Has the Internet Killed Off the Direct Mail Baron?

Over the past 30 years, direct mail has been responsible for generating vast amounts of money for businesses and individuals alike, but is it still an effective means of marketing?

The short answer, in the short term, is yes. But the Internet has without doubt diluted the power of pen on paper and will continue to do so, until only a few die-hard individuals and the glossy brochure brigade, are left to pick the bones of an industry once plump and ripe for plucking and plundering.

Today, the Internet offers the consumer a pure, unadulterated and convenient environment for buying goods, services, bill paying and browsing. And with more people logging on every day, it's where businesses need to focus.

Compared to direct mail, marketing a business or service on the internet is simple, very cost-effective and can be just as profitable. If it's the 'right' kind of business, offering the 'right' kind of product or service, it can prove to be overwhelmingly prosperous. And there's many an Internet millionaire that will testify to that.

The big advantage, in terms of doing business on the Internet, falls right at the feet of the little guy. The one-man outfit, who has virtually no overheads and no employees. Better off still, is the little guy with no overheads, employees, products or services. He can make a phenomenal amount of money by selling other people's products for commissions.

That's quite difficult to do with direct mail and would likely prove prohibitively expensive to operate. And that's another reason why direct mail is in decline. The overall expense of the operation.

When you add up the cost of stationery, printing, postage, mailing lists and the labor involved in the whole process, it's clear to see that the 'end is nigh', for what was once a very lucrative marketing venture. That's not to say that there isn't still a place for some forms of direct mail. Some online businesses, especially the bigger companies, would do well to incorporate a direct mail strategy in promoting their online activities.

But generally, the opportunity of making a killing with direct mail is fading fast. So it's goodbye to the direct mail baron and welcome to the Internet marketing guru. It's the same animal but with different spots.

Bill Knight is an International freelance copywriter, based in the UK. He specializes in creating web page sales letters and content.

http://www.knight-writer.co.uk

---

Writing Business Newsletters: Avoid the ?Me, Me, Me? Mistake

Effective customer newsletters find the right mix of promotional and... Read More

Questioning the Data of Demographic Off The Shelf Marketing Products

I have been working on a direct mail campaign for... Read More

A Tool For Selling New Ideas!

Imagine tossing a pebble into a crystal clear pond on... Read More

The Value of a Customer

The Driver of All Marketing EffortsYou need to determine what... Read More

Increase Your Profits Through Customer Loyalty

The job of convincing your existing customers to spend higher... Read More

Trade Show Marketing ? Getting Prepared for the Big Event

With the increase in number of tradeshows being held across... Read More

Good News Travels Fast

This newsletter is full of opportunities staring you in the... Read More

30-Minute Marketing

Marketing your small business takes tons of time, years of... Read More

Resume Writing Service Marketing

Marketing A Resume BusinessWhen starting a resume business, your marketing... Read More

Two kinds of Advertising for a Marketing Strategy

Advertising is the lifeblood of any business. If you do... Read More

Direct Mail Still Works!

Direct Mail CampaignsDespite the proliferation of communication facilitators--mobile phones, faxes,... Read More

Hispanic Market Reality and Purchasing Power

How many Hispanic people live in the US currently. Well... Read More

Have You Tried Cause Marketing?

To help promote your small business or professional practice, consider... Read More

Avoid the Duds: 10 Strategies for Selecting The Perfect Speaker

Today, more than ever, the success of meetings relies heavily... Read More

Mobile Marketing a New Age Strategy

More and more companies seem to be looking for new... Read More

Small Business Pricing Strategies

Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More

The Name Game

Pop quiz! If you have to say goodbye to your... Read More

Up Your Income Next Week: 13 Ways to Have a Sale

Nothing gets people buying products or programs like a special... Read More

Direct Mail Response Rate Boosters (12 tips and ideas)

1. Mail to a different list Your list is the... Read More

Mission Statement Impossible

Dant dant da da dant dant da da. Dant dant... Read More

Free and Easy School Fundraisers | Elementary and High School Fund Raising Ideas

Parents are always looking for free and easy ways to... Read More

Network Marketing Is Definitely A Relationship Business

Heavily branded websites like amazon.com are household names and carry... Read More

Why Most Marketing Videos Dont Work

Every now and then I will meet someone who has... Read More

10 Steps to a Great Newsletter

A newsletter can be a wonderful, economical way to communicate... Read More

Free Sample Sales Letter: Example of How to Write a Persuasive Business Marketing Letter

Here is an example of a business-to-business sales letter mailed... Read More

URL Everywhere? Offline Marketing For Online Success

Your URL (www) should be everywhere and more.I know many... Read More

How to Leverage Your Most Powerful Marketing Tool

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

The 5 Musts of Marketing

For most of the small business owners I work with,... Read More

Using a Contact List Profitably- Part Two

Besides a survey, your contact list can be used to... Read More

Using Direct Mail

The advantages of using direct mail to promote your home-based... 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

10 Proven Ways To Accelerate Your Profits

1. Make copies of your web site in many different... Read More

Why Do You Need to be in the SERPS?

Why does your business need to be in the Search... Read More