7 Real Estate Advertisement Examples to Get Seller Leads

Imagine generating real estate seller leads on tap. Sounds like a dream, right? The truth is there are real estate investors and agents out there generating tens of motivated sellers each week—and they’re no smarter than you. It’s just a question of effective advertising. Like most real estate investors or agents, you’ve probably relied on networking or reputation or luck to bring in listings. It can be an unpredictable way to grow a business. So we’re going to change that for you today. The good news is, there’s a way out—the examples in this blogpost will show you how to stop relying on outdated methods and start attracting sellers consistently. Let’s get started!

Why Relying on Referrals and Networking Isn’t Enough 

If you’re struggling to attract seller leads, you’re not alone.  Everyone struggles with lead generation.  In fact, 63% of real estate agents name lead generation as their biggest challenge to growth. The constant pursuit of new seller leads can be exhausting, and breaking through this barrier is essential for unlocking your dream outcome. But that’s not all. According to research, it’s also 63% of sellers who found their agents through referrals or previous transactions.  It’s a high number. But it also highlights a crucial point: almost a third of sellers will use an agent or investor they found through an advertisement.  So if you’re not advertising, you’re limiting your chances to get listings. This reliance on referrals has five key drawbacks:

• Limited Reach: Relying solely on personal networks restricts your ability to reach a wider audience, leaving potential leads untapped.
• Inconsistent Results: Referrals can be sporadic, leading to unpredictable income and a lack of business stability.
• Growth Stagnation: Without a steady flow of leads, expanding your team and portfolio becomes increasingly difficult, limiting your overall success.
• Dependency on Relationships: Relying on referrals creates a dependency on personal relationships, which can lead to stagnation when those connections do not yield leads.
• Missed Referral Opportunities: By attracting sellers from outside your network, the knock-on effect is having a greater pool of potential referrals in future.

The solution lies in diversifying your approach to lead generation, and that’s exactly what we’ll explore next.

7 Real-Life Real Estate Advertisement Examples 

Below find our 7 real-life real estate advertisement examples that generated seller leads.

1. Direct Mail

Direct mail involves sending physical materials like postcards, newsletters, or flyers to specific neighborhoods, targeting local homeowners or potential sellers directly. This approach puts your message right in the hands of your audience and is often highly personalized.

Why should I use direct mail? Direct mail can be a powerful tool for real estate agents in localized areas, as it reaches homeowners directly in your community. This method is particularly effective when combined with tools for building targeted mailing lists. Direct mail can be costly, and its effectiveness depends on sending a number of cards to the same address—but with a carefully constructed list sometimes just a few hundreds homes is enough to get a deal.

What’s an example of a successful direct mail campaign? In the video below, Ryan Dossey (the co-founder of BallpointMarketing.com) goes through a case study of creating $150,000 in cash and pipeline sales after sending 2,500 pieces of direct mail.  Key to the success was the use of Propstream to create mailing lists. And, of course, the use of BallPoint Marketing’s direct mailers written in ballpoint ink to add that personalised touch.  [embed]https://youtu.be/CzRkMNTcwjM?si=piMD5E-u2xhNzQyc[/embed]

2. Billboards

Billboards are large, outdoor print advertisements strategically placed in high-traffic areas, promoting your real estate services to drivers and passersby. Their prominent placement allows agents and startups to increase brand visibility within a specific geographic area.

Why should I use billboards? For real estate agents focusing on a single city or region, billboards can enhance brand recognition and attract attention from local buyers and sellers alike. However, billboard advertising comes with a high upfront cost and may not provide as much direct engagement as digital methods. It’s best suited for agents or startups with a well-defined service area and/or compelling brand message.

What’s an example of a successful billboard campaign? Here’s an example of how a real estate startup, Homie, used a creative campaign of 28 billboards to generate seller leads. The company gathered data over a period of time and found 68% of both buyers and sellers first learned about the company from their billboards. Key to the success of the campaign was focusing on billboards in Homie’s target area—in this case, Phoenix. The campaign also drove home a particular brand message which helped to distinguish Homie from other real estate agencies in the region.

3. Social Media Ads

Social media ads are sponsored posts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn that target users based on demographics, interests, and location. These ads allow agents to reach a wide audience with visually engaging content, like property listings and testimonials.

Why should I use social media ads? Social media ads are versatile and can be easily adjusted to reach specific audiences, making them valuable for agents at both local and state levels. While they provide precise targeting options and are generally cost-effective, competition can be intense, and ads must be well-designed to stand out. Additionally, social media ads can work well alongside organic posts and other digital channels.

What’s an example of a successful social media ad campaign? Here’s an example of a Facebook Ads campaign that generated 8 seller leads and 1 exclusive deal for $31. The campaign offered readers a free home evaluation report, a type of lead magnet. The deal itself closed with a sale price of $515,000 and a $12,875 commission for the realtor. These kinds of results are not the norm. But key to the success was focusing the ad campaign on a specific area—in this case California—and offering something of genuine value to leads. [embed]https://youtu.be/U1A1zQQfb64?si=2qu2Cm2LpiIBOgaV[/embed]

4. Google Ads

Google Ads are pay-per-click ads that appear in search results when potential sellers search for real estate-related services. This platform allows real estate agents and investors to reach leads who are actively looking for help selling their property.

Why should I use Google Ads? Google Ads can generate high-quality leads, as they appear when users search for real estate services. Leads are typically motivated. These ads are highly effective for real estate professionals operating locally or statewide, but their costs can add up quickly in competitive markets. When used with SEO or other digital strategies, they can bolster visibility and help agents appear in multiple search areas, improving the chances of securing quality leads.

What’s an example of a successful Google Ads campaign? Here’s an example of a Google Ads campaign that generated 23 motivated seller leads for a cost of $193 each. The campaign was focused on the southeast United States, and was for one of the top real estate investors in the industry. One key takeaway from the campaign is that the average cost-per-click was as high as $60. That’s $60 for one click. But since the campaign focused only on most motivated sellers in the market, it was able to turn around 1 in 3 clicks into seller leads. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoVvFnv284E[/embed]

5. Lead Magnets

Lead magnets are valuable resources or incentives offered to potential clients in exchange for their contact information. In real estate, these can include guides on buying or selling property, market trend reports, checklists, or even e-books tailored to the specific needs of homeowners or investors.

Why should I use lead magnets? Lead magnets are an effective way to build a high-quality contact list and establish trust with potential sellers. They’re particularly useful for agents and investors focused on lead generation in specific areas, as they provide a value-driven way to connect with clients before any direct interaction. While there may be upfront costs to create professional lead magnets, the long-term benefits include a steady stream of engaged leads that can be nurtured via email or other channels. Additionally, lead magnets complement content marketing and email strategies, enabling agents to build authority and stay top-of-mind with prospects in both local and broader markets.

What’s an example of a successful lead magnet campaign? Below is an example of a creative lead magnet which generated 10 seller leads in 48 hours. It was a creative campaign that used a marketing funnel. The campaign offered readers the chance to receive alerts as soon as specific properties became available on the market…and then as a follow-up asked leads if they were also looking for a listing agent. If they responded positively, then the lead was encouraged to book a call. A key aspect of this strategy is that the realtor or real estate investor doesn’t come out to say: “sell with us!”. Instead, you’re offering something of value and earning trust and permission to later on make your pitch. [embed]https://youtu.be/qLobq25OyLM?si=hmrnHacgZ3Ukt0iY[/embed]

6. Facebook Groups

Free Facebook groups, especially those labeled as “Buy Sell [Town Name],” are local online communities where residents post items for sale, request recommendations, or seek local services. These groups are an excellent, low-cost opportunity for real estate agents to interact with potential clients and share property listings, open house announcements, or valuable advice for local homeowners.

Why should I use organic social media? Free Facebook groups allow real estate agents to establish a visible presence in their community without spending on ads, making them ideal for those focused on a specific town or city. By actively engaging with group members, agents can build relationships, promote their services, and stay updated on local trends. While they are excellent for fostering trust in local markets, these groups may have posting restrictions or rules against direct promotion. However, used correctly, free Facebook groups can work well alongside organic social media and content marketing, helping agents connect with a hyper-local audience in a casual, conversational way.

What’s an example of a successful Facebook Group campaign? Here’s an example of how BallPoint Marketing co-founder Ryan Dossey made $30,000 in commission wholesaling a property he picked up for free from Facebook. How? He joined a local ‘Buy Sell Trade’ Facebook Group.  Then, he saw a post about someone looking to sell a house that needed work done. Ryan made a cash offer below the asking price and made a wholesale deal with a $30,000 assignment fee—no inspections or risk for Ryan. The key takeaway from this case study is just to keep an eye on unlikely sources of leads. Sometimes a local Facebook group can make you $30k! [embed]https://youtu.be/THh2jyGxquU?si=0mH82R3u9yyV8iy9[/embed]

7. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing website content to improve its search engine ranking, making it easier for potential clients to find your listings and services online. This strategy helps agents appear in organic search results for relevant keywords.

Why should I use Search Engine Optimization (SEO)? SEO is crucial for real estate agents who want to increase online visibility and attract more traffic, whether they’re operating in a specific city or across a state. While SEO requires time and expertise, it offers long-term benefits by continuously attracting organic leads. For agents, SEO works well with content marketing, allowing both strategies to build upon each other and capture a wider audience without the recurring costs of paid ads.

What’s an example of a successful SEO campaign? Here’s an example of how one real estate agency received 23 seller leads in over a 2-month period. In this case, SEO was just one part of a campaign also using Google Ads and Facebook Ads. It’s just that, alongside these marketing channels, SEO was also used. A key takeaway is that investing in SEO brought the agency’s cost per qualified lead down from $125 to under $100. Once you have optimized your website for organic traffic, the seller leads are effectively ‘free’.

Don’t Forget: Standing Out is the Key to Generating Seller Leads

In today’s competitive real estate market, choosing the right advertising strategy can be a game-changer. But it’s important to remember that your leads are likely being targeted by other agents and investors too.  So, how do you ensure your message stands out? At BallPoint Marketing, we’ve found that a personal touch makes all the difference. Our handwritten postcards are a highly effective way to make sure your advertisement doesn’t get lost in the crowd. Delivered directly to your leads’ doorsteps, these unique, personalized postcards don’t just get opened—they get read.  Each card is crafted to feel genuine and memorable, leaving a lasting impression that helps you stay top of mind with potential clients. With a proven high response rate, handwritten postcards offer a powerful edge in a crowded marketplace.  Check out our current inventory today and see how this thoughtful approach can drive your next successful campaign.