Time to take action! :D My Offline Business Journal
Let's Make Some Money!!! $$$$
I was inspired by supermat007's post about offline marketing and decided to post mine once I got mine setup. I've went ahead and started my packages and will be shipping them out on Monday 7/16/12. It's similar but the services I offer are different.
I'm looking at creating a full blown offline business which I will focus most of my efforts and will reinvest my profits to more online methods.
My main idea is I want to start off getting web design clients which I can further upsell my internet marketing services.
I've been reading for quiet some time and it's about time. I actually put some action to it. I've just recently finished creating my branded company website. Although, I've yet to finish adding content to the website been to busy with other things.
1) Part 1 - Create company website & brand
I went ahead and got a premium website custom designed to how I wanted it for my web design/internet marketing company with pretty advanced features took quiet a bit of time about a month. I also got my logo created, business card, envelope stuff created.
My company emails are setup through Gmail Apps. I am using Line2.com for my phone number on my Samsung Galaxy S2 as my business number. I'm using Twilio and a WSO call tracking software to track calls and results.
2) Part 2 - Start sending direct mailers & buy shipping supplies
I was originally going to send out company branded envelopes and letterhead with 2 dice to local businesses. I decided against it because I didn't want the pages to be folded since my report is about 6 pages.
I went ahead with a simple letterhead with just company logo on top header and contact info on bottom footer. I'm packaging 6 page report in a clear report cover with sliders and stuffing them in 10x13 manila envelope.
It was cheaper too I think. Went shopping for supplies at Office Depot and Costco. I also didn't have to wait for them to get shipped which was a plus.
I was going to use my laser printer but it was printing with streaks so quality wasn't good I ended up using another printer I had laying around that printed without streaks.
3) Part 3 - Build an excel list of companies & create reports
I then scraped yellowpages for my list and created my reports. I created a 6page report with a screenshot of their main keyword, info about people transitioning from yellowpages to internet, screenshot of google kw tool for their keywords, explained briefly about the 5 services I'm offering: Website Design, Local Business Listings, Call/Website Tracking & Reports, Google Places Optimization, Reputation Management and Other Services. I then have a short conclusion and tell them how to contact me. That's the basics for my 6 page report. Sending 35x 6 page reports to local dentists within my area.
My 1 page report is simply a website special offer for a website for their company. It's a special price only till July 31st 2012. Sending 100x 1page website special letters to local companies: 60x autos and 40x restaurants.
Created my templates for 1page and 6page reports.
4) Part 4 - Create reports and get ready to mail
Took my templates and just changed the info to relate to the client I'm targetting. Did that for all of them, printed them all out and got everything ready to mail.
It's easier if your doing a specific niche then there's not much to change besides business name and owner name.
Placed in envelopes and sealed with glue.
I wrote in red pen info about their rankings on first page for the 6 page report. The 1 page report has nothing written.
All envelopes were handwritten for return address and their address.
5) Part 5 - Total Reports Sent
My first run is consisted of the following:
35x 6 Page Reports in Manila Envelopes 10x13
100x 1 Page Reports in Envelopes
I've attached special tracking phone numbers to the 35 manila reports and 100 website special offers.
I'm going to send all these out on Monday.
6. Part 6 - Costs
Costco
500 Manila Envelopes 10x13 $9.49 -35 = 465 left
500 Envelopes $5.99 -100 = 400 left
Box of Paper = $28.95
Office Depot
50 Clear Report Covers with Sliders $19.59 -35 = 15 left (buying more of these)
Printer Ink
Color Ink 75 $20.99 (had already - FREE)
Black Ink 74XL $37.99 (had already - FREE)
Total Cost for Supplies = $64.02 + tax
Total Cost for Shipping = [will update later]
Shipping Costs
USPS Forever First-Class Stamp 100ct $45.28
35x Manila Envelopes Shipping COST = [will update later]
100x Regular Envelopes Shipping COST = [will update later]
Full Total Costs (Supplies+Shipping) = [will update later]
7. Part 7 - Conclusion
This is my first run for direct mail. I'm hoping things go great and I get a lot of clients from this. The first run basically consists of leads from the yellowpages. All leads are within my home town in California.
I definitely want to send some mailers using the newspaper clipping method. Also thinking of some groupon, pennysaver, etc.
I definitely like just the regular mailers with website special offer and I think I'm going to do another 100 very soon for a few different niches. May send out 25x for 4 niches.
I'm also purchasing another 100x clear report covers for about $30 from officemax.
I'd really like for these direct mailers to convert and if so I will be mailing on a daily basis to keep acquiring more customers. I'm definitely trying to build my residual income up and a website is usually the first thing most business owners need. Which they usually don't have so I want to start my clients off with a website and get that residual hosting income. My rates are $35/mo to $60/mo depending on the industry of the company. I am then going to send direct mail letters from time to time on services which I think they would benefit from.
8. Part 8 - Closing
I hope to provide more inspiration to others and learn more from others and definitely make some money!!!
I'm also interested in my own results from this direct mailer as well as your results if you have done direct mail campaigns.
End goal is to earn a nice penny from internet marketing for local businesses and then hire or outsource the work. Build a sales team and just keep it growing.
I'd then like to put some of that income back into niche sites, authority niche sites, e-commerce websites, rental websites and hire staff to manage those too.
Let the discussion begin! :p
PS. I'll be adding some photos later on. Probably, won't be a whole lot but a few.
Let's Make Some Money!!! $$$$
I was inspired by supermat007's post about offline marketing and decided to post mine once I got mine setup. I've went ahead and started my packages and will be shipping them out on Monday 7/16/12. It's similar but the services I offer are different.
I'm looking at creating a full blown offline business which I will focus most of my efforts and will reinvest my profits to more online methods.
My main idea is I want to start off getting web design clients which I can further upsell my internet marketing services.
I've been reading for quiet some time and it's about time. I actually put some action to it. I've just recently finished creating my branded company website. Although, I've yet to finish adding content to the website been to busy with other things.
1) Part 1 - Create company website & brand
I went ahead and got a premium website custom designed to how I wanted it for my web design/internet marketing company with pretty advanced features took quiet a bit of time about a month. I also got my logo created, business card, envelope stuff created.
My company emails are setup through Gmail Apps. I am using Line2.com for my phone number on my Samsung Galaxy S2 as my business number. I'm using Twilio and a WSO call tracking software to track calls and results.
2) Part 2 - Start sending direct mailers & buy shipping supplies
I was originally going to send out company branded envelopes and letterhead with 2 dice to local businesses. I decided against it because I didn't want the pages to be folded since my report is about 6 pages.
I went ahead with a simple letterhead with just company logo on top header and contact info on bottom footer. I'm packaging 6 page report in a clear report cover with sliders and stuffing them in 10x13 manila envelope.
It was cheaper too I think. Went shopping for supplies at Office Depot and Costco. I also didn't have to wait for them to get shipped which was a plus.
I was going to use my laser printer but it was printing with streaks so quality wasn't good I ended up using another printer I had laying around that printed without streaks.
3) Part 3 - Build an excel list of companies & create reports
I then scraped yellowpages for my list and created my reports. I created a 6page report with a screenshot of their main keyword, info about people transitioning from yellowpages to internet, screenshot of google kw tool for their keywords, explained briefly about the 5 services I'm offering: Website Design, Local Business Listings, Call/Website Tracking & Reports, Google Places Optimization, Reputation Management and Other Services. I then have a short conclusion and tell them how to contact me. That's the basics for my 6 page report. Sending 35x 6 page reports to local dentists within my area.
My 1 page report is simply a website special offer for a website for their company. It's a special price only till July 31st 2012. Sending 100x 1page website special letters to local companies: 60x autos and 40x restaurants.
Created my templates for 1page and 6page reports.
4) Part 4 - Create reports and get ready to mail
Took my templates and just changed the info to relate to the client I'm targetting. Did that for all of them, printed them all out and got everything ready to mail.
It's easier if your doing a specific niche then there's not much to change besides business name and owner name.
Placed in envelopes and sealed with glue.
I wrote in red pen info about their rankings on first page for the 6 page report. The 1 page report has nothing written.
All envelopes were handwritten for return address and their address.
5) Part 5 - Total Reports Sent
My first run is consisted of the following:
35x 6 Page Reports in Manila Envelopes 10x13
100x 1 Page Reports in Envelopes
I've attached special tracking phone numbers to the 35 manila reports and 100 website special offers.
I'm going to send all these out on Monday.
6. Part 6 - Costs
Costco
500 Manila Envelopes 10x13 $9.49 -35 = 465 left
500 Envelopes $5.99 -100 = 400 left
Box of Paper = $28.95
Office Depot
50 Clear Report Covers with Sliders $19.59 -35 = 15 left (buying more of these)
Printer Ink
Color Ink 75 $20.99 (had already - FREE)
Black Ink 74XL $37.99 (had already - FREE)
Total Cost for Supplies = $64.02 + tax
Total Cost for Shipping = [will update later]
Shipping Costs
USPS Forever First-Class Stamp 100ct $45.28
35x Manila Envelopes Shipping COST = [will update later]
100x Regular Envelopes Shipping COST = [will update later]
Full Total Costs (Supplies+Shipping) = [will update later]
7. Part 7 - Conclusion
This is my first run for direct mail. I'm hoping things go great and I get a lot of clients from this. The first run basically consists of leads from the yellowpages. All leads are within my home town in California.
I definitely want to send some mailers using the newspaper clipping method. Also thinking of some groupon, pennysaver, etc.
I definitely like just the regular mailers with website special offer and I think I'm going to do another 100 very soon for a few different niches. May send out 25x for 4 niches.
I'm also purchasing another 100x clear report covers for about $30 from officemax.
I'd really like for these direct mailers to convert and if so I will be mailing on a daily basis to keep acquiring more customers. I'm definitely trying to build my residual income up and a website is usually the first thing most business owners need. Which they usually don't have so I want to start my clients off with a website and get that residual hosting income. My rates are $35/mo to $60/mo depending on the industry of the company. I am then going to send direct mail letters from time to time on services which I think they would benefit from.
8. Part 8 - Closing
I hope to provide more inspiration to others and learn more from others and definitely make some money!!!
I'm also interested in my own results from this direct mailer as well as your results if you have done direct mail campaigns.
End goal is to earn a nice penny from internet marketing for local businesses and then hire or outsource the work. Build a sales team and just keep it growing.
I'd then like to put some of that income back into niche sites, authority niche sites, e-commerce websites, rental websites and hire staff to manage those too.
Let the discussion begin! :p
PS. I'll be adding some photos later on. Probably, won't be a whole lot but a few.