Something Different - New Year’s Cards

Happy Holidays!  Hopefully you have planned to take some well deserved time off to spend Christmas with family and friends.  Many Realtors use the holiday season as a reason to touch base with their past clients and their sphere of influence by sending Christmas cards.  

While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, I find that it most likely won’t reap many rewards!  Think about how many Christmas cards you receive each holiday season.  While you cherish the ones you receive from friends and family, do you really look forward to receiving that all important Christmas card from the salesperson who sold you last car? 

I grew up in a family with parents who immigrated to this country from Switzerland and their correspondence with family and friends during the holiday season revolved around sending New Year’s greetings.  They shared all of their families accomplishments and wishes for a health and happy New Year.

After sending the routine Christmas card for a few years with little results, I decided to send personal cards to each of my past customers and my sphere of influence during the week after Christmas, before New Year’s.  In it I shared my thanks for their business during the year and updated them on my business accomplishments.  I wished them a healthy and prosperous New Year and closed by asking them if I could help anyone they knew that had a real estate need. 

I followed my mailing up with a follow up call the first week of New Year’s and was amazed at the response that I received.  Many people actually remembered the card and my success at building referrals from past clients was better than the Christmas cards!   I found that I had more time to follow up during the first week of the year, rather than during the buildup to Christmas and that I was more motivated due to my new year’s resolutions!

So, if you’ve already mailed Christmas cards to your past clients and sphere of influence, good for you!  I’m never one to discourage any kind of contact to your sphere - but if you haven’t consider trying New Year’s notes or cards this year!  You might just be surprised at how a different twist on customer contact might work out for you!!!!