Yellow Letter Mail Random Font ???

Question

I have dialed in every thing I need just about to print my own yellow letters. It took a while but this should save me quit a bit of money on my marketing costs. I'm new to trying to find sellers direct so not having any deals can be very costly getting started. So I wanted to find a way to cut my yellow letter mail marketing costs down so I could send out more letters with my marketing budget.

I'm now testing my marketing to see what works best. Printed envelopes vs hand written. I have hired a girl from where I work to hand address my envelopes for $100 per 1000. This includes stuffing the letter, putting a bulk mail stamp on them, hand writing my return address and the sellers address, and sealing the envelope.

I have also created my own hand writing font, I made 2 different fonts out of my own hand writing to make the letter look as hand written ( random letters just like hand writing ) as  possible. I use mail merge to change the address on every letter or envelope ( just the printed envelopes ) and it works great. The only problem is, is that when mail merge puts the addresses on the letter or envelope from the excel file sometimes there's 2 or 3 of the same letter or number rite next to each other in some addresses. This looks very fake especially on the envelope. I can't have the envelope looking like it was printed, it has to look as hand written as possible. Because then people will just throw it in the trash. I would prefer the same with my letter that's inside the envelope.

Is there any random font generator or a way to have mail merge or any other program make my own font random? Like it wouldn't put 2 letters or numbers from my font rite next to each other it would in a way randomize or choose a letter from my other font of the same handwriting.

Sorry for the long post. This post will be very specific to people that are printing there own letters. It is possible though and actually very easy to do. @Jerry Puckett , @Michael Quarles any suggestions. I remember Michael talking about this in a previous post. Thanks.

Phil B. · Answer

I created my own font too and use a small graphic for the return address on the flap to make it look more like a wedding invitation.  I really don't think the same letters together are going to ruin the presentation or decrease your return enough to warrant spending hours of brain power on it.  There comes a point where you just have to go with what you have.  They can always be better and we'll never get them perfect.

Dev Horn · Answer

I agree with Jerry - man you are way down in the weeds on this and becoming concerned with things that may not matter.

I question the whole handwritten envelope thing based on the assumption that people will not open a typed envelope.  Let me ask you this - you get a plain white envelope in the mail - it just has your name and address TYPED on it.  Will you THROW THAT AWAY without knowing what's in it???  I don't think so.

Making your own font is impressive.  And finding someone to address & stuff envelopes for way below minimum wage is cool too.  I just don't know if any of this matters.  You are not valuing you TIME - if you did, you'd just outsource this to Michael or Jerry....

Jerry Puckett · Answer

@Chris  Gawlik Great job getting it together and taking action. You've already done more than most ever will.

In my humble opinion, you are waaaayyyyy over thinking this. Changing fonts on every other letter or envelope....you realize your prospect is only going to see one and will have nothing else to compare it to? Also, you're going to want to make sure the font on the envelope matches the letter. People will notice that.

If you have a good font, just run with it. Test and track your results. You'll do fine.

Thomas Flanagan · Answer

I haven't mailed to real estate owners yet (starting this week) but I have mailed to business owners (who usually don't check their own mail) and have a terrific response rate.

1)  Best response rate comes from NO return address, hand written delivery address, and any regular stamp placed somewhat crooked.  Those basics will get most letters open.

2)  I would also focus on smaller batches i.e. 100/day instead of 1000/month.  Easier to fulfill and you don't get swamped with calls in 1 day like I used to and end up missing calls.

3)  For the changing script on the mail merge, I can't help with that but @Michael Quarles may be able to answer those and input better pointers.

To use the @ someone I believe you must add them as a colleague, then you will see their name appear.

Good luck

Michael Quarles · Answer

@Dev Horn

To your point of a typed envelope is why a Typewriter Font is used a lot over a standard font. Even Courier New is a good choice and on most computers. However I over think marketing a lot myself.

Michael Quarles · Answer

@Chris  Gawlik

There is however not worth the investment. The easiest way to achieve what youre trying to is to have your font made 3 or four times.

Then when you write your letter change the letters font faces that are close to eachother.

Example if your telephone number is 312-555-1234 use three of the fonts that you created for each of the fives. And so on with letters that are touching or close in proximity.

This will not help with the merged data however in comparison there is far less of that text as in the body and closing of the letter.

On your envelope when you insert the text box use a box for each item. First name, last name, address, city, state, zip. Then use your various font for various text fields.

On those text boxes make them randum not uniform. One might be level another might lean up or down kinda thing... Change the font size by 1/2 point.

And its not going to look like a human did it... However.....

Chris Gawlik · Answer

Thanks for the words of encouragement @Jerry Puckett. Actually @Michael Quarles hit it dead on. What I am referring to is the same letter.

I believe you want them to think its hand written so when you print out your letter or envelope you don't want to have the same letters next to each other. For instance an address of 34555 Which is why I made 3 fonts with my own hand writing. When you use mail merge there's only 1 font to choose from you can't change fonts letter by letter like you can in the copy or writing that's always going to be the same. It just won't let you. What would also be cool is a script for MS word that would let you change the font letter by letter in the mail merge.

I get what you guys are saying though, I am way over thinking this and just taking action and getting the letters out will get results. If you hit one of the motivated sellers that needs to sell, there not going to care if the letter was written with a crayon. There going to be interested and call you lol.

Another part of this marketing is that my wife is a Realtor and I give the dead leads to her to try and pick up listings.

Phil B. · Answer

I just do custom margins in Microsoft Word.  I set up the envelope as part of the mail merge and use 2 different docs for the envelope - 1 for the mail-to address and 1 for the return address then print them in 2 different passes.  Yes, its a major pain to do and takes forever but you can get it done.  I print every envelope with the return address first then do my mail merge and format the envelope with a custom size.

David Battle · Answer

@Phil B. How did you print the name on the envelope? What program did you use? Microsoft office won't allow me to select that size envelope when trying to print

Chris Gawlik · Answer

I just had my wife make her own font because she has way nicer hand writing than me. I dialed every thing in and it works perfect now. I have my own print factory at home. 2 printers going, one printing envelopes, and one printing letters. I was so focused on learning how to make my own letters for the last couple of weeks I forgot the reason I am doing all this TO SCORE A DEAL LOL !!!!

Yellow Letter Mail Random Font ???

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