They might not say it, but your clients want to feel like they’re the only ones you’re working with. By making sure they have an unmatched client experience, you’re setting yourself up for more referrals and radiant reviews. It’s a total win-win.  

Here are some easy ways (that go a long way) to show you care about your clients:

Before they’re your client

• Practice great communication. Respond to all inquiries quickly and kindly. Not only do prompt responses show prospects you have time for them, but they might also prevent prospects from seeking out your competitor.
• Provide free and honest advice before they invest in your services. This simple, but important gesture shows you’re an expert in your field and are passionate about helping others navigate its complexities.
• Meet in person or talk over the phone. Potential clients are more likely to trust you (and hire you) if they can put a face or voice to a name. This kind of interaction also allows you to show off your personality in ways an email can’t.

While they’re your client

• Kick off your business relationship with a welcome gift. This shouldn’t be an extravagant gesture; choose something simple, yet thoughtful. A great welcome gift should excite your clients about what’s to come, or the positive end-result of working with you.
• Keep the communication lines flowing. Prove to clients your swift responses during initial conversations weren’t just a ploy to gain their business. Work hard to make yourself available for a chat whenever they have a question or concern.

After they’re your client

• Send a handwritten note. We know you’ve heard this one a thousand times, but it’s worth repeating. There’s nothing more special than knowing someone took the time to personally write you a thank-you note. Mention something specific from your experience together to really make an impression.
• Follow-up. This is your chance to figure out what you could’ve done better or to ask for a review or testimonial. You can’t afford not to do this!
• Send them at least four marketing items of value each year. Most clients will work with you again or refer you to a friend if they remember your name.This is why repetition branding is so vital to the success of your business. We recommend sending at least four items of value each year. We hope you’ll consider our best-selling magnetic calendars, magnetic sports schedules and notepads for this.
• If you’re a real estate agent, you’ll need a wow-worthy closing gift to top off your client experience. The more personalized the gift, the better. For the best ideas, check out our heirloom-worthy, gift-ready line, LifeLong Gifts.

When it comes to growing your business, lead generation is king. It's so vital, in fact, that successful real estate agents dedicate a portion of each day to developing new leads.

One way we help agents capture great leads is through our targeted mailing list service. With this lead-generation service, you can feel good knowing your marketing pieces are going to people who fit demographics you define. Qualifiers like zip code, radius and location type (residential addresses, apartments or businesses) all work to fill your list with credible, promising prospects.

This service is our solution to anyone wanting to quickly and effectively grow their mailing list. It's ideal for new agents, or those wishing to reach a new audience. 

Currently, we offer a 500-name list for just $49. If you were to land even one of those names as a client, wouldn't it be worth the small investment? 

Once you have your list (turnaround time is typically one business day), you can start marketing right away. This time of year, we recommend promoting yourself with magnetic football schedules, which boast a six-month marketing life and designs that make you feel like you're right there in the stadium. 

Most important, though, football schedules work. 

"My partner and I having been using the college football schedules featuring the schools in our region with the most interest," says John O., an agent in Holland, Ohio. "Last year we tracked six sales directly from this promotion. We’ve achieved sales and referrals every year we distribute them."

If your go-to closing gift (wine and gift cards sound familiar?) isn't resulting in referrals and conversation, it's time to say goodbye. Here's why they aren't working for you and what we recommend instead.

The problem:

1. They aren't designed to last. The point of wine and gift cards is to use them up and throw them away — so why would you use this as a closing gift? Choosing a gift with years of shelf-life is vital to keeping your name fresh in clients' minds.
2. They aren't personalized. Making clients feel special is an important part of your job. Offering a personalized closing gift shows thoughtfulness — and that you didn't purchase it last-minute. After all, buying a home is a huge life event, and your gift should reflect an understanding and appreciation of this.
3. They don't inspire a conversation. A high-quality gift that clients can use every day is so much more likely to be shown off to their friends and family. With this, comes a conversation about you and the great experience they had as your client. Before you know it, you'll have a new crop of referrals. 

Our solution:
Engraved cutlery from LifeLong Gifts! When it comes to choosing a perfect closing gift, we believe our collection of premium forged cutlery is ideal for any client and any type of closing.

Here's why:

• Cutlery works for everyone, so you don't have to worry about whether someone drinks wine or likes the place your gift card is from.
• There's an option for closings both big and small. Just because you're buying the best cutlery out there doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. Individual knives start at less than $50, and engraving is always included.
• Every piece is beautifully and permanently engraved. The knife handle is typically personalized with the homeowner's last name or closing date, while the blade features your business information.
• Cutlery from LifeLong will be used every day and shown off to others. With rosewood handles, professional engraving and impeccable presentation, your gift is sure to catch attention.
• Our cutlery is heirloom-quality. Forged from renowned German steel, our cutlery is built to last generations. 

 Many of our best-selling products — including Year-at-a-Glance Calendars and Football Schedules — are available as Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) formats.

​EDDM is an effective, affordable way to canvas an entire area, and their extra-large size, bright design and helpful content command attention.

Postage can be as low as 18.3 cents per piece, no envelopes are required and there's no need to buy a mailing list. With EDDM, you can easily reach leads in nearby neighborhoods without knowing any names or street addresses. It's awesome!

​Simply identify the delivery routes you want to reach and drop your mailing at your local post office. From there, they'll be delivered to active addresses in your designated area. 

So if you've never marketed with an EDDM product, you might find them worth the small investment. 

To get started, give us a call at 1.800.869.7562 or email us. We'll help you select your target areas and determine your quantity.
*Every Door Direct Mail is a registered trademark of the United States Postal Service.

When it comes to great product personalization, we believe in keeping it simple. Why? Simply put, simple is better. 

That's why we recommend our exclusive Billboard Personalization style. This is a modern, clutter-free way to feature your logo, contact information and portrait. By only highlighting the essentials, your business has room to breath — and shine!

When you market with a fresh, clean look, you're telling clients and prospects that working with you is a smooth, hassle-free experience.

So what does your current business card say about you? Is it cluttered with every piece of contact information? Fax number? Check. Website? Check. Cell phone number? Check. Office phone number? Check. Email address? Check and check. 

To most, this is information overload and might actually steer them away. Make it very clear for people to get in touch with you by narrowing it down to their two best bets, like your email address and phone number. 

So how do you create a product with Billboard Personalization? You can either let our in-house, professional designers do it for you, or upload an already-designed image to Build-It. But unless you are very design-savvy , or have hired a designer, letting us do it for you is the best and easiest option. 

If you're ready to create your best-looking marketing piece ever, start by choosing one of this month's featured products.