My Direct Mail Campaign Approach

[Colton Cook]

Howdy all!

I am about to start sending out my first round of direct mailers! So below is my current approach/reasoning as to why I am marketing the way I am. Please feel free to correct my approach or present contrasting ideas!

Current Approach/Reasoning:

So currently, because I am a student, part time investor, and a newlywed; money is tight for marketing material. From the time I have spent lurking (sorry) here on Bigger Pockets, I have learned that direct mailing is basically a must to be successful. Currently this is our only form of paid marketing since bandit signs are illegal here and one of my business partners is a skilled web advertiser. 

I believe there is a lot of stock in putting in leg work and working hard. Because of this, when I have free time, I drive for dollars, searching for distressed or neglected properties. When I find the properties, I compare them in our county database, I find their mailing address and send them a letter of intent.

This is my current plan. I figured I would first receive any critiques in my plan prior to mailing to the potential sellers.

I am currently targeting investors ready to sell their properties/motivated/distressed sellers. 

Questions/Grey Areas:

How is my approach for direct mailing? I do not really wish to use a list website at this time due to VERY little disposable income. 

Here is what I know the letter should look like:

Anything to add or subtract from this list?

• Least said is best said (short and to the point)
• I want to find a way to let the seller know that I represent investors and am not the purchaser (this is the one I'm fuzzy about. I simply want to represent myself honestly)
• Handwritten
• Leave our Google Voice number as the contact info

Open to all questions, comments, critiques and criticisms! 

Thanks all!

Colton

[Andrea Johnson]

Hi Colton,

I'm really excited to hear about your direct mail campaign! I just started sending direct mail, like you, to owners of distressed/vacant homes. The calls are starting to trickle in. A couple of points:

• I think bandit signs violate most city codes but people do them anyways. The code enforcement people usually only work Monday through Friday so you can put your signs up late Friday night and they should stay up all weekend. You mentioned the budget being tight.....just take them down late Sunday night and reuse them the following weekend. It's the cheapest marketing out there. I find traffic is a little less of an issue on Sunday night than early Monday morning.
• I was concerned about representing myself honestly as well, but I also didn't want to appear to be a middleman to potential sellers either. The phrase I am currently using is, "I make all-cash offers" and of course I throw in the part about buying "as-is" and "you can close on the day of your choosing." 

Good luck!

Andrea