By DeAnna Spencer
To get any business started successfully takes many ingredients. All requirements fall into one of the following four key categories: 1. Desire, 2. Knowledge, 3. Time, and 4. Available funds. This report deals only with the financial requirements of starting a mail order business. Hopefully it will help the reader to evaluate whether he is financially able to embark upon a business venture that will bring about success. It is generally true that it takes substantially less money to get started in many mail order businesses than in a variety of other businesses.
Many a promoter will want you to belive that it is possible to get started successfully for $50, $100, or even $200. However, it is totally false. It does take more than that. How much more depends on many factors which I will try to define as much as is possible here.
Since the mail order business covers a vast number of services and products I would like to define the contents of this report to deal with the selling of information products. This is where my expertise lies. While the same or similar conditions may apply to any number of other mail order businesses, there may however be some differences to selling information products such as books, etc.
The following makes a number of assumptions. The most important ones are:
1. The operator ( or operators) of the new mail order business is employed or has other means of income.. He will not need to derive any profit from his new business for a period of time.. How long will depend on many factors.
2. This is a home based business which has no employees.
3. The business, at the start - until volume reaches $3,000 to $5,000 per month - will utilize the drop shipping services of a wholesale company.
4. Basic office equipment such as desk, file cabinet, computer, etc... are on hand.
A WORD OF CAUTION AT THE START AND RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO YOU
This is an exciting business and it can be extremely profitable once it reaches a certain momentum. However, like almost all businesses it is a very cost sensitive business.
As you are getting started in planning and setting up your new business think and act with caution when it pertains to any expenditures. This is one of the most difficult things to do since you are probably very enthusiastic and want to do everything today. So you need to learn HOW TO CONTROL YOUR ENTHUSIASM or it is going to cost you lost of extra money.
In this state of enthusiasm we tend to think that there is nothing we can do wrong and since we will be making lots of money in a few months lets get all necessary and often unnecessary supplies and equipment. It would be much better to wait until profits of the business make it possible to acquire what is needed. In the meantime you can make do with less. To be able to do so is a most important quality for the owner of a small to do so is a most important quality for the owner of a small business.
If you are a parent think of your new business as a child. There will be a never ending sequence of surprises. And as the business grows so will its demands, and yes its expenses.
START-UP EXPENSES -- INITIAL STAGE
The below listed expenses will be incurred in the very early stages of setting up your business. This is at a time when you probably are not sure as yet what you will be selling. You will be writing to different companies for information to come up with the right product selection. Once you have decided what it is you will be selling you have to line up reliable suppliers, This is also a good time to buy a few books to help you with your mail order education. Although most expenses incurred in this phase are relatively small they will add up quickly.
These prices are estimates. Prices will vary according to your location.
Stationery and envelopes ...... 50.00
P.O. Box rental ...... 60.00 per year
Miscellaneous office supplies ...... 30.00
Postage ...... 50.00
Educational ...... 45.00
TOTA ...... 235.00
START-UP EXPENSES -- SECONDARY STAGE
You have now reached the point at which you have decided upon one or more reliable suppliers for the product you wish to market. You may also be ready to have some promotional material printed. In addition you may be placing one or two classified ads for testing purposes.
Once again, please remember that these prices are estimates only.
Dealership or distributorship (1 or more) ...... 80.00
Small supply of brochures or catalogs ...... 50.00
Printing of sales letter, order form, Return envelopes, etc ...... 90.00
1 test ad, classified (national magazine) ...... 100.00
Business or traders license ...... 30.00
Postage ...... 25.00
TOTAL ...... 375.00
Until now you have only had expenses for your new business. You have not derived any revenue yet. In the next and final stage of starting your business you may have some revenues. Stage one and two may take from approximately 3 to 6 months.
START-UP EXPENSES -- THIRD STAGE
You have now reached a stage were you will expand your advertising, or alternately you may go the direct marketing route and rent a mailing list. The comparison of expenses and revenue results of a direct marketing effort versus classified advertising need to be carefully evaluated. Since expenses for a direct marketing effort are generally higher than for a small advertising campaign, the below listed expenses focus on an advertising campaign,
Estimates provided for illustrative purpsoes only.
Advertising -- 3 classified ads ...... 280.00
Postage for several hundred inquiries derived from adverting effort ...... 75.00
Miscellaneous office supplies ...... 30.00
TOTAL ...... 385.00
SUMMARY
The combined expenses as listed above total just under $1000. They are based on broad estimates and may vary somewhat by area of the country and individual circumstances. The figures are reflecting a minimum amount. Some individuals may be able to cut expenses further. Since this planning period takes several months the expenses as shown above can be allocated over a period of 4-6 months.
The above figures represent a conservative start. For those who want to get started more aggressively expenses would be higher. While many of the basic start-up costs would be the same the expenses that would increase would primarily deal with additional advertising, printing and postage expenses. By how much would largely be an individual decision.
Since most new businesses fail because of lack of funds, it would be advisable for an individual who does not have the necessary funds to get started to wait until he does. In addition to the basic start-up expenses an individual should also consider that most businesses will loose money for several months and sometimes much longer than that. Unfortunately no matter how well you plan, circumstances often change and we must make allowances for those eventualities.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
Note to editors: To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this small business resource today.
Secrets And Top-Tips Of Mail Order Advertising
Good Advertising creates more production, thus greater
consumption, faster turnover and lower sales price per
unit. To a great extent it determines the success or
failure of the mail order operator!
When working up an advertising program remember that what
is genuinely desirable to you may or may not appeal to the
majority of your prospects!
Different types of merchandise or services demand
completely different advertising media. Your ad must be
built around the ADVANTAGES of the product and designed to
APPEAL to the specific customers who will BENEFIT from
your offer!
Since you MUST spend advertising dollars in order to make
money in the mailorder business be sure you spend WISELY
and with CONFIDENCE.
RETAIN all advertising information, brochures, sales
letter, catalog, etc., you receive. USE THE IDEAS from
this information as a guide in formulating your various
advertising programs!
There are thousands of top mail order products to choose
from, more than you can every use so choose the right ones
for your programs!
If the product or service can't stand the Truth do not
advertise it...Don't handle it! Truth in advertising is a
must!
Your FIRM NAME, preferable, should be SHORT, DESCRIPTIVE
AND EASY TO REMEMBER!
When you find the item that is a mail order "HIT", repeat
your ads on the product in a number of magazines and other
productive advertising media in order to PYRAMID YOUR
PROFITS TO THE MAXIMUM!
Advertising cost divided by inquiries = Ad cost per
inquiry!
Advertising cost divided by orders = Ad cost per order!
Orders received divided by readership = percent of
response!
Number of pieces mailed + by orders received = Percent of
return!
Continuously use the simple formulas (above) so you will
know who your advertising dollars are paying off!
Ad to find new Products:
"Calling all manufacturers, importers and suppliers ... We
will feature and sell your new products in our catalog ...
Send your information, sample products and programs
to.....!"
Test the position of your ads in the various Media!
Test one ad against another on the same offer!
Make your sales letters friendly, clear, simple and to the
point!
Your potential customers are more interested in themselves
than in your product, consequently your ads and sales
letter must be directed toward their point of view and
their self-interests! Make them want your product because
it will benefit them or will do the job better for them!
Powerful attention getting words include: Free, Amazing,
Weird, Odd, Strong, Rare, Big, Secret, Latest, Easy,
Fortune, Now, New, How-to!
You must put yourself in the place of your prospects and
know how they feel, think and react to your ads! If "you"
were the customer would your ads persuade "you" to buy?
Your Ad must have a strong headline! It must tell the
prospect what to do, such as: Order Now! Rush $5.00! Use
order form and reply envelope! Act Now! Action words
that urge the prospect to order. Explain with simple
words JUST WHAT THEY WILL RECEIVE FOR THEIR MONEY! What
the product will do for them. Use believable
testimonials. Appeal to their reason and get their
confidence, then use a powerful close. You can get the
order!
Repetition is one of the secrets of making a lasting
impression on the memory.
Use coupons in some of your ads!
Since Suspense is a strong force in advertising, consider
entering the name of your product toward the end of your
ad!
Most everyone wants prestige, confidence, money, security,
advancement, leisure time, good health, popularity, less
worry, happiness, success, more time, recognition,
improvement, business ownership, independence, more
knowledge, satisfaction, savings ... Appeal to your
prospects... use such appeals in your ads!
Quality, usefulness, reasonable price, up-to-date, and
appealing to the sight are points to stress!
Make no misleading claims about your products.
Review the many ads presented in leading mail order sales
magazines advertisers. Make note of the many attention
getting words and phrases that catch your eye and cause
you to read the rest of the ad! Use these same words in
your own headlines!
With certain type products, consider turning the picture
in your display ad upside down in order to attract
attention from the ordinary ... If handled properly,
curiosity will sell!
Study the operation of other firms to get New Ideas for
sales letters, methods of handling promotion, nature of
offers and any other details which may be helpful!
Some programs require a good deal of literature in order
to present all the facts necessary to sell a product!
With this type of product you should first advertise for
inquiries then send the full ammunition by direct mail.
Write up a list of important reasons why a person should
inquire about your offer. Use the strongest of these
reasons in your ad!
If you usually pay cash for your ads, why not set up your
own advertising agency as a secondary part of your
business? Your registered business name as an advertising
agency may qualify your business for the 15% discount when
advertising in many publications!
Direct Mail, mailing lists, not ads, are used to obtain
business. You determine what type of person would best
buy your product; then compile, rent or buy name lists and
proceed from there.
Lists compiled from business listings in the Yellow Pages
are good for many kinds of mailorder products; however the
names and addresses contained in the white pages seldom
get any reasonable response. Ads in the daily paper are
also generally poor for mail order products. Stay with
the successful operators and advertise in the various
media they use ... stick with quality name lists in the
right category for your products!
Unless your ad is read you will come out in the red! Make
it clean, clear, concise, simple, professional and focused
to the "right market" for the type of product being
offered!
Always test! test! test! before spending large sums to
promote or advertise your product ... Be sure it is a hit
then go all out!
Your ad must name the product, describe it, tell what it
will do for the reader, how he can obtain it, and where to
get it!
The best part of your advertisement is the words that can
be read "between the lines"!
The direct mail packet consists of the sales letter,
catalog, or brochure, order blank and the business reply
envelope.
The ad must attract attention and create interest and
desire before the customer will act!
Know your product well so that you can be specific,
sincere and positive in writing your ads!
Enthusiastic ads properly laid out will generally get
enthusiastic results!
It is simple to record test results for your ads and
programs in the various media. DO IT!
If your product has distinctive features or trademarks,
use them over and over again in all your ads ... Take
advantage of the repeat psychology of keeping the name of
your product constantly out in front of the Public Eye!
If your product is familiar to the user, prove that it has
better quality or price over competing items. Educate the
consumer when presenting brand new items.
Prospects are usually more impressed by what others have
to say about the product than by what the dealer tells
them. Write to your customers, asking for their opinion
on what your program or product has done for them and
request permission to use their endorsement in some of
your ads. Retain their letters as your authority for
using their testimony.
Classified ads must have a great deal of thought and
preparation! Use as few words as you can, but don't leave
out image building words that tell stories, paint pictures
and compel action!
One way to increase the readership of your ad is by
inviting persons to send in money saving ideas. Print the
best idea each week, or month, and award the winner $$$
... They will read the ad in each issue in order to find
out if they won and if not to see if the winners ideas are
better than the ones they submitted!
Many products can be readily adapted to radio & TV
selling. This can be arranged whereby you pay the station
a percentage of only what is sold. There are publications
available which explain how to present such offers to the
stations and lists of stations that supposedly operate on
this basis. You can locate such firms by a search at your
local library or through salesmen and opportunity
magazines....However; this method for selling mail order
products is not readily available on a flexible basis,
unless you have something really special.
You must be in a position to change your advertising
approach with changing times and conditions.
The First Paragraph of a sales letter must create
attention and interest or the entire message will go to
file 13!
The Second part, or body, of the letter must arouse desire
by pointing out the advantages and describing the product,
preferably in use, or in action and should state the
price...or the entire message will wind up in file 13!
The Final Portion of your letter should strongly urge the
prospect to act and tell him how to order or the entire
message will go to file "13"!
You don't have near the space for your message with
classified and small display ads, as you do with the sales
letter so unless they are well presented they may make a
faster trip down the tube to file 13!
Always use TOP QUALITY letterheads, mailing materials and
supplies...This is your BUSINESS IMAGE in mailorder!
It could be good policy to place your ads through a
legitimate advertising agency...It costs no more than if
you place your own. Before doing business, get full
information about the agency, its services and rates.
Since you must get your message across in top form, in
order to pull inquiries and get orders, the ideal ad made
just for the particular item being for sale is another
great secret for mail order profits....Many times just one
little word will change a dead ad to one that pulls
thousands of orders!
Since you do not have a "window display" to use for
mailorder advertising you must either draw pictures or use
picture words to describe your product. Prepare
advertising copy so that your prospects can "visualize the
product" in their mind and "see" themselves using it to
good advantage.
The headline of your ad must be powerful enough to catch
immediate attention.
Use words that emphasize your product or service at the
beginning or end of sentences!
Another gimmick for obtaining name lists for nothing...An
ad such as..."?BIG MAIL? Send 200 of your address labels
and 50 cents. We will send to mailorder dealers,
wholesalers, distributors, etc....!"
"Before and After" type ads get great response on certain
products.
Test and compare with different worded ads on the same
type of merchandise in the same media.
When advertising make your most important points first!
When you find a new product that has possibilities for
mailorder, test it! Prepare an ad for a quick test in a
magazine or in a paper with a fast closing date (time from
date ad is received to date it is published). As your
test prove out "HIT" that particular item hard and heavy
in other publications!
Test various price levels for the same product.
Qualify your prospects with proper classified ads.
Get the prospects confidence by offering free samples, by
allowing a full money-back guarantee, by building your
business image without exaggeration, and by showing proof
of satisfied users.
Use the P.S. in sales letters to gain added attention!
When using an illustration or picture of your product in
an ad, have one that shows the product in use! Picture
the merchandise in use giving the owner profit or pleasure
thus generating a positive, confident "YES" attitude.
Remember that a picture will often sell better than 10,000
words.
Command attention to your ads or mailing pieces by
marginal sketches, cartoons, different size and type
styles of various words and/or paragraphs...Take the
monotony out of the ad!
Consider greater pulling power of colored ads on many
kinds of products. Test for added response and sales, as
balanced against the much higher printing costs for color!
The use of borders, lines, etc., can enhance your ads but
be certain they are not placed in such a way that they
detract from your message.
Type is expressed by "points". For example, one point
equals 1/72 of an inch. A pica is 1/6 of an inch. Learn
the various type styles and sizes. Use the right print in
your ads to emphasize the best features of your product.
Don't bore the reader; Keep the sakes letter to one page
whenever possible.
Offer something extra or something free in order to get
immediate action!
Test only one factor at a time in order to determine which
"change" made the difference in the number of responses
received from your ad!
By the end of the first month after receipt of the first
response from your ad you should receive 60% of the return
you are going to get from monthly magazines, 75% from
weekly newspapers, 75% from direct mail, 80% from Sunday
newspapers, 90% from daily papers and 100% from Radio or
TV! Within 2 weeks...From magazines 20%; Weekly magazines
40%; Direct mail and Sunday papers 60%; Daily papers 75%
and Radio and TV 90%. DON'T DEPEND ON SUCH
STATISTICS!!!!! Response can vary drastically depending
on many factors, including products offered, media used,
season, price, economy, etc.!!!! Your ad should be
repeated again and again, as long as it is bringing back a
profit....After the saturation point is reached, pull the
ad. Test it again in a few months. The classified ad is
the best to use for testing. For fast results, newspapers
can be tested periodically. Magazines with the greatest
number of responses for the least cost per inquiry should
have priority for your ads. Only tests can prove which
are the best ads and media for your various offers!
Have a "Built-in" follow-up program when preparing your
initial advertising and promotion materials!
Your ad must end with words that compel action...Ask for
the order! Now! Don't let the prospect put the offer
aside or it will usually end up in file 13. Notice the
many ads in the mailorder publications that close with
action getting words and sentences. Use such ads to
develop ideas for your own ads!
Use the personal touch in your sales letters! You must
have a good mailing list for direct mail advertising.
Your sales letter should be written as though you were
talking in person to the reader. Read it out loud...Does
it sound like talk or is it canned?
Offer mailing labels with personalized pictures, photos,
or cartoon caricatures, at cost, in order to build name
lists of mailorder buyers!
Choose the publications with the greatest pull for your
particular ad...Determine the greatest circulation for
every dollar spent...Is it better to advertise in a
magazine with 10,000 readers at 20 cents per word, or pay
$2.50 per word for one with 3,000,000 circulation? Even
this must be tested. Perhaps the 10,000 readers are
buyers of the type of offer you are promoting and will
order more than the 3 million!
Determine the kind of person who reads the various
publications and buy your space accordingly...Advertise
ladies apparel in a media read by women, not in a science
publication!
Publications which carry a large classified section
generally produce good results. Be sure to advertise
under the right classification for your order.
Don't be afraid to ask for the order.
Take advantage of free advertising and publicity whenever
& wherever available!
If practical for a given program, include a picture of
yourself, your business building, or a photo of your
product...This, of course pertains basically to direct
mail programs or for display ads.
Your ad will fail if:
The program you choose has already been worked to death:
A number of dealers had an ad approximately the same as
yours in the same publication; You are advertising an out
of season product; Your price is not competitive; The
offer wan not attractive; Your copy was poorly written, or
it you advertised in the wring classification for the item
being offered!
You generally get nothing but curiosity seekers with ill
placed display ads.
"KEY" you ads in order to know what is the best way to
spend your advertising dollars. Final sales volume, is
the measurement of success or failure of your advertising
programs!
Combine the best features of your product in preparing
your ad. Not so much as to the physical characteristics
but by the feeling and interest it generates in others!
Generally, you should $ ASK $ for the money in classified
ads only when a small amount is required for the product!
Do not expect to get good response from a high cost item
asking for money with a small classified ad. Offer free
details to get the inquiry first, then send your direct
mail packet...Sell your low priced items direct from the
classified or display ad!
Build and maintain your list!!!!
Remember....For us in the mail order industry, advertising
is a must! We cannot reach success without it! We can't
operate successfully with it, unless we do it right!
Advertising is second in importance, only to a high demand
product at a reasonable price, but neither can win without
the other...The day we stop advertising is the day we give
up the mailorder business and go back to punching the old
worn out time clock!!!!!!!
Copyright by DeAnna
This article may be freely distributed on the Internet as long as the resource box is included.DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
consumption, faster turnover and lower sales price per
unit. To a great extent it determines the success or
failure of the mail order operator!
When working up an advertising program remember that what
is genuinely desirable to you may or may not appeal to the
majority of your prospects!
Different types of merchandise or services demand
completely different advertising media. Your ad must be
built around the ADVANTAGES of the product and designed to
APPEAL to the specific customers who will BENEFIT from
your offer!
Since you MUST spend advertising dollars in order to make
money in the mailorder business be sure you spend WISELY
and with CONFIDENCE.
RETAIN all advertising information, brochures, sales
letter, catalog, etc., you receive. USE THE IDEAS from
this information as a guide in formulating your various
advertising programs!
There are thousands of top mail order products to choose
from, more than you can every use so choose the right ones
for your programs!
If the product or service can't stand the Truth do not
advertise it...Don't handle it! Truth in advertising is a
must!
Your FIRM NAME, preferable, should be SHORT, DESCRIPTIVE
AND EASY TO REMEMBER!
When you find the item that is a mail order "HIT", repeat
your ads on the product in a number of magazines and other
productive advertising media in order to PYRAMID YOUR
PROFITS TO THE MAXIMUM!
Advertising cost divided by inquiries = Ad cost per
inquiry!
Advertising cost divided by orders = Ad cost per order!
Orders received divided by readership = percent of
response!
Number of pieces mailed + by orders received = Percent of
return!
Continuously use the simple formulas (above) so you will
know who your advertising dollars are paying off!
Ad to find new Products:
"Calling all manufacturers, importers and suppliers ... We
will feature and sell your new products in our catalog ...
Send your information, sample products and programs
to.....!"
Test the position of your ads in the various Media!
Test one ad against another on the same offer!
Make your sales letters friendly, clear, simple and to the
point!
Your potential customers are more interested in themselves
than in your product, consequently your ads and sales
letter must be directed toward their point of view and
their self-interests! Make them want your product because
it will benefit them or will do the job better for them!
Powerful attention getting words include: Free, Amazing,
Weird, Odd, Strong, Rare, Big, Secret, Latest, Easy,
Fortune, Now, New, How-to!
You must put yourself in the place of your prospects and
know how they feel, think and react to your ads! If "you"
were the customer would your ads persuade "you" to buy?
Your Ad must have a strong headline! It must tell the
prospect what to do, such as: Order Now! Rush $5.00! Use
order form and reply envelope! Act Now! Action words
that urge the prospect to order. Explain with simple
words JUST WHAT THEY WILL RECEIVE FOR THEIR MONEY! What
the product will do for them. Use believable
testimonials. Appeal to their reason and get their
confidence, then use a powerful close. You can get the
order!
Repetition is one of the secrets of making a lasting
impression on the memory.
Use coupons in some of your ads!
Since Suspense is a strong force in advertising, consider
entering the name of your product toward the end of your
ad!
Most everyone wants prestige, confidence, money, security,
advancement, leisure time, good health, popularity, less
worry, happiness, success, more time, recognition,
improvement, business ownership, independence, more
knowledge, satisfaction, savings ... Appeal to your
prospects... use such appeals in your ads!
Quality, usefulness, reasonable price, up-to-date, and
appealing to the sight are points to stress!
Make no misleading claims about your products.
Review the many ads presented in leading mail order sales
magazines advertisers. Make note of the many attention
getting words and phrases that catch your eye and cause
you to read the rest of the ad! Use these same words in
your own headlines!
With certain type products, consider turning the picture
in your display ad upside down in order to attract
attention from the ordinary ... If handled properly,
curiosity will sell!
Study the operation of other firms to get New Ideas for
sales letters, methods of handling promotion, nature of
offers and any other details which may be helpful!
Some programs require a good deal of literature in order
to present all the facts necessary to sell a product!
With this type of product you should first advertise for
inquiries then send the full ammunition by direct mail.
Write up a list of important reasons why a person should
inquire about your offer. Use the strongest of these
reasons in your ad!
If you usually pay cash for your ads, why not set up your
own advertising agency as a secondary part of your
business? Your registered business name as an advertising
agency may qualify your business for the 15% discount when
advertising in many publications!
Direct Mail, mailing lists, not ads, are used to obtain
business. You determine what type of person would best
buy your product; then compile, rent or buy name lists and
proceed from there.
Lists compiled from business listings in the Yellow Pages
are good for many kinds of mailorder products; however the
names and addresses contained in the white pages seldom
get any reasonable response. Ads in the daily paper are
also generally poor for mail order products. Stay with
the successful operators and advertise in the various
media they use ... stick with quality name lists in the
right category for your products!
Unless your ad is read you will come out in the red! Make
it clean, clear, concise, simple, professional and focused
to the "right market" for the type of product being
offered!
Always test! test! test! before spending large sums to
promote or advertise your product ... Be sure it is a hit
then go all out!
Your ad must name the product, describe it, tell what it
will do for the reader, how he can obtain it, and where to
get it!
The best part of your advertisement is the words that can
be read "between the lines"!
The direct mail packet consists of the sales letter,
catalog, or brochure, order blank and the business reply
envelope.
The ad must attract attention and create interest and
desire before the customer will act!
Know your product well so that you can be specific,
sincere and positive in writing your ads!
Enthusiastic ads properly laid out will generally get
enthusiastic results!
It is simple to record test results for your ads and
programs in the various media. DO IT!
If your product has distinctive features or trademarks,
use them over and over again in all your ads ... Take
advantage of the repeat psychology of keeping the name of
your product constantly out in front of the Public Eye!
If your product is familiar to the user, prove that it has
better quality or price over competing items. Educate the
consumer when presenting brand new items.
Prospects are usually more impressed by what others have
to say about the product than by what the dealer tells
them. Write to your customers, asking for their opinion
on what your program or product has done for them and
request permission to use their endorsement in some of
your ads. Retain their letters as your authority for
using their testimony.
Classified ads must have a great deal of thought and
preparation! Use as few words as you can, but don't leave
out image building words that tell stories, paint pictures
and compel action!
One way to increase the readership of your ad is by
inviting persons to send in money saving ideas. Print the
best idea each week, or month, and award the winner $$$
... They will read the ad in each issue in order to find
out if they won and if not to see if the winners ideas are
better than the ones they submitted!
Many products can be readily adapted to radio & TV
selling. This can be arranged whereby you pay the station
a percentage of only what is sold. There are publications
available which explain how to present such offers to the
stations and lists of stations that supposedly operate on
this basis. You can locate such firms by a search at your
local library or through salesmen and opportunity
magazines....However; this method for selling mail order
products is not readily available on a flexible basis,
unless you have something really special.
You must be in a position to change your advertising
approach with changing times and conditions.
The First Paragraph of a sales letter must create
attention and interest or the entire message will go to
file 13!
The Second part, or body, of the letter must arouse desire
by pointing out the advantages and describing the product,
preferably in use, or in action and should state the
price...or the entire message will wind up in file 13!
The Final Portion of your letter should strongly urge the
prospect to act and tell him how to order or the entire
message will go to file "13"!
You don't have near the space for your message with
classified and small display ads, as you do with the sales
letter so unless they are well presented they may make a
faster trip down the tube to file 13!
Always use TOP QUALITY letterheads, mailing materials and
supplies...This is your BUSINESS IMAGE in mailorder!
It could be good policy to place your ads through a
legitimate advertising agency...It costs no more than if
you place your own. Before doing business, get full
information about the agency, its services and rates.
Since you must get your message across in top form, in
order to pull inquiries and get orders, the ideal ad made
just for the particular item being for sale is another
great secret for mail order profits....Many times just one
little word will change a dead ad to one that pulls
thousands of orders!
Since you do not have a "window display" to use for
mailorder advertising you must either draw pictures or use
picture words to describe your product. Prepare
advertising copy so that your prospects can "visualize the
product" in their mind and "see" themselves using it to
good advantage.
The headline of your ad must be powerful enough to catch
immediate attention.
Use words that emphasize your product or service at the
beginning or end of sentences!
Another gimmick for obtaining name lists for nothing...An
ad such as..."?BIG MAIL? Send 200 of your address labels
and 50 cents. We will send to mailorder dealers,
wholesalers, distributors, etc....!"
"Before and After" type ads get great response on certain
products.
Test and compare with different worded ads on the same
type of merchandise in the same media.
When advertising make your most important points first!
When you find a new product that has possibilities for
mailorder, test it! Prepare an ad for a quick test in a
magazine or in a paper with a fast closing date (time from
date ad is received to date it is published). As your
test prove out "HIT" that particular item hard and heavy
in other publications!
Test various price levels for the same product.
Qualify your prospects with proper classified ads.
Get the prospects confidence by offering free samples, by
allowing a full money-back guarantee, by building your
business image without exaggeration, and by showing proof
of satisfied users.
Use the P.S. in sales letters to gain added attention!
When using an illustration or picture of your product in
an ad, have one that shows the product in use! Picture
the merchandise in use giving the owner profit or pleasure
thus generating a positive, confident "YES" attitude.
Remember that a picture will often sell better than 10,000
words.
Command attention to your ads or mailing pieces by
marginal sketches, cartoons, different size and type
styles of various words and/or paragraphs...Take the
monotony out of the ad!
Consider greater pulling power of colored ads on many
kinds of products. Test for added response and sales, as
balanced against the much higher printing costs for color!
The use of borders, lines, etc., can enhance your ads but
be certain they are not placed in such a way that they
detract from your message.
Type is expressed by "points". For example, one point
equals 1/72 of an inch. A pica is 1/6 of an inch. Learn
the various type styles and sizes. Use the right print in
your ads to emphasize the best features of your product.
Don't bore the reader; Keep the sakes letter to one page
whenever possible.
Offer something extra or something free in order to get
immediate action!
Test only one factor at a time in order to determine which
"change" made the difference in the number of responses
received from your ad!
By the end of the first month after receipt of the first
response from your ad you should receive 60% of the return
you are going to get from monthly magazines, 75% from
weekly newspapers, 75% from direct mail, 80% from Sunday
newspapers, 90% from daily papers and 100% from Radio or
TV! Within 2 weeks...From magazines 20%; Weekly magazines
40%; Direct mail and Sunday papers 60%; Daily papers 75%
and Radio and TV 90%. DON'T DEPEND ON SUCH
STATISTICS!!!!! Response can vary drastically depending
on many factors, including products offered, media used,
season, price, economy, etc.!!!! Your ad should be
repeated again and again, as long as it is bringing back a
profit....After the saturation point is reached, pull the
ad. Test it again in a few months. The classified ad is
the best to use for testing. For fast results, newspapers
can be tested periodically. Magazines with the greatest
number of responses for the least cost per inquiry should
have priority for your ads. Only tests can prove which
are the best ads and media for your various offers!
Have a "Built-in" follow-up program when preparing your
initial advertising and promotion materials!
Your ad must end with words that compel action...Ask for
the order! Now! Don't let the prospect put the offer
aside or it will usually end up in file 13. Notice the
many ads in the mailorder publications that close with
action getting words and sentences. Use such ads to
develop ideas for your own ads!
Use the personal touch in your sales letters! You must
have a good mailing list for direct mail advertising.
Your sales letter should be written as though you were
talking in person to the reader. Read it out loud...Does
it sound like talk or is it canned?
Offer mailing labels with personalized pictures, photos,
or cartoon caricatures, at cost, in order to build name
lists of mailorder buyers!
Choose the publications with the greatest pull for your
particular ad...Determine the greatest circulation for
every dollar spent...Is it better to advertise in a
magazine with 10,000 readers at 20 cents per word, or pay
$2.50 per word for one with 3,000,000 circulation? Even
this must be tested. Perhaps the 10,000 readers are
buyers of the type of offer you are promoting and will
order more than the 3 million!
Determine the kind of person who reads the various
publications and buy your space accordingly...Advertise
ladies apparel in a media read by women, not in a science
publication!
Publications which carry a large classified section
generally produce good results. Be sure to advertise
under the right classification for your order.
Don't be afraid to ask for the order.
Take advantage of free advertising and publicity whenever
& wherever available!
If practical for a given program, include a picture of
yourself, your business building, or a photo of your
product...This, of course pertains basically to direct
mail programs or for display ads.
Your ad will fail if:
The program you choose has already been worked to death:
A number of dealers had an ad approximately the same as
yours in the same publication; You are advertising an out
of season product; Your price is not competitive; The
offer wan not attractive; Your copy was poorly written, or
it you advertised in the wring classification for the item
being offered!
You generally get nothing but curiosity seekers with ill
placed display ads.
"KEY" you ads in order to know what is the best way to
spend your advertising dollars. Final sales volume, is
the measurement of success or failure of your advertising
programs!
Combine the best features of your product in preparing
your ad. Not so much as to the physical characteristics
but by the feeling and interest it generates in others!
Generally, you should $ ASK $ for the money in classified
ads only when a small amount is required for the product!
Do not expect to get good response from a high cost item
asking for money with a small classified ad. Offer free
details to get the inquiry first, then send your direct
mail packet...Sell your low priced items direct from the
classified or display ad!
Build and maintain your list!!!!
Remember....For us in the mail order industry, advertising
is a must! We cannot reach success without it! We can't
operate successfully with it, unless we do it right!
Advertising is second in importance, only to a high demand
product at a reasonable price, but neither can win without
the other...The day we stop advertising is the day we give
up the mailorder business and go back to punching the old
worn out time clock!!!!!!!
Copyright by DeAnna
This article may be freely distributed on the Internet as long as the resource box is included.DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Starting Your Own Mail Order Business
By Ronnie Altamirano
Starting your own mail order business can be a great business venture for any entrepreneur. Many have said that they want a mail order business thinking that a mail order business is the business in itself. What I mean by this is that a mail order business is not a business, it is a way of doing business. It is a way, and one of the best ways to market your product or service. Selling by mail has been around probably almost ever since mail has been around. You can sell virtually anything by mail with successful results.
Of course your success will depend on your advertisement material and your mailing list. Your advertising material must make those reading it respond. They must pick up an envelope, pen and respond, or they must make that phone call or visit that website. Remember, your sales material is your sales man and you must put a lot of thought and effort into it. Your mailing list is also very important. No matter how good your sales material is, if you do not have the right mailing list for your product or service you are sure to fail. For example, if you are selling car audio you probably don't want to mail to senior citizens.
If you are selling toys you are probably going to want your mailing list to be people who have kids, you get the idea. Got a business opportunity you want to offer to home based businesses or entrepreneurs, make sure you get a mailing list for those interested. Starting your own mail order business will be fun and exciting! For established businesses who already have a product/service to sell and don't market via mail, they are missing out on a whole lot of sales that they could generate.
For those interested in selling by mail but don't have any product or service to sell, there are many companies that will help you get started and give you the products/service to sell. Usually, you will keep a profit from the sale, sometimes 100% of the profit. All the company will ask you in return is for the few stamps that the customer sent you with the order. Of course some will pay 50% and others different percentages of the sales, all work different. Many mail order dealers sell many different product and services for many different sources which is the best way to sell. Go ahead and give it a try. Selling by mail order is sure to be a profitable and rewarding business.
Ronnie Altamirano is a full time entrepreneur and has operated his own successful mail order business for the past 10 years. For information and tips on starting your own mail order business be sure to check out: http://www.mailorderbusiness.biz
Starting your own mail order business can be a great business venture for any entrepreneur. Many have said that they want a mail order business thinking that a mail order business is the business in itself. What I mean by this is that a mail order business is not a business, it is a way of doing business. It is a way, and one of the best ways to market your product or service. Selling by mail has been around probably almost ever since mail has been around. You can sell virtually anything by mail with successful results.
Of course your success will depend on your advertisement material and your mailing list. Your advertising material must make those reading it respond. They must pick up an envelope, pen and respond, or they must make that phone call or visit that website. Remember, your sales material is your sales man and you must put a lot of thought and effort into it. Your mailing list is also very important. No matter how good your sales material is, if you do not have the right mailing list for your product or service you are sure to fail. For example, if you are selling car audio you probably don't want to mail to senior citizens.
If you are selling toys you are probably going to want your mailing list to be people who have kids, you get the idea. Got a business opportunity you want to offer to home based businesses or entrepreneurs, make sure you get a mailing list for those interested. Starting your own mail order business will be fun and exciting! For established businesses who already have a product/service to sell and don't market via mail, they are missing out on a whole lot of sales that they could generate.
For those interested in selling by mail but don't have any product or service to sell, there are many companies that will help you get started and give you the products/service to sell. Usually, you will keep a profit from the sale, sometimes 100% of the profit. All the company will ask you in return is for the few stamps that the customer sent you with the order. Of course some will pay 50% and others different percentages of the sales, all work different. Many mail order dealers sell many different product and services for many different sources which is the best way to sell. Go ahead and give it a try. Selling by mail order is sure to be a profitable and rewarding business.
Ronnie Altamirano is a full time entrepreneur and has operated his own successful mail order business for the past 10 years. For information and tips on starting your own mail order business be sure to check out: http://www.mailorderbusiness.biz
What Really Sells in Mail Order Magazines
By DeAnna Spencer
You can only make money with the Mail Order Magazines if you understand exactly WHO reads them. The Mail Order Magazines are trade papers read almost exclusively by Mail Order Dealers or by Opportunity Seekers, who are in reality aspiring Mail Order Dealers. They will only buy merchandise that will help them in the operation of a Mail Order Business.
It is almost always a waste of money to advertise merchandise which is intended for general consumption in the Mail Order Magazines... unless you are offering it on a wholesale or drop-ship basis.
Below is a brief description of 22 products or services that can be sold successfully through the Mail Order Magazines.
1. RUBBER STAMPS - Every Mail Order Dealer purchases at least one name and address rubber stamp. He also purchases "stock stamps" with slogans such as "Big Mails Wanted", "Commission Circulars Wanted", "Third Class Mail", "Your Ad Solicited", etc. Rubber stamps sell well in the Mail Order magazines because dealers use them in the conduct of their business.
2. MAILING LISTS - Mail Order Dealers constantly buy mailing lists of the ever present Opportunity Seekers, New Mothers, Book Buyers, Gift Buyers, etc. You can sell mailing lists on plain paper or gummed labels. Naturally you can charge more for the lists on gummed labels.
3. BIG MAILS - Anyone who regularly advertises "Big Mails" in the Mail Order magazines will get orders for them. Big Mails consists of envelopes full of Mail Order Magazines, Adsheets and circulars of every imaginable kind. The "Big Mail Order Dealer" earns his profit by selling a variety of sizes of ad space and subscriptions in the publications which he co-publishes. He also makes money from the items offered on the circulars which he includes in his big mails.
4. CIRCULAR MAILING SERVICE - Set up an efficient, and a good dependable mailing service so that dealers can get their circulars into the hands of real Mail Order buyers, advertise it regularly in the Mail Order Magazines. and you will soon have all the circular mailing business you can possibly handle.
5. PRINTING - Every mail order dealer buys printing. He buys envelopes, sales letters, circulars, booklets, catalogs, adsheets, brochures, price lists, letterheads, mail order magazines and a thousand other things. If you do mimeographing, letter press or offset printing, advertise your service in the mail order magazines. It is probably the mail order magazines' Number One All-Time Profit Maker.
6. INFORMATION FOLIOS - Mail order dealers will always buy information that will help them succeed in the mail order business. Folios that deal with any practical aspect of mail order selling can be sold through the mail order magazines. If you have produced your own folio and are willing to drop-ship orders for other dealers you will definitely make money.
7. DROP-SHIP AND WHOLESALE OFFERS - If you have a large stock of merchandise which is suitable for mail order sales, and are willing to supply it on a drop-ship (single order at wholesale prices) or on a wholesale basis, then you should advertise in the Mail Order Magazines. Dealers are constantly looking for new products to sell by mail. If you plan to sell on a wholesale basis only, you should offer your product in very small wholesale lots, if possible. Most Mail Order Dealers are part-timers and do not have vast sums of money to invest in untested merchandise.
8. SAMPLE COPIES OF MAIL ORDER MAGAZINES - Mail order dealers have a very insatiable appetite for new mail trade magazines, which is why hundreds of them come into existence and then disappear every year. If you publish or co-publish a mail order magazine, advertise sample copies of it in other publications and you will get requests for it.
Regard your sample copy as a "leader item" or as a "good will builder". It should be your way of getting your other offers into the hands of a very many prospective mail order buyers. You will probably sell some ads, but do not expect to sell too many subscriptions. Except for a few of the leading publications, very few people subscribe to mail order magazines.
9. GUMMED LABELS - Labels of any kind are "naturals" for many of the Mail Order Magazines. (Name and address labels, shipping labels, addressing labels, slogan labels, etc.)
10. NAME LISTING SERVICE - Whether he admits it or not, most every mail order dealer is a "Big Mail Addict". If you compile mailing lists and work with another dealer who does, dealers will pay to put their names on the lists. You can advertise you name listing service in any mail order magazine and get orders for it.
11. COMMISSION CIRCULARS - There are circular mailers who watch every issue of every mail order magazine, always looking for new sources of commission circulars. There is no better way to advertise commission circulars than by placing ads in the mail order magazines.
12. COPY WRITING SERVICE - If you have a natural flair for writing ads, sales letters and circulars... and if you have a good basic knowledge of mail order selling , you can sell your services through many of the better mail order magazines. There are very few good mail order copy writers at present. Here is a very basic need... can you fill it?
13. AD DESIGN - Another service which is greatly in demand, the commercial artist who can create eye-catching ads and circulars which dealers can use to sell their products. There are only a few dealers who are now offering this service, but there is room for a dozen or so.
14. TYPESETTING - Most mail order printers and magazines now require "camera-ready" copy. This had created a big demand for dealers who offer a quality, reasonably price typesetting service. At present there are dealers who do mail order typesetting that have so much business they don't even bother to advertise..
Related to typesetting, are the "clip-art" books which are used by dealers who prepare their own "camera-ready" copy... Right now as always, you'll find clip-art books advertised in mail order publications.
15. PEN PAL, LONELY HEARTS MAGAZINES - For some reason, you will find that the mail order magazines have always been good places to sell these types of publications. It may be because they are the only kinds of magazines, other than the mail order magazines that are co-publishable.
Most mail order magazines will accept ads for legitimate matrimonial and pen pal magazines; however, very few will accept any "adults only" ads. Too many readers object and some mail order dealers are minors.
16. HOBBY MAGAZINES - You can sell almost any kind of hobby publications through the mail order magazines. This is because many dealers handle hobby merchandise and are always looking for new ways to sell it. Many dealers and readers are hobbyists and collectors themselves.
17. FORMULAS - Dealers buy formulas for two reasons. Some dealers reprint the formula and sell it by running ads in national publications. ("Sure way to kill cockroaches", etc.) Some even manufacture the product itself and sell it by mail.
Closely related to formula selling is recipes selling. If you can create new recipes or have exceptional ones, you advertise and sell recipes over and over again.
18. CATALOGS - If you can produce low cost catalogs which dealers can mail to their customers offering books, novelties, gift items, baby merchandise, printed forms, etc., you would be well advised to offer your services in the mail order magazines.
19. UNPRINTED DEALERS MERCHANDISE - If you can supply merchandise which the dealer can use in his mail order business, at bargain prices, you can sell it profitably in the mail order magazines. Examples: unprinted envelopes, typewriter ribbons, addressing labels, stencils, scratch pads, etc. There are a few successful dealers who even sell large, bulky items like typewriters, mimeograph machines, file cabinets, paper cutters, and printing presses by mail.
20. AD SPACE - Every mail order dealer buys ad space. If you publish or co-publish a mail order magazine, tabloid or adsheet, you can sell ad space by advertising it in other mail order magazines.
21. ADS TO RUN UNDER YOUR OWN NAME - Can you supply ready-made ad copies which other dealers can run under their own names and fill their orders on a drop ship basis? If so, print up your ads and sell them through the mail order magazines. If you can supply "camera ready" ads and circulars, so much the better!
22. MAIL ORDER PLANS - Opportunity seekers are always looking for new mail order plans. If you have some practical legitimate workable plans that others can use to make money by mail, print them up and advertise them in the mail order magazines.
You will find that 99% of all the ads in the mail order magazines fall into one of the categories listed above. If you are selling a product or service that fits into one of these categories, you can safely advertise it in the mail order magazines.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
You can only make money with the Mail Order Magazines if you understand exactly WHO reads them. The Mail Order Magazines are trade papers read almost exclusively by Mail Order Dealers or by Opportunity Seekers, who are in reality aspiring Mail Order Dealers. They will only buy merchandise that will help them in the operation of a Mail Order Business.
It is almost always a waste of money to advertise merchandise which is intended for general consumption in the Mail Order Magazines... unless you are offering it on a wholesale or drop-ship basis.
Below is a brief description of 22 products or services that can be sold successfully through the Mail Order Magazines.
1. RUBBER STAMPS - Every Mail Order Dealer purchases at least one name and address rubber stamp. He also purchases "stock stamps" with slogans such as "Big Mails Wanted", "Commission Circulars Wanted", "Third Class Mail", "Your Ad Solicited", etc. Rubber stamps sell well in the Mail Order magazines because dealers use them in the conduct of their business.
2. MAILING LISTS - Mail Order Dealers constantly buy mailing lists of the ever present Opportunity Seekers, New Mothers, Book Buyers, Gift Buyers, etc. You can sell mailing lists on plain paper or gummed labels. Naturally you can charge more for the lists on gummed labels.
3. BIG MAILS - Anyone who regularly advertises "Big Mails" in the Mail Order magazines will get orders for them. Big Mails consists of envelopes full of Mail Order Magazines, Adsheets and circulars of every imaginable kind. The "Big Mail Order Dealer" earns his profit by selling a variety of sizes of ad space and subscriptions in the publications which he co-publishes. He also makes money from the items offered on the circulars which he includes in his big mails.
4. CIRCULAR MAILING SERVICE - Set up an efficient, and a good dependable mailing service so that dealers can get their circulars into the hands of real Mail Order buyers, advertise it regularly in the Mail Order Magazines. and you will soon have all the circular mailing business you can possibly handle.
5. PRINTING - Every mail order dealer buys printing. He buys envelopes, sales letters, circulars, booklets, catalogs, adsheets, brochures, price lists, letterheads, mail order magazines and a thousand other things. If you do mimeographing, letter press or offset printing, advertise your service in the mail order magazines. It is probably the mail order magazines' Number One All-Time Profit Maker.
6. INFORMATION FOLIOS - Mail order dealers will always buy information that will help them succeed in the mail order business. Folios that deal with any practical aspect of mail order selling can be sold through the mail order magazines. If you have produced your own folio and are willing to drop-ship orders for other dealers you will definitely make money.
7. DROP-SHIP AND WHOLESALE OFFERS - If you have a large stock of merchandise which is suitable for mail order sales, and are willing to supply it on a drop-ship (single order at wholesale prices) or on a wholesale basis, then you should advertise in the Mail Order Magazines. Dealers are constantly looking for new products to sell by mail. If you plan to sell on a wholesale basis only, you should offer your product in very small wholesale lots, if possible. Most Mail Order Dealers are part-timers and do not have vast sums of money to invest in untested merchandise.
8. SAMPLE COPIES OF MAIL ORDER MAGAZINES - Mail order dealers have a very insatiable appetite for new mail trade magazines, which is why hundreds of them come into existence and then disappear every year. If you publish or co-publish a mail order magazine, advertise sample copies of it in other publications and you will get requests for it.
Regard your sample copy as a "leader item" or as a "good will builder". It should be your way of getting your other offers into the hands of a very many prospective mail order buyers. You will probably sell some ads, but do not expect to sell too many subscriptions. Except for a few of the leading publications, very few people subscribe to mail order magazines.
9. GUMMED LABELS - Labels of any kind are "naturals" for many of the Mail Order Magazines. (Name and address labels, shipping labels, addressing labels, slogan labels, etc.)
10. NAME LISTING SERVICE - Whether he admits it or not, most every mail order dealer is a "Big Mail Addict". If you compile mailing lists and work with another dealer who does, dealers will pay to put their names on the lists. You can advertise you name listing service in any mail order magazine and get orders for it.
11. COMMISSION CIRCULARS - There are circular mailers who watch every issue of every mail order magazine, always looking for new sources of commission circulars. There is no better way to advertise commission circulars than by placing ads in the mail order magazines.
12. COPY WRITING SERVICE - If you have a natural flair for writing ads, sales letters and circulars... and if you have a good basic knowledge of mail order selling , you can sell your services through many of the better mail order magazines. There are very few good mail order copy writers at present. Here is a very basic need... can you fill it?
13. AD DESIGN - Another service which is greatly in demand, the commercial artist who can create eye-catching ads and circulars which dealers can use to sell their products. There are only a few dealers who are now offering this service, but there is room for a dozen or so.
14. TYPESETTING - Most mail order printers and magazines now require "camera-ready" copy. This had created a big demand for dealers who offer a quality, reasonably price typesetting service. At present there are dealers who do mail order typesetting that have so much business they don't even bother to advertise..
Related to typesetting, are the "clip-art" books which are used by dealers who prepare their own "camera-ready" copy... Right now as always, you'll find clip-art books advertised in mail order publications.
15. PEN PAL, LONELY HEARTS MAGAZINES - For some reason, you will find that the mail order magazines have always been good places to sell these types of publications. It may be because they are the only kinds of magazines, other than the mail order magazines that are co-publishable.
Most mail order magazines will accept ads for legitimate matrimonial and pen pal magazines; however, very few will accept any "adults only" ads. Too many readers object and some mail order dealers are minors.
16. HOBBY MAGAZINES - You can sell almost any kind of hobby publications through the mail order magazines. This is because many dealers handle hobby merchandise and are always looking for new ways to sell it. Many dealers and readers are hobbyists and collectors themselves.
17. FORMULAS - Dealers buy formulas for two reasons. Some dealers reprint the formula and sell it by running ads in national publications. ("Sure way to kill cockroaches", etc.) Some even manufacture the product itself and sell it by mail.
Closely related to formula selling is recipes selling. If you can create new recipes or have exceptional ones, you advertise and sell recipes over and over again.
18. CATALOGS - If you can produce low cost catalogs which dealers can mail to their customers offering books, novelties, gift items, baby merchandise, printed forms, etc., you would be well advised to offer your services in the mail order magazines.
19. UNPRINTED DEALERS MERCHANDISE - If you can supply merchandise which the dealer can use in his mail order business, at bargain prices, you can sell it profitably in the mail order magazines. Examples: unprinted envelopes, typewriter ribbons, addressing labels, stencils, scratch pads, etc. There are a few successful dealers who even sell large, bulky items like typewriters, mimeograph machines, file cabinets, paper cutters, and printing presses by mail.
20. AD SPACE - Every mail order dealer buys ad space. If you publish or co-publish a mail order magazine, tabloid or adsheet, you can sell ad space by advertising it in other mail order magazines.
21. ADS TO RUN UNDER YOUR OWN NAME - Can you supply ready-made ad copies which other dealers can run under their own names and fill their orders on a drop ship basis? If so, print up your ads and sell them through the mail order magazines. If you can supply "camera ready" ads and circulars, so much the better!
22. MAIL ORDER PLANS - Opportunity seekers are always looking for new mail order plans. If you have some practical legitimate workable plans that others can use to make money by mail, print them up and advertise them in the mail order magazines.
You will find that 99% of all the ads in the mail order magazines fall into one of the categories listed above. If you are selling a product or service that fits into one of these categories, you can safely advertise it in the mail order magazines.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Information Mail Order Business
By DeAnna Spencer
The following businesses featured in this collection are some of the best information-marketing-related mail order businesses you can easily start with very little investment. They are simple businesses that in many cases are related and fit together rather well. You can have a profitable, part-time or full-time mail order business by running as many of these mini-businesses together as you can. Take another look through the reports and see how producing and selling information, print brokering, circular mailing, producing ad sheets, co- publishing other ad sheets, big mails, mailing list rental, typesetting, rubber stamps and clip art all fit together with each other.
You can advertise your services in flyers that get mailed with other circulars and ad sheets in your big mails, which are ordered by customers whose names and addresses get added to your rental mailing list, which is ordered by other dealers who find out about your other services.
Customers who are not in the mail order business can still gain useful information from your products, use your print brokering services to get the best prices on their other printing needs, and can purchase return address rubber stamps from you. It all goes together in a cycle that will make money for you. All you need to do is be persistent and remember the following tips:
* ADVERTISE! People can't and won't order from you if they don't know who you are and what you sell. Get those ads out there! You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on full page ads. Put those one-inch ads in the ad sheets you get in the mail. They are inexpensive and they're effective.
* REINVEST! Don't expect to build a full-time business by putting a few ads in ad sheets, then never advertising again. If you want to succeed, you MUST put at least 50% of your profits back into advertising. Expand the amount of advertising you do until you saturate the market. That's the way to be a success. Start your business part-time, and keep your full-time job, so you don't need to dip into your profits for spending money. If you put your profits into advertising at the beginning, it will take less time for your part-time business to become self-supporting and full-time.
* KEEP IMPROVING! Read and save all the mail-order related mail you get. Your files will prove to be a valuable source of information and ideas for future products, ads and services.
* WORK WITH PROS! You will find that the competition in this business can also be your friend. When co-publishing and mailing other dealers' circulars, you will be helping them. They will help you in return. Be honest, trustworthy, and deliver on all your promises, and the other entrepreneurs you work with will do the same.
* DON'T GIVE UP! If you think you can get rich overnight in mail order, you need to rethink things. Sure, some people have gotten lucky, but the majority of mail order businesses start slow and build slowly. You can't give up after the first month. Be like the little engine that could, and keep pushing along. It will take time, but the time you take will be worth it.
* BE PRUDENT! Keep in mind the old adage: If you see an offer in the mail that is far too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall for the get rich quick junk, and don't try to sell the stuff, either. Customers don't stay very loyal after they get burned.
* KEEP THE CUSTOMER INFORMED! Customer service is of the utmost importance in mail order. Give a good guarantee on your products. If they are good and deliver on your advertised promises, you won't have to worry about many customer returns. If a customer has a complaint, make sure you answer them quickly and kindly. Sometimes, the best repeat customers are the ones who have had problems that you've corrected. They see that you have their interests in mind, and respect you for that.
* STUFF THAT ENVELOPE FULL! Return business is the key to making money in mail order. That first order covers your costs; the return business is profit. Always give your customers a lot of products and services to choose from.
If you follow these rules and use the information provided in this collection of reports and business ideas, you should find yourself on the way to an exciting part-time or full-time mail order business that you can operate out of your own home!
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
The following businesses featured in this collection are some of the best information-marketing-related mail order businesses you can easily start with very little investment. They are simple businesses that in many cases are related and fit together rather well. You can have a profitable, part-time or full-time mail order business by running as many of these mini-businesses together as you can. Take another look through the reports and see how producing and selling information, print brokering, circular mailing, producing ad sheets, co- publishing other ad sheets, big mails, mailing list rental, typesetting, rubber stamps and clip art all fit together with each other.
You can advertise your services in flyers that get mailed with other circulars and ad sheets in your big mails, which are ordered by customers whose names and addresses get added to your rental mailing list, which is ordered by other dealers who find out about your other services.
Customers who are not in the mail order business can still gain useful information from your products, use your print brokering services to get the best prices on their other printing needs, and can purchase return address rubber stamps from you. It all goes together in a cycle that will make money for you. All you need to do is be persistent and remember the following tips:
* ADVERTISE! People can't and won't order from you if they don't know who you are and what you sell. Get those ads out there! You don't have to spend thousands of dollars on full page ads. Put those one-inch ads in the ad sheets you get in the mail. They are inexpensive and they're effective.
* REINVEST! Don't expect to build a full-time business by putting a few ads in ad sheets, then never advertising again. If you want to succeed, you MUST put at least 50% of your profits back into advertising. Expand the amount of advertising you do until you saturate the market. That's the way to be a success. Start your business part-time, and keep your full-time job, so you don't need to dip into your profits for spending money. If you put your profits into advertising at the beginning, it will take less time for your part-time business to become self-supporting and full-time.
* KEEP IMPROVING! Read and save all the mail-order related mail you get. Your files will prove to be a valuable source of information and ideas for future products, ads and services.
* WORK WITH PROS! You will find that the competition in this business can also be your friend. When co-publishing and mailing other dealers' circulars, you will be helping them. They will help you in return. Be honest, trustworthy, and deliver on all your promises, and the other entrepreneurs you work with will do the same.
* DON'T GIVE UP! If you think you can get rich overnight in mail order, you need to rethink things. Sure, some people have gotten lucky, but the majority of mail order businesses start slow and build slowly. You can't give up after the first month. Be like the little engine that could, and keep pushing along. It will take time, but the time you take will be worth it.
* BE PRUDENT! Keep in mind the old adage: If you see an offer in the mail that is far too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall for the get rich quick junk, and don't try to sell the stuff, either. Customers don't stay very loyal after they get burned.
* KEEP THE CUSTOMER INFORMED! Customer service is of the utmost importance in mail order. Give a good guarantee on your products. If they are good and deliver on your advertised promises, you won't have to worry about many customer returns. If a customer has a complaint, make sure you answer them quickly and kindly. Sometimes, the best repeat customers are the ones who have had problems that you've corrected. They see that you have their interests in mind, and respect you for that.
* STUFF THAT ENVELOPE FULL! Return business is the key to making money in mail order. That first order covers your costs; the return business is profit. Always give your customers a lot of products and services to choose from.
If you follow these rules and use the information provided in this collection of reports and business ideas, you should find yourself on the way to an exciting part-time or full-time mail order business that you can operate out of your own home!
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Why People Fail in Mail Order
By DeAnna Spencer
Mail order is a very complicated business. Every phase must be planned, analyzed and tested. The right demand products must be selected. The correct type of ads must be placed in the proper media and a multitude of other details must be attended to constantly.
A great number of people enter the mail order field every week. When they find in many instances that only three responses are received from 100 mailings, or that a $100 ad in a magazine with 4 million readers pulls 15 inquiries, it appears hopeless. Especially after reading the glowing ads portraying the $THOUSANDS$ that can be made overnight from your kitchen table! The mail order enthusiast is led to believe that he should be able to hit it big immediately with little work. Dream on. When he finds that this is not the case he drops out before he has a chance to learn. Many people do this because it will take too much of his prime TV time, or that it will cost too much to get started on the ROAD TO PROFITS! CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, IT DOES COST MONEY TO MAKE MONEY. Much more than the $10 or $20 often advertised as the total amount necessary to create a substantial income in the mail order business.
Many are continuously making fortunes in the mail order business. However, if they can do it and you are one who thoroughly enjoys the world of mail order, then there is no reason why you cannot make it also.
REMEMBER AS YOU PROCEED ON YOU WAY TO ULTIMATE SUCCESS, THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FAILURE . . . 95% of the people in mail order DO NOT FAIL IN THE MAIL ORDER BUSINESS . . . THEY JUST DO NOT SUCCEED ! ! ! !
Copyright DeAnna Spencer 2004
This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the content remains the same and the resource box is left intact.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Mail order is a very complicated business. Every phase must be planned, analyzed and tested. The right demand products must be selected. The correct type of ads must be placed in the proper media and a multitude of other details must be attended to constantly.
A great number of people enter the mail order field every week. When they find in many instances that only three responses are received from 100 mailings, or that a $100 ad in a magazine with 4 million readers pulls 15 inquiries, it appears hopeless. Especially after reading the glowing ads portraying the $THOUSANDS$ that can be made overnight from your kitchen table! The mail order enthusiast is led to believe that he should be able to hit it big immediately with little work. Dream on. When he finds that this is not the case he drops out before he has a chance to learn. Many people do this because it will take too much of his prime TV time, or that it will cost too much to get started on the ROAD TO PROFITS! CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF, IT DOES COST MONEY TO MAKE MONEY. Much more than the $10 or $20 often advertised as the total amount necessary to create a substantial income in the mail order business.
Many are continuously making fortunes in the mail order business. However, if they can do it and you are one who thoroughly enjoys the world of mail order, then there is no reason why you cannot make it also.
REMEMBER AS YOU PROCEED ON YOU WAY TO ULTIMATE SUCCESS, THAT THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FAILURE . . . 95% of the people in mail order DO NOT FAIL IN THE MAIL ORDER BUSINESS . . . THEY JUST DO NOT SUCCEED ! ! ! !
Copyright DeAnna Spencer 2004
This article may be reproduced and redistributed freely on the Internet as long as the content remains the same and the resource box is left intact.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Mail Order Tips
By DeAnna Spencer
There is a lot of excellent material being written and sold for beginners to the mail order field. It seems everyone is ready, willing and able to offer their "words of wisdom" to the new business owner - and this is GREAT! This action on the part of almost every stable mail order dealer only goes to further prove my point in this report.
Mail order is loaded with the best people in the world! Walk into any corporate-owned establishment and be introduced to "greed" first-hand. Please don't get me wrong - there are some very well run organizations, but any time you hire employees, the dedication to your product or service begins to deteriorate.
In the early 1800's most of the businesses were owned by one person or one family. They took pride in their product and took the time to provide their customers with high quality. The other day one of my customers called to thank me for a publishing job I had completed for them. They said they couldn't find my company's type of quality at any price locally. They explained that the majority of people don't take "pride" in their wares.
But what is mail order filled with? Small, one-person-owned businesses. We have built them from the ground up and we are PROUD to be able to service our customers. And when we have a customer complaint, we normally do every- thing and anything under our power (even if we lose money) just to make that customer satisfied! This is PRIDE! And I'd like to believe that most of us all have it!
Multi-level companies also sell excellent quality products. The shampoo and conditioner I use, the cream I put on my face every night, the mail order printing company I utilize as well as the many other products and services I order through the mail are products I could NEVER purchase locally. So don't forget to let the beginners know who we really are! Beginners are
like children (sort-of-speak.) They come into this industry with the willingness to learn from experienced professionals. They do not know when they are told to hand address their envelopes in red ink that this is ridiculous!
If you take a 2-year-old child and tell them that people in Russia all have green skin - they will believe you without question. They will never doubt your word until someone else comes along and convinces them otherwise. Beginners to mail order are the same way. We have a duty to train them correctly and give them honest and sound advice.
The problem is that some people are greedy and don't want to train them properly. They are afraid if they teach them what they know that the beginner will be better than them; make more money than them; outshine them and be more successful.
Unfortunately this is greed talking. Any beginner you help to become successful will take you right along with them. They'll never forget you taking time and educating them on exactly how to make money. The more money they make - the more money you will make. But even besides this - they will benefit the mail order industry as a whole. You won't live forever. The mail order industry will continue thriving long after you are dead and buried. Shouldn't it be our concern to teach people to carry on what we started?
Sure, there are some beginners that are only looking for a fast buck and a way to make some easy cash. These people don't need your time and dedication, but they don't need you lying to them either and robbing them. Instead, steer away from these types and concentrate your energies on people who really want to succeed. The beginners who have pride in their business is the same beginner that will grow up and remain dear to you.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
Note to editors:
To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
There is a lot of excellent material being written and sold for beginners to the mail order field. It seems everyone is ready, willing and able to offer their "words of wisdom" to the new business owner - and this is GREAT! This action on the part of almost every stable mail order dealer only goes to further prove my point in this report.
Mail order is loaded with the best people in the world! Walk into any corporate-owned establishment and be introduced to "greed" first-hand. Please don't get me wrong - there are some very well run organizations, but any time you hire employees, the dedication to your product or service begins to deteriorate.
In the early 1800's most of the businesses were owned by one person or one family. They took pride in their product and took the time to provide their customers with high quality. The other day one of my customers called to thank me for a publishing job I had completed for them. They said they couldn't find my company's type of quality at any price locally. They explained that the majority of people don't take "pride" in their wares.
But what is mail order filled with? Small, one-person-owned businesses. We have built them from the ground up and we are PROUD to be able to service our customers. And when we have a customer complaint, we normally do every- thing and anything under our power (even if we lose money) just to make that customer satisfied! This is PRIDE! And I'd like to believe that most of us all have it!
Multi-level companies also sell excellent quality products. The shampoo and conditioner I use, the cream I put on my face every night, the mail order printing company I utilize as well as the many other products and services I order through the mail are products I could NEVER purchase locally. So don't forget to let the beginners know who we really are! Beginners are
like children (sort-of-speak.) They come into this industry with the willingness to learn from experienced professionals. They do not know when they are told to hand address their envelopes in red ink that this is ridiculous!
If you take a 2-year-old child and tell them that people in Russia all have green skin - they will believe you without question. They will never doubt your word until someone else comes along and convinces them otherwise. Beginners to mail order are the same way. We have a duty to train them correctly and give them honest and sound advice.
The problem is that some people are greedy and don't want to train them properly. They are afraid if they teach them what they know that the beginner will be better than them; make more money than them; outshine them and be more successful.
Unfortunately this is greed talking. Any beginner you help to become successful will take you right along with them. They'll never forget you taking time and educating them on exactly how to make money. The more money they make - the more money you will make. But even besides this - they will benefit the mail order industry as a whole. You won't live forever. The mail order industry will continue thriving long after you are dead and buried. Shouldn't it be our concern to teach people to carry on what we started?
Sure, there are some beginners that are only looking for a fast buck and a way to make some easy cash. These people don't need your time and dedication, but they don't need you lying to them either and robbing them. Instead, steer away from these types and concentrate your energies on people who really want to succeed. The beginners who have pride in their business is the same beginner that will grow up and remain dear to you.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
Note to editors:
To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Don't Make This Mail Order Mistake
By DeAnna Spencer
Selling by mail is a goldmine...but not if you sell only one product.
After you read this article you will clearly understand what is surely the most important secret to building your fortune in mail order. So please take 10 minutes to avoid further loss of your time and money.
First, let's address the most frequent mistake that mail order beginners make: failing to learn how the mathematics of mail order work. Made very simple, consider all the expenses involved in selling your product: typesetting and printing your advertisement; buying (renting) the mailing list; and finally, postage. This to name only the three main expenses.
Now, if you honestly think you're going to get rich by selling a $10 or $20 product to a few names, you are in the wrong path. You certainly could get rich selling a single product. It has happened countless times. But most probably you won't. Or let's put it this way: your success would take several years. Anyway, that is not the way mail order works.
The only way you can and will accelerate your growth and soon make huge amounts of money is if you sell a RELATED LINE OF PRODUCTS. Do not hesitate one moment: the people who are making it really big in mail order are the ones that understand and apply this concept. The principle that lies behind this is that finding a customer is very expensive.
You sold something for $10 or $20 and then what? Do you forget about your new customer? No!! The true way to make money is, once you made the sale, to supply that customer with additional related products.
There is no reason why you shouldn't do this. Sure, it's extra work. It would be easier to make a sale, take the money and run. But that's just too good to be true. Many folks still think that there are ways to make money the easy way, with no work at all, making a million in one week and then spending the rest of their lives in the Caribbean.
Once you get a customer, it is so easy to get extra earnings from further sales that it's foolish not to offer him more products. You'd be letting go of the real bulk of your profit.
I stress the fact that they must be related products. Here's why: If someone buys a book from you on "secret inexpensive advertising methods", it wouldn't be wise to then send him/her an advertisement on "computer software". That person is now more likely to be interested in buying a report on "the biggest mistakes to avoid" or he might be now looking for renting a name list to mail out his recently published booklet. Get the picture? This is the idea (which you might have heard of before) of a "Product Line". You don't need to offer expensive items and expensive sales brochures to follow this procedure successfully. Prepare an informative set of circulars of reports, or books, on a certain general subject like, for example, the ever popular "making money in mail order", which is a safe subject to get into (most people are interested in making money from their homes).
Mail order is a hot business, not only for big companies but also for the little guy who starts from his kitchen table. But the only way the small mail order operator can find his way to big earnings is to specialize in a certain area. Your sales literature should offer products from a certain category, and mailed to a specifically targeted group of people. Therefore, you are minimizing expenses and increasing the probabilities of making more sales per piece mailed.
Think about this: If you mail 1000 envelopes to a list of names you just rented, it costs you exactly the same money, if you send out a circular offering a book than if you send along 4-5 circulars offering related reports, or books, etc. OK, you spent some extra bucks on printing those other circulars, but you spent the same money on postage and on the names lists. But if your potential customer is not interested in that single item you offered, you just threw away all that money. However, if you mailed out 4, 5 or 10 different offers you have a much better chance of pulling one... or more orders.
In conclusion: the odds of making money are against you. They will be in your favor only when you have more than one product to offer, or better yet, 4, 5 or more. Specialize in one particular field. Target to that specific market through specialized publications or mailing lists. Conduct a decent business in order to keep people satisfied and having to buy more products from you. If you put all this small extra effort you will be highly rewarded with a profitable share of this huge mail order market.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Selling by mail is a goldmine...but not if you sell only one product.
After you read this article you will clearly understand what is surely the most important secret to building your fortune in mail order. So please take 10 minutes to avoid further loss of your time and money.
First, let's address the most frequent mistake that mail order beginners make: failing to learn how the mathematics of mail order work. Made very simple, consider all the expenses involved in selling your product: typesetting and printing your advertisement; buying (renting) the mailing list; and finally, postage. This to name only the three main expenses.
Now, if you honestly think you're going to get rich by selling a $10 or $20 product to a few names, you are in the wrong path. You certainly could get rich selling a single product. It has happened countless times. But most probably you won't. Or let's put it this way: your success would take several years. Anyway, that is not the way mail order works.
The only way you can and will accelerate your growth and soon make huge amounts of money is if you sell a RELATED LINE OF PRODUCTS. Do not hesitate one moment: the people who are making it really big in mail order are the ones that understand and apply this concept. The principle that lies behind this is that finding a customer is very expensive.
You sold something for $10 or $20 and then what? Do you forget about your new customer? No!! The true way to make money is, once you made the sale, to supply that customer with additional related products.
There is no reason why you shouldn't do this. Sure, it's extra work. It would be easier to make a sale, take the money and run. But that's just too good to be true. Many folks still think that there are ways to make money the easy way, with no work at all, making a million in one week and then spending the rest of their lives in the Caribbean.
Once you get a customer, it is so easy to get extra earnings from further sales that it's foolish not to offer him more products. You'd be letting go of the real bulk of your profit.
I stress the fact that they must be related products. Here's why: If someone buys a book from you on "secret inexpensive advertising methods", it wouldn't be wise to then send him/her an advertisement on "computer software". That person is now more likely to be interested in buying a report on "the biggest mistakes to avoid" or he might be now looking for renting a name list to mail out his recently published booklet. Get the picture? This is the idea (which you might have heard of before) of a "Product Line". You don't need to offer expensive items and expensive sales brochures to follow this procedure successfully. Prepare an informative set of circulars of reports, or books, on a certain general subject like, for example, the ever popular "making money in mail order", which is a safe subject to get into (most people are interested in making money from their homes).
Mail order is a hot business, not only for big companies but also for the little guy who starts from his kitchen table. But the only way the small mail order operator can find his way to big earnings is to specialize in a certain area. Your sales literature should offer products from a certain category, and mailed to a specifically targeted group of people. Therefore, you are minimizing expenses and increasing the probabilities of making more sales per piece mailed.
Think about this: If you mail 1000 envelopes to a list of names you just rented, it costs you exactly the same money, if you send out a circular offering a book than if you send along 4-5 circulars offering related reports, or books, etc. OK, you spent some extra bucks on printing those other circulars, but you spent the same money on postage and on the names lists. But if your potential customer is not interested in that single item you offered, you just threw away all that money. However, if you mailed out 4, 5 or 10 different offers you have a much better chance of pulling one... or more orders.
In conclusion: the odds of making money are against you. They will be in your favor only when you have more than one product to offer, or better yet, 4, 5 or more. Specialize in one particular field. Target to that specific market through specialized publications or mailing lists. Conduct a decent business in order to keep people satisfied and having to buy more products from you. If you put all this small extra effort you will be highly rewarded with a profitable share of this huge mail order market.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Practical Plans for Mail Order Beginners
By DeAnna Spencer
Below are six simple, practical plans that will enable you to start and
build your own money making mail order business. These plan have made money for
others, and they will make money for you - If you will REALLY work at them!
PLAN #1 - SELL BIG MAILS. The easiest way to start selling by mail is to
advertise and sell "Big Mails". To get started, co-publish at least three Mail
Order Magazines and several ad sheets. Use an ad like this:
BIG MAIL - $1.00 - Commission Mailed Free!
(Your Name and Address)
When someone sends you $1.00, send him one copy of each magazine, one
copy of each ad sheet, and one copy of every commission circular that you have in
stock. If you advertise regularly, and fill each order by return mail, you will
soon by selling ads and subscriptions, as well as merchandise offered on the
commission circulars. You can expand by regularly adding to your list of
magazines and ad sheets. There are some dealers who advertise in more than 100
Mail Order Magazines every issue. If you are willing to work, you can do the
same thing!
PLAN #2 - SELL DIRECTLY FROM ADS. If you are selling merchandise which
is used by Mail dealers and Opportunity seekers, such as rubber stamps,
information directories, envelopes, labels, mail order manuals, sample copies of
opportunity magazines, etc., you can make money selling them directly from ads in
the Mail Order Magazines. If you buy the merchandise in quantity, you can ship
orders directly to your customers yourself. Otherwise, you can use the drop-ship
method.
To be successful, you must schedule REGULAR FOLLOW-UP MAILINGS to your
customers offering more of the same merchandise or items that are closely related
to it. Do this consistently, month after month, and you will be amazed at the
number of checks you will have to deposit in your bank account!
PLAN #3 - MAKE SALES THROUGH CIRCULAR MAILERS. If you have a good offer
- one which really appeals to opportunity seekers - have your printer set up an
attractive 3 x 6 circular and then pay circular mailers to mail them for you.
Your circular will only pull if it offers something that mail dealers and
opportunity seekers want and need.
Ideally, 3 x 6 circulars distributed by circular mailers should offer
"leader items", items which are appealing, useful and priced right (never more
than a dollar or two-even less if possible). The purpose of the circular is to
attract new, steady customers for your mailing list.
You should plan to make regular mailings to each person who purchases
your leader item. It is the REPEAT business which makes Mail Order Profitable.
If you send 200 circulars to mailers every day for thirty days, you will
have 6,000 circulars in the mail at the end of the month. If you send 500 a day,
you will have 15,000 circulars in the mail at the end of the month! There are
mail dealers who rely entirely on circular mailers to find new customers for
them. Some of them distribute as many as 100,000 circulars every month!
PLAN #4 - SELLING THROUGH COMMISSION MAILERS. This plan is similar to
Plan #3 except that you do not pay mailers to mail your circulars. Instead, you
print a good commission ad on the backs of your circulars, leaving a blank space
for the commission mailer to rubber stamp his name and address.
The mailer stamps his name on them and includes them in his mailings.
When he receives an order for them, he keeps about half of the money as his
commission and sends you the other half to drop-ship his order for him. You will
probably make a small profit from his sales, but your real profits come from the
circulars which he is mailing at no cost to you. This method is a little
more complicated than Plan #3, since you have to stock merchandise and fill
drop-ship orders - but in the long run, it is cheaper than paying mailers to mail
your circulars.
You can give your circulars away free, you can ask mailers to pay their
postage for them, or you can run ads in the Mail Order Magazines like this:
COMMISSION CIRCULARS!
100 - $1; 500 - $3
We drop-ship for half.
There are literally hundreds of people looking for good commission
circulars. This can be a very effective way of building up a very prosperous
Mail Order Business - if you have the stamina to work at it!
PLAN #5 - GET PAID FOR MAILING CIRCULARS. Start by studying the mailing
rates of other mailers in the Mail Order Magazines and then create a similar ad
for yourself. Start small - advertise in lots of 100 and 250. Later, as you
gain experience, advertise for circulars in 500 and 1000 lots.
Besides your mailing ad, you should also run an ad like this!
BIG MAIL - - FREE!
Postage Appreciated.
Soon after your mailing ad appears, you will start receiving small
packages of circulars to mail - each with money in them! (Be sure to send a
sample mailing to the mailing customer. It is the only way you will get more
circulars to mail!) You will also get letters with stamps in them. Use the
stamps to mail the circulars which you have been paid to mail.
As soon as you get more requests for Big Mails than you have circulars,
increase the number of your circular mailing ads. If you get more circulars to
mail than requests for Big Mails, increase the number of your Big Mail ads.
If you stick to your mailing copies of magazines in which you are
advertising in your Big Mails, you will sell enough ads to pay for your own
advertising. And if you include commission circulars in the Big Mails, your
sales from them will be "pure gravy". Circular Mailers soon learn that there are
dozens of ways to make money in this business - if they keep their eyes and their
ears open!
PLAN #6 - BECOME A "COMMISSION MAILER". The first thing you should do is
sit down and order SMALL quantities of commission circulars from about twenty or
thirty different dealers. Most will charge you about $1.00 per hundred. A few
will supply them for just the postage. Once you have done this, order at least
one new batch of commission circulars EVERY DAY! (You will find them advertised
in the Mail Order magazines or you can buy lists of commission circular suppliers
from most dealers.) Also order 100 names of opportunity seekers from two or
three different dealers.
It will take two or three weeks for your circulars to start arriving, due
to present day third class mail service. As soon as you have about fifteen
different circulars, start mailing them. Set a daily quota and stick to it.
Five letters a day is 150 letters a month, 33 letters a day is 1,000 a month!
When orders come in, forward the order to the drop-shipper
IMMEDIATELY! Then acknowledge the order and let your customer know that his
order is being shipped to him direct from the supplier VIA THIRD CLASS MAIL.
With your acknowledgment - INCLUDE SOME MORE CIRCULARS! I cannot over stress the
importance of this. Your customer likes you and your offers - give him the
opportunity to buy something else from you. He is your best source for more
business.
Orders will be slow - very slow - in the beginning, but don't get
discouraged. Initially this is a slow business, and the only ones who succeed in
it are those who have the patience to persevere.
When you find a customer, send him a new mailing every month for at least
three months. (That is why you should be ordering NEW circulars every day!)
Once you find a circular that "pulls" - order more of them. If possible,
order them with your names and address PRINTED on them. (They will almost always
pull more than rubber stamped circulars.) Eliminate circulars that do not
produce orders, but keep mailing the ones that do. Eventually, you will develop
a mail order "package" that will be irresistible to your prospective customers.
As your customer list grows, you will soon discover that your mailings
will become productive (providing that you mail to your customer regularly). A
"customer list" will always pull more than a cold list. Making the first sale is
certainly the hardest. Commission mailing is difficult in the beginning. Most
beginners do not stick with it log enough to give it a fair chance. If you will
stick with it - you can make money mailing commission circulars. It takes
determination and a willingness to really work at it!
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
Note to editors:
To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Below are six simple, practical plans that will enable you to start and
build your own money making mail order business. These plan have made money for
others, and they will make money for you - If you will REALLY work at them!
PLAN #1 - SELL BIG MAILS. The easiest way to start selling by mail is to
advertise and sell "Big Mails". To get started, co-publish at least three Mail
Order Magazines and several ad sheets. Use an ad like this:
BIG MAIL - $1.00 - Commission Mailed Free!
(Your Name and Address)
When someone sends you $1.00, send him one copy of each magazine, one
copy of each ad sheet, and one copy of every commission circular that you have in
stock. If you advertise regularly, and fill each order by return mail, you will
soon by selling ads and subscriptions, as well as merchandise offered on the
commission circulars. You can expand by regularly adding to your list of
magazines and ad sheets. There are some dealers who advertise in more than 100
Mail Order Magazines every issue. If you are willing to work, you can do the
same thing!
PLAN #2 - SELL DIRECTLY FROM ADS. If you are selling merchandise which
is used by Mail dealers and Opportunity seekers, such as rubber stamps,
information directories, envelopes, labels, mail order manuals, sample copies of
opportunity magazines, etc., you can make money selling them directly from ads in
the Mail Order Magazines. If you buy the merchandise in quantity, you can ship
orders directly to your customers yourself. Otherwise, you can use the drop-ship
method.
To be successful, you must schedule REGULAR FOLLOW-UP MAILINGS to your
customers offering more of the same merchandise or items that are closely related
to it. Do this consistently, month after month, and you will be amazed at the
number of checks you will have to deposit in your bank account!
PLAN #3 - MAKE SALES THROUGH CIRCULAR MAILERS. If you have a good offer
- one which really appeals to opportunity seekers - have your printer set up an
attractive 3 x 6 circular and then pay circular mailers to mail them for you.
Your circular will only pull if it offers something that mail dealers and
opportunity seekers want and need.
Ideally, 3 x 6 circulars distributed by circular mailers should offer
"leader items", items which are appealing, useful and priced right (never more
than a dollar or two-even less if possible). The purpose of the circular is to
attract new, steady customers for your mailing list.
You should plan to make regular mailings to each person who purchases
your leader item. It is the REPEAT business which makes Mail Order Profitable.
If you send 200 circulars to mailers every day for thirty days, you will
have 6,000 circulars in the mail at the end of the month. If you send 500 a day,
you will have 15,000 circulars in the mail at the end of the month! There are
mail dealers who rely entirely on circular mailers to find new customers for
them. Some of them distribute as many as 100,000 circulars every month!
PLAN #4 - SELLING THROUGH COMMISSION MAILERS. This plan is similar to
Plan #3 except that you do not pay mailers to mail your circulars. Instead, you
print a good commission ad on the backs of your circulars, leaving a blank space
for the commission mailer to rubber stamp his name and address.
The mailer stamps his name on them and includes them in his mailings.
When he receives an order for them, he keeps about half of the money as his
commission and sends you the other half to drop-ship his order for him. You will
probably make a small profit from his sales, but your real profits come from the
circulars which he is mailing at no cost to you. This method is a little
more complicated than Plan #3, since you have to stock merchandise and fill
drop-ship orders - but in the long run, it is cheaper than paying mailers to mail
your circulars.
You can give your circulars away free, you can ask mailers to pay their
postage for them, or you can run ads in the Mail Order Magazines like this:
COMMISSION CIRCULARS!
100 - $1; 500 - $3
We drop-ship for half.
There are literally hundreds of people looking for good commission
circulars. This can be a very effective way of building up a very prosperous
Mail Order Business - if you have the stamina to work at it!
PLAN #5 - GET PAID FOR MAILING CIRCULARS. Start by studying the mailing
rates of other mailers in the Mail Order Magazines and then create a similar ad
for yourself. Start small - advertise in lots of 100 and 250. Later, as you
gain experience, advertise for circulars in 500 and 1000 lots.
Besides your mailing ad, you should also run an ad like this!
BIG MAIL - - FREE!
Postage Appreciated.
Soon after your mailing ad appears, you will start receiving small
packages of circulars to mail - each with money in them! (Be sure to send a
sample mailing to the mailing customer. It is the only way you will get more
circulars to mail!) You will also get letters with stamps in them. Use the
stamps to mail the circulars which you have been paid to mail.
As soon as you get more requests for Big Mails than you have circulars,
increase the number of your circular mailing ads. If you get more circulars to
mail than requests for Big Mails, increase the number of your Big Mail ads.
If you stick to your mailing copies of magazines in which you are
advertising in your Big Mails, you will sell enough ads to pay for your own
advertising. And if you include commission circulars in the Big Mails, your
sales from them will be "pure gravy". Circular Mailers soon learn that there are
dozens of ways to make money in this business - if they keep their eyes and their
ears open!
PLAN #6 - BECOME A "COMMISSION MAILER". The first thing you should do is
sit down and order SMALL quantities of commission circulars from about twenty or
thirty different dealers. Most will charge you about $1.00 per hundred. A few
will supply them for just the postage. Once you have done this, order at least
one new batch of commission circulars EVERY DAY! (You will find them advertised
in the Mail Order magazines or you can buy lists of commission circular suppliers
from most dealers.) Also order 100 names of opportunity seekers from two or
three different dealers.
It will take two or three weeks for your circulars to start arriving, due
to present day third class mail service. As soon as you have about fifteen
different circulars, start mailing them. Set a daily quota and stick to it.
Five letters a day is 150 letters a month, 33 letters a day is 1,000 a month!
When orders come in, forward the order to the drop-shipper
IMMEDIATELY! Then acknowledge the order and let your customer know that his
order is being shipped to him direct from the supplier VIA THIRD CLASS MAIL.
With your acknowledgment - INCLUDE SOME MORE CIRCULARS! I cannot over stress the
importance of this. Your customer likes you and your offers - give him the
opportunity to buy something else from you. He is your best source for more
business.
Orders will be slow - very slow - in the beginning, but don't get
discouraged. Initially this is a slow business, and the only ones who succeed in
it are those who have the patience to persevere.
When you find a customer, send him a new mailing every month for at least
three months. (That is why you should be ordering NEW circulars every day!)
Once you find a circular that "pulls" - order more of them. If possible,
order them with your names and address PRINTED on them. (They will almost always
pull more than rubber stamped circulars.) Eliminate circulars that do not
produce orders, but keep mailing the ones that do. Eventually, you will develop
a mail order "package" that will be irresistible to your prospective customers.
As your customer list grows, you will soon discover that your mailings
will become productive (providing that you mail to your customer regularly). A
"customer list" will always pull more than a cold list. Making the first sale is
certainly the hardest. Commission mailing is difficult in the beginning. Most
beginners do not stick with it log enough to give it a fair chance. If you will
stick with it - you can make money mailing commission circulars. It takes
determination and a willingness to really work at it!
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna Spencer
Note to editors:
To show my appreciation to the editors that use my articles, I offer a free solo ad. Simply send an email to me by using the form on the contact me page on my website to tell me the url the article was used on or send me a copy of the ezine it was used in.
DeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Mail Order How-To's
By DeAnna Spencer
Listing names of Big Mail Requestors, and sending out packages of Big Mail is an easy way to get your start in the business of selling by mail.There are a number of mail order operators pulling in an easy, extra thousand dollars a month, by what you'd hardly call work - doing nothing more than receiving money for advertising a list of people's names interested in receiving Big Mails, and sending out envelopes stuffed to overflowing with Big Mail.
Regardless of where you live - you age - teenager or senior citizen - man or woman - there is no reason you can't do the same - pull in extra thousand dollars a month, with the same idea.
Getting started is not as easy as turning on a water tap, but then your initial investment will amount to practically nothing - and the requirements upon your time should not amount to more than a few hours a week
First, let's define the market - Who wants Big Mails, and why they want it... Big Mails are wanted or should be wanted, by just about every person in business, especially those involved in selling a product via the mails, in order to keep himself abreast of who's doing what, how they're doing it, the new offers being made and the newcomers to the business. The reasoning is because of the time and postage saved by automatically receiving all of this information, as opposed to writing and mailing letters to each individual offer you see that arouses your interest, not to mention the time saved in searching through all the different publications to discover these things. Some people - the dreamers and the lonely - like to receive Big Mails simply for the sake of having mail delivered to them every day. There's no sure way of determining which of your Big Mail Requestors these people are - so you just forget about it, and send your Big Mails to everybody on your list. Besides, the actual number of people in this category are fewer than you might suspect.
Now, let's define what's inside a Big Mail Package you or your buyers - Big Mail Requestors - will be receiving in the mail... Generally, you'll find at least one, but usually several publications: ad sheets, tabloid mail order newspapers, and an occasional newsletter. The rest is almost always a collection of various product advertising circulars. At least two of these circulars will be from the person sending the package to you in the first place.
Many, if not most of the beginners in this business, first get their name listed as a Big Mail Requestor, on as many Big Mails Wanted lists as possible. They even save the mail they receive, and once a week, every other week, or once a month, they stuff their accumulated Big Mail into individual envelopes and send it to the names on their lists of people who have paid to be listed as Big Mail Requestors. Don't forget - All Big Mail suppliers always include at least a couple of two-sided circulars of their own. These are usually Commission
Circulars - product advertising circulars, sometimes provided by a prime source or distributor with a blank space on the reply coupon for the dealer doing mailing to rubber stamp his business name and address. More often than not, the distributor furnished the dealer with "camera ready" copies of circulars to use.
The dealer takes these C/R's to a quick print shop, and has several thousand copies made up with his business name and address imprinted on each circular.
Every time you send out a package of Big Mail, always include two advertising circulars of your own - circulars that may interest the recipient and cause him or her to send to you for the product or service offered. These can be commission - dropship - products, or products that you have devised, produced and are selling.
Incidentally, the best way to go with commission circulars is to ask for or get a camera-ready copy of the original, and have a large quantity of them printed locally with your name in place of the supplier. This will save you hours of very boring work entailed in rubber-stamping your name on several thousand circulars. If for whatever reason it's too expensive to get your circulars printed locally, then check around for a printer who does business by mail, and will make your circulars for you with your name and address on the ordering coupon. Also, it will almost always pay for you to have the printer fold your circulars for you before he ships them to you - he can do it all in about an hour, while it could take you a couple of days to a week or longer to fold 5,000 circulars yourself.
You can include as many product circulars in your package of Big Mail as you want, but It's been proven time and time again that three very good - outstanding - circulars, all related to the same idea, bring back more responses than an envelope overflowing with circulars. What I'm saying is that a circular inviting the recipient to send for Book #317, "How to Make Money Writing & Selling Simple Information," plus a circular on Book #365, "$50,000 a Year from Mail Order Ads," will pull far more inquiries than 10 or 12 different circulars inviting the recipient to send for a mixture of related items. The reason is quite simple - After about 3 circulars, you begin to overwhelm the recipient with opportunities. In reality, he'd like all of the books you are offering, but he only wants to spend so much and therefore, he's faced with a decision of which ones to send for - and more often than not, he ends up not sending for any of them.
Including a mini-catalog listing of your offerings if quite different, and generally acceptable to most people receiving big mail packages, or product advertising in the mail. Generally, this is regarded as not so much loose paper and something they can hang onto for awhile and maybe order from, much the same as they order from a JC Penny catalog.
When you've got your name listed on a number of lists as a Big Mail Requestor, and after you've got a steady supply of this kind of mail coming to you, start placing ads of your own in some of the larger circulation ad sheets and other mail order publications as a Big Mail Supplier. For ideas on ads to use, glance through any mail order publication and come up with one you think will bring the most replies in.
Now you're on your way with the basic plan and "know-how" for a fast start as a Big Mail Supplier. In order to expand your big mail operations into a real money-making business, compile a list of magazines, newsletters, mail order tabloids and ad sheets. Then draft a letter to these publishers, advising them that you can supply them with several hundred prospective subscribers each month.
Explain that your prospects come from responses to national advertising, which you run at no cost to them, the publishers: Go on to explain that your national advertising offers Free Trial Subscriptions to the nation's leading money-making publications, and that you feel your list will be incomplete without his publication...
Sweeten the pot further by detailing how you'll be sending the names and addresses of these fresh prospects on peel 'n stick labels - that these mailing lists will belong to him on receipt - and that you encourage him to copy them for follow up mailings...
You charge each of these publishers $100 a year for this service, and even when you have 100-150 signed, keep looking for and attempting to sign more publishers.
Don't ever stop soliciting publishers, and go after the biggest as well as the very smallest of them With a number of accounts signed and paid, you place an ad such as the following, in several national publications:
FILL YOUR MAILBOX WITH OPPORTUNITY!
World's leading Money-Making publications!
Free trial subscriptions! $2 for processing to:
(Your name & address).
When the responses to your ads come in, type the names and addresses onto "master" sheets or put them into your computer systems as respondents to your advertising. Sometime around the 15th of each month, copy your masters onto the number of customer sheets of labels you need, and send them out. You bank the money from your advertising respondents.
One hundred publishers times $100 each means $10,000 per year... A minimum of 200 respondents to your advertising each month means another $4,800 per year And then, by contracting with a reputable list broker to handle the rental of the
"HOT" names you accumulate each month, you should be able to double or triple these figures... And $30,000 income your first year in the Big Mail business is nothing to "cry about" at all!!!
Meanwhile you've got all these new prospects, to whom you can send your own sales materials You can also expand your services and become a subscription agency, a publications distributor, or even a mail order publications Advertising Agency...
You could compile, publish and sell directories of newsletters, tabloids and ad sheets... Directories of Mail Order Associations... Mailing lists of people wanting Big Mails... or mailing lists of people wanting Commission Circulars.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
Listing names of Big Mail Requestors, and sending out packages of Big Mail is an easy way to get your start in the business of selling by mail.There are a number of mail order operators pulling in an easy, extra thousand dollars a month, by what you'd hardly call work - doing nothing more than receiving money for advertising a list of people's names interested in receiving Big Mails, and sending out envelopes stuffed to overflowing with Big Mail.
Regardless of where you live - you age - teenager or senior citizen - man or woman - there is no reason you can't do the same - pull in extra thousand dollars a month, with the same idea.
Getting started is not as easy as turning on a water tap, but then your initial investment will amount to practically nothing - and the requirements upon your time should not amount to more than a few hours a week
First, let's define the market - Who wants Big Mails, and why they want it... Big Mails are wanted or should be wanted, by just about every person in business, especially those involved in selling a product via the mails, in order to keep himself abreast of who's doing what, how they're doing it, the new offers being made and the newcomers to the business. The reasoning is because of the time and postage saved by automatically receiving all of this information, as opposed to writing and mailing letters to each individual offer you see that arouses your interest, not to mention the time saved in searching through all the different publications to discover these things. Some people - the dreamers and the lonely - like to receive Big Mails simply for the sake of having mail delivered to them every day. There's no sure way of determining which of your Big Mail Requestors these people are - so you just forget about it, and send your Big Mails to everybody on your list. Besides, the actual number of people in this category are fewer than you might suspect.
Now, let's define what's inside a Big Mail Package you or your buyers - Big Mail Requestors - will be receiving in the mail... Generally, you'll find at least one, but usually several publications: ad sheets, tabloid mail order newspapers, and an occasional newsletter. The rest is almost always a collection of various product advertising circulars. At least two of these circulars will be from the person sending the package to you in the first place.
Many, if not most of the beginners in this business, first get their name listed as a Big Mail Requestor, on as many Big Mails Wanted lists as possible. They even save the mail they receive, and once a week, every other week, or once a month, they stuff their accumulated Big Mail into individual envelopes and send it to the names on their lists of people who have paid to be listed as Big Mail Requestors. Don't forget - All Big Mail suppliers always include at least a couple of two-sided circulars of their own. These are usually Commission
Circulars - product advertising circulars, sometimes provided by a prime source or distributor with a blank space on the reply coupon for the dealer doing mailing to rubber stamp his business name and address. More often than not, the distributor furnished the dealer with "camera ready" copies of circulars to use.
The dealer takes these C/R's to a quick print shop, and has several thousand copies made up with his business name and address imprinted on each circular.
Every time you send out a package of Big Mail, always include two advertising circulars of your own - circulars that may interest the recipient and cause him or her to send to you for the product or service offered. These can be commission - dropship - products, or products that you have devised, produced and are selling.
Incidentally, the best way to go with commission circulars is to ask for or get a camera-ready copy of the original, and have a large quantity of them printed locally with your name in place of the supplier. This will save you hours of very boring work entailed in rubber-stamping your name on several thousand circulars. If for whatever reason it's too expensive to get your circulars printed locally, then check around for a printer who does business by mail, and will make your circulars for you with your name and address on the ordering coupon. Also, it will almost always pay for you to have the printer fold your circulars for you before he ships them to you - he can do it all in about an hour, while it could take you a couple of days to a week or longer to fold 5,000 circulars yourself.
You can include as many product circulars in your package of Big Mail as you want, but It's been proven time and time again that three very good - outstanding - circulars, all related to the same idea, bring back more responses than an envelope overflowing with circulars. What I'm saying is that a circular inviting the recipient to send for Book #317, "How to Make Money Writing & Selling Simple Information," plus a circular on Book #365, "$50,000 a Year from Mail Order Ads," will pull far more inquiries than 10 or 12 different circulars inviting the recipient to send for a mixture of related items. The reason is quite simple - After about 3 circulars, you begin to overwhelm the recipient with opportunities. In reality, he'd like all of the books you are offering, but he only wants to spend so much and therefore, he's faced with a decision of which ones to send for - and more often than not, he ends up not sending for any of them.
Including a mini-catalog listing of your offerings if quite different, and generally acceptable to most people receiving big mail packages, or product advertising in the mail. Generally, this is regarded as not so much loose paper and something they can hang onto for awhile and maybe order from, much the same as they order from a JC Penny catalog.
When you've got your name listed on a number of lists as a Big Mail Requestor, and after you've got a steady supply of this kind of mail coming to you, start placing ads of your own in some of the larger circulation ad sheets and other mail order publications as a Big Mail Supplier. For ideas on ads to use, glance through any mail order publication and come up with one you think will bring the most replies in.
Now you're on your way with the basic plan and "know-how" for a fast start as a Big Mail Supplier. In order to expand your big mail operations into a real money-making business, compile a list of magazines, newsletters, mail order tabloids and ad sheets. Then draft a letter to these publishers, advising them that you can supply them with several hundred prospective subscribers each month.
Explain that your prospects come from responses to national advertising, which you run at no cost to them, the publishers: Go on to explain that your national advertising offers Free Trial Subscriptions to the nation's leading money-making publications, and that you feel your list will be incomplete without his publication...
Sweeten the pot further by detailing how you'll be sending the names and addresses of these fresh prospects on peel 'n stick labels - that these mailing lists will belong to him on receipt - and that you encourage him to copy them for follow up mailings...
You charge each of these publishers $100 a year for this service, and even when you have 100-150 signed, keep looking for and attempting to sign more publishers.
Don't ever stop soliciting publishers, and go after the biggest as well as the very smallest of them With a number of accounts signed and paid, you place an ad such as the following, in several national publications:
FILL YOUR MAILBOX WITH OPPORTUNITY!
World's leading Money-Making publications!
Free trial subscriptions! $2 for processing to:
(Your name & address).
When the responses to your ads come in, type the names and addresses onto "master" sheets or put them into your computer systems as respondents to your advertising. Sometime around the 15th of each month, copy your masters onto the number of customer sheets of labels you need, and send them out. You bank the money from your advertising respondents.
One hundred publishers times $100 each means $10,000 per year... A minimum of 200 respondents to your advertising each month means another $4,800 per year And then, by contracting with a reputable list broker to handle the rental of the
"HOT" names you accumulate each month, you should be able to double or triple these figures... And $30,000 income your first year in the Big Mail business is nothing to "cry about" at all!!!
Meanwhile you've got all these new prospects, to whom you can send your own sales materials You can also expand your services and become a subscription agency, a publications distributor, or even a mail order publications Advertising Agency...
You could compile, publish and sell directories of newsletters, tabloids and ad sheets... Directories of Mail Order Associations... Mailing lists of people wanting Big Mails... or mailing lists of people wanting Commission Circulars.
Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a successful business by providing affordable administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small business owners. Visit this [http://learnsmallbusiness.wordpress.com]small business resource today.
What You Need To Start A Mail Order Business
By Liza Othman
There are two main divisions in the mail order business; first, as carried on by a small dealer giving it his whole attention; second, as transacted by an established house, either as side issue to assist the traveling sales department, or as in case of Montgomery Ward & Co. and other catalogue houses, as a sole business.
The underlying principles of the business are the same in all cases, differing only in application. The requisites for a successful start may be briefly outlined and if conscientiously followed out will bring a degree of success depending only upon the extent of the field and the closeness of the application of the promoter.
Qualifications Necessary. First, brain is of importance. The average beginner should employ the best brain talent procurable, some one else's if not his own. For the building of a permanent business, honesty must be an asset as well as brain power. Houses now in the field to stay are noted for the honesty with which they treat all dealing with them. Sales over the counter may be made on account of the locality of the store, even though the goods are not up to standard and the proprietor considered tricky, but a customer who has been victimized by mail can never be depended on for another order.
The smaller mail order journals and a certain class of jobbers as well as some mail order writers hold forth a glowing future for an inexperienced man starting in the business with small capital - as one writer terms it, "a man or woman of average intelligence, with a capital of fifty dollars in cash, no experience, and no influential friends, can start in business and spell success in capitals at the end of one year's labor." "Where one such venture launched at an opportune time by someone peculiarly fitted to the business, comes to success, fifty fail for lack of capital and as many more yield indifferent results. Says W. B. Powell on this subject: "You cannot get rich on a three-line ad in a mail order paper filled with advertising that makes yours look like thirty cents. The mail order business has gotten down to hard-pan basis. You have to have a good article and considerable capital back of you, business sense, and a tenacity of purpose that will not falter within two or three years. You cannot get rich quick on two or three hundred dollars. If you could, there wouldn't be white paper enough to print the ads offered the mail order publications." A beginner should have sufficient capital - actual money in the bank - and a reasonable credit to tide him over in case he needs money temporarily.
Adaptability, as in other lines of business, is a prime requisite. A business suited to one's taste is bound to be a success eventually, and if not suited to it and the promoter cannot adapt himself to its manifold requirements, he should lose no time in changing to one in which he can put forth his full energies.
System. The advantage of system in the mail order business is fully set forth by Sydney A. Hale, who says: "You must have system in your business, and the best is none too good. In no other business is the routine and detail so great; in no other business is a most accurate and most minute record of every transaction so essential; in no other business is a handy record so necessary. A good system is not necessarily an involved one; on the contrary, inasmuch as system consists in the elimination of labor, time and useless detail, the simplest system is the nearest approach to perfection. It is the writer's experience that no one stock system can ever prove adequate - only a system devised essentially and especially to fill your own particular needs. Whether it fills anybody else's need is not your care; unless it can fill your own needs it should be abandoned. A successful system must always be easy of access; it must be accurate; it must be complete. Money invested in perfecting a system is money saved. Don't try to start business or life without them. It is the man that has a system in both life and business that wins the battles."
Advertising. The vital part of a mail order business once started is the advertising. Proper mediums must be used, the ads must be well worded, displayed, and placed; advertising effort must be continuous.
Promptness in Delivery. Goods advertised should be forwarded the buyer as soon as possible; there should be no waiting on account goods being out of stock or not yet delivered from the manufacturer.
Liza Othman manages an ebook website at http://FunHowToBooks.com/ . Discover more about starting, building and growing at business at http://BusinessEncyclopedia.FunHowToBooks.com/
There are two main divisions in the mail order business; first, as carried on by a small dealer giving it his whole attention; second, as transacted by an established house, either as side issue to assist the traveling sales department, or as in case of Montgomery Ward & Co. and other catalogue houses, as a sole business.
The underlying principles of the business are the same in all cases, differing only in application. The requisites for a successful start may be briefly outlined and if conscientiously followed out will bring a degree of success depending only upon the extent of the field and the closeness of the application of the promoter.
Qualifications Necessary. First, brain is of importance. The average beginner should employ the best brain talent procurable, some one else's if not his own. For the building of a permanent business, honesty must be an asset as well as brain power. Houses now in the field to stay are noted for the honesty with which they treat all dealing with them. Sales over the counter may be made on account of the locality of the store, even though the goods are not up to standard and the proprietor considered tricky, but a customer who has been victimized by mail can never be depended on for another order.
The smaller mail order journals and a certain class of jobbers as well as some mail order writers hold forth a glowing future for an inexperienced man starting in the business with small capital - as one writer terms it, "a man or woman of average intelligence, with a capital of fifty dollars in cash, no experience, and no influential friends, can start in business and spell success in capitals at the end of one year's labor." "Where one such venture launched at an opportune time by someone peculiarly fitted to the business, comes to success, fifty fail for lack of capital and as many more yield indifferent results. Says W. B. Powell on this subject: "You cannot get rich on a three-line ad in a mail order paper filled with advertising that makes yours look like thirty cents. The mail order business has gotten down to hard-pan basis. You have to have a good article and considerable capital back of you, business sense, and a tenacity of purpose that will not falter within two or three years. You cannot get rich quick on two or three hundred dollars. If you could, there wouldn't be white paper enough to print the ads offered the mail order publications." A beginner should have sufficient capital - actual money in the bank - and a reasonable credit to tide him over in case he needs money temporarily.
Adaptability, as in other lines of business, is a prime requisite. A business suited to one's taste is bound to be a success eventually, and if not suited to it and the promoter cannot adapt himself to its manifold requirements, he should lose no time in changing to one in which he can put forth his full energies.
System. The advantage of system in the mail order business is fully set forth by Sydney A. Hale, who says: "You must have system in your business, and the best is none too good. In no other business is the routine and detail so great; in no other business is a most accurate and most minute record of every transaction so essential; in no other business is a handy record so necessary. A good system is not necessarily an involved one; on the contrary, inasmuch as system consists in the elimination of labor, time and useless detail, the simplest system is the nearest approach to perfection. It is the writer's experience that no one stock system can ever prove adequate - only a system devised essentially and especially to fill your own particular needs. Whether it fills anybody else's need is not your care; unless it can fill your own needs it should be abandoned. A successful system must always be easy of access; it must be accurate; it must be complete. Money invested in perfecting a system is money saved. Don't try to start business or life without them. It is the man that has a system in both life and business that wins the battles."
Advertising. The vital part of a mail order business once started is the advertising. Proper mediums must be used, the ads must be well worded, displayed, and placed; advertising effort must be continuous.
Promptness in Delivery. Goods advertised should be forwarded the buyer as soon as possible; there should be no waiting on account goods being out of stock or not yet delivered from the manufacturer.
Liza Othman manages an ebook website at http://FunHowToBooks.com/ . Discover more about starting, building and growing at business at http://BusinessEncyclopedia.FunHowToBooks.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)