10 Important Steps to Mail Order Success
There are a number of difficulties a beginning entrepreneur may encounter that can "torpedo" his business almost before he knows it. But the wise mail order dealer can sidestep some of the pitfalls of operating his own business by recognizing and avoiding the following common mistakes.
1. Figuring that the one "How-To" book, booklet, or report that you read about starting a mail order business told you everything you need to know. You never really stop learning about this business as long as you're in it, and you need to continually seek out new information and advice from those more experienced than you.
2. Planning your entire business around only one product or service. It is best to have several different items to promote; give your customers a choice. And always have something to follow-up an order or inquiry with. It costs too much to obtain the names and addresses of potential customers to simply try to sell them one item, one time.
3. Spending too much of your advertising money on only one or two untested ads in only one or two untested publications. Start smart... test your ads (2 to 3 concurrent insertions) in a variety of publications that are likely candidates for the product or service you are selling. This means studying many different magazines, newspapers, adsheets, and so on to determine where your ad will best fit in and has the best chance of being seen by readers who will be interested in what you are offering.
4. Believing that your advertising only 3 or 4 times will be enough to establish your business and earn your fortune. There is one theory that states that people need to see your ad a minimum of 3 times before it makes an impression on them. Another theory states they must see it 7 times!
5. Failing to adequately "key" your ads so you know which ads in which publications are pulling inquiries or orders for you. Without this knowledge, you'll continue to throw your money away by advertising in totally unsuitable and unresponsive publications.
6. Trying to sell a $10 or more item in a small space or classified ad. Not enough information comes across in a small advertisement; people won't part with this kind of money on the basis of your 40 to 50 words. It is best to ask for inquiries and offer free information. Once you have the customer's name and address, use your full size circulars, brochures, and sales letters to convince your customer of the benefits you are offering.
7. Not keeping adequate records on the customers who do respond to your ads. These people have demonstrated their interest and faith in your company and your product. If they have bought from you once, they may very well buy from you again. Keep track of their names, addresses, date of sale or inquiry, what ad(s) they responded to, item(s) bought from you and amount paid, and then mail your promotional pieces to them periodically. Your customer list can be one of your most valuable business tools.
8. Not using proper postage on your mailing pieces. You should weigh everything you're mailing first class (an inexpensive postage scale cost about $6.00), and then affix the correct stamps. Most people overestimate how heavy their mailing piece is and put two first class stamps on an envelope that only weights one ounce. Wasteful habits at such a basic level in mail order can be the start of financial ruin.
9. Thinking that how your mailing piece looks doesn't matter, it's the content that counts. The content of any circular, program, report, booklet, etc., is of course important, but a poorly laid-out job, badly copied piece which is barely readable does a poor sales job, no matter what it says. The "look" you are presenting matters more than you may realize.
10. Believing that once you have your customer's money, you have done your job. Always respond quickly. Mail out the order or requested information within 48 hours. Take care of any problems or complaints immediately; refund their money if they are dissatisfied with their purchase. Always give your customer more than he expects, and he'll want to do business with you again in the future.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
Note to editors:
To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
This article may be redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the resource box remains intact.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
DeAnna is the publisher of the ezine, Prospecting and Presents.
Subscribers get one free ad per week.
Subscribe today by visiting http://www.pnewsletter.com
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
 Google News Updated : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:51:32 GMT Doubling of Vitamin D for Children Is Urged - New York Times
New York Times - By AP CHICAGO (AP) - The country’s leading group of pediatricians is recommending that children receive double the usually suggested amount of vitamin D because of evidence that it might help prevent serious diseases. Pediatricians double vitamin D recommendations Pediatricians double vitamin D recommendations Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:45:16 GMT UPDATE 1-Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic - Reuters
Reuters - MIAMI, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Tropical Storm Nana, the 14th of the Atlantic hurricane season, formed on Sunday in the Atlantic Ocean east of the Caribbean islands, the US National Hurricane Center said. Tropical Storm Nana forms in Atlantic Tropical Storm Nana Forms Over Eastern Atlantic Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:29:57 GMT Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony renew vows along with Carlos Beltran ... - New York Daily News
New York Daily News - BY DAVE GOLDINER Just four years after saying "I do," Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony reportedly secretly renewed their vows in Las Vegas Sunday - and they had company at the altar. Inside Jennifer Lopez & Marc Anthony's Renewal Ceremony J.Lo’s vows not staying in Vegas Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:39:55 GMT Worth the trouble - Boston Herald Boston Herald - By Dan Duggan As Red Sox [team stats] fans shook out the cobwebs yesterday morning after yet another marathon postseason game, it would have been easy to forget some of the positive developments from the Sox’ 9-8, 11-inning loss to Tampa Bay in Game 2 ... Video: Tampa Bay Wins Slugfest on Sacrifice Fly Rays win respect, too Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:12:18 GMT Alaska ethics probe says Palin abused her power - Reuters
Reuters - By Caren Bohan CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (Reuters) - An Alaska ethics inquiry found on Friday that Gov. Sarah Palin, the US Republican vice presidential candidate, abused her authority by pressuring subordinates to fire a state trooper involved in a feud with ... Palin: Bad Guys vs. Good Guys Palin talks economic worries in Appalachian Ohio Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:10:53 GMT Manatee dies before reaching Florida - South Coast Today
South Coast Today - By AARON GOUVEIA and KC MYERS EAST DENNIS - After a dramatic rescue Saturday morning, a wayward manatee known affectionately as Dennis died Sunday with just one hour before he reached SeaWorld in Florida. Manatee almost gave them the slip Cape Cod Manatee Dies on Way Back to Florida Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:14:57 GMT Television Review | 'My Own Worst Enemy' - New York Times
New York Times - By ALESSANDRA STANLEY Most people sometimes wake up on the wrong side of bed. The hero of “My Own Worst Enemy” on NBC wakes up on the wrong side of his brain. 'Worst Enemy' Just Isn't Bourne-Again Bond Spy-vs.-normal-guy premise of 'Worst Enemy' doesn't work Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 04:54:37 GMT Earn Money With Surveys |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Customizing booklets can be done by industry or by company."110... Read More If you want your marketing to be effective, you absolutely... Read More Generation X"--the 40 million or so people born between 1965... Read More "My clients can't afford higher rates."When more than 330 business... Read More Networking on the Internet is the same as networking in... Read More Many artists create art but when it comes to marketing... Read More How often do you sit around and wonder how to... Read More There aren't many things in life that you would get... Read More 1. Business CardsIt is very important to market yourself via... Read More Here are some quick techniques you can put into place... Read More To read the beginning of this special report, you can... Read More In "Developing a Marketing Plan", we covered the first steps... Read More As the American economy emerges from recession, many businesses are... Read More Have you ever left a seminar thinking: "I could have... Read More Cartoons have gone from celluloid to digital. Movies have gone... Read More Whether you market online or offline, you already know the... Read More Each of the following Ten Marketing Tips is based on... Read More There are so many competitions by running business. So you... Read More "?A powerful agent is the right word?" --Mark TwainAnd what... Read More Without doubt, understanding what a customer's wants and needs are... Read More Donald Trump's hit reality show, The Apprentice is a godsend... Read More A few decades ago, in the early days of automatic... Read More Marketing is something that we do to let people know... Read More My mother used to tell me, tongue in cheek, that... Read More For most of the small business owners I work with,... Read More
Adsense
websites
Customizing Booklets By Industry or By Company
The Power Of A Story
Why Market to Generation X?
How Do You Know Your Clients Cant Pay More?
Networking, iNetworking, What Is The First Rule?
Arts Marketing : Suggestions for Students and Beginners
Raise Your Income!
The Importance of a Marketing Plan
Keeping Marketing Simple / Ten Simple Steps
7 Cheap & Easy Ways To Get Prospects
How Much Is Your Popcorn Worth? Powerful Lessons In Marketing & The Psychology Of Selling - Part 3
Marketing to a Critical Mass
Prepare Your Communications For Growth
How To Market A Seminar
How Architecture Rendering is Part of the Impact
How to Discover your Primary Market and Where to Find Them
10 Important Marketing Tips
How to Booste Your Profit Quickly
How to Add Warmth, Color & Texture to Your Advertisements
Knowing Your Customer Is The Key
The Apprentice: 5 Lessons in Marketing
How to Use Your Newsletter to Research Your Market
Marketing vs Selling - Why Theres A Difference
To Be Successful Sell to Wants not Needs
The 5 Musts of Marketing
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Service Marketing - A Relationship Building Approach
Can we imagine a place in the world today without... Read More
Unique Gift Items ? 3 Creative Ideas
With promotional items there are standards: t-shirts, mugs, note cubes,... Read More
Whats Your Selling Sentence?
What's your Selling Sentence? If you have a business, you... Read More
15 Ways to Promote eLearning Programs
Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to... Read More
Marketing And Patience
"Get your positioning and your programs implemented properly, and the... Read More
A Look at Color Brochure Printing
Brochures have become vital in today's workplace, serving a wide... Read More
How to Handle Jargon at Your Web Site - and Why
If you sell a technical product or service, you probably... Read More
6 Article Marketing Smarts: How To Get More Reprints And Exposure
Article marketing is the latest buzzword for marketers... Read More
Overview on Qualitative Data Collection Techniques in International Marketing Research
This article is meant to be a brief review and... Read More
Design, Design, Design
You need only one card, but make it noticeable. Make... Read More
The Secret to Good Writing
Skilful business writing involves getting your message across simply and... Read More
Corporate Cleavage
I enjoy cleavage as much or even more than the... Read More
What Are People Buying Online?
Benefits, that's what!Whether you're selling in print or in person,... Read More
Packaging Trends You Cannot Overlook (Part #2)
Part #26) Food safety is becoming paramount.What this means to... Read More
5 Steps to Success: A Surefire Way to Achieve Your Goals
No doubt you started this year with some big ideas... Read More
Boost Profits: Market to the Gay Community
Research shows that the gay and lesbian market is worth... Read More
10 Elements Every Direct Mail Piece Should Have
Don't want your direct mail to end up in the... Read More
Find the Goldmine Within Your Business
Doing a current customer breakdown can help you find the... Read More
Use The Neglected Weapons In Your Marketing Arsenal
Business marketers have a lot of weapons in their arsenals... Read More
Why Target the Matures
The "Matures" are the generations that came along between 1909... Read More
How Architecture Rendering is Part of the Impact
Cartoons have gone from celluloid to digital. Movies have gone... Read More
The Most Powerful Marketing Strategy Available To Small Businesses
Most small business owners want to generate huge profits, with... Read More
Are Your Marketing Efforts Working...Or Could They Use A Little Help?
Marketing is a broad business subject that encompasses a range... Read More
Mobile Auto Detailers and Newspaper Companies as Clientele
If you are a mobile auto detailer or mobile car... Read More
Business Marketing Strategies
For many small business managers, finding the time and commitment... Read More
Marketing |