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Reaching Out to People so They Know We Care!! This Makes it SO Easy!

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Everything Pines Partners Fayetteville

 

Reaching people so they know we care....(You cant afford NOT to read!!)

I would have to say that as real estate agents one of the things that we lack in is keeping up with our past clients and our sphere in general, at least that is a big problem for me!

I always have the best intentions about sending a card, I think of doing it often but IF I get to the store to buy one half the time it never makes it to the post office or mail box.
Card
Not long ago I signed up for Brain Buffini’s self paced coaching, I love to hear him talk and he has such great advice for “living by referrals”! My thought process was that if I received the tools in the mail every month that I would be able to send out cards and items of value like I should.... I hate to admit it but I didn't follow through I sent a few but that is it.  Why? Because I still had to sit down and write the cards and stuff the envelop have the postage on hand to send the item.  This was a big #fail for me!

A colleuge at the office had told me about a service called “Send Out Cards” some time ago... I have even received these cards from other REALTORS in other places and they are VERY nice! I was very skeptical at that time because you had to invest three hundred something dollars and I was not convinced that I would use it.  

Just recently the company wanted to make it more achievable for everyone to give it a go! So now you can join for $9.80 a month and for that you get 20 points to spend on cards.... What does that mean you ask? If you were to buy a regular greeting card (two panel card) it would cost you 2 points (each point cost 49 cents) so the card cost you $1.00 and you personalize it to fit your needs.  Then you have your expense account that you set up with whatever you would like to put in there, I started mine with $25.  That is where they take the postage from .44 cents for the stamp. So total the card cost you $1.44! When was the last time you bought a REALLY nice card for $1.00?? So basically for your $10 you get to send 10 regular greeting cards or you could do 20 post cards if you like!

They have cards that you can customize with photos also! For example I have a client that just closed on their new home a few weeks ago and we are Facebook friends... I looked at their photos and there was a photo of their boys in the bath tub and one of them had their feet on the edge of the tub so that is what you see mostly in the photo.  I put that on the front of the card and on the inside wrote “here is hoping that those toes are getting just as clean in their new tub”. That cards cost me 3 points and the 44. cents to mail and they did all the work!!

I have since upgraded my account to the distributor membership because I love it SO much! The points now only cost me .32 cents so a two panel card only cost me $1.08 personalized AND mailed!!

If you would like to give it a try follow this link and watch the video to get some ideas on what you can do with it and then send a card for free! If you have any questions ASK! Let me know what you think...I cant wait to hear your thoughts!!

http://www.sendoutcards.com/129855

 

Comments (20)

Debra Davis
Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners - Snellville, GA
Realtor - Atlanta, Decatur, Snellville, Loganville

Sounds like another great resourse. I will think about it and let you know when I want to try it. Thanks for sharing.

Jun 21, 2011 05:32 AM
Tammy Pearce
Haute Realty 214-994-6474 - Dallas, TX
Tammy Pearce

I've bookmarked this for later.  I was pretty proud of myself for signing up for happy grasshopper at Susan Emo's suggestion.  I'll report back when I try the sendoutcards thing.  Thanks Melissa!

Jun 21, 2011 06:15 AM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Hi Melissa. I hate to admit it, but I have fallen into that trap of sometimes failing to keep up with my past clients and friends too. I have heard about Send Out Cards too, but I never followed up on using their services. I think it is time to re-evaluate my position and get started with Send Out cards or something similar.

Jun 21, 2011 07:02 AM
Alan Morris
Sierra Pacific Mortgage - Raleigh, NC
Raleigh Durham Home Loan Pro - 919-906-1373

We forget just how important how a personal card or even a thank you is.  Checking into this now, Melissa.  Keep the good stuff coming.

Jun 21, 2011 07:27 AM
Melissa McKinney
Everything Pines Partners Fayetteville - Fayetteville, NC
Realtor, www.LivingFayetteville.com

Debra~Any questions let me know!

Tammy~ I had not heard of that going to have to look it up!

Jerry~I was suprised how much I enjoyed getting them!

Alan~ The personal touch is so appreciated in a time when there is not much left of it!

Jun 21, 2011 07:35 AM
Kim Inman
Mountains to Lakes Real Estate, Inc. - Harriman, TN
CRS, Broker/Owner

Melissa...I've had several agents introduce these to me but I've not checked into them yet myself. I'm like you...I have very good intentions to stay in touch with my clients but just don't. I think I might do the same thing with this.

Jun 21, 2011 07:36 AM
Karen Baker
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty - Sunset Beach, NC
Professional Help with Rapid Responses...

Melissa ~ Sharing a very nice way to keep in touch with clients ~ personalized is a nice way too!! Will check it out, thanks!

Jun 21, 2011 07:58 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

I am heading over to the website to check it out right now! In the past, I have sent out customized thank you notes  with a photo of the house they bought or sold on the outside! I'm not sure why I got away from that, it was very cool and they loved it!

Jun 21, 2011 08:18 AM
Julissa Jumper
Select Properties of Fayetteville, LLC - Fayetteville, NC
Fayetteville, NC Real Estate

Melissa, let me get this straight? You get to choose from stock cards they have already created for any occassion imaginable and you can personalize them even with your own handwriting font which they can create for you so the touch is even more personal?

Then, you can add pictures or a slew of beautiful templates they have available that can make these cards look like you spent hours designing them?

Then, you choose your contact from the contact manager that comes with the system where you can store all your contacts plus their important dates AND it even has a reminder function so you have no excuse to forget to send a card?

Then you click the SEND button and they print the card, stuff the envelope and affix a first class stamp on it and mail it for you?

OR if your card is for an occassion that warrants a gift you can select from their assortment of gifts that include gift cards to Home Depot, Starbucks and other big stores and delectable brownies and treats and all kinds of other gifts.

And you can do all this from the comfort of your  home or anywhere you have a computer AND it costs at least one third what you would pay if you'd gone to a store???

What's not to love?

Been using it for 16 months and last year my business was 98% referral and I have cut down ALL other marketing. I learned a long time ago that my past clients and existing sphere of influence deserves most of my marketing budget and this allows me to do that. I send about 30 n-40 cards a month and a lot of times send a treat with the cards.

Love it!!!!

Jun 21, 2011 08:50 AM
Alan Gross
PrimeLending, A PlainsCapital Company, Equal Housing Lender - Bethesda, MD
Loan Consultant

Thanks for sharing this. Over the years I have been good with keeping in touch with past clients but not a writing cards. I currently send birthday greetings via email with a product called FollowMyClents, on Facebook I send a picture of a cake with Happy Birthday "Name" on it and recently started using Happy Grasshopper. I also mail post cards on a monthly basis. You past clients are your best source of new business.

Jun 21, 2011 10:15 AM
Melissa McKinney
Everything Pines Partners Fayetteville - Fayetteville, NC
Realtor, www.LivingFayetteville.com

Kim~ I was talking with another agent who has had it for awhile and just started using it and now she is mad at herself for waiting so long!

Frank & Karen~ It is so easy to use..I can log on and send a card in less then 10 minutes and done!

Joni~ They make it so affordable to use the system!

Julissa~ YES! Exactly what you said!! ~grin~

Alan~Yes the people that we already know are the best to work with and we need to take care of them! Thanks!

Jun 21, 2011 02:32 PM
Eric Michael
Remerica Integrity, Realtors®, Northville, MI - Livonia, MI
Metro Detroit Real Estate Professional 734.564.1519

Looks like Julissa knew about this a few minutes before you, eh? Looks like something I might be interested in.

Jun 21, 2011 02:38 PM
Melissa McKinney
Everything Pines Partners Fayetteville - Fayetteville, NC
Realtor, www.LivingFayetteville.com

Eric~Yeh maybe... LOL! Who ya think told me about it!! Certainly the easiest appreciation marketing I have found and it is fun!!

Jun 21, 2011 03:28 PM
Karen Bernetti
Southington, CT

I love Send Out Cards - I've recieved many of them and they are often quite clever.  They do make it so easy to stay in touch.

Jun 21, 2011 04:14 PM
Evelyn Kennedy
Alain Pinel Realtors - Alameda, CA
Alameda, Real Estate, Alameda, CA

Melissa:

I have been debating about Send Out Cards.  I used to send out a newsletter once a month.  Got busy and stopped sending the newsletter out.  Now I am not so busy.  I guess that means I should send my newsletter out again.  May Send Out Cards would be the answer.  Please let us know if they work for you.

Jun 21, 2011 05:01 PM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

OMGosh Melissa, I had heard about Send Out Cards, but no one really explained how it worked. Very cool.

Jun 22, 2011 09:49 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Okay, I'm back! Reaching out  to let you know I care! I MISS YOU!! Hope you're just too dang busy to play in the rain! xoxo

Jun 27, 2011 07:55 AM
Scott Hayes
(512) 786-8300 - Austin, TX
Realty Austin, Broker Associate

Another Melissa McKinney post that I have to bookmark. How many is that now?

Jul 05, 2011 01:02 AM