I honestly think direct mail marketing is on it way to the grave. People hate junk mail and worse yet, they hate the people who send out those junk mail. For me, that junk mail don't even make it into my house. I have my recyle bin next to my garage door entrance that I sort my mail there before bringing the good ones inside the house.

Direct mail is also extremely expensive.

A better way is to use a combination of a CTS and a CRM systems. These systems are much better at helping agents find new clients.

My father inlaw uses these systems in Japan and he does not need to go look for new clients. His existing clients bring him new clients and these new clients are high quality clients, unlike the clients you get from the street.

I beg to differ... Good direct mail is here to stay... it's the cheap crappy pieces that are on the way out. Direct mail can be a great tool in your marketing arsenal. It's true, as with any marketing, it should be one of several funnels to generate business.

Just FYI I have personally tested, set up, and executed a direct mail campaign (mostly letters) that resulted in 121 closed transactions in one year.

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Borino
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Borino.

You must be one of the few that successfully using a direct mail campaign. For most people, it is getting harder and harder.

I see people in my areas sending out refrigerator magnets, calendars, post cards, etc... Most people I talked to say they through all that away. To them, that is junk mail. Besides, it can be very very costly.

A lot of experts are now turning to the CRM and CTS systems. With these systems, you are able to mine your own existing clients base and get them to referal new clients to you. You can also have a database of leads and cultivate those leads into successful clients down the road.

IMO, direct mail marketing done right is anything but dead and doesn't need to be expensive. Have you audited your direct mail marketing to determine where the problem is? Was it the list? Was it the piece? Was it the timing? Was it the offer? Was it something else?

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What is it you're trying to sell. I cant seem to find what you're talking about as it relates to real estate.

That may be part of the problem. Think about it... there is no real value in a magnet or calendar. Would you pick a dentist because he sent you one mail piece, and it was a refrigerator magnet? I doubt it.

But if you get a series of interesting pieces about dental health, testimonials, special offers, etc, that would make it a lot more compelling, don't you think?

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Borino
Complete Expired Listings Marketing System: Expired Letters, Postcards, follow-up marketing, and much more.
How to List Expired Listings
Real Estate Marketing Blog

I agree with clairegrrl - sure seems like a sales attempt for these "systems" since vanbao has made multiple posts regarding these systems. I hope vanbao knows that self promotion is not allowed on REW. Spamming isn't, either, and to make the same post over & over again in different threads is spamming.

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Nope, just a discussion. Notice I did not not show you how to get these systems. I was merely sharing about this new method of getting new clients which is used in Japan.

BTW, cute dog Judyo.

Thanks for responding but your original post (written prior to this response) states that you know someone who provides these services. Then you edited it to remove that bit of information. Self-promotion can also encompass promoting someone you know that provides a service, especially when you keep promoting it on different posts.

Gizmo says thank-you...

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Southwest Chicago Suburbs Real Estate is an affordable area with close access to downtown Chicago. Money Magazine says that Orland Park real estate is one of the best places to live in the U.S.

Win a REW website package valued in excess of $5,000 & save endangered monkeys by clicking on the REW Website Raffle Tickets

vanbao is referring to CRM (customer retention management) and CMS (customer management systems), in a nutshell marketing and service oriented towards your existing client base to solicit repeat and referral business (which ironically frequently relies on direct mail).... think SOI.

__________________
Borino
Complete Expired Listings Marketing System: Expired Letters, Postcards, follow-up marketing, and much more.
How to List Expired Listings
Real Estate Marketing Blog