I do a large mailing (over 2000) every year and YES it pays off!  I have been sending out a magnetic calendar to every client, family, friend and SOI for 27 years.  And I can honestly say it brings me NEW BUSINESS every year that makes it so worth the investment.  It is good ROI for me! 

And for the stamps ... I purchased thousands of dollars in FOREVER STAMPS a number of years ago as an investment knowing how many I use every year and the many dollars i would save.  That too has paid off!

Direct Mail is still effective. If it wasn't I wouldn't be receiving so many postcards. YES, I do think stamps will rise in price. It's what I buy a couple of hundred dollars of the forever stamps

Post cards are still effective ways to reach clients and I think the cost of postage will keep going up; we are living in inflationary times.

I believe direct mail still works.

Yes, there will always be rate increases to cover the pensions for USPS retiring workers.  

Instead of postcards I would suggest you send thanksgiving cards 😎

I think direct mail can work if it's targeted to your niche/target customer.

Yes, stamps will go up at least once in 2023. Buy lots of Forever Stamps!

I know it does.  People walk in out office with it in their hands.

Yes I do if it is targeting on a regular basis. The 'shotgun method' has never been a good way to go.

I'm sure if you go to the USPS site they will be able to tell you if they expect an increase.

1. YES!

2. Yes, don't care, would still buy them.

3. Great idea, I get started on mine in late October too! The 2023 Success Plan

I'm a green realtor and try to print as little as it possible. I will rather call/text/email or send a little gift. 

No, but the recycle bin loves it.

The only thing coming down will be rain and you'll still get soaked!

If you buy enough forever stamps today they won't go up.  I bought a few thousand when forever stamps were out and had the first rate increase around the corner.  I still have lots.

And it absolutely does.  I mail out several times a year to a few thousand and always always get business from it.

Yes, direct mail is still a good marketing method.

Will postage costs go up next year? I would not venture a guess.

Our church does a "New Movers" postcard mailing every month with about 300 cards a month. The card, when taken to a local restaurant, gives them a free coffee and cookie. This has brought a very minimal number of people to come to worship. I believe the church is wasting money Will Hamm . Direct Mail did NOT work for me when I was active.

The costs of stamps are not even on my budget radar, Will. 

I have hundreds of forever stamps.  Even if I did not have an abundance of stamps, I would not be too concerned about the ongoing and continued increase in the cost of stamps. 

YES!  Stamps are my biggest marketing expense.  Unlike email campaigns which can be forwarded to junk, mail is physically handled and becoming more rare.

I think direct mail - consistently done (key concept!) - definitely works.  I also think that the USPS will keep asking us for more and more money as long as they can.... 

I remember the direct mail guru, Barbara Todaro,  regularly blogging on the benefits of direct mail. Believe her daughter still does with great success.

I am sure that it is effective since so few do it.

My first mailing got me three transactions from one house.  That was awesome.  The rest of my mailings... nada.

I don't do mailings anymore.  I figure stamps will continue to rise.

Direct mail depending how it is done. If artsy, busy, selling & loud, trash can! Yes, to stamps going up? How else can they pay all those pensions?  

Yes, indeed it works. There are many agents who still use it as their primary marketing tool. Like anything else consistency, message and audience matter. I do believe the costs of stamps will keep going up. Look into a postal permit to reduce direct mail costs. 

Targeted Direct Mailouts work well as long as you choose the right homes and subject and include something of value.  The key is sending it out regularly, about three or four time a year.

Will Hamm  I do direct mailers with a company called RSP large jumbo cards  - Just listed and sold cards  - People keeps them and call me when they are ready to sell I have had wonderful results. So the answer to your question is YES I think they work with follow-up on the internet with blogs 

With all the advertising noise out there, I think direct mail has made a comeback.

As a firm, we hired an Artificial Intelligence programmer to determine where we should send postcards and direct mailers to optimize our business. It saves us on mailers and has higher than average response rate.

Great question!
Have a couple of friends, (not agents) collect all the real estate marketing that comes through their mail box. Use your own mail box also. (Most agents delete agents from their direct mail marketing into their farm.)
Now use the MLS and find out how much business has been generated for those agents in the respective communities you and your friends live in.
A well-recognized agent, a perceived 800 lb gorilla in a 800 resident community actually did NO BUSINESS there. Yet so many thought she did. That is the power of direct mail marketing.
I suggest that before making the spend, the best measurable intent must be understood. If the UPS is exceptional, then a direct 'Call me to sell your house' can work.
A better response rate will be realized if the narrative pushed the button of what is on their mind at that moment. Today, a narrative regarding a buyer/seller safety net gets real responses. The 500K and the 1Mil markets have different buttons.
Direct mail works, but clearly not for everyone.