Newsletter Question

[Jeff Horton]

ALL appraisers I know are 2 in not 3 weeks out and your looking for business?
Whats wrong with this picture?

Other than your apparent lack of basic marketing principles?

A piece of paper lays around on the desk, gets attention. An e-mail or e-mail with attachment gets deleted.

My local R/E board started offering the monthly newsletter in PDF via e-mail, and I opted for it to save them the mailing expense. I'm sorry I did.

I would prefer to read the hardcopy. I go blind staring at my monitor all the time

These comments have just confirmed what I was thinking. I kept thinking about email newsletters I get and the things I get in the mail. Paper stays around a lot longer on my desk than any email newsletter stays in my computer!

I take hardcopies with me to read and sometimes pass them on to someone else. Rarely do I print an email newsletter or forward it to someone else. I can't remember anyone forwarding me an email newsletter either.

Thanks for the intelligent inputs. Those and the poll just pretty much confirm what I was thinking.

BTW if anyone would like to see my newsletter just email me and I will send you a PDF copy. I am open to constructive criticisms.

 

[Phyliss Crawford]

Rich, FYI, there are still a few honest appraisers that would like more work. I, for one, am one of them and have been appraising since 1988. A former client once told a borrower that I was the most honest person she knew, but then recommended another appraiser so the loan would go through. I know Jeff is an honest appraiser and is not a number-hitter. The area that we live in is suburban with a limited amount of business. In addition we have a number hitter nearby with trainees that has a booming business. Have you not noticed here lately that LO's prefer and will definitely tend to use the guy who makes it work? I hope for your sake you don't have one of these in your area, but I just bet you do!
Phyliss Crawford

 

[Non Sequitur]

A newsletter is also a great way to service existing clients. It keeps your name in front of them.

Send me a copy, I'd be more than happy to read it.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

:wub:

Luv ya Jeff! You just keep on asking!!!

 

[Damon Young]

Jeff,

I'd like to see a copy, too. Thanks

 

[Jeff Horton]

Send me an email and I will be glad to send it. I am almost done with it.

In case you don't know there an email link at the bottom of this message.

 

[Rich Hahn]

Im sorry all
If I was looking for additional work I think Id go after Atturnies they are a good source of work.
We probaly do 1 a 1/4 for attorneys. This hardley pays for the advertising in the attorneys journal at $500/year but we re-up year after year. Its a write off after all. I think you should all do it. Pay some advertising journal $500/year to get 1 deal. Its a great source for work you should all try it. Just my 3 cents.

 

[TEL2002]

Regarding the vote...

I would suggest one other choice category......Post Card.

Things that come to me that are wordy and appear to be basically an ad...I trash without reading. A post card I think is different. You must be very concise with your 'newsletter items' and as a result I think they would be read by a high percentage of the recipients. They are cheaper to mail. You can buy "card stock" at Office Max, print two cards to the standard 8 1/2 x 11 page. Cut them out with a paper cutter and you are in business. Put all of your addresses in a data base, then print the addresses on the card stock before you cut the cards out. The card stock comes in a variety of colors, so you can mix them up a little.

 

[Farm Gal]

HEY!

Good thought TE!

How about this?!?!? :question:

Best of both worlds... give them a teaser on a post card... a few REAL bits and just enough teaser to whet their curiosity/appetite and catch thier attention... and use the webpage to tell the rest of the tale!!!

cuts down on mailing and print costs... may set more buzz because folks would talk about it a bit

 

[Jeff Horton]

Originally posted by TE Lawrence@Jul 19 2003, 07:05 PM
I would suggest one other choice category......Post Card.

Good idea. Actually I am working on a Post Card too but it is for my Inspection Business.

My Newsletter is 95% about the local Real Estate Market. This issue I put two paragraphs in there about "Whats New" at my business. The rest is all about the local city markets. It doesn't look like an ad for my business. at least I don't think so. I would be glad to send you a copy and you tell me if it does.

To make this easier I just posted it to my web site. Go to this URL and you can see The Bottom Line and tell me what you think.

Good idea too Lee Ann. I have decided to stay in print though. The more I think about it I believe the cost of printing and mailing far outweights the cost savings of email. I am looking at about 200 copies and 30 offices? I can just send one envelope to each office with multiple copies and that saves on postage. Now if this were 1,000 copies then yea, email would be the only way I could afford it.

I also have lots of good charts that I just can not put in a one page newsletter. I currently post some on my web site. Depending on the feedback I get from this I would like to go to 4 page, or 11x17 format and include more charts. However you have to walk before you crawl!