Thread: Direct mail

Has anyone had any success with direct mailing, I have done some small mailers but really have seen anything come back to make me want to continue the very time consuming propjects.
Lori

Lori,

Typically, the response rate to farming is low. I probably get no more than a 1% response rate, if that. The key is to mail to the same area repetitively to be effective. The more consistent you are the better your response rate will be. Also, some people keep your mailing for a while and will call you more than a year later. I've gotten responses to mailings I sent out well over a year earlier.

Ditto on the low % on the returns. It seams as though the drip mail is similar in returns 1-3% yet takes vertually no time. Have you had any success with that??

By the way I like you Site Tutor Site.

Same rate in my area...the Pros say to mail atleast 6 times a year!

In one of my Realtor magazines (can't remember which one, NAR or local) I read about a gal that started farming as soon as she entered the business. It took 2-3 years for her to start getting anything from that farm but now she's the top agent in her farm area and is very successful.

Also, you should choose your area wisely. Make sure it has a very good turnover rate and make sure that another agent doesn't "own" that area.

I personally think if possible you should have contact once a month, definitely no less than 6 a year.

Personally I have always tossed them in trash. But just like spamming, eventually you will get some hits. I think people just get some much mail any more that it has become a lot less effective than it used to be.

Direct Mail has been and still is the most effective form of advertising. It also is the most expensive.

Nationally the response from direct mail has not changed in over 30 years.
It was 1/10 of 1% 30 years ago, and now with email it appears to be the same.

Professionals agree that, if you follow some very simple rules, you can increase the returns 1% to 10% and substantially enhance the quality of the responses.

1.Telephone the prospect to confirm name, title, degree of interest in your product or service, address, etc.

2. Mail the material at a rate that can be called in a day. (25 to 100 pieces)

3. Call after the arrival of the material to;

a. confirm the receipt of the material.
b. send sample or additional information.
c. take a sample order. (If a product is available)
d. set up a meeting.
e. confirm the degree ofinterest.
f. develop a dialog with the prospect.
g. find out if there is interest at this time and

I personally have not found it effective at all. It's very costly. At 58 cents a piece including postage and sending out 1000 pieces at a time, that's $580. Every guru has been saying that it takes about 15 mailings a year to be effective (to generate one account?). I'm shying away from it now.

Direct Mail IS effective if you use it properly. I repeat:

1.Telephone the prospect to confirm name, title, degree of interest in your product or service, address, etc.

2. Mail the material at a rate that can be called in a day. (25 to 100 pieces)

3. Call after the arrival of the material to;
a. confirm the receipt of the material.
b. send sample or additional information.
c. take a sample order. (If a product is available)
d. set up a meeting.
e. confirm the degree ofinterest.
f. develop a dialog with the prospect.
g. find out if there is interest at this time and

I got yelled at almost every time when I called. Perhaps that's just Portland style.