After property-specific marketing expenses (staging, photography, videography, floor-plan generation, print materials, print ads, online ads, dedicated website, email blasts, flyers and postcards, virtual tour recording and posting, etc), splits to my brokerage and cooperating broker/agent, taxes and overall business costs, I profit maybe 1% or 1.5% on a property sold with a 6% commission. 

Once you have determined that the decedent's estate owns real estate (to the degree it is possible), send a post card or wedding invitation style card or other creative mailer to the address.

There are already hundreds of threads here with tons of letter and postcard text that people are using for direct marketing.

I was reading a few pages this morning in a book (Real Estate Rain Maker) and it stated that a survey was taken a few years ago and found that 16% of people found some ones website through search engines, 18% found sites through strategic links but 66%[/b] of people found sites through direct navigation(business cards,flyers, t-shirts, postcards).

Wholesale deals do not work with them but since they are use to being landlords seller financing seems to make more sense to them. so assignment of mortgages have been my bread and butter lately.no fancy websites needed, no $1,200-$2,000 postcard campaigns.

I have heard many dialogues that discuss the effectiveness of postcards, yellow letters, and bandit signs. 

I own properties in Ontario and Riverside that have around 30-40% equity and I do not receive yellow letters or postcards.

Gary sends out postcards and yellow letters to houses that were purchased in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

I think my first move is to buy some business cards, setup a website, get a list, and send out postcards (since they appear to be cheaper than yellow letters). 

For example, postcards are a bit cheaper than yellow letters, so while my postcard month may be $400, my yellow letter month may be $600, thus averaging $500.Either way, I think you are on the right track!