Do I have to sign a contract?
No, we do not require a contract binding you to purchase a fixed number of editions, but we do require agreement to our Terms and Conditions.

I’m ready to go! How do I get started?
Easy! After all your questions are answered we’ll have you complete our simple online form, where you will reserve your territory, place a $150 deposit, and agree to our terms in a single step. Shortly after you submit this form, we’ll schedule a one-time setup call with you.

How do I set up and mail my first publication?
Your account manager will conduct a setup call with you and then introduce you to your designer. You’ll work directly with your designer on your paper. Simply approve each paper via email, pay your invoice online, and we’ll alert you when we need materials for your next edition.

What do I have to do every time I mail a paper?
(1) Send in your listings, current market stats (optional) and topic selections for your custom articles
(2) Approve your proof
(3) Pay your bill online. We do everything else, from writing and design to printing and mailing.

How much time will I have to spend on my papers?
After the first set-up edition, you may spend 15–30 minutes per paper in order to send us your listings, approve your proof, and pay your bill. We provide all the content except your listings, including custom-written hyper-local articles in your name, and we design it cover to cover for you. If you want to spend additional time working with your designer or providing additional custom content, you can, but most agents leave the legwork to Discover.

How often is my paper mailed?
That’s up to you! Most agents plan to go 10 months per year on average (with most choosing monthly and some bi-monthly). We recommend no more than 60 days lapse between mailings. Quarterly mailings are generally ineffective because too much time passes between touchpoints, but we do have some quarterly clients who fill the off-months with other forms of direct mail.

How long does it take to design and mail each paper?
It’s a surprisingly fast process. Once we have your materials, Discover designs, prints, and delivers your paper to the USPS in 3-5 business days total. Depending on your location, the papers will be delivered within 2-3 weeks, but the USPS technically has up to 30 days to deliver bulk mail. On average, it only takes about 2-3 weeks from the time we receive a client’s listings to the time homeowners receive a finished paper in the mailbox.

How do you keep my publications on schedule?
During setup, we’ll put together a calendar (and you can adjust it later if needed). Two weeks before each paper’s scheduled print date, you’ll be alerted to provide your listings or other materials. Consistency is key to effectiveness; here at Discover we help make sure you never miss a mailing because we know that means you could be losing listing opportunities.

How do I pay for my papers?
Each publication must be paid in full before it can be printed. You will receive an email invoice for each paper. You can pay online with a credit/debit card, set up ACH bank withdrawals, or mail a check or money order (must arrive before we can print). Or, you can set up “Auto-pay” with your card or bank account, and your payment will be processed upon approval of your proofs. Discounts are available if you would like to pre-pay for three or more publications.

What happens if I don’t complete a publication?
Clients are not obligated to complete or purchase any publications. However, your $150 deposit is non-refundable and your Zip Codes are released if your first publication is not mailed within 60 days. Design time fees may apply if you begin a paper and don’t finish it. For more details, see our Terms and Conditions.

How can I farm on a limited budget?
Several ways! Consider a Fast Track Edition, which costs less. You can further reduce cost with our Advertising Program (most clients save 15-30%), with our prepayment discounts, or with our deep discounts for mailing at higher quantities. For example, you could stretch out your farming and hit 5,000 homes bi-monthly for less than the cost of 2,500 homes monthly. Your account manager can custom-build a plan for you that will get the best results for your budget.

Do I have to buy or send in a mailing list?
No! Simply pick out your carrier routes from our online maps (we’ll walk you through it). At no cost to you, we will purchase a list based on your selections, and we will verify and scrub the addresses. Discover Publications is your full service, turn-key marketing partner.

Does my paper go to apartments, businesses, or mobile homes?
Discover removes all apartments and businesses. Mobile homes are not automatically excluded from your mailing list. This is because the mailing house/USPS separates mailings by OWNED and RENTED properties, and most mobile homes are OWNED, appearing on the same lists as residential houses. By default, they are included, but you can request their removal through your account manager.

Can I send my paper to a targeted list, such as the leads I get from Remine/SmartZip?
We can mail to any special list, however you must provide the list and the cost goes up by $0.30 per address (added postage). Very few of our clients do this. Most agents farm to build brand awareness throughout a whole geography, in the months and years leading up to a listing. Remine/SmartZip can provide powerful insights for prospecting once a seller is ready, and if they know and trust your brand. Special Mailing is excellent, however, for referrals by staying in close contact with your client database.

Can I send my paper to my sphere of influence / past clients?
Yes! Many agents add their past client / SOI list to their mailings. Simply provide your list to Discover. The cost is your regular per-unit rate plus $0.30 for extra postage. Please note, if your sphere list has fewer than 200 addresses, the additional cost rises to $1.02 for First Class postage.

What if my papers don’t get delivered?
Discover partners with the USPS to mail your publications. We send you a Postal Verification by request once we deliver your papers to the post office. Once your papers are printed and we verify USPS receipt, our service has been provided and it is the USPS’s responsibility to deliver your publications. If your paper does not appear to be arriving in mailboxes within a few weeks of the Postal Verification, contact us and we’ll open an investigation. Over the last 25 years, 98.2% of orders were delivered within the timeframe. In the unlikely event that a problem does arise, we’ll work through our channels at the USPS to help resolve it.

What parts of my paper are customized to me?
The following sections are customized for you: both covers (typically with a local article, calls to action, listings/recent solds, and your branding), page 3 (with stats and another local article), 4 large “Call to Action” boxes inside, 1 banner-style ad, and a Featured Home section on page 10. All these “custom areas” include unlimited design and customization. We also personalize an “Ask the Agent” column for you on page 4, but that is not considered a “custom area.”

What changes, additions, or extra customizations can I do?
If you want make excessive adjustments outside of the “custom areas” (see above question), a fee of $250 or $400 will apply. We discourage overboard customization, because it often results in delayed marketing. Our layout is constantly reviewed and tweaked by marketing experts, using all the powerful elements that have worked for our most successful clients over the years. Trust the program, and don’t over-think it.

I want a 100% local paper, how can I do that?
(Ahhh!) No, please don’t. We’ve had many agents attempt this over the years, only to market inconsistently and give up in frustration. Technically, you can pay an extra $400 in Full Custom fees, write and collect several articles, or pay hundreds more each month purchasing more content. The bottom line: it isn’t worth it. It isn’t worth your time or extra money.

Where do the articles in my paper come from?
Discover provides all your content, including hyper-local articles. We write two articles for you, in your name, in every publication. We personalize your “Ask the Agent” and provide articles from award-winning syndicates on topics like real estate, finance, home improvement, and travel. We also provide Wolfgang Puck recipes, puzzles, and other content.

What do I need to provide for my first paper?
For your first paper, we need your logo, headshot, company contact information, and some additional items as determined on our setup call. Your designer will work with you to create “Calls to Action” throughout the paper that typically recur in future editions (though you may change them anytime). During setup, we’ll discuss your company, brand, market, and goals, and put together a checklist tailored to your publication.

What do I need to provide for ongoing editions?
Most agents choose to provide listings/recent solds and market stats. Technically, for ongoing papers you do not need to provide anything more than those updated materials; we complete your entire paper for you with professional content of the highest standards.

Will my paper be used as a sample in Discover’s marketing and sales?

Possibly; samples of clients’ papers are the best way for other agents to visualize our product and make an informed decision. We send samples to any agent interested in receiving them, and we also use digital samples on our website, blog posts, emails, or sales activities. This is detailed in our Terms & Conditions, but if you are opposed to that, let us know. We’ll honor your request.

How does territory exclusivity work?
You are guaranteed exclusive territory rights to each and every Carrier Route you mail your paper to, as long as you maintain your mailings at least every 60 days (or by special exception). If you mail to 1/3 or more of any Zip Code, you will lock up the entire Zip Code.

How can I lock up a whole Zip Code?
You can get exclusive rights to an entire Zip Code by mailing to at least 1/3 of the Zip Code at least once every 60 days.

What if another agent hand-delivers a publication in MY territory?
We restrict this in our Terms & Conditions. And to prevent it, we do not sell orders of printed papers only, and we do not allow clients to purchase more than 500 copies of their paper per every 2,500 they mail out. Any agent who hand delivers papers in another agent’s farm will no longer be allowed to purchase any office copies nor to mail to any custom list, and may be prohibited from purchasing altogether.

Can I mail to some past clients that might live in another agent’s territory?
You can mail to your list of past clients, as long as it truly is a house list and not a purchased list of addresses. We do allow for a small margin of error for market cross-over. Most agents have about 200-500 names on their sphere lists, and these addresses are typically spread across the country. The occasional cross-over will happen, but not to the degree that it affects results.

Can my vendors participate in my publication, and share the cost?
Yes! Ask your account manager about our free Advertising Program. Most agents have one or two ads. Your referral partners are often eager to participate.

How does the Advertising Program work?
Discover will suggest rates and provide sales materials to help you sell ads. Or, we can sell ads for you to a list of up to 7 of your closest partners. We also provide free design and placement for all your ads, as well as billing service for up to five ads (minimum $200 each). All the ad fees we collect for you come right off your bill and are itemized as a credit.

Who can buy an ad in my paper?
Anyone. However, we strongly encourage that you only offer ads to your close vendors. Discover’s ad sales service is limited to your vendors only, and Discover’s ad billing service is limited to up to five ads paying $200 or more each. We encourage our agents to keep their advertising simple; one or two ads to your referral partners is a good goal.

Can I get enough ads to pay for my whole paper?
Not easily. In over two decades, only a handful of clients have achieved this, and not a single one has maintained it. Businesses that don’t directly benefit from your success are hard to convert, pay very little, and want an immediate ROI off each ad. If your circulation is under 50,000 homes (like every agent at Discover), businesses will see better results advertising in other publications or in coupon books, so it’s a tough sell. Most agents save 15-30% by selling a few $200-$1,000 ads to close partners, and it takes almost no effort. Doing more than that will take you away from your core business, and may end up costing you a lot more than your ad fees in the long run.

Do vendor ads violate RESPA laws?
Not when handled correctly. Managing these details is best handled by the advertiser and client to ensure compliance with their specific needs. We recommend consulting legal professionals for guidance to monitor changes in laws in your state.

Who collects the ad payments?
We do! Discover can bill up to five advertisers per client per mailing, as long as they are paying $200 or more each (most vendors pay $250-$500 each). Discover sends each advertiser an invoice, and credits their payment to your bill.
We operate on net 10 terms to keep things flexible for our clients. Since schedules can vary, we send invoices at least 10 days before the expected print date, giving  the advertiser ample time to handle payment.
To keep things simple, we provide two automatic reminders at 3 and 7 days past the due date if payment hasn’t been received. If there’s still an outstanding balance when it’s time to print, we’ll reach out to discuss your options so you can decide how to move forward.
While we allow up to 90 days for payment, we stop collection efforts after that if payment hasn’t been received by the next print run. We understand schedules can be unpredictable, and we strive to be as flexible as possible while ensuring a smooth process.
Ads that don’t meet our $200 billing minimum (or any ads in excess of 5) will need to billed and collected by you, but Discover will still work with those advertisers to design and place the ad.

What happens if my advertiser doesn’t pay?
A paper needs to be paid in full before it can go to print (including advertisements). But if an ad doesn’t pay in time, that ad credit will not appear on your invoice (you will need to cover it). You can delay printing until payment is received, remove the ad from the paper, or let the unpaid ad run (and pay the difference on your own bill). We can pursue unpaid ads for 90 days after your paper prints, and give you the ad credit (or a cash reimbursement) when it’s paid.

How many ads can I put in my paper?
We suggest no more than five. You could squeeze more in, but that could result in additional customization fees and Discover is not able to offer billing service to more than five advertisers. Most agents only have one or two well-priced ads to their closest partners.

Will I get copies of my paper sent to my office?
Yes! We’ll send at least 50 free copies to you each time you mail, and you can buy more for only $0.60 each plus shipping (limit 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed copies).

Why do you send extra copies of my paper to my office?
These are great for use at listing appointments, for including in prospecting/sales packets (“Your home will be featured here!”), and for leaving in small stacks at businesses local homeowners tend to frequent.

Can I just get my papers printed and shipped to me, so I can hand deliver them?
No; office-copy-only orders cannot be fulfilled. We do this to make sure no other agent will hand-deliver publications into your exclusive territory (yes, it’s happened!). Clients may order no more than 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed copies.

Can I put my papers in newspaper stands around town?
Yes, but you’ll still be required to mail the majority of your papers directly to homes. You may order a maximum of 500 office copies per 2,500 mailed copies. But beware: newsstands reach broad, hit-and-miss audiences (apartment dwellers, visitors, assisted living residents, students, etc), and the readership is inconsistent at best. And you will need to source, pay for, and continuously stock your newsstands without Discover’s assistance, and be aware that there are often strict regulations that can change frequently. The publications you see in newsstands are usually ad revenue vehicles, so navigating the process may make sense for them but not for you. It’s better to drop small stacks off at local businesses – this is fairly easy, spreads your brand a bit, and forges great relationships with local business owners.