"Sneaky" Direct Mail Tricks

by 6 replies
9
If you are looking for some inspiration for marketing your services,
just go to the mailbox!

Today as I strolled to the mailbox while enjoying the warm sunlight
on my face, it appeared.

Within the box that typically unveils bills and pizza coupons, I found
something different. It was in a light green envelope and was hand
addressed.

hmm, no return address... I better take a peek, could be from my
uncle Eddie in South Dakota!

As I tore it open I discovered something odd, a newspaper article :confused:

I unfolded the piece and there was a newspaper clipping with a
post-it note that said: "Paul, I saw this and thought it would be
perfect for you~ J".

I better have a look-see!

As I start to read the piece I notice it talks about my city. Now my
interest is growing!

The sub-headline talked about a guy who made $10 million with
nothing but a laptop... I got a laptop, and I love money. I better
keep reading!

Actually, I knew what this letter was as soon as I opened it. It is
known as a 'tear sheet'. I get lots of 'opportunity' mailers from
different marketers... most of it is terrible.

Even though I did not care about what this offered, it did made me
think of how useful something like this is for our offline marketing
arsenal.

Tear sheets started a long while back when stockbrokers would
send clients newspaper clippings. Since then we can now create
our own 'news articles' and add 'variable data'... all the way down
to the paper it is printed on!

Variable data is the personalization of the piece. In this case it
was the post it note and mentioning my city.

Tear sheets are not cheap to have custom made, however you
can use the concept on the pinch.

You can easily print out an article from your computer (written
by you or a another source). These would be great for selling
SMS, Mobile sites. Rep management, SEO... whatever.

Feel free to circle points of interest with red or blue pen, perhaps
even little handwritten notes next to key parts.

Get some post it notes and include a letter on how you can help
them (with what was mentioned in the article).

All of this said, you need to make sure your letter part pushes them
to take that next step- and contact you. Careful not to try
and sell to them in the article.

In the article I got they screwed up, bad. It looked like an article
but turned out to be a letter. It was the guy talking directly to me.

He destroyed the piece out of the gate. He should have kept it
3rd person, like a real news story.

Our first goal with anything direct mail is to get the prospect to
read the damned thing, the second is to create interest.

This can accomplish both... if done right. Here is what I got-

#offline marketing #direct mail #marketing #paul mcquillan marketing
  • I've heard of this method before, cutting out a newspaper or piece of advertising from a potential client, generating ranking report and doing a bit more in-depth research and send it over to them. I did it multiple times and got a couple of clients out of it.
    • [1] reply

    • Like any form of advertising, it has to be done right. The one I got
      was not done well.... that will lower response, or even destroy
      any chance of response.
      • [1] reply
  • I like the idea, but the execution needs work. I would have kept it 3rd person as well. Making it all about you is a fast way to loose anykind of attention you just had.
    • [1] reply
    • As soon as I read that there was a post it notes, I knew what it was gonna be. My friend got one of these from Chris Cardell.

      As you said, it is a bit sneaky, and I know that it is possible to get a lot of complaints if you don't mention that it is marketing material. But to be honest, I know that Chris Cardell did it on a huge scale before getting complaints.

      It's a good idea though, and I'd love to test it.
  • As you said, the narrative is wrong... The whole point of using a newspaper is credibility, as it implies that it's not directly from you... It's supposed to be a friend, giving it some 'referral power', and he's kinda botched that. Anyway, thanks for the share.

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