Friday, September 20, 2024

    The long and short of it?…
     
    Direct mail marketing is still vastly more effective than email marketing for your real estate business. Sure, it isn’t free, which explains why we receive many emails daily.
     
    Who doesn’t like free stuff? The problem is the email burnout factor, as well as the fact that marketing emails are impersonal and annoying to many.
     
    If one marketing method brings more clients and, therefore, more income, it should warrant a marketer’s attention, don’t you think? The increase in GCI you’ll realize by using direct mail may just pay for the campaign.
    If you think I’m biased, read on for the latest statistics.
    What do marketers in other industries say?
    If email marketing is the be-all and end-all, ask yourself why companies such as Google, Amazon, LinkedIn, Adobe, and more rely heavily on direct mail marketing.
     
    To “… acquire new customers and keep current ones loyal,” according to Paul Bobnak at Whosmailingwhat.com. Now, there’s something all agents aspire to.
    What about consumers?
    • A surprising headline from The California Business Journal Newswire: “People Give 65% Of Postcards In Their Mail Full Attention Vs. 35% Of Emails.”
    Want more?
    • Direct mail advertising pieces are more often read than emails by all demographics.USPS
    • “A record 96% of all mail was engaged with. This is an increase from 2019 which was at 91%.” JICMAIL
    • 75% of business mail stays home for over four weeks and is revisited an average of 5 times. MarketReach
    • Response rates for direct mail are compelling. In fact, they are five to nine times “… higher than any other advertising channel,” according to The Data & Marketing Association
    One of the most important statistics for real estate agents is about your target audience, baby boomers. According to the USPS, half of those surveyed preferred direct mail advertisements. Who knows what this current market is going to morph into?
     
    Whether a buyer, seller or eventually a balanced market, honing in on your target client via direct mail is a habit; you should start now.

    PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

    1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

    Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct, response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you. Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here

     

    2. The Free 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

    The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here
     
     
     
     
    3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review
     
    The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your goals.   – Click Here
     
     
    4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 
     
    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg
    Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here
     

     


         
     

      Nurturing. It’s the most effective method of moving leads and prospects through the sales funnel. Do it right, and you end up with clients who, if nurtured, can provide you with referrals.

      Nurturing your past clients requires reconnecting with them consistently after the transaction.

      1. Ensure that your customer service is unforgettable

      No, you don’t need to present them with a whirlwind trip worldwide at closing. It’s the small things that when added up, will leave the best impression and one that will last far into the future:

      • Keep probing, gently, until you fully understand their wants and needs.
      • Return calls as quickly as possible.
      • Reach out consistently to keep them abreast of the transaction’s process or see how they’re doing and if they have any questions or concerns.
      • Listen to your clients—really listen.
      • Let them know, in word and deed, that they are never alone during the transaction.
      2. Keep them abreast of the latest local housing market news

      Create a customized housing market news report template to send to former clients quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.

      Homeowners love to know how their home is holding or not holding its value. Keep it simple to understand by using lots of visuals.

      3. Just Listeds and Just Solds

      Be alert for just listed or sold homes in your former clients’ neighborhoods. This is the perfect time to reconnect and show you’re keeping abreast of local real estate.  You’ll find some brilliant Just Listed and Just Sold postcards right here.

      4. Celebrate with them 

      Hopefully, you’ve kept track of important dates in your former clients’ lives. This includes birthdays and anniversaries (especially the anniversary of when they purchased their home).

      Mark those dates to send a small gift to the former client’s office.

      Why the office?

      Ask anyone who has received a bouquet of flowers at work how many of their co-workers asked who they were from and what the occasion was.

      Just think how much free word-of-mouth advertising you’ll get when your former client tells coworkers that the gift is from their real estate agent to celebrate the anniversary of their home purchase.

      5. Send an updated CMA

      Your past client reconnection efforts should include an annual CMA to keep them abreast of how their home stacks up regarding market value. They may not be considering selling, but they are most likely curious about their home’s market value.

      Make sure you put this task in your CRM so you won’t forget about it.

      Reconnecting with folks you’ve done business with is a tried-and-true referral generator.


      PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

      1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

      Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct, response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you. Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here

       

      2. The Free 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

      The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here 3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review
      The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your goals.   – Click Here 4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 
      This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg
      Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here
           
       

        Tom recently ordered a postcard from the Real Estate Times series (shown above). To see more information about this series, Click Here.

        Congratulations, Tom Murphy, on winning this week’s contest!

        Years ago, I would mail to my SOI and past clients, but I changed brokers and never started back up. I just sent out my first mailing, and right away, people talked to me about the postcard and the market. A few days later, someone from my SOI asked me to list this house, and a past client gave my postcard to a friend who wants to sell by the end of the year. Thank you, ProspectsPLUS! for making it simple and professional.” -Tom Murphy

         


        Don’t Forget to Enter For Your Chance to Win a $125 ProspectsPLUS! Gift Card! (see how below)*

        HOW TO ENTER: Just leave feedback regarding how using marketing from ProspectsPLUS! has impacted your business, and you’re automatically entered into our next contest.

        Leave feedback on Google HERE.

        *If you’ve already entered our drawing in the past and haven’t won, you don’t need to enter again. Your entry remains valid, and you still have a chance to win.

        Don’t forget to watch for next Friday’s email announcing the weekly winner!


        PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

        1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

        Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct, response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you. Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here

         

        2. The Free 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

        The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

        3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

        The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your goals.   – Click Here

        4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

        This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

        Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here


         

          Consistency in marketing is key to building recognition, trust, and long-term relationships, and holiday postcards offer a perfect, positive way to accomplish this.

          Statistics show that consistent marketing yields far better results over time. According to the Data & Marketing Association (DMA), a prospect must hear from a business at least seven times before taking action.

          Additionally, businesses that stay in regular contact with their audience are 60% more likely to be remembered when they are ready to make a decision.

           

          This is why one-time mailings don’t have the same impact. Repetition builds familiarity, and familiarity builds trust, leading to a higher return on investment (ROI).

          Holiday postcard marketing

          Holiday postcards are especially effective because people love receiving them. They feel personal, festive, and thoughtful, making your message stand out in a positive way.

          During the holidays, a well-designed postcard can convey warmth and good wishes while keeping your name and services in mind. It’s a subtle but powerful reminder of your real estate expertise without being overtly salesy.

          Schedule your campaigns

          Best of all, setting up a scheduled campaign on PRospectsPLUS! is incredibly easy and efficient. You can launch a campaign in just a few minutes.

          Choose your design, customize your message, and schedule your postcards to be mailed monthly. Once set, your campaign runs automatically, keeping you in front of your market with minimal effort.

          By committing to this consistent marketing approach, you’ll position yourself as a reliable, thoughtful agent, increasing your chances of long-term success.


          PLUS: When you have time…below are some marketing tools to help support your success.

          1. Put Your Real Estate Business a Step Above with Your Own Branded Magazine

          Homes & Life Magazine is a customizable magazine with rich, full-color content and a sharp, professional aesthetic. It includes compelling, direct, response-driven articles written by real estate industry experts and engaging lifestyle content. Send out Homes & Life Magazine in Just Minutes – No Minimums Required. Or we’ll ship it to you. Homes & Life Magazine is the ultimate “Coffee Table Lingerer”! …and it costs less than sending a greeting card!Click Here

           

          2. The Free 6-Month Done-For-You Strategic Marketing Plan

          The Real Estate Marketing Planner is a powerful 6-Month Guide that strategically defines what marketing to do and when. Four key market segments include niche Markets, geographic farming, sphere of influence, and past clients. – Click Here

          3. The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review

          The Free Interactive 6-Month Real Estate Business Review allows you to enter your business goals for the remainder of the year and get a breakdown of how many prospects, listings, closings, and so on are needed to reach your goals.   – Click Here

          4. The Become a Listing Legend Free eBook 

          This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Become-A-Listing-Legend-3D-Book-White-274x300.jpg

          Ready to take a vertical leap in your real estate career? If you’re looking for inspiration…and the tools and methods to dominate a market and go to the top in real estate…you’ll find them in this free book. – Click Here