Update News
for October 2017
Here is a quick run-down on what you will find in this bulletin:
November 6, 2016, 12PM EST Term4Sale Bumping Week Begins
Standard License Subscribers Option for 3 More Local Zip Codes
There Is Still A Shortage of Zip Codes
One Other Way To Get More Local Zip Codes
The One For Three Guarantee
Reviewing Zip Codes Limits For 2018
These topics will be dealt with in more detail throughout this
bulletin.
November 6, 2016, 12PM EST Term4Sale Bumping Week Begins
Every Windows PC subscriber of Compulife has the opportunity to obtain 3 local zip codes which give you special options for listings in your local area. Those who purchase Compulife Basic (formally the "mobile" edition), pay less and cannot get zip code listings. Most basic purchasers are those who ONLY want the web quoting option(s). We require agents who are listed at www.term4sale.com to have the better Windows PC software.
IMPORTANT: We define your "local" area as a circle with a radius of 20 miles from where you are located, based upon the address that we have for you in our database. We will "stretch" the radius where it is obviously from the Zip Code Analyzer that you are located in a rural, sparsely populated area. Decisions in that regard are based upon what we find/learn here:
Term4Sale - Zip Code Analyzer
Within that 20 mile radius you can use the 3 local zip codes that you obtain with your Windows PC subscription, to BUMP people who paid to be listed in your area. BUMPing can only occur in the week following the first Monday in November. This year bumping week begins:
Monday, November 6th, 2016 (12:00pm EST)
You snooze, you lose.
That day will be very busy for us, and so we encourage you to do some preparation in advance. Make sure you have your list of possible, better zip codes, and if you call and do not reach us that day, email your requests to:
service@compulife.com
Do NOT email before:
Monday, November 6th, 2016 (12:00pm EST)
Any requests sent by email, on or after the above date/time, will be honored on a first come, first serve basis.
The reason for the choice of date is that all additionally purchased zip codes are sold on an annual, calendar year basis. If you pay to buy additional zip code listings, those zip code listings are your's for that year. Further, you will have first right of refusal to keep those listings and renew them for the following year.
The only way you can lose a previously purchased zip code is if you get BUMPed from that zip code. You can ONLY* be bumped if someone who is physically located within 20 miles of that zip code decides to use one of their local zip codes (most only have 3) to BUMP you out. If that happens then you will NOT be invoiced for the renewal of that zip code for 2018.
So the first priority for EVERY subscriber is to ensure that they have taken full advantage of the ability to get the best 3 zip codes available in their local area. Once again, the time to do that is:
Monday, November 6th, 2016 (12:00pm EST)
NOTE: If we worked with you before, to improve your local zip code listings, there is likely nothing you need to do this year. So this will only be advantageous for those who did not do so before, and who have read and prepared for this year.
VERY IMPORTANT (again): A person who has a local zip code listing CANNOT be bumped from that zip code. They have a LOCK on the zip code as long as they remain a subscriber to the Windows PC version of Compulife. If the subscription is not renewed, for whatever reason, and we cancel the account, those zip codes go back into the pool of available zip codes.
Standard License Subscribers Option for 3 More Local Zip Codes
Standard License subscribers have the option to purchase up to 6 local zip codes, not just 3. Once again, those zip codes will be LOCAL meaning that they can be used to BUMP paid listings from your 20 mile radius. For some standard license subscribers, in large urban areas, that will be VERY important.
On November 6th, those Standard License subscribers who wish to do so, can call us with instructions on obtaining up to 3 additional zip codes (over their current 3 local zip codes), and they can elect to pay $1 per month per listing for the balance of their current subscription.
NOTE: Local zip codes will be added to the subscription price and are attached to your subscription. Purchased zip codes run on a calendar year basis ONLY.
Example: If you want 3 additional zip codes, and your subscription has 8 months months before renewal. We will take your credit card for an additional 8 X $3 = $24. When your renewal comes up, you will be invoiced $372 for the following 12 months; $300 for software and $72 for 6 zip codes.
Local zip codes, when purchased with software, are eligible for the multi-year discounts of 10% for 2 years, 20% for 3 years and 30% for 4 or 5 years (30th anniversary discount). Therefore, the $372 for 3 years would be: 3 X $372 X 80% = $892.80. That brings the cost of your local zip codes down to $9.60 each per year.
If you add 3 additional zip codes, and then elect to add 3 years BEFORE the price increase, you will be able to pay: 3 X $336 X 80% = $806.40
One Other Way To Get More Local Zip Codes
Compulife compensates subscriber referrals for new customers with a FREE local zip code for 2 full years, plus the balance of the remaining year. Refer an agent to try our software, and that agent gets 6 free months of software (instead of 4) providing that they do the "Dare To Compare" challenge/tutorial to get the 6 free months (no purchase required). Once again, if your referral does that challenge, to get the free software, then you get a LOCAL zip code FREE for 2 full years, plus the remainder of the current year.
When your FREE period on that zip code ends, you will have first right to renew it as a paid listing. Before that, you will be able to use it as a local zip code to bump. The time to use the bump will still be the first Monday in November.
IMPORTANT: You have until November 6th to make referrals, earn your additional FREE local zip code, and use it to bump on:
Monday, November 6th, 2016 (12:00pm EST)
If I was an enterprising subscriber, who knows that term4sale is a profitable experience, I would be VERY busy in October referring everyone I can get my hands on. Use the following form to make your referral(s):
Compulife Trial Referral Form
Given the benefit of being able to bump paid listing in your local area, I am surprised that more subscribers do not take advantage of this opportunity. A lot of gold is being left on the table.
There Is Still A Shortage of Zip Codes
Last year we told you that we had arrived at the point where demand was exceeding supply when it comes to zip codes. Last year's new restrictions on paid zip codes certainly helped to free up a number of zip codes, but then those zip codes got gobbled up in a land rush stampede in the second week of January.
As we previously announced, we are turning down limits, to free up some more zip codes. Those changes were announced earlier this year, but we will review them here so you understand the renewal invoicing for 2018.
IMPORTANT: We are not trying to penalize subscribers so much as we are trying to make sure that ALL subscribers get a kick at the can. We want term4sale to benefit ALL Compulife subscribers, not just a few subscribers a lot.
The One For Three Guarantee
Those who contact us inquiring about term4sale listings generally want to know what they can expect by way of results. I always say the same thing. For every 3 zip code listings you can expect ONE solid email contact through the system. Some subscribers do better than that, but it is a general rule of thumb. Now I say "email" referring to the contacts that come through the term4sale "agent" list where the consumer completes the email form and it is sent on to the 3 listed agents.
NOTE: Virtually all contacts use the contact 3 method. There was a way to contact individual agents, but that is being removed from the new version of Term4Sale which will be introduced in October. Only those with ulterior reason for contacting our subscribers seemed to be using it.
In addition to email contacts, your name and phone number are displayed in the listings. If a consumer calls you directly, and we KNOW some do, then we have no record of those contacts and that is icing on your cake. For the new guarantee this does not factor in, simply as we have no way to monitor such activity.
For the first time we are going to GUARANTEE the One for Three result. Here's how the guarantee works:
If you get to the end of December, and you did not have have at least one email for every 3 zip codes you have, we will reduce the cost for you to renew those zip codes for 2018.
EXAMPLE: You have 14 zip codes, three local and 11 that you purchased. For 14 zip codes we expect: 14/3 = 5 contacts (4.67 rounded up). Let's assume that you had only 3 email contacts (note: we do not count duplicate or BOGUS contacts) On November 15th, we would have invoiced you $198 (11 X $18) for 2018 renewal. However, you really only got the activity we would have expected for 9 total zip codes, which would have been 3 local zip codes, and 6 additionally purchased zip codes. Therefore, we will credit your invoice DOWN to $108 (6 X $18) and give you the same 14 zip codes for 2018. In other words, you will have 5 of those 11 paid zip codes for free.
IMPORTANT: There are NO REFUNDS, simply a reduced renewal cost for the SAME zip codes for the following year. You can add zip codes, and pay for those, but if you substitute any of those zip codes then the price of renewal for those will still be $18 for the year.
This guarantee is designed to act as a way to retroactively balance out the cost of zip codes listings that are NOT as attractive or not producing.
Reviewing Zip Codes Limits For 2018
There is NO CHANGE to zip codes pricing for 2018. However, the old limit of being able to add an addition 90 codes is being cut to 80.
Those personal use subscriber who have more than 80 zip codes, will need to cut that back to 80. Standard license subscribers can obtain more than 80 zip codes. If you are a standard license subscriber, and you are already getting more than 90, then the arrangement is no different, the base number moves from 90 to 80.
Each Wndows PC subscriber has the ability to buy an additional 80 zip codes. The renewal price for those (up to) 80 zip codes is $1.50 per month, payable to the end of the calendar year; $18 each for the year. This means that those renewing for 2018 will receive an invoice of $18 per zip code for the year (over their local zip codes which are $12 per year).
For those having to cut zip codes, you have last year's email traffic, and the Zip Code Analyzer, which is found here:
www.term4sale.com/zipcode
The combination of those two things will guide you in that decision making process.
Once again, when you are invoiced for 2018 renewals, you are NOT required to renew any zip code. If you decide to drop all or some of your zip codes, those zip codes will come back into the pool of available zip codes on January 8th.
IMPORANT: We give subscribers from November 15th to January 5th to pay their zip code renewals. That means you can decide in which year to expense the cost for tax deduction purposes. Yes, term4sale listings are an advertising expense and you can deduct them from your commission income. If you think you may benefit from the one in 3 guarantee wait until late in December to make your claim and pay your invoice.
In addition to being able to buy an additional 3 local zip codes for $12 each (for 12 months), Standard License subscribers can buy an additional 240 zip codes over the first 80 that all Windows PC subscribers can purchase (most Compulife subscribers buy the personal use edition which only allows 3 local zip codes).
The price per zip code, for zip codes over 80, is $2 per zip code per month ($24 per year).
For those buying well over 80, you can save money, and add more local zip codes by buying addition sub-licenses. If you are in that situation, and are not using that option, call us later in October to discuss.
Here's a Tip: Personal use subscribers may want to upgrade from personal use to standard license to take advantage of the ability to get those 3 additional local zip codes (for a total of 6). We can do that upgrade for you on November 6th, when you call to maneuver into 3 additional better zip codes in your local area.
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