Business development letter

[Oubaofurniture]

I am Vicky , and responsible for oversea market from last year ,I want to know what kind of businese development letter you will open if received from the supplier? I want know what information should be include.Any idea is welcome !


I have send to my customer some letter but don't reply...

 

[intheTRADE]

Hi Vicky

Are you sending these letters to businesses in the UK?

If you are, I would suggest you have an English native write the letters as (and I do not wish to offend you) your use of English is not the best. That will be the main reason you aren't getting replies.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Statistically, hand-written envelopes to a named individual will get the best open rate.

Beyond that, you need to give a compelling reason to want to read or take action (not loads of rubbish about who you are) and a clear call to action.

 

[Oubaofurniture]

Hi Vicky

Are you sending these letters to businesses in the UK?

If you are, I would suggest you have an English native write the letters as (and I do not wish to offend you) your use of English is not the best. That will be the main reason you aren't getting replies.

Yeah,Europe market.Thank you

 

[Mr D]

I will open any letter simply to see what is in it.

To respond then it would have to be relevant to my business and solving something I need solving. Otherwise ignored.

 

[Oubaofurniture]

Statistically, hand-written envelopes to a named individual will get the best open rate.

Beyond that, you need to give a compelling reason to want to read or take action (not loads of rubbish about who you are) and a clear call to action.

Thanks ,I understand ,but I need to know what is the most important I should care?I am still confused

 

[Oubaofurniture]

I will open any letter simply to see what is in it.

To respond then it would have to be relevant to my business and solving something I need solving. Otherwise ignored.

I will visit the website before I send letter and most of is wholesaler and retailer in the same industry.They are my potential customer

 

[Mr D]

I will visit the website before I send letter and most of is wholesaler and retailer in the same industry.They are my potential customer

Be more specific about targeting your customers - that grouping may well be too large and unfocused.

 

[billmccallum1957]

As noted above, get the language right as a first point.

Secondly, add a price list, I hate getting lots of promotional material asking me to ring the supplier to get the price, why not just include a price list.

 

[ethical PR]

Spend some time doing research to understand named buyers and retailers and wholesalers who are interested in your products.

Then you need to understand the best ways to reach them. How do you know a letter is a better method than attending trade shows or some other method.

In terms of the content you need to demonstrate why they should buy from you rather than one of your many competitors and provide images and specs for what you want to sell.

 

[Oubaofurniture]

As noted above, get the language right as a first point.

Secondly, add a price list, I hate getting lots of promotional material asking me to ring the supplier to get the price, why not just include a price list.

Thanks for your advice,I will have a try.

 

[billybob99]

Statistically, hand-written envelopes to a named individual will get the best open rate.

Although I swear by cold-emails, you can't really beat the good old hand-written stuff.

 

[Oubaofurniture]

Spend some time doing research to understand named buyers and retailers and wholesalers who are interested in your products.

Then you need to understand the best ways to reach them. How do you know a letter is a better method than attending trade shows or some other method.

In terms of the content you need to demonstrate why they should buy from you rather than one of your many competitors and provide images and specs for what you want to sell.

Thanks for your advice,except for price what is the most important custmer they will care I need to consider .

 

[Oubaofurniture]

Although I swear by cold-emails, you can't really beat the good old hand-written stuff.

make sense,but it will take much time

 

[CVRO]

The question of the content of the letter is secondary to getting the potential customer to open the letter in the first place.

If they are not openning the letters - at this stage we do not know if that's the case - then they are not seeing the content.

Are you researching the companies to ensure you address the letter to one individual in particular? You also need to make sure said individual is indeed in the position or is still working for the company.

 

[Oubaofurniture]

The question of the content of the letter is secondary to getting the potential customer to open the letter in the first place.

If they are not openning the letters - at this stage we do not know if that's the case - then they are not seeing the content.

Are you researching the companies to ensure you address the letter to one individual in particular? You also need to make sure said individual is indeed in the position or is still working for the company.

I send to the individual who working in the company

 

[MikeJ]

When you say letter, do you mean a hard copy or an attachment by email? Of just an email.

I don't open attachments from unsolicited sources. Doesn't matter what's in it. A PDF has a much better chance than a Word document though. But to be honest, the best thing you can do is pick up the phone or attend trade shows to find customers.

 

[MBE2017]

I would imagine potential clients would want guide prices, min order qtys, transport costs to uk port, full loads or part loads, returns and credit policies etc.

If interested they will make contact.

 

[ethical PR]

Thanks for your advice,except for price what is the most important custmer they will care I need to consider .

I have no clue I am not your target customer. What does the market research you have carried out with target customers tell you. What key benefits do your competitors offer?

 

[SillyBill]

As noted above, get the language right as a first point.

Secondly, add a price list, I hate getting lots of promotional material asking me to ring the supplier to get the price, why not just include a price list.

This. The world has moved on and I now have whole marketplaces at my disposal where price discovery is enabled at the click of a button. Sending a brochure with all the product codes and pictures displayed with no prices is one for the bin. I now buy a lot of PPE, office stationery, general business consumables etc. from Amazon Business. A lot of stuff is more expensive there so not all price driven but the convenience of knowing the price and getting an order wrapped up in 2 minutes is worth a lot to me. And not having to ring up and check with the account manager what the day's price is on 15 product codes and then send a written e-mail confirmation of what you want...feels like a 1990's business model.

But by the by as I only seem to get sent letters from loan and finance companies trying to sell debt. Usually accompanied with a picture of the smarmy looking account rep who'd be handling the transaction. Clearly some people buy it but I really wish they'd stop spamming me.