By finding the buyer before the buyer starting looking for us.It's called "farming a territory".Pick an area you really want to buy in and start sending out postcards and flyers to those properties in that target area.Go looking for empty properties and ones that look rundown and need work.They will be potential sellers willing to sell you the property directly without agents involved.Also you can go down to the courthouse and check out who filed for bankruptcy,divorce,probate(dead relatives),etc.Write down the addresses and send them letter directly with offers to purchase the property quickly.Be proactive not,reactive in investing in SoCal real estate."

But typically, it takes me 1,000-1,500 pieces to get a deal (500-750 for postcards : 900 - 1,300 yellow letters).

If you're looking to hire out, yellowletters.com and click2mail.com are 2 of the companies I see mentioned in the forums.If you're doing it yourself, it can go from as simple as handwritten letters to something a bit more automated like postcards and printed letters.Best of luck to you!

I have a lead that was called in from my postcard campaign.

You can get a good a good size postcard mailing campaign off for about what you spent on the door hangers.

I sent 250 postcards out once to cash buyers, and only got one call.

I would personally start marketing to distressed sellers through direct mail (yellow letters or postcards).

You need to commit to sending out at least X amount of marketing pieces every month.This costs MONEY every month whether yellow letters or postcards.

Also mix your voices up i.e yellow letter, postcard, etc.

From experience I would say postcards and letters will net a 1-3% response rate.