Automated investor systems and marketing online

[JaNarria Johnson]

Good Sunday BP. 

I spent this weekend at a REI bootcamp. Very interesting, very informative, I guess, I mean all the rules are pretty much the same in general when it comes to wholesaling, fix and flips, and what have you. You can get all of this wonderful mentorship, one-on-one, and funding, plus guarantee success for 120,000.00, yes you heard right one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. I am knocking the mentorship, if I had it........ No, I would not spend that much on mentorship. But those who who can and will, by all means.

But in the last week, I signed up with David Corably to get an auto marketing website. Needless to say it did not deliver and I am asking for a refund, in which I am getting the run around. (when will I learn). 

Anywho, at the boot camp there was another guy there that has developed the same kind of system, but it allows you to get birddogs to find properties for you, It will find lenders and PI's to fund your deal, and then it will find Buyers. And then, it will wire a check to you after closing. All of this is automated. Sounds to good. Well the Program is a whopping 7,000.00. Now for a someone who is trying to get started in the business, I don't have 120,000.00 none the less 7,000.00. Is there any programs that can simplify the process of managing your business virtually. Do you know of any programs , even a little more reasonable that are tested tried and true, to help to a successful business? Please help. Thanks. 

JaNarria 

[Darius Garland]

Hey JaNarria, 

Wow! Your experience sounds interesting. I listed to a lot of podcasts here at Bigger Pockets in addition to Flipping Junkie (Danny Johnson) and learned how to piece together an automated system to manage leads. I learned that this business takes work, diligence, and self accountability. If there was an entirely automated system to finds leads.. everyone would be doing it. I put together the following to find and manage leads. 

Investor Carrot - https://oncarrot.com - Lead capture / marketing websites for REI. Here is have a credibility site for my company www.greendothomes.com, a buyer site to attract and market to cash buyers www.greendotbuyer.com, and site for motivated sellers www.cashbuychicago.com. The costs me $99 per month and I purchased a package that cost $150 for custom design. The platform is similar to Word Press and easy to set up and customize if you don't want to spend the extra money. This platform supports, SEO, Google Ad Words, and URL back linking. 

Podio - www.podio.com. I am using Podio as a CRM system where all of  my contacts, leads, and marketing campaigns are managed. There are many CRM systems, however I a lot of investors use Podio. Very user friendly and easy to set up. I pay $48 per month for my Podio subscription. Here is a link to a video that I used to help set up my automation system. 

Virtual Assistant - www.vaeasybutton.com. I was introduced to this service by the Flipping Junkies podcast.

 http://flippingjunkie.com/2016/episode-30-team-bui...

I have a VA the works 20 hours per week. She answers inbound calls, runs comps, manages Craigslist adds, etc.

Direct Marketing - I use a service provided by Jerry Puckett ( search for him here in Bigger Pockets. I learned about the service listening to another Podcast on Flipping Junkie - Jerry is also an investor  / wholesaler. He provides a list (absentee owners) per zip code, writes the letter, and personally addressed envelope, and postage if you want. I purchased 500 letters along with the list for $1100. Stuffing the envelopes and postage cost me $300. This is a 4 month campaign the letters go out once per month. My first mailing was August 2nd and I have received 1 inbound call per week since. It usually takes 4 -5 mailings to get any response. The letters work and the early response has been outstanding. I have a house under contract which will net me 28K ( Wholsale deal) 

              https://www.biggerpockets.com/users/ejpuck

Nextiva - Voice over IP service. Provides inbound and outbounds calls, voice mail, fax, automated email and / or text for all incoming calls. $38 per month. www.nextiva.com

I hope that this helps. Getting out of the gate I have spent $1500 dollars with a monthly commitment of around $250 per month. 

I deal can easily cover these expenses for 1 year. My goals is to close 4 - 7 deals per month. 

I hope that this helps. 

Best wishes 

Darius