Mail Shots

[Emmanize]

Does anyone know much about Mail Shots and how to set them up? Someone suggested I try it for my Business Cards and other advertisements. Not sure how to set it up though.

[Teej]

Do you mean traditional snail mail shots Em? If so, there are a number of ways you could go about it but the cheapest way I've found is to become a good friend with your local postman.

I asked our postie about delivering some postcards we had done up which he did very willingly after I chucked him twenty quid. They are normally doing the rounds anyway so it's no sweat for them to chuck a business card or flyer in with the post they're delivering to local businesses. You have to expect that it may not get to the right person or even make an impact at all, but it's got to be worth a go.

If however, you're referring to e-mail shots aka spam, then I'd steer well clear of them as 99% of the time they can do more harm than good.

[Jackimalyn]

My company uses them... "Spam emails". We actually get a good response, though. It helps us stay in touch with our customers and we throw a lot of humor in them and lighten up our business a bit (manufacturing). Although, I dont think a designer needs to keep their old clients up to date on their current news. In the same respect, I don't think perspective employers would find this email a positive thing. More of an annoyance. I think they appreciate something more personal like good ole Snail Mail

[Emmanize]

Yep, snail mail :) I have a tone of business cards, and I kind of thought it would be worth a shot.

I was told that there are companies that do specialise in doing this, but I know nothing about that or who they are. I never normally see our postman because we live on the top floor lol.

[twogun]

hi emma,

i regualry work for a marketing company dealing with direct mail etc and have produced loads of work for such delivery.......you need to come up with something more than just a buisness card drop though, this will mean nothing to the recipient.

to target your marketing you will need to buy address data which can onyl be done (legally) through a registered company, this data has a shelf life and can only be used once and within a certain time frame. unless you camp out and meet the posty, you will find thast this may turn into a costly exercise fro you.

[Emmanize]

I know Business cards alone can work. The guy downstirs who works in web design (own business) got a tone of work just through business cards via mail shot. If anything its worth a shot.

[twogun]

i cant argue with your first hand experience there but for me, a buisness card is a tool to be used when introducing yourself in person.

for me, if i recieved a business card through the post/letterbox, it would go straight in the bin, i would see that as lazy.

sorry just my opinion

[Emmanize]

Well if you live around here you will know that you get business cards galore in your letter box lol!

I wouldn’t say it was lazy for first timers, its called being on a budget (like most when they start off) lol. For a larger business it would be extremely lazy. Everyone I have had advice from have told me a business card will be ok to get me started.

[PrintDriver]

Budgets are relative.

You can spend a good bit of money and personal business time (your time is money) printing up business cards and dropping them indiscriminently in every postal slot you can get to (btw, this isn't ok in the US as Mailboxes are government property and they get rather testy if you use them without a stamp).

Or you can buy a focused list and mail out a limited edition, nice postcard to real potential clients.

You decide which is more cost effective in terms of hits and billable time.

Quite honestly, if someone doesn't make an effort to market themselves, I don't see them making an effort to market me. It's different for a Graphic Designer than it is for the newsman or garbage collector. First impressions count.

[Emmanize]

This has nothing to do with not making an effort, because I can assure you I do. Please remember that I am NEW to this, and being new can put you onto a budget.



People around here get business just by putting a note up in a shop window lol. I am not looking to be a huge registered firm, I just want to get started and get a few clients. I am not thinking “big”, more local. You get all kinds of crap in UK letter boxes lol.

[style]

emmanize.. i dont have any advice about mailshots...
what i did to start me off.. also being on a zero budget..
was to basically get word of mouth...
it worked the best.. and i havent advertised once!!
also friends know freinds who know friends... start socialising!!! ;-)

[style]

good luck!

[Teej]

To me, business cards don't say enough about your work to do the trick. If you put together something that shows off the kind of work that you do (or indeed the kind of work you would like to do) then that is much more likely to grab a potential clients attention than a business card which they probably will throw straight in the bin. I'm not saying it's not worth a go, especially if it's free or very cheap, but don't expect them to be beating down your door.

If you spend a little time and money in putting something together that really shows off your work and grabs attention then I think you stand to make a much bigger gain. Taking that a step further, you could even flick though the yellow pages (or yell.com) in your area and put together a list of businesses that you think are the type of clients who are most likely to be interested in your kind of work. At least then it's less hit and miss.

[Teej]

emmanize.. i dont have any advice about mailshots...
what i did to start me off.. also being on a zero budget..
was to basically get word of mouth...
it worked the best.. and i havent advertised once!!
also friends know freinds who know friends... start socialising!!! ;-)

I couldn't agree with that more. Start doing work for friends, relatives, loved ones, local people you know and your name will inevitably get around before long.

Good luck as always, it's not easy being green!

[Emmanize]

I have already done a lot of work for friends, and I am already known by a few people but no one really serious. I have already looked into the yellow pages but not only do they charge over £200 for a tiny advert, you have to wait a whole year for the new book that will have your ad in.



So basically your saying, create some kind of flyer/broacher? Good lord the posh ass printers here would love that…that will cost a fortune :eek:, it would be a lot cheaper to advertise in the yellow pages lol. Unless I could see how much printers would charge in the cheaper part of england lol.

[jlknauff]

http://www.printbuyers.co.uk/

[SurfPark]

I personally wouldn't mail anything without an incentitive for your old customers. Maybe offer them a freebie or a discount for returning. The cheapest thing to do is a one-sided postcard.

[jlknauff]

I disagree. Doing so maintains TOMA.

[twogun]

So basically your saying, create some kind of flyer/broacher? Good lord the posh ass printers here would love that…that will cost a fortune :eek:, it would be a lot cheaper to advertise in the yellow pages lol. Unless I could see how much printers would charge in the cheaper part of england lol.

1000 full colour single sided DL flyers on 150gsm art will only cost you £99! surely your marketing budget is not less than that!

[PrintDriver]

So you've decided to go with one marketing plan based on the assumption that all others cost too much without doing the research. Have you asked the printers for actual quotes? Your opinion of them may be reciprocating.

And where do you go if the client needs print work done? Or are you web only?