Direct Mail

[c4l]

I've thought of another idea for advertising my website.

What i could do is send a letter to a lot of different sized company, along with a 2 copies of a poster, one laminated, one not.

What i would put on the letter is wording to the staff who opens the post advising what the posters offer.

The posters would offer staff the chance to buy a car from the site, any car, with £100 off. It would clearly state '£100 DISCOUNT FOR ALL STAFF WORKING FOR ABC LIMITED' or whatever the company name. I can do the posters myself, along with any laminating etc, the idea being then that people think it is bespoke and treat it better than normal junk mail and put it on their office notice boards.

What do you think of this idea??

Is it illegal to mail in this way? I get lots of letters advertising this kind of thing all the time.

How would you treat this letter if you opened it?

Any ideas and thoughts very welcome!

 

[Alpha]

It may be!! You would have to check to see if each company you send it to is registered with the MPS (mail prefernce services). If they are then do not send it to them.

The likelyhood of success with this idea based on having worked in companies for some 20years is around zero. They will still treat your mailing as junk and more than likely it will head for the round filing cabinet on the floor.

 

[c4l]

Right - cheers Alan.

Would it be worth speaking to someone direct do you think?? When I was at college and worked part time at Asda, they had a deal with a Vauxhall dealer in Harrogate who would knock 5% off any new Vauxhall for asda staff. This was nationwide too - not local to my store. Staff in Lands End or John O Groats has the car come from the Harrogate dealer!

May be worth a try.

What you think?

 

[c4l]

Do you think i'd have any luck if i could just get the advert onto the wall???

Where i used to work, there were a few ads up occassionally in the canteen and you took it generally that the leaflets were put up by staff who had used the services of these companies - anything from car hire firms to wedding cars to painters/decorators!

I could just do a load of posters and dish them out to friends who could put them up at their works.

Do you think this would be successful??

 

[kyber]

It may be worth speaking to senior HR people at local companies as they are often looking to provide additional benefits to their staff with discounts on local services and products (10% off at the dry cleaners around the corner for example). I visit many companies and often spend a few minutes studying their notice boards. Most such discount offers have the official sanction of the HR department.

Stuart

 

[sparklyscotty]

Personally, I think a lot depends on the wording and presentation. i.e. does it look like a mass mailing? With so many companies marketing savvy now, I find myself ironically paying more attention to the 100% text letter that looks like it was typed! It stands out from the glossy colourful leaflets.
I also think that unfortunately you are in an industry (car sales) that people are bombarded by advertising from.
Sorry.
-Angel-

 

[c4l]

No need to apologise!

All ideas and thoughts received with open arms!

Thanks!!


These mail preference services - how do I find out who's registered and who isnt??


Spoke to a few friends last night who work for big companies - said they'd be fine to put leaflets up in their canteens etc. Will sort some laminates out and see how it goes. Will keep an eye on my hit counter information and see what happens. If it doesn't work, will not bother with any big mailing campaigns!

 

[c4l]

Would an e-mail be bad??

I know there's no MPS or TPS for this in theory, but it may be SPAM.

Would it be SPAM if i personalised it? I.e. I can offer "XYZ Limited" ....

Then they can simply read or get rid of it - still SPAM though??