Today, I’ll focus on using direct mail marketing, and also telemarketing to your full advantage. I know you might think of “telemarketing” like a four letter word, but there is a way to utilize it so that customers feel they are getting personal attention and keep them from blocking your number!

The success realized from strategic direct mail marketing can be used as a powerful marketing tool for your success. Telemarketing is best for high priced, high margin products and/or services.

Here are proven steps for creating a highly effective direct mail marketing program:

1. List all of the benefits customers receive from the purchase of your products and services;

2. Select the single most powerful benefit from that list;

3. Build an attention-getting headline around that benefit. Remember to use emotion – fulfill the desire to be young, wealthy, desired, popular or successful;

4. Develop a sales letter using the headline you created to grab attention, provide information, and motivate customers to act;

5. Put together supplementary items such as a brochure, order form, reply envelope, or note that encourages them to read the letter;

6. Rent or purchase a mailing list;

7. Compare cost of mailing vs. cost per order;

8. Continue to test and refine your direct mail marketing plan.

The above shows how direct mail marketing helps you find a local or even country-wide target market to send letters or postcards to in order to draw in new clientele and customers. Fine-tuning your marketing campaign brings better results and lowers the overall cost of the campaign.

To be successful in telemarketing you need to:

∙ Put together a plan, so you know exactly what you want to accomplish during the call;

∙ Develop a list of topics to discuss and the questions you want to present with respect to these topics;

∙ Include checking to see if you are calling at a good time;

∙ Have enough questions to keep the conversation engaging, but not so many that it feels like an interrogation;

∙ Start with broad questions and narrow your focus as the conversation progresses;

∙ Offer feedback to show you are attentive and appreciate their time;

∙ Refrain from insulting a prospect’s intelligence or resorting to manipulation;

∙ Listen first, speak second;

∙ Be relaxed and engaging.

Telemarketing doesn’t have to be the bane of your existence. You can develop an honest, personal, and effective telemarketing campaign that is both engaging and informative, and will get the job done. Think of how you would want to be treated on a marketing call. Canvass your friends and family for feedback about what they hate most about telemarketing calls they receive and work hard to craft your plan in a better way. You may also ask friends what good experiences they have had with telemarketing calls, and specifically what they liked.