Door Hanger Distribution 101

So, there have been ups and downs on the path to starting a new business just on the cusp of the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent shutdowns. There has still been all the wonder and novel excitement associated with any new adventure but, it has definitely posed some special challenges.

Initially, everything I did was about getting out there and talking to people, sharing with people, helping people and really connecting with people… then, like smashing into a brick wall, that all came to a halt! Suddenly, I had to figure out how to connect with people without, well, actually connecting with people. Increasing my presence on social media was an uncomfortable part of the adjustment. Zoom calls were painful – not just the part where everyone had to learn how not to talk over each other, or to ignore awkward background audio from the “unmuted”, but also the literal pain. Since my husband is also often on calls we each have to wear headsets…geez! I have a whole new appreciation for call center employees! Ouch! We wondered why we were getting short with each other by the end of the evening. Was it the forced “togetherness”? No, it was ear pain, leading to head pain, leading to patience depletion. But, now things have opened up a bit and we can get out and do things more often. I decided it was time to do a door hanger distribution I’d had to put off for months. 

So, I headed out on a beautifully cool and sunny Texas morning with 500 door hanger/business cards. I was pretty sure I’d figured in everything. I’d chosen the perfect day. I had my water, gloves, playlist, pedometer and a completely open timeslot. But, as with everything in life, the experience will always teach you something. So, here are some truths I can now share with you. 

First, one walks a lot quicker at the beginning of a 4 hour walk than at the end. Next, it will generally be AFTER you’ve walked a half-mile sidewalk and climbed 257 steps before you can actually decipher the 2” X 1” handwritten, “NO SOLICITING” sign. After you’ve hung about 250 hangers, you’ll start to get the hang of accurately hooking the perforated flap onto any type of door handle, with one hand. Typically, once you are halfway between the street and the front door, the sprinklers will come on. This is quite unappreciated at the beginning of your session, quite welcomed at the end. But, the “goods” far outweigh the “bads”. Of course, there is the amassing of over 28,000 steps in a 4-hour period. But, beyond the benefits for business and body, there is the sustenance for the soul. 

People are nice. Not one person was negative; everyone was receptive and friendly. A lot of people were outside enjoying the beautiful morning and were happy to chat (from a healthy social distance, of course) about real estate or my business. The personality of the various family pets gave levity to the venture. And, there are some funny people out there. Like the ones who taped a sticky note over their doorbell that reads, “Please, don’t ring the doorbell; it wakes the tiny tyrant (our toddler)!” But, most refreshing, were all the signs, notes, snacks, and messages in sidewalk chalk, showing gratitude and offering encouragement to all who pass by. Hopefully, I will gain some business connections from my efforts, but I know I have already gained a more hopeful perspective on my fellow travelers. So, even while social distancing, don’t be afraid to connect to people around you, in safe ways, and cultivate community connection. We are all in this together!