Listguy:

If you asked people if they like to get “junk mail”, most people would say “no”. But don’t worry – people really don’t hate direct mail. $250,000,000,000 worth of goods and services are sold through direct mail each year in the US alone. And the total continues to grow. According to the Direct Marketing Association, it is growing at 8.6% a year, several times more than the growth rate of the economy. And it’s not just a few people. Last year over half of all American adults ordered something through direct mail.

And if you think about it, direct mail—first used by Benjamin Franklin—is a marvel of the modern age. It allows people to buy goods and services from all over the world from the comfort of their own home.

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Social media is rapidly escalating in popularity as a marketing tool.

Printing and postage costs keep increasing.

You are probably wondering why even bother with Direct Mail. It’s antiquated and ineffective.

The USPS even has stats to support that opinion. In their annual Household Diary Study, they published that US households received 85 billion pieces of direct mail advertising in 2009, which was 15 % less than in 2007 and 2008.

So is there a future for direct mail? It appears there is!

According to the 2010 DMA Statistical Fact Book, 79% of households either read or skim junk direct mail advertising sent to their home. Within that 79% – only 38% are skimmers, with readers encompassing a whopping 62%!

That same publication also predicted that spending on direct mail marketing is expected to increase by more than $1 billion in 2010.

Why, if it’s so outdated?

It seems that even with the widespread use of emails, texting and social media, the average consumer has a soft spot for direct mail. Almost 75% percent of consumers say they prefer to receive promotions or offers by mail, compared to 18 percent who prefer e-mail for such communications.

So why do consumers prefer mail?

* It’s familiar – it has been around for awhile (the first modern mail-order catalog was produced in 1872)
* It’s less frantic – no flash animation or demands for immediate response
* It’s convenient – mail can be taken anywhere and read at leisure
* It’s extremely versatile! – it’s much easier to be creative and set yourself apart through mail than with a formatted HTML or text message

E-mails and Texting are great marketing tools, however many marketers aren’t targeting their audience enough and consumers are finding their in-boxes are just getting too cluttered. They spend most of their time deleting e-mails rather than reading e-mails promoting genuine business offers.

According to a study commissioned by Pitney Bowes, 31% of consumers are less likely to discard unopened mail than they are to delete unsolicited e-mails (53.2 %).

If you aren’t totally sold on direct mail as an effective marketing medium, consider this – in 2009 the average consumer received 24.7 pieces of mail per week. That’s the fourth straight year that shows a drop in volume. At the very least this means there’s less of a crowd to stand out in.

By using a less crowded medium, you’ll find improvement in your response rates. Response rates will further improve if you can identify your target market and personalize your message. You can even try combining it with a Telemarketing, Opt-in Email and/or SMS/Texting campaign. Give the recipient something that’s visually appealing and tangible. Something to hold in their hands which gives them a definite call to action. Visit our website… Call us now… Text the following word to this number…

Many feel that Direct Mail is a thing of the past. However, if you target properly and are creative, it is still a useful and relevant medium to reach out to your customers.

Greg Rubin is the Senior List Broker at Prospects Influential Inc., a respected direct marketing list brokerage company with 32 years of experience in the Direct Marketing and List Brokering industry. We invite you to visit our website at http://www.prospectsinfluential.com for more information on Direct Marketing and how we can help improve your Direct Marketing Campaign results.

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Very few people buy on impulse. Getting people to buy on impulse is called cold calling. It’s very difficult to do, and extremely cost ineffective. Also, people do not like to being sold things. Hard sell ads are not much fun to read, and even less fun to write, even though they can make a great deal of money. A softer approach is much more tasteful to the vast majority of buyers and sellers alike. Therefore, it is much more efficient to create a multi-step program for prospects to voluntarily opt in.

I did not invent the approach I am about to share with you. It is how the old direct mailers made their millions. It is proven and effective. As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

There is no need to reinvent the wheel.

The Shotgun-Rifle-Scope Method

The three steps to this marketing program are called

* Shotgun
* Rifle
* Scope

The shotgun is where you make initial contact. It is like casting a net: quantity over quality. This is your article marketing, your YouTube channel, your blog, and so on.

The rifle is where you get your prospects to take action. Usually this is a simple as opting in to your email list in return for a free report or a weekly newsletter.

The scope is where your sales take place. This is where the real hot-button prospects say, “Yes, I want more. How much is it?” This is your product, or service.

Why This System is Ideal for Selling on the Internet

In the old days of direct marketing, this method was conducted through the mail. The shotgun was the ad placement in one or more publications, with a call to action to send for a free sample, brochure, or a coupon for a free trial.

The rifle was the brochure, providing the extra information that had been requested. This is where all the benefits of your service or product were laid out more extensively. The successful pieces always included another action step. Perhaps a request for your price schedule.

The scope was the sales letter that went out after the brochure. This is where the sales were made. By the point the sales letter goes out, the prospects are already familiar with the seller. They have developed trust. They have also invested their time, and so become more likely to continue with the process, rather than start over with someone else.

The biggest problem for this method was the cost. Most people don’t think of sending a letter through the mail as a major undertaking. That’s because most people didn’t send mail in batches of thousands or even hundreds of thousands at a time. The costs add up, and the profit margin had to be high enough to recoup the investment.

This is where the internet comes in. Selling through the web offers all the same potential (in fact, even more potential) at tremendously lower cost.

The Takeaway

YouTube is free. Email campaign software is extremely cheap (MailChimp is free up to 1000 subscribers). Web hosting is $10 per month for unlimited numbers of domains.

There is plenty opportunity here for those willing to take action. Those unwilling are going to get clobbered by the more nimble competition.

Jeff Miller is an SEO specialist that blogs about direct response marketing and how to apply it to the internet at http://milleronmarketing.com.

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There are no sales without objections. Objections indicate interest. Objections are signposts that lead you step-by-step toward closing the sale. The fact is, if there are no objections, there is no interest. If there is no interest, there will be no sale.

Use a Testimonial
As you already know, one of the most powerful ways to eliminate objections is to present testimonial letters from satisfied customers who shared the objection at one time. A sweetheart letter answering a customer’s major concern is a potent way to demolish the objection forever.

Interpret It as a Question
Aside from using testimonials, another way to deal with objections is for you to take the objection and interpret it as a question. Treat it as a request for more information. Recognize that an objection is a natural customer response to any offering where there is some risk of purchasing. When the prospect says, “It costs too much,” you can respond by saying. “That’s a good question. Why does it cost more than you’re expected to pay?” You then go on to answer the question you have posed.

Give a Good Reason
Another way to deal with an objection is to treat it as if the customer is asking you for a reason to eliminate the objection. If the customer says, “I can’t afford it,” you can imagine that the customer is really saying, “Show me how I can justify spending this amount of money.”

Make It Easy to Object
Above all, make it easy to object. Most customers do not want to get into an argument or a debate with you over your product or service. They will be reluctant to object for feat that you will become upset or adamant. For this reason you must make it easy for the customer to object by responding in a cheerful, friendly, constructive way when he does.

Listen Carefully
When you get an objection, hear it out completely. Don’t assume that you know what the prospect is going to say. Often the prospect will begin with an objection you’ve heard before, but then will add her own particular concern or problem at the end. Be patient. Practice your listening skills. Pause before replying. Question for clarification.

Objection Versus Condition
Determine whether the customer’s response is an objection or a condition. An objection is something that you can answer. It is a problem for which there is a solution. It is an obstacle than can be removed on the way to making the sale. A condition, however, is a genuine reason for not going ahead. If a person has no money, this is a condition that renders buying impossible.

Welcome Objections
Objections are a standard and predictable part of any sales conversation. We’ve all had previous experiences with products and services that were disappointing. We do not want to have those experiences again. Your job is to be patient, polite, and positive, asking good questions and listening intently to the answers. If you are courteous and persistent, eventually the prospect will tell you why he might be hesitating and give you an opportunity to answer his question and close the sale.

Action Exercise
Determine the one thing that a prospect might be convinced of to go ahead and buy your product or service, concentrate on finding and proving that he will get this key benefit.

SmartLeadz™ has an array of powerful and effective marketing tools and techniques designed for your success. We have perfected every means to identify a quantity of quality prospects and bring them to you in real-time and on budget. Speak to a Lead Specialist Today for a FREE quote on a Trial Campaign: 888-MY-LEADZ START SPEAKING TO QUALIFIED & MOTIVATED PROSPECTS TODAY!

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There are no sales without objections. Objections indicate interest. Objections are signposts that lead you step-by-step toward closing the sale. The fact is, if there are no objections, there is no interest. If there is no interest, there will be no sale.

Use a Testimonial
As you already know, one of the most powerful ways to eliminate objections is to present testimonial letters from satisfied customers who shared the objection at one time. A sweetheart letter answering a customer’s major concern is a potent way to demolish the objection forever.

Interpret It as a Question
Aside from using testimonials, another way to deal with objections is for you to take the objection and interpret it as a question. Treat it as a request for more information. Recognize that an objection is a natural customer response to any offering where there is some risk of purchasing. When the prospect says, “It costs too much,” you can respond by saying. “That’s a good question. Why does it cost more than you’re expected to pay?” You then go on to answer the question you have posed.

Give a Good Reason
Another way to deal with an objection is to treat it as if the customer is asking you for a reason to eliminate the objection. If the customer says, “I can’t afford it,” you can imagine that the customer is really saying, “Show me how I can justify spending this amount of money.”

Make It Easy to Object
Above all, make it easy to object. Most customers do not want to get into an argument or a debate with you over your product or service. They will be reluctant to object for feat that you will become upset or adamant. For this reason you must make it easy for the customer to object by responding in a cheerful, friendly, constructive way when he does.

Listen Carefully
When you get an objection, hear it out completely. Don’t assume that you know what the prospect is going to say. Often the prospect will begin with an objection you’ve heard before, but then will add her own particular concern or problem at the end. Be patient. Practice your listening skills. Pause before replying. Question for clarification.

Objection Versus Condition
Determine whether the customer’s response is an objection or a condition. An objection is something that you can answer. It is a problem for which there is a solution. It is an obstacle than can be removed on the way to making the sale. A condition, however, is a genuine reason for not going ahead. If a person has no money, this is a condition that renders buying impossible.

Welcome Objections
Objections are a standard and predictable part of any sales conversation. We’ve all had previous experiences with products and services that were disappointing. We do not want to have those experiences again. Your job is to be patient, polite, and positive, asking good questions and listening intently to the answers. If you are courteous and persistent, eventually the prospect will tell you why he might be hesitating and give you an opportunity to answer his question and close the sale.

Action Exercise
Determine the one thing that a prospect might be convinced of to go ahead and buy your product or service, concentrate on finding and proving that he will get this key benefit.

SmartLeadz™ has an array of powerful and effective marketing tools and techniques designed for your success. We have perfected every means to identify a quantity of quality prospects and bring them to you in real-time and on budget. Speak to a Lead Specialist Today for a FREE quote on a Trial Campaign: 888-MY-LEADZ START SPEAKING TO QUALIFIED & MOTIVATED PROSPECTS TODAY!

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Direct mail is sent to businesses and consumers every day and is used by a very wide range of organisations and industries. A mailing in the post, often accompanied by a letter, has become a proven and accepted way of targeting your audience, with consistent conversion rates of about 1-5%. However in recent years direct mail has attracted criticism over the environmental impact it can have, and the annoyance caused by misdirected mailings.

Email marketing using opt in data is less widely used at the moment, but is growing more rapidly in popularity than almost any other direct marketing tool. A growing range of good quality opt in, and in some cases double opt in lists are becoming available, as are a wide range of email broadcast services. But this new marketing medium has already been tainted by abuse and association with the practice of spamming or junk mailing.

So what are the relative merits of each of these contrasting direct marketing methods?

The Benefits of Email Marketing

Email marketing is direct marketing at its most impactful. Your message lands directly in the inbox of your recipient, your message can be personalised, and even targeted to individual recipients.
Email marketing can be timed not just to the day, but to the hour and minute, in order to reach consumers just when they are likely to make a buying decision. Email marketing can also be tracked in detail, even to the amount of people who open and read your email, or who forward it to a friend.
Because it is solely a digital medium, email marketing is more environmentally friendly, and has a far lower carbon footprint than other marketing methods.
Email marketing can be very cost effective as it does not need costly mailing houses, production, postage and so on. However data costs can be higher that traditional list rental for direct mail, and email campaigns also require the use of a broadcasting partner.
Email marketing is highly effective in growing online sales for e-commerce sites – in just a few clicks the recipient can act on impulse and buy from your site. It can also be used to drive traffic to b2b sites that aim to collect leads and enquiries.

The Benefits of Direct Mail
Direct mailshots are a tangible and physical representative of your brand, which can be held in the recipient’s hands. A mailer with high production values can say much about your brand, just through its size, feel and texture.
Direct mail is well established and proven as a marketing tool. Consumers and businesses are used to sending and receiving marketing messages in the post, and are receptive to the messages they convey.
Direct mail can also be used to increase your online sales from your website – increasing numbers of mail order companies are finding that their offline catalogues sent in the post are becoming increasingly effective at driving consumers online to order, instead of by mail or phone.
Quality direct mail data is generally more affordable and more widespread, and does not come with fixed broadcast costs and fewer issues over the opt in procedure. The direct mail industry is also far more mature with a wider range of lists and suppliers available.
Direct mail does not have to fight its way through complex spam and junk mail filters used in many email programs.

One fact is universal – any direct marketing campaign using direct mail, email marketing, or for that matter telemarketing, needs great quality data that is accurate and well targeted.

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“What are the most common Direct Mail Mistakes and how can I try to Avoid them?”

Successful direct mail doesn’t depend on fancy, four-color design or “creative” copy.

Mistake No. 1: Not renting the right mail/email list for you.

Do you know what the most important part of your direct mail campaign is? It is the mailing list. No matter how beautiful your graphic design is, no matter how slick your ad copy is, if you mail to the wrong mailing list, your mailing is doomed to failure. Remember, a mailing list is not just a means to reach your prospects, it IS your prospects!

The best list available to you is your “house” list—your list of customers and prospects who previously bought from you or responded to your marketing efforts.

Typically, your house list can pull double the response of an outside list. When renting outside lists, make sure to consult with the list provider to make sure you are getting the most up-to-date names available and are renting the best possible list segment or segments of the targeted list.

Mistake No. 2: Not having an offer.

An offer is what the reader gets when he responds to your mailing.

To be successful, a direct-mail package should sell the offer, not the product itself. For example, if you have a Kick boxing Gym, don’t sell that you are a kick boxing Gym, sell your offer—Free Introductory class. The offer is the free class the benefit to the Gym is the opportunity to convert satisfied class participants into members.

Make sure you have a well-thought-out offer in every mailing. If you think the offer and the way you describe it are unimportant, you are wrong.

Here are some effective teasers: free brochure, free analysis, free consultation, free demonstration, free trial, free sample, free catalog…it doesn’t always have to be free.

Your copy should state the offer in such a way as to increase the object reader’s interest to respond to whatever it is you offer.

Great Mailing Lists

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When done correctly, direct mail is one of the most effective marketing tools available to small businesses, regardless of industry. Unfortunately, many first-time mailers–and even some experienced ones–overlook some of the basic “rules” for creating an effective direct mail campaign. Here are some proven thoughts to heed when planning your next mailing.

The success of your campaign relies on the following:

1. The accuracy of your mailing list

2. The perceived quality of your offer

3. The appeal of your mail piece .

Many experts speak of the 40-40-20 rule. It states that the mailing list makes up 40% of the success of a mailing, the offer makes up another 40% and the package itself (paper, design, copy) is responsible for the remaining 20%.

Buy a good list

Understand who your best customers are. Select a qualified mailing list provider.

Work with your list supplier to develop the most effective prospecting list for your needs and budget.

Create a powerful offer that will make people want to respond

Make sure your offer is clearly spelled out and easy to understand. Offer something with high perceived value. Don’t underestimate the power of the word FREE. Make it easy to respond–via website, email, telephone, mail and/or fax. Offer a money-back guarantee if appropriate. Repeat your offer, response options and guarantee as often as possible.

Create an appealing mail piece

Your mail piece should reflect your company’s positioning and sales strategy. If you are perceived as exclusive, unique or high-end your mail piece should reflect it. If customers buy from you primarily based on low pricing, your mailer should have a “budget” look and feel to it. Keep your copy simple by using clear, short and descriptive sentences.

Personalize the piece. Use a call to action ­ tell the reader what you want them to do and by when they must do so.

www.GreatMailingLists.com

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It has to target the right prospects. You’ll get far better results by sending your direct mail to the people most likely to have a need for what you offer. Instead of sending it to a list of 10,000 prospects, narrow it down to a list of 1,000 prospects who are:
1. The most likely to need what you offer right now

2. The most likely to be able to afford what you offer right now

3. The most likely to place a larger than average order

4. The most likely to refer new business to you
It has to be consistent. People are constantly being exposed to marketing from hundreds if not thousands of companies, so in order to make be noticed and remembered, you’ll need to execute your campaign on a regular basis. People don’t care about what you’re offering until they actually need it, so the idea is to increase the likelihood of your message being in front of them at that time.
It has to be followed up on. In just about every B2B scenario, some follow up is going to be needed to convert your prospects into clients. Direct mail is usually most effective when it’s used to initiate the sales process, leaving the actual presentation and the close to a live sales person, or at the very least, your web site. Plus, by following up, you’re adding a more personal touch and even if your prospect isn’t ready to move forward, they will remember it when they are.

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