Newsletter Question

[Jeff Horton]

I created a Quarterly Newsletter to promote my business. In it I take the MLS data (with permission) and break it down by city. Based on this I then write a commentary on each of our cities market in the newsletter.

I have been mailing it to Realtors and trying to send copies to the Mortgage Co's or anyone else that might be interested and have need of my services.

I am considering shifting to email to keep the expenses down. Since I create this in Word or Publisher I can not embed it in a email without rewritting it. So I have to either send it as an attachment or provide a link to the web site where I can post the PDF copy. Since many people are scared of attachments, I posted this poll to see how you would rather receive a email newsletter.

I have also been thinking that there is probably an advantage to having a piece of paper laying on their desk. It keeps my name in front of them longer, several people may read it and it is probably not going to disappear as quickly as an email.

 

[Restrain]

A piece of paper lays around on the desk, gets attention. An e-mail or e-mail with attachment gets deleted. For that matter, it may not make it past the system filters.

Suggestion: Keep it to a 11x17 folded with a place for mailing lable on one side, stapled. Make it bright colored paper and something that they can use.

Roger

 

[Farm Gal]

Jeff:

If you are funding the printing and mailing costs, here is another idea for you... find one or more local businesses (most likely of the food production variety), which YOU like and then go sell the owner on a small coupon space and a minor portion cost of the mailing... Put in a one sentence blurb about what you liked from the place and say enjoy this one on ME! Make sure YOUR address is on the other side of the coupon clip space... that way if they cut out the coupon, they are looking at your name more than once...

I am assuming that some of your marketing area is within a reasonable drive of some center where such places might be found.

 

[Rich Hahn]

Jeff in this market(low interest rates) if you dont have more business then you can handle I think something else needs tweeking. News letters wont help.
ALL appraisers I know are 2 in not 3 weeks out and your looking for business?
Whats wrong with this picture?

 

[Farm Gal]

Originally posted by Rich Hahn@Jul 17 2003, 09:13 PM
Jeff in this market(low interest rates) if you dont have more business then you can handle I think something else needs tweeking. News letters wont help.
ALL appraisers I know are 2 in not 3 weeks out and your looking for business?
Whats wrong with this picture?

Rich:

I am not sure quite what your problem is!

Jeff is one of the good guys on this forum and I for one am getting quite tired of your repeated personal attacks on folks who have been around here a lot longer than you.

For your quite uninformed information Jeff singlehandedly has focused many posts on marketing: an entirely new forum was created due to his and other's continued interest in this manner. See the marketing forum below.

I find your post unwelcome and demeaning of a person I am proud to call a web-friend.

I intend to call this to the attention of a moderator, and am publicly asking you to tone down your sarcastic and mean snipes at folks who LIKE to come here.

It does appear that you might be happier finding a different set of folks to abuse. May I firmly suggest that you start that process NOW

 

[Rich Hahn]

Lee Ann
Your going to telling me
Oh gee Im so scarred I havent been told on since 6th grade!

My 2 cents is all I can offer

Jeff Horton Posts all his questions here good bad, easy hard,he needs some back bone, hes been doing this long enough he shouldnt be asking US for every single business or non business question. If everyone did that god help us.

Just my 2 cents
Ciao for now!

 

[Farm Gal]

Rich:

Jeff IS a moderator.
In the Marketing forum.
See Marketing forum below.

Which as I state again was CREATED due to the interest many folks who enjoy being here have in the sort of topic he posts, and wanted to have located in a specific easy to find location. Many posts are made to this general forum so as to get greater exposure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Postive energy, force for improvement and good and enlightenment.

Please consider what your contributions to this forum appear to be.

I am finished with this discussion, and my apologies to Jeff for the hijacking of a VALID AND INTERSTING thread. Moderators please feel free to wipe this post.

 

[Tater Salad]

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 used to read the newsletter when I wanted downtime and their weren't any new posts in the forum. Now, I click past it in my e-mail and forget to go back. After being on the computer all day, if I'm gonna be on the computer, it's at the forum.

I think there's a lot to be said for the old fashioned paper forms of communication.

As for marketing, I agree with those that believe you should market while the market it hot. Everybody has at least 1 client they wouldn't mind replacing, right? Why not look for one when they need you more than you need them? Sounds logical to me. Nothing feels worse than pounding the streets when the clients don't need you. Go for it, Jeff!

 

[Damon Young]

If you can't ask questions on a forum, just where should you go?


I would prefer to read the hardcopy. I go blind staring at my monitor all the time and its nice having something printed to read when I stop for a sandwich, sandwiched inbetween four inspections.

Damon

 

[Head Surfer]

Originally posted by Rich Hahn@Jul 17 2003, 11:35 PM
Lee Ann
Your going to telling me
Oh gee Im so scarred I havent been told on since 6th grade!

My 2 cents is all I can offer

Jeff Horton Posts all his questions here good bad, easy hard,he needs some back bone, hes been doing this long enough he shouldnt be asking US for every single business or non business question. If everyone did that god help us.

Just my 2 cents
Ciao for now!

Rich,

This forum is not a free for all. We all get along and are respectful of each other. We do not attack individuals because they ask questions. Your posts on this topic contributed nothing except to agitate.

This is your invitation to join us in useful participation and in getting along with other posters if you want to continue to post here. Please read our posting rules here:

http://appraisersforum.com/rules.htm

If you have further comments about this do not post them here, but send me a private email. If you can not accept our posting rules, let me know and I will remove your account. Of if you continue to post abrasive posts I will block your forum access.

Now back to your original comment. You state that "all appraisers you know are 2-3 weeks behind". How about the appraisers in other areas that you don't know? As an appraiser you should know that the market differs all over the country. Yes, most appraisers are busy, but many are looking for ways to get increased business when the market turns as it always does. In other words they are thinking ahead and preparing. Also, in some smaller markets, business may be a little slower.

So when you participate in posts try to answer questions in a helpful manner that contributes to the discussion, and not to degrade the poster for even asking a question.