’s
  schedule?)

• Tip guide (not too bad)
• Items needed at loan application (so-so)

You get the idea: same ol’, same ol’.  Here’s a better idea: style=”WIDTH: 201px; HEIGHT: 198px” height=359 alt=”" hspace=9
src=”http://68.178.240.65/photos/06281620.jpg” width=270 align=right vspace=9
border=2>

Use the back of your card to promote your Web site and a
particular listing.  The back of your card is valuable
marketing “space.”  Your Web site is (or at least should be), your most
valuable, cost-effective marketing tool.  Put ‘em together and make more
money!

BTW:  If you haven’t yet made custom business cards for yourself, you’ll
find it’s very, very easy using Microsoft Publisher.  Give it a try!

It’s a beautiful day here on the lake in Reston…hope it’s a beautiful day
wherever you are, too!

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.