Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
February 19, 2016 at 11:40 pm #1194738Up::0
I think if you have the option of making it ‘free’ this could create a much larger business for you. Looking at some of the businesses like WPCurve, Foundr Mag, ConvertKit to name a few. They have built amazing businesses off the back fo first having a really strong list. And look at models like Dropbox that start with a freemium model etc. It’s definitely worth exploring if you can create a system where it is user driven.
February 19, 2016 at 10:51 pm #1194122Up::0Letterbox drops are rarely about creating direct response, and when people expect that to be the result is often when they are disappointed. It is more of a branding and positioning exercise. At this point, and for your investment, I would be focusing on letterbox drops as a data collection exercise – Create a lead magnet that gets people to provide you with how many kids they have, and when their birthdays are. Now you have solid data that you can market to more effectively. The lead magnet should be something free to the resident, and preferably low cost to you. I would recommend something like ‘the Ultimate Party Planning Guide’ as an ebook (or printed if budget allows). Once you have solid data on when the kids birthdays are, your response rates on TARGETED marketing will be far greater.
The other thing to consider is that not all letterbox drops are created equal. It sounds like the offer you mentioned is part of a Salmat or similar distribution, where you flyer will be wrapped up with the Coles and Woolworths brochures, and completely lost in the middle. This will drastically reduce your response rate straight away. 0.1% may be generous.
There are alternative options, but maybe think about printing a few hundred at a time, and going door to door on a day the junk mail is not delivered and drop them yourself.
February 19, 2016 at 10:30 pm #1193486Up::0For the learning side, definitely look at the great copywriters, such as Dan Kennedy, John Caples and Gary Halbert. Sales copy, which is essentially story telling is the most engaging when done well.
It’s hard to give a one size fits all answer, without knowing your audience relationship etc. but also agree with the others that say ;’just get writing’.
When planning my year of content, I’ll write a heap of headlines I think could be appealing, and then let them ferment for a while. Then I’ll start writing articles around them.
You then have the incidental stories that ‘happen to you’ throughout the year.
Even if you pick your audience 5 biggest problems, then create 10 stories/solutions/methods/mistakes articles around them, that’s 50 articles, almost 1 per week.
Hope this helps
December 8, 2015 at 8:27 am #1191777Up::0Wow this thread is interesting. The simple fact is that as a business owner there are dilemmas everywhere relating to ethics, red tape and legality. Look at domain squatting for example. The bottom line is that you have all contributed to assisting the op come to an informed decision about whether the risk is worth the reward. There’s no point in discussing the semantics further as the interpretation of the act will be read by different people different ways. The only one with the gavel is the ACMA and their interpretation. You are not trying to sell unethical products (as far as I know, you’re not trying to rip people off, so decide on your comfort level and go from there.
December 7, 2015 at 9:02 pm #1191760Up::0I was listening to a podcast of a very successful business owner and he was talking about his lead generation strategy.
What he did was paid someone in the Phillipines to data mine and would collect the email, business owner name and a couple of details about the biz (from the website) and then have them send 1 email at a time personally addressed with personal comments.
He had done the research and said this was not spam under the spam act, as it was a 1to1 email from a readily available email contact (not a purchased list) and was not sent from a bulk mailer. He generates over 300 leads per month and is sitting at over $40k per month.November 28, 2015 at 7:45 pm #1191478Up::0MD Clean, post: 224897, member: 58759 wrote:Hi Carl,
You have probably already come across wpcurve – They have a lot of great advice around commoditizing services. Check them out if you haven’t seen them yet.Thanks. I am in regular contact with the founder Dan, who coincidentally I originally crossed paths with here on FS. This was back before he even started WPCurve
November 28, 2015 at 6:47 pm #1190695November 28, 2015 at 6:45 pm #1191356Up::0I use a company called Virtual Headquarters http://www.virtualheadquarters.com.au
Admittedly I don’t get them taking orders etc. but I’ve found their service to be great for what I need.
Might be worth a callJanuary 21, 2014 at 10:34 pm #1157700Up::0Thanks for all of the replies, I’ll try and answer all of those questions people have asked. Yes, we are with ANZ. We are not 100% sure on the number of transactions, but it is more the $ value that had us concerned, as our transactions generally range from $500 – $3000, and the percentage fees on PayPal did not seem that exciting.
Having spoken further with ANZ, they have something called Egate, which is a payment gateway that can be either completely integrated to our site, or used as a hosted portal (which means less headaches). It is really reasonably priced at just $40 per month, which covers the gateway and online merchant facility, and we get to keep our much lower rates which is great.
Overall, I think this is the intelligent way to go, especially as our business is solely B2B, and I think businesses, rather than consumers would feel better trusting a Big4 rather than PayPal as mentioned by others. I also still dislike the fact that, as also mentioned anyone can be up and running within a couple of days, I don’t think it promotes the profesisonalism that our business is trying to achieve (please don’t anyone take this as offensive if you do use it, it is just my opinion for our business)
Thanks all for your input, it is much appreciated
December 20, 2013 at 9:30 pm #1155679Up::0Drone licence? I thought you were talking about the remote control helicopter/drone things – is this conversation about the secret/spy drones? Am a bit confused…
December 20, 2013 at 9:23 pm #1155259Up::0Hi Dave,
Whilst I have no intention whatsoever of starting the year by giving myself an out, and I believe that by saying ‘I’ll be happy if I achieve these few’ that is what I would be doing, my biggest priorities are:
1. Take one full week off in the year
2. Increase net profit by 15%
3. Launch 1 new business ventureBut as you can probably tell, many of the goals actually feed into each other too
December 11, 2013 at 9:33 pm #1155975Up::0Shucks, thanks for all the love guys! I am sorry I have not been around a bit more. We have been swamped in the lead up to Xmas, which is great but has meant long days! It will make the break all that much sweeter though!
Anyways, more than happy to assist with your business card needs if I can. Feel free to get in touch and I can see what we can do for you.
November 27, 2013 at 12:07 pm #1155123Up::0I would like to know exactly how google’s latest algorithm for content marketing will measure the quality of the content being produced – will it be based purely on frequency, likes etc. As I see these being easily manipulated
October 24, 2013 at 12:01 pm #1153009Up::0First, I would be using the no competing advertising as a selling point for the service, rather than an upsell – you will shoot yourself in the foot for repeat business if you ever did promote 2 competing services side by side.
Have you considered the time involved in walking 5,000 homes? The reason the leaflet distribution companies employ people on a piece rate is because it would be so expensive on an hourly basis – don’t think that just because other companies have issues with staff, you will too.
There are a number of sites that offer documents/contracts etc. but you might find that with your specific product, you basically need to re-word it anyway. What exactly do you want the contract to cover – assuming you receive payment upfront, the only terms would be around artwork, timeframe, delivery guarantees and so on – it does not need to be overly complex – if you collect the money and can quantify you have provided the service you said you would, you should be fine
October 18, 2013 at 10:19 pm #1152686 -
AuthorPosts