1000 Bandit Signs put out in one night

Wholesaler · Corsicana, TX · Member since 2015 · 46 posts · 28 votes

We are gearing up to put out 1000 bandit signs out in one night. Will be doing this in a few weeks. Would love to hear from people with experience. What advice do yall have?

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Scott TrenchPro Member

Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 6k+ votes

10y

I think you are going to have several problems:

1) People will get annoyed with you and you will get angry calls from people who don't like you soliciting at such extraordinary lengths in their neighborhoods.

2) People may call the police - depending on where you are that activity may be illegal.

3) At best, you'll get so much interest that it will be overwhelming - have you built a system to handle that volume of leads?

4) That's going to be a miserable night...

5) Don't do that.

Podcast Guest on Show #223

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Cameron Tope
Property Manager · Katy, TX · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
You're going to hate yourself afterwards...
8 Reply
Corey Thompson
OP
Wholesaler · Corsicana, TX · Member since 2015 · 46 posts · 28 votes
10y
Do tell? I'm reading here I'll grow my buyers list and generate a lead for every 100 I put out. I've also got a realtor lined up to buy the leads that prefer to be listed. I'm trying to find the negative in it. So help me out.
0 Reply
Glenn Banks
Design | Build · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2014 · 107 posts · 35 votes
10y
You may do better diversifying, like putting out 200 bandit signs, 200 adds on eBay, 200 on Craigslist, 200 inserts in a local newspaper, 200 pop up adds leading to a 1 page website. I've never done bandit signs so take it for what it's worth. Just seems like less running around. When you do get a call, ask them where they got your contact info, that way you know which portion of your marketing is paying you back effectively and which portions are not.
2 Reply
Scott TrenchPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Denver, CO · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 6k+ votes
10y
I think you are going to have several problems:
1) People will get annoyed with you and you will get angry calls from people who don't like you soliciting at such extraordinary lengths in their neighborhoods.
2) People may call the police - depending on where you are that activity may be illegal.
3) At best, you'll get so much interest that it will be overwhelming - have you built a system to handle that volume of leads?
4) That's going to be a miserable night...
5) Don't do that.
Podcast Guest on Show #223
8 Reply
Patrick L.
Real Estate Investor · Saint Petersburg, FL · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 951 votes
10y
First most jurisdictions have laws against this type of litter, if you put up a few odds are nobody will care but with 1,000 you will sure get enough people riled up for someone to do something.
How many people are you going to have putting out signs? Assuming you can put one up every 3 minutes that would be 50 hours to do 1,000, so it do it in a night you're looking at 6-7 people working the entire night.
I would expect more calls from people angry about the signs than actual leads.
0 Reply
Corey Thompson
OP
Wholesaler · Corsicana, TX · Member since 2015 · 46 posts · 28 votes
10y
10 people. 10 cities. 100 signs each. At 10 separate shopping centers. No neighborhoods. I hope my phone melts.
4 Reply
Charles McWhorters
Houston, TX · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 2 votes
10y
That means a lot of work!!
0 Reply
Joe Bertolino
Investor · El Dorado Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
My advice: Don't do things that are overly complicated or hard to execute. Why 1000? Why one night? Why 10 different cities?
0 Reply
Corey Thompson
OP
Wholesaler · Corsicana, TX · Member since 2015 · 46 posts · 28 votes
10y
Because the metroplex is a big area. I've read it takes 100 signs to generate 1 purchase. I want to purchase 10. 1 night because I want to measure the results. And only 1000 because I don't know 100 people to put out 100 signs. It's the 10x rule.
6 Reply
Matt Berglund
Investor · Wilmington, NC · Member since 2010 · 7 posts · 4 votes
10y
I think the "100 signs to generate 1 purchase" thought is a bit lacking... It may be more effective to do 50 signs in one or two markets, every weekend for the next 6 weeks. Repeated exposure that generates familiarity with the customer as well as memory/recall is probably a better approach.
0 Reply
Account Closed
Investor · NOVA, VA · Member since 2014 · 99 posts · 101 votes
10y
@Corey Thompson
I love this...massive action.
Either your phone melts or you learn something valuable.
If I were there I would help you just to be part of it
Please keep us updated.
5 Reply
Johnathan Boyle
Real Estate Agent · Belleville, NJ · Member since 2015 · 408 posts · 94 votes
10y
Corey Thompson makes me want to do the same although I agree you might run into a few problems. Let me know how it goes!
0 Reply
Todd Plambeck
Agent/Investor · Murphy, TX · Member since 2013 · 542 posts · 304 votes
10y
Just clicked the follow button! Let me get some popcorn, I can't wait to see how this turns out.
1 Reply
Rocky V.
Rental Property Investor · Arlington, TX · Member since 2012 · 788 posts · 640 votes
10y
While I do hate seeing bandit signs in our cities and have never used them, I applaud your efforts and will continue to watch this thread to see your progress.
Best of Luck!
2 Reply
Tommy Sessions
Caldwell, ID · Member since 2016 · 62 posts · 25 votes
10y
I want to know the outcome!!! Go big or go home. I like the ambition
3 Reply
Scott Scharl
Colorado Springs, CO · Member since 2015 · 229 posts · 58 votes
10y
Also following... keep us posted!
2 Reply
James Setaro
Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 30 posts · 8 votes
10y
MELT THE PHONE!!!
2 Reply
Levi T.Pro Member
Rental Property Investor · Tucson AZ / Nice FR / Washington DC · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
I'm interested in learning the results.
2 Reply
Eric Bilderback
Real Estate Agent · Sisters, OR · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
Good luck. Please keep us updated.
2 Reply
Ryan Billingsley
Investor/Realtor · Wentzville, MO · Member since 2014 · 846 posts · 431 votes
10y
@Corey Thompson
I am excited to hear the results of your massive action. Even if you do not get the results you want you will learn and grow. It sounds like your phone is about to explode haha!
Keep us posted!
2 Reply
Jay Craig
Wholesaler · Glendale, AZ · Member since 2016 · 31 posts · 7 votes
10y
definitely keep us posted
2 Reply
Jean-francois Ndomb
Real Estate Investor · Kalamazoo, MI · Member since 2015 · 120 posts · 37 votes
10y
Amen Brother, Ambition, execution and will. I am just going to join the line here and wait and see the results. I also ordered a certain number of bandit signs, although not always recommended, I also get have the attitude of " I rather overdoing it than not being acknowledged at all" @Corey Thompson let us know how that goes, but consider doing a certain number every week, you would get the same stats and the benefit of repeated exposure like @Matt Berglund said. Statistically you will get a higher response rate from your targeted audience consistently and a lower number of unwanted angry calls. PS, don't mind the angry calls too much, cause I bet you you competitors will also call. - I also get that in direct mail marketing. You can't please everyone. Good luck... I am following.
2 Reply
Joshua D.
Investor · Columbus, MT · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
@Corey Thompson
I am looking forward to hearing the results! Keep us up to date.
What kind of signs are you using? Cardboard? What is the cost of these signs?
You should detail this whole expeiance out. As you can see there are many people interested in your plan and results.
2 Reply
Troy Fisher
Specialist · Kirkland, WA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 817 votes
10y
Originally posted by @Corey Thompson:

Because the metroplex is a big area.
I've read it takes 100 signs to generate 1 purchase. I want to purchase 10.
1 night because I want to measure the results.
And only 1000 because I don't know 100 people to put out 100 signs.
It's the 10x rule.
I don't think I've ever read a statistic on the success rate of bandit signs. Care to reference where you read this? I know I've read that you get a 1-2% Response Rate on direct mail, and will close on 1 out of 10. So in reality more like a .01% which give you your 10 deals.
But don't just bash everyone's concerns down by saying 10X! Massive ACTION! We are just going over some of the issues with Bandit Signs, and trying to make you think through the process. It took half way through the first page before you explained you had 10 people doing 100 signs in 10 areas. Great. Now lets look at some real numbers:
1000 signs are what ~$2000?
10 people @ 7.25/hr @ 5 hrs ~$360? (That's assuming they are putting up 20 an hr, or one ever 3minutes, which is probably not likely)
You can do postcards for $0.39/ea or 6,051 Postcards. Which is more Massive?
My last Facebook Campaign cost me about ~$0.70/clicks or 3,375 clicks.
I want to say that it cost me about $3000 for 10,000k Advo Mailing last time I did one.
Also what if you spent that same $2360 and had your 10 people cold-calling FSBO's and a list? Let's say they could do 1 Phone Call every 2 minutes ~120 Calls/hr. $2360 equals 325 man hrs. 325 hrs x 120calls/hr is 39.000 calls
Massive 10X action isn't about taking an untested idea and doing it 10X, it's about doing things that work 10X more than the competition.
A couple final thoughts, The only place I hear about building a buyers list is from Guru's. If you don't already know enough people in your circle of REI network who can buy your properties you are starting off in the wrong direction. Advertising for buyers is silly, and not needed if you have been working the right systems.
Targeted marketing is going to get you a much better response rate.
If you are trying track your metrics, doing it in one night is going the wrong direction. CallRail.com gives you 10 phone numbers for tracking purposes. Website Traffic logs help track your marketing metrics.
All of my suggestions show how you can market differently with the same budget and get a more targeted response than a sign on the street, and you won't have to worry about enforcement agents fining you. It's telling that you want to have them put up overnight instead of during the day, like you are creeping around doing something bad.
6 Reply
Cameron Tope
Property Manager · Katy, TX · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
10y
@Corey Thompson I've used bandit signs for almost a year now. Several reasons not to put all 1000 out on one night; landscaping crew could follow and take them down, city will get VERY irritated (they seem not to get too mad if you put out a hundred every few weeks), and it will take you approximately 20 hours to complete (takes me about 1hr to put out 50 signs).
My advice; do 100 for ten straight weeks and mix up the areas.
Good luck brother!
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