Direct Mail - narrowing to subdivision possible?

Question

Good afternoon BP Nation ,

I've done a few searches and may not be using the "correct' terms to get the hits that are out there.  Apologize if this information is already available - I want to do my first DM campaign in January and I'm wondering if I can narrow down a list by zip code(s) and then subdivisions (as well as types of properties).   Any list service providers that one can drill down with these specs?

Thanks!

Dev Horn · Answer

Shared Mail is very cool - we work with a vendor called National Mail-It - in this webinar I show you exactly what it is and also provide the vendor contact info.

http://youtu.be/59_GQktI_7k?t=35m40s

(We don't make anything off recommending this vendor - and there are a few others that offer similar services.)

Dev Horn · Answer

Shared mail is like carpet bombing - it has very low conversion but you are mailing large postcards for 16 cents each so the economics are different.  I really think of it more as BRANDING because you don't see a huge DIRECT RESPONSE from shared mail - or ANY marketing technique where the prospects are not specifically TARGETED.  But as one investor told me recently, "I got a deal from the shared mail that I would never have gotten via my targeted mailings."

Our targeted mailings cost about 50 cents per postcard and $1 per letter.  Because they are sent to specific people who meet certain criteria, they get a much higher conversion rate.

Your "mileage may vary", so I hesitate to share specific metrics for a specific market....  =)

Christina R. · Answer

Tim Gordon

- thanks for the response!  So here's the rub - I have not done a wholesale or buy and hold/flip deal yet with a title company to actually ask them for help with this.  I think for my first DM campaign I'd like to do as much as I can myself with it, to fully understand as much as I can, before outsourcing it off with the hopefully-% of my first deal profits that come from said campaign.

Shaun Reilly · Answer

Thanks for sharing!

It was an interesting idea.  I will definitely look into that a little more.

Shaun Reilly · Answer

This is pretty interesting.  How does the shared mail work and is that something specific to this vendor or some method I just have not heard of before?

There is a particular area that I have thought about trying to EDDM with, but it seems to be a big PITA to do.  Getting a vendor to do it like that and for that pricing is VERY appealing.

Christina R. · Answer

Thanks so much to everyone for responses.  This is why I LOVE this site - I had no idea that those ("stupid") fliers that come once a week that I (usually just toss) sometimes read are "shared mail."

@Tim G.  good point - I was thinking (and it was suggested to me by a local successful investor) that participating in some way with the DM campaign - other than writing the check for it - is beneficial.  At the same time, I understand the time-is-money concept and totally agree that someone who knows how to do it should do it.    Maybe at least getting the list, but that's better outsourced too I'm sure.

@Dev Horn I'm curious what your success rate with closing deals is with the shared mail vs YL/PC

Jason Brown · Answer

I can help. I am a VP for a national title company. If you need to direct mail a neighborhood I can provide all of the data in excel form for you. PM me if you need help. I am happy to oblige.

Dev Horn · Answer

EDDM can be selected down to specific CARRIER ROUTES - there are multiple carrier routes within a zip code.  You can also find them within a 5-mile radius from a known address.  You can search and see here:

https://eddm.usps.com/eddm/customer/routeSearch.action

There are quite a few conditions for doing EDDM, such as:

"..you'll also have the opportunity to pay online with a credit card or in person at your local Post Office with cash, check, credit/debit card, or meter strip if your order has 5000 pieces or less and you bring it to your local Post Office with the approved Retail Indicia on each mailpiece...".

Learn more here:

https://www.usps.com/business/every-door-direct-mail.htm

For the record - I prefer SHARED MAIL.  We can do the same exact carrier route targeting and we have a vendor that takes care of EVERYTHING for 16 cents including the printing AND postage...

James N. · Answer

You can use USPS EDDM to do zip code-route to narrow it down to the subdivision you want to direct mail to avoid blasting to the whole zip code.  You can get more information from the Postal Service on how to order it.

Tim G. · Answer

Your call, my title co gave me tons of info before ever closing a deal. Its minimal work on their part.

Why spend your time learning a task that is not needed to close a deal when it can be sourced from someone who does it better?

The other option is get a list of a zip code, then remove any streets you aren't interested in.

Direct Mail - narrowing to subdivision possible?

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