What are soe good advertising ideas for a NEW realtor in NC?

I just became a realtor, and I want to get some business int the Charlotte area. I need/ want some great advertising ideas that can help me to generate some. Does anyone have any Ides or suggestions?


Serious, well thought out advise and responses only please.

What are soe good advertising ideas for a NEW realtor in NC?
Hi,


Congratulations on your decision. I'm a REALTOR in Arizona and have found ActiveRain http://activerain.com/action/referrals/t... to be a great source of business. It is an online community of real estate agents across the country. Best of all, it is free.





Choose a domain name that reflects what you do. Put it on everything and use it in your signature line on your email.





Offer to sit open houses for other agents in your office.





Get a point2agent website which is also free and will automatically set you up with listings to advertise. You can contact me and I will provide you with a free one http://www.AZHomeBuyerHelp.com





Choose a geographical farm and start sending information on the real estate market to those who live in the neighborhood.





Good Luck.
Reply:Introduce yourself to everyone you meet, and hand out business cards.





If you have a website url, have it put on a sign for your car. There are magnetic signs - either the standard kind that goes on the side of your door, or nicer ones that are metal and go on the back of your car.





Contact your local Department of Transportation, and ask about adopting a stretch of highway. Your name and business will go on a sign for everyone to see.





Sponsor a local sports team. Have your picture taken on final game day with all the players, give copies out to each member with your compliments. (You don't need to use a photography studio for this...a friend with a camera is fine).





Have pencils made with your name on them...donate them to your local school.





Any time you do any of these activities, you can write a press release (look online for a how to) and submit the release to your local community newspaper. Also write a press release announcing the debut of your business. You might get a good writeup in the paper.





Join the local Chamber of Commerce and attend all their events and network with other professionals.





Any time there is a patriotic holiday, target a residential area you would like to sell houses in...buy some small flags with wooden posts, and place them in the ground by the curb, about 1 per house. Put your business card on the wooden post. Ask about any local ordinances first. They look really unique and will start a buzz about you.





Offer to give a free talk at the local community center or library...Buying Your First House or something like that. It doesn't have to be too long. Make it basic but informative, have maybe a couple of handouts. Give your business card out.
Reply:craig proctor. check out his marketing plans. they work. but be prepared to invest some money. you will get busy fast though if you do his system. good luck!


ps i'm a realtor....
Reply:set up a site on both myspace and facebook to promote your business
Reply:You absolutely NEED a website. The NAR put out a study in 2005 saying that the use of the Internet to search for a home has risen from 2% in 1995 to 77% in 2005 and agents with websites has increased 129% over the past 5 years. It also said that In terms of lead generation, only referrals and repeat clients rank above the Internet as the most effective methods of gaining new business.





Unfortunately the real estate industry is a little bit behind in marketing themselves online, so having a website that displays the MLS data with an integrated IDX feed is probably your best bet to beat the competition. Especially since most of the real estate being sold is being done so by the newly established realtors who have mastered online marketing.





Some good website design companies are http://www.bayshoresolutions.com or http://www.13avenue.com





But the real kicker is being able to display MLS listings on your site and integrate search tools using an IDX feed. IDX Broker is definitely a superior product: http://www.idxbroker.com





Good luck!