Need a writer for a business letter!

[jam52633]

I am looking for a professional writer for a business letter that I can fax to varies businesses, informing them of the type of jobs we offer.

If anyone could suggest a few names for me, that would be awesome!!!

Thanks
Jamie

[Collette]

Unless you have the permission of the businesses to fax marketing materials to them, what you're proposing qualifies as "spam", and could get you sued.

Just thought you'd like to know...

[Cherilyn Woodhouse]

If, however, you're going to do it by mail - even just via a postcard - or have permission to market to these businesses, there are plenty of qualified people here who could help. Like myself for example, depending on your budget and timeline.

You've probably gotten a lot of responses via PM, but I know of plenty of individuals who can help you out if you're looking to make that copy really "sing"

[Chris Ramsey]

Originally Posted by Cherilyn Woodhouse

If, however, you're going to do it by mail - even just via a postcard - or have permission to market to these businesses, there are plenty of qualified people here who could help. Like myself for example, depending on your budget and timeline.

You've probably gotten a lot of responses via PM, but I know of plenty of individuals who can help you out if you're looking to make that copy really "sing"

Cherilyn is absolutely right. I've had a lot of success with clients using mailings and I'd really recommend it. If you package it right, you could have more business than you could handle - and that's always a good thing

[jam52633]

I am not sure if the law is different in the U.S, but I receive faxes all the time selling me this or that.

We are a business located in Canada. Our sales letter, would be faxed to parties of interest (Lawyers offices, Commercial Landlords, ect). This is not a flat out spam everyone and there mother that has a fax machine.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Thanks
Jamie

[Alexa Smith]

Originally Posted by jam52633

Please correct me if I am wrong

Only a Canadian lawyer can tell you that reliably, I think.

I will say, however, that whether they're "parties of interest" will have absolutely nothing to do with whether or not it's spam. Either it's legal, or it's not, to send unsolicited promotional letters by fax, and it's as simple as that. You really do need to know this!

[erinwrites]

The thing about sending unsolicited faxes is that, in some cases, you could end up costing that company money depending on what kind of fax plan they have and that's not a very good first impression even if your services could save them a bazillion dollars. Think about all of the faxes you receive that you did not ask for--do you truly take the time to read them or do you just glance and go "something else I didn't ask for" and chuck it into the recycling bin?

If you want to send the fax instead of using direct mail, you will have a much better response rate if you contact the company first. Simply explain that you offer a service that you think they could benefit from and ask if it would be all right to fax over the details. That way you don't have to worry about spamming and you've made personal contact with someone at the business--someone who will be looking for and already interested in the information contained in the fax.

[jam52633]

Here is what I found under the CRTC ( Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission)

Rules for unsolicited facsimile calls used to solicit

Calling hour restrictions for unsolicited fax are weekdays 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; weekends 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (these permitted calling hours are those of the called party).

The fax must identify the person or organization on behalf of whom the fax call is made, including the telephone number, fax number and name and address of a responsible person to whom the called party can write (this also applies to organizations sending unsolicited faxes on behalf of another organization).

The fax must display the originating calling number or an alternate number where the call originator can be reached (except where number display is unavailable for technical reasons).
Sequential dialing is not permitted.

No fax calls are permitted to emergency line or healthcare facilities.

A DO NOT CALL list is to be maintained by the calling party and remain active for 3 years.
Names and numbers must be removed from calling lists within 7 days of the called party's request.

Persons who resell Centrex service must make all reasonable efforts to ensure that the end-user does not employ the Centrex call transfer feature to transmit unsolicited fax calls.


Enforcement: Telephone service to the lines used in connection with placing calls that contravene the rules may be suspended or terminated two business days after notification from the telephone company.


Order CRTC 2001-193

[Cherilyn Woodhouse]

I didn't realize you were in Canada like I am Yes, they are allowed with those restrictions. You MAY also want to register with the consumer protection branch in your province as a telemarketer - this can help protect you against certain liabilities. There are licensing fees, but between that and the Do Not Call list, you should be well protected.

Good luck, and let me know if you need anything! I have experience with B2B copy in the Canadian markets, so even if my services aren't within your budget I may be able to offer some helpful hints. Hit me up by PM, email, or on Skype text chat if you like.

- Cherilyn
The Canadian Copywriter

[jam52633]

Originally Posted by Cherilyn Woodhouse

I didn't realize you were in Canada like I am Yes, they are allowed with those restrictions. You MAY also want to register with the consumer protection branch in your province as a telemarketer - this can help protect you against certain liabilities. There are licensing fees, but between that and the Do Not Call list, you should be well protected.

Good luck, and let me know if you need anything! I have experience with B2B copy in the Canadian markets, so even if my services aren't within your budget I may be able to offer some helpful hints. Hit me up by PM, email, or on Skype text chat if you like.

- Cherilyn
The Canadian Copywriter

Thank you for the advice Cherilyn. This is a family owned biz, and we are not planning on more then 10-20 faxes a day, I am going to make sure I record all companies faxed, dates and times as well. I think we should be ok.

Send me a pm with some of your prices and ideas if you wish.

Thanks
Jamie

[markpocock]

I think your strategy of faxing sucks.

The right person may not read it.
It comes across as a junk mail.

You should send a letter by special delivery to
the right person.

Then follow up with a phone call.

cheers

Mark

[stevedirect]

Mark, interesting point.

I've never had a client try faxing to
a cold list, so no idea whether it's a
viable strategy or not. As you mention,
may be seen as spammy, even if
well-targeted.

But I've seen a lot of success faxing
to a house list, especially pitching high-end
seminars to executives. These people
seem to like being contacted by fax.
Perhaps it's because fax gives the chance
to reply immediately, coupled with the feel
of old-fashioned paper. Sort of a cross
between email and direct mail.

Or perhaps the big-earning executives
aren't yet used to signing up for an expensive
seminar by email.

Best,

Steve

[MikeHumphreys]

Originally Posted by stevedirect

Mark, interesting point.

I've never had a client try faxing to
a cold list, so no idea whether it's a
viable strategy or not. As you mention,
may be seen as spammy, even if
well-targeted.

But I've seen a lot of success faxing
to a house list, especially pitching high-end
seminars to executives. These people
seem to like being contacted by fax.

Huge difference between marketing to a cold list and your house list. I've seen as much as a 700% difference.

Your house list already has a relationship with you. They've agreed to get faxes from you.

A cold list... no relationship. You're probably not getting the decision maker either.

I'm with Mark on this one... I don't care for the idea of faxing to a cold list.

His suggestion is considerably better and should produce better results than cold-faxing IMHO.

Mike

[Jag82]

Originally Posted by MikeHumphreys

Huge difference between marketing to a cold list and your house list. I've seen as much as a 700% difference.

Your house list already has a relationship with you. They've agreed to get faxes from you.

A cold list... no relationship. You're probably not getting the decision maker either.

This is definitely true. There is a major difference between a house list and a cold list.

2 years back, we did a test direct mail campaign to a cold list. If I remembered correctly, the response rate was about 0.4%. Quite pathetic really. Not to mention, a waste of money.


I must add that even with a house list - if you have not contacted them for a long period or if the offer is not relevant, be prepared for a very low response rate as well.

Jag

[angelnetwork]

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Check out matthewheinzel.com he is a excelent copywriter and internet marketing expert and he maybe able to help with your letter.