Where Real Estate is
About Community!
The Neighborhood Pin
FAQ
Most questions about The Neighborhood Pin can be answered right here in this guide. If there's something that isn't covered or you need additional information about the program, don't hesitate to call us at 973-232-5038.
The Neighborhood Pin is a postcard subscription purchased as a 30- or 60-day mailing plan. It provides the agent’s farm area with something unique and valuable, with consistency and simplicity. Unlike the average newsletter, The Pin has shelf-life and is easy-to-read. The eye-catching layout and rich content make it something the homeowner can look forward to receiving regularly.
Yes! Direct mail is a primary driver of our program, and the reasons are quite simple:
-
Nearly every US residence has a mailbox or receives mail regularly, and 92% check their mail daily
-
62% of Americans over 18 say direct mail has inspired them to take action* (Data Marketing Association)
-
Those between the ages of 35 and 54 prefer—and are more likely to respond to—postcard mailings (sweet spot for real estate)* (Data Marketing Association)
-
More consumers have become disillusioned with digital channels because of content negativity and a lack of trust
-
Yes. This program is set up to process with the USPS as EDDM®* (A Registered Trademark of the USPS). EDDM mailings are shipped directly to the Post Offices vs. going through sorting facilities to reduce handling, and in turn, the mailing cost. Every address in a ZIP code is part of a single carrier route. The carrier for any route you mail to will then place one of each mailing in the mailboxes in that desired carrier route.
Agents must provide a credit card to keep on file and sign our payment agreement. Once the agent approves the initial cost billing will take place automatically according to their chosen plan, so it’s essential to keep this credit card up to date. Design to the Pin will only start upon successful settlement of payment. There is a $15 fee for each declined billing attempt.
The Neighborhood Pin provides each client exclusivity on the carrier routes for our annual subscribers. As such, the commitment to mailing is firm and the credit card on file will be billed a minimum of 10 months for the annual program. With an annual program, we understand that you may need some flexibility, so we are making 2 months optional but not consecutive. We believe that makes this a win-win partnership. Those doing the 6-month program will be billed for all six months within the calendar year.
All annual subscriptions have priority on selections for open carrier routes. For our 6 month subscribers, your route is exclusive to you in the month of your mailing. We have predetermined sequences for 6 month subscribers:
- Subscription 1: January, March, May, July, September, November
-
Subscription 2: February, April, June, August, October, December
Turnaround is usually 6-12 days depending upon your location and the quantity of the mailing. We'll give you a more accurate estimation before mailing.
One of the many benefits of using EDDM is mailing on an oversized postcard. It's a whopping 9" x 6.25", and is printed on a beautiful super-glossy 14PT postcard!
Each new issue will vary agent to agent, but the basic monthly updates will include:
-
One or two ticket(s) with a local event*
-
One local pro sports schedule*
-
One market update list of local recent home sales (provided from your MLS provider)
-
One to three feature property transactions with photo, status and banner relevant to the farm area. These must be your transactions, provided via email from your MLS**
*Depends upon layout selection.
**Some brokerages may give permission to use a property that is not your transaction.-
The most powerful images you can place here are of your actual transactions in the area. When there are no transactions to display, we can provide some great real estate-related stock photography and messages (additional design charges may apply). The agent may also choose to provide local photography (landmarks, parks, lakes, etc.) to enhance the “local” feel of the card. Photos with clients/family are also a good idea. The option to show one property with three different photos is also available.
That depends on your Agency, state and local regulations, but in most cases the answer is ABSOLUTELY!
We can design the co-sponsor's ad for a fee, or we can accept a hi-res PDF file from the co-sponsor's marketing department (templates are available if needed). We can provide space for a 50/50% split in cost, or a 75/25% split. The templates are designed to equally proportion the amount of contribution to equal the amount of advertising space. Each participating client will be billed separately, noting the total cost of the mailing and referencing the partner and percentage clearly on each invoice. Written sign off of proof via email from both parties will be required for any sponsored newsletters.
The final ad sizes are:
-
One Ad Space (agent alone or sponsor alone)
8" x 4.5" -
Two Ad Spaces (agent + 1 sponsor, or 2 sponsors
3.65" wide x 4.5" tall
-
Three Ad Spaces (agent + 2 sponsors, or 3 sponsors)
Two 3.5" wide x 2.15" tall spaces
One 3.65" wide x 4.5" tall space -
Four Ad Spaces (4 sponsors only)
3.5" wide x 2.15" tall
-
We use EDDM® (Every Door Direct Mail®), allowing us to “lock up” your selected carrier routes' mailing area. EDDM mails to entire carrier routes, which are the mailing routes of each postal carrier averaging between 250-1,000 mailboxes. No lists, labels or addresses are ever needed. We do all the work! Most important here is that when you choose a carrier route for your Neighborhood Pin, another agent’s Neighborhood Pin will never show up there.
Yes. There is a $59.95 one-time setup fee for the basic layout, which works for most agents. Any customization of the current design will be billed at the rate of $80.00/hour. There are limits to the customization we can accommodate, and requests will be reviewed on an individual basis to determine if the customization will fit within our brand parameters. For the basic layout, we incorporate any awards, designations, logos, business cards, etc. Once your design is complete, there are no layout changes to the postcard unless Prism updates the design style, or you request custom design.
Hardly anything! Send us two reports from your MLS provider to NeighborhoodPin@prismdc.com
-
REPORT #1 (market update)
-
Send ONLY 12-15 SETTLED properties for the area
-
Send as a customer 1-line report (if possible)
-
Note how far back the comps go in the email; 30 days, 60 days, etc.
-
REPORT #2 (for the three center photos)
These must be YOUR properties. Send an MLS report for 1-3 properties for the center photo array. If you do not send a second MLS report or request a custom design to that area, we automatically place lifestyle images in the three photo frames. There will be a $15.00 fee to make any changes to the photo array at that point.
-
Yes, in one of two ways:
If you live on the carrier route, you will automatically receive one in the mail.
If you don’t live on the carrier route, you will not automatically receive one. However, you still have the option to receive samples in the mail for $2.50 (each sample will arrive in a large manila envelope via First Class Mail).
While there is no obligation or a cancellation fee, please note: If you cancel or fail to pay the subscription for any reason, that carrier route will immediately be made available to the next agent on the waiting list. Cancellation must be made before work begins on the current mailing, or time spent may be billed.
-
Oversized 9" x 6.25" postcard size
-
Minimal effort for you
-
Attention-grabbing
-
Heavy, super-glossy paper stock
-
High quality printing
-
Fantastic content
-
Consistent mailing
-
Engaging & relevant information
-
Extended shelf-life
-
