As a realtor, you know you’re part of a competitive, fast-paced industry where reputation and personal brand are critical to success. You need to be an expert across a wide range of subject areas and understand the needs of your clients. Showing to your clients that you genuinely care about them and want to give the best possible service is also imperative.
Real estate agents play the referrals and word-of-mouth games, so maintaining positive relationships with clients is vital to thriving in their practices. Once the functional portion of your duties as a realtor is over, what else will your valued clients remember you by?
One unique practice in the real estate industry is giving closing gifts to clients after successfully buying a property. Rewarding clients seem odd since no other industry demonstrates such a habit. It isn’t likely that your lawyer, accountant, or doctor will give something to you as a gift after utilizing their services. But, this gift-giving practice serves two primary purposes - first, allowing realtors to showcase their sincere and genuine appreciation for their clients, and, second, as a subtle method that has the potential to generate referrals.
A not-so-common but beneficial closing gift that real estate agents can give to clients are business gift cards.
Why Gift Cards?
Everyone seems to love business gift cards. They offer seamless convenience to both givers and recipients. Gift cards recipients, for instance, are armed with a quick and easy payment method while being empowered with choice.
As a real estate agent, adding gift cards to your existing marketing mix not only engages clients but also keeps them coming back. Below is a closer look at how real estate agents can benefit from stocking business gift cards as closing gifts:
1. Stay At The Top Of Your Clients’ Minds
Even with social media and email, marketing costs can still add up for agents. Repeat business will always be cheaper, more sustainable, and easier to close. Aside from this, it’s also a more profitable option. You know how hard it is to win clients, so once you do, you should never let them go.
The problem is that there's still a good chance that they'll forget you despite how they loved you and your service the first time around. It's true unless your contact information and name are handy. Of course, you don't want to let that happen. Let the product from your gift card be there at their fingertips every day. Gift cards as closing gifts help real estate agents stay top-of-mind for many years.
2. Show Your Appreciation To Your Clients
Today, customers want to feel appreciated and valued more than anything else. They have grown tired of being yet another disposable wallet for realtors.
The recent advancements of technology have made it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to quickly win the hearts of customers online. However, a general lack of appreciation and personal service can create a bad impression and quickly erode loyalty. If your clients feel like they're only another meal ticket to you, there's a high chance they're going to take their business away from you - even if you're the one who offers the best price.
You’ve been very busy with the different mechanics of the transaction. But, have you ever taken a moment to make your clients feel valued and appreciated? A closing gift from your stocked gift cards is an easy and sure way to wow your clients and make a good impression.
3. Get Referrals
A product from your gift card that's always visible and accessible in your client's new home means they can easily refer new business to you. Yes, they'll be the ones to hand over your contact info to your prospects. A product that your customer has gotten from one of your stocked gift cards will also keep your brand visible to their friends, family, and other visitors.
4. Gain Excellent Online Reviews
As you probably already know, online reviews can make or break a business nowadays. Give your clients a good reason to leave an excellent summary of your service and give you five stars rather than a mediocre rating. Go above and beyond what they expect from you. Yes, they might not see and understand all your hard work behind the scenes, but a simple gift card can make all the difference.
Conclusion
Stocking gift cards is a good idea, especially if you think that gestures like giving closing gifts help in maintaining great connections with clients even after closing a sale with them. Handing gift cards as a way of saying thank you is also vital in your effort to build referral businesses. Showing your clients that you value and appreciate them through business gift cards will make them remember your service positively the next time they decide to buy a property or when their family and friends are doing so.
