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  • Will You Add? - Does Post Card Advertising Really Work?

    Gram Pocket Scales - Weighing in Big with Consumers
    What’s no bigger than a flip phone comes in fashion colors and can weigh up to 50 grams with .01g accuracy? Don’t look now, but the traditional jeweler’s traveling scale is all fashioned out and style conscious. Pocket scales, used by jewelers, hunters and field investigators for dozens of uses, have taken the same route that turned cell phones into fashion accessories. You can now buy pocket scales that weigh less than a pound and are the size of a small flip phone – yet still promise to weigh substances with accuracy up to .01g – one hundredth of a gram. They come tricked out in camouflage, flames, translucent blue ice and hot baby doll pink. These are not your Uncle Jake’s pocket scales, son.There are more modern uses for pocket scales as well.
    u how I am targeted by companies that I do business with and that get my attention as well as my order.

    Example:

    ImpactYourArea.com is targeted by companies that make promotional products. Everyday I receive something in the mail from some company. It could be product announcements, new product samples, promotions and/or valuable insight to generating more sales.

    Some companies send me information at least once a month. Others 4 times a year. Then there are those companies that send me something only once a year.

    Of those three company types which do you think I remember more? It would be those that send me something once a month.

    From this example it should be clear that getting your message out repeatedly and often

    What Can American Idol Teach You About Business?
    Well, folks, as luck and ratings would have it, it’s time for yet another season of that train wreck of reality TV, American Idol; the show that attempts to separate the talented from the terrible and brings them all into your living room each week for you to enjoy. Get ready to call in and cast your vote for who should be applauded and who should be muzzled. How fortunate we are to be living in a time when we can judge our fellow man via text message.And don’t forget your judges, ladies and gentlemen, the flaky Paula Abdul, the canine-obsessed Randy Jackson (somebody get this guy a dog), and the perpetually nasty, Simon Cowell; who gives new meaning to the term, "I don’t mean this bad, but..."To be honest, I’m not a fan of the show (too
    You've decided to try advertising your business with post cards. The idea came to you from the post cards you receive from other businesses. You like the idea because it seems easy to do and economical. However, you've never tried this before so you question whether this method will bring you customers.

    Let me say this first, "All Forms of Advertising Work!" However, you have to clearly understand how the advertising medium works and realize that each form has it's limitations along with costs associated with it.

    At this time, I also I need to dispel a myth that has been around for as long as there has been printed advertising. Many, many business people believe that if they do a 1 time mass mailing it should be a slam dunk in sales.

    Let me be the first to say. "With over 36 years of selling to the public, it simply doesn't work that way!" If you plan on being in business longer than 1 day, then you must continually advertise to keep the clientele coming to you.

    Advertising in any medium has always been about repetition and getting your name remembered. It's called "Branding". Study businesses that use television commercials. They are constantly repeating their business message 1000's of times a day. They are the best free examples to watch and learn from.

    So for your business, you can conclude that the more your prospects see your name or message repeated, the easier it is for them to get to know you and what you offer. Then it becomes an easier task to get them to buy from you.

    So How Does Post Card Advertising Work?

    You create an ad on a Post card. This can be done in your favorite graphics or word program. Then use the mail merge feature in the program to insert mailing addresses automatically. In case you haven't setup your address book you would need to do this before you do a mail merge.

    Print out the cards, stamp them and then mail them out. If done correctly and repeated over and over again your customer base will grow. This is the simple mechanics of post card advertising.

    So Where Do I Get Good Addresses From?

    Before you can get good addresses, you must first know who it is you are wanting to target before you do your mail out. You wouldn't offer gun sales to anti-gun activists or religious material to a group of Atheists, now would you?

    First, go to the large search engines and do some research to find out who uses your type of product and/or services. Once you uncover who they are, you then know who your target market will be.

    As a side note, there are companies that do sell mailing lists that contain groups of people, organizations and businesses. It is all gathered and cataloged and based on personal interests and/or work related. You can buy these mailing lists or start your own.

    Secondly you have to determine how often you will be sending your post cards out. The amount of times you repeat your message, to those you target, will determine how well they remember you. Let me show you how I am targeted by companies that I do business with and that get my attention as well as my order.

    Example:

    ImpactYourArea.com is targeted by companies that make promotional products. Everyday I receive something in the mail from some company. It could be product announcements, new product samples, promotions and/or valuable insight to generating more sales.

    Some companies send me information at least once a month. Others 4 times a year. Then there are those companies that send me something only once a year.

    Of those three company types which do you think I remember more? It would be those that send me something once a month.

    From this example it should be clear that getting your message out repeatedly and often i

    Direct Advertising Or Modern Direct Response Marketing?
    Promotion of products or services has always been targeted at the special groups of audience that is divided on the basis of age, sex, social status and etc. Geo-targeting is also very important in marketing as it is wiser to appeal to specific features and environment than to use a one-size-fits-all advertisement, brochure or leaflet. Any kind of marketing campaign is directed at gaining profit from acquiring new markets for sales. Thousands of practical guides and manuals are written in order to comprehend and use the methods of successful marketing strategies; however, the psychological aspect and the notion of direct response marketing have not been covered to the full. How can an advertiser make his/her brand sound in consumers’ mind for a long time
    p>

    Let me be the first to say. "With over 36 years of selling to the public, it simply doesn't work that way!" If you plan on being in business longer than 1 day, then you must continually advertise to keep the clientele coming to you.

    Advertising in any medium has always been about repetition and getting your name remembered. It's called "Branding". Study businesses that use television commercials. They are constantly repeating their business message 1000's of times a day. They are the best free examples to watch and learn from.

    So for your business, you can conclude that the more your prospects see your name or message repeated, the easier it is for them to get to know you and what you offer. Then it becomes an easier task to get them to buy from you.

    So How Does Post Card Advertising Work?

    You create an ad on a Post card. This can be done in your favorite graphics or word program. Then use the mail merge feature in the program to insert mailing addresses automatically. In case you haven't setup your address book you would need to do this before you do a mail merge.

    Print out the cards, stamp them and then mail them out. If done correctly and repeated over and over again your customer base will grow. This is the simple mechanics of post card advertising.

    So Where Do I Get Good Addresses From?

    Before you can get good addresses, you must first know who it is you are wanting to target before you do your mail out. You wouldn't offer gun sales to anti-gun activists or religious material to a group of Atheists, now would you?

    First, go to the large search engines and do some research to find out who uses your type of product and/or services. Once you uncover who they are, you then know who your target market will be.

    As a side note, there are companies that do sell mailing lists that contain groups of people, organizations and businesses. It is all gathered and cataloged and based on personal interests and/or work related. You can buy these mailing lists or start your own.

    Secondly you have to determine how often you will be sending your post cards out. The amount of times you repeat your message, to those you target, will determine how well they remember you. Let me show you how I am targeted by companies that I do business with and that get my attention as well as my order.

    Example:

    ImpactYourArea.com is targeted by companies that make promotional products. Everyday I receive something in the mail from some company. It could be product announcements, new product samples, promotions and/or valuable insight to generating more sales.

    Some companies send me information at least once a month. Others 4 times a year. Then there are those companies that send me something only once a year.

    Of those three company types which do you think I remember more? It would be those that send me something once a month.

    From this example it should be clear that getting your message out repeatedly and often

    A Guide to Limited Liability Corporations
    A limited liablity company or LLC is a form of business offering limited liability to its owners. In the LLC, all owners are protected from personal liability in case of business debts and claims. This feature is known as limited liability. This means that if the business owes money or faces a court case for some reason, only the assets of the business are at risk and not the personal property of the owners.The LLC does not have restrictions regarding who can be a member of the LLC, as in the case of corporations. The LLC has greater flexibility for distribution of rights, profits and assets, compared to a corporation. The LLC is not subject to the same corporate formalities that are required in case of a corporation. However, the LLC is expected
    hem to buy from you.

    So How Does Post Card Advertising Work?

    You create an ad on a Post card. This can be done in your favorite graphics or word program. Then use the mail merge feature in the program to insert mailing addresses automatically. In case you haven't setup your address book you would need to do this before you do a mail merge.

    Print out the cards, stamp them and then mail them out. If done correctly and repeated over and over again your customer base will grow. This is the simple mechanics of post card advertising.

    So Where Do I Get Good Addresses From?

    Before you can get good addresses, you must first know who it is you are wanting to target before you do your mail out. You wouldn't offer gun sales to anti-gun activists or religious material to a group of Atheists, now would you?

    First, go to the large search engines and do some research to find out who uses your type of product and/or services. Once you uncover who they are, you then know who your target market will be.

    As a side note, there are companies that do sell mailing lists that contain groups of people, organizations and businesses. It is all gathered and cataloged and based on personal interests and/or work related. You can buy these mailing lists or start your own.

    Secondly you have to determine how often you will be sending your post cards out. The amount of times you repeat your message, to those you target, will determine how well they remember you. Let me show you how I am targeted by companies that I do business with and that get my attention as well as my order.

    Example:

    ImpactYourArea.com is targeted by companies that make promotional products. Everyday I receive something in the mail from some company. It could be product announcements, new product samples, promotions and/or valuable insight to generating more sales.

    Some companies send me information at least once a month. Others 4 times a year. Then there are those companies that send me something only once a year.

    Of those three company types which do you think I remember more? It would be those that send me something once a month.

    From this example it should be clear that getting your message out repeatedly and often

    Growing Up - Not Growing Big - The Case for Keeping Your 5K Biz Small
    One of the best things about the 5K business model (a business you start for $5,000 or less) is that it is tailored for people who want to be their own boss, live their lives on their own terms, enjoy their work thoroughly, and still make a tidy profit. Though the popular notion is that you want start a new business because you want to make pots of money, there are thousands of people who are motivated by the flexibility and freedom a small business offers more than financial growth.But if you have ever picked up a book on starting and running a small business, you know most of them are written for people who want to start small but grow big. Almost all of these books talk about taking loans, renting or buying office property, and hiring employees
    ti-gun activists or religious material to a group of Atheists, now would you?

    First, go to the large search engines and do some research to find out who uses your type of product and/or services. Once you uncover who they are, you then know who your target market will be.

    As a side note, there are companies that do sell mailing lists that contain groups of people, organizations and businesses. It is all gathered and cataloged and based on personal interests and/or work related. You can buy these mailing lists or start your own.

    Secondly you have to determine how often you will be sending your post cards out. The amount of times you repeat your message, to those you target, will determine how well they remember you. Let me show you how I am targeted by companies that I do business with and that get my attention as well as my order.

    Example:

    ImpactYourArea.com is targeted by companies that make promotional products. Everyday I receive something in the mail from some company. It could be product announcements, new product samples, promotions and/or valuable insight to generating more sales.

    Some companies send me information at least once a month. Others 4 times a year. Then there are those companies that send me something only once a year.

    Of those three company types which do you think I remember more? It would be those that send me something once a month.

    From this example it should be clear that getting your message out repeatedly and often

    Power Tools: The Products Behind the Colors
    It’s kind of funny how the sales and marketing/advertising folks of the power tool companies have “drilled” into our heads the brand logos and the coordinating colors that accompany them. Do you think this was done completely by accident, or were there secret tests going on behind the scenes in your local hardware store’s backroom? Whatever the case may be, orange and black means Black & Decker; DeWalts brand is yellow; Milwaukee is the “power-color” of red; and Hitachi is that bright, neon-greenish hue that might one-day attempt to glow in the dark.Believe me when I tell you that the colors are all part of the big picture for the brands that are behind them. This creates an easily identifiable product in a sea filled with cordless fish, 36-volt
    u how I am targeted by companies that I do business with and that get my attention as well as my order.

    Example:

    ImpactYourArea.com is targeted by companies that make promotional products. Everyday I receive something in the mail from some company. It could be product announcements, new product samples, promotions and/or valuable insight to generating more sales.

    Some companies send me information at least once a month. Others 4 times a year. Then there are those companies that send me something only once a year.

    Of those three company types which do you think I remember more? It would be those that send me something once a month.

    From this example it should be clear that getting your message out repeatedly and often is how your prospects are going to remember you, your product and/or services.

    So What Are The Limitations With Post Card Advertising?

    Let's say you plan to send out 5000 post cards in a one time mailing. If you are targeting prospects that use your type of service or product, then statistically you should draw 1-2% in responses. Meaning that roughly 50 people may show some interest.

    That doesn't necessarily mean you have converted the prospect into a buyer. It only means they have shown an interest in your offer and are willing to take it to the next step.

    The next step, for them, is to find out a little bit more about your offer. These are your "Tire Kickers". Of those that responded your chance of converting them is also 1-2%.

    So your chances of converting prospect to buyer, from your 1 time mail out could be 4-6 buyers from your original 5000 post card mail out.

    Now most would say that the campaign was a failure. However, by the way this medium works it was right on target.

    So How Do You Increase Response Rate?

    Instead of sending out a 1 time mass mailing of 5000 post cards, consider sending out a smaller amount and do it in monthly increments. Repeat the mail out process once a month for 12-24 months.

    So How Much Should You Send Out?

    I would start small and build from that. This gives you the ability to spend a little at a time while measuring how each mail out converted. This keeps your advertising costs down and manageable.

    Start with 500 post cards a month. Only target prospects you know that would use your product and/or services. Then I would repeat the mail out to the same group over the next 1-2 years.

    Even if they do not buy the first or second time after they've received your card, they are beginning to get to know you and your product and/or services. As time goes by your chances of converting them to a buyer increases. There is also a good chance that those you target may pass your offer onto someone else.

    In conclusion, never allow the idea that advertising once will be the solution to gaining repeat business. Don't forget that post card advertising does work if you learn how to do it right and you repeat the process over and over.

    Copyright 2005 © Woody Qui?ones & www.Impactyourarea.com

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