So one way to get real estate deals is to go out and hit the streets looking for them. It can be a tough, frustrating approach. But there’s no doubt you can get deals if you go looking for them.
Many investors (present company included) prefer to attract deals — to use a variety of marketing techniques to get your “we buy houses” message in front of the right set of motivated eyeballs.
Admittedly some marketing works very well, and some not so well. There’s something to be said for really understanding your audience before you go out and spend marketing dollars on them…
So the last week has presented me with a couple of really interesting and innovative real estate marketing tactics definitely worth sharing — and both involving the use of the postcard.
Killer Idea #1: The Mini Bandit Sign
So I was going through a stack of stuff that’s been sitting around my desk for a while now (yes, I’m a “stacker”) and stumbled upon a really cool marketing piece I’d saved.
Now admittedly I’m a total geek for good marketing. So when I come across something that really stands out, I keep it as part of my “swipe file” of good ideas. Even if I won’t use it now, if it’s a really great idea, it might just come in handy at some point.
(Btw…you can just imagine how much my wife looooooves that I collect junk mail 😆 )
So what I ran across was a 4×6 postcard originally sent to me by the Georgia REIA (not sure why since I live in TN, but anyway)…
What really stood out to me was that instead of card stock, the postcard was made of coroplast. In other words, it was made of bandit sign material.
Here, check it out…
Pretty nifty, eh? Yeah, I thought so too. A really creative idea, that definitely got my attention.
Now keep in mind this thing got REGULAR POSTAGE for a postcard.
Then it hit me: What a GREAT way to advertise “We Buy Houses!”
And it can’t be that expensive! In fact, I remember when I first got the postcard I called up a Bandit Signs company to ask them about making something similar and they said it would be no problem — and I remember thinking the price seemed remarkably affordable (although I don’t remember what it was anymore).
Admittedly I haven’t given this a try yet myself — it seems I have no shortage of great ideas stockpiled, just waiting to be exploited. 🙄
But it’s a cool enough ideat that I felt it was worth sharing with you.
Please let me know what you think about it in the blog comments.
Killer Idea #2: The 55 Second Postcard
I ran across a great little video on Scott Patterson’s Flip It Real Estate blog just a couple of days ago.
It’s extremely short, but demonstrates what I believe may be the easiest, cheapest and most effective way to include postcard marketing in your ongoing endeavors to attract motivated sellers.
Watch this……
Now tell me that ain’t nifty? 😎
Using real handwriting on your direct mail pieces has been PROVEN time and time again to be a powerful attention getter, with amazingly higher response rates in split tests against similar marketing pieces without handwriting.
So there you go. Two highly original ways to consider doing real estate investor postcard marketing.
Please let me know what you think about these ideas with a comment below. Thanks!
Cool post. I am always looking for new and better marketing methods.
Jon Christophers last blog post..Jun 11, Flipping A House
Nice post JP. I remember hearing about the bandit sign postcard, but had no idea that they were that cheap to ship!
Love the :55 postcard as well.
Good stuff.
I am using Dan Doran’s door to door system and have been using blank UPS envelopes at the door with my flyer inside. They get opened every time.
Keep rockin!
-Taylor
Great stuff Jp. Keep it coming.
How do you know that was “regular” postage; did you contact them to ask?
Just because it has a bulk mail indicia printed on it doesn’t tell you anything about how much they paid in postage for it…
It was barcoded, so they got a discount for that, but I doubt this would qualify for machinable, so they probably paid a non-machinable surcharge per piece.
To be machinable it not only has to be the right dimensions, but also able to bend around a drum of a certain radius. (around 8-12″ if I recall, but would have to check the regs.)
I do agree it’s a fabulous idea, regardless of how much is cost to mail!
USPS postcard dimension for regular(.27)postage is
max. 4 1/4 “x 6″ x 0.016 thickness.
Coroplast material, typically is 4mm thick, which is roughly 1/8”. To thick for regular postcard(.27)postage.
@JV – Yeah, I could have sworn it was regular postage. But I guess it’s not the first time I’ve made a mistake – and won’t be the last!
Thanks for the clarification! And it’s still a great strategy, don’t you think? 🙂
…jp
#1 sounds like a cool idea!
http://roadtorealestatefortune.blogspot.com
Kelvin G’s last blog post..How to Repair Your Credit
JP,
Any idea where I could get some of those bandit sign post cards printed for a reasonable price? I’ve talked with a few bandit sign suppliers that don’t seem to have the capabilities for small print like is shown in the picture.
Also, do you know if it just regular postage since its to thick for postcard rates, or is it something different?
Thanks.
-Chad
Thanks for the great tips. I love the mini bandit sign and will give it a try and let you know how it works.
Keith Junor’s last blog post..Want A Free Real Estate Investment Course?
I am using Dan Doran’s door to door system and have been using blank UPS envelopes at the door with my flyer inside. They get opened every time.
Keep rockin!
-Taylor
)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Taylor,
Doesn’t using UPS envelopes get you in trouble? I would think that it would make people and UPS mad that you are using a UPS envelope for your own use.
@michelle n – I’ve heard of the same idea, but with FedEx envelopes. Seems like a powerful tactic in terms of grabbing their attention. And the envelopes are free. I guess it’s possible UPS may not prefer it, but there’s nothing illegal about it and I think I’d feel ok about it until/unless UPS were to actually notice and object. At least, that’s me. 🙂
I love the 55sec post card idea!
My question is, How do you get the postal information on the front? And do you have to give them a list of addresses you want to send to so they can imprint them on the yellow card stock?
Along with Chad’s question… has anyone found a bandit sign supplier that has the coroplast material in an 4×6 size that they can small print on?
Thanks
Thanks for the forms. Always checking new tactics.
I ordered post cards from Vista Print. First 250 Business cards free, 25 post cards free and lot of free material. Checked out at vistaprint.com. Read small printing when you order because you get a subscription where they charge your cc 14.95 a month. Look for the printing when you order. You only paid for shipping.
I held off using postcards for a long time. I thought it was a out-dated medium, but I’ve just completed the first leg of a campaign and have had more success with it that anything wlse I’ve done.I think you’ve had some great advice in this thread. I look forward to your future reports of your on-going progress.
The handwritten postcards worked extremely well! I got a greater call back from the handwritten simple postcard than I did from the one I designed in Adobe Illustrator. Great idea!
the .55 sec postcard a huge mistake. The only message it sends to me is that you’re too cheap to value your brand and that is not the person i want to do Business with.
100% untrue!
hay there,
that nice trick i think with handwriting and direct mail idea
tks for the article anyway 😉
Yeah, respectfully I totally don’t agree, Cleve. That’s how it effects you, I guess. But I’ve had deals from that method, and it works. But thanks for commenting!
Awesome Idea love the .55 sec postcard!!
Thanks for the post! The new and better marketing approaches will be effective
to attract the deals. Postcard marketing is a tried-and-true promotional method in the real estate business. Real estate postcard marketing is essential to finding new clients and maintaining contact with existing ones. 1 year ago I had taken the real estate postcard service from West End Imaging. Their postcards are very high quality and cost is very low. I am very much satisfied with their services.
The problem I see with both of these strategies is that it is not able to be both scalable and directed. You can’t mail merge on either with the target property address and the sellers actual name in the letter.