Heat Level: 
Hot: These tips are meant for marketing experts.
Bottom Line: Get out of your marketing rut and start generating more leads with these creative marketing ideas.
Do This: Give one (or all) of these a try and see what gets people talking about your business, then asking to work with you.
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The key to successful marketing? Branching out from what others are doing!
Marketing is, in many ways, a marathon. If you stop, someone else will be right behind you ready to pass you by. BUT this fear often leads agents (and really all professionals) to worry about keeping up with what everyone else is doing. Ironically, the key to successful marketing is branching out from what others are doing. So if you’re ready to boost your leads and flex your creativity, check out these seven unique ideas to get started.
We know, we know, influencer marketing to most people means Kardashian-esque millennials hawking diet teas on Instagram. Realistically, however, influencers are just individuals with a large following on social media who value their input on products. Influencers with smaller followings (between 1,000-10,000) are referred to as called micro-influencers, and they tend to have very dedicated followers who value their input as highly as reviews from friends and family. In other words, partnering with a micro-influencer is like getting personal recommendations sent to a few thousand people. Not a bad deal!
What kind of micro-influencer could your work with? Perhaps a local interior designer would be willing to partner with you on a blog post about ways to stage a home before a showing. Maybe a local community leader would do an Instagram takeover of your account, and showcase all the best parts of your community. Or maybe one of your buyers/sellers has a social media following and would be willing to post a picture with you at the closing table. These simple gestures allow you to tap into the trusting network of another social media sphere.
One note: the bigger the influencer, the more likely they'll ask for something in return. Consider the amount of work you're asking them to do, and what you're willing to pay for it (whether it's actual money or some other benefit).
Hootsuite has a great introduction to influencers and working with them. Check it out, then start looking into influencers in your community.
Speaking of your community, a great way to generate leads in your area is through hosting or sponsoring events. While events can be more expensive than, say, digital ads, you can’t beat the value of in-person connections. And by engaging with the community, you can generate not only leads but long-standing loyalty as a part of your region.
Look into community events in your area and see about sponsoring them. Or if you’re feeling really ambitious, plan your own event!
This one requires a bigger up-front investment but it’s certainly a memorable way to stand out. Offer a free moving truck to your clients. By having people driving around in a branded vehicle, you get loads of free publicity. You also get tons of positive word-of-mouth buzz when clients are able to move without having to book a truck! You can take it a step further by offering the truck to nonprofits in the area to further demonstrate your commitment to the community.
Again, this one is a big investment. Seriously consider if you think it’s worth the cash, then start looking into prices for the vehicle and custom designs to brand it.
With the growing backlash to unending emails and social media posts, traditional marketing strategies are making a comeback. This includes mailers. But if you want your mailer to avoid the trash pile, you need to make it display worthy. Think about what you’d decide to keep on your fridge. What would be useful enough for someone to keep it? Send mailers like that!
Take a look at your own fridge. Then think about what you’d like on it. Would a community event list be helpful? A local sports schedule? A list of parks and hiking trails? Get creative, then get printing!
Remember when we talked about the Pittsburgh listing with Jurassic appeal? While you might not have this kind of dino-mite idea, you can use creative decorations to make your listing pop! Yes, you want photos and decor that highlight a space’s features and potential. But buyers have a ton of options online - you need to find a way to make your listing stand out.
Revisit our prehistoric friend and spend some time on Instagram and Pinterest looking at unique decor that stand out from the pack.
Seriously. Cold calling is making a comeback! Think about it. How many emails, texts, Slack messages, and more do you get during the day? A call is more personal, and while it takes longer than firing out an email blast, it can yield more immediate results than passively hoping for a click or response.
Check out Hubspot’s tips for turning your cold calls redhot, then get dialing!
Obviously, we’re a little biased here. But it’s 2019, and like it or not, everyone is online. We don’t look for information anymore...we Google it. Not only are websites often people’s first impression of your business, but they also open up endless digital marketing possibilities.
If you have a site, talk to your web manager about any steps that can be taken to improve and update it. No site? We might be able to help with that!
If you’re tired of trying to promote yourself like everyone else, get a little creative with these ideas. And don’t stop there! When you stop worrying about doing what other people do and focus on what can work for you, the sky's the limit!
Working with ListingManager allows Jess to explore an alternate reality where she could one day own a house instead of renting. When she’s not focused on her daily to-do lists, Jess enjoys HBO binges, gourmet lattes, and playing with her dog. How did you like this article?
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