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NEWSLETTERS--DO YOU USE THEM? DO THEY WORK FOR YOU?

I have started to farm a subdivision in my area and I was wondering what other realtors have seen on Real Estate Newsletters that they have liked and disliked. Also, I understand that when you Farm its a long term endevor and not something that I can expect results in overnight. I am just asking for opinions or insights to Newsletters that have caught your eye, for the good or for the bad. I will be starting drip email program for my SOI and past clients, however, I am still at loss for a decent Newletter for my Physical Farm.

IF you can email or send me some examples that would be great. I will probably be using Microsoft Publisher to produce my newsletters at first. Later, after I am more estabished, I figure I may get a professional company to create, mail etc. Right now I am walking my farm so that they can get used to seeing me in the neighborhood. So I will be leaving them at the door.

Any ideas or insights would be Really Appreciated!! Thank you in Advance!

Take Care & Have a Great '08!

Posted by Sylvie Dolley, CHMS, ePRO Phoenix Arizona Real Estate 602-320-2392 on 06/03/2008 05:22 PM

Comments (15)

real estate, arizona real estate, newsletters, subdivisions, real estate subdivisions

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15 Comments on NEWSLETTERS--DO YOU USE THEM? DO THEY WORK FOR YOU?

JUN

2008

Sylvie:

I started using "Success For Life", its actuall "Service For Life" newsletters almost a year ago for SOI clients. So far there has been no return on investment monetarily! But, I can say that every week I hear from a SOI client that receives the newsletter complimenting me on it. They like it because its down to earth, kind of a soft sell for real estate, and very informative. Craig Forte puts them out in conjunction with ProQuest.

Do me a favor and mention my name if you decide to purchase the system, the newsletter is only a small portion of the system.

Good Luck With your newsletter

I have used the Brian Buffini products known as Items of Value. His company is called Providence Systems.

Here at my EXIT office we have the availability of a generic newsletter/info-letter for this purpose. Does Coldwell have something available to you?

I have used the Craig Fortenewsletter format that allows you to take his generic monthly newsletter disc and add your name, contact number, etc. My clients like it, but it is expensive to print and mail....especially now that postage has increased again!

I have done postcards and my own creations with very little success.

My experience would tell you that UNLESS you plan to send or deliver a newsletter, postcard or any information, that you MUST plan on doing it for at least 7 to 10 months straight without pause for you to experience any success. It is important to send something that will be picked up and looked at before it hits the trash. Often, people recognize the same packaging month after month and just toss...UNLESS there is something of value for them. Keep that in mind.

I would suggest a much better way!

I believe you will be better served by purchasing a product from Bill Nasby. His "Doors To Success" works. Period. His method will not cost you a dime to initiate....and you will see immediate results the first time you follow his method.

If you worked for me at my EXIT Realty Bend office, this would be the very first thing I would teach you to use. Try it. I promise it will work for you. Try it for one day...I bet you will email me and say "Wow....it works!"

If you want to know the statistical results of his "Doors To Success," let me know and I will be happy to email to you what results you can expect IMMEDIATELY!

Jim Mazziotti
EXIOT Realty Bend

I haven't used them but I receive them in the mail from other agents in my area. I depend on referrals and talking to people as often as i can.

Hi Sylvie,

I too use the Brian Buffini monthly items of value and have been mailing them out for about two years. You are suppose to follow those up with a phone call each month, which I hae not been very good at doing. I have received some referrals from this program.

However, I don't think anything works as well as face-to-fact contact with prospective clients. Y ou have to get out there in the thick of things to add clients.

Good luck,

Mike

I've created my own newsletter. I used Lowes realtor program for content. I also included local events and local charity information as well as the market update. I'm pretty new at this so I can't tell you yet if it works.

JUN

2008

I have been creating a newsletter for my neighborhood for the past couple of years. I send it out every other month... which I found to be more manageable than every month. It isn't fancy but I have had a lot of my neighbors comment on how much they enjoy receiving it. I have only had 1 referral from it so far. If you would like me to e-mail a sample of it to you, I would be glad to.

JUN

2008

Sylvie - You didn't mention how experienced you are with Publisher, however, you may want to consider having someone design a Publisher newsletter for you, and then you fill in the content. There are groups of real estate virtual assistants on Active Rain who could help you.

In the print newsletters I've done for clients I've included:

- Lots of white space.

- Company name & information on the front page and masthead.

- I brief book review

- 1 home-related article

- A link to a fun website

I tended to avoid:

- Dating the newsletter, using Volume & issue instead so that the newsletter would not become dated.

- Information about upcoming events - for the same reason.

JUN

2008

In my newsltter I've noticed that people like stats about their neighborhood. For example I put in how many homes are currenlty listed, how many have sold and how many are under contract. They like being able to be "nosy" and tend to talk about it and hang onto it a little longer.

JUN

2008

Hi Sylvie,

I have a whole blog about newletters here on Active Rain, so you might find some answers to some of your questions there. Here's the link.

All the best,

Simon

SEP

2008

I would love to find out more about Bill Nasby. His "Doors To Success - if you see this post could you email it to me at nicky@nickydou.com

I have done Service for Life for over a year. Get a good response but mainly just people liking to get real mail from me once a month I think. It makes them think of me and they are all people that know me. I am considering switching newsletters just b/c it takes me SO long to do these - but I do it all myself including putting it together (and I renamed mine) - changing content to go with my market - printing stuffing, etc. an entire day or more for this is just too much these days. I am also trying to go green so all this paper, etc. is not the greenest thing.

OCT

2008

I've had the same thoughts... yet I haven't found anyone who has told me how their newsletter has earned them any business. I'm camping on this post in hopes of hearing at least one success story.

I have a success story - I started using a newsletter over a year and a half ago. I sent out to my sphere of influence and past clients (usually monthly) - this really keeps me in front of them and they feel like they know what is going on in my life and I get a great response from it. I had a 3 month period in which I had decided I might stop doing it - but as soon as month two came - I started hearing from my clients - "Where is my newsletter - what is going on?" - I started it again and I would say I have gotten (pretty directly b/c of the newsletter) about 3 to 4 listings (that if I hadnt sent it out I would have missed out on) and about 10 new clients - referrals from past clients - the day after this went out... So - I do think it is a positive thing. I mail these with 1st class stamp. They are just black/white - very simple and fun.... "I call them Dou's Digest" - this is the service for life newsletter that Martin mentioned earlier - but I change up a few things making it a little more personal.

Nicky Dou

I receive a letter that contains market info and sale prices on home sold on my block on a regular basis from the Realtor who was the listing agent when I purchased my current home. My Realtor, the selling agent, has sent me nothing - nada, zilch. Guess who I would list with when I intend to sell my home?

I just wanted to Thank everyone with their ideas. Keep them coming. I am still unsure on exactly what my newletter will look like, but I will definetly be putting something together,. I will probably start sending it out after the 1st of the year. I am actually pretty busy right now with Buyers, (knock on wood) so I am hoping that the trend will continue. : ) I really like the idea of naming it after myself. Maybe Dolley's Doin's or something like that- what do you think? Let me kmow.

Thanks again for being nice enough to comment on my blog and sharing your ideas and experiences.

Take Care & Have a Great '08!

Good luck on your newsletter. I started mine a little over a year ago and it does take about 7+ months to start getting good results. The one thing I always use is stats on the particular neighborhood of my newsletter. People love to know what is going on in there area and with their neighbors house so I always put this in.

I change it up between the info I put in (Short Sales, Upromise, Going Green) monthly and use NAR's website for good ideas. I also always put in my own listings. The main business I get from the newsletter is sellers which is great.

I created mine in Word and have a lender that takes care of the printing and I pay for the postage. It really turns out nice with full color on heavy paper. It makes it alot easier if you can find a co-sponsor.

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