As an entrepreneur involved in selling and/or promotion ofsomething by Direct Mail, you should already know that mostimportant aspect of your mailing have to do with the sales letteror circular you send out, and the mailing list you use. Withthese thoughts in mind, and assuming you've got what should be anorder-pulling sales letter or circular, let's focus our attentionspecifically on the problem of finding mailing lists that produceprofitable orders.
Common sense should tell you that without a good mailing lists,the time and money you spend for market research, advertisinglayout and knowledge relating to the "rules of direct mail," willjust be wasted effort. In other words, unless you get you offerto the buyers, you might as well save your time and money.
In order to reach your most-likely buyer, you must firstdetermine who your most-likely buyers are. This is not so hard asit might appear. Actually, it's just a matter of recognizing thatautomotive items will appeal to car-owners, while householdgadgets will sell best to the homemakers.
Regardless of how easy its is, this is the most-often over-lookedpart of the beginning entrepreneur's planning. suffice it to saythat if you don't know who you're going to sell a product orservice to, your product or service is going to be pretty hardfor you to sell.
The next thing to really look into, is the competition yourproduct or service faces. If it has a limited market--not toomany people would stand in line to buy--and you are competingwith virtually the same product as supplied by othercompanies--then you're going to have to either come up with astrong "hidden angle" or else face defeat before you evenbegin...
These are the "keys" to success in selling anything via directmail--pin-pointing exactly who your buyers are, presenting youroffer to them with an angle not being used by your competition,and concentrating all your sales efforts only on the most-likelyprospects.
Assuming you "know" who your most-likely buyers are; that you'vegot a "winning" sales letter or circular--and, a product orservice these people "will stand in line to buy," then yourproblem is to get the message to these people.
Do not think you'll "save some money" by renting or buyinginexpensive mailing lists from advertisers in all those ad sheetsand "mail order" type publications that seem to flood yourmailbox. You'll waste a lot of time, and spend money chasing thewind with these lists.
These list offered by "mail order" dealers are compiled from adsheets, mail order publications, and/or incoming offers receivedby the list -seller...These people also compile lists theyuse...A lot of them compile their rental lists directly from thetelephone/city directories...And even a few of them work the"envelope stuffing" scheme to compile their rental lists--Theyoffer commissions to people who pay to join their envelopestuffing programs, and then sell or rent the names of the peoplewho join their program...The people who join the program areadvised to compile lists from any number of sources, send out acommission circular, and receive a commission for each incomingorder. The names of the buyers are then compiled onto anotherlist, and sold by promoters of this scheme to some of the largerlist-brokers as bonafide mail order buyers...Any time you rent alist of 5,000 or more names from mail order type operator, youcan almost certainly count on the lists that's 1) Five or moreyears old...2) Filled with names of people who have moved...3)Going to be dominated with names of other mail order sellers...
Before renting or buying a mailing list from someone, use thesame kind of common sense you use in deciding upon a doctor,lawyer or auto mechanic. something else to keep in mind--wheneveryou rent or buy mailing lists from someone who has or isadvertising for dealers or mailing list brokers, you are going toend up with a list of names used by many mail order dealers,generally with the majority of them offering the same products orservices.
The best thing to do is to take a note pad and pencil to yourpublic library..Ask the librarian to let you look at the StandardRate & Data Service Directory pertaining to mailing lists. Withinthis voluminous directory, you'll find the names, addresses andtelephone numbers of virtually all the reputable mailing listsbrokers in the country. These brokers explain within thedirectory the different lists that are available for rent, whatkind of buyers the lists are made up of, and the date the listwas last cleaned--that is, the last time all the names on thelist were verified relative to the correctness of addresses.
Select a half dozen or so of the list brokers handling the kindsof lists that are made up of buyers of products or servicessimilar to yours...Jot those names and addresses down on yournote pad..then go home and call them on the phone...
Tell the list broker about yourself, what you're trying to sell,how much you're asking for it, and your-long range plans. Almostall of them will want to see a sample of your mailing piece, andmore often than not, a sample of your product as well. Don't beafraid to talk to these people--they're in business to help you,and if they "steer you onto" a list that doesn't make money foryou, they figure you'll not buy from them again, so it's to theirbenefit to see that you get the "right" list for your mailingpiece and offer. Most of them are will critique your mailingpiece and offer, making suggestions for improvements whenappropriate, and in general, act as a consultant to see that yourealize a profit thru their services.
Once you and the list broker have decided upon the mailing listbest suited to your offer, he'll generally require you to rent aminimum of 5,000 names. The going price will range from $35 to$95 per thousand names. Expensive, maybe...But if you pay $475for 5,000 prospective buyers, and end up with 1,500 buyers of a$20 "how-to" manual that you've written and printed at a cost of50 cents per manual--that would mean a gross of $30,000..minus$750 for 1,5000 manuals, plus another 60 cents each to send eachof these manuals out via 4th class mail witch would amount to$1,035. Add these figures together for a total of $1,785 andsubtract this total from $30,000 and you stand a very good chanceof netting $28,000 or more...
So, you see, the important thing is to get your offer to yourmost-likely buyers. The only way to do this--the fastest, andleast expensive way--is to work with a reputable mailing listbroker and forget about all that "wheel-spinning" within thecircle of mail-order-type people. Really, so long as you dealwith " mail-order-type" people, small-time dealers andadvertisers--you'll never achieve anything beyond a busy-busy,hand-to-mouth existence in this business.
The bottom-line reason for most of the entrepreneurial failuresin the mail order business is simply that the beginner tries tocut corners by using less that the most productive mailing listsavailable. Indeed, the years are littered with people from allwalks of life who have had a good product and/or service ideas,but failed to "get their ideas off the ground." Generally, thesepeople were trying to "save money" by compiling their own mailinglists, advertising in "all-seller" type mail order publications,and/or sending their offers out to "mail-order-type" people foundin the ad sheets or to lists purchased from advertisers in thesepublications. In almost every case, the entrepreneur's effortsalong these lines, and based upon a "saving money" philosophy,has always ended in heartbreak and great financial loss for theentrepreneur...
YOU CAN SUCCEED, STARTING FROM SCRATCH! But, before you attemptit--before you "jump in and reach your own mail order fortune,"be sure you arrange all the odds in your favor..Anything lessthan the "rules" stated within this report will surely be a wasteof time, and result in failure...
Remember: Your product has to be something you can buy or producein finished form for pennies, and sell for dollars. There has tobe an "eager" market for your product or service. You mustproject the most professional of all images of yourself as the"company" or supplier in all your sales letters, circulars,advertising and/or dealings with your prospective buyers. And youmust "know" who your buyers are, and then concentrate yourefforts to reach only those people with your offer. Take your pencil and go to your public library..Ask the librarian to let you look at the StandardRate & Data Services. Start your research there and have fun with your new business.
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 t was used in.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
DeAnna is the publisher of the ezine, Prospecting and Presents.
Subscribers get one free ad per week.
Subscribe today by visiting http://www.pnewsletter.com
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
![]() Google News Updated : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:51:32 GMT 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 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 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 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 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 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 Website Traffic Promotion |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... A funnel is a good way to think of the... Read More First, define the end user (or ideal client) of your... Read More Recently, I stopped by a new car wash in my... Read More Do you own a business and need ideas on how... Read More Why does your business need to be in the Search... Read More Are your products or services geared towards only one target... Read More The small business marketing strategy you can't afford to miss... Read More An important part of planning your business is to know... Read More The trade show floor is full of different types of... Read More We have been talking about choosing groups to participate in... Read More Since the human brain seems to be able to focus... Read More TIP #1: Avoid the "Too Much Information" Syndrome... Read More Behold! He with the light cometh!He shall light thy darkest... Read More Where Do Most of Your Clients Come From?Is it from... Read More Brochures are one of the oldest marketing weapons in the... Read More "Try not to become a man of success but rather... Read More When a shopper picks up a product in a store,... Read More Over the years as I have attended trade shows, networking... Read More Do you know what Howard Stern... Oprah Winfrey... and Paul... Read More Postcards can drive a huge amount of traffic to your... Read More Face it?you know you've got to do something to keep... Read More Want a simple, low-cost way to boost your sales? Just... Read More HOW YOUR LIST AFFECTS POSTAGE COSTS AND WHAT YOU CAN... Read More Looking for the magic formula or the whiz-bang approach that... Read More Is your business growing, or are you on a plateau... Read More
Adsense
websites
Funnel Your Way to Marketing Success
Stop Searching - Joint Ventures are the Solution to Doubling Your Business
The Added Effectiveness of Promotional Products in Your Marketing Plan
7 Great Ways to Market Yourself and Your Business to Help Increase Sales
Why Do You Need to be in the SERPS?
How to Expand Your Target Markets
Getting Personal ? Innovative Marketing for Small Business Owners
Who Is Your Market and Where Are They?
Determining Visitor Types
How Would You Handle This?
Two Steps to Improving Your Marketing Success
Quick Postcard Design Tips
Wealth Knowledge & Power ? Lost Secrets From Ancient Masters
Marketing Strategy - Whats Your System?
Are Your Brochures Worth The Paper Theyre Printed On?
10 Tips to Grow Your Business Plain & Simple
Service Marketers; How?s Your Packaging?
Whats In a Business Card?
How To Sell To Howard Stern... Oprah Winfrey... And Paul McCartney!
High Response Marketing With Low-Cost Postcards
Painless Marketing for People Who Hate to Market
Uncover Your Hidden Markets
How Your List Affects Postage Costs
The Silver Bullet For Success: Revealed
One-A-Day Marketing Vitamins
How to Tie a Tie and How To Kiss -... Read More
An inexpensive way to promote your services is to createvarious... Read More
Dumb Excuse #1"I'm not sure I want to invest any... Read More
Okay, we were kidding about the smoke, but not about... Read More
The fight for your customer's attention at a tradeshow has... Read More
With the increased challenges that all companies are faced with,... Read More
To be your own marketing expert you first need to... Read More
Several years ago, "networking" was the hot buzzword. Everyone was... Read More
In building and running a professional practice (or any small... Read More
Pre-note: In this article, teleclass is an example used to... Read More
Celebrities are the tastemakers that drive brand awareness and usage.... Read More
Times are a changin'! More women today work outside the... Read More
Powerful Marketing has become elusive to many companies seeking strong... Read More
You can have the best little business ever with wonderful... Read More
In my experience, there are two kinds of small business... Read More
In just one month three California vineyards have introduced new... Read More
A lot of advertising and mailings promise to reveal the... Read More
Have you ever had a conversation with a person who... Read More
Famous quotes that keep you thinking.Have you ever listened to... Read More
Marketing calendars are used by many businesses to help keep... Read More
Being a master of your craft, skill, or talent doesn't... Read More
Who says scientists can't market? Here are 10 easy marketing... Read More
Why would you use an email or online survey when... Read More
When you send a direct mail piece using the Addressed... Read More
You've probably heard the slogan, "You never get a second... Read More
Marketing |