I've read many times that one of the best methods of direct mail was simply a postcard. It allowed for an immediate read with no filters (envelope) to get in the way of the message.
I never really worked this method due to the fact that I never had ONE message to send to 250 people. I'm more of a targeted marketing preacher and follower.
So, I just had a fellow promotional associate clue me in to the United States Postal Service website. They have teamed up with a few different vendors to allow you to send full color, laminated print media with as little as one postcard, letter, etc. You simply buy as much credit as you wish, and then you upload your artwork and send how ever many you need. They even keep your mailing list on file, too.
I'm thrilled with this idea. But I wonder if anyone has had any experience with this service? They say the postcards go out by the next business day. And I ordered a sample of one of the flyers (it's a different vendor than the postcard vendor). I'd use the flyers for monthly newsletters instead of printing and mailing my own.
I'm gonna try their 6"x9" postcard this week, with a follow up call a few days after.
It just seems way too easy to be able to do my marketing sitting on my butt in a chair without getting up to print, fold, stamp, etc.
Has anyone used the USPS for their business growth?
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
I'll be watching this thread, I haven't used it, but I've noticed & saved a few mailings from the USPS about this sort of thing.
I attended a marketing seminar this winter that had lots of interesting ideas, many of which I'd need to check my notes to recall... but I remember some great uses of the full version of acrobat to set up & print your own newsletters addressed with your targeted recipient list & stamped with your bulk mail postage. Lots of cool e-newsletter capabilities in Acrobat too as I recall, reply fields that organize responses based on what links are drawing client interaction...
Posted by Curtis hammond (Member # 2170) on :
yes. the drip method works great.. but,, you cannot just do it once.. like the name says,, its a drip method.. And, you should do something else with it..
You have to do it 4 times at least,, 7 is better..
Around the first week of April I will be starting the use of this method. There will be postcards, flyers in the local paper, and a series of display ads. All of which will get me some work, or it will get me lots of work. Either way I will get work..
Doug do you have some more info on using Acrobat for mailings? I wanna know more about this..
Posted by Doug Allan (Member # 2247) on :
Curtis, I looked back at my notes from the seminar & there are a number of URL's that were mentioned in the seminar. I'm taking this post as inspiration to look closer at some of what I remember being so impressed with at the seminar. Just last friday I bought the Adobe CS2 Premium Suite which FedEx should be delivering tomorrow. I already had illustrator & Photoshop, but my interest in Acrobat, fueled by the seminar, helped encourage that decision, & makes this a good time to look closer at what I had been interested in.
He was sponsored by Toshiba to talk about all the time & money saving in-house marketing opportunities a larger company could take advantage with an expensive Toshibe copier/printer. This seemed like a live commercial that could have been a waste of time, but it was 1 mile from my office & included a free lunch... so I went.
I just checked the site before posting the link & I see that he has a schedule of free seminars around the country, in fact he is back in hawaii next week on a different island. I may even pay the $100 in airfare to see another seminar because I ended up getting a lot out of it.
...check out the mailers+4 link in the lower left corner for what was referenced in my notes pertaining to direct mail. I haven't reasearched this, so see if it has any useful info for you, I'm not sure.
He also mentioned Constant Contact for assistance with e-newsletters with responsible & convenient opt-out compliance.
As far as Acrobat goes, my notes were vague other then to say what I mentioned up above, but I hope to learn more when the software arrives. I did look around Adobes site & found a lot of info.
This video clip is good. It starts out less relevant to marketing, but shows a lot of the form creation features & mentions a little about the interactivity with form responses capable by anyone recieving your e-newsletter who has acrobat reader.
Hiya Randy, The postal service has been doing this for several years now. I've looked into it a while ago and it seems to be easy and inexpensive, but I have yet to try it. A post card works well because it's cheap and, unless the client has an immediate need, it will be circular filed anyway. Curtis brings up a good point, a once and done mailing may result in a few replies, but that's about it. There's no long term value in it. A good plan would be to do at least 2 mailings a year, ideally, 3 or 4. To track the results of the mailing, be sure to include some sort of code or gimmick that requires the client to mention or show the card when you discuss their project. This way you can track what method of marketing that works best for you.
Havin' fun,
Checkers
Posted by Randy W. Robarge (Member # 2022) on :
I just mailed some 6"x9" postcards today. I know you need to do it more than once, but I believe it's that way for everything. You basically have to hit them at least 7 times with your message, whether it be postcards, emails, letters, etc.
I just wasn't sure how the quality was, so I did a small test and inluded myself in the mailing to see how long it takes to arrive.
They have a pretty good system set up. It keeps all of your addresses on file, separated in groups if you wish, and you can look up your mailing history and mailing status at any time.
