So Bad It Works

mahlere

it's not new...i first learned of it about 8-9 yrs ago...the exact same thing..bad grammar, etc...and it wasn't new when I learned about it.

it works as well as any other form of direct mail advertising...sometimes yes, sometimes no...

mahlere

the answer is easy..

look at every successful business out there...they all follow the same principles. the very same principles that are written about in 1000 business books at your local book store...it's obvious that following those principles increase your odds of being a successful business...so why do so many businesses disregard all the principles and try to reinvent the wheel?

LNG24

This is exactly how all those Fly By Night (Organized Crime, but not of the Italian kind) work. They "pepper" and area with flyers like this, as well as have one of the guys knocking on neighbors doors while they are doing the work. They hit an area and move on. The work is always shoddy and most people are ripped off for something or other.

Out here they seem to like, Driveway Sealing and Roofing.

mahlere

out of the box direct mail does not necessarily equal an Irish Traveler or a Grifter

however, that assumption may be why more people don't stray from traditional advertising methods...

LNG24

Thanks, I could nto remember what they were called, but I didn't mean to say this guy was, only that the methode WORKS! If it works for a bunch of crooks year after year, and people have been warned and warned about them, and they still are able to do it, then it works.

FYI: Last group I know that got busted were from Albania.

Publisher1

I have no concerns about this contractor's integrity -- I'm satisfied he is running a reputable business -- though he is proving hard to reach for follow-up, apparently (according to family sources) because he is so busy working!

The issue here (and this may be speculation) is that what really matters is his ability to discern from the exterior of the houses he visits they need the service he is offering -- since it is visible from the outside. That 'connection' may be far more important than the perceived quality of his marketing materials.

Our family would not respond positively to this kind of marketing but of course we are writers/communicators and may not be the typical clients he is seeking to serve.

Hopefully he'll see that positive publicity, no matter what the form, is good for business. But if he has all the work he can handle because of his handwritten note, who am I to judge he is wrong!

dougchips

Don't take this the wrong way.....if he is onto something you should be the last person on his list to tell about it. You would publish the idea (giving him credit) and all of the other contractors would steal his idea. Actually, by posting his idea on this forum you did publish his idea.

__________________
To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

Publisher1

Fair enough. He certainly wasn't seeking publicity. It was accidental he dropped his note at our household!
My goal is to disseminate interesting and useful information and, where possible, look beyond the stereotypes of "good business practice". This forum, in fact, is one of my best sources of knowledge and insight. Obviously, in this case, the advertising/marketing industry is not going to want to broadcast his model as best practices, either -- there's no money to be made for publishers and advertising companies if his method works the best and is widely followed. So it is likely few will emulate the example. I will write my story (for printed publication) tomorrow using quotes attributed within this thread. I will send through his family contact a draft and see ifhe responds.