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Postcards Vs. Internet Marketing |
thelemur
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Posted: 20:27 on 08-14-2008
I recently started postcard marketing and am on my 2nd mailing. I know that I need to hit my targets at least 7 times, but the results are dismal. I'm getting about 2 responses from 1000 cards. Is this normal for the first mailing?
On the other hand, I started doing internet marketing. With a $450 monthly budget plus some classified ads I'm getting about 3 leads a day. Of course the leads aren't in my targeted zip codes and value ranges, but they are reasonable leads nonetheless.
Should I crank up the internet marketing and say goodbye postcards, or am I being too impatient? I'm also curious to hear about experiences from others who use internet marketing.
Thanks!
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cjmazur
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Posted: 23:34 on 08-14-2008
The issue I have ran into w/ Internet is CAN/SPAM laws.
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thelemur
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Posted: 12:47 on 08-15-2008
I'm assuming that's only a problem if you want to send periodic emails? I collect the email addresses but I always make contact by phone.
[ Edited by thelemur on Date 08/15/2008 ]
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cjmazur
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Posted: 14:51 on 08-15-2008
when you contacted them by phone, did you say "do you mind if I send you unsolicited mail?"
It's like a 1000 per violating email, and you can sue in small claim, so it can be costly.
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pierreclark
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Posted: 15:03 on 08-15-2008
Your response rate in either case depends on your offer - what you offer in the postcard and your call to action headline. Take a look at both your postcard mailing and your internet ad to make sure you're making a clear offer, spotlighting the definite benefits, and asking for the reader to do something definite in response to your offer. These ideas may help you increase your response rates from both campaigns.
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thelemur
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Posted: 16:43 on 08-15-2008
I don't email them though (yet). So I'm assuming I won't have any problems.
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On 2008-08-15 14:51, cjmazur wrote:
when you contacted them by phone, did you say "do you mind if I send you unsolicited mail?"
It's like a 1000 per violating email, and you can sue in small claim, so it can be costly.
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thelemur
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Posted: 16:59 on 08-15-2008
I had followed that plan and kept it straight to the point. At first I tried some nice graphics which looked professional, then I tried something more simple from vista print. I've used headlines like:
"Do you own a house and need to sell it quickly?"
"Cash for your house"
Next time I'm going to have it printed on yellow card stock.
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On 2008-08-15 15:03, pierreclark wrote:
Your response rate in either case depends on your offer - what you offer in the postcard and your call to action headline. Take a look at both your postcard mailing and your internet ad to make sure you're making a clear offer, spotlighting the definite benefits, and asking for the reader to do something definite in response to your offer. These ideas may help you increase your response rates from both campaigns.
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jesmar424
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North Ridgeville, OH
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Posted: 23:20 on 08-18-2008
Who are you marketing to?
I used to market via letters or postcards and had the same results as you. Send out 1,000 get 10 calls (9 of which aren't interested). Just not worth it imho.
Now I pretty much email exclusively, with a phone call here or there. I focus on lease options though and strictly email fsbos and frbos. I don't chase foreclosures anymore.
If they have a house on the internet for sale or for rent it is absolutely NOT illegal to email them. Why else would they have put the ad out there? To be contacted by buyers and you're a buyer aren't you?
I send out roughly 150 emails per week and have never been threatened with any type of lawsuit. That's just silly.
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thelemur
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Posted: 23:36 on 08-18-2008
I'm doing absentee owners, houses with code violations, and $0 transfers,
Thoughts?
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jesmar424
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Posted: 00:33 on 08-19-2008
Working in that niche you are pretty limited in marketing options.
You pretty much have 2 choices:
Option 1. Keep doing what your doing. I would also make up some signs that have a message to attract the sellers that you want (not 'We Buy Houses' by the way). Get creative too. Place signs in pawn shops, cash checking stores, pretty much anywhere you can. You should also try door-knocking. Many people hate it but you will get results.
Option 2. Change niches. When I was mailing postcards out I was also targeting absentee owners, NODs, and code violations and got very similar results. It was after about $2,500 worth of mailings and no results to speak of that I switched my focus. L/O just made sense to me. No money down, low risk, immediate income, passive income and back end payoffs. Really a no-brainer for me. But to each his own.
Good Luck.
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thelemur
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Posted: 10:14 on 08-20-2008
By classifieds I should I have clarified that they were internet classifieds, craigslist and some other similar sites.
My internet advertising is different. I'm using google adwords and there's no waiting for 7-8 mailings, but my leads aren't as targeted.
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ITBInvestor
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Holly Springs, NC
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Posted: 15:51 on 08-20-2008
thelemur, can you comment on your experience with using adwords for a local geographic area? I currently use CL and other local sites, but am considering an adwords campaign in my area (within 30-40 mile radius) and wonder how successful adwords is for regional and local targeting. Any insight appreciated.
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thelemur
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Posted: 15:57 on 08-20-2008
ITB,
The leads aren't as targeted (price range, zip code, motivated sellers, etc.) but the big upside is that you don't have to wait 7-8 weeks mailing postcards. You're in direct control of the amount of leads you want. If you want more, you simply pay for more, if you want less, you can turn it down (or off) instantly.
The one problem I'm having is that the leads are too far away. I have to limit the areas when I get a moment.
Also, these people are already on the web, so they don't seem to mind submitting the form on my site. This saves money on the 800# answering service.
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On 2008-08-20 15:51, ITBInvestor wrote:
thelemur, can you comment on your experience with using adwords for a local geographic area? I currently use CL and other local sites, but am considering an adwords campaign in my area (within 30-40 mile radius) and wonder how successful adwords is for regional and local targeting. Any insight appreciated.
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MarketingMan
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Posted: 17:24 on 08-24-2008
I do post cards and greeting cards for mailing. My list is absentee and owner occupied that have owned there home for 15 years or longer. I mail about 1600 per month the same list gets mailed every 3 months and will get about 20-30 calls. I will take down a real good deal from that mailing.
Follow up mailing (the sellers I spoke to) gets the greeting cards every month.
Internet leads:
Just craigslist.
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kbeemer
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Posted: 20:33 on 10-04-2008
To those who have had little success with the mailings, I'm curious as to who you were mailing to. What lists? What criteria? Thanks
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