Is direct mail dead, or still alive and kicking?

I've read opposite opinions about this in recent times....

On the one hand, I've read that direct mail is dying or dead. I think I read Bill Myers state this on his membership web site. He's a very experienced direct marketer, both online and offline, so if he says it, I listen.

But on the other hand, I just read the opposite opinion, in Gary Halbert's most recent newsletter, which he put online on his web site.

http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/remote_docs/newissue.html

The part I'm talking about is near the end.

Here's what he says....

Know what I think? I think, in this "Age-of-Anthrax"...

Direct Mail Is Still The "Jackpot" Way To Produce Fungolas!

For one thing, as far as competition goes, it has thinned out the weak (cowardly) members of the herd.

Gary Halbert is a legendary direct mail marketer. He's the creator of the historic "Nancy" letter which Gordon wrote about recently right here. The direct mail letter which made big money being sent to a PHONE BOOK list!

http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=6751

So what do you think?

Has the internet, combined with the fear of anthrax, killed off direct mail as a promotional medium?

Or has the lower competition in fact made it a better medium than ever?

- Dien Rice

dno

> I've read opposite opinions about this in
> recent times....

> On the one hand, I've read that direct mail
> is dying or dead. I think I read Bill Myers
> state this on his membership web site. He's
> a very experienced direct marketer, both
> online and offline, so if he says it, I
> listen.

> But on the other hand, I just read the
> opposite opinion, in Gary Halbert's most
> recent newsletter, which he put online on
> his web site.

>
> http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/remote_docs/newissue.html
> The part I'm talking about is near the
> end.

> Here's what he says....

> Know what I think? I think, in this
> "Age-of-Anthrax"...

> Direct Mail Is Still The "Jackpot"
> Way To Produce Fungolas!

> For one thing, as far as competition goes,
> it has thinned out the weak (cowardly)
> members of the herd. Gary Halbert is a
> legendary direct mail marketer. He's the
> creator of the historic "Nancy"
> letter which Gordon wrote about recently
> right here. The direct mail letter which
> made big money being sent to a PHONE BOOK
> list!

>
> http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=6751
> So what do you think?

> Has the internet, combined with the fear of
> anthrax, killed off direct mail as a
> promotional medium?

> Or has the lower competition in fact made it
> a better medium than ever?

> - Dien Rice

Hi,

DM is a subtle and dangerous art, like alchemy, and the learning curve contributes to the expense.

Best,

- Boyd

Ask Frank Kern, or the Rohleders of M.O.R.E., Inc.

Frank's the guy with the InstantInternetEmpires site. Apparently Frank, or the Rohleders, or one of his affiliates has some kind of new direct mail affiliate program. I have received six postcards this week from this program.

The postcard has pictures of 11 books (actually they are ebooks). There is very little copy and a website address on the card. You go to the website and you are offered Frank's IIE set of ebooks, plus 6 more ebook/mini-websites if you signup for a hosting package.

This is a hybrid offline/online promotion. It is not the first time I have seen a combination of direct mail/ online offers. Jim Straw has done it. Michael Kimble has done it. So it is nothing new...just that it is a massive effort on the part of M.O.R.E. to involve the "little" guy.

To their credit, I tried to bypass the affiliate link by going to the root URL and it stopped me. I had to put in the complete affiliate URL to access the site.

I have been solicited to join the program several times in the past few weeks...those "crisp" $1 attention-getters fit real well in my wallet.

The ebook offers are the same ones available "everywhere" on the net. I'm curious how many different ways these same products can be sold before the money dries up!

I guess P.T. Barnum was right...

JDB


You are invited to my birthday party...

Dien,

Direct mail is alive and well. Can you think of any other way to target market better? Until they invent that direct mail will still be alive and well.

It delivers the most bang for the buck, my opinion.

Tim

DM dead?

Remember DM covers a pretty wide area from simple one-page sale's letters to catalogers sending out millions of catalogs per month. Dead? In the last two-years I've had major consulting jobs with two large DM firms that are raking in millions. I get many DM mags and trade journals that show a great many companies making a lot of money off DM.

DM too expensive? Sure it could be...heck anything can be too expensive (for a variety of reasons). I know there are a lot of places in the world that are a heck of a lot more expensive to do DM in than the U.S. and they are having success also.

Personally I like a combination of DM, space ads and Internet order processing. But to do it right you need to invest the money...Not a lot, but some.

Take care,

Mike W.

> I've read opposite opinions about this in
> recent times....

> On the one hand, I've read that direct mail
> is dying or dead. I think I read Bill Myers
> state this on his membership web site. He's
> a very experienced direct marketer, both
> online and offline, so if he says it, I
> listen.

> But on the other hand, I just read the
> opposite opinion, in Gary Halbert's most
> recent newsletter, which he put online on
> his web site.

>
> http://www.thegaryhalbertletter.com/remote_docs/newissue.html
> The part I'm talking about is near the
> end.

> Here's what he says....

> Know what I think? I think, in this
> "Age-of-Anthrax"...

> Direct Mail Is Still The "Jackpot"
> Way To Produce Fungolas!

> For one thing, as far as competition goes,
> it has thinned out the weak (cowardly)
> members of the herd. Gary Halbert is a
> legendary direct mail marketer. He's the
> creator of the historic "Nancy"
> letter which Gordon wrote about recently
> right here. The direct mail letter which
> made big money being sent to a PHONE BOOK
> list!

>
> http://www.sowpub.com/cgi-bin/forum/webbbs_config.pl?read=6751
> So what do you think?

> Has the internet, combined with the fear of
> anthrax, killed off direct mail as a
> promotional medium?

> Or has the lower competition in fact made it
> a better medium than ever?

> - Dien Rice

Michael ~

Had to smile when I read your post heading!

I've seen this post topic on a number of forums recently and only wondered why someone would actually believe that.

There are "Small", everyday people making hundreds a week with a simple two-step method selling specialty products and of course, informational products.

"Bigger" guys are pulling in thousands of dollars in orders each week as you very well know too.

My belief is most folks who frequent the forum scene generally hit 4-5 favorite forums and become "conditioned" to what they read posted by others. We can all agree most who leave links on the forums are links leaning towards Internet Marketing. Therefore we become "conditioned" to Internet Marketing as the only viable thing to do.

The other fact is Internet Marketing is growing so quickly because, those who are generating these numbers aren't willing, as a rule, to put their money at risk. At risk with classified/display ads. At risk with purchasing a mailing list. At risk with the costs associated with the mailing itself.

Yes... For these individuals, DM could be dead. But for those in the know. For those willing to layout a few hundred dollars a month, the returns are very good when the offer and product hit the mark.

One only needs to watch their mail box to realize Direct Marketing and Direct Response is still the King of Sales.

Success and Regards... Mike




How Much Money Could A Report Make You???

Hi Dien,

"Is direct mail dead, or still alive and kicking?"

A great question! Why? Because people who are serious about making money need to know the truth!

Michael is right... direct mail is not only NOT dying, but is, in fact, growing.

"One only needs to watch their mail box to realize Direct Marketing and Direct Response is still the King of Sales!"

But, you cannot simply go out to your local printer, pay for a bunch of flyers, letters, or postcards and expect to make money.

You MUST be willing to do the WORK first... it's called research! Or, you might want to call it "sweat equity." :-)

Find, out what works and what doesn't... and why!
Become a student of your own daily "junk mail."

Let the "Big Boys," the ones with the really deep advertising/marketing pockets, be your instructors... for FREE!

Quickly go through your mail. Separate the ones that catch your eye from those that don't. Then STUDY them closely.

What *really* caught your eye? The font, color theme, photos, company logo, copy, the offer itself,... ?

Or, did that direct mail "just happen" to arrive at the same time you're considering buying a new car, house, fishing gear,... ?

(Don't forget, people PAY to know what you're doing: applying for loans or credit cards, house hunting, taking vacations, son or daughter getting ready to attend college, your hobbies, and MUCH more!)

Create 2 files... for the ones that work, and for those that don't. And, keep adding to your files.

Next, know exactly what your ROI *must* be to make a profit before you spend a cent... and don't allow yourself to be talked into spending more by your printer or advertising rep.

And lastly... take action, and enjoy the ride!

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot... "Dien, How's this for a ROI?"

On one of my latest projects, here's what I spent on my direct mailing campaign: .13 cents for a sheet of predesigned theme paper, .03 cents for the envelope, and .34 cents for the stamp.

On the 8" X 11" paper, I made a quick offer (only 5 lines), included my business card, and on a "post-it note, I wrote out by hand, "Call me for more information. Cordially, Diane Everroad"

Total cost: a mere .50 cents. Price of service: $360 (with the possibility of adding a 2nd service for an additional $150).

So, for my .50 cents I get a return of $360 (ROI of 720... with additional service it goes up to a whooping ROI of 1020!)

So, I for one, have to say, "Yes, Direct Mail *does* still work!"

Again, Dien... great question!

Cordially,
Diane Everroad




It Works!

Hi Diane,

Thanks, good post. I hope your promotion goes well!

I guess I agree in that I think that direct mail will probably never "die", but other forms of direct response marketing may become more popular over time.

Diane, sorry about my slow response, lately I've gotten myself a little bit sick. Nothing major, but it does slow me down. Hopefully I'll be recovered soon. :)

- Dien

> Can anyone tell me if it is profitable or not to have 5 websites selling the ebooks advertised in Instant Internet Empires? Im halfway into setting it up myself and now I ran out of disk space on my hard drive(downloading too many items)and now I have to decide whether to upgrade my hard drive for this project or to quit altogether. Your expedient advice to me at [email protected] will be greatly appreciated.