Direct mail
Hey everyone, I'm getting ready to send out my first direct mail. I have a list of 20 vacant property owners I'd like to mail. Im planning to send out actual letters, me and my brother have bad handwriting so we're trying to type up the letters. As of now I think it looks kind of stupid, it's going to be a full sheet of paper with only a few lines telling them we're interested in buying their property and our contact information.
Does anyone have any advice on setting out direct mails like this without using a company? Any advice or suggestions are appreciated
Are you using yellow letters?
If you are worried about your handwriting, see if a family member can help you out writing letters. I do not have the best handwriting, so a friend of mine helps me write out letters. Her pay: lunch on me!
The most efficient way is to write out 1 good letter, then copy that letter however many times you want. With a good copier, all pages will look handwritten.
I'm just using regular plain white paper, but at some point I will use the yellow letters. I would love to have someone write them for me and copy but each mail will be specific to the home owner, and states the address of their vacant property. Worst case scenario I think I just have to print them out with only a few lines and have most of the paper blank. Although I think I'll have my mom hand write a few on yellow paper and keep tabs on which ones get responses and which ones don't.
Adam Amero
I just sent my first yellow letter 2 days ago. I used MS Word and fonts. Kept it very simple and printed and mailed 50 letters.
You can also go to www.yellowletters.com and they will write and Mail letters. You just need to provide the list. It's about $0.75 per letter.
Hope this helps.
Comes down to time vs money.
You could use one template and use a good copy machine over yellow pages. Not sure if ink costs would turn out to be more expensive.
Iv'e also heard of people paying their kids to do it. They're willing to take a few cents per page.
If you're only writing 20 letters you have a very specific target market. To increase the response potential I would suggest you personalize each one so that it truly feels like it was sent only to them, which is partially true. I just sent 462 letters to absentee owners with equity on Monday and I have received 4 calls, under 1%. Great leads but a small response rate. If you have the same response rate you will be about 1/5 of the way to your first call.
I was planning to write in it that I am buying properties in the area, and I'm interested in theirs. Does that lower the chances of getting responses, or increase the chances that the calls I do get will be motivated sellers?
I know it's a numbers game, but for now I only have these 20 absentees so instead of waiting im going to send these out while I keep looking for more. If they don't respond they will get another letter in a few months.
@AK Fowler did you have the same problem with having with having a full sheet of blank paper and only a few lines, or did you write it in more of a template form?
I actually used Microsoft Word to type out a letter with a hand writing font. I then created the blue & black lines to mimic notebook paper. I used a mail merge to bring in the names & addresses & printed it out on canary yellow paper which I bought at staples. I then put the letters in red invitation envelopes that I also bought at staples. I did hand address the envelopes though.
In other words, I sort of cheated. I would be glad to email the letter to you; so that you can cheat too, if you would like a copy. Just let me know.
Hi Amy - If you dont mind sharing, can you be so kind and send me a copy if your letter? I am interested in how you mimic the notebook paper. Thank you so much in-advance! :)
Account Closed what is your email? I will gladly send it to you :)
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
Hi Amy - If you dont mind sharing, can you be so kind and send me a copy if your letter? I am interested in how you mimic the notebook paper. Thank you so much in-advance! :)
@Adam Amero - it's been a few months since you started this... Curious how your first mailing went, and whether you did any follow up. I just sent my first mailing to a dozen vacants that I found driving for dollars (and cross referenced to tax documents for current owner mailing addresses).
Considering the numbers, I am not holding out for much response (but wouldnt that be nice), but I'm looking for success stories with follow ups... And suggested approaches and timelines.
Thanks
Direct mail, vacant property, wholesale, fix and flip
Hi Amy,
I know it's been almost a year, but I would be interested to see the letter too if you still have a copy. I hope your mailings have been going well!