Who here has done the 9x12 post card eddm direct mail advertisements for local businesses?

This post is pure gold! The only quibble I would have is that I'd guess 98 out of 100 people that tried this went on to something else. :-)

That said. you won't find a better system then what Jake (Bob Ross) offers. BTW - he has a staff of cold callers that will set-up appointments for you. Very reasonably priced, too.

Thank you for your reply and for the recommendations. I have a way to advertise to the email list of business of owners of my local chamber of commerce which is what I was going to try for this. I was thinking of offering something like $50.00 or $100.00 off your next postcard fee to anyone that refers a new business to me that buys a spot on the card.

I like the idea of possibly a smaller one with less advertisers and maybe less going out and I may try that if the big one does not work but the main selling point for the 9x12 is that it is so big and bigger than most mail in the box.

Thanks!

Thank you for your reply. I really like your idea to try val pak and coupon mailer businesses first since they are already buying direct mail advertising. I will try that. Thanks!

I was thinking about trying the bob ross 9x12 advertising co op. I was thinking that the fact that it is so big would make it easier to sell though the fact that it is big makes you need to sell more to cover the cost. I was thinking about trying to sell 14 - 15 spots on it for around $400.00 - $500.00 each. If I find that the big one is hard to sell I may go to a smaller size and send it to less than 10,000 people. 10,000 sounds like a lot of post cards to deal with for my first time.

I must be missing something. Why would you be charging the same price for both mailings? The total costs for each package is vastly different. Not sure, without looking at the difference in postcard printing, but the EDDM mailing is charged by the piece, virtually cutting the cost in half.

OP, as a comparison, scaling down to 5000, in a recent campaign, my client got 190 actual sales in 4 days. The follow up nearly doubled that...

Which result do you think your clients would prefer...?

And I assure you, my way is easier... easier to lean and easier to implement...

As an alternative to Bob Ross's stuff, get ye over to Jay Abraham's site.
Sign up to his mailing list.
Watch his youtube channel,
Take a look at 50 shades of Jay.

This stuff is free, however it will lead you to financial freedom, clients who will fall over themselves to work with you, and better sex... (Just kidding on than last one)

Especially take note of his strategic alliances/host beneficiary stuff. This stuff is a million times better than the advice you're getting from this forum. You can research Jay to find out his history and his level of success.

I implore you, for your own sake, and that of your clients, to at least test this stuff out against the advice you're getting from this forum...

The guy has built the leading locksmith company across USA.

He went through Jay's selection process.

He was accepted and paid $25,000
into this http://breakthroughs.abraham.com/

So has the nouse to implement.

Were is the revenue model for creating an alliance of contractors
when you aren't one?

Best,
Ewen

Thank you.

I know the timing when a home owner
is most likely to buy
home improvements like a new kitchen, painting,
new flooring etc.

It's based on credit card spending leading up to
the home improvement.

Also based on friends who bought home improvements.

I'm curious as to how you identify "known buyers"
of say, a replacement kitchen.

Best,
Ewen

From the OP: "viable business option".

And from the Animal44: However, my point in this thread is that there is a low limit to the revenue OP can make from the 9x12 postcard.

For the same effort,

or even less over time, OP can make more money, both for himself and his clients, by using the alliance model.

At the WF a viable business could mean (and often does) how do I replace my job income? And that usually isn't very much by Western standards.

Could be wrong, but I think there are very few 6 figure ad salesman doing 9X12, unless it is part of their portfolio of offers to other businesses. Also, probably more PRINT brokers, and this is where Bob Ross shines, he has a toll booth coming and going.

A good model to examine, a Toll Booth.

I don't know what viable means. I do know there is a lot of slop and mess and especially for the beginner, running around town selling ads is a grind, which some don't mind and are good at. And the professional salesperson, as many in this group are, don't see it that way because they KNOW how to sell, and probably get a certain kick from doing it.

I'd bet right now, the OP, based on his responses, isn't going to be successful at it, and I say that because he's looking for a universal magic wand, which he thinks will eliminate the selling part of it. Hope he proves me wrong.

I don't think it is A VIABLE OPTION for him. And for most non salespeople.

But Animal44 brings up a different perspective, which is a more Macro, wider lens view.

It is about TIME. And how so many people in the lower rungs of income look for options which are viable for their limited business knowledge, and the chasing of shiny objects and spending TIME trying to bring in income.

My point is about exposure to the different options, and Animall44 admits to KNOWING about the power of alliances as taught by Jay Abraham, but not IMPLEMENTING that knowledge for several years.

Two quick stories to the point: There is a guy in St. Louis MO, who has made MILLIONS of dollars over the last decade, and he did it by having a few PIECES OF PAPER on his desk. He sells nothing. He makes nor manufacturers nothing. He touches no products, has only ONE customer, and is one of the great beacons of ALLIANCE marketing.

HE has CONTROL of a product which has over a billion dollars in sales. He simply gets a tiny little cut from every unit sold. The Big Bee started a thread about the"perfect business" and claimed it was real estate, I might toss TOLL POSITIONS into the ring to do battle with RE.

See, that is what Jay Abraham offers, he teaches you to establish a toll booth between buyer and seller. It has a lot of different names, going back to the Joe Cossman "host/parasite" relationship. Jay has built many alliances over the years, and has taught it, but perhaps, it was the tree in the forest and may be why many KNOW what he says to do, but don't implement the KNOWING.

So the OP is looking at the 9x12 card as a way to make some money. Maybe start a viable business, which it certainly can be. IF he is smart enough to take the forum advice, and quit farting around, go directly to Bob Ross and ask for his latest thing and joins a group of like minded people, he will, in effect, form an alliance among advertising salespeople, using a postcard as their vehicle.

My opinion is Jay Abraham is too advanced for the OP, at this time. He needs to get out of the house and start talking to people.

But also, to consider expanding his view, see some of the bigger opportunities out there, because at the end of our day, it comes down to how we spent our time.

TIME is the issue, if young, and a supposed full tank of time, one can fiddle fart around trying to find their place, but if SPEED is an issue you create, then why not learn how to form those strategic alliances which elevate your income at breakneck speed?

Be like Animal44 and build those alliances, DON'T be like Animal44 and wait years to apply what you learn.

GordonJ

PS. The reason Jay Abraham is so big on alliances has to do with his own journey and education, having been mentored by Bud Weckesser and then Harvey Brody, it was a rare chance to get a world class education and Jay took advantage of it. Hope the OP takes advantage of the wisdom in this thread.

There was a thread about this a few months ago. I can't locate it right now.

From memory:

Lead Gen and coupon offers are best getting a wider reach for the dollar vs selling a service.

Not sure I understand exactly what you are asking..can you clarify?

I guess this is a paid list from credit card companies or people like Experian.
I don't like such lists because:
1. You have to pay for access. I'm a cheapskate and prefer "free".
2. Such lists can wear out very quickly.
3. You only have one shot.
4. With an alliance, you have your partner's list, which you can send sequences of emails, nurturing emails and pre launch emails, all of which can increase response.

Customers of a replacement kitchen business are "known buyers" of a replacement kitchen.
Have I misunderstood the question...?

Or are you asking how to identify prospects for a replacement kitchen?
I have some experience in this niche.
Firstly I'm not sure a list is necessary. How many replacement kitchens can be done at one time? Not that many. 190 orders in four days would be a bit overwhelming even for the biggest replacement kitchen companies :-)

We did an advertisement, which spoke to a specific segment of the market, and placed it in magazines that the client and others were already advertising.
We also implemented a referral system.
Result was an initial decrease in sales, but an increase in profitability. Over time, sales did increase.
We targeted those who price was not an issue.
This was enough to keep them busy and increase their profits substantially.

Maybe an estate agent leaving a report in high value homes that they've just sold, entitled "Warning don't buy a replacement kitchen until you get answers to these five questions"... :-)

Upon reflection, you may be right there.
The concept of alliances is simple, however so many people seem to have difficulty implementing...

Pro:
Certainly, an individual ad, with no distractions, is more likely to get a higher response.
You don't have to sell the other slots.
Con:
You have to carry the cost of the mailing. IMHO, the response is likely to be sufficiently higher to cover this cost, so maybe not much of a con after all.