| Direct mailing is a priceless asset when it comes to | | | | has been abused by SPAMmers for so long that |
| giving your business a boost, but a direct mailing | | | | you're going to lose your customers before they've |
| campaign is only as good as your mailing list. Think | | | | even gotten started. |
| about it. Ten mailings are going to bring you more | | | | 2. If you have a store, ask your customers for their |
| business than five. One hundred mailings are going to | | | | name and address upon checkout. If they are |
| bring you more business than ten. One hundred | | | | shopping at your store they are obviously patrons of |
| carefully targeted mailings are going to bring in more | | | | the product or service that you are offering; and |
| business than one hundred random ones. | | | | there's no better customer than a repeat customer. |
| It makes sense, then, that expanding your mailing list | | | | 3. Search around for related businesses and add them |
| would be a top priority. The question is, how? How | | | | to your mailing list. If you offer a trash disposal |
| are you going to be able to carefully direct your | | | | service and a new restaurant has just opened up |
| marketing efforts at the people you want to reach | | | | down the street you can guarantee that they're |
| (the ones that are most likely to give you their | | | | going to be looking for somebody. That somebody |
| money!) if you are just going to be plopping your | | | | should be you! |
| advertisements in their mail box? | | | | 4. Team up with another business that offers a |
| Here are five tricks used by professional direct-mail | | | | product or service related to yours. Add their |
| marketing companies to help their clients expand and | | | | customers to your mailing list and vice-versa. This |
| target their mailing list and exponentially increase their | | | | way you get happy customers, happy professional |
| profit margin. If you incorporate these hints and tips | | | | contacts and happy financiers. |
| into your direct mailing campaign you should be able | | | | 5. Take part in community events and offer visitors |
| to grow your mailing list quickly, quietly and | | | | the chance to sign up. Local exposure is wonderful, |
| effectively. | | | | and you can almost guarantee that the people who |
| | | | sign up will be back; after all, there's nothing to inspire |
| 1. Include a link on your website asking visitors if they | | | | a return visit like accessibility. |
| would like to join your mailing list. If so, give them the | | | | Direct mailing is a fantastic way to expand your |
| opportunity to give you their name and address. | | | | customer base, but you have to have a customer |
| Many businesses, large and small, work so hard to | | | | base to expand on first. Carefully targeting and |
| optimize their site for the major search engines that | | | | expanding your mailing list is the most essential and |
| they fail to see the potential of direct-mailings. Do | | | | non-negotiable factor in any direct mail marketing |
| not, however, give in to the urge to require your | | | | campaign. With a little time and effort you'll be able |
| would-be clientèle to join your mailing list | | | | to make yours work for you. |
| before allowing them to access your site. This trick | | | | |