Postcard Design

Mellison

I use these guys: www.postcardmania.com .
One stop shopping at its finest. Design, mailing list and mailing.
Excellent customer service.

__________________
"Enjoy Every Sandwich" Warren Zevon

Ed the Roofer

I actually take the time to read almost all of Joy's e-mails and listen to her PodCasts.

She is a good example of continuous marketing to acquire new and repeated business.

Ed

__________________
Please Stay Tuned For A Very Important Message From Our Sponsor
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

Mellison

As well as one hell of a business woman. What a great company with outstanding customer service.
Each conversation with one of her employees was like a B-12 shot.
What an energetic / positive group of people. And that was after they made the sale.

__________________
"Enjoy Every Sandwich" Warren Zevon

Bryan C

Haven't you found their rates for mailing a little high? No reason jumbo post cards can't be mailed for .18 each. However, PM quoted me about .25 per card?

__________________
Bryan Corns
Owner, Hydroblast Pressure Cleaning Inc.
Indianapolis Power Washing Contractor
YouTube Video

rbsremodeling

You get what you pay for

__________________

Ed the Roofer

Okay, what does that .25 cents per card include and for what quantities?

I am going to be starting a large and continuous campaign pretty soon and pennies will add up to thousands by the time it is done.



1. Printing Costs for the size you chose?

2. What Size? What upcharge or downcharge for different options?

3. 4 color front and 4 color rear? Or what?

4. Minimum amount to be mailed?

5. Radius targeted address mailings or zip code in entirety?

6. Mailing list included?

7. Follow up contact list option or included and how much if an option?

8. Total volume printed at once?

9. Anything else I didn't ask?



Send me an e-mail and phone number if you can and I will give you a call if you don't mind.
eddiesdad@sbcglobal.net

I want my first campaign to start in about 2 weeks, so time is of the essence and I am hurting and need to save my pennies, seriously.

Ed

__________________
Please Stay Tuned For A Very Important Message From Our Sponsor
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

fez-head

Please keep us posted Ed.

thanks

Mike Finley

Hey why da hell haven't we gotten a group rate on any of this stuff yet?? DUH! We (collectively) give a lot of business to foot bridge, that designer guy and a few others, we or maybe some of these vendors ought to figure this out and get a group rate going for their services to our members, maybe a 15% off for members here or work coming from here.

Seems like a no brainer to me.

MattCoops

I usually just click on the google picture ad at bottom of postings. So if I don't use the service at least Nathan gets his cents from the advertising conglamerate.

__________________
Matt with Cupan Custom Tile & Paint of Lowell, Massachusetts
Design and installation of ceramic tile and natural stone for floor, wall, and countertops
(978) 601-8774 | cupantile@gmail.com | view tile pictures and more

Bryan C

Huh? Mailing the same rate (standard) through the same USPS should cost .07 more per card for the same thing?

Believe me, I have looked at PM. I have found that I can get my cards printed much cheaper - same card stock, than PM. I can get a detailed demographic mailing list - infousa - from a mailing house much cheaper than PM. I can also send the same cards via the USPS cheaper than PM. So I am having a hard time understanding your logic...

__________________
Bryan Corns
Owner, Hydroblast Pressure Cleaning Inc.
Indianapolis Power Washing Contractor
YouTube Video

Ed the Roofer

Bryan,

Could you provide the specifics in sizes, quantities and prices please.

Ed

__________________
Please Stay Tuned For A Very Important Message From Our Sponsor
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

Bryan C

Below is directly from my invoice. $368 for multi-use demographic list. Obviously pay that one time. I then pay sorting and postage fees of $1100 per mailing (5,000 cards).

I have the cards printed and shipped directly to the mail house. I give them the dates and out they go...


Data Processing

1 List Purchase (5,000) records, income and age of home select, 281.25000 $281.25
multi-use -
1 Download Data File - 35.00000 $35.00
5,000 CASS / Addr. Standardize - 0.00400 $20.00
5,000 Presort Data / Postal Docs - 0.00400 $20.00
5,000 Ink Jet File Prep - 0.00250 $12.50

SubTotal:

$368.75

Lettershop

1 Setup Machine - Inkjet with Indicia 35.00000 $35.00
5,000 Inkjet Print Pro - Postcard,Glossy/Coated Stock,Address and 0.01500 $75.00
Indicia
5,000 Sort, Tray, Band - Standard Mail - Letter 0.00800 $40.00
1 Permit Usage - 10.00000 $10.00
1 Postal Docs and Delivery - 25.00000 $25.00

SubTotal: $185.00

Postage

*Postage must be received 24 hours in advance of mail date
*This estimate is valid for 30 days and is subject to change based
on review of 'live' data and material

Sub Total:

$553.75

Tax:

$19.69

Total Services: $573.44
Postage:

$915.00

Total Incl. Postage:

$1,488.44

Std Reg Auto 5-Digit Ltr. 5,000 0 oz. 0.183 $915.00

Postage Sub Total: $915.00

__________________
Bryan Corns
Owner, Hydroblast Pressure Cleaning Inc.
Indianapolis Power Washing Contractor
YouTube Video

Ed the Roofer

__________________
Please Stay Tuned For A Very Important Message From Our Sponsor
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

Bryan C

Ed -

Keith designs my cards. I have three versions made, each with only a minor difference so I can track the results.

I then have them printed and shipped by GotPrint directly to my local mailing house. We have already narrowed down my demographics and specific addresses. He ships them out at various intervals chosen by me with different versions of the card.

It is pretty much painless. I wasn't certainly trying to knock Postcard Mania as I know there are a lot of people that use them. However, when you break down the costs of each item, you can save money by doing a search in your area for a mailing house. They are usually small businesses, just like ours, and not out to make a huge profit on every sale. I like the fact that I know my cards are being mailed locally as opposed to from across the country (Clearwater, Florida in the case of PM).

Good luck. Let me know how it turns out...

__________________
Bryan Corns
Owner, Hydroblast Pressure Cleaning Inc.
Indianapolis Power Washing Contractor
YouTube Video

outlaw

I tried PM and was dissapointed with the cost and results. No thank you. I can do a whole lot better myself.

MEL

The discount offer should have an expiration date.

__________________
MEL

Ed the Roofer

I just got an e-mail ad from a postcard/marketing company named Markots.com, that advertised .32 cents per postcard including mailing costs.

Ed

http://www.markots.com/forms/postcard_form.htm

*32 cents/piece includes:

Custom design
List by zip code or radius
Print-both sides, color, gloss
Mail-postage paid!
(minimum 4,000 pieces. Small quantity mailings also available)

Call TODAY or reply to this email
for more information!

(877) 946-7253
www.MARKOTS.com

We Also Provide:

Targeted Postcard Campaigns
(New Movers List, Birthdays, Businesses, etc)

Door Hangers Campaigns

Email Campaigns

__________________
Please Stay Tuned For A Very Important Message From Our Sponsor
http://www.rightwayroofingcompany.com/ www.rightwayroofingcompany.com
Roof Estimates, Roof Repairs, Roofers, Roof Leak Help, Elgin, Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, Algonquin, South Elgin, Huntley, Lake In The Hills, Illinois

Mike Finley

Just a couple of thoughts for you direct mail lovers.

#1 32 cents, 42 cents... like contractors... you almost always will get what you pay for. Postcards/printing quality/mailing accuracy/customer service all will vary with the price you pay. Just like the lowest price contractor usually comes with a compromise, the lowest price postcard mailer usually comes with a compromise.

Make damn sure you have them include your mailing address in whatever mailing you do. Don't just let them send you a copy of the postcard piece stuffed in a manilla evelope and mailed separetly to you, you want to see what your mailing looks like to your audience. You might be in for a big ass suprise when you get it. I've never seen a discount direct mail house with the lowest price without some compromise going along with it. Usually it's inconsistant printing, dark or muddy, washed out or off kilter.. something. You will get what you pay for. If your buisness relies on a top quality image, be darn careful with what your printing looks like.

Secondly, there is no more expensive marketing medium then direct mail.

30-50 cents per view is a relatively large amount of money to spend to get infront of a lead, especially when the majority of people will toss out your piece and never look at it.

If you look around and start thinking differently you should be able to discoiver how to get your costs down to as low as 3-6 cents per person in other mediums or even if you aren't the top dog, end all marketing genius you should with some work be able to get yourself down to at least the 10-15 cent range.

Direct mail is what it is, it isn't cheap, but I think for some reason a lot of people think that it's a relatively inexpensive marketing method, it actually one of the most expensive going and only getting more expensive since you are a captive audience of the USPS who's favorite method of dealing with waste and inefficiency is to simply raise the cost of a stamp every 6 months.

rbsremodeling

I agree with Mike. I have never understood the random mailings. Even though you narrow it down it is still random.

Random Direct Mail or Home shows will never see a dime of my advertising budget.

If I was on a block working, I would directmail that block every week until I left the job.

Or if I were coming in for a 1-2 week job. I would direct mail that block 1-2 weeks before, during and after I leave for a predetermined period of time.

__________________

MEL

Direct Mail is a reliable lead source. The reason it is still used after a hundred years or more is because it works. Billions of dollars per year on invested in direct mail by companies that know they are getting a return on investment.

Are there some direct mail campaigns that are a total flop? Yes

Are there some direct mail campaigns that produce more profit than any other medium? Yes

There are lot variables that influence the outcome.

The List:
Who is on the list?
How did they qualify to be on the list?
How accurate are the names and addresses?

The Message
Does it sell to the prospects values?
Does it get attention?
Does it give them a reason to call you instead of a competitor?

On and on it goes.

What counts is your cost per sale compared to other mediums. A well run mail campaign could easily out perform a Google Adwords campaign for example.

I’m not saying you should choose one over the other. You should always have more that one way of bringing in business. You should always be refining your marketing to make it more effective.

__________________
MEL