Author Archives: Chris Stock

eNeighbors: High Relevancy

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Transparent Real Estate has a good post on hyperlocal websites as it relates to the real estate industry.

To sum it up, eNeighbors has the most highly relevant user-base to which a realtor can advertise.

Let me stress that eNeighbors is not a tool for realtors. Our customers are neighborhoods and their residents. Of course, that’s what makes us such a desirable target for realtors.

I’ve had several realtors ask me if they can pay for their neighborhood to get an eNeighbors website and my answer is always no. In order for a neighborhood website to be of value, we must establish a relationship with the board of directors or other neighborhood leadership.

However, if you’re a realtor and you want to get your neighborhood online. I would suggest that you email the board president and let them know about eNeighbors. Ask them to consider it at their next board meeting and forward them the eNeighbors website address – www.eNeighbors.com for more information.

Once the neighborhood is online, you can advertise for free in the classified section if you’re a resident. You can also sponsor the website to maximize your exposure whether you’re a resident or not.

eNeighbors Mailer

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eNeighbors is taking the hassle out of mailing website Welcome Letters to your neighborhood. We can now complete the mailings on your behalf.

Not only does this make it more convenient than ever for your neighborhood to “go online”, but it may also save you time and money.

You have two options: (1) Postcard, or (2) Security Envelope.

Postcard ($0.75/piece) Envelope ($1.09/piece)
100 pieces $100 $134
300 pieces $250 $352
500 pieces $400 $570
1000 pieces $775 $1115

*All prices above include the $25 processing fee. Note that special circumstances may exist that alter the quoted prices.

If you’re new to eNeighbors you can learn more about our sign up process on our website.

Help find Kelsey Smith

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kelsey0.jpgKelsey Smith of Overland Park, KS disappeared on Saturday, June 2 around 7:00 PM. She was last seen in the parking lot at the Target store at 97th and Quivira, behind the Oak Park Mall in Overland Park.

Volunteers will be meeting in the Target parking lot on 97th street behind Oak Park Mall to search for Kelsey. Search groups will be sent out at 10:00AM, 2:00PM and 6:00PM.

Residents in local communities will be handing out this flyer in an attempt to raise awareness and locate her. eNeighbors is posting email Bulletins to all its neighborhood websites in the area encouraging residents to participate in the search.

If you have any information please call the Overland Park police at 913-895-6300. Visit http://www.findkelsey.com/ for more information.

Update: Property Manager Listing

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If you have a property manager in your neighborhood, their contact information will now be listed on the “Board of Directors” page. This allows easy, one-click access for residents to communicate with their property manager. No action is required on your part. This update was made to your website automatically if you have a property manager. Below is a screen shot.

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eNeighbors Preferences

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You can now opt-out of receiving Community Feedback or Architectural Change Requests from your eNeighbors Profile. This update only applies to board members. To change your preferences, sign in, click on the Edit button above your profile, click Email Subscriptions, and select the appropriate radio buttons to opt-in or out of receiving Community Feedback or Architectural Change Requests.

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The power of positive feedback

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Because positive feedback is rare, it’s powerful when it happens. Complaints or negative feedback almost always outnumber positive feedback. There’s no doubt that the “squeaky wheel gets the grease”, at least in the US. It’s almost cultural for us to analyze and evaluate every experience and product and give feedback. Complaining is what we do to get better service.

Positive feedback is unnatural. You have to be really satisified to make the effort to tell someone how happy you are. So when I get a little positive feedback, it means a lot to me.

The following feedback was submitted to the Nottingham by the Green board of directors in regards to classified ad posted through eNeighbors:

“Thank you so much for providing this great service. I have already posted an ad and received feedback. This is a great tool for everyone concerned. Thanks again.”

-Paul and Debbie L. of Nottingham by the Green

Happy Birthday Phil!

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Phil is part of the founding team at eNeighbors. He has dedicated every spare moment of his time passionately pursuing the eNeighbors vision.

I have known Phil for the better part of 9 years and during that time I have worked for him and with him on a number of projects, from Sprint, to our web development company, and now eNeighbors.

What impresses me most about Phil his is intellect, work ethic, and incredible ability to communicate complex concepts to anyone. Most people see Phil’s talent in the design work that he does…you can quickly assess his capabilities as a designer simply by looking at his work. But once you get to know Phil as I have, you learn that his talent goes far beyond what you see on the screen.

Phil’s contribution to eNeighbors is immeasurable, and I am grateful for having him along for the amazing ride of entrepreneurship with all it’s ups and downs. There’s nothing like sharing in the struggle of pursuing a common dream.

Take a night off and have a happy birthday Phil. (No conference calls tonight!)

Do you get along with your neighbors?

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Neighbors have gotten a bad rap. It seems to me that the perception is people don’t like their neighbors.

But apparently, if you’re like most people, you get along very well with your neighbors, according to a study by Zogby International on “Homeownership and Association Living”.

“An overwhelming majority of association members get along well with their neighbors (86%), and a substantial two out of three (64%) get along very well. Among those who report conflict, pets are the most common source (28%).” -Zogby International*

So why do neighbors get such a bad rap? I think it has to do with your neighbor’s ability to affect your life so dramatically – positively or negatively. If you get the wrong neighbor it can make you seriously consider picking up and moving out of town. On the other hand, the right neighbor can become a good friend, provide a sense of place, or at the very least, someone you trust to watch the dog when you’re on vacation.

In my own experience, I find myself complaining about a neighbor because I don’t or can’t communicate with them. Every single issue that I’ve personally had with a neighbor has been resolved almost instantly when I knock on their door and talk to them.

Communication is critical in any relationship, and that includes the relationships that you have with your neighbors. One of the higher order goals that we have here at eNeighbors is to increase communication in our neighborhoods to make them better places to live, providing those who live there a sense of community. So, whether you get along with your neighbors or not, sign up for eNeighbors today. Who knows, maybe you’ll resolve a conflict or meet a new friend who has a lot in common with you.

*This study was commissioned by Community Associations Institute, a national organization devoted to common interest community research, development, and scholarship.

Direct mail is doomed

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If you didn’t get your Mother’s Day card out on time this year, it may cost you. Yes, it’s true, stamp prices are up to 41 cents effective on Monday. I know what you’re thinking. Who cares? It’s only a 2 cent increase.

You and I might not care when it comes to sending important mail. You can be sure that 2 cents isn’t going to stand in the way of my mom getting her Mother’s Day card.

But 2 cents is a huge hit to the direct mail industry. This means it costs more to send you advertisements in the mail that you don’t want. Which is good for you and me.

According to my grandfather, there used to be a time when getting the mail was actually the high point of a person’s day. People looked forward to walking to the post office, dialing in the combination to their box eagerly anticipating the contents inside, which was exclusively letters from friends and family – no junk mail.

Today, I find going to the mailbox painful. I can’t wait for the day when all my bills are delivered electronically so there will finally be no reason for me to check the mail ever again. Sometimes I almost feel stupid going to the mailbox. Like today for example. I went to the mailbox and found it stuffed from top to bottom with crap. I walk over to the community-provided trashcan and begin to throw each letter, flyer, and postcard in the trash one at a time, making sure that I’m not missing anything of value. When I’m done, I have no mail left in my hands. I have effectively wasted 2 minutes of my day moving trash from one box to another!

Did you know that:

  • Each year, 100 million trees are used to produce junk mail
  • 250,000 homes could be heated with one day’s supply of junk mail
  • Americans receive almost 4 million tons of junk mail every year

Junk MailIf increasing postage rates doesn’t stop direct mail, consumer behavior will. In my own experience, I just don’t pay attention to junk mail any more. And by the looks of my community trash can, neither does anyone else.

If everybody hates direct mail so much and it doesn’t work effectively as an advertising medium, then why do advertisers still do it? Quite frankly, because there’s no alternative…yet.

As eNeighbors continues to grow our national network of neighborhoods, we will become the first hyper-local network from which advertisers can contextually and geographically target their message.

This is a huge win for advertisers and consumers. Local advertisers will finally have a way to follow consumers online, and consumers can expect unobtrusive and highly relevant adverts that actually help them. For example, coupons to your neighborhood restaurant accompanied with restaurant ratings and reviews provided by your neighbors. Looking for a plumber? Find out who your neighbors use.

Until then, here’s to no more junk mail, and a very Happy Mother’s Day!