Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Hello all!

New to this forum...been around WF for years now.

I'm looking forward to contributing in any way I can.

In the meantime, I have a business that I started, and I'm hoping to get feedback from you guys on what I can do to ramp it up even faster.

My business is a monthly co op mailer, similar to the 9x12 system- with my own tweaks...less ads, different size, etc.

I have a full-time job in the real world, and my goal is to build up my side business over the next 12 months, so that someday I can focus on it 100%.

What I do now to market is 100% using email, with follow-up phone calls to close my interested advertisers. So far it's working, and my first edition is being mailed out next week.

I'm currently working on filling my second- using the same method.

I'm looking for any advice/tips/guidance you might have on ways I can be even more effective on my emails. I was thinking of introducing a "tweak" that might catch the attention of more business owners...something that has to do with some sort of cross-referral program that I run for the benefit of the advertisers in each edition. Or...some sort of contest- where I give away a Starbucks gift card each month to a customer that reaches out to one of the advertisers.

Please fire away...any ideas you have are much appreciated!!!

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Welcome.

I'd love to hear a little more about how your tweaks, ad sizes, etc are different?

I've been contemplating the 9 X 12 idea as a business opportunity but haven't jumped in yet.

Would also love to get some more insight into your email approach. Can you share the email you use to get their attention?

Cheers

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Hey Langdon...thanks for your reply.

I actually did 2 9x12s back in 2012, and made about 3K a pop.

But...I got burned out dealing with too many advertisers, and shut it down.

My new version works a lot better for me, and is designed to be repeatable...making it a business you can grow...one edition at a time- without losing my mind.

Here are the details:

6 ads...no competing businesses
Sent to 5,000 homes
Postcard size is 6x11
Ad sizes are approx. 3x5 ish...3 on each side...all the same size

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Hey WillyWallace,

At what prices do you sell the ads and how profitable is your card. I assume you are mailing EDDM?

Shawn

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Hi Shawn.

$399 each...profit is $900...and yes EDDM.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

How many cards do you put out a month...as in how many times a month are you making that $900 profit?

Would you be willing to share you email swipe file you use to get the business owners attention?

Cheers

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Just did my first one...$900 each time an edition is done...and I will.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Awesome...looking forward to it.

So let's say you want to make at least the same amount of profit you made on your previous 9x12's of $3000 per card.

You would need to do at least 4 of your 6x11's a month to make it about equal earning. I guess I'm not following how this makes anything easier/better. You mentioned the headache of having to deal with all the advertisers, but yet you would still have about the same amount of advertisers no matter which style of card you mail out.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

You would have to do one with 14 advertisers to understand, but finding 6 per edition is so much easier than finding 14.

Then you need to chase them down for ad approval...paying via PayPal...it just multiplies the hassle factor.

So now the ads are cheaper...there is no built in competition...easier with 6 vs. 14. So for me...the bottom line is less stress...doesn't make one better than the other...just my preference after having done both.

And you are correct from a financial standpoint. The trick now is to duplicate my success over the next handful of months, to build a sustainable ongoing worthwhile business. Victory for me is having done my first one stress free, and keeping that going.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

My new format also seems to be an easier sell...I think business owners like the idea of less ads...bigger ads...more straightforward.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

So is the goal to sell more than one card a month?

Or is this just a supplemental thing or are you planning to scale this to a full on business...

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Yes...one new edition a month, along with continuing the edition from the month before ongoing...so one this month, 2 next month, 3 in February, etc.

I have a full-time job in the "real world"...so right now I'm doing both.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Thanks for the feedback.

Looking forward to the approach email swipe you use.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

I've had good profits sending giant postcards to Home Buyers.

Mine was an 81/2 by 11 split in half with 6 ads on the right hand side of both sides (so coupons could be cut out and not bother ads/coupons on the other side)

I charged a flat fee of $300/mo per participant ($3600/mo) where the average was 120 homes per mo . (I gave exclusives and the offers had to be "Free" or 50% off)

I just noticed the avg home sales in my area were 125 (2014) once again

At one time I had 4 towns going...with very little cost.

Don Alm

Willy.... if you'd like my Mailing List source....New Home Buyers Names.....30 days old...send me an email ([email protected])

Also.....I forgot that I set up a website for NewComers called, "Welcome To Roseburg dot com". This allowed me to add more advertisers for "monthly residuals".

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Willy....thanks for pricing info. Thought about outsourcing your email process?

ShawnF

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

You got it, and no I haven't...something to think about for sure...if I can find a system that delivers my emails at a reasonable cost.

Re: Hello and looking for some advice!
 

Willy,
Can you share your approach email/s swipe file?