Ohhhh about six months ago Ken in NY was discussing how his direct mailings were not having the same impact so I wanted to share some things I have observed.

Now I market multiple ways with two different targets. I do marketing for new residents but the second area - the area that Ken described would be marketing for new properties. This will target this second target.

I have a couple of different adds in the same free newspaper. These adds run me about $250.

One add will read something like: We buy houses, and we rent quality homes. call xxx-xxx

The next one - We buy homes, death, divorce, bankruptcy, relocations and medical issues are all okay - we buy your headaches in the following school districts: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Call for details.

I noticed that some weeks I might only get one phone call. So conversion of leads into sales is critical. Well I am noticing how to boost that number. I know this will sound a bit off. But one week, the news paper did run my adds in the paper. I was told there was a glitch so they would just add an extra week to the tail end of that cycle.

That week I got three calls instead of just the regular one. It got me thinking, if the add didn't run but people still called, they are holding on to this papers that I only gather up to cover up slopped up paint. It is when they don't see this add, that they think that this buyer is no longer there and they called. So marketing constantly might not be the best way - something I noticed with free papers.

Another way how I have been getting more bang for my market - instead of just sending out a post card that says we puy houses. I have been sending out surveys/questioners. The key to being a buyer of distressed properties, be that subject matter expert on solving their issues without taking on the issues these folks face. If I already know what the background story is in advance, this helps cut thru some initial feeling the person out.

So asking why you are considering selling:

Which method of selling the place appeals most to you:

What repairs need to get done for you to sell the place

How quickly would you like to sell

What is the best way for anyone that may be able to assist you to contact you?

Now I need to automate this process more before bringing it up to full scale. Initial numbers look so much better. So instead of just being my LLC who uses land trust, it is so much easier to a home network.

I am still trying to wrap my head around using zappier. I am also exploring the different options to get the survey out. The cheapest way is to send it via a link. I know though I would not be clicking any links from sources I don't know -so along with cost effectiveness there is also trust to content with. Ken put out an aaaahhhhuh nugget with his shirts two weeks ago I think. I was planning on giving something out to juice the results even more.

For the post cards, do you do one - or would consider one - that offers a FREE, no-strings-attached, onsite evaluation of the home value? Like help exploring your options.

Might get you in the door if they don't feel they are being "pressured" to sell.