http://www.bbdirect.com/blog Wed, 16 May 2012 13:46:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/what-kind-of-response-can-i-expect-with-direct-mail-marketing.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/what-kind-of-response-can-i-expect-with-direct-mail-marketing.php#comments Wed, 16 May 2012 13:46:27 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=902 Answer:  The response you can expect from a direct mail campaign varies from 0% up to 4% or even 5% response.  This depends on many factors to include the list, the offer, the creative, as well as the competitors and their promotions going on at the same time.  But don’t expect 10% response.  This would be very atypical and unrealistic. Most mailers will estimate a 1% response.  If you are finding it difficult to break-even with a 1% response, you should reconsider using direct mail as a viable medium.  Mailers...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/what-kind-of-response-can-i-expect-with-direct-mail-marketing.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/just-got-a-fantastic-mail-piece-from-google.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/just-got-a-fantastic-mail-piece-from-google.php#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 15:05:17 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=895 This mail piece is from Google.  It’s a windowed envelop, color logo at return address location, and mailed Standard Presort.  The envelope contains a bi-fold, white stock, color one-sided, personalized form letter. Just like their website, the piece is clean, readable, with a minimalist simplicity. “Hello from Google,” it starts, and finished with Best Wishes.  So few pieces are actually read here, but the content is required as a part of tradition.  If one did read the outer form-letter wrap, they’d hear about whose viewing Google daily, and good news...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/just-got-a-fantastic-mail-piece-from-google.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-can-i-get-sales-leads-to-grow-my-business.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-can-i-get-sales-leads-to-grow-my-business.php#comments Wed, 09 May 2012 13:30:25 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=892 Answer: Getting sales leads to grow your business isn’t as difficult as you might think.  There are lots of ways to attaining.  Below are several very important and easy “low hanging fruit” ways to developing your lead flow. Take Care of Your Existing Customers It’s a fact that keeping repeat customers is far less expensive than finding and attracting new customers.  Taking care of your existing customers will lead to referring new customers to your business.  Always ask for referrals and look for opportunities to get to know your customers,...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-can-i-get-sales-leads-to-grow-my-business.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/what-is-the-difference-between-a-list-broker-list-manager-and-list-owner.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/what-is-the-difference-between-a-list-broker-list-manager-and-list-owner.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 17:18:36 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=889 Answer: The List Owner The List Owner is typically not in the list business.  They are likely a publishing company that writes and publishes their magazine.  They own the database of subscribers, but, outside of managing their circulation list, they’re very busy writing good articles for their magazine. The List Manager The List Owner will hire a List Manager to manage the rental of their database.  The List Manager handles the advertising of the list itself, and the rental to anyone wanting to mail to it. The List Broker The...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/what-is-the-difference-between-a-list-broker-list-manager-and-list-owner.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-many-times-can-i-use-a-mailing-list.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-many-times-can-i-use-a-mailing-list.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:04:48 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=886 Answer: Unless otherwise specified, you’re Master List Agreement says that you’re renting the list for a one-time mailing.  Further, you’re able to use the list one-time inside a period of one year.  Some database providers can strike a deal with the list owner that allows you to use the list more than once (multi-use) inside that first year, but this is uncommon and it normally twice the price. It is generally acceptable for mailers to mail to any responders of their initial campaign as many times as they’d like.  Mailers...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-many-times-can-i-use-a-mailing-list.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/am-i-just-renting-the-mailing-list.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/am-i-just-renting-the-mailing-list.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:03:58 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=883 Answer: Mailers are renting a mailing list for their direct mail campaign, not buying them.  We say renting because the list, by agreement, is only to be used once, and then destroyed.  A multiple mailing is permitted only with prior agreement and consent in writing with the list provider.  This multi-use arrangement is typically more expensive than the single-use type and also limited for a period of one year. Once a person on the rented list response in anyway, to your offer, they are typically considered yours.  You can mail...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/am-i-just-renting-the-mailing-list.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/are-lists-really-seeded-with-fake-names.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/are-lists-really-seeded-with-fake-names.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:03:26 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=881 Answer: Usually YES.  Good quality lists are seeded with fake names so that the owner of the list can monitor the use of their mailing list.  There may be only one or two records that are fake, but they route the piece of mail to a mail box so the owner can evaluate who’s using their list and with what mail piece. Mailing lists are typically not sold, but rented.  They are typically available for a one-time mailing, and they are typically restricted to a mail piece that must be...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/are-lists-really-seeded-with-fake-names.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-do-i-find-new-customers.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-do-i-find-new-customers.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:02:48 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=879 Answer: Finding new customers can be challenging for some businesses and the techniques for finding new customers is different for different businesses.  But one common thread most all business share is that where there is one customer, there’s likely more. Consider where your current customers are coming from.  Are they all driving from about the same distance?  Do they all attend the same yearly conference?  Do they all subscribe to the same magazines or participate in the same activities? A good question to ask your existing customers is how they...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-do-i-find-new-customers.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/where-can-i-get-the-best-mailing-list-for-the-cheapest-price.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/where-can-i-get-the-best-mailing-list-for-the-cheapest-price.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:01:56 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=877 Answer: www.BBDirectLeads.com has some of the most affordable databases on the market.  The site contains consumer mailing lists, business to business mailing lists, resident / occupant mailing lists, bankruptcy mailing lists, new movers mailing lists, and a suite of business to institution mailing lists. Each database allows you to run counts for free, so you’re able to assess your market territory and do the necessary research without committing to a list purchase.  What’s more is that the site refreshes their data every 30 days so that you’re always mailing the...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/where-can-i-get-the-best-mailing-list-for-the-cheapest-price.php/feed 0 http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-do-i-buy-a-mailing-list-online.php http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-do-i-buy-a-mailing-list-online.php#comments Tue, 08 May 2012 13:01:03 +0000 Brian http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/?p=875 Answer: The best way to buy a mailing list online is to check out www.bbdirectleads.com.  This site maintains the most accurate and affordable databases for reaching the right audience. Simply go to the website and register yourself.  From there, you’re able to run counts at no charge, assess who’s in your market territory, and them place orders for your mailing list.  You don’t necessarily need to register but it’s a good idea to do so because you’re then able to save your searches and revise them later. This is a...]]> http://www.bbdirect.com/blog/archives/how-do-i-buy-a-mailing-list-online.php/feed 0