Utilizing Your Best Hidden Asset To Increase Sales

You probably already have in your possession one of the most valuable and powerful assets you can possibly own. But if you're like most business people you probably aren't using it to its full potential.

It's very easy to tap into its power -- and it is very powerful. What could this valuable asset possibly be?

Your mailing list. (You do have one don't you?)

Your mailing list is a surefire way to get repeat business and to bring in new customers but only if you're using it. Don't worry if your list isn't in a usable form yet. You may be further along than you realize and using these 6 tips will make the task easier:

1. Determine what information you already have. You probably already have more mailing data than you realize. Start with your invoicing and sales records. Do you have a stack of business cards lying around that you've collected at networking events?

2. Gather more names and addresses. With so many privacy concerns these days people are not as willing as they once were to give out personal information. But often they are more than willing to complete a form if they think they might win a contest or get something for free. Are you a member of your chamber of commerce or some other networking group? You can often get their membership lists for free or a nominal fee. You can also buy lists of people who have bought products and services similar to yours.

3. Give something away to say thanks. Your customers and prospects will expect something in return for giving you their information. It can be anything of perceived value. Free reports. Coffee mugs, t-shirts, pens one of your products or discount coupons. A candle retailer I know holds a drawing for one of their most popular candle scents every month and their customers are eager for a chance to win and gladly provide their mailing information.

4. Keep track with a database. Once you've gathered the information you need, put it into a contact database where you can easily access the info and create mailing labels. Include additional information such as birthdays, anniversaries, special interests and needs. A bed and breakfast owner uses upcoming anniversaries as an opportunity to send a greeting card and an invitation to come back to the inn to celebrate.

5. Brainstorm ideas for using your list. Newsletters. Postcards. Coupons. Thank you notes. Greeting cards. Flyers. There are hundreds of ways to stay in touch.

6. Use your list. There is a lot of advertising clutter out there. All the more reason to keep your name forefront in your customer's minds so they remember you when they're ready to buy. This means sending continual reminders. Mail something to your list at least once each quarter or more often if your budget allows.

(If you want to do your own marketing but could use the help of a patient teacher to get you started in the right direction, connect with Marty Marsh at http://www.martymarsh.com. His Marketing Mastery TeleClass program can have you successfully marketing your small business in as little as one hour a week.)

---

B2B Marketing Tips - Create an Interactive Online Experience for Clients

Business to business communications on the web are as stale... Read More

Mobile Marketing a New Age Strategy

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

Marketing Through Associations

©2004 Jeffrey DobkinIf you're in direct marketing, you're continually looking... Read More

Promotional Magnets: Promotion that Sticks

Some people are happy with just a business card. For... Read More

What You MUST Understand About Your Web Numbers

Two years ago, when I first started selling online, I... Read More

Alarming Marketing Trend

One key discipline of successful direct marketing has been to... Read More

Rising Postal Rates? Don?t Cut Down the Direct Mail

The United States Post Office in the past had some... Read More

The Fine Art of Relationship Marketing

The buzzword these days is "relationship" marketing. Just what is... Read More

How To Go From Under Dog to Top Dog by Unleashing The Power Of a Postcard

The Tale of Two Dentists...Dr. Namel and Dr. Ivory are... Read More

Ten Tips for Creating a Winning Proposal ? Part 2

Part 1 of this series described five critical components for... Read More

Ten Deadly Proposal Preparation Pitfalls

Let's face it, the name "proposal" is a great misnomer,... Read More

AIDA From A Different View - I Call It the 5 Ws

My childhood was my foundation for how I write and... Read More

Whats Your Selling Sentence?

What's your Selling Sentence? If you have a business, you... Read More

Features vs. Benefits vs. End Results

If you've been in the copywriting realm for very long... Read More

Comprehensive Marketing Details Not Found in Beginner Books

If this is the first marketing article you are reading,... Read More

10 Essential Criteria For Choosing Your Target Market

A specific group of people you will focus on selling... Read More

Why Do You Need to be in the SERPS?

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

Brainstorming Techniques as New Product Development Strategies

When developing new products and strategies, coming up with unique... Read More

How to Magnetize Your Business

Do you ever wonder how some businesses always seem to... Read More

The Seven Keys to Marketing Genius: The Complete Guide to Increasing Your Marketing IQ

How smart is your marketing? Do you follow the crowd... Read More

Direct Mail Response Rates Low? Eliminate These Mistakes

Are your direct mail response rates lower than you expect?... Read More

Eleven Reasons Donors Stop Responding To Fundraising Letter Appeals

Donors will stop responding to your fundraising letter appeals for... Read More

How Do You Get Past The Gatekeeper?

The best joint ventures are with people in your own... Read More

New Years Planning Critical Success Factors

New Year's is a good time for strategic planning or... Read More

Trade Show Events ? Do?s and Don?ts

You can love it or you can hate it but... Read More

Why Pay for Online Press Release Distribution?

We've all heard that "free advice is worth what you... Read More

5 Print Ad Essentials!

Writing an effective print ad, particularly a classified advertisement, requires... Read More

Fundraising Letters Are Easier To Write With AIDA

Learn a lesson from professional direct mail copywriters. They follow... Read More

Small Business Marketing Tip - Focus on a Niche or Target Market

I think selling and marketing today often feels a bit... Read More

Promotional Lanyards to Market Your Products and Services

It has become fairly common place to see Id badges... Read More

Increase Your Response with Multi-Step Marketing

"There is only one way to judge the effectiveness of... Read More

The Power of because...

"Do it!", "Do it now!", or "Do it because..."Which of... Read More

Five Mistakes Absolutely Guaranteed to Drive Away Your Best Clients

We all work hard to attract even one paying client.... Read More