Marketing Requests for Realtors: Best Practices for Faster Turnaround and Better Results

Great marketing doesn’t just depend on design—it depends on how you request it. When your request is clear, complete, and aligned with the goal (leads, listings, open house turnout, or recruiting), you get faster turnaround and better results. This guide shows realtors how to submit marketing requests the right way so your support team can execute quickly and your campaigns perform better.

If you’ve ever felt like marketing takes too long—or comes back “not quite right”—the issue is often not the designer or the team. It’s the request. Most delays come from missing details, unclear goals, or last-minute changes that force rework.

A strong request acts like a shortcut: it tells your marketing team exactly what you need, why you need it, who it’s for, and what success looks like. That’s how you get faster turnaround and better results.

1) Start With the Goal (Not the Asset)

Before you ask for a “flyer” or “Instagram post,” decide what the marketing needs to do:

• get showings

• drive open house turnout

• generate buyer/seller leads

• promote a listing launch

• recruit agents

• build your brand or database

  
  

When the goal is clear, the creative becomes easier, and the CTA is stronger. “Promote my listing” is vague. “Drive 10+ open house sign-ins and 2 buyer consults” is clear.

2) Provide the Core Details Up Front

Most back-and-forth happens because the basics are missing. A complete request includes:

• property address (or campaign name)

• what type of asset you need (carousel, story, email, landing page, sign, etc.)

• target audience (buyers, sellers, investors, agents)

• key message (the one thing people should remember)

• CTA (book a showing, request valuation, register, call/text)

• deadline + when it must go live

• where it will be used (IG, FB, email, portal, print)

  
  

If you include these up front, your turnaround speed improves immediately.

3) Attach “Done-For-You” Inputs

To avoid rework, include your inputs in the first message:

• best photos (or the photo folder link)

• MLS details / listing description (or your notes)

• open house date/time (if applicable)

• your logo/headshot (if needed)

• brand colors/fonts (if your team follows strict branding)

• any compliance text required by your brokerage

  
  

If you’re requesting something performance-based (lead gen), also include:

• the link you want people to click

• tracking info (UTM link if you use it)

• offer/freebie (guide, checklist, market report) if relevant

  
  

4) Give Examples (But Don’t Over-Control)

Examples speed up creative alignment. Share one or two examples you like and say what you like about them:

• “Clean layout and big headline”

• “Short copy + strong CTA button”

• “Uses neighborhood vibe photos”

  
  

Avoid sending 10 conflicting examples or asking for exact copies. Clear direction beats micromanaging.

5) Choose One Primary CTA

One request should lead to one action. Too many options lowers conversion and creates confusion. Pick the best next step:

• “Book a showing”

• “Register for open house”

• “Get a home value estimate”

• “Download the buyer guide”

• “Book a consult”

  
  

Your marketing team can include a secondary CTA in small text if necessary, but the main CTA should be obvious.

6) Plan Backwards From Your Go-Live Date

If you want better results, don’t request marketing the day you need it. A simple planning rule:

• listing launch: request assets 3–5 days before going live

• open house: request assets 4–7 days before the event

• lead gen campaign: request assets 7–10 days before launch (to allow testing)

  
  

When you build in time, you can review, refine, and publish without panic.

7) Common Mistakes That Slow Everything Down

These are the biggest turnaround killers:

• “Make it nice” with no goal or audience

• missing photos or missing key dates

• unclear CTA or no link provided

• multiple revisions due to changing direction late

• requesting multiple asset types without prioritizing what’s needed first

  
  

If you want speed, the request must be stable.

The Simple Marketing Request Checklist (Copy-Paste)

When you submit a request, include:

• Goal:

• Audience:

• Asset type(s):

• Key message:

• CTA + link:

• Deadline + go-live date:

• Platform(s):

• Photos/brand assets link:

• Notes/requirements (compliance, wording, language EN/FR):

  
  

This single checklist can reduce revisions dramatically.

Want a Marketing Request Template You Can Reuse?

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