As a mega producing REALTOR I have sure been around the block a time or two when it comes to what marketing tools I have used and what has worked best. I have worn many shirts and trialed many products...

Never have I found a marketing product that fit our industry as much as the personalization of using my own handwriting and my own signatures in real greeting cards that are mailed for me! I have been guilty and closed on a home and collected a nice commission check and disappeared. I pat myself on the back to think I am a great REALTOR, however, I have been so busy that follow up was just too hard to tackle and I settled thinking it was OK to just make a phone call and check in...At least I did that...Some never do...

Since October of 2007 I have been using a mailing system that is the most powerful marketing tool I believe available today! It is great quality, inexpensive (.62 - 2.00 a card) and it has the ability for you to send gifts, baskets, books, gift cards and tons more! All of this is great for our business but tonight I want to share two personal stories on why it is also great for your life...

 I discovered the power of creating campaigns within the system in December of 2007.

I thought I had breast cancer. Breast exams revealed a knot and on Dec. 23rd of 2007 I had a biopsy and went home to ponder if that Christmas would have been my last with my husband and two kids...I cried...A LOT!

I prayed a lot as well and I woke at 2 AM tossing and turning and realized that maybe...just maybe...if the results were not the way I had hoped that I could still be a part of my childrens future...You see, I had been sending greeting cards - real cards in the mail to clients for two months and I just discovered this magical button on the system called "Manage Campaigns"! So, here I am at 2 am setting up an "I LOVE YOU" campaign from mom to Garrett and McKenzie...I set the system up to mail a card each quarter for the next 4 years...If I was alive or not...My kids would know I loved them and get advice from me on "LIFE"! I paid for the 16 cards and stamps ( it was all of $16.21) for each child and POOF..The cards were set up, paid and in the system to mail while my life went on...one way or another

I went to bed thanking God for that ability and prepared for whatever he had in store...

Dec. 24th I had a wonderful day! Not only did I turn 37 that day but I got the call that the results of the lab were NOT CANCER...I had too much coffee in my system...WHEW! I felt I had dodged a bullet and life went on! Christmas came and News Years flew by and I was sending my cards each day to someone that needed to hear from me as I still try and wake everyday to do! I loved it and it was sooo easy! I still  love it and it is easier now today than ever!

January 15th my daughter came running in the house and was so excited...SHE HAD MAIL! HER DAD HAD MAIL and HER BROTHER HAD MAIL...She was confused...Why did I not have mail....

I fell to my knees and cried and thanked GOD again for allowing me to find this wonderful system. I had been so busy I that I forgot about that 2 AM frenzy and wow! The system really did work! I started learning more about it and discovered the owner had founded the company in honor of his brother that was killed in an electrical accident. I also learned the power of sending cards for the real meaning of sending cards...not for business...I then realized that I could use the power of the message of sending to GIVE and put it in place with my marketing...I did this and WOW! It has been such a blessing...I started using the system to mail FSBO's and EXPIRED Listings and I had a ball setting up tons of great real estate follow up campaigns that are true GIVING campaigns...I also built some special REALTOR campaigns for Open Houses, New Listings - you name it...I built it! By the way - I give them to anyone to use...It would be crazy for you to recreate what I have done already!

I own my own company within this company and I share it at times because I really do believe in it...I also have seen so many lives changed by people sending cards and by the people getting cards....My grandfather will be 93 tomorrow! I have been sending him and my grandma personalized greeting cards using old pictures of them almost every month...He still gets around is sharp as a whip...but he is getting very tired and sometimes asks lots of questions over and over and over and over...He worries he is going to wake up and not know the little women he has loved for 61 years...Last night I went to shave him and cut his hair and I asked him what in the world could I get a 93 year old man?

He looked at me and said I needed to get him nothing, but to "Please" keep sending him his memory in those cards.

Here are a few samples of some picture plus cards I have sent them:

A trip to "The Promise Land" when they were 30

They went back and were baptized in the Jordan Lake in the 50's

Valentines Card 2009

A day after working on the farm riding his tractor all day!

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Needless, to say his words just sent me home crying but also so thankful I had the best real estate tool that had become my best life tool!

 I write this blog tonight in honor of Roscoe Ward and since I own the system I can give you a free card to send someone...I have to cap it off at a certain number but my heart says to give many cards away tomorrow to celebrate the life of a great man. A man I love with all my heart...

So...I am sure some will think this is ploy to get you to use the system. No, not really. Sure I want to share it with you because to be honest it is REALLY POWERFUL! I am teaching FREE webinars this entire week at 1:00 EST (T, W, TH) about how to use the follow up system in relationship marketing and with Social Networking etc...The links to register for webinars can be found on my website: www.LiveBBB.com click on WEBINARS if you are interested...

However, the 10 minutes I ask you to take and think of someone you need to reach out too by sending a card and give your heart is really in honor of my grandpa and it is on me...This link will walk you through step by step and will allow you to send 1 greeting card (.62 value) and a stamp .44 value...

If by chance you want to send my Grandpa and Grandma a card you can - she will be 92 Nov. 8th! Please only do this if you have no one else you can think of....

Roscoe and Eva Ward C/O Elizabeth Ward Small

PO BOX 700

Alamance, NC  27201

Thanks for letting me share my heart and my special tool with you...

Here is the link: www.sendoutcards.com/LiveBBB

                                Me and My Grandpa sharing a protein drink before a hair cut!