The best way I've found for REALTORS to send out Christmas / Holiday Cards

Here's a priceless tip for those of you in the Real Estate business (REALTOR, Title, Mortgage, Appraiser, Inspector - etc.): I'm going to share a 'secret' with you that you may not have seen previously. It's a great tool for your business for the following reasons:

1. It's FAST! Time is money - or so they say - right? In your busy profession the #1 reason given for not effectively following up or keeping in touch with clients is 'Too Busy'.
2. It's INEXPENSIVE! Let's face it, we are 'nickel-and-dimed' nearly to death in this business with website fees, marketing costs, affiliations, dues, and on and on it goes. The LAST thing we need to do is spend FULL MARKET PRICE on our Christmas and Holiday cards.
3. It's SIMPLE! Maybe it's just me, but complex is soooo last year ;-) I need things to just 'work', and work right the first time, too. Otherwise, the 'fast' and 'inexpensive' parts don't really matter - if I have to do it twice, what's the point really?

As many of you know, my lovely bride spent years as a Virtual Assistant and support contact for REALTORS. At the peak of that role she serviced 900 Real Estate Professionals in a 5 state market, assisting them with everything from farming campaigns to website editing. (Yes, she IS awesome, Thank You -- and yes, I married 'up'. :-)

One of the tools she often used and recommended to REALTORS turned out to be a great way to send out your Christmas Cards (Holiday Cards). It was so great in fact, that we have used it both personally and in our business for the past 2 years.

(Click Here for Examples: http://www.facebook.com/SendARealCard)

Here's how it works:

* Load your Contact Manager: You load your contacts from Outlook, Top Producer, Sharper Agent, Act!, etc. directly into the contact manager - a quick and easy import and you're done.

* Create your card: Using just your computer and this online system (no other software required), you create the perfect card for the occasion. Powerful image editing and layout software is included with the system, so it's EASY to load a custom photo, personal note(s), - anything you want to include (Click Here for Examples: http://www.facebook.com/SendARealCard)

* Click Send: Choose the contacts or group that you want the card to go out to, click 'send' to calculate the postage and cost - confirm and SEND. From there, everyone gets a personally addressed, 1st Class Mail Christmas Card from you - in YOUR Handwriting - (even with your signature), written to them by name. It's personal, powerful and effective.

Last year, Nikki created 2 separate Christmas Cards to go out - 1 for close family and friends, and the other for business associates, network contacts and clients. (Personal & Professional) In just over 45 minutes she had sent out over 200 cards - REAL Printed Cards via 1st Class Mail - and never left her home office desk to do it!

Now that's just cool...and now you know, too.

So, if you are considering sending out Christmas Cards in any quantity this year - you really must check out the system. A standard greeting card costs as little as 62 cents + a stamp, and a full-blown photo card with a family letter typed in (5 panels of full color printing and text) is just $1.24 + postage!

Yes, I may be cheap, but I'm effective, too. - And now that Nikki is using this system for our follow up and Christmas Cards, Santa is very very happy. :-)

For more information - send Nikki an email or FB message. You can also call her directly (her info is Here: http://www.Facebook.com/SendARealCard). Nikki is an expert user and trainer for the system, and can answer all of your questions! She also works with REALTORS to get their marketing paid for - making it free to send each month - via referrals. Be sure to let her know if you are interested in getting paid for referrals, too.

New get those Christmas Photos done and let's send out some GREAT cards to Family, Friends, and Clients this year!

-Tim!

Tim Mancuso is a musician, public speaker and the former VP Sales & Marketing for Social Media startup ViewMyLife. He is focused on training and coaching business owners and entrepreneurs on leveraging traditional and new media to Stay in Touch with their clients, prospects, and key influencers. Follow On Twitter @TimMancuso or connect on Linkedin.com and Facebook.com



Cost vs. Results - working out your ROI

Too often in marketing and advertising we focus on the 'cost' of the program or run. While this is essential to operating a sound business, the real consideration must be the question: 'What is my return on this investment / ad spend?'

As an example, I'll tell the tale of 2 Brokers (Real Estate - but you can fill in your own industry here as well). Let's call one Big Joe and one Little Joe. Big Joe and Little Joe both had the same need: marketing effectively to short-sale prospects. The solution they were presented was to automate a custom marketing campaign via postcard / US Mail to the weekly NED (Defaulted Loans) list in their local market area(s).

Now, the cost to set this up was fairly inexpensive, but it required commitment on both Big and Little Joe's part to engage with their target audience via campaign, over time.

Little Joe decided to send only the 1st mailing, and then determined that since he hadn't gotten a response he would discontinue his effort (the campaign).

Big Joe on the other hand, remained committed to his original plan and continued his campaigns over the course of 3 mailings (3 separate groups, with a 5-card campaign to each group member over a 6-week period).

Big Joe had the proper perspective: To fully assess the ROI on the program, he needed to allow the program to 'run it's course'. From there, he could later easily evaluate the effectiveness (ROI) and determine if it was worthwhile to continue with that specific marketing effort.

So what was his ROI you ask? Well, for Little Joe, the return was Nothing. In fact, considering his initial investment of time, money and effort, he actually LOST money with his campaign. Big Joe later shared that he 'earned a $4,500 commission from a 59-cent postcard' and that his continued marketing will be paid for in full for the next 24 months and beyond.

In actuality, Big Joe invested more than that 59 cents - but you see his perspective and the difference.

Making the phone ring and getting that ONE deal from your marketing is what the goal is - every time.

ROI is essential. Remember to count more than the cost when assessing your marketing plan. Count the Return on Investment as well.

Call Nikki today to learn more about 'what works' - - and also what doesn't. It will save you time, money, and trouble.

*****

Best to You!
-Tim!


Tim Mancuso is a speaker, trainer, and author working with business owners and real estate professionals throughout the US. He is the Co-Founder of the GLS, and is currently working on his upcoming book on relationship marketing for business owners.