Mail marketing VS Door hanger

[Morristown]

Hello all,

I am interested in peoples opinion. I mail market to about 1000 homes every 2 weeks and have been doing so since late January in my current market. One of the things I do is a monthly Area Real Estate Update. This Month I decided to deliver some of it by door knocking so that I could get in front of the people I market to and hopefully score a few extra impression points. I cannot possibly door knock them all in one round so some are getting mailed.

The question is this. If I door hang them I can deliver 400 or 500 of them in a few mornings but not meet any of the people. I think it would be rude month after month to door knock the news letter but I am wondering what peoples thoughts are about the effectivness of hanging them on the peoples doors verses spending the time and money mailing them.

I was just thinking, I am usually not busy in the morning and like all of us, getting the extra exercise is not a bad thing, and if I run into people while doing it and the conversation seems good with said person then so much the better right, VS sitting home prepairing a mailing and getting no exercise and not meeting anyone.

Thanks,

Jim

[BrandonSternfield]

It would completely depend on the time you do it.

If you do it say, 7:30ish (at least in my locale) you would catch people coming out for the paper, or putting our trashcans/recycling bins. Thus they would be in good spirits. You don't want to catch someone trying to get in their car to head to work, as they will be in a rush and not want to be stopped.

When I as younger, I used to put up the door flyers. You do see a lot of the people (I did it from 8am-11am, trying to catch them when they weren't home). But when someone leaves something on your door, do you look at it?

I find you have a greater chance of success with mailings then door knockers.

I would say, run a test in your area. Find a street, and things west of it you go door to door, and things east you mail. See what the conversion % is.

[Morristown]

What is your feeling on the difference between mailing a piece of marketing, verses once or twice a year walking it around and knocking on doors and introducing yourself and giving the marketing piece to people personally. Don't you think that the personal contact is worth something more then just mailing them the same piece?

[BrandonSternfield]

I think it's worth more, done at the right time of day.

Like I said before, I did flyers. In the beginning of my 'shift' people were rushed, and never *happy* to talk about it. More towards the lunch hour, I had people home for lunch, relaxed, or home wives/husbands. They were smiling while I talked to them about what I was passing around.

It depends on the time, and you will only know what time to go, by trying different times.

If I can give any help to you before you start this :

• Bring water with you. Or Gatorade, or Powerade, or <insert sports drink here>. Walking in the sun for hours makes you sweat.
• Wear comfy clothing. You aren't going to go door to door in a suit with dress shoes for more then 5 houses. Consider denim shorts (if it's hot) or jeans (if it's cold) with a nice button down shirt. I'd leave the tie off too, to appear more casual to them, but leave the shirt buttoned up.
• Get a nice back pack, messenger bag, or whatever you prefer to hold the flyers. Nothing is worse then trying to shake someone's hand in greeting then trying to juggle paper. This also frees up your hands when trying to talk with them. By moving your hands and arms, and using them to add emphasis (not waving them already like jazz hands) will make the person more comfortable talking to you.

Hope that helps. I've seen people try doing it in suits. Or even just dress pants and a button up shirt. They always left while I was still going.

[REMarketer]

What has worked well here (CA) with me and other agents is we send mailer postcards about 2x week for 2-3 weeks, then door knock the 4th. By this time then neighborhood has gotten to know your face, so when you show up at their door they are more receptive to speaking with you, bc they recognize you from your mailers. - works here, but your area might be different.

When we do open houses, we send out invitation postcards at the beginning of the week. Then go door to door on friday passing out or personally inviting/informing the neighbors that we're having an open house that weekend. We usually get a constant stream come Sat/Sun.

Hopefully this helps! GL

[Morristown]

interesting, thank you,

I have used similar approch, usually with new listing. yard sign goes up Wednesday to anounce the new listing, Thursday and Friday, I walk invites to the open house on sunday, get lots of questions and a good reception, then good turnout of neighbors at the open house. Not really what the home owner whats but good for me, as it gives me yet anther chance to impress.

It was kind of funny I did this in a neighborhood that I did not otherwise market to and people were so shocked, Several people said it was such a nice change, that they were happy to have a new company in town that they were so feed up with the RE companie starting with a W taking them for granted.

Have not gotten any other business out of that yet, but If I stay in touch with at least the people who said that I bet I get something out of it.

[jasoncrouch]

I just came across this thread and I thought it was an interesting question. I have not tried the door hangers or walking neighborhoods since the late 90's, but I have been considering the hangers lately.

James - Have you tried this lately? What kind of response have you had?

[shredder]

Just giving this thread a bump to see if anyone has done this marketing approach yet (door hangers) and what their results have been.

I'm considering leaving them on doors while I go door knocking, since quite a few of the doors I knock are not home.

Matt

[ericbadgley]

I would suspect that you will get the news in more people face versus a mailing. I know when I get my mail I throw half of it way if it looks like junk.

[Sam Dodd]

Why not do an unscientic experament. Deliever 500 flyers and 500 mailed. Do 500 to your cell phone, and 500 to your office.

I personally think the excercise and mailing money saved are worth it either way.