by Jim Hermes
As most of you know, it's the professional marketing and networking between Realtors nationwide that helps to "make the sale." I'm proud to say that we've met and shared referrals with top Realtors from around the country and shared our marketing ideas with them too!
This section of our web site is for sharing some of the marketing ideas we've tried and still use while working for our customers. Many of our pieces are borrowed (with permission) from some of the great marketers we've met around the country, and if we can, we'll point you to them for additional sharing and ideas. I know it's working when I can hear people whispering in a restaurant, "There's Jim Hermes, the Realtor." And it can work for you too!
To start these "Real Pages" off with a smile, here's a sampling of post cards that we put together over the last couple years... besides a marketing idea or two, these cards will probably tell you a bit about me and how I like to do business. You may use these ideas in any way you wish, but please share with me how you adapt them for your use and make them better! - Jim
This was an idea I had that was a good example of synergy with your
marketing person. The hardest part of this marketing campaign was finding
the old-fashioned telephone booth. I finally called the telephone company and
found out there were only 10 remaining in the Twin Cities area. This one was at the
Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Our state
fair draws 1.5 million visitors during its 12 day run. and I'll devote another chapter
in our marketing book to some fun things we've done at the fair.... It was a cold March
day when we took these pictures, and the year-round staff at the fair offices gave
us plenty of strange looks.
Many times we ran one ad/card and that led to a series. This shot was used in the paper... "More Powerful than a Locomotive." The effect and background here is that the train is the Minnesota Zephyr, now a luxury dining excursion that runs down the St. Croix valley right here in our market area.
I recommend Maracom for postcard printing. They specialize in postcards - about 7,000,000 a month!
This was first run as an ad in our local shopper, circulation of about 35,000. It made a very strong impact
in my marketing area. I believe these ad ideas came from Tupper Briggs. Beware: Tupper may be be hazardous to your income. Following his ideas may make you a lot of money! Once again we worked with our marketing "dept" - now our webmaster too! - to create the final art from clipart and photos. After the ad had such a good response, we made the postcards too. Again, order more than you mail because they make excellent "leave-behinds."
We got started with this corny idea and it just kept leading to another. We've also run ads
with sheep, cows, and horses. Although the Metro has grown outward to encompass a lot of my marketing area, 30 years ago when I started it was all farmland and resorts. Even now, there's still a "little bit of country" here.
This card turned out to be our best; we received the most comments from the public. How can you top an "Independent Lab's" findings? This ad came from someone from the Howard Brinton Star Power Club.
This idea came from our dear friends Matt and Leslie Healy from from San Angelo, TX. The shot was taken at Market Place in Forest Lake, MN and did we draw a crowd! Getting in that basket was a trick - I'm not as young as I used to be. Notice the Huggies in the background. Once again, I'm not afraid to laugh and poke fun at myself!
The text on the postcard (sent out before Halloween) read: "The Trick is to Treat the Customer Right - Call today to work with a local realtor who has 30+ years of experience and success."
Tupper Briggs started this one. And Howard Brinton said, "Stand in front of the produce counter of your local supermarket for one hour and if no one stops to talk about real estate, your marketing is not working."
After all was said and done, I could stand in front of the produce counter at my local grocery and be recognized. It worked for me and it can work for you!
Jim & Nancy, Wade & Teresa, and Joe Hermes
Wade@HermesMN.com