Easy Direct Mail Method - Copy and Paste for Easy Profits

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Over the past month or so I have sent out several hundred letters to local businesses. My method begins with finding a business niche to target, for my most recent mailing it was local dentists. I then create a subdomain off my website (example: [location]dentist.[yourwebsite].com) which features a high-quality Wordpress theme customized for that business niche and location. Next I print letters with a link to the website, info about my business, and inform them that I have created a website for the business.

What is great about this method is that all of the future work has been done for you. When someone contacts me with interest in the website all I have to do is copy that website "demo" to a new domain, change the business name, and I'm on to the next project. Not only have I gotten paid for nothing, but I have received a trusting client that will use more of my services.

Believe it or not, I have found direct mail to be my least successful marketing method, but don't let this discourage you. The mailings that I have done in the past were not very targeted, and not nearly as extensive as some of the other methods on this forum. Never send anything that looks like spam, poor-quality, or confusing - it will get thrown out immediately. If it doesn't look like something you would read, chances are your potential clients aren't going to read them either.

Before jumping into direct mailing realize that you need some upfront funds for printing, packaging and shipping, but most of all you need time. It takes DAYS to complete one of these small mailings by yourself, but if you put in the time you are nearly guaranteed to see at least some results.

The last thing I'd like to note is that if you are encouraging your prospects contact you through the phone it is very important to be a good talker. When marketing your business, no matter what methods you choose, you are simply trying to generate leads. Getting 20 phone calls from interested clients isn't going to do you any good if you can't get them to sign the dotted line. They want your service, don't be afraid to provide it to them.
#offline marketing #copy #direct #easy #mail #method #paste #profits
  • Direct mailing is something I'm thinking about looking into in the near future. Thanks for sharing the information.

    Do you have any statistics you may be willing to share? I'm curious! How many did you send out? What were your results?

    Thanks!
    • [2] replies
    • My most recent mailing targeting dentists I sent out 40 letters. I received 5 calls and made 2 sales.
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    • Banned

      If I were to do direct mail. I would not send mailings promoting my services. I'd create a free report related to the problem and of course I'd be the solution.

      The direct mail pieces (or any other adverts) would promote visiting my squeeze page to opt in for the free report and of course, they'd get follow up emails after that.


      You're more likely to get more customers that way than mailing and selling.

      With the free report method it's less threatening and they can "get to know you" via your follow up emails. Once the prospect fells comfy, than they'll call you. That's the best ROI for direct mail.

      Once you get that set up, do the same thing with classified ads. Promote the free report. Advertise in the trade journals in which your target market reads.

      Every mailing,advert, etc....should be about promoting the free report so you can build the prospect list. Even with your blog, get eyeballs on your site so they can opt in.

      Direct mail
      Classified Ads
      Blogging
      Online content distribution( articles,Press Releases, free blogs all leading back to your squeeze page)


      The above 4 will give you a steady flow of leads every days once you have it all set up.

      That's how you put your marketing on auto pilot.

      Build the list!
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  • Sounds like a good method. It sure beats making an individual mockup for each business you contact, that gets very time consuming (especially if they don't buy).
  • Your thead subject line says Easy Direct Mail Method - Copy and Paste for Easy Profits so where is your example?
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
  • I read the post earlier and thought it was a solid, valuable contribution to the forum.

    Don't feel intimidated. Put it back up bro.
  • cool thanks for that
  • The content has been re-posted - I have a ton of content that I write in my free time and save on my computer, sometimes I don't remember what I've posted where... I will be posting a lot more prospecting methods soon.
  • I guess one could use OP's method for other services too. I'm currently setting up niche directories and was thinking of sending prospects a direct mail letter.
  • That's a great point, and is something I forgot to mention. When building my list of target businesses I found that a large amount of them didn't have their website listed on Yellowpages.

    One other point to add is that most of the time you can find the owner's name by using Manta.com. When I send my mailings, instead of writing the business name I have found that you get better responses by writing the business owners name. This way the letter goes right into their hands, and not an assistants.
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  • I have 100 letters ready to send out, stamped, privately marked, based on this template, site has been built. Just deciding if the site is good enough before I send out the letters. To save cost I'm sending it 2nd class stamps so 3 days to get to the prospect. All names/businesses were pulled from Google places.

    Will keep you updated.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Goodluck Michael - let us know how it goes! If you want me to take a quick look at your website I would be happy to.
  • Thanks for sharing the valuable in information. I have a question regarding direct mail marketing. What do you think whether this direct mail marketing is good for health products? I would like to know what my options are for easy to understand marketing methods.
  • Wow, with attitude like that you're bound to succeed :-)

    OK, more seriously though, it's great that you're getting out and doing things, but I've been doing OFFLINE sites for over 10yrs, and have never ONCE had to advertise.

    Why?

    Because i don't build crappy $300 websites. I build sites that offer long term value to the customer... and they love it so much they keep telling their friends about me.

    Word of mouth... best Advertising around.

    Paul Barrs
    • [2] replies
    • Paul, when you first started offline marketing did you wake up one morning and know the ins-and-outs of the business? There are hundreds of new offline marketers on this forum, who are looking for a method to get their foot in the door.

      This is a cookie-cutter method for generating revenue, clients, and most importantly improving your overall marketing and communication skills. If you're new to offline marketing these are the types of methods you start out with. You don't offer $2000 websites and expect your client to be pleased.

      Now, regarding your comment about providing clients with a $300 crappy website; how someone designs the website is up to them. I have had plenty of returning business, and even SEO, PPC and graphic design customers come from these websites - so to those reading this, up-sells are realistic and they will occur if you provide your client with a quality service.

      Word of mouth is great, but to get the ball rolling you're going to have to start somewhere.

      Your negativity and comments aren't relevant to this thread, which was created for offline marketers looking for their first method that works.
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      • [1] reply
    • I fix $300, $500 (insert number) websites.
      • [1] reply
  • Thank you for the letter template you send out - I would change one thing; where it reads "Want more?
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  • I had a list of questions before I read the whole thread.

    I have a huge printer at work and can print off 100's of these in second in color.

    The wife is about to quit her job..(Preggo) She can start stuffing envelopes.

    What is the easiest, cheapest way to send these out?

    K Bert, Do you feel like the price could be bumped up? Or is the 299 for a very basic design. As soon as pages, other things are needed, it goes up?
    • [2] replies
    • By having the printer at work you're taking a huge expense out of the equation.

      If you're looking to run with this full-throttle you could go as far as printing the addresses on labels to ease/automate the process. Some will argue that this will make it look less personal, and more like junk mail. I know for me, I would be more inclined to open a piece of mail that is handwritten, rather than printed. Do some trials, and see what you get a better response with.

      The great thing about this method is that it's so flexible. You could go as far as offering different services right off the bat - it's all preference. I encourage you to do your own testing and respond back, prices will vary greatly on the industry, and of course the quality of the website/service provided.

      Jump right into this. Do trial campaigns, and find what works best for you. You will get results!
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
    • The US Post Office has a program where they charge only $0.142 per piece, if they deliver to everybody on the route. So, if you could find a route that only has businesses, that would be cheapest.

      They're hard to find. I know of 2 in my area, 300 addresses between the two of them, 299 are businesses, 1 is a private residence. There are also a couple that have 75% businesses, 25% residences. It still comes cheaper.

      Look up business parks in the area that interest you and see how the post office set up the routes. Usually, it's mostly residences. The post office lets you select to deliver to residences only, but it doesn't let you to deliver only to businesses on a route.

      https://www.usps.com/business/every-...irect-mail.htm tells you about the program.

      https://eddm.usps.com/eddm/customer/routeSearch.action is the tool you'd use to find carrier routes.

      • [ 1 ] Thanks
      • [1] reply
  • I purchase a large amount of stamps, put them on the envelopes, and drop them in the post office box; the postage is going to add up, and unfortunately there's no way around it unless you want to drop the letters off personally.
  • 100 letters was sent out today. They will arrive by Thursday. Will keep you updated.
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • The letters should have arrived yesterday/today. No responses yet. Not looking hopeful...

      Monday/Tuesday I should say whether it was a success.
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  • The best thing you did was narrow it down per profession. I'm thinking that's one of the reasons you have a good response rate. I see too many times ppl sending out mailers that aren't targeted at all and they expect big numbers. It's smart making a separate sub-domain for each industry to make it look even more targeted. If a dentist see's you specifically work with dentist they are going to be much more likely to use you than a marketing company that says they do it all.

    Solid work!

    Sean
    • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • I am new to the idea of marketing websites I have made. I made a few niche websites, only one of which still earns any profit, so now that I know how to use wordpress profieciently I think this would be a good idea for me to try. I do have one question though. Where does the website get hosted? I don't see where you charge a monthly fee. If you do, how much do you think is fair and how do you set it up? Should I get a reseller account or just host it like I would my own website in my personal hosting account?
    • [1] reply
    • You can charge a $10-30/month fee for hosting, or go as far as setting up a reseller account and take in the profits. It's all preference. Many businesses will want you to take care of the hosting for them, if this is the case you can easily set up a Host Gator account that hosts 40+ of these websites.

      If the client asks for admin access to their website, give them the Wordpress Dashboard login information.
      • [2] replies
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    Easy Direct Mail Method - Copy and Paste for Easy Profits

    Over the past month or so I have sent out several hundred letters to local businesses. My method begins with finding a business niche to target, for my most recent mailing it was local dentists. I then create a subdomain off my website (example: [location]dentist.[yourwebsite].com) which features a high-quality Wordpress theme customized for that business niche and location. Next I print letters with a link to the website, info about my business, and inform them that I have created a website for the business. What is great about this method is that all of the future work has been done for you. When someone contacts me with interest in the website all I have to do is copy that website "demo" to a new domain, change the business name, and I'm on to the next project. Not only have I gotten paid for nothing, but I have received a trusting client that will use more of my services.