In
last week�s issue we discussed the 80/20 principle. Here are some
more examples of that principle:
-
80% of what you
achieve at work comes from 20% of the time you spend working.
-
20% of a company�s
products usually account for 80% of its sales.
-
20% of a company�s
employees contribute to 80% of the profits.
-
20% of motorists
cause 80% of the accidents.
-
20% of your carpets
get 80% of the wear.
-
20% of your clothes
will be worn 80% of the time.
-
80% of traffic jams
occur on 20% of the roads.
-
20% of computer
users purchase 80% of the software sold.
Is Your Trade Exchange Missing Out On
Valuable New Business?
If
your barter company�s listing on BarterNews.com isn�t current, you
are definitely missing out on new business. The web site
BarterNews.com receives heavy traffic � with over 150,000 page-views
every month. Entrepreneurs and corporate executives check the
thousands of articles, the weekly �Tuesday
Report,� and the �Contacts
Section� of our site. They use the latter to find barter
companies with which to do business.
Is
your barter company�s listing up-to-date?
To
keep your listing current is very easy. See the links below to (A)
update any changes to your company�s listing, such as new location,
phone number, web site or other information, and (B) if your company
has not been listed.
Here�s how to get on board:
To
make changes to your listing
click here.
For
new listings
click here.
Although They Aren�t
Glamorous, Letters Work
Don�t have a big advertising budget? That doesn�t mean you can�t use
a direct marketing campaign to attract new customers. Although it
may sound like a low-tech means of promotion, sending out an
�old-fashioned� letter is actually an extremely effective way to
spread the word about your company. And, it�s inexpensive.
A
simple, single-page letter is far less expensive than a traditional
direct-mail package that includes an introductory letter, a color
brochure, an order form, a business-reply envelope, and a follow-up
letter. All of which cost about $3-each, for printing and sending.
In contrast, it costs less than $1 to send a letter. This includes
printing the letter, printing the envelope (both can be done on
trade), and sticking on a first-class postage stamp.
(Besides being economical, a well-written focused letter can
generate a 2%-5% higher response rate than mailing just a brochure.
That�s because the sales letter is the most important item in any
direct-mail package.)
Follow these guidelines when drafting your direct-mail package:
Eliminate labels.
Print or clearly write your customers� names and addresses on the
envelopes. (Labels make letters look like they�re part of an
impersonal mass mailing.)
Use first-class stamps.
Again, bulk-rate postage stamps make your letters look like they�re
part of a mass mailing.
Include a special offer.
Move beyond just introducing your company and its products or
services. Promise free consultations, samples, or discounts to
encourage a better response.
Write your signature in
another color.
If the type is in black, either print the signature in blue or sign
it personally in blue.
Add a postscript.
Most people�s eyes will go straight to the signature (we all want to
know who is writing to us) and then right to the P.S.
So
if you don�t include a P.S., you have missed out on an opportunity
to make another sales pitch. Reiterate your offer, or offer an even
a better one. It should be short and sweet.
Give your letters a
personal touch.
Most importantly, figure out the identities of your different target
audiences and write letters specifically for each of them. The
entire letter doesn�t have to be different, just the first
paragraph. Talk to them about how your company will help them meet
their personal or business needs.
Bottom-line: Letters aren�t glamorous or cutting edge. But you can
get the job done on a tight budget, with much of the cost being done
on trade. And in the end, isn�t that what you�re looking for ...
results at a low cost?
