Getting Real
1. Try useful items
Jodie Carlson, president of Proforma Elite Texas Graphics, Longview, Texas, explained that because so many real estate clients depend on referrals to drive business, they tend to want products that people will use often. She listed cell phone chargers, cell phone wallets and lip balm as a few of the big sellers. "These are items that [realtors] give to their home buyer/seller at closing to thank them for giving them the opportunity to work with them on the biggest purchase they'll ever make in their life," she said. "It is important that the realtor gives them something they'll use because this is how the referral tree grows. They'll tell their friends about the wonderful job the realtor did and use that cell phone charger or wallet daily. That puts the company's name out there for everyone to see."