Marketing Information

Nurture Sales Leads with Direct Mail Marketing


Direct mail is a cost-effective way to make sales and generate leads. But it's also an excellent way to keep your brand name in front of customers, and to nurture leads until they become customers.

At my direct mail lead generation firm, our definition of a qualified lead is someone who meets four criteria:

Authority: They have the authority to buy
Readiness: They are ready to buy now
Budget: They have the budget to buy
Need: They need your product or service

Anyone who meets some of these criteria but not all is simply a lead that needs to be cultivated. This process is called lead development, lead nurturing and lead cultivation.

One way to discover if your prospect meets these criteria is to ask some qualifying questions on your business reply card or website landing page. That way, you know how much time, energy and money to spend on each inquiry.

But what should you mail to businesses that are not ready to buy right away, businesses that you want to cultivate? Here are some ideas for mailings that you can use throughout the year.

* White paper discussing industry trends or problems
* Technical bulletin
* Customer satisfaction survey
* Case study
* Product catalog
* Invitation to attend a trade show or customer event
* Media clipping (article written about your firm)
* Article reprint (written by your firm on a topic of interest to your customers)
* Announcement (new product or service, or change to existing)
* Newsletter (make sure it is customer-focussed)
* Annual report and quarterly reports
* Christmas card

Alan is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter and lead generation consultant. As President of Sharpe Copy Inc. (http://www.sharpecopy.com), Alan specializes in helping businesses generate leads, close sales and retain customers, using cost-effective, compelling direct mail and email marketing. Alan also uses his direct mail advertising services to help charities raise funds and raise awareness of their causes, using fundraising letters.


MORE RESOURCES:

Monterey Gourmet Foods Appoints Food Marketing Expert Tammy G ...
CNNMoney.com - 2 hours ago
As an expert in branding and consumer marketing she has led the marketing for major brands including Miller Lite®, Ortho®, RoundUp®, Enfamil®, Boost®, ...


Schipul - The Web Marketing Company to Expand Headquarters in West ...
MSNBC - 6 hours ago
HOUSTON, TX - Schipul - The Web Marketing Company (www.schipul.com), a Houston-based Web marketing and Web design firm, today announced an expansion of its ...


Subaru's Secret: Clever Marketing
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 18 hours ago
As Marketing Daily points out, it's a "mid-market brand with a limited vehicle portfolio and marketing clout. Considering its budget, which is less than ...


MENG: Top 2009 Marketing Trends
TAXI Design Network, NY - 3 hours ago
Non-profit group, the Marketing Executives Networking Group (MENG) has released its findings for marketing trends in 2009. Surveying its approximately 2000 ...
Economy Weighs Heavily on Marketing Execs for 2009 AdAge.com (subscription)
Marketing Executives Networking Group Releases Second Annual Top ... PR Leap (press release)
Customer satisfaction and retention 'top marketing priorities for ... Business Strata - Business News
all 10 news articles


Entropic Communications Adds Senior Vice President of Marketing ...
Reuters - Jan 5, 2009
In his new role at Entropic, Vinay will lead all facets of Entropic's marketing function including product management, product definition, ...
Entropic Communications names Vinay Gokhale SVP of marketing and ... RTT News
all 7 news articles


Intera Group, Inc. to Showcase In-Store Marketing and Analytics ...
Reuters - Jan 5, 2009
Intera is working with retailers, global brands, and their agencies to maximize the return on their marketing dollars, and partnering with analytics ...


2010 Cadillac SRX Pitched By GM In Pre-Reveal Marketing Video
Jalopnik, MI - 1 hour ago
We hear commentary coming from the luxury marketing honcho Steve Shannon, Exterior Design Manager Scott Wasell, Interior Design Director Eric Clough and the ...


Wellstar/TMI Imaging System Begins Marketing to Long-Term Care ...
International Business Times, NY - 10 hours ago
TMI's marketing plan includes a program where LTC facilities canlease the equipment necessary to perform skin assessments and store thenecessary data. ...


Oregon Marketing Firm Focuses On Local SEM Services
Mediapost.com, NY - 57 minutes ago
Formic Media officially launches this week to offer small and local businesses a host of search engine marketing (SEM) services. Initially, the support will ...
Search Engine Marketing Agency, Formic Media, Launches PR Web (press release)
all 4 news articles


Marketing by e-mail has many advantages
Corpus Christi Caller Times, TX - 8 hours ago
By Ralph Coker CORPUS CHRISTI — Q. How can I use e-mail marketing to keep repeat customers and get new customers? A. Your question will be answered with ...
Constant Contact Opens 2009 With More Than 250000 Email Marketing ... Business Wire (press release)
all 7 news articles

Marketing - Google News

home | site map
© 2006