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Catalog Tips For Business-To-Business Direct Mail Marketers
Can your business sell its products to other businesses using a
mail-order catalog? Probably. And make a profit? Maybe, as long
as you follow some proven guidelines. Here are a few of them.
Niche and grow rich
Your catalog...
Direct Mail Marketing Now As Easy As Email
Is the United States Postal Service (USPS) a marketing innovator? As it turns out, the kind folks in the blue shorts are in fact making it easy for even the smallest business to duke it out with their biggest competitors by using the USPS new...
Get Personal: Letters vs. Direct Mail
One of the reasons direct mail works is the personal aspect. It’s ostensibly a letter from you to your prospect. Because of this, the more personal you make it, the better your response will be. If you’re mailing to 100,000 people, putting your...
How to Know if Direct Mail Will Work for Your Business
Here's a great lesson that applies to direct mail. Ready? Some people say one thing and do the opposite. In other words ... One shouldn’t pay attention to what people say they’ll do as much as what they actually DO. For example, it seems most...
Reach Wealthy Prospects With Direct Mail Marketing And A Good List.
Do you need to reach wealthy prospects using direct mail? Then
work on your list. Who you mail to (your list) is the single
most important thing that determines your success.
There are two main ways to target affluent buyers: where...
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Using Direct Mail to Improve Business
Direct mail continues to be a very targeted and effective way to market to customers. It's far more likely to be read than e-mail promotions. Especially when coupled with offers, such as coupons, the medium can be a very cost effective method of promotion.
There are a number of necessary fundamentals. First, you must have an objective. It may be to increase store sales. Perhaps an offer such as a free gift will do the trick. Just be sure to have a clear purpose. It reduces the chance of passing along a confusing message.
Then, you'll need to have a mailing list. Perhaps you have a customer database you've been collecting. This is obviously a good group. Additionally, there are list brokers who can help you get lists that are very targeted, in terms of geography and interests. These are useful for attracting new customers, while your database is great for increasing purchases from your core of customers.
The next step is creating the piece. Working internally or with outside freelance copy writers and graphic designers are possible routes. Letters should clearly explain benefits. Use "you" instead of "we." Offers should have deadlines to
create a sense of urgency.
Then, working to get your materials printed and mailed is the next step. If the mailing is small, a local Kinkos and some stamps may do the trick. If it is a large mailing, you may want to work with a printer and mailing house. They have economies of scale and equipment that will allow you to obtain postage discounts from presorting.
Last, but not least, track response. This may be as simple as collecting coupons. If 10 people responded out of 100, you know the response rate right there. Then make changes and test future mailings to improve return on investment.
Direct mail is often overlooked. However, it is a very effective medium. Many even use it very effectively to drive traffic to their website. As a small business, it is worth considering. The USPS.gov has a wide variety of resources available if you are interested in more information.
brettdalybusiness.blogspot.com
About the Author
Brett Daly is a Marketing Specialist for a software firm in the mailing and printing industries. He has an MBA and a B.S. in marketing with a minor in political science from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
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