Updated November 2021

Let’s just call it what it is—Thanksgiving 2020 was a bummer. In the throes of the pandemic, Americans were hesitant to travel and many decided family get-togethers were off the menu. This year, things are a little different.

First, it’s our second holiday season since COVID-19 hit the masses, and the adjustments we’ve all needed to make have largely been normalized.

Second, we have vaccines that we didn’t have before.

Third, mask mandates are in place in many parts of the country, which makes a significant portion of the population feel a bit more safe.

Finally, there’s a lot of pent-up desire to get out of Dodge.

Deloitte’s 2021 holiday travel survey reports that 42% of Americans plan to travel between Thanksgiving and mid-January, taking an average of 2 trips. Financial advisors take note: 53% of Americans with higher incomes plan to travel with a third of those making 3 or more trips.

With all these people coming together, you’ll want to make sure you’re top of mind for any conversations about buying or selling a home. Try these five Thanksgiving marketing ideas for real estate agents, and watch your client list grow into the new year (and beyond).

Sponsor a “Turkey Bowl.”

In many communities, people are again gathering on or around Thanksgiving to watch football games between rival high schools. These games are known as turkey bowls.

If there’s a turkey bowl 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. Are there refreshments being sold? If not, offer to provide refreshments for free. Hand out useful promotional items like drink koozies.

The idea is to give your business a presence at the event. You probably won’t win any listing appointments on the day of the game, but you’ll be in a better position to help buyers and sellers in the months ahead.

Share Thanksgiving content on social media.

As Thanksgiving arrives—and quickly gives way to the holiday season—your clients and prospects will be incredibly busy.

They’ll also be bombarded with a variety of marketing messages that they’ll eventually learn to simply tune out. And this is particularly true on social media.

In order to make an impression, you need to connect with messaging that’s relevant to them in the present.

This month, skip your usual sales pitch and offer something that’s useful instead—whether that’s a dessert recipe or tips for hosting the perfect Thanksgiving dinner.

The idea is to add value to people’s lives, which will increase appreciation for you and your business. Then, when the time comes for them to buy or sell, they’ll be more likely to remember you.

If you’re looking for some great, readymade content to share on social media, check out our list of Thanksgiving blogs—complete with sample copy that will help you start making connections right away.

Give back to your community.

One way to build a great business is by doing great things. While not a marketing campaign in the traditional sense, performing unselfish acts will put you and your business in a good light. This triggers the halo effect, which will lead to people associating you with positive things.

Here are some ways you can give back to your community this Thanksgiving:

• Collect canned goods for underprivileged families.
• Volunteer your time at a soup kitchen.
• If you’re a ReminderMedia customer, spotlight a local charity on your magazine’s back cover.

You literally cannot go wrong when you give back to your community. Even if no one notices what you’ve done and there is no tangible difference in your business, you’ll still carry with you the good feelings that come with doing good.

Say “thanks” to your clients.

While it’s important to continually fill up your funnel with new leads, it’s equally important not to neglect the people you’ve already worked with. After all, it’s five times more expensive to win over a new client than it is to earn more business from a current customer.

When you stay connected with your existing clients, you’re positioning yourself to capture referrals and repeat business. The key thing is to reach out consistently and to offer value.

One way to do that is by sending a branded magazine from ReminderMedia. This puts you in touch with your most valued clients every other month, while giving you organic reasons to pick up the phone and have a genuine conversation. (“Did you get the latest issue of my magazine? Did you enjoy the article about x?”)

But it’s also important to reach out with personal messages around special occasions. Thanksgiving is the time of year when we all express gratitude for the people and things we care about. By sending all your clients a handwritten note, you’re reminding them that you care, and that you’re available to help them with anything they might need.

If you want to save a trip to the store (along with a few bucks), we’ve got some free Gratitude Greeting Cards that you can print out at home.

Participate in Small Business Saturday.

As we all know, Thanksgiving is followed by Black Friday, where seemingly every business will be offering some kind of incredible deal.

More recently, communities have started to celebrate Small Business Saturday, when shoppers choose to patronize local merchants over bigger retailers. While you might not be able to offer a “special” for this unofficial holiday, you can create good feelings around your business by associating yourself with it.

One way to do this is by spotlighting local businesses you enjoy on your social media accounts or in your email newsletter. If possible, try to partner with some of those businesses—promoting their sales in exchange for them displaying your business card (or magazine) near their cash register.

An easy way to show your support for Small Business Saturday is by posting a sign in your office or on your front window. You’ll be seen as a friend of local businesses, which will make local consumers appreciate you more. Click here to download our free printable Small Business Saturday signs.

Whichever Thanksgiving marketing ideas you try, remember that it’s all about building brand awareness in your community. When you’re willing to go the extra mile in your marketing, your potential customers will know that you’ll go above and beyond for them down the line.