36,545
I once raced from my office to attend a very exclusive event. I arrived and the host started introducing me to his guests. People kept looking at my chest, and I realized that in my haste to arrive on time I failed to remove my name badge - I was very embarrassed and put it in my pocket immediately. Funny part was that an hour later people I had never met before approached me to discuss real estate.
So what's the point? The point is that when you cultivate your own "brand" people will seek you out. Think about it - when is the last time you saw a Rolls Royce commercial on television?
Yes, you should hand out business cards when appropriate, but not at social events. Instead, build your brand, make new contacts, expand your sphere of influence and soon you will have prospects asking you for your card.
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
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Bill Saunders, Realtor®
Hot Springs, AR
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Debbie Gartner
White Plains, NY
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Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
104,074
I too practice what could be described as soft sell. I came from a high-net-worth wealth management background and I generally follow the same model in real estate. I always have cards, but I am never "that guy" who is working a room handing out cards to everyone in sight. Real estate often comes up in conversations and it is my ideal way to engage in a discussion in a natural manner, which may lead to someone asking for a card after I have become part of a discussion and through the natural course of things, my career comes up. I also find that I learn infinitely more about people and their views on real estate and agents by listening to discussions in this way before it comes up that I am a Realtor. When it comes to my sphere outside of social gatherings, I do ask for referrals and take a different approach. But in a social setting, I approach it as described above. I think you need to do what best suits your personality and client type. That's why there are so many of us who are successful with very different approaches.
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Annette Lawrence , Pal...
Palm Harbor, FL
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
2,817,671
I only give my card out if someone asks me for it. Those are the people that care and want your info/services. It's much more effective this way.
It's a huge turn off when I see someone actively handing out cards. It shows me that they don't know how to network and I am unlikely to ever recommend them.
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Ernest Villafranca
Oakland, CA
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
140,560
You know the saying "It's not what you say, it's how you say it" --- well, it's your approach when handing out your business card that makes the difference.
I hand out business cards everywhere I go and at almost every place I eat. I don't consider this an agressive type of marketing. It's a business card and every business person should hand them out freely. Especially if they are in real estate. It took me several years to realize that people love to talk about real estate. Your business card opens up that conversation. I then invite them to my soft sell avenues such as web site, blog and Fb page.
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
359,372
I hand out cards everywhere I do business including the cosmetics counter at Macy's. I regularly "bother my sphere" because they know and like me and want to help my business and me in the process. I use a soft sell....first asking about their latest doings and how the family is and in closing ...by the way, if you run into anyone who needs to buy, sell or rent real estate, think of me, OK?
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
921,504
Always, always, always use every opportunity to solicit business. People really, really, really do need help and they want to choose whom they will work with. Being a stealth agent is not beneficial to those seeking help or to my business.
Now the conversation regarding what is a soft sell or hard sell is suffering a distortion. Wearing a name badge or discussing the solutions you get paid to deliver is not a hard sell.
A hard sell is knocking on the door of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and suggesting it is not to early to start looking for a new house.
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
911,228
Using ways to encourage people to ask is more my style. Most people don't like pushy agents. Do other peopel at social events go around handing out cards about what they do for a living?
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
5,104,931
I am more of a soft sell type of person, but stay in regular touch with my sphere and get the message across that way. In a social situation I do not hand out my cards unless I've had a conversation with someone that would make it "obvious" that I should or if someone asked me for my card.
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
4,333,725
Soft sell is our style Noah. No cards handed out at parties, unless asked for one, and no wearing our Realtor pin at the supermarket!
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
4,272,548
I use soft sell methods like I learned through Ninja marketing...
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Noah Seidenberg
Evanston, IL
400,356
I consider myself a soft sell. People know they can ask me about real estate anytime. I talk about real estate like anyone talks about their job, but I don't hit my friends up for biz.
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Bill Saunders, Realtor®
Hot Springs, AR
6,393,154
I have missed enough opportunities to know the importance of letting people know what I do and why it is important.
279,878
4,800,082
533,993
just reviewing some questions and answers from this time last year, looks like this one got a few good replies.
2,224,473
I don't just hand out cards at most events. The time has to be right and the situation appropriate.
4,319,419
Noah Seidenberg yes, I do. I always keep few business cards with me - and give it out at first opportunity. Working by referral helps! Soft sell, for sure.
3,988,007
I have a little sleeve on the back of my phone that holds some cards. I am less obtrusive at social events and not as forward. If I get an opening though I will ask.
927,795
When we attended my aunt's funeral, Chief Cook had a ton of people interested in real estate at the lunch following the internment. She handed out my business cards instead and got a lot of business for me.
I was a little embarrassed, but happy for the business!
3,986,258
Cards are given at any time I can and I use my sphere as much as they use me,
3,416,038
YES. not to everyone though. Usually to those i have not seen in a while or anyone talking about real estate,
85,373
I agree with Debbie G.:
"I only give my card out if someone asks me for it. Those are the people that care and want your info/services. It's much more effective this way."
It's a huge turn off to meet someone who only wants to pass out his cards and talk about only himself.
5,772,575
Noah,
We don't hand out cards unless asked. I tend to shy away from people who do that. Both of us are fans of the soft sell. A
280,599
No hard sell here. I hate it. I only wear my name tag to my BNI meeting and to the monthly Houston Association of Realtors meeting. I keep in contact with my SOI through monthly mailings, baseball schedules, football schedules and Thanksgiving cards. No handing out cards at weddings, or worse yet, funerals.
443,220
I am like you Noah, I don't like people pushing me into something into buying something at a social event. If from a conversation I have someone is interested in what I do, I will hand them a card...Otherwise, I leave it alone. Sometimes, I just enjoy being off duty. Might make me a bad sales person, but that's what works for me!
4,572,117
Hi Noah --- I don't hand out business cards at social events and while I have represented many in my SOI, I tend towards the more soft sell. Do I lose some business -- I'm sure - but I believe in being genuine and acting otherwise would likely come off as "fake" for me. For those who embrace other forms of promotion -- good for them.