http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summaryTue, 19 Sep 2006 11:32:46 +0000http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblogeditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)Blogger115http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/116258328639998380Fri, 03 Nov 2006 19:39:00 +00002006-11-03T11:51:20.393-08:00DM News is now accepting submissions for the next edition of their Essential Guide to Lists, Database Marketing and Data Services. Basically, the guide is a compilation of expert "how to" articles coverting topics related to the above (lists, data, and data services as they pertain to direct marketing). If you're in a position to write such a piece, it could be great exposure for you. Here are http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/11/dm-news-wants-your-articles.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/116033033257757287Sun, 08 Oct 2006 17:49:00 +00002006-10-08T10:58:52.590-07:00Direct mail capitalizes on the fact that you're guaranteed a "touch" by the prospect. You know the reader will at least touch, look at, and for a moment consider your direct mail piece. I call this the golden glimpse of direct mail. What you do what this glimpse can determine whether or not your piece goes into the trash pile or the "save" pile. In postcard marketing, the headline is the http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/10/direct-mail-headlines-how-to-grab.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115983194978381210Mon, 02 Oct 2006 23:26:00 +00002006-10-02T16:32:29.796-07:00This week's featured article gives real estate agents 75 ways to improve their postcard marketing. But don't be fooled by the articles title. Though it's written for primarily for real estate agents, these same direct mail postcard tips can be applied to any industry. Read the article here: Real Estate Postcard Marketing - 75 Ways to Improve Your Response Technorati tags: postcard marketing http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/10/real-estate-postcard-marketing-tips.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115866542856022973Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:22:00 +00002006-09-19T04:30:28.563-07:00Ah yes, the golden egg of direct mail marketing ... better response rates. One thing that really irks me is direct mail articles that say how important it is to improve your response rates without offering any suggestions as to how you might do that. That's why I'm happy to recommend this week's featured article by Eve Jackson. Eve provides some solid tips on improving your direct mail letters.http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/09/improving-your-direct-mail-response.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115548350680387520Sun, 13 Aug 2006 15:11:00 +00002006-09-11T14:54:00.950-07:00Show me a business -- any business -- and I'll show you someone who can benefit from a postcard + website marketing combo. Here's how it works: Build a resource center dedicated to your topic or niche (real estate, finance, computer technology, lawn maintenance in Austin, Texas ... fill in the blank). Your resource site should be useful and diverse. Add articles and tutorials. Create a forum. http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/08/direct-mail-postcard-website-marketing.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115750287739498417Wed, 06 Sep 2006 00:16:00 +00002006-09-05T17:36:33.053-07:00One of the great things about direct mail marketing is the fact that it has been used for decades. Why is this so great? Because it means there's a wealth of knowledge and experience to draw upon when conducting your own direct mail campaigns. Sure, there are no "rules" that apply across the board. But when a marketing medium has been used for as long as direct mail has, you can certainly http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/09/avoiding-direct-mail-mistakes.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115548184036497176Sun, 13 Aug 2006 15:01:00 +00002006-08-13T08:10:40.376-07:00I need to market my small business, but I can't afford to market my small business. This is the all-time greatest paradox for the small business owner. Doing business without marketing is like smiling in the dark ... sure, you know you're doing it, but nobody else does. So the need for marketing is obvious. It's the cost that scares a lot of small business owners. That's where direct mail http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/08/postcard-marketing-your-small-business.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115462777655582547Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:39:00 +00002006-08-03T11:07:44.550-07:00Listerine kills 99% of germs. Or so they say on the label. What does this have to do with direct mail marketing? Well, the Listerine label teaches us a powerful lesson about the power of numbers. When used in copywriting (be it direct mail, brochures, commercials or labels), numbers add credibility. Odd numbers do even better, because they seem exact, scientific and believable. Of course, it http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/08/direct-mail-copywriting-kills-99-of.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115392139456598809Wed, 26 Jul 2006 13:32:00 +00002006-07-26T06:43:15.433-07:00How postcard marketing can awaken your "sleeping" customers... Customers are hard to come by. So why is it that so many companies stop talking to customers once they've become customers? Many businesses focus nearly all of their marketing efforts on customer acquisition, and not nearly enough on customer retention. Why? Because keeping customers is not nearly as "glamorous" as gaining http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/postcard-marketing-can-activate.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115375046240363877Mon, 24 Jul 2006 14:03:00 +00002006-07-24T07:14:22.413-07:00Customer retention plays a major role in the success of your business. It's the classic 80/20 concept — you get 80% of your business from 20% of your customers. So it makes sense to stay in touch with that 20%. Direct mail postcards are a perfect way to do just that. Using postcards, you can stay in touch with the people who mean the most to your business ... previous customers. There are many http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/postcard-newsletter-boosting-bottom.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115351140351990535Fri, 21 Jul 2006 19:37:00 +00002006-07-21T12:50:03.536-07:00Postcard Marketing Forum Want some ideas for designing your next direct mail postcard? Want to kick around some Q&A with fellow marketers? Come join the Think Tank! Forum categories include general postcard marketing questions, postcard design, copywriting and more. Best of all, we have no dress code. You can participate while wearing your PJs if you want! Good luck and good marketing! -http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/now-open-postcard-marketing-forum.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115326117420237843Tue, 18 Jul 2006 22:06:00 +00002006-07-18T15:20:26.956-07:00by Brandon Cornett If you're reading this blog post, it's because the headline (A) intrigued you, (B) made you curious, (C) gave you a craving for more information, or (D) all of the above. That's what good headlines can do. And in direct mail marketing, these things are critical. For instance, what it is about numbered headlines that we find so appealing. 7 ways to blank ... top 10 ways to http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/7-ways-to-improve-your-direct-mail.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115262803852825577Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:16:00 +00002006-07-11T07:27:18.540-07:00by Brandon Cornett Postcard marketing can add valuable to just about any marketing program. So don't let a lack of copywriting experience prevent you from using postcards. This post (and the article listed below) will give you the confidence and knowledge you need to create compelling, effective messages for your direct mail marketing postcards. Before You Begin Writing The writing process http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/how-to-strengthen-your-direct-mail.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115255981220124623Mon, 10 Jul 2006 19:15:00 +00002006-07-10T12:34:52.423-07:00Direct mail mistakes can be costly when you make them yourself. So why not learn from the mistakes of others? Marketing consultant Avery Manko has put together a top-ten list of common direct mail marketing mistakes. More importantly, he offers advice on how to avoid such mistakes. Sure, parts of the list may seem like no-brainers to you. But when learning, it always helps to brush up on the http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/direct-mail-mistakes-how-to-avoid-them.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)http://www.blogger.com/feeds/22267384/posts/summary/115229268457041372Fri, 07 Jul 2006 17:06:00 +00002006-07-07T14:19:54.716-07:00Hey, remember a few years back when all the fast food chains bragged about their "secret" sauces and ingredients? I believe the secret sauce at McD's turned out to be Thousand Island dressing, did it not? Did you know postcard marketing has its own secret sauce? It's true! Better still, if you apply this secret sauce to your real estate postcards, you can boost your response rates and do some http://www.postcardsmart.com/directmailblog/2006/07/real-estate-postcard-marketing-secret.htmleditor@postcardsmart.com (Brandon)