Niche Advertising

[sergman]

Hi everyone I’m starting a niche direct mail advertising service but I can’t find a local distributer does anybody know any good national direct mailing service that can distribute my work

Thanks

[dotnetter_ohio]

If you are looking for a printer, the USPS can do the printing for you at a reasonable cost + postage. As far as I know, they are actually the cheapest, but you are limited to what kind of cards you can send.

I too am thinking about a direct mail campaign, and was looking at postcardbuilder.com, but I have never seen them. They just sent me some free samples, and they appeared to be pretty good.

One other thing, and I'm not sure if you have this or not, but if you don't have a mailing list, I have used a company called GoLeads in the past. They charge $15 a month I think and you can download a lot of addresses and names. These lists are usually pretty good, but there are some bad addresses, businesses, etc in there.

Best of luck to you, and if I decide to use that other service I will let you know how it goes.

[sergman]

Thanks for the info dotnetter_ohio ill take a look at them.

[sergman]

I have been thinking more about this idea would fast food restaurants be a better niche than just small businesses. Or should I just produce two separate booklets.

[RichWolff]

Serg,

You're thinking in the right direction in terms of segmenting your lists. The question is, "What kind of list should i build?" - What exciteds you most? What industry do you konw the most about?

If you know a lot about fastfood restaurants, go for it. Do some research on the industry first that proves fastfood restaurants will make you money. Do you have any evidence that fast food restaurants would be a better niche? How often do they use the service?

Don't waste money on something that could kill you before you begin.

[sergman]

Marketing is what I know best. What I’m wondering is who would be better clients fast food restaurants or individually owned businesses. What I charge is $150.00 per 1 thousand ads and the other guy charges $3,000.00 per 1,000 ads. When I spread out to nearby towns would it be better to just cold call and get help from the towns local score division?

[KerryJS]

Sergman,
In regard to fast food restaurants, if they're franchises, their direct mail advertising may be done through head office...could be harder to get into. But there is always the option of approaching the franchise, seeing who handles their marketing (themselves or their head office) and decide from their which way to go.

I'd suggest gathering a bit more research on the fast food outlets, while you start on the small businesses. You can then be developing both.

Kerry

[sergman]

Thanks for the tip Kerry

I went to your website it’s really nice. I see you help people with planning I might needs your service, I’m a terrible planner

Also when expanding business to other towns would the local SCORE chapters be able to help with contacting and dealing with the local businesses

[KerryJS]

You're welcome. Glad you thought the site was o.k. It's definitely still a work in progress.

Nobody's a terrible planner! Planning's like life...you adjust how and what you plan as you need to. There's no one way...I try and help people and businesses learn how to create ways of planning to suit their purpose. And to remember that what you need is something that works for you...and you're allowed to make it up as you go along...because you own it!

I think SCORE chapters could be helpful with the small business angle. it may even be worth looking at volunteering with them - if you've got the time, and the inclination. It wouldn't generate a lot of income to start with, but I've found that volunteering with organisations like this can get your name out there, as well as giving you the chance to gain a lot of specific info about what small businesses are looking for in your particular area, marketing.

Sometimes donating a little bit for free with an association can generate a word-of-mouth snowball that over time can be very advantageous.

Regarding the franchises, many of them have sites on the net which may give you some info on how their marketing is handled, or at least a contact point to ask the question.

Kerry

[AtlanticCity]

Originally Posted by sergman

Thanks for the tip Kerry

I went to your website it’s really nice. I see you help people with planning I might needs your service, I’m a terrible planner

Also when expanding business to other towns would the local SCORE chapters be able to help with contacting and dealing with the local businesses

I've heard the term "Strategic Planning" so many times, but I never really reailzed what the basics were all about. I see from the sit ethat there are some great leads.


I'm not in the fast food, planning or distributing business but the techniques are revealing just the same.