Hello AnneFlem!
I have been designing direct mail marketing pieces for over 5 years now and I have to say that if you do it right it can be very effective. Lots of marketing methods, ideas and practices target LARGE groups of people, mostly unqualified leads, hoping to get a measly few percent return on their marketing investment.
Direct mail marketing can seem unachievable at first. The costs can be significant between getting the pieces printed, stuffed into envelopes and paying for postage. But, your return can be much higher! (If you do it right!)
When it comes to direct mail marketing, consider these points:
Am I targeting the right audience?
Make sure that you're not just blindly sending out advertisements to every Tom, **** and Harry on the block. Try to send out marketing pieces to qualified leads! If you run an organic foods restaurant, target people who like to do yoga, eat healthy, shop at health food stores, etc. Don't market to the masses, your audience is a specific, niche group. Similarly, if you run a lawncare business, you wouldn't target apartment residents.
Hire a graphic designer (with marketing experience!)
A graphic designer might seem like the last thing you want to spend money on, but it's definitely worth the investment. And don't cheap out on whatever designer is on craigslist either, find a qualified, knowledgable designer with marketing experience! You'll be glad you did!
What am I really offering my audience?
You may think that you're offering them 20% off on lawncare maintenance or a coupon for a free dog grooming session....but what are you REALLY offering? Peace of mind? One less thing to worry about? A helping hand? Determine your REAL offer and be sure to let your audience know "what's in it for them."
In addition to direct mail marketing there are always tons of other "offline" methods that, in my opinion, are some of the best things you can do for your business. You just have to find what's right for you, your business and your audience!
I am new into the world of business and startups and I want to explore more about it's scope. Which is the best way to promote a business? I have a friend who actively uses offline marketing methods like direct mailing, postcards, flyers etc for promotion. He says that they bring him leads. Is it true? Are these methods still frutiful?
And if I am to start a business, how can I make sure that people know about my product. How can I make sure that maximum people know about this at the minimum cost? I know that there are many ways and answers for these questions. And I want to know all of them. So please share your wisdom and experiance here.
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