Hi Boyd,

I think you can do direct response cheaply or expensively....

If you want to do it cheaply, you can go the two-step classified ads route, then regularly mail your customers with announcements about your other products. I think this is essentially how Melvin Powers grew his business.

(For those who may not know, a two-step classified ad is an ad which offers a free or very cheap booklet or some other product your target market will find attractive. When people respond to your ad, you also send out your much longer sales material for your real product, the one you make the real profits on. You can also stretch this to 3-steps, 4-steps, etc.)

Or you can do it more expensively, using space ads or renting mailing lists. I think it's riskier (because you have more money on the line), but you can also grow more quickly this way too (or go bust more quickly as well).

Using two-step classified ads, then regularly mailing your (hopefully growing) customer list, seems like a pretty safe and inexpensive route to me, though slower.

Even better is to do joint ventures.... Have others promote your products for a cut of the profits. Then there are no up-front costs for you (assuming you already have your own products to provide to others).... Use their customer list under a joint venture arrangement. It's win-win for everyone.

I'm not doing any mail order by the way at present, but I see what I'm doing as being the online equivalent.... The idea behind it is the same.

- Dien Rice