print marketing

[Dave Kovaleski]

I still like the local paper advertising, but my reasoning isn't to sell the homes completley. I feel that you need a presence in any market to get listings. Buyers are a dime a dozen from our page 1 ranking websites, but lets face it sellers are still coming from the local community.

In my opinion we need to have a strong community presence via for sale signs, bill boards/signs, presence in the local papers, volunteering ect ect etc to attract sellers.

I feel sellers look for the name they know whether it be an agent or a company, the more place you show up in the community the better off you are to be an active sellers agent and the print advertising is just another way to show people of the community that you exsist.

My 2 cents

[cordaco]

when you say print marketing, are you referring to anything above and beyond Sunday Open House ads (text) in the local newspaper?

Just asking for clarification since print marketing can take on a number of different meanings.

I agree, focused geographical magazines still work grate. People get them for free at supermarkets, drug stores and offices.

[TrophyHomes]

What kind of ad you do you run in the focused geographical magazines to make your ad stick out from the other 500 ads?

I am also interested in people direct mail campaigns.

[Justin Havre]

It is good to do some print advertising but it is mainly to keep sellers happy. They they like seeing their house in magazines but INTERNET is where it is at.

[cordaco]

First I try to find a magazine that does not have 500 other agents on it. What helps me stand out is giving consumers what they need. They are not there to look for realtors, they are there looking for a dream (home). As a result, i focus on neighborhood, price and I show the front of the house and a small inset of the type of lifestyle the home has to offer.

The way I see it, in the net I am competing with 100,000's other ads on print I am competing with a few 10's. The beauty of print is that I also advertise my website to my core market and thats where my website benefits even more.

[cookarikappou]

It is really hard to promote something, you have to be unique to stand out.
Cordaco is right, you have to think of something that will make you stand out despite of your competitors beside you. What's best is to do all the marketing strategy but it's an agony.

[DMG]

It is really hard to promote something; you have to be unique to stand out.
Cordaco is right, you have to think of something that will make you stand out despite of your competitors beside you. What's best is to do all the marketing strategy but it's an agony.

Very true. Internet is huge but so is print, why else do major companies do it, to waste money? No they do it because done right and for the right reasons it works. Does print work like internet where you see that lead come right off the "contact form?" typically not. Branding typically is for targeted areas, NIKE brands to athletes, Elmo brands to kids and so on (perhaps bad examples but you see what I mean )

If you are looking to a specific farm, area, smaller area works better on smaller budget of course branding is what print is about. Brand - brand and then brand. Print advertising brings you over time allot of business because people will see your colors, see your message, see you around town or whatever. Print ads are not really to sell a home, MLS and internet do more of that but print marketing is very lucrative when done right and consistent.

Keep in mind:
Colors
Text
Subject
Proper placement (like someone else said don’t go where everyone goes)
Readers wants & desires
The message
End result

Try things, take and place your ad upside down, place your ad sideways if everyone else’s is vertical, try different headlines - go outside the box - instead of saying "open house Sunday 1-3" say "whotcha doin' Sunday 1-3" or
"It’s worth waiting in line" instead.

For fixer upper homes instead of saying "attention investors" or "first time home buyers" like everyone else say "livable barely" or "paint wont fix this one" now obviously the text that follows needs to match and finish the story but it stands out.

People don’t like print because they do what all the agents do, nothing. Make it better, make it different, make it stand out, CHOSE THE RIGHT COLORS and print can be a great asset to you and your business.

I got a call today actually for a lisitng appointment tomorow at noon from someone fairly local and I asked as I always do "how did you come to call me?" he replied in a nust shell due to my advertising, he is a full time advertiser, he specializes in branding companies and he has always liked how my ads, colors etc stand out with what he sees in his mailbox, area paper, on my truck etc. This is a call I get often, print does not need to ne a ton of money but the print should follow the above oputline and colors should match the signs and other area ads to be consitant as stated.

I still like the local paper advertising, but my reasoning isn't to sell the homes completley. I feel that you need a presence in any market to get listings. Buyers are a dime a dozen from our page 1 ranking websites, but lets face it sellers are still coming from the local community.

In my opinion we need to have a strong community presence via for sale signs, bill boards/signs, presence in the local papers, volunteering ect ect etc to attract sellers.

I feel sellers look for the name they know whether it be an agent or a company, the more place you show up in the community the better off you are to be an active sellers agent and the print advertising is just another way to show people of the community that you exsist.

My 2 cents

Very true If you do anything, dont do what everyobody else is doing, I usually do the opposite.

[TheRealOBX]

DMG


I think those are some excellent points about the benefits of print advertising. I agree if done well a print campaign, can definitely work wonders in branding. It is definitely to think outside the box. i could be biased though as I have been working on a targeted print campaign all morning.

[wholesale4realtors]

A meeting with many large brokerages came to this conclusion: Print marketing is still important, but to advertise yourself more than the properties. Use it to advertise your website, skills, what makes you stand out...

Most the companies in this meeting now advertise one-liners about the property, suggesting the viewer go to the website for more info, multiple photos, virtual tours, ect.

The ads still give you the presence in your local market, brand you, and still get your properties advertised.

With regards to a question earlier, there is ample proof and solid figures that show that print media will not sell your home, so simple work that in to your listing presentation to get that point across to your potential clients at the beginning. Ask them, would you rather I spend a lot of time in money on something that won't help sell your home, or would you rather I spend the same amount of time and money on something that would? They'll see your point if you ask a question that makes them understand the logic.

[jihni]

I think you should at least consider making a small percentage of your marketing on print. I believe that all avenues of marketing have to be considered unless you've already proven yourself that it won't generate anything positive for you.