Direct Mail



Do you have a website? A Web Newsletter? A mailing list of e-mail addresses for customers? Do you track and test everything? You can use the web to get sales in lots of exciting ways which are dependant on technology that's available at the time.

Whether you budget is £600 or £6000, I can show you how it's done effectively time after time after time!

So here's what I do when I start working with clients and I would like to offer it to you as a gift now. Have a look at this list of ten great ways of marketing. I guarantee, that nearly all web site owners will not have every one of these simple methods in place right now.

Please pick at least two that you're either not doing, or not doing that well - and MAKE A DECISION to add them to your marketing mix in the weeks ahead:


Direct Mail
Internet Marketing
Email Marketing
Advertising
Telephone Marketing
Direct Sales
Strategic Alliances
Referral Systems
PR
Additional Products/Services



We will tackle these in order



Direct Mail

Direct mail is often overused and badly done. It's got a bad reputation over the years, mainly due to spammers, used instead of the telephone or by con artists seeking their next victim.

There are a lot of myths and nonsense about mailings. You may want to print this out, because in my continuing efforts to help you reach success ? I am about to share the secrets of direct mail - I'd be surprised if the contents of this mail does not save you thousands of pounds over the next 12 months.

By the way, if you are totally new to Direct Mail - "It's anything sent by post, sales letters, electronic mail or brochures etc"


I want to dispel some things about DM to you. "Direct Mail doesn't work" . This ingenious conclusion is arrived at by the fact that most people throw most of the mail we get directly in the bin - therefore the thinking is that it's a waste of money. The truth is that 90 out of 100 people might throw your mailing in the bin, but if 5 people look at it, 5 more read it and one of those 5 buys from you - you may well have a highly profitable mailing.

Last week I sent 400 emails to potential clients, and got 37 replies. That's to say that 37 people actually read my mail, and I got exactly 9 new clients as a result.

Now what would happen if I doubled my mailings next week? I could expect from 800 mails, about 80 replies and maybe 20 sales!

And that's easily doable by the way, because I've done it. But saying that, your mailing may not work ? it depends on what you say, price involved and some products may just not be suited to an email campaign. It's very much a numbers game, but one thing is certain, email is free! You have to enter this knowing that most of your mailings will go unread, but at least it's cheaper than other advertising methods.

Large companies like Capital One, know their mailings DO work ? they've spent a fortune fine tuning and testing these campaigns. But just to warn you ? direct mail can fail, and they are the ones, usually, small to medium businesses send out, because they don't understand what they are really doing.

If it's done right, it will make your profits increase dramatically, and when it's done badly ? it can eat into a budget, so be very careful!


There are 2 types of mailings:

Potential Customers

Existing Customers


If you don't do much mailing ? start doing some now. It's easy to not email out of fear of upsetting clients, scared of bombarding them with too many mails, thus losing a sale.

That's crazy and it's to nobodys advantage.



Actually, most sales emails are helpful and quite genuine. I was once told "You've got to be mad to not listen to a salesman ? they might have something you need!" So next time you receive a mail or telesales call, consider that it could well be in your favour.

And there really is nothing wrong with sending out 2 mails each week.. So don't worry.


I have noticed that many clients are sitting with 1000's of email addresses ? yet they aren't contacting these clients. That's like throwing money down the drain. They could say NO, then again they could say YES to your product. Imagine if a further 10 bought your services next week ? how do you feel about not emailing those customers now?


Try it today?.. Think of something you can offer these customers, you must have something you can offer! Even something for free. Send them a letter and measure the response. If it works, mail them and measure the results. If it keeps on working, keep on doing it!


The best email is a personal communication with a customer you know. It may read as follows:

Dear-----------

I wanted to follow up after your purchase of (your product) on (date) to see how it's working out for you and to thank you for your continuing business. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know by return email, or feel free to call my private phone number.

Many Thanks

Regards


Mr X


Your customer is going to open, read and appreciate an email like this. They may even respond to it, and even if they don't, it doesn't look like spam or bug anyone. And they probably will appreciate that.

------------------------------...


Give it a go ? you'll be surprised.


Regards


Christopher Given
www.busigen.com

Christopher is a Sales Promotion Expert and owner of Busigen.com - an Office directory portal that holds company information to do with an Office environment.

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Smart Ways To Rocket Launch Your Profits

If you really want to pull more profits from your... Read More

Translation and Your International E-Commerce Strategy

Most businesses realize that they are simply a click away... Read More

The Great Direct Marketing Conundrum

Many a home business owner has spent sleepless nights thinking... Read More

How to Promote Yourself Or Your Company Through Award Competitions

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't... Read More

T.E.A.M Profit

As you network and meet other business owners, keep this... Read More

Attract Your Dream Customer

Have you clearly defined your target audience? These are the... Read More

How to Leverage Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool

Second in a series of three articles:What if you could... Read More

Top Five Tips for Marketing that Gets Results

When marketing your practice, as well as designing your brochure,... Read More

Tracking Your Way to the Top!

I often wonder how people without a plan know where... Read More

Have You Captured Me Today?

There are many Web sites I visit every day and... Read More

Networking: The Cost of a Connection

"Networking is a waste of time," said JoAnne, owner of... Read More

To All Internet Marketers - How To Get My Business?

More and more people are realizing that the Internet offers... Read More

CRM: Strategic Engine or Just Another Tool?

CRM?strategic engine or just another technology tool? How would you... Read More

Marketing Tips 101 - Where Can I Get Clients From?

The following tips have come from a wide variety of... Read More

The Marshall Plan -- Or, Customer Aftercare: How To Spend Less & Sell More

My wife likes to shop at the local Safeway. Is... Read More

Fail Your Way To Small Business Marketing Success!

Are you willing to fail your way to great marketing... Read More

Beyond Repair: The Fixed-price Model

Don't get me wrong. I certainly don't think the majority... Read More

Commercial Collections By Telephone

The telephone enables a credit manager to make many contacts... Read More

Create A Business Card That Sells and is Effective

Why does your business need a business card?Business card is... Read More

25 Ways To Get More Business

Special Requirements for Reprint: we ask only that... Read More

Developing a Contact List- Part Two

In a previous installment, we spoke about how to come... Read More

Creating Your Own Lead Capture Pages

Having a downline can be golden. A downline is a... Read More

Direct Mail Sales Letter Mistakes to Avoid

Some companies that use direct mail to sell their products... Read More

Have You Sold Your Internal Customers?

You can make the sale. You know your core message.... Read More

Are You Ready To Research Your Market?

Picture this. You develop some product or service, spend countless... Read More

How to Use Direct Response Post Card Decks as a Valuable Market Research Tool

Market research specialists have discovered a new tool which enables... Read More

Trigger Button Marketing

Sometimes, experiencing bleak sales is a matter of failing to... Read More

Guerrilla Marketing in Action

Guerrilla Marketing is using time, energy and imagination to market... Read More

Future of Marketing Part 2

In Part 1, I discussed how traditional marketing is no... Read More

Unique Marketing Ideas That Generate Cash!

First of all - keep in touch with your customers!... Read More

Mobile Auto Detailers and Newspaper Companies as Clientele

If you are a mobile auto detailer or mobile car... Read More

The Truth About The Fallacy Of 7

Ted Nicholas is a marketer with a proven track record.... Read More

Benefits of Developing & Maintaining a Database

A database is more than a simple list of names... Read More