Just Listed Post Cards Isn't Marketing For Anyone But The Realtor

If you're going to send out postcards, and I do, you have to give the people something of value.  Market trends, recent solds, some neighborhood analysis.  I do want listings.  This is absolutely for me.  It can benefit my seller.  But I combine it with an on-line marketing campaign that gets results.  Without that, it's spinning wheels.

I like a little of everything as long as it is done consistently...no one thing is going to get it done...

So we've decided that a combination of this blog, Tni and Christianne is the way to market. Who said we need to make a business plan. I'm all in.

Post cards rock. Sent to the address, even if it's a rental, the renter reads it. Inviting neighbors to a preopen time slot works too. Maybe just not for you.

I think it is a little of both.  I have gotten listings from sending them out, but I have also gotten buyers who have a neighborhood friend who got one in the mail.

I'm with Tni, I love to show up on top where others post cards are being mailed.

I personally do not use post cards all that much, pretty much I use humorous ones just to let past clients I am still in the business, as a way of staying in front of them and saying hello. I do it without any expectations however, and believe my on line presence is really the key. I do like the market reports idea, goog thougth provoking post Greg

Hi Greg... I used to believe the same thing, but I have an agent in one of my offices who somehow generates showings from his postcards and closed several deals last year as a result of them!  Clearly, it works for some agents.

Greg,

 I haven't sent postcards in over a year. For me the good money is on VHS tapes with your promotional material. Gotta stay ahead of the tech curve!

Greg, Direct mail still has some success here, but we stopped just listed/just solds many moons ago.  Chances are anyone that lives in the neighborhood and wants buddy/relative in the area is already driving by it and can reach you that way.

Aw, Greg. You've made me laugh once again. Love the "dog humping his leg" comment. THAT might actually get the phone to ring though. It would be memorable at least!

have you asked him to stop sending his postcard to you?  I had to do that with an agent. 

I thought that it was even more than 87% actually. I use postcards for restaurant deals to my sphere. It helps me keep in touch, gets my name in front of them and gives them something of value.

We just got a listing appointment call from a Just Listed postcard we sent out a month ago. You never know. I hope it works out for Brenda.

I mean, most people would KNOW the home was just listed in the neighborhood -- they'd see the FOR SALE sign, d'oh.

I still do postcards, well flyers actually for my commercial listings. Yes I leverage my listings for more. I mail out about 5,000 flyers and typically generate at least 12 solid commercial buyers and investors from them. Actually sold a couple of properties featured on my flyers to people they were mailed to. I also pick up alot of commercial lease tenants to represent.

Its also a huge branding tool. I can walk into businesses that recieve my flyers and marketing and be instantly recognized by the owners that are always excited to meet and talk to me.

I send out "just listed" postcards to promote myself to the neighbors, of course.  Got 2 listings last year from one mailout in a neighborhood.  I'm not poo pooing them at all!  

Greg the unusually green grass is hilarious!

Christianne, you're on to something there.  Market reports is a great way to market a neighborhood with hard copy.

Greg - the one (superior) advantage postcards may have over looking-it-up-on-Google is that people can SAVE them .. and they frequently do.  They tuck it away and put it in a safe place to be retrieved when they/their neighbors are looking for a neighborhood agent.... and that may be months (or even years) later.