HOME | ABOUT US | CONTACT US
YOUR INTERACTIVE MAGAZINE
REALTOR.ORG/realtormag
.


WEB REVIEW

Sales and Marketing
Stamped For Success

The U.S. Postal Service Web site can help real estate professionals launch direct-mail campaigns and tap into other marketing resources.

REVIEWED BY KELLY QUIGLEY

U.S. Postal Service: www.USPS.com

It’s not just for buying stamps anymore. At a time when the National Do-Not-Call Registry limits practitioners’ ability to prospect on the phone, the United States Postal Service’s Web site is a helpful source of free direct-mail marketing tips and templates to help you grow your business.

You’ll also find a wealth of moving resources to pass along to your clients, making their relocations as painless as possible. If you haven’t visited the site recently, it’s worth exploring. Here are links to some of the best features:

  • Direct Mail. Get an introduction to direct mail, including a rundown of different strategies, tips on managing your mailing database, and ideas to make your direct-mail piece more creative. You can either download a guide, order one to be mailed to you, or access all of the same information from the links on the left side of the page. All of the Tools & Resources for Direct Mail are free.
  • Business Mail 101. Are you considering sending out a newsletter to spread the word about your services? Take this online refresher course to learn how to qualify for bulk-mail rates or decide whether bulk is the best option for you. An interactive cost-benefit analysis will help you figure out if the lower rates outweigh the cost of buying a bulk-mailing permit and paying annual mailing fees.
  • NetPost CardStore. With this feature, you can buy and send cards to announce open houses, holiday parties, a new office location, or just to say thanks to new clients. You can personalize the cards online and send them to as many recipients as you like (rates are less expensive for higher-volume mailings). For an open house mailing to 30 people, for example, prices range from 89 cents for each 4.5-by-6-inch postcard to $1.79 for each custom-folded card, excluding postage. You can save your mailing list for future use.
  • Change of Address. This is a great tool to recommend to clients after they’ve purchased a home. Your clients can change their address online and set a date for mail forwarding, and access Helpful Tips for moving.

    ________________

    Suggest a Site For Review
    Every week, REALTOR® Magazine Online's Web review editor surfs the Internet to find sites useful to your business and off-hours lives. Have a favorite real estate Web site that you would like to see reviewed? Send your suggestions to mediatech@realtors.org. All decisions on which sites will be reviewed are completely at the discretion of REALTOR® Magazine Online's editorial staff. Please note: this column does not review individual practitioner or brokerage sites.

    The columns focus on free sites, as well as sites that charge for goods and services but still offer a free component of practical, sustained value to real estate practitioners, such as a free newsletter or industry news.
    ________________________
    REALTOR® Magazine Online's "Web Review" summarizes the content of Web sites that may be of interest to members. NAR and REALTOR® Magazine Online are not responsible for, and nothing in the Web site profile shall constitute NAR's or REALTOR® Magazine Online's endorsement of, the web site, its content, products and services, or its provider. NAR and REALTOR® Magazine Online believe the information contained in this profile was correct and accurate as of the time it was prepared, but do not warrant or guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information and are not responsible for changes in the Web site. Members should conduct their own independent review of the Web site prior to any use of Web site, its content, products, or services to determine their suitability for the member's intended purpose.

    Back to Top