People go to grocery stores to shop for groceries not properties and park benches are meant to sit on, often blocking the ad. I tried advertising at a golf course  - FORE nothing!

I've always been skeptical of the idea of a consumer going to the grocery store and throwing in their cart two avocados, some Ritz crackers, cheese, and oh yeah, that real estate agent on my cart, I think I'll call because "pick out a real estate agent" was on my shopping list.  I can see it as a brand recognition reinforcement if you've already got a known name, but as the root cause of getting new business?

It's a total waste of money.

I foolishly tried grocery cart advertising in a particularly weak moment many years ago but that lapse in judgment became another lesson learned.  In life and throughout business there are many marketing programs that are successful for some and not-so-successful for others.  

The cost is often greater than anything you get from it. Various studies say how many times a consumer needs to see your name to even remember it. In the end it would be  miracle you get a listing or buyer from an ad on a cart

Yes.

They ALL work, but not for everybody.

I've always seen it as branding not marketing and I do think it's a waste for "smaller" agents. Smaller meaning trackable ROI is needed from all ad-dollars vs. a big agent that can afford to market and brand. I've never done it for that reason. I think it is a waste of money and I don't think many agents would admit to it being so, if it failed miserably on them.

I believe it's a way to get name/face recognition.  ROI, without other supporting marketing strategies, is most likely very minimal.

Generally a very expensive way to get a small number of people to see your add.

https://www.alignable.com/forum/is-advertising-on-grocery-store-carts-effective

Grocery carts - Nope, not at all. Got people calling me for dates which is the wrong thing that I wanted. It was expensive too.

Then there is the guys from the golf courses that want to put your face all over the score cards ....

The key is always follow up and follow through. I know agents that do well with the benches and buses. Those who promote sports successfully are those who are very involved in the sport and not casual observers of the sport. I was effective using Christian radio to get my message out there. I advertised every day of the year and people knew I lived my faith as opposed to only thew out a Happy Holidays or Easter message.

I suspect Door #2 - otherwise the agents names on the above wouldn't continually change...

What works for one fails for another.

They say that half of all advertising dollars are wasted.  The problem is that no one knows which half.

My wife calls it branding.  It gets her company logo in front of people.  Then when they need a real estate company they call her because she's "familiar" to their minds.

I know a few agents who do this.  The general consensus for these types of marketing materials is that they are not meant to bring in business, but to increase community awareness of you.  The agents I know have never had a client call and say "I saw you on the shopping cart and I had to call", but when they are on the appointment or are cold calling/door knocking they hear "oh, you're the one on the shopping carts" or "you're the one that has the banner at the high school."

ARMS,

We would not recommend any of these idiotic marketing suggestions.  I have even seen here a plastic surgeon advertising on a grocery cart!  LOL A

Brand recognition they say.  I don't want my brand to be "I'm desperate" and "gullible".  The park benches are the worst and usually marked up by kids (or other agents!) Not for me.

I do not know.  Many give up there "space" on the cart or bench ... I wonder why?  It is not something I've ever done or considered doing.  More people will see my business on the Internet than anywhere else.  And I control that - to a certain degree 

When Arnold Schwarzenegger ran for Governor of CA with no experience every movie he ever made showed continuously 6 months prior to the voting. The result? He was elected. Why? Hypnosis works! Repetition does too! You don't have to watch movies or know politics. You go to vote, you see all these names, and one sounds familiar. That's the vote that helps to win. Agents have to spend the money to find out what does or does not work today. In Real Estate, a familiar name still works but it can cost too

Creative way of kissing your $$$$$ goodbye. But honestly, that's not creative at all in my line of thinking. Boring.

Most of these efforts have limited success other than name exposure to the community.

I suspsect this works, in conjunction with other advertising, to really ingrain name recognition.  It's not going to work on its own, that's for sure.  

To reinforce their presence. But grovery carts often have >1 agent face on it. They dislike each other.  Are realtors stupid to spend this kind of ads? They are very costly. So they lead more than a photo.

They must or there are a lot of stupid agents out there.

I notice all of them - but them I'm critiquing them since I'm an agent too.