What’s the most under-utilized advertising space?  The BACK of your business card.  Here’s an example of how an agent uses his business card in an unusual way to get noticed, help his clients, and bring in more business.

Here’s Doug’s description and example below:

“I recently ordered new business cards but this time I chose the ‘tent’ style.  It’s a folded card with a few unique features.  What I like about this style is how it stands out from all the other cards on the table.  Normal ‘flat’ cards simply lay on a table but the tent card STANDS right on the table.

When sellers come home…guess whose card is standing there for them to see?!?  Plus, it doubles the surface area to convey any message you might want.  Here’s what I put on my ‘tent’ style card:

Ask your current business card company if they can make these for you, or find a place online by doing a quick web search for ‘tent style business card’.”

Here’s what Doug’s card looks like (click the image to enlarge)…

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Here’s something beneficially DIFFERENT that will bring you more business after selling a home to Buyers.  It’s called a “Testimonial Just Sold Card” and agent Marcia Holcomb has perfected this prospecting strategy.

If you remember, you build momentum in your real estate practice by LEVERAGING off your existing activity to get more listings and buyers (as explained in full detail in Step 2 of the 3-Steps System).

Marcia does THREE important things whenever she closes a transaction with Buyers:  1) gets a quick testimonial explaining how she helped her clients, 2) puts the client’s testimonial on a post card, and 3) sends these post cards out to the surrounding area to announce the new neighbors.

The important thing to notice is how the cards highlight her superior service from the mouths of her clients.  Never forget…what OTHERS say about you is 10,000 times more valuable than what you say about yourself.  Marcia knows this well and let’s her ecstatic clients do the selling.

Here’s Marcia’s brief description and example Just Sold card…

“Instead of sending out the ‘typical’ Just Sold cards…when I do a closing on a home, I use testimonials from the sellers and send it to all their neighbors.  My clients enjoy doing this for me…and it gets my name out there while letting the neighborhood know that there will be new folks in town.  The welcome baskets start coming, everyone meets, and I get more business.”

Do you send “Just Listed” notices to neighbors, clients and your House List when you take a listing?

For most agents, sending a “Just Listed” notice seems like a waste of time and money.  That’s because they’re completely void of the essential elements that cause people to read and RESPOND to your contact.

One thing I love about using a “Just Listed/Just Sold” system in your practice is, at the very least, it demonstrates that you’re a busy agent.  And we all know, people want to deal with experienced, active agents.

Today I want to share with you a quick and easy way to use “Just Listeds” (and “Just Solds”) to “leverage” the commissions you make from every listing.

Remember, there are THREE reasons to take a listing:  1) To sell the home and make a commission (you already knew that, right?  Just checking…), 2) To use the listing as a “buyer magnet” to generate quality buyer leads, and 3) To leverage the listing into additional listings.

Here’s an example that does ALL THREE at one time.  But you have to use the right elements to make it work correctly…

Here are 6 key elements you want to include:

1. Decide what you want your reader to do as a result of reading your notice, and WHY they should do it.  In most cases, you want them to call you.  And they will if you give them a self-interested, irresistible reason for calling you or your hotline.
2. You must use a benefit-rich, attention-getting headline!
3. Tell a story to capture interest
4. Transition from your story into your OFFER for something important to the reader
5. Tell why you’re making your offer;
6. Give motivating reasons, urgency, to respond NOW.

Here’s a quick example you can use to guide you to creating better “Just Listed” post cards (or any type of mailing).  Don’t forget, you can use the same elements and “psychology” for letters, oversized cards, flyers and even email notices too.

Watch how the following example makes a specific OFFER – giving prospects a self-serving reason to actually pick up the phone and call you.  As I’ve mentioned before, if you give no offer, you’ll get no response – and you’ve wasted your money.

EXAMPLE:  A Direct Response “Just Listed” Post Card…

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Notice the 6 key elements in this example?…

This postcard gets results because it, 1) grabs your prospect’s attention…in this case the neighbors of the listing, 2) offers a compelling story that draws the reader in, 3) transitions into an offer important to the reader, 4) makes the offer irresistible…the free report, 5) gives clear reasons why you’re making the offer, and 6) creates urgency to call you.

How many of these Just Listed notices do you think you could send out over the course of your listing, and make enormous returns on your marketing dollars?  A lot, I’m sure!

Plus, here’s a special tip:  Couldn’t you send a “series” of post cards, letters, or emails to neighbors in the area…each one following up on the previous one?  They can even continue the story as well.  Then you can watch you marketing returns multiply!

[Ed note: This article is a small excerpt from the "Fast-Track to Success" Turn-Key Real Estate Business Building System. To learn more about this system click here.]

Could there be a closing gift that is valuable to clients AND keeps reminding them of you for years to come?  I’m not talking about giving them a simple magazine subscription here.  This is one of the most unique ideas I’ve seen in a long time.  But more than that—it works to bring referrals multiple times a year, without having to give the gift more than once.  If you’re interested in what this is all about and if it could work for you…

Check out agent Stan Vaught’s description and an image of his unusual closing gift…

“I have always struggled with the perfect closing gift.  It’s difficult to have one idea that matches all clients and is useful all year long.  It would be great to have a gift that will remind them of you and also have your contact information handy when they need you again.

I really wanted to take advantage of the ‘memory power’ of the ladies (and we all know how big their role is in the decision process in real estate).  And I noticed how popular the seasonal mailbox flags are in my area and how much my wife enjoys changing ours…and the idea took off from there…

Now, before you see my idea…you need to know it’s kind of a ‘wacky’ gift.  But the fact that it’s DIFFERENT (they can get this unique gift nowhere else), and VALUABLE (it gives clients something special they enjoy), makes it a winner for me.

Here’s how I create what I call the ‘Perfect Closing Gift For All Occasions’ in 3 easy steps (with picture below):

STEP 1:  Get Your Materials

Go to a local ‘flag store’ and get the following:

• 5 seasonal flags
• 1 flag hanger that screws into the wooden mailbox post
• 1 plastic, multi-slot, file folder that comes with a hook attached to allow it to be hung in a closet.

If you don’t have a local flag store you can check at a Dollar Store or order some basic flags online.  You can get the multi-slot holder at Staples.

STEP 2:  Assemble Your Gift

I glue my business card to the front and lay the flags over each of the file dividers to prevent wrinkles.  This is the best way I’ve found to display the flags.

You can assemble several yourself at the same time to have them ready for each closing.  Or, have an assistant make these for each new client as you go.

STEP 3:  Give To Clients At Closing

You can give them this unique holiday flag holder at closing (that usually works best for me).  The ladies love the idea and it creates a new hobby for them to add to for years.

Each new season and for all the different holidays, they will have a new flag to display and more importantly for you…each time they return to the collection they will see your card on the front cover and be reminded of you for years to come.

The total cost was around $50. This cost can be adjusted by the number of flags you include, making the gift suitable for other clients – not just ones that closed a transaction with you.

This is a way to give a gift ONE TIME and continue to get business and referrals from your network for months and years in the future.  It’s working for me anyway.”

Here’s what my closing gift looks like…

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