Direct Mail Marketing Success?

[Julie Marquez]

We all have different definitions of success, and while I hear lots of people ask about the success of direct mail marketing, I wanted to explain my small effort. My story is not successful in closing a deal or making tons of moola, but just a real life story.

A year ago, I wanted to purchase a house on the same street as my rental. So I sent out mailers to 6 homes. They were personalized, typed letters that probably took 20-30 minutes each.

Within a week I got a call from a guy that wanted to sell. Unfortunately, we couldn't agree on a price, but I was pretty stoked to have gone through the exercise.

One year later (just yesterday), I got a call for another neighbor seeing if I was still interested in buying. Unfortunately, it is not a good time for us right now, but I was stoked that they kept my contact information and reached out to me.

I didn't close a deal or make millions, but I think my direct mail marketing campaign was a success on some levels. That's my story, there are many different ways to market, and 33% call back rate is not bad, so I think my personalized letters "worked." Now to finish my rehab project and buy my dad's rental house.

[Scott Harper]

Thanks for sharing. I get post card letters every week. I save them because I look up who sends them so I know who the players of the game are. Most are yellow. If I sent them I would probably try light blue. I have not seen research on why yellow is preferred.  I have sent a few personalized letters with no response in the past on specific homes. However, there is a house down the street(a rental) from my rental that I am interested in. I had been considering sending the older woman owner the next town over a box of chocolate and a note to remember me. I have procrastinated that idea. That house became vacant last week and a for rent sign with owners number was in the yard. So, I called her and asked how much she wanted for rent and what was included. I also asked if she wanted to sell? She said she was not.(  To me, that means ,for now.)

I was able to ascertain that I get 100.00 more for rent than her for basically the same house. I also was able to determine her current state of mind and motivation level. 

I will probably send her some chocolate as a follow up and ask her to remember me. I may do it once a year. Maybe nothing will come of it but it does not hurt to be nice to strangers anyway. She would probably appreciate the gift.