Client Appreciation Event Ideas for REALTORS

Try these client appreciation event ideas for REALTORS to generate more referral business and to maximize event exposure to gain the public’s attention. There are a variety of cost effective social events, venues and themes agents might use to stay in contact with the people they know and increase the likelihood of receiving future business referrals from them. However, the majority of business referrals often come from the promotion and exposure of the event rather than during the gathering itself. Before we examine the various client appreciation event ideas for REALTORS below, watch as Mike Gunselman explains how he generates business by conducting and promoting multiple client and vendor appreciation events a year in this video.

Client Appreciation Event Ideas for REALTORS

Client appreciation event ideas for REALTORS can vary based upon the guests, budget and venue. Typically, agents will host gatherings for people they know in their database, or for preferred vendors like mortgage lenders, title companies, home inspectors and other affiliated professionals that may refer future real estate clients. It is also pretty common for preferred vendors to pay for all or part of the event’s cost by sponsoring the gathering on behalf of the agent. Possible event venues include public outdoor parks, professional sports events (tailgate parties or box suites), restaurants, wine bars, or even in a new luxury listing in conjunction with a promotional open house. Regardless of the degree to which the cost of an event is covered by vendors, even just one or two commissions generated as a result of holding the party typically justifies the cost.

Promoting Real Estate Client Appreciation Events

Great client appreciation event ideas for REALTORS start with heavy promotion through many different types of communication mediums. This is where the majority of referrals are earned. Since the key to building a referral business is making multiple contacts to people in an agent’s client database, client appreciation events provide an amazing opportunity for agents to reach out to the people they know many times before and after the event to stay first of mind. Some examples of the multiple ways agents should promote and expose real estate client appreciation events are as follows:

Emails – 1. Save the Date email; 2. Event Invitation email; 3. Event Reminder email; and 4. Post-Event “Thank You” email

Telephone Calls – 1. Event Invitation call; 2. Event Reminder call; and 3. Post-Event “Thank You” call

Group Texts – 1. Reminder Texts; and 2. Post-Event “Thank You” texts

Mailings – 1. Event Invitation mailer; 2. Post-Event “Thank You” call

Facebook & Social Media – 1. Timeline Posts; 2. Create an Event Page and/or Group; 3. Direct Messages

It is also important to shoot as many photos and videos at the event to post on social media during the event and to include in post-event emails and other promotional materials. Raffles and contests for prizes (often donated by vendors) can also be promoted before, during and after the event through all of these means as well. Remember that the more promotional contacts an agent makes increases the likelihood that people will refer the agent to the next person they know that needs to buy or sell a home.