I spent a bunch of years in the promotional products industry prior to becoming a Realtor.  My biggest clients were health care companies and an American car company along with its west coast ad agency.  I had many smaller clients, too.

In real estate, I like using promotional items as a part of my overall marketing.  If decide to move forward with promotional items, you can ask your rep to show you products that are on closeout or those that are on special pricing or have "free goods" offers.  You can save some money that way.  If you have several agents in the office who want to go in on promotional products, you can pay a copy change charge so each agent can have their individual name and contact info and get the total quantity price for everyone.  This usually applies only if the logo is the same.

If promotional products have brought me real estate business, I can't say anyone has specifically mentioned it.  A good chunk of my business is referral business.  If the desk calendar I send out every year keeps me at the top of mind and generates a referral, I don't know that I'd be told that's what helped the referral happen.

Debbie Reynolds - never done! However, as a part of Brian Buffini coaching requirements of pop-by, I do visit my clients and share 'un-branded' items! And that is a great ROI for sure.

Rarely, mostly nice items that I can give to staff or colleagues.

Judiciously, Debbie. I use notepads with magnetic backs to which I can attach my business cards and they do generate business. Haven't had great success with pens. I also have inexpensive key chains, on which I hang all the keys for a home at closing. No one seems to throw those out.

The idea of promotional items is to get your name out there.  Whether you get business from it is not the issue when your do it.  When you get your name out there, eventually you will become a household name.  That's when you get the business. That and your reputation.  If you don't have a good representation, specialty items will never help.

I have given away pens and coffee mugs and the customers seem to like them. I think it helps them to remember me the next time they think of a builder.

The only "swag" I have ever purchased was notepads, and still have many left, with VERY old photos.  

Debbie, I buy calendars but otherwise I just send out thank you or other note cards that have my information preprinted on them.

Hi Debbie -- I have done calendars and pens in the past...although not currently.  

I like the idea of notepads to hand out at open houses.   

Never did it because the cost seems so expensive, but it is about branding. 

I don't look at these items in terms of direct ROI. It's not like measuring a response to a specific ad or mail drop. Primarily I use any items like this as giveaways for clients with whom I do business. People love pens (as long as they're half decent quality) and it helps to keep my name in front of folks for longer periods of time between our touchpoints.

I had tons of pens and handed them out over a span of about 5 years in the early going. I would see them at homes on listing appts. and people would sometimes walk in to the office looking for me. I'd have to say the investment was well worth the return. I am trying a new tactic and am always searching for bulk deals on printable flash drives. I received them from others in the past and still use them. The names are an arm length away and proved invaluable in function and promotion. 

Personal notes are more effective than any of the promotional items. If you want to hand out something, distribute more of your business cards.

"Items like pens, notepads, scrapers, etc." SCRAPERS! What's that? 

Yes, I do spend money on promotional items for branding purposes. These items turn out to be collector pieces that do not get thrown out and are looked forward to every year. Why? Because I am the ONLY source.  Why am I the only source? I am the only one willing to invest the time, intellect and energy to create something they citizen actually wants.

My item is a publication (digital) titled "100 Days of Summer." I can personally deliver(farming), use it at environmental events and community events of all kinds, and paid for by advertisers, and tied to my online collateral only.

The pens and notepads do disappear quickly without pay back. I stopped that real quick. The '100 Days' solution is durable, has a one year self life, and has legs. It an exceptional conversation starter at the busy pizza house or Panera or Starbucks or any environment with open social areas.

I have in the long past, but I just didn't see any great value, but it issomething that may be hard to track.

All I can tell you Debbie, is that Chief Cook hasn't done anything like this for years....because of the low ROI!  And, I can't do it because it wouldn't benefit me at all, either!

No, we do not. 

Yet, we have some ideas. Bottle and reusable tots would be perfect for ca climate. What do you think?

One of our clients walks his luxury farm 2-3 times a week religiously.  As part of his branding package, we made up lovely notepads with a shadow of his logo to leave behind.  They are the perfect size for a purse, a car, etc., and people loved them.  He dominates the area, and people love having him visit them and chat. 

Another one of our clients send magnetized refrigerator calendars.  We even get one every Xmas.  One time when her order for them was late, she actually got a call from former buyer asking her, if she was going to send here one...They love it in her marketplace, personally we would not recommend it for Santa Barbara, but we would for other place in the greater  LA basin.  

Not any more Debbie, and we have not noticed any change in our business since stopping them.

Yes I do, on one item that I share with clients, but mostly with those I meet at conventions and other real estate events. It's very popular and useful - a screen customized screen cleaner for your phone or iPad. I"ve learned over time to not spend a lot of money this way - yes it gets me noticed and people remember