When it comes to real estate valentines, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Simply aim to put your own spin on tried-and-true ideas so that they reflect the uniqueness of your brand. Below are 12 imaginative, simple, and effective ways to market your business with a Valentine’s Day twist that’ll spark some love from your clients—and keep you top of mind long after the flowers have wilted.

1. Remember Those Without a Significant Other

Last year, a reader of The Close, Bruce Parker, commented that for his real estate valentines, he delivered 100 boxes of chocolate to seniors without spouses. I think this is an amazing idea because it reflects everything about what it means to build authentic, caring relationships. I’m willing to bet that the goodwill he built was off the charts! 

You can do what Bruce did or mix it up by offering a different gift, like a single red rose, or selecting a different group, like unmarried homeowners or renters. You could even celebrate your clients’ children, who will be made to feel extra special and important.

2. Plan an Afternoon of Pop-Bys

Either the weekend before or after Valentine’s Day, take a few hours to pop by your clients’ homes with a small holiday-themed gift. There are a ton of inspired ideas to choose from—but the best Realtor^® valentines express your gratitude while reminding clients that their referrals are “the heart” of your business. 

For instance, consider supporting a local bakery by ordering heart-shaped cookies in bags and adding a real estate Valentine’s Day tag. For more ideas, check out The Close’s collation of the best pop-by gifts you can give.

3. Help Local Businesses Spread the Love

Valentine’s Day is consistently one of the top three days of the year for dining out according to the National Restaurant Association. You can show off your local expertise by sharing a list of the best romantic restaurants in your area through your newsletter or social media. 

For a creative twist, record an engaging video to attract hyperlocal engagement on Instagram or YouTube. You can also interview restaurant owners about their special menus or ask locals about their favorite date-night spots to really up the authenticity.

Of course, restaurants aren’t your only option—highlighting spas, florists, specialty gift shops, or even a local chocolatier (if you have one) could provide just as much value to your audience.

4. Post Valentine’s Day Real Estate Memes

You know you need to maintain an active social media presence, but it can feel overwhelming at times. One simple and fun way to engage your social media followers—and entertain them during Valentine’s Day—is to post real estate memes. Besides humor, these can be educational and showcase a bit about your business and personality. If you’re a DIY sort of person and can put aside 20 or 30 minutes, you can easily fashion real estate memes with any of the free tools you’ll find online. 

It understandably takes a lot to manage your social media presence, so you should consider working with an experienced provider. ReminderMedia, for instance, is one of The Close’s recommended real estate marketing companies—and it can help automate your social media marketing.

5. Share Your Valentine’s Day Plans

Going on the theme of using social media—authenticity rules the day when it comes to posting on these platforms. And what better way is there to show authenticity than by giving your followers a peek into your life beyond real estate and sharing what you’ve arranged for the day in a Facebook post or Instagram Story! Take pictures or make a reel, and encourage engagement by asking others to share their plans and images. 

6. Text a Laugh-Provoking Message

Similar to sharing a real estate Valentine’s Day meme, sending a text message with a real estate joke can give someone a moment of levity as they enjoy a chuckle. You could go a step further and tell your joke in a video text message or even make sending one on Valentine’s Day or any other holiday your thing. 

You can use one of The Close’s best text message scripts for easy typing. But if a text message isn’t your preference, simply add a dad joke to your email signature line or post it for your followers to enjoy and share!

7. Mail Handwritten Real Estate Valentine’s Day Cards

I know you’re busy, which is precisely why I’m suggesting that you send your clients handwritten cards. As the “opportunity connector” Donovin Lindsay put it, “Unlike the fleeting nature of electronic messages, a physical card serves as a tangible reminder of the time and effort invested in reaching out.” Such care serves as a “beacon of authenticity and connection,” working to strengthen your relationships with your clients.

A bulk box of Valentine’s Day cards is a cheap investment—and sending one with your thanks costs only the price of a stamp. You can use a Thank You note template to make drafting your message a little easier. To make your card especially memorable, create a custom card that includes the photo you took of your clients in front of their new home on the day they closed.

8. Use an E-Card

Then again, if you truly cannot find the time to handwrite cards, you could send an animated e-card, which is always fun to receive! You can use Fiverr to hire a freelancer who will design and create one for you, or purchase a subscription to a platform like JibJab for access its e-cards, shorties, and videos. One of its standout features lets you upload a photo of yourself and insert it into an animated e-card, bringing your character to life as it moves to popular music. 

9. Mail Postcards to Your Farm

Postcards are probably one of the most affordable ways to tell someone you’re thinking of them on Valentine’s Day, and there are many ways to use them in your real estate marketing campaign—from sending a colorful Valentine’s Day “Just Sold” to the neighborhood to a general cute Valentine like the one above. Some postcard design and delivery services offer Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) to ensure your mailers are delivered.

For pennies per card, you can run a lead-generating postcard campaign that sends a touchpoint to your entire farm. If you need help with designs, here are some real estate postcard templates you can use that will help generate leads.

10. Send a Valentine’s Day Real Estate Email

Yes, your list of contacts receives a ton of emails, but there are a number of actions you can take to help make sure that yours stands out. Jay Schwedelson is the founder of GURU Media Hub and the mastermind behind SubjectLine.com (a free subject line rating tool), and during a recent Stay Paid podcast episode, he provided a litany of tactics that agents can use to improve their subject lines and content. 

Try two or three of his strategies to craft a real estate Valentine’s Day email to send to your database—and then utilize a platform that handles a/b testing to find which subject lines garner the most clicks.

11. Host a Valentine’s Day Giveaway That’ll Win You Leads and Loyalty

A giveaway can spark engagement while building your database of leads. But here’s the key: don’t just post about it on social media. Maximize your reach by including it in your email newsletter, sending a dedicated email blast, and featuring it on your website. 

The best part? There’s an idea for every budget. Here are some creative options to help get you thinking.

Idea	What’s Included
Dinner for Two	Partner with a local restaurant to offer a romantic dinner—negotiate a discount or set menu to make it special.
Romantic Date Kit	Put together a cozy package with scented candles, chocolates, a soft blanket, and a romantic-comedy movie.
Weekend Getaway	Offer a stay at a charming bed and breakfast or luxury retreat. If a full weekend isn’t feasible, an overnight trip works too.
Spa Day for Couples	Provide a couples’ spa experience by teaming up with a local spa for a discounted package.
Winery or Brewery Tour	Get together with a local winery or brewery to offer an exclusive tasting experience.
Hot-Air Balloon Ride	Award one lucky couple a sky-high romantic adventure they’ll never forget.
Theater Night	Score tickets to a movie, play, or concert, and let the winners enjoy a special night out.
Couples Cooking Class	Find an in-person or virtual class through a culinary school, local restaurant, or online provider.
Professional Photoshoot	Offer a session for couples, families, or individuals with a local photographer.
Gift Certificate for an Experience	A candy shop, museum, or unique tour makes for a fun and memorable outing.
Customizable Jewelry	An engraved necklace or charm bracelet is always a thoughtful keepsake.

Whatever prize you choose, make sure your entry process is clear and simple. And don’t forget to check the rules regarding contests and giveaways in your location and on the social media platforms you use. 

12. Ship Promotional Items

Depending on your budget, there are hundreds of promotional items you can choose from to let clients know you’re thinking of them, any of which you can add your branding to. VistaPrint can set you up with gifts that won’t break the bank, from pens, notepads, water bottles, dry-erase boards, and canvas tote bags to tech devices like USB drives, charging cables, power banks and pads, and phone stands. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Do You Market for Valentine’s Day?

When Should I Start Marketing for Valentine’s Day?

What Sells the Most During Valentine’s Day?

Your Take

I enjoy Valentine’s Day because it’s an extra opportunity to let my wife know what she means to me and how much I appreciate her—and you can do the same with your clients. This year, use one or more of the ideas I’ve suggested above to let them know that you’re grateful for their trust and referrals. If you do something special for them that you’d like to share with others, share it in the comments below.

The post 12 Real Estate Valentine’s Day Ideas to Spark Some Client Love appeared first on The Close.

1. Record a Cheerful New Year’s Video Text Message

Video text messages make an incredible impression. Despite being super easy to record, relatively few agents use them. They’re way more personal than the usual emoji-filled text, and you don’t have to worry about being perfect—authenticity is the name of the game. Simply record a short, warm video wishing your clients a happy New Year and thanking them for their trust in your services.

2. Handwrite “Happy New Year” Notes to Key Clients

You’ve heard it countless times before: nothing beats a handwritten note to garner attention. Spend an hour or so writing personal “Happy New Year” cards to a select group of top clients and referrers. 

Include a personal detail you’ve saved in your contact database so they know it’s a unique and authentic expression of care. Express your gratitude for their trust and support, let them know your target for the coming year, and let them know you look forward to helping them and their families and friends meet their real estate goals. 

3. Share Your 2025 Market Predictions

Send New Year real estate emails with your predictions for the 2025 housing market. Many people are wondering where it may head. Since your job inherently involves staying informed on market trends, analyzing industry news, and closely monitoring local developments, you’re perfectly positioned to provide the answers. With your expertise, there’s no one better to share valuable predictions for real estate in your community than you!

4. Send Your First Quarterly Market Update

In a similar vein, enhance your credibility and image as the local real estate expert by sending a quarterly real estate email or custom postcard that updates your recipients on what is happening in your area’s market. Include data of interest to your audience, such as the number of homes sold, the median selling price, and the average days on the market.

5. Start a “New Year, New Home” Postcard Campaign

People don’t wait until the spring market to make a move. As an agent, you must engage your farm now, planting the seeds you can reap later. A professionally designed custom postcard with a message about fresh starts and finding your dream home will resonate with those who couldn’t play host for the holidays because their home was too small. Consider incentivizing sellers to list early in the year by offering a limited-time bonus, such as a free staging consultation or professional photography.

6. Create a “Selling Your Home in 2025” Social Media Campaign

Share daily posts or reels about how homeowners can sell faster and at top dollar by making improvements or staging their current homes in preparation for sale. Create these tips yourself, relying on your experience about what works, or, even better, collaborate with your referral partners in interior design, landscaping, remodeling, renovations, or staging. Working together, you can cross-promote your posts or reels for greater impact.

7. Post Real Estate New Year Quotes or Memes

Offering words of wisdom and memes on social media is an easy way to garner likes. New Year real estate quotes will lend a bit of inspiration, while memes are always good for a giggle and are highly shareable. Consult Etsy and Pinterest for ideas, then use Canva to create an eye-catching image.

8. Highlight the Top Neighborhoods to Watch in 2025

Using drone footage from Google Earth Studio, create an aerial tour of the most popular areas buyers should keep an eye on and either post the video to social media or create a carousel. Or, if you prefer, write an engaging blog that includes images of local hot spots and views of the town, homes, and scenery. Be sure to include links to your active listings in these locations. 

9. Recommend Useful Guides

The start of a new year is often when people begin making new plans, and there is no shortage of free guides for homeowners and would-be buyers and sellers to help. A simple internet search will provide a slew of downloadable files you can redesign with a little help from Canva. Alternatively, copy and paste any of these prompts into a generative AI program like Gemini or ChatGPT to create your own:

• “Create a seasonal home maintenance checklist to help homeowners keep their property in top condition year-round, broken down by spring, summer, fall, and winter tasks.”
• “Write a new year home improvement checklist for homeowners, focusing on projects that add value, improve efficiency, and enhance comfort. Break down the tasks by priority and suggest small and larger projects, such as upgrading appliances and refreshing paint.”
• “Produce a detailed guide for homebuyers, covering budgeting, mortgage preapproval, house hunting, making offers, and closing. Include tips for first-time buyers, what to look for in a home, and common mistakes to avoid.”
• “Create a guide for first-time homebuyers outlining different financing options, including conventional, FHA, VA, and USDA loans. Explain each option’s requirements, benefits, and drawbacks in simple terms, helping buyers choose the best fit for their situation.”
• “Write a comprehensive guide for homeowners on preparing their home for sale, including tips for staging, minor renovations, and boosting curb appeal to attract buyers.”
• “Produce a guide for potential home sellers to understand home equity, explaining what it is, how to leverage it, and when it can benefit their financial goals.”

10. Run a Happy Holidays Real Estate Giveaway Contest

People love contests, and you can use social media to promote yours while driving entries and engagement and adding folks to your database. Offer a prize like a home organization service, a gift card to a home improvement store or coffee shop, a free home valuation, a gift basket, or a local restaurant voucher—whatever makes sense and your budget allows. Just be sure to check the rules for giveaways, promotions, and contests on your preferred social media platform. 

Here are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• “Dream Home Giveaway” contest: Ask followers to share a photo or description of their dream home in the comments and offer a prize to a randomly selected winner. Pro tip: Use the intelligence you gather to target specific participants when a house featuring their desired elements comes to market.
• “Market Mastermind Trivia” challenge: Post fun real estate or local market trivia questions with the chance to win a prize for answering correctly. Encourage entrants to tag a friend for bonus entries.
• “Guess the Price” contest: Select a picture of a local listing and challenge followers to guess the list or sold price. The closest guess wins an award. (A free home valuation works well with this idea.)
• “Referrals Win Rewards” giveaway: Invite followers to refer friends or family interested in buying or selling a home. Every referral earns an entry to win.

11. Launch a “New Year, New Agent” Referral Drive

Encourage positive word of mouth by offering a small token of appreciation for every referral or closed transaction in Q1. Promote your efforts through your real estate email list and social channels; you can also boost awareness by including a notice in your email signature line.

12. Highlight Local Favorites to Strengthen Connections

The holidays can be frenzied, but local businesses and trusted vendors help keep us sane and smiling. Think about the lender who always comes through, the coffee shop that fuels your mornings, your go-to spot for closing gifts, or the pizza place that feeds your family after a hectic day of showings. Why not show them some love?

Write a short feature article (around 500 words) highlighting their services and what makes them incredibly amazing. You could even make it an interview—ask the owner about their business and the story behind it. Don’t forget to include photos of them in action, whether pouring the perfect latte or helping clients in their office.

Then, share the feature in your email newsletter to spotlight their work and send them a copy. It’s a win-win: you strengthen relationships, offer value to your audience, and make a meaningful impact on your community.

Take Action

Now that you’re armed with 12 powerful Happy New Year real estate marketing ideas, it’s time to put them into motion. Start by choosing two or three that align with your goals and audience, then commit to executing them. Whether you send handwritten notes, share market insights, or run a giveaway, every action you take will build momentum for the year ahead.

Remember, success in real estate is all about showing up, providing value, and staying top of mind. These ideas are your road map to beginning 2025 with purpose, strengthening your relationships, and driving new opportunities. Take the first step today, and may your new year be prosperous and find you and yours happy and healthy!

The post 12 Happy New Year Real Estate Marketing Ideas to Ring in 2025 appeared first on The Close.

Keep in mind that not all people celebrate Christmas. Take any of these ideas and apply them to other winter holidays, such as Hanukkah, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Lunar New Year, or other popular holidays in your area.

1. Create a Holiday Lights Display Guide

Compile a list of your area’s best holiday light spectacles to create a handy tour guide for residents. This Christmas marketing idea is helpful and unique while showing off your neighborhood knowledge. Post the guide to your social media accounts, offering it as a free download to grow your email list.

2. Host a Holiday Tour of Homes

This tactic is a charming way to showcase properties. Hold an open-house tour of three to four homes decked out in Christmas decorations and twinkling lights, and consider offering warm drinks, like mulled wine or hot cocoa, and iced cookies to create a welcoming atmosphere. 

Use your real estate Christmas marketing to promote the event on your Instagram posts, Facebook, or other social media platforms. This event will highlight your listings and demonstrate your commitment to bringing the holiday spirit to your real estate business.

3. Organize a Christmas Bazaar With Local Vendors

A Christmas market is an excellent holiday marketing idea for real estate agents who want to create a buzzworthy event. Invite local artisans, small businesses, and food vendors, and include a table for yourself to greet guests and distribute business cards, professional brochures, or copies of a personally branded magazine. 

Ask your referral partners to cosponsor the event and give them a table as well; adding sponsorships assists in covering costs and strengthens your network. Such an event will emphasize your connection to the community and help generate leads as you brighten the holidays.

4. Participate in a Christmas Parade

If your town has an annual holiday parade, make sure you participate! Invest in a banner emblazoned with your brand to walk behind (once you have it, you’ll have lots of opportunities to use it), or dress your agents in branded shirts, jackets, or Santa hats and have them bring their families. You might even want to go all out and sponsor a float to make a big impression. 

While marching to the beat, hand out branded Christmas cards, small gifts, or candy wrapped with a seasonal message. Among the many holiday real estate marketing ideas, this one rings all the right bells with elements that include fun, family, and community involvement.

5. Snap Photos With Santa

Speaking of Santa, rather than letting your clients spend over $30 and wait an hour or more at the mall for a photo with the big guy, why not treat them to a free and easy experience? Hire a Santa for several hours, get the requisite big red chair, and cover the cost of decorations, printed photos, and refreshments, and you’ll have their enduring gratitude.

To further extend the reach of your Christmas holiday real estate marketing, consider opening the event to the wider community later in the day. Promote it on Facebook, directing people to sign up for a $10 time slot. (The form captures contact information to add to your database.) If your budget allows, that fee could become a donation to a local children’s charity or another worthy cause for even more impact.

6. Send Recipe Postcards

A Christmas real estate marketing tactic that’s both thoughtful and practical is sending postcards that feature simple, festive recipes. Not only will such a card bring the spirit of the season into their kitchens, but it will also be more likely to avoid the recycling bin thanks to its value. Check out design platforms like Zazzle for ready-to-send recipe postcards, or create your own through Canva to share your wintertime favorite.

7. Use Holiday Door Hangers

Festive door hangers are among the easiest and most cost-effective holiday real estate marketing ideas for promoting brand awareness before the spring market. They’re easy to purchase directly from vendors like those you’ll find on Etsy or design your own using Canva’s customizable templates. And you’ll save money on mailings, expending only sweat equity as you stroll through neighborhoods to drop them off. 

Include your contact information on each one, and utilize an assortment of Christmas real estate slogans, such as “season’s greetings from your neighborhood real estate expert” or “wishing you a holiday full of joy and a new home for the New Year!”

8. Share Useful Seasonal Suggestions

Share helpful information like ideas for interior decorating, instructions for keeping pets safe from holiday hazards, checklists for key home-winterizing tasks, advice for sticking to a holiday budget, and various other seasonal tips. With how hectic this time of year can be, your recipients will be glad to receive something that helps them streamline their to-do lists while you reinforce your value.

9. Mail Holiday Greeting Cards

Even today, a handwritten note remains one of the most powerful ways to make someone feel truly special. Add specific details to each recipient to personalize your message further, help strengthen your relationship with them, and remind them that you’re not just their real estate agent but someone who values their trust and connection.

10. Host a Cookie Exchange

Invite clients, friends, and referral partners to bring a batch of their favorite homemade cookies to share. Add some holiday music and a bowl of Christmas punch, and you’ll create a lively yet relaxed event where you can catch up, connect, and perhaps even casually chat about real estate.

11. Gift a Turkey, Ham, or Dessert

For a meaningful and unforgettable Christmas marketing idea, consider offering a turkey, ham, or pie to each client you’ve worked with this year. With grocery prices higher than ever, it’s a caring, personal gift that provides the centerpiece for a family meal (literally earning you a place at the table!).

Create a sheet with a place for your newest clients to make their selections and pick a time slot when they can stop by your office to pick it up. Include festive cards with Christmas real estate slogans like “home for the holidays” or “may your home be filled with holiday cheer and warmth,”. This thoughtful touchpoint will help keep you top of mind well into the new year.

12. Host a Holiday Housewarming Party

Did you recently help clients buy a home? Offer to organize and play host at a holiday housewarming party for them and their neighbors. This event introduces them to the neighborhood and you to potential leads in the area.

13. Throw a Holiday Party

My brother, Stephen, owns and leads the top real estate agency in Lynchburg, Virginia. He hosts a blowout holiday party every year with hundreds of people in attendance. The goodwill, reviews, referrals, and new clients he gets make it all worth the cost, but yours can be a much smaller, intimate gathering at your home or a rented space. Bring together clients, friends, referral partners, and neighbors for a holiday party featuring good food and drink and a festive environment, and you can encourage authentic conversations that lead to lasting connections.

14. Support a Toy Drive

Whether alone, with your team, or with local businesses, radio stations, or community podcasts, you can promote a toy drive in your area to create moments of pure, profound joy for children in need. Use social media, postcards, and door hangers to invite your farm area, clients, and neighbors to contribute. This real estate Christmas marketing idea can foster goodwill, build community connections, and generate plenty of new conversations for the new year. 

15. Sponsor a Family for Christmas

Partner with a local charity, church, or community organization to sponsor a needy family, encouraging donations through social media, your website, and postcards sent to your farm. Consider creating a special landing page to list needed items, provide updates, and capture lead information. (Check out Canva’s single-use landing page templates.) This campaign will show your commitment to your community and position your business as caring and charitable.

16. Host a Charity Fundraiser

A charity fundraiser gives you a reason to engage with clients and connect with new prospects, all while supporting a meaningful cause in your community. Among all your referral partners, and perhaps even clients, there’s bound to be a group who would gladly donate products or services. Host a silent or traditional auction fundraiser to sell these donations, then give the proceeds to charity. Some entertainment, hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar can round out the event.

17. Serve a Christmas Meal for Charity

Work with a local restaurant or community center to present a holiday meal with a prix fixe menu or a suggested donation, pledging the proceeds to a charity in the area. You could also enhance the impact by requesting attendees bring a nonperishable good to help stock a local food bank or a gently used clothing item for distribution to those in need. This holiday marketing idea for real estate agents creates opportunities to connect with the community and demonstrates your commitment to giving back.

FAQs

What is the slowest month of the year for real estate?

What should a Realtor® write on a Christmas card?

Is it better to sell before or after Christmas?

Bringing It All Together

The holiday season is an ideal time to implement creative real estate holiday marketing ideas that connect you to your community and clients. Whether you’re organizing a holiday home tour, sending Christmas cards, or hosting a charity fundraiser, these tactics offer endless opportunities to spread joy and strengthen your network. Embrace the magic of the holidays, connect authentically, and set the stage for a successful 2025.

If you have a favorite Christmas real estate marketing idea, we’d love to hear it. Add yours to the comments below, and brighten the holidays!

The post 17 Christmas Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Your Community appeared first on The Close.

Benefits of Thanksgiving Marketing

Before delving into strategies, consider some of the benefits of doubling down on your Thanksgiving real estate marketing:

• Less competition: Those agents who scale back their marketing during the holidays leave a gap that you can readily fill. By maintaining a presence, you’ll stand out in a less crowded market.
• Referrals and repeat business: Holiday gatherings often spark conversations about life changes, including moving plans. Encourage referrals by sending holiday-themed marketing materials or gifts that make it easy for clients to pass along your contact information.
• End-of-year homebuyers: Some buyers are motivated to purchase a home before the end of the year to take advantage of tax benefits or meet financial goals. Thanksgiving marketing will capture their attention and make clients jump to work with you in their eagerness to close.

So before the gravy gets cold, check out these 12 Thanksgiving real estate marketing ideas to kick-start your holiday season!

1. Throw a Fall Firepit Event

Who doesn’t enjoy a good campfire? Hosting a fireside chat is a great way to get people together in a comfortable and fun setting to discuss their fears about the homebuying and selling process and answer their questions. Consider doing separate events for homebuyers and sellers to facilitate deeper conversations with each. Bring takeaway materials for your guests to help reinforce your message after the event. And don’t forget to bring fixings for s’mores!

2. Use Festive Door Hangers

If you want to boost your visibility on your farm, there’s almost no easier way to connect with tons of people in a short time than with door hangers featuring your business card or contact info. Create some fall-themed ones with Canva, or order them preprinted. Include a fun recipe on the backside or share some great insight for homeowners interested in selling soon. Either way, your farm will love them.

3. Send Postcards Featuring Holiday Recipes

For those who could use some inspiration for the Thanksgiving holiday meal or simply want to shake it up a bit this year, help them by mailing postcards featuring festive recipes. Choose ones that reflect your personality or taste and send them to your sphere, farm, or both. You might even send one every one or two weeks leading up to the holiday, helping to plan the entire dinner!

4. Offer Free Thanksgiving Pies

Partner with a local bakery to organize a pie giveaway. Set up a coffee station to encourage people to stay for a moment, giving you the chance to wish them Happy Holidays and direct them to your laptops, where they can easily leave reviews on Google and Facebook. This simple gesture taps into people’s sense of reciprocity, making it easy for them to show appreciation.

5. Design a Thanksgiving-themed Contest With a Grocery Giveaway

Conduct a “guess the amount” contest at any holiday vendor event that puts you in front of your community. After all, everyone loves a good guessing game, and with this one, the winner walks away with a $100 grocery gift card to help fund their holiday dinner. Here are the steps:

• Step 1: Fill a large, clear jar with any item small enough to fit a large quantity, such as candy corn, miniature chocolate turkeys, or holiday ornaments. 
• Step 2: Encourage people walking by to enter by filling out a form with their contact information along with their guess. 
• Step 3: Don’t miss the opportunity to chat—ask contestants about their neighborhood and see if you can uncover some questions they may have about the market.

6. Host a Gobble-up Open House

Get creative with your open houses with a happy Thanksgiving real estate style! Use fall decorations like pumpkins and colorful leaves, and serve seasonally-inspired hors d’oeuvre and drinks. If you want to go all out, get together with other agents and plan a multicourse meal spread out over several homes. 

For example, serve a salad at the first house on the tour, an entrée at the second, and dessert at the third, and give away door prizes at each one. Even for a solo event, an enticement like a gift card could help get people through the door, where they’re sure to be wowed by the seasonal excitement.

7. Coordinate a Cooking Demonstration

I’m not the cook in my family (hard-boiled eggs are a challenge), which is why I love the idea of partnering with someone who is and hosting a small cooking class to teach people how to make a classic Thanksgiving dish. You don’t have to go crazy—pick one dish, like dessert, and go from there.

A classic pecan or pumpkin pie is an easy choice, or go with a must-have side dish (it’s all about the sides) such as baked macaroni and cheese, candied yams, green bean casserole, or cornbread stuffing. It’s a great opportunity to create conversations about real estate while working together to achieve your cooking goals.

8. Organize a Food Drive

Put together a food drive to gather donations from your community. My brother, the founder and team lead of Acree Brothers Realty Team in Lynchburg, Virginia, promotes his drive using postcards, social media, and local church bulletins, and each year he gets a tremendous outpouring of support and his brand racks up tons of goodwill.

Pro Tip: If you want to help a specific group (e.g., homeless veterans, elderly in assisted living, military families of deployed members), contact organizations in your area to learn about specific needs.

9. Invite the Community to Serve

Being grateful for what we have is the theme of Thanksgiving, and helping those who are less fortunate can remind us of that. Invite your sphere to help you and your team serve a Thanksgiving meal at a shelter, church, or other location, providing a hot holiday meal and compassion to those in need. 

Shannon Gillette, a Top 12 agent in Phoenix, Arizona, does something similar at Christmas. She invites her community to be personal shoppers for foster children. It generates a ton of goodwill, and everyone feels great, resulting in a win-win for all. You can hear her describe the event during a Stay Paid podcast interview.

10. Organize a Thanksgiving Fun Run

Encourage clients to burn a few calories before their big meal with a 5k run. Many neighborhoods hold Turkey Trots and similar events on Thanksgiving morning, with proceeds typically going to local nonprofits. Build a team of real estate clients to tackle a Thanksgiving jog together, and if you have a team of agents, have them join in too. You might even include a mini-run for the kids led by an enthusiastic volunteer in a turkey costume to capture tons of endearing photos to post to your social media page.

11. Support a Turkey Bowl

In many communities, people gather on or around Thanksgiving to watch football games between rival high schools. These games are known as Turkey Bowls. If there’s one in your area, find out what you can do to contribute. If the event requires some kind of financial backing, find out if you can be a sponsor and get your brand image on a banner or program. Are there refreshments being sold? If not, offer to provide refreshments for free. Also hand out useful promotional items like drink koozies.

12. Plan a Holiday Craft Workshop

While I’m a good musician, I have zero talent when it comes to crafting—glue and glitter are just not my thing. But if you can’t get enough, teach a workshop on how to do a project like holiday wreaths, ornaments, home decor, knitting, or crocheting. (Or if you’re like me, find someone crafty to take the reins). Should you need inspiration, Pinterest is filled with ideas you can borrow. Broadcast your workshop across your multiple marketing channels, and specify if you’re providing the supplies or if they will need to bring their own.

Best Practices for Thanksgiving Real Estate Marketing

It’s great to have fun, but don’t forget that these are Thanksgiving real estate marketing ideas. To optimize their lead-generating power, follow these best practices:

• Have interested people preregister for your events so you can sufficiently prepare. Mention that space is limited to add a sense of urgency. Add their contact info to your database, and include them in your drip campaigns.
• Always take pictures and record videos of your gatherings to share on social media, making sure to tag attendees.
• Be authentic about the intent of these ideas—prioritize the fun and promotion of the holiday spirit over being salesy. Make a short statement at the start thanking people for their business and referrals, perhaps even sharing your goals for the upcoming year, but that’s about it.
• Always make sure to follow up: provide promised information, thank people for their attendance, contributions, participation, or offer to help, and ensure that they have your contact information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the slowest month of the year for real estate?

What should a realtor write on a Thanksgiving card?

What is the best thank you message for real estate clients?

Your Take

These are just a few of the many Thanksgiving real estate ideas you can use right now to market your business. Try any of them to tap into the generosity and festive nature of the season and connect with your sphere.

If you have a unique and fun holiday marketing tactic you’ve tried in the past or are planning on doing this year, other agents would love to hear about them, so add them in the comment section below!

The post 12 Thanksgiving Real Estate Marketing Ideas for Giving Thanks appeared first on The Close.

While the numbers vary, I can say with absolute certainty that engagement has gone way up since adding green screen videos to my Instagram. My followers have grown to more than 36K. And I’m going to teach you how to do it. I’ll lay out the steps for how to do green screen on Instagram plus ideas for content and tips to ensure that your videos look their best.

What Is a Green Screen?

Before getting into how to use an Instagram green screen, let’s review what a green screen is all about. A green screen is a background used in video production that allows you to digitally add a different image or video in place of the green area. The technique involves placing a person or object in front of a green-colored background, filming it, and then replacing the green with any desired background. 

The Instagram green screen effect lets you change the background of your Stories and Reels within the app, so there’s no need for any external equipment. This effect is particularly useful for real estate agents because it allows you to create dynamic and visually appealing content like virtual home tours and other videos that can attract viewers’ attention with the potential to offer a visual experience that’s both informative and engaging. 

How to Do Green Screen on Instagram

The steps here reflect how iPhone and iPad users will interact with the green screen Instagram effect. If you’re using an Android device, your experience may vary slightly, but the app’s core features and functionality are generally the same across both platforms. 

Step 1: Open Instagram Reels

Open the Instagram app on your mobile device, tap the plus sign (+) on your profile page, then scroll through the menu to select Reel. (You can use the Instagram green screen on Stories, but I prefer Reels, which tend to get more visibility and allow longer content.)

Step 2: Access the Green Screen Effect

On the New Reel screen, tap the Camera icon, then expand the menu on your screen’s left or right side. Find and tap Green Screen to apply. 

Step 3: Choose Your Background

After selecting the green screen Instagram effect, tap the image to enlarge it. Instagram will load a default image, but you’ll see a button prompting you to Change Background or Add Media. Click it to open your Camera Roll containing the images or video you created earlier. You can always change your background mid-recording by pausing, choosing a new image, and continuing to record.

Step 4: Adjust Yourself in the Frame

Once your background is selected, you’ll appear in front of it on the screen. You don’t want to appear disproportionately large or small compared with the objects in your background, so before you start recording, pinch and drag your image to adjust its size and position to look as natural as possible.

Pro Tip: Ensure you’re not blocking any important details in your background. For example, if you’re standing in front of a property’s exterior, position yourself to the side so viewers can clearly see the home.

Step 5: Record Your Video

Now that you’ve set everything up, it’s time to start recording. Attach your phone to a tripod. Tap the Green Screen icon below your image a single time for continuous recording.

During this phase, your goal is to be clear, concise, and engaging. Speak directly to your audience as if you were having a one-on-one conversation. And don’t worry about minor flubs; viewers enjoy authenticity. You can edit any major mistakes after the fact.

Examples of Engaging Green Screen Videos for Real Estate Agents

As an element of your overall content marketing strategy, you’ll want to use green screen videos to promote your services as an agent and provide a mix of educational, entertaining, and endearing content. There are tons of ideas for Instagram Reels that you can easily adapt for use with its green screen. Here are just a few to spark your creativity. 

• Virtual property tours: This particular green screen video is easy for beginners. Record video or take pictures of the home’s exterior and various rooms. Then, use your Instagram green screen background to film yourself “in” the home, switching between different rooms or exteriors as you narrate the property’s features. Use wide, high-quality images of each room. Speak and move through the home in your video at a reasonable pace—fast enough to maintain your viewers’ interest but slow enough to give them time to appreciate each area.
• Neighborhood highlights: Use the green screen effect to place yourself in front of iconic landmarks, parks, or even trendy restaurants in the area you serve or the neighborhood of a new listing. As you talk about the community’s vibe, the Instagram green screen can take viewers to these locations without leaving their homes. 
• Market update with visuals: Have market data images, like graphs or charts, as your background while explaining local real estate market trends. Add some personality to the data by standing in front of it as if you’re giving a weather report. Whatever visuals you choose, though, be sure that they are easy to understand and don’t overcrowd the screen. 
• Before, during, and after renovations and builds: Present a side-by-side comparison of a property before and after renovations, using the green screen to switch between images or videos of the transformation. Similarly, you can post information about a new construction project, using the Instagram green screen to show images of the build in various stages and videos of work in progress.
• Real estate myths: Debunk common real estate myths by discussing them in front of a green screen that shows relevant statistics, examples, text highlights, or images.
• Current events: Use a sports, entertainment, or news story that either is or can be connected—with a little imagination and creativity—to real estate. Use the Instagram story green screen to place an image of the story or other relevant picture in your background as you explain it or offer your opinion about it. 
• Event announcements: Announce upcoming open houses, real estate seminars, and community events, using the green screen to show event details, dates, and locations. But don’t limit yourself to simply displaying text in your background—couple the event details with relevant images, the date on an image of a calendar, and the location with a map.
• Community engagement: People support businesses with a purpose greater than profit, so use the Instagram green screen to display images and videos of your good work in action as you tell a tale about your involvement in a charitable event. 
• Behind the scenes: Give a sneak peek of your day as a real estate agent, switching the green screen to show different parts of your routine, such as meetings, showings, and paperwork. Create a video about preparing for an open house, using images to share what’s involved as you narrate the care and effort you take to ensure every client’s open house succeeds. Similarly, you can use a montage of images showing happy clients after their closings to promote your services.

Check out these real estate agents crushing it with Instagram green screens:

Tips for Using Instagram Green Screen

Here are some suggestions for creating engaging, high-quality videos that can attract leads while avoiding common pitfalls.

It’s Best Not to Wing It

A little preparation before shooting your video will save time and hassles later on. Once you have your topic, use a script to guide your recording. Whether you write out everything or stick to organized bullet points, a script will make you more confident and help avoid awkward pauses or repetitive content. In addition, an app like Teleprompter for iPhone and iPad can ensure a smooth delivery. As a bonus, using a script will streamline your editing process by reducing the need for extensive cuts and corrections.

Next, determine your background. Think strategically about what will visually grab your audience’s attention and hook them in. Whether it’s a single image, a series of images, or a video, collect or record it in your Camera Roll before beginning to have it on your mobile device ready for use. 

Avoid Poor Lighting

Lighting is key to making your green screen videos look professional. If it’s too dark or uneven, it will create shadows and make the green screen effect look obvious and clunky. Always ensure you’re filming in a well-lit area with soft, even lighting on your face. Invest in a simple ring light, or use natural light by filming near a window during the day. If you’re shooting outdoors, ensure you’re not in too much shadow compared with the bright daylight in the background.

Steer Clear of Busy Backgrounds

Choosing a background that is too busy or cluttered can overwhelm your viewers. Remember, your face and message should be the star of the show. Don’t choose a background with too much going on, like a street scene with lots of cars or people moving; keep your background simple and relevant to your content. If you’re unsure, choose a single clear image over a dynamic video.

Resist Overediting

When creating Instagram green screen videos, it’s easy to get carried away with all the bells and whistles. The temptation to constantly switch backgrounds or add multiple effects might be strong, but when working with video, less is often more. Too many transitions or visual effects can distract your viewers from the message you’re trying to convey. Stick to one or two background changes in a single video. Let the content shine through instead of relying solely on effects.

Take Action

The Instagram green screen effect is a powerful tool for real estate agents looking to stand out and engage their audiences. By showing, rather than just telling, you’ll bring your properties and expertise to life in a fresh, dynamic, and visually appealing way. 

Practice makes perfect, though; you’ll need to put in the work to get comfortable. Remember to keep it simple and follow the tips above, and, with time, you’ll find green screen videos becoming an indispensable part of your real estate marketing strategy. The important thing is to just get started, so record your first Instagram green screen Reel today.

The post How to Use Instagram Green Screen: An Agent’s Guide (+ Tips) appeared first on The Close.