If you operate a business using mailing lists, consumer mailing lists, opportunity seeker mailing lists or MLM mailing lists to target Opportunity Seekers, Business Opportunity Seekers, MLM Opportunity Seekers and Home Based Business Opportunity Seekers, you can benefit from reading this article.
CREATING THE PERFECT DIRECT MAIL PACKAGE
It's also a good idea to run your copy through both a spell checker and a grammar/style checking software program. Most people tend to write on too high a level and too wordy.
SOME WRITING HINTS
Keep your paragraphs (10 lines max) and sentences (7 words max) short
Avoid long words where possible
Don't use words people are not likely to understand
Use active, not passive tense
Use jargon only if you're sure it is appropriate
Rewrite copy over and over and over until it's clear
Show it to people who have nothing to do with your business to see if they understand it
#10 OUTER ENVELOPE
Use art and copy to be as promotional as you like
Use a window so that the label affixed to the order card shows through
Use a third-class bulk meter, eliminating the need for unsightly indicias
Use teaser copy if appropriate
Use involvement devices if appropriate
Work on your return address for maximum impact
Use a teaser – remember, the only job of the #10 is to get itself opened
SALES LETTER
This is your opportunity to go "one on one" with the recipient - take full advantage of it
Use a powerful heading above the salutation, which conveys your strongest benefit for the reader
Be "you oriented;" answer "what's in it for me?"
Make your first paragraph a real grabber
Body copy should expand on benefits promised by backing them up with examples of use, testimonials, product specifications and other supporting evidence
Call for action in the letter - tell the reader exactly what you want him/her to do
Develop a hard hitting "P.S." - it's often the FIRST part of a letter people read
Signature should be in blue ink
BROCHURE
Use pictures and/or drawings to illustrate your product, making sure you show it in use rather than sitting on a table - people want to see how they can use it
Describe your company - its longevity, philosophy and customer service policies
Use pictures of employees, from the shipping department up to the owner, so readers can see who they're dealing with. I can't tell you how many favorable comments I get when my photo is used in marketing materials
Four-color printing on a brochure (expensive) is often not necessary; two colors with crisp photos and clean copy is usually satisfactory
LIFT LETTER
This nifty device is so cheap to produce and adds virtually no weight that it's a crime not to use it
Use the lift note as an extra argument to sway people who are on the fence
Lift letters often have a further inducement not mentioned anywhere else in the package, a personally signed note from the President of the company, and/or other good reasons not stated elsewhere
ORDER CARD
The order card is extremely important, as it must continue the selling process. Be sure to restate benefits to the reader, special pricing, and ease of ordering, guarantee
Because it is so important to capture the key code, using an order card which shows through a window envelope is usually the best way to go. You get back the original label and the buyer does not have to rewrite his/her name
Use all space available on the order card for selling
BUSINESS REPLY ENVELOPE There's nothing worse than to lose a sale after all the hard work you've done because there's no BRE - the cost is minimal and the weight negligible. Consider implementing these tips if you operate a business using mailing lists, consumer mailing lists, opportunity seeker mailing lists or MLM mailing lists to target Opportunity Seekers, Business Opportunity Seekers, MLM Opportunity Seekers and Home Based Business Opportunity Seekers and want to make more money than you are currently making. Back to Library Page of Article Titles
