Marketing

I know this isn't an "energy efficient" topic but I just had to make a comment about a letter I received recently.

For the holidays, I sent a new calendar to my family, friends, and past clients to thank them for their business, wish them a Merry Christmas, and hope they think of me if anyone they know needs a Realtor in the near future.

I had a few leftover calendars so I thought I would send them to some local folks who might appreciate the business we are in- selling healthy, energy efficient homes.

Keep in mind that sending yearly calendars is a common practice among Realtors and, in this market, we need to find any way we can to ferret out folks who might be considering getting in the market. Imagine, if you will, YOU working 40 hours a week and not getting paid until your account "closes." IF your account closes. Not a fun career all the time. When you fairly new and you're trying to create a steady client base, we need all the help we can get.

The letter I received back was ironic in soooo many ways.

First, the letter was a tad bitter. Instead of addressing me directly like the letter I sent explicitly made clear, they sent it TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN in all caps.

Second, it was from a local mental health organization. Tsk, tsk, mental health workers playing mind games? One would think that they would be kind, gentle, thoughtful people. But instead, they took the time out to express their crabbiness that I had sent a letter to a docctor who does not practice at their facility anymore. Fair enough- a nice way to say that is "please take us off your mailing list." Looks like someone needs etiquette lessons....? Or maybe even some counseling themselves.

Finally, the ironies of all ironies, the very end of the letter said they were trying to save trees by not receiving unsolicited mail. That's pretty funny they decided to kill a tree by responding to me via snail mail instead of writing me an email, which was available in my original letter.

So a couple things have been accomplished here- if anyone ever asked me, a fairly linked-in and connected community figure, where I'd recommend to get behavioral health or disability services, I would make sure they avoid this place. Secondly I wonder where they market themselves. I know for a fact they have a website so obviously they think there is some value to marketing.

Lighten up, people! You would not hurt my feelings by sending me an email asking me to take you off my mailing list. But you do yourself some damage by acting like an ass in a response letter.

Merry Christmas! Hope your 2011 brings you less anxiety and more meditation.