Low-Tech Ways for Real Estate Agents to Market

Are you a real estate agent who is looking for new and creative ways to engage and grow your network, but you don’t feel you’re as tech savvy as other agents? While there’s no doubt new technologies are creating unique and innovative ways to market, there are plenty of ways to stay connected and grow your sphere that don’t involve a high level of technical skill.

Database

This one is non-negotiable. You must have a tool to collect information from people you interact with. It doesn’t have to be an expensive or complicated platform, but it must be sharable with your team. Whatever you choose, make sure you take the time to use it and understand its functionality. A database will help you build and maintain a sphere of fans. 

Surveys or Google Forms

Utilizing Google Forms or another online survey is a great way to gather information and get to know regular, first-time, or potential clients. It’s unrealistic to think you can sit down and have coffee with everyone to find out what's going on in their lives. Surveys are a great, low-tech tool to help with this. Ask about basic contact info and things like birthdays, anniversaries, hobbies, careers, children, pets, and more. You’ll be surprised at how much people will share.

Once you get to know your audience, show them love

The surveys will provide insight into ways to connect with your clients. Some low-tech ways to engage are:

1. Handwritten cards (one of the most low-tech, high-return connections you can make!)
2. Birthday and anniversary gifts
3. St. Patrick’s Day card with scratch-off lottery ticket
4. Thanksgiving gratitude card
5. Home-closing anniversary gift
6. Holiday wreaths or a charity donation

Try to avoid branded gifts, especially for birthdays or anniversaries. Plus, branded items are not usually considered gifts from a tax perspective.

Seasonal Festivals

Consider holding an annual seasonal event, such as a fall festival. Invite current and past clients as well as others you’ve connected with in your database. Incorporate fun, seasonal activities for adults and children, such as pumpkin decorating. Have photos taken and provide framed photos for clients to continually think of you.

Regular Touchpoints

Don’t forget to make regular touchpoints with those in your database, so they think of you if they decide to sell or know someone who is looking for a real estate agent. You’ll be top of mind if they recently received a greeting from you. Some ideas for touchpoints are:

1. Annual real estate reviews for past clients
2. Cards or gifts
3. Connecting on social media by liking and commenting on clients' posts
4. Quarterly marketing pieces

Transactional Gifts

Sending gifts to your clients is a sure way to get them to remember you. Here are some ideas:

1. Stress kit (candles, essential oils, tea, etc.) once under contract
2. Moving kit at appraisal
3. Dinner and a movie a few weeks before closing
4. Custom address stamp at closing
5. Maintenance checklist and $25 gift card to a home improvement store 3 weeks post move-in
6. 3-month wine and cheese basket

Referral Appreciation

Send a handwritten thank-you note to anyone who refers a new client to you. If you get a closing with that referral, send a small gift to the referring client, and thank them once again. Make sure they know how much the referral meant to you. If a client knows referrals are appreciated, they will keep doing it.

As you can see, there are so many ways to engage and connect with your sphere with little to no technology needed. It’s about getting to know people and then staying connected on a regular basis. As a result, you will have happy clients who refer you and think of you as more than just a real estate agent they used once. You will be part of their network as much as they are part of yours. If you have 6-10 people in your sphere who really love and connect with you, you can make a great living on real estate without being a tech-wizard.