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.

---

How to Write Fundraising Letters That Motivate Donors To Make Donations to Your Non-Profit

Motivating strangers to give their money away is one of... Read More

Your Plan For Marketing Success

The most important, yet overlooked aspect of marketing is an... Read More

CD ROM Business Cards - Offline Marketing For Online Promotion

It's a great concept, - and it has a 'cool... Read More

Sales and Marketing: Can One Exist Without the Other?

Simply put the marketing people and the sales people depend... Read More

Neuromarketing: Smart Marketing Or Jedi Mind Control Trick?

In the international bestseller "Blink," Malcolm Gladwell explains why our... Read More

CRM: Strategic Engine or Just Another Tool?

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

7 Tips to Grab New Clients

As a business professional, you probably realize the value of... Read More

Is Your Company A Member Of The Community?

One particularly hot south Texas day, I was making a... Read More

Online Magazine Subscription Services Make Shopping Online Fun For Magazines

If recreating the old experience of subscribing to magazines by... Read More

How Much Is Your Popcorn Worth? Powerful Lessons In Marketing & The Psychology Of Selling ? Part 6

How Much Is Your Popcorn Worth?: Powerful Lessons In Marketing... Read More

Build Lifelong Networks With Your Own Barter Group

I don't know if you have ever seriously considered bartering.... Read More

Beware of Magazine Style Yellow Pages Ad Design.

I have been designing Yellow Page ads for the past... Read More

Improving Lead Generating and Conversation Rates: Think Like a Farmer

John's a freelance photographer in Ohio who called to tell... Read More

Networking the Media

The media is a business's absolute best friend. It is... Read More

Business to Business Direct Mail Sales Letters Need an Offer (and Heres Why)

In direct mail, the offer is the incentive or reward... Read More

Increase Repeat Business and Referrals with Direct Mail

So you have been writing mortgages like crazy now for... Read More

Recipe for Success

Special event and a special recipe- hand it out on... Read More

To Be Successful Sell to Wants not Needs

My mother used to tell me, tongue in cheek, that... Read More

How to Booste Your Profit Quickly

There are so many competitions by running business. So you... Read More

Collecting Customer Data The Easy Way

Market research is a critical component of any marketing strategy.... Read More

Independent Professionals: What Stands Between You and Your Artist Statement?

What Stands Between You and Writing an Artist Statement or... Read More

What Our CAT Taught Me About Marketing!

Toby is one of our two family pets (both cats).... Read More

Developing a Contact List- Part One

One of the most essential things to successful networking is... Read More

Top Five Tips For Designing Marketing Strategies That Get Results

"But this won't work" said Steve. "I've tried it in... Read More

Guerilla Marketing Lesson 2: Why Do People Call Me?

Before we begin, I want you to think about how... Read More

Simplicity In Marketing

In a world that is spinning out of control; with... Read More

Three Simple Ideas That Increase Profit? FAST!

Are you spending more time trying to get new clients... Read More

Make More Sells With Colors

How Colors Effect Our Emotions?One of the most interesting things... Read More

The Magic of Using Booklets for Tradeshow Giveaways

Candy, squeeze balls, pens, and key chains -- these provide... Read More

The Advantages of Full Color Brochure Printing

A brochure can be a great promotional tool, whether it... Read More

The Marketing Secret Every Child Knows

Little Kids Ask Until They Get What They Want.Mom, Mom,... Read More

Marketing and Advertising Techniques of Super Bowl Advertisers

Each year, advertisers with super sized budgets sink millions of... Read More

How to Turn a Marketing Calendar into Marketing Success!

Do you have a list of marketing ideas that you'd... Read More