Mining for prospects can seem hum drum after a while if all you know how to do is mail postcards every few months or so. Not only are you bored, your contacts will be bored, too. And, if you aren't adding to your prospects, you're just tilling the same soil over and over. Now is the time to add some imagination to your prospecting.

Give your mailers a new look

Venture over to http://www.coachingcorner.com and take a peek at their 50+ FREE downloadable direct response post cards and letters for FSBOs, expireds, farming, etc. You might gain some valuable ideas and/or tips there! You will also find some great step-by-step systems related to Internet marketing!

Personalize your mailings

To separate your mailings from the pack and increase the chances of getting your mail opened and read - - personalize them. How? Handwrite the addressee's name and address and/or send your mailings in an invitation-style envelope. Use your computer to print the envelopes in a handwriting font or in a courier font which gives the illusion the envelope was actually printed via a typewriter. Personalization can increase the response of your mailings 10x or more simply because it gets your mailing opened. Keep it in mind. Getting your mail opened is the first, most-critical goal you need to reach.

Increase Your Presence at the local Chamber

If you are a buyer's agent, contact your local Chamber of Commerce for lists of people who have requested to receive information about your area. Then send them each a letter congratulating them for inquiring about the area and provide some information about yourself and your services. You will also want to make a specific offer of some type to give them ample reason to contact you.

Use the Internet

You should also research the Internet and find all the sites which serve your local area. Browse the sites to determine if they have provisions for capturing inquires. If they do, call or email the webmaster and make an arrangement to obtain these leads as well.

Holidays can bring joy all year

Everyone sends holiday cards... but have you ever thought of sending an after holiday card? It works great because people always enjoy receiving greeting cards and since yours came after the holidays when no one else is sending them... it will be remembered much more than if your card was just one of many.

One catchy idea is to mail a postcard with two photos... one of Santa Claus and one of yourself. Above the photo put the caption: Two People Who Have Changed History...

Under the photos, put: One is known for touching the lives of families, and making dreams come true. The other is Santa Claus.

Merry after-Christmas. Call me. Let's talk about getting your home sold this spring.

Just moved cards can be a gold mine

When your sellers close escrow and begin to pack, give them a number of "just moved" cards to send out notifying their friends and family of their new address. If possible, include a color photo of their new home as well. Your text might read:

The Smith Family has moved to 456 Forest Street, New Town, USA 00000 Thanks to the fine marketing skills of Roger Realtor and his team at Dynamic Marketing Realty. You can reach Roger at 555-5555 or visit his website at www.roger.com.

"Just Moved" cards make a fine, useful gift which effectively endorses your services and provides free exposure when your clients mail them.

You might also consider optimizing this technique by providing this as a "just moved notification service" wherein your clients simply give you the names and addresses of those they wish to inform of their move, you enter into a database, address and mail. The benefit to you... you increase your database of monthly contacts with people already predisposed to doing business with you because they know someone who has done business with you previously.

Be an agent who gives feedback

After a broker's open, send each listing agent a thank you note for their efforts in holding the property open for your inspection, offer feedback if appropriate, and ask them to extend your thanks to the owner. The idea? You want and need to establish yourself in the minds of your fellow agents as a serious, on-top-of-things player. Make it a point to establish a network of local agents who will cooperate with you when you most need their cooperation. Make friends. Make strategic alliances. Make an effort to become known. It's a little idea with a big potential for payoff!

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Published: May 14, 1999

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Robert Fore is the president and CEO for Realty Profit Systems. He is a nationally recognized marketing trainer and strategist who specializes in combining the proven principles of direct response marketing with the cost-effective, worldwide penetration of the internet. Realty Profit Systems publishes the Online Real Estate Marketing Report at http://www.hometeam2000.com and offers a free, weekly e-zine of real estate marketing tips at http://www.top10realty.com.