Everyone opens a FedEx, so I sent them Priority Mail

10 years ago

Probably not the kind of person you want to work with anyway. A rational person opens it and then throws it in the trash if he's not interested. End of story.

Let us know how it goes. I think you'll do better with the first class letter because you can get 10 times as many out the door for the same cost as priority. Not every business owner has a gatekeeper opening their mail, so that's overblown IMO.

Check out Bill Glazer's Outrageous Advertising That's Outrageously Successful for some great direct mail ideas. Getting the letter opened and read is job one.

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eZyros

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Huskerdarren

Probably not the kind of person you want to work with anyway. A rational person opens it and then throws it in the trash if he's not interested. End of story.

Let us know how it goes. I think you'll do better with the first class letter because you can get 10 times as many out the door for the same cost as priority. Not every business owner has a gatekeeper opening their mail, so that's overblown IMO.

Check out Bill Glazer's Outrageous Advertising That's Outrageously Successful for some great direct mail ideas. Getting the letter opened and read is job one.

Disagree with you when you're trying to reach someone at the top of an organization. I've had a 100% success rate from a complaints
standpoint when sending UPS Next Day Air Letter to CEOs marked "PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL" ... they always open them and they always respond to me personally. I think the same would work well from a marketing perspective, as well, so I am very interested in seeing the results of this campaign.

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Aaron Doud

10 years ago

Yeah that guy wasted more time calling you vs. the time he wasted reading it. Glad he qualified himself out.

Keep us updated on how this goes. I love a good marketing test.

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Matt Lee

10 years ago

Makes me wonder if that guy's time is so "precious" why did he waste it on a call back to you.

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TheBigBee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Matt Lee

Makes me wonder if that guy's time is so "precious" why did he waste it on a call back to you.

I must admit that I answered the call completely wrong. I was terrible and sounded like a peddler. "Basically I was calling you because we..." Barf.

I'll answer more like a "fellow business owner" who wants to stop by and show them something going forward!

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Matt Lee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

I must admit that I answered the call completely wrong. I was terrible and sounded like a peddler. "Basically I was calling you because we..." Barf.

I'll answer more like a "fellow business owner" who wants to stop by and show them something going forward!

Gotta take the bull by the horns. Keep the mindset of, this guy should want to work with you, and you're doing him a favor to take time out of your day to talk with him.

If he see's you value your time, as much as he values his, the conversation may go differently. Definitely can't bumble though it and expect to close him though.

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vndnbrgj

10 years ago

Did you know you can mail FedEx envelopes at the post office for under $3?
The post office will mail just about anything and FedEx gives the envelopes away.
You just have to pay more because it is heavier than a standard letter.

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ronr

10 years ago

Never thought of that.

Originally Posted by vndnbrgj

Did you know you can mail FedEx envelopes at the post office for under $3?
The post office will mail just about anything and FedEx gives the envelopes away.
You just have to pay more because it is heavier than a standard letter.

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Matt Lee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by vndnbrgj

Did you know you can mail FedEx envelopes at the post office for under $3?
The post office will mail just about anything and FedEx gives the envelopes away.
You just have to pay more because it is heavier than a standard letter.

That's a good idea. I like that one.

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lhic

10 years ago

I think if you added some more info to the letter, you'd generate better quality leads, and properly have a higher response rate.

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TheBigBee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Matt Lee

Gotta take the bull by the horns. Keep the mindset of, this guy should want to work with you, and you're doing him a favor to take time out of your day to talk with him.

If he see's you value your time, as much as he values his, the conversation may go differently. Definitely can't bumble though it and expect to close him though.

Originally Posted by lhic

I think if you added some more info to the letter, you'd generate better quality leads, and properly have a higher response rate.

Matt - part of it was I was thoroughly unprepared. I have literally 5 campaigns going on simultaneously with a "pitch" to correspond with each one. I looked at the caller ID and saw it was from a mailer campaign and got stuck! Today, I am thoroughly prepared!

Ihic - You may be right, we will definitely split test against this for our next round of letters. The guy who gave me the "Everyone opens a FedEx" talk suggested this as well.

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Huskerdarren 10 years ago

It's not true that you can send mail a Fed Ex envelope via the USPS.
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Vincentz Dalsgaard

10 years ago

The letter said simply; "I ripped this ad out the second I saw it because I had a great idea. Call me back ASAP!" I only left my name and number and not a word more.

I did a similar thing 1 year ago and got 74% response rate - strange that you only got 5%. But maybe you are in a more saturated area - I mean the guy did say "avoid things like this!!"

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TheBigBee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Vincentz Dalsgaard

I did a similar thing 1 year ago and got 74% response rate - strange that you only got 5%. But maybe you are in a more saturated area - I mean the guy did say "avoid things like this!!"

That was after 1 day though. We'll see what happens as the week progresses.

EDIT: 2:30 EST - received a call from one of the folks we sent a priority mail envelope to. This was our second call back. Closed him over the phone, going in to the office to pick up a check on Friday. The sale is $1k flat, but I have an upsell in mind.

So the marketing spend has / will return ROI so long as I collect a check. The problem is now that we have this one guy signed up we will need 11 more squares to sell!! So, I am hoping I can not only upsell, but get references to fill up the other squares.

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mojo1

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

That was after 1 day though. We'll see what happens as the week progresses.

EDIT: 2:30 EST - received a call from one of the folks we sent a priority mail envelope to. This was our second call back. Closed him over the phone, going in to the office to pick up a check on Friday. The sale is $1k flat, but I have an upsell in mind.

So the marketing spend has / will return ROI so long as I collect a check. The problem is now that we have this one guy signed up we will need 11 more squares to sell!! So, I am hoping I can not only upsell, but get references to fill up the other squares.

Nice, rebound and stats so far. What product did you sell for this? Kinda sounds like it might be a Bob Ross product? If so, his products seem to be on fire of late.

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TheBigBee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by mojo1

Nice, rebound and stats so far. What product did you sell for this? Kinda sounds like it might be a Bob Ross product? If so, his products seem to be on fire of late.

I took one of his products and made it "my own." It's 9x12 on "steroids."

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mojo1 10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

I took one of his products and made it "my own." It's 9x12 on "steroids."

TheBigBee is getting busy with it. I couldn't resist
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- ronr 10 years ago
  
  I thought you were going to say TheBigBee was really BUZZING :p
  
  Originally Posted by mojo1
  
  TheBigBee is getting busy with it. I couldn't resist
  
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  TheBigBee 10 years ago
  
  Ahhhhh the 3rd call back of 20 so far. All have been confirmed to have been delivered. The third caller was a gatekeeper. He totally tricked me into thinking he was the owner and "refused to meet" without more detail.
  
  The coversation ended in; "I'll see if the owner is interested."
  
  Me... "Errrrr ummmmmm.... Ok."
  
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TheCG

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

I took one of his products and made it "my own." It's 9x12 on "steroids."

OK...I have to ask...can you elaborate a bit on this?

I understand if you won't but I am curious.

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Aaron Doud 10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheCG

OK...I have to ask...can you elaborate a bit on this?

I understand if you won't but I am curious.

Gotta wait for the WSO
But yeah I second the curiosity.
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TheBigBee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheCG

OK...I have to ask...can you elaborate a bit on this?

I understand if you won't but I am curious.

The last time I elaborated on something like this - another Warrior created a product and shipped it within 14 days of my post!

I will never release a paid WSO because if I do, no matter how great it may be, the outcome will be bad for me.

I am seriously contemplating releasing a free one around this on X-Mas Eve...

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Aaron Doud

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

The last time I elaborated on something like this - another Warrior created a product and shipped it within 14 days of my post!

I will never release a paid WSO because if I do, no matter how great it may be, the outcome will be bad for me.

I am seriously contemplating releasing a free one around this on X-Mas Eve...

PM it to me and yeah doesn't shock me that someone would turn your idea into a WSO. A lot of people in this section and the WF in general don't make money doing they making money selling WSOs on how to do.

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indata7800

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

The last time I elaborated on something like this - another Warrior created a product and shipped it within 14 days of my post!

I will never release a paid WSO because if I do, no matter how great it may be, the outcome will be bad for me.

I am seriously contemplating releasing a free one around this on X-Mas Eve...

Hi,

Pm me a copy also if you decide to do it.

Thanks.

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TheCG

10 years ago

Originally Posted by TheBigBee

The last time I elaborated on something like this - another Warrior created a product and shipped it within 14 days of my post!

I will never release a paid WSO because if I do, no matter how great it may be, the outcome will be bad for me.

I am seriously contemplating releasing a free one around this on X-Mas Eve...

I don't doubt that one bit but come on...Christmas Eve? That is 2 months from now.

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taxpayment1

10 years ago

Wow that Is funny about your first call back. But that Is the nature of this Industry as the rewards outweigh the negative. Offline building is deff. the way to go and to have a longterm legacy build. Online Is great for quick rapid progression, but success will always come from an offline build.

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maxrezn

10 years ago

Are you following up with a phone call? If not, you should. (Increases ROI by 200-300% if not more).

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TheBigBee 10 years ago

Originally Posted by maxrezn

Are you following up with a phone call? If not, you should. (Increases ROI by 200-300% if not more).

Yeah I'm def not made of money! Lol. There will be calls and emails. The "I'm calling from *big name* who is holding a conference, so I need decision makers' email" ruse will be in use mid next week. "Did you get my letter?" Emails will soon follow!
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Doran Peck

10 years ago

So my first thought is to examine why the other 19 didn't even make a call. I think it's very reasonable to say that all 20 got opened...but once they did your momentum came to a halt.
Why? That is the question.

Perhaps try it again but with a different pitch.

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TheBigBee

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Doran Peck

So my first thought is to examine why the other 19 didn't even make a call. I think it's very reasonable to say that all 20 got opened...but once they did your momentum came to a halt.
Why? That is the question.

Perhaps try it again but with a different pitch.

I've reported above that there have been 3 total responses. In the toughest market in America to sell in.

I'll take 15% (so far) anyday.

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MagneticKopy

10 years ago

Jon Goldmans Lumpy Mail Marketing System.

Hands down the best investment you can make.

Because of Jon and his system, I average around
25%-39% response rate on every piece I mail.

Now, I wouldn't have a letter that short... No way.

At that point you're just wasting their time and you're not giving
them a reason for why you're contacting them in the first place...
they can care less about you and your business and what you have to offer.

Which is exactly the reason you need to have more copy to entice them to
give you a call.

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Greg guitar

10 years ago

Originally Posted by MagneticKopy

Jon Goldmans Lumpy Mail Marketing System.

Hands down the best investment you can make.

Because of Jon and his system, I average around
25%-39% response rate on every piece I mail.

Now, I wouldn't have a letter that short... No way.

At that point you're just wasting their time and you're not giving
them a reason for why you're contacting them in the first place...
they can care less about you and your business and what you have to offer.

Which is exactly the reason you need to have more copy to entice them to
give you a call.

While that sounds reasonable, and your response rate sounds fantastic, and I appreciate you sharing where your method came from, I also think this is an interesting and valid test.

Assuming the reported data is accurate and the bee gets the check and it's good, the ROI is pretty great.

The thing is, you're probably right that more copy would get a better response (testing will tell, right?), but the fact is, here is an action taker who did an incredibly simple, easy technique to generate leads, and in spite of fumbling a bit on the calls, was able to generate a $1k check for very little money and time.

Sure, the bee might burn through leads that could be closed, but I doubt the bee cares when banking the check, and it isn't over yet. This was a very successful test with a huge ROI, and all that was done is let the prospects' ads do all the talking except for one sentence; not bad at all, in terms of profit for the time spent!

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MagneticKopy

10 years ago

Originally Posted by Greg guitar

While that sounds reasonable, and your response rate sounds fantastic, and I appreciate you sharing where your method came from, I also think this is an interesting and valid test.

Assuming the reported data is accurate and the bee gets the check and it's good, the ROI is pretty great.

The thing is, you're probably right that more copy would get a better response (testing will tell, right?), but the fact is, here is an action taker who did an incredibly simple, easy technique to generate leads, and in spite of fumbling a bit on the calls, was able to generate a $1k check for very little money and time.

Sure, the bee might burn through leads that could be closed, but I doubt the bee cares when banking the check, and it isn't over yet. This was a very successful test with a huge ROI, and all that was done is let the prospects' ads do all the talking except for one sentence; not bad at all, in terms of profit for the time spent!

I 100% agree with you. Taking action puts him ahead of 99% of the warriors on this forum browsing around on the hunt for the next "big thing".

Anyhow, I'd say Bee, keep testing until you cant beat the highest response rate that you've attained. Then, when you have a little cashola to spare, hire a copywriter and see if he can beat it.

I love knowing what kind of response rate that i'll get from a mailing. Its like knowing how much money your gonna make before you even send em out.

Good luck!

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TheBigBee

10 years ago

So far we have had 3 calls back from all PRIORITY mail envelopes. Zero calls back from regular mail letters. Next round we will add just enough detail to "force" a call back, and will send them all via priority mail.

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Everyone opens a FedEx, so I sent them Priority Mail

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