Not too long ago I wrote about writing newsletters in my blog, Newsletters - Getting Agents Attention. Many of you had questions and emailed me personally. Many of you decided to write your own newsletters after reading. I'm curious how they went. What were the results? Mine went out today again (probably by late today it can be viewed at www.Redesigningcharleston.com under news, articles & links - my webdesigner has to have time to update it). The results?
The newsletter went out at 9am to 1432 agents.... thus far (10:21am)
- 121 Agents have opened it
- 10 agents have 'clicked through' to before & after photos, links, etc
- I have received 5 phone calls
- I have made 2 vacant consult appts and 2 owner occupied consult appts, 1 agent simply wanted more information
My cost for the newsletter - $55. I call this successful marketing. Of course this is only 1 hr into the newsletter... my average open rate is around 400-500. There is still lots of time to pick up more business off of this one marketing piece.
*If deciding to use constant contact as your newsletter source, email me and I'll send you a referral for a $30 credit.... of course I get one too!
Melissa Marro, www.StagingAndRedesign.com - become a member of First Impressions today!
(First Impressions also offer a monthly newsletter to our members including the 2 main articles I use in my monthly newsletters for you to copy and use!)
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Melissa Marro, a published artist, now turned staging advocate and national speaker speaks her mind about real estate and the home staging industry. In her 'no holds barred' approach, audience members find real answers to the industries pitfalls and learn how to overcome them with tried and true information and guidance. With marketing as her passion, she turned a small home based business into one of the nation's largest home staging and training facilities. Selling her successful home staging company in January 2012, Marro is now a full time speaker and instructor for Staging And Resign and Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)'s trade events.
For more information on having Marro speak at one of your real estate functions, please contact her at 843.619.1593 or email at marro.melissa@gmail.com
Hi Melissa,
for all of us "newbies" or those considering Constant Contact, how did you get started with a contact campaign? Aside from your website, can you just "blanket send" to for instance, Realtors in your area?
Lois - blanket sending is in fact Spamming. I will admit that when I started, I did add the entire MLS directory to my first newsletter. I recieved a whopping 6 spam reports (out of 5500 agents). This was enough for them to call me on my list and I had to delete it. I then used only the "open" list from the first email as my new basis. I add, on average about 100 new email address a month. I typically add one new office a month and anyone who has contacted me in that month. I receive about 1 spam report every other month and 2-4 un-subscribes a month. I'm happy with those results. This is NOT my recommendation on how to do things, but it is how I got my list to where it currently is now.
Now I'm sure you can blanket send from your own email account, and I'm not sure how those are tracked, but you would miss out on the knowledge of open rates, click rates, ... basically ways to track whether your efforts are being noticed.
I got one major lead from my first newsletter, and my second one was scheduled to go out today, but I noticed it needed a bit of revision.
I live in a rather small area, so I only have 300 agents that I send it to.
Hi Melissa, I tried Constant Contact and they assured me they would find out if I used "gleaned" email addresses. So, I'm doing my newsletter via snail mail, at a huge expense, but Constant Contact can do without me because if they are a marketing tool, how the heck can you market to people ONLY if you have their permission to use their email addresses? Guess this is one unsucess story.
Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!
Melissa - I just started using constant contact by signing up for their free 60 day trial. I am forever trying to find EASY ways to do things so I love to play before I buy. I decided to begin with 80 agents in my area who are heavy listers and I did target some that simply have excessively long market times on some of their active listings. My first piece was a newsletter, had one opt out and spam report, I only had twelve open and one click through (and honestly that was me!) I sent it on a Thursday, but a little late in the day. . .so in reevaluating, I tried again this week.
Next e-mail was a promo piece I call "Why Stage?" It highlights the way a stager can benefit a Realtor. I scheduled this deliver for Wednesday morning. Much better this time 28 opens and 5 click throughs. I know it doesn't sound like many, but I only sent out 80 copies! The best part about this system is that I can see who opened and when. I have four realtors who have opened the e-mail at least three times each. . .do I sense interest!! I will be calling them!
Thanks sharing this fabulous tool.
Melissa,
Did you receive any negative comments about your handwritten notes? I'm curious if anyone felt vulnerable that you were able to see that they opened it, and sent them a note because of it. Like spying - yes I know we can check, and people most likely know that we can, but this makes it obviously so.
I had several people open my newsletter - some opened it 17 times!! I'm thinking I should follow up with something.
Alyse - I've never had anything but positive response from my handwritten letters. Most people are so surprised when anyone takes the time they are impressed. I've had business months later because they received the card with my business card & have kept the card. I think any reason you have to send something handwritten to an agent with one of your cards should be taken advantage of.
After my first newsletter, I sent a handwritten card and a business card to EVERY SINGLE PERSON who opened the newsletter. It went something like, "Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter. I appreciate the opportunity to help you provide excellent customer service. Please let me know when I can be of service to your or your clients."
Melissa Marro, www.StagingAndRedesign.com - become a member of First Impressions today!
Thanks Melissa for all your amazing information. I have signed with constant contact and am on my way. Just curious on how you obtained all your e-mails for your initial newsletter. i am finding this so time consuming and advice?
Lisa Allen
Lisa,
I obtained most of my email addresses from MLS. Beyond that I don't think there is a quick way. If you aren't working consistently though, this is a good way to spend your time....
Melissa Marro, www.StagingAndRedesign.com - become a member today!