Your business card will probably be the single most often handed out piece of marketing material you ever use. From securing keys for showings, networking events, meeting new clients, closing gifts, referral requests, and more you're handing those cards out like hot cakes! 

We think it's safe to say that the way your real estate business cards look and feel are super important. Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing your business card design:

DO

• Include your full name, phone number, email address and website address. Aside from your name, you always want to give people at least 3 different ways to contact you.
• Use a professionally designed logo and professional headshot.
• Keep it simple. When it comes to business cards, less is more. Often times a more simple design leads to a sleeker, more professional look.
• Upgrade your card stock. Since this is often the most handed out piece of marketing material you'll use, we recommend NOT skimping out on quality here. You'll be happy you upgraded when you receive compliments on the quality.
• Know what's legal to include or not include. For example, if you are a licensed real estate agent, but are a member of the National Association of Realtors®, they prefer you write the word Realtor as Realtor®. Some areas also require you include your MLS number on your card, or even your business address.
• Stay on brand. Use colors and fonts that match the look and feel of your website and other marketing materials. Think of some of the biggest and most well known brands out there - their marketing materials and advertising efforts all have consistency across the board. Color, fonts, logos, style, tone, etc.
• Ask if you can give them your card and politely introduce yourself before you just hand it to them. A lot of the time this will lead to them actually saving it versus tossing it.
• Regularly keep your top clients stocked with business cards. They should never run out of cards to share with others.

DON'TS

• Clutter is a no-go. No huge images, giant logos, enormous fonts, or nonsense copy. Save that for your website, flyers, etc. Respect how little space is even available on a business card.
• Avoid promoting your youtube or social media accounts if you are never really active on them. This will come off as a bad sign to prospective clients who try to follow you and assume you have no business or aren't working because you aren't posting.
• Try to stand out by using over-priced unique business card shapes, sizes and materials. A wooden card is going to cost you more than the impression it will ever make. A metal card may damage the inside of your clients belongings, and the tiny long cards just don't fit in anyone's wallet and are easily lost.
• Don't hand out your business card to someone you never plan on doing business with or who hasn't mentioned referring you to others. It's a waste of your time and money. 

As a real estate agent, we've all heard that cold calling, door knocking, and paying to leads can get you more leads. We wanted to cover a few more ways you can generate more leads that aren't so typical and can be a bit more fun!

1. PARTNERSHIPS

We've all heard that networking is great for any business owner, but if you network closely with key professionals related to your profession it can lead to big returns – referrals. This form of cross-marketing would involve simply contacting your area's best real estate attorneys, personal bankers, mortgage brokers, interior decorators, movers, notaries, and accountants and inviting them for a marketing meeting. Explain the unique ways in which you help clients in their area and how your referral based relationship can help one another. 

Action Plan: Create a list of 3 local professionals from each sector and invite them for coffee to discuss a combined marketing effort.

2. HANDWRITTEN NOTES

If you've already closed a few deals, try writing to those past clients directly and sending them a handwritten note. Everyone is so used to receiving emails, texts and printed materials that a handwritten note would stand out exceptionally well. Take it one step further by calling them a few days later to follow up, confirm they received it and ask for their referral.

Action Plan: Spend 30 minutes once a week on Mondays sending out handwritten notes to past clients. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, etc. Any reasons is a good reason. Follow up on Fridays.

3. HOST EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

Hosting an educational event for first time home buyers or sellers is a great way to introduce yourself to those looking to get more information, but unsure of where or who to go to. You can co-host this event with one of those local professionals you met when you were building partnerships, host it solo at your office, or event co-host with a local cafe or community recreational space.

Action Plan: Contact 3 local professionals and pitch the idea. Make sure to have ideas on space, costs and how to attract attendees first.

4. DIVORCE

We all know at least one person who has been divorced. Many times there is a need to sell real estate when it occurs. Contact the best divorce attorney in your area and see if you can create a referral system. Sure, it seems a bit of an odd target – and maybe a little negative - but it is a great way to bring new business and gain TWO clients with separate referral networks in one single deal.

Action Plan: Contact the divorce attorney of a friend and family member and ask them for advice on how to possibly entice the attorney in your area.

5. FACEBOOK

Ever pay attention to your facebook friends posts? While everyone is usually sharing a lot of reposted content, if you pay attention, you can actually see that a few friends are looking to move or thinking about selling. Maybe they are expecting a new baby and need to relocate to a bigger place. Maybe their kids just moved out and they might need to downsize. Maybe they just got a promotion and a simple congratulations would remind them that you are there and able to help them if they need to move soon. The opportunities are endless. You can actually even search the hashtags to find people in your area who are looking to move. 

Action Plan: Message 5 facebook friends every Thursday morning just as a friendly hello, how have you been.