Month: December 2010

Success in 2011For the past few weeks I’ve seen many campaigns offering a sneak peak to their Black Friday specials. Black Friday is traditionally the start of the holiday shopping season signaling when retail stores profits for the year are in the black. Many families make shopping on this day an annual tradition and hit the stores early – sometimes too early for my taste after a long holiday weekend. It seems like the buzz, crowds and holiday sales create a virtuous circle of holiday spending. It made me think, ‘What’s the Black Friday for Home Building?’

Someone told me it was the day after the Super Bowl when wives can drag their husbands off the couch to visit communities. But from the trends I’ve seen, I’d think Black Friday for builders would be Dec. 26th, the day after Christmas.

It’s no surprise that home sales and home shopping dip in the fall, but I don’t think most builders take full advantage of the inevitable rebound that follows. On NewHomeSource.com, year after year, we see a resounding bounce in traffic immediately following the holiday craze. It’s as if people say, ‘The Holidays are over! Now, we can shop for that home we’ve been dreaming of in 2011.’

Now is a great time for builders to get in front of these early-bird home shoppers as they jump-start their buying process. However, some builders don’t begin aggressively marketing until into the spring when traffic and interest is at its highest. To me, that’s like buying a stock after you’ve seen the rally, instead of when it’s poised for growth. The key to a great 2011? Start in 2010!

For more information about Display Marketing Strategies contact Thane Tennison, Advertising Manager for the BDX.

It’s that time of year again – time to think about how you will reward those folks that contribute to the success of your business. For many builders this means sending thank you gifts to their top real estate agents.

What are you doing during the holidays to thank your agents? Maybe you don’t have a plan yet, or perhaps you’re cutting back on these types of gifts due to the tough economy. Well, holiday shopping is in full swing, so if you plan to send a gift to your agents, now is the time. And the options don’t have to break the budget – there are many low-cost ways to let your agents know you are thinking about them. Here are a few to consider:

The Old Standard — Holiday Cards!

The simple act of sending a holiday card can send a powerful message. Electronic cards are an also an inexpensive alternative. If you’re interested in targeting a large group of realtors in your area with a holiday e-card, you might want to consider a turnkey program like BDX’s eFlyer service to help create, target and deliver your message.

Make a Charitable Donation on the Agent’s Behalf

Making a donation to a local charity on your agent’s behalf is a nice way connect with your agents AND give back to the community. Pick a charity that has a connection to your business or an organization that you support personally. Many groups will send out a note to recipients on your behalf letting them know that a donation has been made in their name.

Send Your Agents To Dinner At a Fraction of the Cost

BDX’s new AgentRewards program gives you a turnkey way to send your agents to dinner at a fraction of the cost. It’s a turnkey program that can be executed in a matter of days. You can use our list, or send us your own and using one of our creative templates we can out  $25 or $50 Restaurant.com gift cards for as low as $8.99 each. Contact us today to find out more.

No matter what route you go, just remember, it’s not too late to show your realtors that they are valuable to your business. Happy Holidays!