Real Estate Advertising Ideas for the Holidays

You use real estate advertising all year round, so marketing during the holidays should be no different. While this time can be fraught with stress as you wrap up the year and plan for the next, it still provides an ideal opportunity to reach out to leads, reconnect with clients, and touch base with your network of friends, families and colleagues. Whether you’re gearing up to fill your funnel with leads or wishing past clients a happy new year, there are plenty of options for advertising your real estate business during the holiday season.

Start simply with a card

A handwritten card on your branded stationary is an easy and inexpensive way to make contact with past clients: You can send your seasonal greetings and express your gratitude for their business, referrals and reviews at the same time. Use personalized notes to reach out to leads in appreciation for considering you in their search for a real estate agent while also wishing them a happy new year. A simple but thoughtful card is always welcome and can show leads that you apply the personal touch to all aspects of your business.

If you feel short on time, ideas or budget, there are many online sites that help you create and send an e-card. There are multiple designs, seasonal themes and animations to choose from, and many sites offer the option of personalization with photos and text.

Go with a classic: flyers, brochures and direct mail

Real estate agents still use these traditional marketing methods because they work. A seasonal theme can be elegantly incorporated with your corporate branding and beautifully presented on a variety of printed collateral.

A flyer or direct mail is a great place to feature a coupon that offers your leads a seasonal service package of your expertise — for example, a free class for first-time home buyers or sellers — combined with deals from your local partners. That might include winterizing the home, an energy audit, or even housekeeping, decorating or floral services. Positioned as your annual end-of-the-year special, these cross-promotional packaged offers stay time-based (for immediate action) and exclusive to your real estate customers.

Craft a special edition of your newsletter

Your winter newsletter can be 100 percent lighthearted, non-hard-sell content. Offer tips and tricks for prepping the home for holiday guests or for staying safe and warm in colder temperatures. You can also include articles related to the holidays, photos of local homes and venues that are festively dressed up for the season, and your ideas on what the upcoming year might bring to the real estate industry.

Invite contacts to engage online

Sponsoring an online raffle or sweepstakes on your website or social media channels is a good way to multitask. For example, to enter your Ugly Sweater competition or Most Festively Dressed Pet contest, people need to register their contact information so they can upload their photos to your website and be notified in case they win.

Use your real estate blog, or a series of scheduled tweets or Facebook posts, to share seasonal or holiday-themed articles as well — such as how to showcase homes during the holidays, craft projects that are fun and celebratory, and recipes that make entertaining easier.

Give something away

The holidays lend themselves well to branded promotional tchotchkes and giveaways: mugs filled with cocoa-making treats, scented candles, fire-starting kits, throws and blankets — the list of ideas for staying warm and cozy is limited only by your imagination.

If you’re looking for unique or extra special gifts, you can’t go wrong with chocolates, wines and liqueurs with customized labels, or tickets to local shows or sporting events handed over in a stylishly branded envelope or gift box.

Throw a party

The off-season might not be a time when buying or selling a home is on a lot of people’s minds, but hosting a festive get-together is a great way to remind leads and clients that you’re available no matter what time of year. Calling or sending out personal invitations is a ready-made reason to reconnect and get them on the line chatting with you.

Your event doesn’t have to be involved or expensive: A drop-in open house with light snacks, held in your tastefully decorated office, still makes a welcoming statement. Speaking of décor, there are lots of ways to drive home your corporate branding during your holiday festivities. For example, a subtly branded backdrop to your photo booth can later remind guests what a good time they had with you around the holidays. Two-in-one magnetic frames serve a dual purpose: The outside border can be branded with your company information, and the center shape — where your guests insert their party photo — pops out as a business card for the refrigerator. Departing guests can take home goodie bags with your logo stamped on them.

Encourage and share community stewardship

Show your leads, clients and network partners how invested you are in the local community while encouraging local residents to give a little more during the season. Put out a cash box for charity donations, or offer to be collection point for food, coats or children’s gifts. Establish a matching fund program to benefit a local charity. Any ideas you have to boost your community would be welcome. Get the message out to your real estate leads, clients, friends and network partners — inform the local media as well — about what you are doing, for whom and why, and how they can help.

Pre- and post-event communications are great ways to stay in regular touch with the community: Use your website, blog and social media posts to build up momentum and excitement, and always remember to share your results — and gratitude for everyone’s participation — after it’s over. Do the event every year and the community will begin to anticipate it, which raises their awareness of your corporate reputation.

Advertising at the holidays is still about marketing your business: telling clients you’re available, and reminding leads that the stellar customer service and real estate expertise you provide is why they should choose you — just as you should be reminding them of your differentiating talents during every other time of the year. The holidays are simply a ready-made excuse to do so. Any season is a good reason to contact past clients and reach out to leads.