Posted by Leon_CO on 9/26/08 12:56pm
Msg #265484

Brochure marketing

I mentioned in a different topic that I did notary work for a real estate investment company. At the end of the closing the owner was really interested in learning more about the services I offered, my availability, etc. I gave him my business card, and it shows that I have a website. But that requires sitting at a computer and getting on the internet.

I'm sure he would have been very receptive to having a brochure. It's something I'm working on. I have several links to sites that give tips on writing a brochure. Here is one that I found helpful:

http://marketing.about.com/od/directmarketin1/a/brochmktg.htm

The software that I intend to use is Microsoft Publisher. Here is a link to an article on creating a brochure using it:

http://www.microsoft.com/education/persuasionbrochure.mspx

Good luck.

Reply by LKT/CA on 9/26/08 1:12pm
Msg #265486

I've found that fliers and brochures just get shoved in a drawer, or become scratch paper or get filed under "T". What works for me and what has been requested is to meet face-to-face, even if it's just for 5 minutes and go over services, availability, etc. I think it's more than just what you do, but "who you are" that will make a good impression.

Reply by Merry_CA on 9/26/08 1:17pm
Msg #265487

Great information Leon.... Good brochures are pricey, but well worth the money if it is well designed and printed on really good paper.... don't cut corners where graphic arts, paper quality and printing are concerned.... don't simply print yourself, even with your color laser printer unless you are very savvy with Photoshop and Publisher.

Reply by Leon_CO on 9/26/08 1:19pm
Msg #265488

** don't simply print yourself **
-----------------------------------------------
I agree. I'm considering having it done professionally.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/27/08 9:54am
Msg #265570

***don't simply print yourself, even with your color laser printer unless you are very savvy with Photoshop and Publisher.***

I design and print all of my marketing materials myself: business cards, stationery, brochures, invoices, etc. This is fairly easy for me, since I have a background in desktop publishing and used to teach it at Texas State University. However, there are lots of programs available today with excellent templates, so that those who do not have my background can produce a professional-appearing product with little or no experience.

There is a major advantage to doing that: You can alter the item at will. After I started writing reverse mortgages, I added "Reverse Mortgage Specialist" to most promotional materials. When I acquired an 800 number, I added that. Had I had everything professionally printed, the cost for all those changes would have been exorbitant. Because I print them myself, though, I print in small batches and can make changes at any time.

If you are interested in trying to do it yourself, I would recommend Publisher. I use PageMaker, which is a complex program used by publications such as newspapers, but have found Publisher to be quite adequate for ordinary use. I would recommend that you follow the templates pretty closely; unless you have some training in DTP design, things can otherwise wind up looking pretty amateurish.

Reply by Leon_CO on 9/27/08 10:08am
Msg #265571

** If you are interested in trying to do it yourself, I would recommend Publisher. **
----------------------------------------------------------
Hugh, thanks. I've decided to go with Publisher because it's part of the MS Office package. I wish I had your background in desktop publishing. Very impressive.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 9/26/08 1:47pm
Msg #265494

brochure

The Florida network sends a brochure with each returned package, and it has been received very well.
Of course, it's nice to meet face to face, however, most tc's I work for are not within a geographic area allowing face to face contact.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 9/26/08 3:08pm
Msg #265506

Good advice Leon. I've used brochures for the last 4 years. I don't "mass mail" them, but I do mail them upon request for information, and I hand them out to new clients. I'm talking general notarization clients as well as loan/mortgage clients, as I do alot of notarizations for local businesses.

I designed my own brochures using Print Shop, then saved it as a pdf file and uploaded it to a well known printing company for printing. I'm very satisfied with their quality and their pricing is good. When they have free offers I get it all!!! Matter of fact, I just got a free magnet for my new car - looks great!

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 9/26/08 10:34pm
Msg #265548

Business cards

I learned a lot about business cards from the free tutorial at www.greatfxbusinesscards.com

I order my cards from the same place as Barbara & Leon, but this free tutorial really helped me design my card for 2009.

Business cards are the one of the most inexpensive and best ways to advertise!

Never be without one and be sure to always include your business card at the top of the loan documents you return.

I usually return 4 business cards the very first time I work for a company.

I want them to be passed around the office or if it is a signing company I want the title, escrow, lender to ask the singing company to hire me again.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 9/26/08 11:37pm
Msg #265549

Re: Business cards in retrun pkgs...

"...be sure to always include your business card at the top of the loan documents you return."

Be careful with this. If you are contracted with a SS to do a loan and requested to send the loan pkg back to the title company, in my opinion this is not professional. It can be interpreted as treading on SS territory. You are under contract with the SS to get the job done, not try to take away their clients.

If you are the type of person that thinks this doesn't matter, then you'll most likely lose that SS's business and that's your problem. Personally I think it is unethical.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/27/08 2:34am
Msg #265553

Re: Business cards in retrun pkgs...

***Personally I think it is unethical.***

Since when is it unethical in a business relationship to provide a business card to a party who has dealt with you?

You may be concerned, as others on this forum have noted, that a signing service would draw the conclusion you are attempting to pirate their customers. I personally think that is a vastly overblown concern, and I further don't want to work for a signing service that has that little confidence in me and so little confidence in the caliber of the service it provides. I not only send a card, I send a promotional item with packets. Currently, it is a calculator; in the past, I have used Swiss Army type knives, pens, magnets, and pocket calendars. I've never had anyone complain, and if anyone did, I would not have to be told I'm being taken out of their database: I'd ask to be removed. If I am going to work through a signing service, I want both title companies and lenders to know who I am so they will request me from the signing service.

As to whether it is unethical, that borders on the absurd. Distribution of business cards is a part of business culture, and is just good business.

Reply by BarbaraL_CA on 9/27/08 12:33pm
Msg #265577

Re: Business cards in retrun pkgs...

"Since when is it unethical in a business relationship to provide a business card to a party who has dealt with you? "

We're nitpickin' here - but as a 3rd party contracted by someone to do work for another is not a "direct" working realtionship. If you have a home improvement done by Company A who subcontracts the work to Company X, Y, and Z - you don't normally see business cards from the subcontractors.

I always send business cards to the companies I work for directly.

This is all just my business sense and practice, that doesn't mean you have to agree with me.

By the way, Renee is correct in the "ridiculous" side of it all is the title company still has your name on all the docs, and the return address information on the return package (if you're inclined to put it there)

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 9/27/08 1:15pm
Msg #265578

Re: Business cards in retrun pkgs...

***If you have a home improvement done by Company A who subcontracts the work to Company X, Y, and Z - you don't normally see business cards from the subcontractors.***

I have to disagree. Spent some time around homebuilding projects when I published a magazine here that served the homebuilding and architectural communities. Subs not only distribute their cards, on the larger projects many will even post signs out front advertising that they are doing the subbing.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 9/27/08 10:42pm
Msg #265605

Re: Business cards in return pkgs...

I agree completely with Hugh.

My opinion is if you can't figure out that the best and most inexpensive marketing tool is your business card than you just don't understand marketing.

Like Hugh, I also send back promotional items the first couple of times I work for a company and have many of the same items he has listed. If your going this route make sure all you promotional items are laser printed and not just ink printed on a item because your info will rub off with use.

If you can't afford any promotional items go to Target or Wal Mart and buy some hard candy ($2-$3 per bag) and toss a couple of pieces in the FedEx envelope; change the candy every month. People love this kind of stuff and get a kick out of it!! .

It sets you apart from other loan signers.

I love to market and it sounds like Hugh loves it also.

Of course you have to do go work to get rehired, that's a given in our industry as no amount of promotional goods will get you hired if you don't do the work correctly.

Reply by sue_pa on 9/27/08 7:00am
Msg #265560

Re: Business cards in retrun pkgs...

...It can be interpreted as treading on SS territory...

Do you think when a signing service receives an order from a title company that they say to them ... please check your database and if you've ever used a notary in Anytown, USA, please call them first before giving us the order? Why do people think this is a one way street?

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 9/27/08 7:52am
Msg #265563

What makes this so utterly ridiculous ...

...is that your name is ALREADY all over the docs, regardless. As far as soliciting other people's clients - after being in this business a few years, I've most likely already solicited OR worked for all 'their' clients - so who's zooming who?

Reply by MistarellaFL on 9/27/08 9:08am
Msg #265568

who's zooming who?

Gee, thanks Renee. Now I won't be able to get that song out of my head all day long, lol

Reply by LKT/CA on 9/27/08 5:41pm
Msg #265593

Nothing in Joan's post gives the impression of.......

....treading on SS territory.

Joan said this about business cards: "I want them to be passed around the office or if it is a signing company I want the title, escrow, lender TO ASK THE SIGNING COMPANY to hire me again."

Nothing in that statement even remotely implies one is "taking away SS clients" by including business cards with the package.

I also agree completely with Hugh Nations posts.

Reply by RickinVA on 9/27/08 4:10am
Msg #265554

Leon, when I was editing a news letter, I used MS Publisher and it did a fine job,
but the files were huge. I decided to convert it to PDF, but the free converters
wouldn't work. They didn't support Publisher. I called all the ones I could find and they
all said they didn't suppot that program, so I bought a converter that did work. My point
here is that IF you get stuck trying to convert the big Publisher files, I do have a converter
that works.

Rick

Reply by Leon_CO on 9/27/08 5:10am
Msg #265555

Rick, thanks for the tip. I'll keep that in mind. I'm considering taking the files to a copyshop like Kinkos and having them print the brochure.