Direct mailout - what would you include

[biomed86]

Hello,

Thinking of doing a mailout to potential clients to market my services. I was going to include a sales letter, brochure/flyer and a business card.

What do you put in your mailouts?

Also, should I include a price list? I wondered whether it would be better to wait to see if anyone contacts me, or to follow up the mailout with a phone call to furhter discuss things.

 

[Write My Site]

What line of business are you in? Hard to give advice without knowing what it is you're trying to sell.

 

[Mattonella Tile Studio]

I would include a price list. Unless your mail really, really appeals or is something completely different then human nature may say I'll get round to looking at prices later. If you've put the price list in, and its competitive, it may just get your reader to act further.

 

[biomed86]

What line of business are you in? Hard to give advice without knowing what it is you're trying to sell.

I'm in the Medical Transcription business - so audiotyping of letters, medicolegal reports etc for private practice Doctors. Hope that helps. Thanks

 

[Write My Site]

OK ... in that case I would suggest a mini-brochure detailing each service, accompanied by a punchy cover letter. If you have standard prices by all means include a price list. If it's a case of quoting by the job, you could just put a few "starting from" indications in the brochure. Giving some indication of your costs is usually a good idea, mainly because not doing so creates work for the recipient - i.e. they've got to pick up the phone and ask you. Successful marketing tends to be that which makes life easy (for the customer, not you!)

Also, think about whether there's any kind of offer you can include, preferably something that's free or low cost and demonstrates your skills. That would probably boost your conversion rate.

I'm in the Medical Transcription business - so audiotyping of letters, medicolegal reports etc for private practice Doctors. Hope that helps. Thanks

 

[directmarketingadvice]

I'm in the Medical Transcription business - so audiotyping of letters, medicolegal reports etc for private practice Doctors. Hope that helps. Thanks

How have you gotten business in the past?

Also, are these prospects in your area? Do you have existing clients in the area?

If so, I'd find out if the existing clients could give you referrals. That would make it far easier to get through and listened to.

Finally, I'd recommend just calling them up. It's likely to be far more effective than a letter.

(though, it's worth having a simple letter ready to send if they ask you to send them info)

Steve

 

[biomed86]

How have you gotten business in the past?

Also, are these prospects in your area? Do you have existing clients in the area?

If so, I'd find out if the existing clients could give you referrals. That would make it far easier to get through and listened to.

Finally, I'd recommend just calling them up. It's likely to be far more effective than a letter.

(though, it's worth having a simple letter ready to send if they ask you to send them info)

Steve

Thanks Steve for your recommendation. This is a new business venture I'm starting, so haven't done any drumming up of business yet. I do have an existing client I freelance for, and my job (when i'm not being a student) is as a Medical Secretary for the NHS. So in that sense, I could probably get referrals from Doctors I transcribe for at work - not sure if this goes against any rules.

I'll take you advice about calling potential clients, I just thought I'd never get through, its quite difficult to get in contact with doctors these days!

 

how much does it costs to do a mailer out to say 1000 companies? or is that a too open question?

 

[Courir]

how much does it costs to do a mailer out to say 1000 companies? or is that a too open question?

The postage is likely to be a bog standard 27p each as the volume is too low for Mailsort (Royal Mail's main discount) and, if it is a one-off, not worth setting up for Cleanmail Advance (which needs 1,000 items that can be sorted by machine for a 12% discount). This is unless you use a postage account or franking machine where it will cost you 24p

Best options are to use Postage online so you don't need to stick stamps on.

Another option is to try Viapost - this enables you to upload your document and they print and mail it! All for 27p each.

Best of luck, Mike

 

[Hypnotist]

Hi

A couple of things, generally there are people who will deliver mailouts at approximately £20-£25 per 1,000 (from about 2p per delivery), only problem is that it does tend to be houses only, not businesses. Indeed if anyone knows of people that can deliver leaflet/mailshots to businesses, then do let me know.

To reduce costs, what might be a good idea is a 4 page A5 style newsletter. In effect A4, folded in half, with double side printing, which a normal printer could do. 4 business people take a page each. You know for 1,000 it is going to be £20-£25 therefore if you all agree to a page each, say, £25 you can then mailshot to 4,000 properties instead.

As for content, pricing etc. Assuming you have a website which has a "brochure element" to it, then you don't have to go on and on about how wonderful your product/service is. I would recommend the following:

1) Simple Attention Grabbing Headline
2) Nice Picture
3) Exclusive "order within 14 days type offer". (make sure you mention closing date)
4) And this is certainly more of "a must"...

a competition style puzzle, (crossword being the most obvious, or better still 2 or 3 questions where the answers can only be found on your website!) where there is a prize relative to your business that people want to enter. For example a free bottle of X. They enter via email, thus you have their contact address to then email your future newsletters...offers etc.

So in a nutshell, keep it fun and allow your website to be the online brochure.

Scott
ScottBurke.com