Since I'm only a month and half in, and don't have an overwhelming load of clients yet, I figured I should take this time to prepare some marketing materials that I will always need. This came to me when I called a few real estate offices the other day and one of the managers said, "Sure, I'm happy to put your information in all of the agents mailboxes".. Well I was stunned because I had only planned to drop off a few of my "really nice" brochures to be in the office for random pick up. SOOO. I had to hurry up and design some fliers.. still nicely designed but not on the semi gloss, hard cardstock.. you know what I mean.

Anyway, what materials would you suggest I concentrate this downtime on preparing. Fliers for every type of client, maybe a powerpoint presentation, do you guys have "new client" packages?

Any other suggestions?

tj

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

I would suggest to concentrate on 1 specific niche first. Create your literature to draw them in.

Once you have spent a month or so marketing them, create your next batch of literature. This will allow you to make any changes you want to make and apply things you have learned from the 1st month of marketing.

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Mary Lou Locke
Lock-in Success with Locke Virtual Assistance
www.LockeSolutions.com:

Maybe since you are taking this into a real estate area, prepare a type of survey that asks questions pertaining to what their interests might be. Such as marketing, mailers, greeting cards, client maintenance, etc. and add in a comment area so they can give some of their own ideas as to what their needs might be. Maybe add this survey in with your packet you hand out. Good Luck!!!

I would create a special brochure or flyer for real estate agents, since that is where you are focusing your energy first. I would also have a price list prepared (even if it's something you don't send out or give out - just have something for yourself where you have listed all your services and what you want to charge for them so you are prepared). Of course, I'd also have business cards and a contract ready to go, so you can sign up all your new clients! Another nice thing is to have is something listing all the services you offer, not just ones specifically for the real estate agencies. All of those agents will have husbands or wives, friends or family in other businesses. Some of them may even have a second business of their own, so you want them to know all of the things you can do.

Once you have those things done, I would create brochures or fliers for the other niches you plan to market to.

Of course, make sure you have your website address and contact information on every single piece of information you give out - even if it's an article you photocopied to include with your package, make sure you put a lable or something on it with all your information so people can contact you if that document gets separated from the rest of your information.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

Yvone

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Yvone M. Kon
M.Y. Marketing & Design
Your Virtual Marketing Assistant - At Your Service!
www.mymarketingdesign.com

Hi Tamika,

I'm a newbie here, and also thinking of specializing in real estate assisting since I'm a realtor. How's it going for you ~ is your real estate market there as bad as it is here in Detroit? I am just setting up my business plan & deciding on everything now, and wondered if you are enjoying success?

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Let Me Do It!
Tess Mickelsen

Tamika,

The best thing to always have on hand and it is a little cheaper than having your nice brochure always handy is having a rack card. They are more costly than flyers, but cheaper than brochures and you can give a good amount of information about your company. You can see my rack card at http://advadminsol.com/Documents/AAS%20Rack%20Card.pdf

If you have not read Guerilla Marketing yet, pick it up from your library. This book is loaded with marketing information for entrepreneurs like us. It mentions over and over again that it takes an average of 5 name recognition before they actually call you. So raplan out your first way of contact (I am using postcards), then a week later I am going to call them, the week after that I am going to mail them my rack card, then I will create a letter and then I will call them again. Make sure that you are consist on your timing and your branding. Also most important remember to be patient!

The materials I always have at hand while I am out are my brochures and business cards. When I am at home I have a selection of questionnaires that I keep next to me for when a potential client calls.

The forms I always have at hand while at my desk are:
1.) Client intake form.
2.) Transcription Questionnaire
3.) Logo Questionnaire
4.) Website Questionnaire
5.) Bankruptcy Client intake form
6.) Real Estate client intake form
7.) Contracts (for all specific niches) a lot of clients that call want to go over my contract terms and policy.
8.) My handy dandy note book for taking notes while speaking with them.

I have a nice little roll cart that sits next to my desk that holds all my forms. I like to go over with the client everything that I can so that nothing gets missed.

I find it easier if I can get the client on the phone to close the "sale". It comes naturally to me to talk to people over the phone and it also helps me understand their needs, wants and desires as well as if we are going to be a good fit or not.

Andrea~

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Action Jackson Virtual Assistant|

I agree with the rack cards.. I just got mine made and they look awesome.. My mother owns a courier business and she made up rack cards for a price list to give out to customer, which is a great idea.

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Debra Hayter
Seaboard Business Services

This is very informational. Thank you.

I've never heard of rack cards. Thanks for the information. I will definitely research this further.

I've never heard of rack cards either. Can someone explain to me what they are? Maybe we call them something else in Europe. You know, we speak the same language but in a very different way. I have friends here in Holland from America and Canada and we all speak a different English! It can be quite funny sometimes!

I never heard of them either. I just looked them up on wikipedia and see what a great idea they are!! Will definitely use them when I'm ready!

I am just starting out and the information that I have read on this thread is great. I did not think of the rack cards. Thanks for the info.

I have never heard of rack cards either!! Interesting...!

Add me to the list - I've never heard of them either! Does anyone know if Vista Print does them? Or maybe they're called something else?

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Sharon Foster
"Giving You the Executive Edge"