Mailpost opportunities

Way back in the day when I worked in membership sales at a local health club, direct mail marketing was one of the most effective means of advertising. There are a couple things to consider before launching this advertising campaign. You want to make sure that the budget of the gym allows for this, as you don’t want to being paying out of pocket as a membership rep.

In health club direct mail marketing you want to make sure you have a list of qualified prospects and their addresses to mail to. This should be pretty simple if you have a list of former members still in your system’s database, and obviously you want to target the demographic in the surrounding area. It would make no sense to mail to someone in Oklahoma, if the gym you work at is in Minnesota – but you don’t need me to tell you that.

If you own a gym or are a sales associate at a health club, direct mail marketing can be one of the most valuable assets you have. Be sure to be aggressive with it and offer a free membership for a limited period of time. You want to give the prospect something of value that causes them to take action; a 3 day guest pass is a perfect example of this. Remember, the volume of action will determine the level of results you get. You will not sell a bunch of memberships by mailing out 20 guest passes.

Consider utilizing the internet in some of your daily marketing activities as it can be less costly and highly effective. Make sure that you have a presence on the internet and are able to drive qualified leads to learn more about your gym.

Mailpost Leadership

Do you utilize direct mail techniques to increase business or are you still stuck in the ad agency train of thought that says direct response mail doesn’t work?

Dollar for dollar direct mail outperforms and out delivers many traditional media outlets. However, there is a method to the madness and reasons why some DR techniques fail.

Recently a direct mail piece was sent to my list and I’ve received fantastic feedback. I know there are some people shaking their heads and wondering why I would invest in direct mail with typical response rates of 1 to 2%. Let me explain.

Direct mail when implemented properly does produce results. There was certainly a time, back in the day when I worked for ad agencies, that I questioned direct mail too. I trusted the statistics and previous mentors who had experienced direct mail results that were less than favorable. Then I started studying the masters of direct response copy and mail. My tune has changed and I am sure a lot of that has to do with exposure to Dan Kennedy and Glazer Kennedy Inner Circle (among others).

Here are some tactics I use to make my direct mail stand out. My direct mail is well branded, lumpy and provokes thought. Not only that, it’s personalized with a call to action.

You can experience DR success by implementing the following techniques.

1. Have a purpose. Clearly define what you want your direct marketing piece to achieve.
2. Know who you are talking to and speak in a language that reaches them.
3. Personalize the piece by using your customers name.
4. Re-educate clients on your value.
5. Ask your reader to take action.
6. Include a promotional item that adds dimension to your mail piece and value to the recipient.
7. Timing – schedule local market delivery to coincide with networking events and national delivery to coincide with something timely on your blog or in your ezine.

This list may seem simple and it really is a quick highlight of what you need to incorporate. However, it works. Here’s what I did to make the most out of my mailing.

I sent a personal letter to my list to ask them to hire me for future copywriting projects.

Each letter was addressed to the individual by name.

I included a brochure that re-educates clients on the value of copywriting and made sure all materials were branded.

I asked recipients to not only hire me in the future but to do something for themselves in the interim.

I included a promotional pen and suggested it be used for personal correspondence and that I should be hired to write copy.

Locally, I mailed this right before a Chamber of Commerce networking event. Key people at the event received my mailing the day before or the day of the event. Buzz was created and others wanted to know more about the mailing.

The ultimate outcome-several new leads including requests to develop training for a program via the local college providing customized employer training in the workplace. Oh and an increase of my list because the buzz made others so curious they requested a copy of the mailing.

Finally, about the cost effectiveness of direct mail~ with only one of the leads converting to a sale (and I am sure there will be more), I have more than paid for the mailing.

Peter Kritas Mailpost

Everyone is looking for eco-friendly alternatives lately; from washing powder to cars so why not postage too? “009 was interrupted with postal strike after postal strike in the UK so not only are alternatives more eco-friendly they have the potential to be more reliable too.

So what can you do if you want to send come communication but don’t want to rely on snail mail?

Thinking outside the box.

Many online stores offer the option to purchase gift certificates which would then be emailed to your chose recipient. The added bonus of this of course is that they can then choose their own gift and they get exactly what they want too! This is a great option if you are a little late in posting as it’s almost instant delivery (of the voucher) so you need never miss a birthday again (except if it’s your own fault!)

Cards? Why?

I hate gift cards, I see it as the ultimate waste of money. For the £2.00 you are likely to spend on a card I am 99% confident that most recipients would prefer that £2.00 converting into a beer on their birthday instead! I know I would. Instead why not send a catch-up email on the day and attach a few photo’s to make it more personal and interesting. Another option if to try JibJam (Google it) where you can upload your photo’s and become the star of a movie that can then be emailed and shared.

Email

Ok, so this is obvious but why go to the paper wastage and postage charges of sending invoices etc through the post. Sending everything by email makes is faster, cheaper, better for the environment and best of all, it proves a trackable history of the invoice being sent.

Bill Paying

Go paperless billing then you get your bills delivered directly to your inbox, if you then make your payment online too you know for a fact that the payment has been sent and when giving you peace of mind.

Bulk postage

Why now source an alternative delivery company to Royal Mail? Think of this, if you have all your family in one place then why not get one big box and put in all the Xmas pressies and cards into one delivery item then get someone like Citylink to deliver? You can track the delivery online and it’ll save you posting everything on it’s own so could work out cheaper too.

Direct mail marketing during the holidays is a good way to get some exposure and a little bit of the holiday market share. This year, postcard printing is one of the best tools for some good marketing during the holidays.

That is why I recommend that you try using color postcards this season as your primary marketing tool of choice. In this guide, I will show you how to effectively wage your direct mail marketing campaign using postcards.

• Get those printing discounts – First, you should know that in the holidays, plenty of printers give printing discounts or special free service offers. So if you are planning to print for marketing, do not forget to look for the printing service with that discount or special offer. The good thing about the holidays is you can indeed save a lot on Holiday sales and offers, so accept the generosity of postcard printers and avail of those discounts. You should be pleased by those free services and they will be happy for your business.

• Be Joyful and Merry – Now within your content itself for postcard printing, my advice is to always be joyful and merry. Do not use those all too common promotional image advertisements with people doing nothing in particular with your product or service. It is good to “merry it up a little” by converting to a holiday theme. Since lots of people expect mail from their loved ones, a merry holiday card will not immediately be thrown away. You will get your holiday marketing message across if you just go with the theme of the season.

• Get the customers excited – Another good thing to do is to get your customers excited. Try to entice them with special deals and or give them a sense of mystery or anticipation. Tell them about your discounts and free offers but also tease them with special contest prizes if they buy something from you. As long as you give your readers, something to look forward to and to be excited about your marketing message should garner some success.

• Make it easy to respond – You must also try to remember that it is good to make your readers respond. Give them a way to express themselves by providing an address or webpage where they can place orders, suggestions and maybe a complaint or two. You can also try using double postcards so that people can reply immediately with the postcards. By having a way to respond to this that is quite handy. People will be encouraged to do business with you since it is less of a hassle for them.

• Make your cards tough – Finally, a very effective marketing campaign should have tools that are tough. You can specify the use of thicker and more moisture resistant materials that protects the postcard from moisture and random physical damage. This means that your cards can perform their duties for direct mail marketing a little longer. Moreover, they will deliver your message at a better condition, ensuring that it is as good look as it was first printed. This should give you some longevity as you work through the direct mail market.

Great! Hopefully this guide has thought you a lot about direct mail marketing this season. Good Luck with your postcard printing project!

Mailpost Franchise

Are you a business owner that is constantly worried about increasing sales? One of the best known and cost effective ways of doing this is through direct mail. Businesses that pay attention to the details and word their direct mail the right way, experience direct mail success.

It is just a matter of dedicating a little time and adding a little sweat, so to speak to the endeavor, and you can be one of those businesses that enjoy direct mail success. Direct mail success means you can go to the mail box and get those checks in the mail. If you do your direct campaign correctly the first time, the next time around things will be as easy as pie.

The first thing you need to do as a beginner is purchase a list from a magazine or from a marketing company on the internet. Be sure that you know what type of customer you want and where. You definitely don’t want to target the wrong kind of demographics. If you don’t target the right audience then you wont experience the same amount of direct mail success rate. So this is an important step and the marketing company needs to know as much as they can about your type of customer to get you the right kind of list. Start taking addresses for your present customers, that way you can send them direct mailings at certain times of the year. Categorize your data base, returning customers with non returning customers.

Design your copy for your sales letter in an enticing way. Some printers will have ready made templates you can use. Remember that even if you do use a template your direct mail needs to be unique and different. What you say in your sales letter needs to compel your prospect to take action, to feel that he really wants your product. This is the way to experiencing direct mail success.

Offer something to the prospect. People love discounts or free give aways. Send a coupon with a certain amount off. If you cant give a discount offer a free delivery or some sort of free service. People love free things. Put a special code on each mail out you do, so that when people call you will know which mail out is working better than others. What products draw their attention, and which wording is the correct one.

To get the right kind of direct mail success, try using different mail supplies. By that I mean use different colored papers, sized letters, use packages, and samples when available. All of this will ensure your direct mail success. Sometimes using personal touches or signing letters personally gives your direct mail a unique and personal touch. The truth is that the only way you will know what direct mail works for you and which gives you direct mail success is by trying a certain type of direct mail, keeping track of the results and doing what worked for you again in your next direct mail campaign.

Mailpost

Your personal and business mail can be a gold mine to thieves looking to hijack their next victim’s identity. The sheer volume of sensitive information that travels through the mail makes us all incredibly vulnerable to identity theft. Here are three tips to protect yourself and to make it difficult for identity thieves to use your mail against you.

1. Shred it. Before you throw away mail or other documents, stop for a moment. Always tear or shred your sensitive documents including credit card applications or offers, receipts, insurance papers, checks, bank/financial account statements, expired or canceled cards. The same goes for anything that has your social security number (SSN), driver’s license number or account numbers. Use a shredder, preferably one that “cross-cuts”, but regardless of which type of shredder you use, shredding in itself will keep you ahead of the game.

2. Opt out. It is a good idea to opt out of receiving prescreened offers of credit and insurance in the mail because these offers can be dangerous if they get into the wrong hands. To stop these pre-approved offers, contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian) which sell your contact information to credit issuers. Choose just one of the following two ways to do this – both are quite easy.

By phone. This is the recommended approach. All it takes is one phone call to 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) and you’ll notify all three credit reporting agencies. You will be asked to provide your SSN which the credit reporting agencies need to cross check with your credit file.
Web site. You can also use a web site (OptOutPreScreen.com) managed by a joint venture of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies above (plus a fourth called Innovis). This web site is sanctioned by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and is the only legitimate web site for this purpose. I have found that few people know about this site. It might be because many do not completely trust web sites (and there’s something about the design that makes it look suspicious). One problem I have with it is that the privacy notice is a bit vague. If in doubt, use the toll free number.

You can read more about the prescreen opt out programs on the FTC website FTC.gov. The opt out process has no effect on your credit score or your ability to obtain credit or insurance. Requests are processed within five days of receipt, but it could take up to two months before you stop receiving prescreened offers. This opt out does not apply to companies with which you already have a pre-existing relationship (or their affiliates). So you will continue to get offers from your own credit card company or a company they own. It is also possible to opt back in if you ever change your mind.

3. Protect it. Be careful both when depositing and receiving your mail. Drop your outgoing mail containing sensitive information in locked USPS collection boxes or at the post office, rather than in an unsecured mailbox. Never leave sensitive outgoing mail in a mailbox with the flag up. This is a gift for thieves and that’s why at the Identity Theft Resource Center, where I volunteer, we call them “steal me” flags. Remove mail from an unsecured mailbox as soon as possible-every day if you can. Never have an order of checks mailed to your home. Have them sent to your bank and pick them up from there instead. If you have an outdoor mailbox, you might want to invest in a postmaster-approved locking mailbox. They are quite expensive, but you can find many options by doing a Google search for “locking mailbox”.

Mailpost Business Franchise Opportunities

Are you frustrated by the lack of response to your voice mails and the impact it has on your cold calling efforts?

You can increase your odds of getting a return call by integrating e-mails with your voice mails. Here is a simple, easy to use 3-Step combination that you can adapt and use in virtually any industry. It combines polite persistence with a touch of humor to compel the prospect respond.

Step #1: 10 Minutes of Your Time Voice Mail and E-mail Combo

Assuming that you have made several attempts to reach your prospect live, the first step in the process is to leave a simple voice mail message using the template below. The key to the message is the request for a 10 minute chat:

“Hey Dan, This is Mike Wray calling from Logistical Shippers. We work with freight handlers who are frustrated with late and delayed shipments. Dan, the reason for my call is to arrange a brief, 10-minute chat to learn more about your situation and to see if we can reduce some of the hassle associated with shipping delays. Please call me at ____. In the meantime, I’ll send you a brief e-mail.”

The subsequent e-mail you send echoes the voice mail message by providing a visual message to the audio message you left. It begins with a good subject line,

Re: Dan, request for 10 minutes of your time

The subject line contains the prospect’s name and references a ‘request’ for 10 minutes of time. It not only echoes the voice mail message it creates a degree of curiosity especially if the prospect has not yet heard of the voice mail i.e., ‘what request?’ ‘Did I miss something?’

The body of your e-mail should contain elements of your voice mail:

“Dan, as I mentioned in my voice mail, we work with freight handlers who are frustrated with the hassle that delayed shipments can cause. We have a simple solution that virtually eliminates these headaches.

Could we chat for about 10 minutes so that I can better understand your situation and needs, and to see if we might be able to make your job a heck of a lot easier?

My number is _______ or simply reply with a time and date.”

The e-mail provides a lot of ‘teasing copy.’ It references both the ‘pain motivator’ (frustrated and hassle) and the ‘gain’ motivator (a heck of a lot easier) without belaboring either.

Step #2: 8 Minutes of Your Time Voice Mail E-Mail Combo

Persistence is the key to make this process work. Wait three days for a response before leaving your second voice mail/e-mail combo. Three days courteously gives the prospect enough time to reply and helps avoid the “stalking syndrome” that typically occurs if you follow up too soon.

“Hi Dan, Mike Wray calling from Logistical Shippers. Dan, I am following up on the e-mail left about setting up a telephone appointment to review your freight handling needs. I asked for 10 minutes of your time but I suspect you’re busy – perhaps dealing with a late shipment or two. Kidding aside, how about 8 minutes of your time?

I’ll send you a quick e-mail with some additional information. In the meantime, my number is…”

It is vital that the tone of your voice is light and easy. Notice the request for time has diminished to 8 minutes. It’s a light hearted message that acknowledges the importance of the client’s time. Also notice the fun little jest, “dealing with a late shipment or two.’ This is a brief reminder of a possible motivator.

The e-mail follow up continues the theme in the subject line:

” Re: Dan, how about just 8 minutes of your time?”

As you can see, reduced time request is emphasized once again. This is deliberate. It’s what makes the message unique and catches the eye. It also has a playful ring to it. The body of the e-mail looks like this:

“Dan, I know how busy things are in the freight business. I deal with handlers every day…so I’ll only ask for 8 minutes of your time instead of ten.

In that time, perhaps we might be able to explore some ways to help streamline freight tracking and delivery.

Sound reasonable?

In the meantime, my number is _____ or simply reply to this message.”

The message is very brief and colloquial in nature. “Sound reasonable?” is an incomplete sentence but it gives it that ‘off the cuff and no big deal’ flavor to the message.

Step # 3: 5 Minutes of Your Time Voice Mail/E-Mail Combo

The final step in the strategy is to wait another 3 business days and give the prospect time to respond. If that doesn’t happen your third voice mail/e-mail combo should follow the same pattern as the first two messages by making an easy quip about the time
required.

“Hi Dan, it’s Mike Wray calling from Logistical Shippers.

Okay, it sounds like you’re super busy so here’s my one last shot. How about 5 just minutes of your time AND I promise you it will be the best 5 minutes you spend this month. My number is…”

There are a three things at work here. First, is your persistence. You have made two sets of five follow up contacts spaced about six business days apart. By now the prospect will realize you are tenacious.

Second, you create ongoing interest – and maybe even amusement- by whittling away the time that you’re requesting.

Third, is the sincere promise of the chat being “the best 5 minutes you’ll spend this month.” Delivered with conviction, this is a bold and confident statement. Let the prospect hear it.

The follow up e-mail has the following as a subject line:

“Re: Okay Dan, here’s my last shot: only 5 minutes of your time?”

If your prospect reads nothing else, he’ll read the subject line and remember you. But your subject line also reveals a graceful way of saying you won’t pursue him beyond this message. This can help buy some good will and perhaps urge the prospect to respond.

The body of the message does not have to be elaborate but it should maintain the easy nature of your earlier messages.

“Dan, here’s my last kick at the can: 5 minutes of your time.

No more.

Promise.

But kidding aside, if you can spare just 5 minutes of your time there is a very good chance that we can help reduce or eliminate the hassle and headaches of delayed shipments.

Using a simple process, we take the checking and verifying out of your hands and put it into ours. It’s all we do. And that gives you time to work on other more significant matters.

5 minutes?

Please give me a call at ________ or simply reply to this e-mail. Otherwise I will call you next quarter.

Note the layout of the message. Short sentences. Lots of white space. Easy to quickly read and understand. The ‘look’ of your e-mail reflects what a quick 5-minute look might feel like. Also take note that there is a reference to the solution you offer. It’s not a pitch but just a broad overview. And finally, the message points out that if there is no reply, you’ll call next quarter. In effect, you are saying this is the last chance they have to respond.

Mailpost Peter Kritas

All the companies sending out email campaigns want all those mails to be delivered to the intended recipients. But, this never happens. The number of mails you send out never equals the number of mails received by the recipients. Several issues affect email marketing deliverability. When you have set up an email marketing campaign, it is not sufficient to draft compelling killer emails. All your marketing knowledge will go waste if the emails don’t reach their destinations.

There are various reasons for your mails not reaching their destinations. The mail boxes to which you send emails will first judge your mail. Based on the result of its decision, your mail will be sent to inbox, marked as spam or deleted forever. Some organizations follow ip blocking policies and all emails coming from blocked ips will be deleted. The recipient to whom you send emails might have blocked email from you and hence, your emails won’t reach the desired destination. There are organizations that use blacklist software to identify senders to be blocked. If your email campaign is blacklisted, your recipient again will not receive your email.

When your emails are blocked or deleted, there is no way you can undo those operations because they are out of your hands. However, you can find ways to know whether the emails have reached intended number of recipients. For effective email marketing campaign, you may have a target to send out emails. Unless you know that your emails have been sent to targeted number of readers, you can’t close the campaign. This is where mail delivery tracking service becomes helpful.

Email monitoring service can help you in many ways to improve your marketing campaign. From the report provided, you can identify whether you are sending blacklisted emails or your ip is blocked. Various other issues that affect email deliverability can also be identified. It costs money to send out every mail and hence it makes perfect sense to monitor the emails sent out. This way, you can identify problems in the beginning and take measures to rectify them. Also, with effective email tracking, you can compute the success of your marketing campaign.

Mailpost Organisation

Here are some tips to help your mail order business be successful.

1. How do you develop a personal relationship with your customers?

Successful mail order firms make every effort to personalize their mail!

2. What inspires people to buy by mail?

Convenience and saving of time it would take to make a personal trip. Avoidance of rush hour crowds. Many find it fun to buy through the mail.. Many prefer to buy personal items, such as certain kinds of books, by mail. Exclusiveness of many mail order products.

3. How do you begin with a mail order business?

Check at the post office to obtain information on various permits and fees for bulk mailing and all the other services which will fit in with your operations. You need very little capital to begin. The main thing is to use impressive printed letterheads and envelopes. Test before you splurge. Start with just a few classified ads, then build your programs from there.

4. Why are most mail order ads losing money?

The product, the price, the media used, the timing of the ad and the right prospect are all critical factors. Proper items must be selected, those that will readily sell by mail. The price must be especially attractive. Ads must be simple and easy to understand; attention producing with strong eye-arresting leads. They must convince customers and make it easy for them to order. All these ingredients need to be present to get good response.

5. What moves well in mail order?

Good novelty merchandise and scarce items. Books of interest to a large audience. Certain Multi-level marketing plans are good planswith good, reasonably priced products as a base. However, there are a great deal more poor, worthless, MLM programs floating around than there are good ones so one must be very cautious in choosing this kind of operation.

6. What make customers come back again and again?

The right product with orders handled carefully and quickly. Satisfied customers always come back, even via mail.

7. What limits the mail order business?

There is no limit to the mailorder business if you are willing to learn and expand. A real good hot item, even at a high cost can be a real winner. Don’t let your programs just sit idle. Test… Test and more tests. Keep on the top of all your activities and follow through.

8. After you have been in the business a short time what can you use to build confidence?

You can accumulate testimonials from you customers and use them in your ads to build customer confidence.

9. What one mistake costs the mailorder operator a lot of money?

It is a waste of money to present established items that people can get most anywhere.

10. What are the 13 most powerful words for your ads?

Free, Rush, Limited, Guaranteed, Save, Sale, New, Get, Look, Money-making, Profits, Act, Now!

11. How do you get income coming from every direction?

After you have built up your programs (Sale of merchandise, books, publication, MLM, or whatever) and have a good customer list, rent or sell the names. Offer big mails for SASE to build up and expand your name list. Mail circulars of others, for a fee or commission, with your own Big Mails.

12. What should you know about catalog deals?

Stay away from catalog deals until you can check them out with simple tests that prove them profitable.

13. How do you realize your dreams to be a success in the mail order business?

Keep your mind open for new ideas and don’t give up. Don’t throw away your dreams because of only a few failures. Proceed carefully; watch out for fraud and fast buck artists. Hang in there and you can become a great success!

14. What is one of the most common questions asked by the would-be customer of most any money-making, how-to, self-improvement, mailorder, idea, or success publication?

What can it do for me! With the millions of books on the market it is an difficult question, to be sure. It’s certainly much easier to expound on the advantages of one book over another “because it has more pages” or “It has a more expensive cover”. But those are not the answers. The foundation of knowledge is learning and the best way to learn is to simplify everything possible. Eliminate all the useless non-essentials so the reader is not overburdened with worthless detail and let them know through proper advertising what your publication or book can do for them!

15. What are a person’s two main alternatives for success or failure?

As chaotic conditions increase in this mad money world they can crawl in the corner and let the world pass them by, or learn new methods required to format their future wealth! Waiting for the day when they will have everything they need will never come without know-how!

16. Whether you are in “Big Business” or just working from your “Kitchen Table”, what secrets must you apply in order to find riches?

Wealth will not materialize until you take action and generate the force needed to start the wealth-building process. Most people are just not oriented to do anything about gaining new wealth, while others believe it would take too much of their time and money to follow through a project to completion. They don’t realize that knowledge is power and wealth favors the trained mind. This leaves the market place wide open for those who apply the proper ideas and methods. The ones who discover the ways to exploit the future. You must move ahead of the times, extend your knowledge and open up new avenues of personal growth! Expand your horizons!

17. Who to contact pertaining to any questions about the mail service?

Your local Postmaster or the Consumer Advocate, U.S. Postal Service, Washington DC 20260-6320, Phone (202) 245-4514.

18. If you suspect Misrepresentation, Mail Fraud or want to stop sexually oriented mail, who do your contact?

Your local Postmaster, or Chief Postal Inspector, U.S. Postal Service, Room 3517, Washington, DC 20260-2100, Phone (202) 245-5445.

19. Where to get help from problems or questions about unordered products or non-delivery?

Consumer Inquiries, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580, Phone (202) 523-3598.

20. From whom can you get the most general mail order questions answered?

The local Consumer Protection Agency, or the Direct Mail Marketing Association located at 6 East 43rd. St., New York, NY 10017, Phone (212) 689-4977.

21. Why do a great percentage of persons fail in mail order?

Mail order is a complex business. Every phase must be analyzed and tested. The right products must be selected, the correct type of ads placed in the proper media and 1,001 other details attended to constantly. The mailorder enthusiast is led to believe they can be an overnight success with very little work. When they find this is not the case they drop out before giving themselves a chance to learn the right methods.

22. What is the “Inner Circle” of mail order?

A Mailorder House is commonly defined as “An establishment conducting business by Mail”. A Mailorder Dealer is simply one who sells by mail. The circle of mail order relates to the thousands of mailorder dealers operating throughout the country. The “Inner Circle of Mail Order” refers to those successful professionals who have “climbed to the top” in the mail order field by long, hard work, study, knowledge and persistence.

23. How do you get in the “Inner Circle of Mailorder”?

As you learn and progress in the many and varied phases of mailorder business methods, you will set various goals. You must continuously change plans and programs to attain these goals. Unless you are one of those fortunate few who hit it “lucky” overnight with some special program, product, or gimmick, the best way to arrive at Ultimate success in mailorder is to “Dive” right into the “outer fringes of the Inner Circle” and start “climbing”. When your successes overtake and offset your failures, as you work your way up to the “Hub of the Wheel”, you will have finally reached the Ultimate height in Mailorder… The Inner Circle!

24. Where to Start in Mailorder?

The best way to start is to work with those who are already there. Obtain several small mailorder trade magazines. Get one page ad sheets and various circulars. You can spend a small amount on BIG MAILS and be flooded with magazines, adsheets, circulars, etc. with thousands of different offers and potential opportunities. For a dollar or two you can get listed in these various media as wanting offers and “be assured”, you will get your money’s worth!

25. What is one of the most valuable assets for the mailorder beginner?

“Junk Mail”. As you receive information and various packets, analyze the offers and send for full information on the ones that appeal to you. File and keep all the information you receive by the kind of program or plan, and we don’t mean to put them in “File 13″. None of this “Junk Mail” is Junk; there is no such word in the vocabulary of mail order dealers. It is one of their most valuable assets, if properly analyzed, filed and used intelligently.

26. What must you do as your files accumulate, in order to succeed?

Don’t just send off for the many deals, then wait until you accumulate a room full of files. Time is money. You can handle only a small percent of the programs available, so right away, jump in and “lightly” test several of the programs that interest you. Spend only a minimum on each plan or program, until your tests prove out, then hit the winners hard and fast!

27. Some great money-makers to include in your mailorder business?

Printing and publishing… publish your own mailorder books and manuals. Manufacture your own product in your garage or basement. Purchase your product direct from factories at distributors cost. Get involved in the sale of the thousands of How-To books and programs available. Make up unique How-to-reports, stories, etc., in cartoon form. Write valuable promotion deals for the millions of merchants and retailers… put it on tape. Sell or lease your name lists. Make up your own commission circular programs and adsheets. Offer big mail… Mail others commission circulars with your own mailings. i.e. Do everything possible through the mail that is legal until you find the right programs to make your million.

28. How to stay ahead of the game?

You must constantly keep up with what other dealers are doing! Check out the successful programs and build your own around them. Give constant attention to your ideas. Write them down and act on the good ones. Find new products, develop “solid” plans around them and test them in the market place.

29. How to double your earnings in mailorder?

Begin by running one or two ads in several different mailorder publications. When orders begin coming in take a full 50% of the profits and invest them in more advertising. You must continue to expand your advertising in order to double your income.

30. What is another method to double your income?

Multiply the number of products or services. If you are offering the right products and advertise in the right media you can be greatly surprised by the results. Continuous investment of profits for advertising and new items that generate orders are the secret if you wish to succeed in any business and mailorder is certainly no exception.

31. How do you get set up as a Co-publisher?

You place your ad in a trade magazine or adsheet that is “Co-Publishable”. Send your ad and remittance to the Co-Publisher who will forward the same, along with 50% of your payment to the Prime Publisher. Your ad will appear in the next issue and the publisher will send you full details on becoming a Co-Publisher.

32. What are the usual benefits of Co-publishing?

As a Co-Publisher, you generally get your future ads placed at one-half the published rates; 50% on commission ads you obtain; 50% for subscriptions received; 50% on products advertised in the publications which are to be ordered through you, the Co-Publishers, and receive 20 to 100 or so publications for your own mailings. You simply stamp your name and address as Co-Publisher and mail them out! If the ads don’t pull, you may still come out ahead from orders which come to you as the Co-Publisher. When you receive orders, retain 50% (or whatever amount is the agreed commission) and forward the balance with the order, to the Prime Publisher… He will take it from there… It’s that simple. Your own ads, of course, get full circulation based on the total published and distributed.

33. How you can control the number of orders you get as a Co-Publisher?

The number of orders you receive will depend on who you mail them to. If you mail to other Co-publishers, orders obtained will usually be for small one inch ads. They will reserve expenditures for large ads, until they become Co-Publishers of the publication themselves, thus getting their advertising at one-half rates! If your mailings are directed to mailorder beginners, opportunity seekers, or direct to the consumer, orders you receive will probably be for books or products offered under “Order From Co-Publisher” ads.

34. What must you do to get started economically and efficiently as a “top” commission mailer?

Order a good rubber stamp… Send for some free commission circulars, pay only the postage for these. They are available from prime source mailorder firms… Send for some free names who want Big Mail… Buy a supply of envelopes and stamps… Address the envelopes to the names wanting big mail… When you receive your circulars. stamp your name and address in the blank space provided, put one of each type of circular in each envelope, filling to the maximum weight for each level of postage rate; mail them. When you receive orders, take out your commission and forward everything else to the Prime source… And you are in business!

35. How do you make $50,000 a year by working from your kitchen table 4 hours a week?

There is money in the mailorder business but not as some advertise it. Don’t believe it. You won’t make $50,000 a year by working 4 hours a week. NO! It doesn’t work that way! If you will follow instructions, be happy with from $100 to $400 a week spending a few hours every night, five nights a week, then you too can make money in mail order.

36. What is one of the biggest mistakes you can make as a commission mailer?

It is good policy to never get your circulars, and your mailing list, from the same dealer.

37. How do you get started with your own adsheet?

Adsheets are sometimes started by the publisher cutting others ads from various adsheets or magazines and pasting these on their own adsheet without cost to the advertiser. This adsheet is then mailed to these various dealers with an offer to re-run the ads at the published rate. This is not the best method. It is better to find publishers who will send you partial page, or full page ads that pay from 50% to 100% commission. You run these ads over your name in the first few editions of your adsheet. As paid ads come in you simply replace these free commission ads with the paid ads. Until you get paid ads for your publication, you have a chance to make money whether you have paid advertisers or not. Moreover, some companies will give you substantial discounts on their various mailorder programs if you will run their ad in the first edition. Thus you can make money off of their ads and also get professionally designed mailorder programs at very little cost.

38. How do you keep your Co-publishing costs to Zero?

The discounts for your own ads are generally 50% with most of the mailorder publications. In return for the discount you are expected to mail a few copies. “Piggy-back” the copies in orders you fill and in your big mails, or advertise offering them free for payment of postage. Using these methods your postage cost to mail your copies can be Zero!

39. What colors are the most appealing to women, in order of preference?

Red, Violet, Blue, Green, Orange, White, Yellow.

40. What colors are the most appealing to men in order of preference?

Blue, Red. Violet, Green, Orange, White, Yellow.

Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
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To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo
ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my
website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine
it was used in.

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