U.S. Consumers spent more than $208 Trillion in 2008.  This is according to the Direct Marketing Association.*  That number is expected to increase by 3.5 percent in 2009. Of the money consumers spent, more than 52 percent was generated by direct Marketing.  Think about that!  Over half of the buying done in the United States comes from Direct Marketing (Mail and Internet). That's over $100 Trillion!  If you are not doing direct marketing, I have one question for you: WHY NOT??  You're missing over half your market!

Consider these facts:

• Direct mail remains the primary direct marketing method.
• US consumers receive an average of 26.2 pieces of any type of mail per week.
• About 81 percent of households read or scan advertising mail sent to their homes.
• The average person spends more than 34 hours between first visiting an online retailer and purchasing a product or service.
• Ninety (90) percent of Internet users are email users.
• Eighty-four (84) percent of consumers say they open email offers.

Did you get that?  Over eighty percent of your prospects read or scan the junk mail they get, and or, look at email offers sent to them!  Have 80% of the Realtors with whom you are networking passed your business card along to each and everyone of their customers?  I doubt it.  Don't get me wrong!  The smart mortgage broker is working all their markets: current customer and referrals, Realtors, affiliated professionals, networks and direct marketing.  But, what astounds me is that many brokers ignore direct marketing.  It's a shame. They are ignoring over half their market!

Don't be half as effective as you could be.  Get into direct marketing.  Your competition obviously does!

Thanks for reading...  Matt