How to get guaranteed response from direct mail?

[Tony Marcelle]

What to say in direct mail that will guarantee to get a response from the homeowner whether they are vacant house leads or pre-foreclosure leads?

[Account Closed]

Originally posted by @Tony Marcelle:

What to say in direct mail that will guarantee to get a response from the homeowner whether they are vacant house leads or pre-foreclosure leads?

 Typically a well designed mailer will get 2% response. That is, 2 calls for every 100 mailers. That doesn't mean they will go with your solution but it at least gets the conversation started. A mailer with postage usually runs about $1 each. You have printing, paper, envelope, stuffing, sealing and stamp.

[Tony Marcelle]

Originally posted by @Account Closed:

What to say in direct mail that will guarantee to get a response from the homeowner whether they are vacant house leads or pre-foreclosure leads?

 Typically a well designed mailer will get 2% response. That is, 2 calls for every 100 mailers. That doesn't mean they will go with your solution but it at lea st gets the conversation started. A mailer with postage usually runs about $1 each. You have printing, paper, envelope, stuffing, sealing and stamp.

I'm asking what to say in the direct mailer that would guarantee a response from the homeowner. And what is more important? A well designed mailer or what is written on the mailer? That is what I want to know.

[Sean Doherty]

check out postcardmania.com or open letter marketing. These two companies will work with you on setting up a direct mail campaign. If you'd rather do it yourself you can still find templates and a list of 10 things every direct mail piece should have 

I'm not experienced with using direct mail yet but I've done some research and from what I've read the most important thing is consistent follow up.

[Sean Doherty]

I dont think its possible to guarantee every mailer gets a reslonse but these are notes I took from doing a little research

10 essential elements to a successful postcard/letter

1. Clear headline
2. Supporting graphic/relevant images
3. Color that pops
4. Intriguing sub-headings on the back that lead into benefits
5. Benefits!
6. Enticing offer
7. Company name and logo
8. Call to action
9. Contact information - Website, phone number, email
10. Return address

There's also a biggerpockets ultimate guide to direct mail you can check out.

[McKinley Crowley]

@Sean Doherty thanks for the shout out. Yeah @Tony Marcelle I would be happy to discuss some content options with you. 

[Grant Rothenburger]

@Tony Marcelle If you figure it out, please share

[Account Closed]

Originally posted by @Tony Marcelle:

Originally posted by @Account Closed:

Originally posted by @Tony Marcelle:

What to say in direct mail that will guarantee to get a response from the homeowner whether they are vacant house leads or pre-foreclosure leads?

 Typically a well designed mailer will get 2% response. That is, 2 calls for every 100 mailers. That doesn't mean they will go with your solution but it at lea st gets the conversation started. A mailer with postage usually runs about $1 each. You have printing, paper, envelope, stuffing, sealing and stamp.

I'm asking what to say in the direct mailer that would guarantee a response from the homeowner. And what is more important? A well designed mailer or what is written on the mailer? That is what I want to know.

 Your Comment: "that would guarantee a response from the homeowner" If you need "guarantees" don't go into real estate. There are no guarantees in any part of real estate.

[Ehsan Rishat]

@Tony Marcelle There is no combination of words that can "guarantee" the outcome of the mail you send. You can't even guarantee that your mailer will be opened/read. Direct mail marketing is a numbers game. The more mailers you send out, the higher your chances of getting responses. Consistency is key when it comes to direct mail. So, if you diligently stick to a mailing schedule for at least 6-12 months, your success will be even higher. It usually takes 3-5 touches to generate a response. 

Good Luck! Hope this helps!

[May Emery]

@Tony Marcelle I agree - no guaranteed results. You can however, improve results by 

1. focusing your message on the seller
2. but not saying that you know their circumstance

Focusing on seller can be as easy as listing the reasons why selling a home to you is easier than going through the traditional realtor route.

It can be creepy and piss people off if you start in with "I can solve your financial problems by buying your house". If they are in distress, they know it. You don't have to remind them.

I wrote a blog on letters to Seniors.  A lot of the points apply to any motivated homeowner.  https://www.biggerpockets.com/member-blogs/11806/84376-your-letter-to-seniors-offer-them-something-they-care-about

[John Thedford]

I recently tried some mailers and got ZERO response. These were pre-foreclosure solicitations asking to buy their house. I did mention that they are in foreclosure. I am going to try changing the wording and try again. Some owners were sent two different letters and I still got zero response. I am convinced that purchasing pre-foreclosures or actually bidding on them at auction is the best way to snag a deal. 

[Tony Marcelle]

Originally posted by @John Thedford:

I recently tried some mailers and got ZERO response. These were pre-foreclosure solicitations asking to buy their house. I did mention that they are in foreclosure. I am going to try changing the wording and try again. Some owners were sent two different letters and I still got zero response. I am convinced that purchasing pre-foreclosures or actually bidding on them at auction is the best way to snag a deal. 

 Same here. No one is responding to my letters to the pre-foreclosure leads.