Have you ever noticed that sometimes you will get a rogue onion ring in your order of fries at Burger King? Is it that one onion ring just decides to hitch a ride in the scooper? Or is something else afoot? Word on the street has it that Burger King does this on purposes. I have read this from various sources including the article “One Onion Ring Ends Up In Every Burger King Order of Fries”, from the SouthFloridaReporter.com. Another article at brobible, entitled “10 things you probably didn’t know about onion rings”, mentions the same thing. These articles claim that Burger King places an onion ring in each order of fries to make consumers aware of the fact that, in addition to fries, they also serve onion rings.
I don’t know if this is really true, but I do feel like this guy when I find an onion ring in my order of fries! For the record, in performing my market sampling and research for this article, I consumed an unhealthy number of fries (which is probably more than one fry) from Burger King in the past two weeks to see if this is indeed the case. After all, I do remember having an onion ring in my fries in the past. Perhaps you have also. I am sad to report that this did not happen at any of the Burger Kings I visited within the past couple of weeks. Perhaps this was a thing, or maybe it never was. I really wanted to have the same reaction as the guy in this video.
By the way, did you know that June 22nd, 2021, is National Onion Ring Day?
As usual, I’ve started yet another post talking about a random thing that has nothing to do with real estate. That’s just how I am wired! But wait, perhaps there is something we can learn from this alleged marketing tactic.
This situation reminds us of the importance of taking advantage of opportunities to let others know about real estate services that we offer, above and beyond completing an appraisal. There are several ways to do so. I think one of the easiest ways is with business cards. Leaving a business card with those we meet, in a professional setting, can be beneficial in several ways.
First, it is a way that we can identify ourselves. I think it’s just the professional thing to do, and I always appreciating receiving business cards from other professionals.
But it serves more of a purpose than just identification. More often than you might imagine, I receive orders from homeowners, whose homes I have appraised in the past. Sometimes, they were not my client at that time. For instance, I may have appraised their home for a bank. Years later, they may need an appraisal for a purpose other than lending. So, they may call me. A couple of weeks ago, a homeowner hired me to appraise a four-unit apartment because they want to sell it, and needed to know the market value of the property, to know how much to sell it for. Leaving my card paid off years later.
I view my card as a great way to advertise my real estate services. I’m sure you have seen many kinds of cards. Which ones did you like the best? Which ones told you the most about the person leaving it? What aspects of a card are most appealing to you? What should go on a business card? That is a matter of personal preference. Let me share what has worked for me. You may have some different ideas that will work also.
WHAT INFORMATION TO PUT ON THE CARD
Since business cards are small, it is difficult to know how much to put on one. Do you use just the front, or both sides? I like to use both sides. Here is a front and back picture of my current business card. On the front, I have my logo with my company name, my name & title, contact information and my two websites. That’s really all I have room for on the front. Really, that is probably enough information. However, I like using the back of my card to share more information.
When I am appraising a home for a bank, many people assume that I only work for banks. However, nearly half of my work is for purposes other than lending. So, I like to use the back of my business card to list some of the reasons I appraise properties. I have found this to be very helpful at getting the word out that I am an independent appraiser, and willing to take on assignments other than just lender work.
If you belong to a professional organization(s), the back of a card is a good place to highlight those types of things. This is just simple advertising, and it works. I also like to provide the counties that I cover, since this is a common question consumers ask about.
You may notice that I also have a picture of myself on the back of my card. I have found this to be very helpful at putting some homeowners at ease when it comes to identifying myself. Especially while wearing a mask. You don’t have to make it a glamor shot, unless you’re a real estate agent. Just kidding agents! A nice professional picture can be useful.
I will tell you a little story about the benefits of having a picture on our cards. A real estate agent in my area has a client who needs to sell their home. They needed an appraisal to establish a list price for the home. Last week, the agent provided the homeowner with two appraisers to choose from. I happened to be one of the two choices. The homeowner says she choose me because I was smiling! So, a nice picture can help, and smiling doesn’t hurt either.
There are so many options to consider when putting together a business card. It can be fun and rewarding!
DIGITAL BUSINESS CARDS
In recent years, in addition to more traditional business cards, there are some new options that you might find useful. For a relatively small price, you can set up a digital business card. One I use is dot. There are different devices that you can use. The DOT card I use is the same size as a credit card. Here is a picture of mine.
The front is unimpressive. So is the back now that I think about it. However, what you can share with people using this type of card, is pretty cool! Just have the person take a picture, or scan this QR code on the back of the card. Go ahead and try it.
You will see my page appear. Then it gives the person the option of downloading my contact information right into their device. The beauty of setting this up is that you can also use this QR code in other types of advertising, like this blog! (I know! Totally shameless plug.) But this type of card is pretty handy!
The service I use through dot.com had just a one-time fee. No monthly or annual charges. This is very affordable and a useful way to share contact information.
There are other digital card services out there that you might also like. Another one I use is on the first page of my website at www.aspenappraisalservices.net, I have an icon that anyone can click on and download my contact information. For this I use vizibility.com. This one does have an annual fee, but it is reasonable for what it offers. The concept is the same. You set up an account with them and then they will provide you with different options for connecting people to your contact information.
Taking advantage of opportunities to make others aware of all the services we offer is just good business! If you get one order from leaving one card with someone, the return on this small investment is very good. That’s my take on the whole business card thing, and the whole onion ring in the fries situation. I hope you enjoyed visiting about it a little.
I also hope you enjoy a heaping helping of some onion rings this month. In the meantime, enjoy this little video that talks about the history of onion rings.
Bon Appetit!
Have a great long weekend everyone!
If you enjoy listening to podcasts, check my new podcast out. I hope you enjoy it! You can find me on Apple Podcast, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Google Play Music, Sound Cloud, Radio.com, RadioPublic, Deezer, Breaker, Stitcher as well as other feeds.
You can also listen right here at Cleveland Appraisal Blog!
www.homevaluestories.libsyn.com
If you are interested in stats, and nothing but the stats, for neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio, check out my other podcast. In it, I provide short episodes that provide you with stats on median sales prices, marketing times, housing inventory and other related stats, on specific neighborhoods in Northeast Ohio. You can find me on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Play Music, Breaker, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public or you can listen right here at the Cleveland Appraisal Blog.
www.anchor.fm/cash-appraiserstats.com
I am a member of the National Association of Appraisers. If you’re an appraiser, and you’re looking to join an appraisal organization, please check them out. The NAA is made up of fantastic appraisers from across the country who are working hard to keep their fellow appraisers up to date on what’s happening.
Click here to visit their website.
Here are some links to other articles I’ve enjoyed recently! I hope you will also…
The Roaring Twenties For Housing – Housing Notes by Jonathan Miller
Is the housing market starting to slow?– Sacramento Appraisal Blog
7 Tips To Avoid Appraisal Problems In Today’s Crazy Real Estate Market – Birmingham Appraisal Blog
Has Appraising Failed the Public Good? – APPRAISAL TODAY
What is Critical Appraisal Theory? – George Dell’s Analogue Blog
May Newsletter – Rural Counties Surge – DW Slater Company Blog
Think Inside The Box! – The Real Value Podcast (PODCAST)
You Can’t Analyze it Until You First Identify It! – The Appraiser’s Advocate with Tim Andersen (PODCAST)
Myth Debunked: Comparable Distance and Date of Sale Rules – Real Estate Appraisal Between The Lines with Brian C. Lee (PODCAST)
I never thought about onion rings being intentionally placed in the fries as a marketing tool. I’m all for that.
Me too! Who woulda thunk it?