- There's an endless supply of things you can do to let your clients know you are thinking of them, including pop-bys, Facebook posts and delivering homemade goodies.
- If you're in the mood to make a personal delivery, don your favorite elf suit, play some music -- and have a great time.
- A simple phone call or a handwritten note goes a long way.
‘Tis the season to show your clients you appreciate their business.
We asked what you are doing this year to stay top-of-mind, and here’s a list of some tried-and-true efforts for spreading holiday cheer. Ideas come from Inman’s social media platforms and the Real Estate Agents Who Want Real Results Facebook group.
Between pop-bys, Facebook posts and delivering homemade goodies, there’s an endless supply of things you can do to let your clients know you are thinking of them.
25 holiday marketing ideas for real estate agents
1. Host a client appreciation event.
“Live Urban Real Estate is hosting a holiday-themed client appreciation event in our office with [a] hot chocolate bar and other treats as well as photos with Hipster Santa and Miss Claus,” said Stacie Perrault Staub, marketing director for the Denver-based real estate company.
Check out the charming promo video.
Host neighborhood or farm activities
2. Judge a best-dressed door contest in your farm neighborhood.
3. Go caroling in a neighborhood, and invite clients to come along.
4. Host a neighborhood social.
“Client appreciation parties, but also, neighborhood socials,” said Tamara Davis, Velocity Coach with Keller Williams Realty Sacramento.
A pancake breakfast would be perfect for this, and you could turn it into a toy drive or donation station for a local charity.
5. Hire a landscape crew to come in and blow leaves, shovel snow and help with a little yard clean-up.
6. Hire a light-hanging crew to hang outdoor lights.
7. Host a tree-lighting event.
Be a sponsor, offer hot tea, cider or coffee during the event and give out candy canes to the kids.
8. Host a best ‘Clark Griswold Holiday Award’ competition in your neighborhood for the best home with gaudy decorations.
Use social media
9. Do Project 365: taking at least one photograph every day for a year.
Jess Dill, team leader and principal broker at Jesse Dill and The Property Group, Keller Williams, Beaverton, participates in Project 365 every other year on Facebook and Instagram.
“I completed the project in 2015, starting again in January. Posting personalized birthday videos on friends’ wall. Videos are recorded the month before, saved to Dropbox, then my admin posted them on people’s walls every morning.”
10. Post a holiday greeting on clients’ Facebook wall wishing them the best for 2017.
Get in the holiday spirit
If you’re in the mood to make a personal delivery, don your favorite elf suit, play some music — and have a great time.
11. Make hot cocoa jars, add a small bottle of Kahlua and drop them off on door steps.
12. Drop off cookie dough and cookie cutters with sprinkles and frosting.
13. Deliver holiday ornaments.
14. Deliver poinsettias or amaryllis bulb kits, which will bloom year after year.
15. Stop by your favorite businesses and drop off poinsettias, treat bowls and a card.
16. Deliver holiday wrapping kits.
All it takes is a couple of rolls of wrapping paper, tape, bows and gift tags.
17. Give gift certificates to home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Mail something special
18. Sign clients up for a monthly gift box such as Harry & David or Graze.
19. Send a lovely gift basket.
20. Add movie tickets in your holiday cards.
21. Give calendars and refrigerator magnets.
22. Make a charitable donation on behalf of your clients, and send them a card with the information.
23. Send scratchers.
“I always liked to do scratch-off lottery tickets followed up with phone call. It always leads to great conversations,” adds Hank Avink, Realtor with eXp Realty and founder at National Coaching League.
Give it a personal touch
Some agents find the easiest way to connect with clients is to invite them to an office open house to pick up a good bottle of wine for their holiday dinner. And if they can’t make it, deliver it.
24. Offer dessert.
Geena Becker, sales associate, Avon Office William Raveis Real Estate, invites her clients to come to her.
“I send out emails to my book of business asking them to meet me at a certain restaurant at the bar to pick up their choice of apple or pumpkin pie. I see about 50 people, and it’s great to see everyone,” Becker said.
“Some join me for a drink or whatever they want, or some just gives hugs and off they go with their pie. They look forward to it every year.”
25. Simply call or write a note.
Last, but not least, a simple phone call or a handwritten note goes a long way.
The holiday season can be full of merriment, hustle and bustle. Have fun. Don’t stress about what to do for your clients, and remember it’s the thought that counts!
Debbie Biery is the Expansion Ambassador with eXp Realty. You can follow her on Twitter or LinkedIn.
