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Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I bought some great branded notepads, the problem is I like them so much, I've been using them myself and not handing them out!  

Feb 26, 2015 04:23 AM
Rainmaker
400,356
Jill Murty, Realtor - Orange County, CA
Movoto - Laguna Niguel, CA

I spent a bunch of years in the promotional products industry prior to becoming a Realtor.  My biggest clients were health care companies and an American car company along with its west coast ad agency.  I had many smaller clients, too.

In real estate, I like using promotional items as a part of my overall marketing.  If decide to move forward with promotional items, you can ask your rep to show you products that are on closeout or those that are on special pricing or have "free goods" offers.  You can save some money that way.  If you have several agents in the office who want to go in on promotional products, you can pay a copy change charge so each agent can have their individual name and contact info and get the total quantity price for everyone.  This usually applies only if the logo is the same.

If promotional products have brought me real estate business, I can't say anyone has specifically mentioned it.  A good chunk of my business is referral business.  If the desk calendar I send out every year keeps me at the top of mind and generates a referral, I don't know that I'd be told that's what helped the referral happen.

Feb 26, 2015 02:45 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Debbie Reynolds - never done! However, as a part of Brian Buffini coaching requirements of pop-by, I do visit my clients and share 'un-branded' items! And that is a great ROI for sure.

Feb 26, 2015 08:32 AM
Ambassador
6,393,494
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Rarely, mostly nice items that I can give to staff or colleagues.

Nov 16, 2019 08:28 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Judiciously, Debbie. I use notepads with magnetic backs to which I can attach my business cards and they do generate business. Haven't had great success with pens. I also have inexpensive key chains, on which I hang all the keys for a home at closing. No one seems to throw those out.

Feb 26, 2015 07:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

The idea of promotional items is to get your name out there.  Whether you get business from it is not the issue when your do it.  When you get your name out there, eventually you will become a household name.  That's when you get the business. That and your reputation.  If you don't have a good representation, specialty items will never help.

Feb 26, 2015 12:30 PM
Rainer
71,994
Jack Wickham
Clarksville, TN
Building with Integrity

I have given away pens and coffee mugs and the customers seem to like them. I think it helps them to remember me the next time they think of a builder.

Feb 26, 2015 12:11 PM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

The only "swag" I have ever purchased was notepads, and still have many left, with VERY old photos.  

Feb 26, 2015 11:50 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Jill Murty, Realtor thanks for the advice about asking for close out items and special deals. The screen cleaners and jump drives are good techie ideas.

Feb 26, 2015 11:34 AM
Ambassador
2,161,048
Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Debbie, I buy calendars but otherwise I just send out thank you or other note cards that have my information preprinted on them.

Feb 26, 2015 10:51 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Debbie -- I have done calendars and pens in the past...although not currently.  

I like the idea of notepads to hand out at open houses.   

Feb 26, 2015 10:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,139,819
Russ Ravary ~ Metro Detroit Realtor call (248) 310-6239
Real Estate One - Commerce, MI
Michigan homes for sale ~ yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

Never did it because the cost seems so expensive, but it is about branding. 

Feb 26, 2015 09:19 AM
Rainer
104,074
Mike Belobradic
Johnston & Daniel Oakville - Oakville, ON
Your Trusted Advisor in Oakville Real Estate

I don't look at these items in terms of direct ROI. It's not like measuring a response to a specific ad or mail drop. Primarily I use any items like this as giveaways for clients with whom I do business. People love pens (as long as they're half decent quality) and it helps to keep my name in front of folks for longer periods of time between our touchpoints.

Feb 26, 2015 07:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,153,794
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

I had tons of pens and handed them out over a span of about 5 years in the early going. I would see them at homes on listing appts. and people would sometimes walk in to the office looking for me. I'd have to say the investment was well worth the return. I am trying a new tactic and am always searching for bulk deals on printable flash drives. I received them from others in the past and still use them. The names are an arm length away and proved invaluable in function and promotion. 

Feb 26, 2015 07:07 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,139
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Personal notes are more effective than any of the promotional items. If you want to hand out something, distribute more of your business cards.

Feb 26, 2015 07:00 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

"Items like pens, notepads, scrapers, etc." SCRAPERS! What's that? 

Yes, I do spend money on promotional items for branding purposes. These items turn out to be collector pieces that do not get thrown out and are looked forward to every year. Why? Because I am the ONLY source.  Why am I the only source? I am the only one willing to invest the time, intellect and energy to create something they citizen actually wants.

My item is a publication (digital) titled "100 Days of Summer." I can personally deliver(farming), use it at environmental events and community events of all kinds, and paid for by advertisers, and tied to my online collateral only.

The pens and notepads do disappear quickly without pay back. I stopped that real quick. The '100 Days' solution is durable, has a one year self life, and has legs. It an exceptional conversation starter at the busy pizza house or Panera or Starbucks or any environment with open social areas.

 

 

 

Feb 26, 2015 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I have in the long past, but I just didn't see any great value, but it issomething that may be hard to track.

Feb 26, 2015 06:26 AM
Rainmaker
927,795
Ron Marshall
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

All I can tell you Debbie, is that Chief Cook hasn't done anything like this for years....because of the low ROI!  And, I can't do it because it wouldn't benefit me at all, either!

Feb 26, 2015 06:02 AM
Rainer
23,743
Eric Valente
Calabasas, CA
Eric

No, we do not. 

Yet, we have some ideas. Bottle and reusable tots would be perfect for ca climate. What do you think?

Feb 26, 2015 05:50 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

One of our clients walks his luxury farm 2-3 times a week religiously.  As part of his branding package, we made up lovely notepads with a shadow of his logo to leave behind.  They are the perfect size for a purse, a car, etc., and people loved them.  He dominates the area, and people love having him visit them and chat. 

Another one of our clients send magnetized refrigerator calendars.  We even get one every Xmas.  One time when her order for them was late, she actually got a call from former buyer asking her, if she was going to send here one...They love it in her marketplace, personally we would not recommend it for Santa Barbara, but we would for other place in the greater  LA basin.  

Feb 26, 2015 05:19 AM
Rainmaker
4,333,772
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

Not any more Debbie, and we have not noticed any change in our business since stopping them.

Feb 26, 2015 04:31 AM
Ambassador
5,049,450
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Yes I do, on one item that I share with clients, but mostly with those I meet at conventions and other real estate events. It's very popular and useful - a screen customized screen cleaner for your phone or iPad. I"ve learned over time to not spend a lot of money this way - yes it gets me noticed and people remember

Feb 26, 2015 03:29 AM