Everything Mail Order

Almost everyone has heard of mail order brides. For the most part, this term has some negative connotations with it that you will have to overcome to understand the positive aspects of what they entail. Basically, mail order brides are women from other countries who are looking for serious relationships outside of their place of residence. Many of these women come from poor nations and are looking to get away. This should never reflect on the person as many of them struggle to find relationships where they live and are looking for positive change just like you are.

It is important to put aside any bias you may have about mail order brides before you delve into the world of online dating in other countries. Many people have the unfortunate opinion that these relationships are based on empty passion and have no chance of working – but he fact is that a person who is interested in mail order brides is typically someone who wants to be in a serious relationship or married. Many people from other countries are used to arranged marriages and even find them preferable because they are traditional. Marriages through mail order brides services can find just as much success.

The truth is that over 80% of arranged marriages through mail order brides services have outlasted marriages formed through non-traditional methods. Obviously, the success of these relationships is relative and depends completely upon the people who are involved. There is no way to guarantee success, obviously, but there is a statistically better chance at finding success. It is important to take the process seriously and not rest on your laurels when considering mail order brides. The relationship still takes work and a great deal of patience and understanding.

The most positive aspect of mail order brides is that you know the intention. Many dating services can leave ambiguous desires for the people involved and it can be hard to determine if you are right for each other or not. Mail order brides do not necessarily come with a requirement for marriage, but most people who are interested in the process are people who want something serious from the relationship, hence the brides aspect of the term. While it can be a daunting prospect for many, it is a relief for others who are looking to avoid some of the dating prospects of other sites.

Mail order brides may not be for everyone, but the fact remains that many people find success with arranged or long distance marriages. There is a no frills approach to the relationship and the goals for both people are shared. While the idea of a bride from another country may seem strange to many people in the United States, arranged marriages like those offered by mail order brides services have been around for centuries and are still going strong.

http://www.squidoo.com/success-of-online-dating

http://www.scanna.com/

1. success of online dating

(leading to happy marriages etc. when using good website service)

2. Russian and European online dating

(Beautiful & sophisticated women also use online dating service to find husbands)

3. mail order brides

By: Tlc08

About the Author:

Website content

WHY ARE YOU WRITING THIS BROCHURE OR SALES LETTER?

A great deal of money is wasted each day in putting useless sales and marketing material. Materialthat was written for the wrong reason or the writer forgot its purpose after he started writing it or fell in love with his own words.

The single purpose of any marketing communications is to get the reader to take action… That action may be to request additional information or to phone in or send in an order. Before you write any marketing document be sure you are clearly focused on this point. As you write each sentence and each paragraph, constantly ask yourself whether what you are writing will get your prospect to act.

It is easy to get sidetracked but don’t fall into this trap.. Your purpose is not to tell the readers how clever you are or how great your company is to try to entertain your reader. Your only objective in writing this material is to get your prospect

to:

1. Send in or call in an order.

2. Obtain more information, if that is your intent.

So, before you write your material, write down its purpose and then stick to it.  The focus should always be on the prospect, not the writer!

All of us are barraged with direct mail pieces every day. Have you noticed how many of them, even in the opening paragraph, miss the point which is you the reader and your needs.

Here are two examples. Both were written by magazines with the purpose, I assume, to get the reader to spend advertising dollars. You decide which one is doing the job.

I. Avertiser’s Introductory Special

Advertiser:

The XYZ Magazine is a monthly national mail order newspaper which is circulated by mail… Our readership of 1,000,000 are mail order responsive subscribers, Opportunity Seekers,

Investors, Salespeople, etc.

2. Looking Fora A Fresh Start?

Millions of Americans have a dream, and that dream is to become rich and successful in an exciting, lucrative business of their own — What better way than to start through classified advertising.

When you receive a sales letter or brochure that focuses on you, don’t you take notice and get further into the material?

Make it a practice, at least until you become more experienced to scan each and every promotional piece that is sent to you. You will quickly establish the difference between effective and

ineffective material.

Some Research Will be Helpful

Writing the right material but directing it to the wrong person is fatal. Don’t you often get married, especially direct mail pieces, which have absolutely nothing to do with your needs or

interests.

Know who you are writing to and what that person wants.. How can he benefit by what you have to offer. One way you can accomplish this is by picking out those classified or display ads that

resemble what you want to sell. Then send in for more information.. You soon learn how the product is being marketed by different companies.

The very best way to write material that reaches the prospect is by writing to one person rather than writing for mass appeal.. Itwill keep your style easy and friendly.

Lethargy is human nature and overcoming it will be one of your greatest challenges… Most of us are lethargic by nature.. If we can do it tomorrow or nest week, why not.. People feel if they don’t take any action they cannot make a mistake. Every marketer has the formidable challenge of overcoming theses “Non-action Tendencies.”

The anxiety/fear syndrome can be effectively used to overcome the above… For example: “This is a limited offer.” This offer must be exercised by date…Be believable in what you are saying. Consider using testimonials, government studies, well known research, etc. to aid you in making your point.

For example, research pertaining to the start of any enterprise indicates that before any business can be started, someone initially has an idea and then at some crucial moment takes the

first step.. It is when he translates the mental commitment into a physical act. This may be the purchase of a book, report, franchise, distributorship, going out and looking for a site for a retail outlet. etc.

This is why you see so many marketing documents how the marketer uses this fact in trying to overcome the resistance of inaction. There are many other ways you will think of in overcoming this

resistance.

Features of you product or service such as how fast you deliver something, what color it is,, how it can be assembled are far less important to the buyer than benefits are to him.

The benefit of sitting on you new outdoor furniture, on your patio on a warm summer evening and enjoying a cool beer are far more important than the fact that this outdoor furniture is

constructed of the finest material,, comes in four different colors, is delivered in 10 days and has a 30 day money back guaranty.

All you have to do is to watch the car commercials, of the manufacturers, not the dealers. What is the last time you have seen one that gives you much, if any information on the car.

What do you see in many of these T.V. car commercials? Beautiful women, healthy looking young men, a beautiful sunset on the Pacific Ocean, and wonderful background music. The shiny new

car, of course, is part of the scenery. But none of it really has anything to do with what a car provides, transportation, reliability, performance, etc.

There are many way in which you can turn features into benefits by carefully weaving it all together. The fact that this lawn furniture you are selling is delivered in just 10 days brings

the benefit of sitting on it, on a summer evening……so much faster to your buyer.

Making an Offer and Asking for the Order

It is a mistake to leave it up to the prospect to take action and when to take it. If you leave it up to your prospect what to do and when to do it you may never get the order. He will

have many distractions after he puts your offer down. The more time goes by, the less likely he will send an order. Sogive him a reason to take action NOW. You have already told him why he will benefit by your product.

Your prospect already has decided that he needs what you are offering because of the great benefits to him. Now, give him a compelling reason why he should act, now.

Making the Various Pieces of Your Material Fit

Your sales letter, your brochure, etc. must fit. Since you want to do a better job than your competitor and this takes time and effort, chances are very good that whatever you create is worked

on over a period of time.. The brochure may be created one week and the sales letter a few days later.. Make sure that it all fits and complements each other. Stick to your original outline which should be written down before you ever get started.

Some Final Thoughts

After it is all done give it one more review. Wait a couple of days and read it again. Then ask these questions: Is it directed to the prospect or is it about me. Is it of benefit to him? Am I

making my strongest benefit. I think that is dead wrong.. Research indicates that the recipient of a direct mail piece takes about 8 seconds to decide whether to read on. So, give it your very best shot right at the start.

You are satisfied it is the best you can create. If you have come to that point it is important you get someone else confirm that for you. This should be someone who does not have a material interest in your offer.

When you create great marketing piece and it gets you the results which you planned for — more orders, more revenue and more profit– you will feel very good. Getting there is half as difficult as it may seem. All it takes is a little practice and a little more practice.

Wishing you success always

By: Temitope Ogundiran

About the Author:

mail order

21 Items Anyone Can Easily Sell By Mail

In order to make money by mail, you need to have something to sell which others will want to buy.  Everyone makes money by selling something of value to someone else.  Some folks arecontent to sell “a little of themselves” one hour at a time. Others want to work for themselves and sell their own products or services to others.

Those individuals who desire to make more than just a few bucks per hour need  to have their own product or service to offer to the rest of the world.  For those individuals, this presentation was prepared.  With the information, suggestions, and information listed in this report, you could Price It, Advertise It and Sell It!

You see… most of the guesswork, trial and error has been removed.  This report has 21 plans and suggestions.  It is NOT meant to be the “last and final authority”.  It is more than enough to give you a good idea, to encourage you to get started and to begin receiving money in your mail box often.  You’ll learn more as you go along.  You’;ll run across other offers and

maybe some better deals.  The best advice is:  go slow, test and try every offer that appeals to you!  See what works and what doesn’t.  Stay with the things that produce results.

So, To Begin With… What Can You Sell to Others by Mail?

If you have nothing, besides yourself and your time, it is quite simple to create  something to sell to others or to offer to do something for someone else that they can’t or won’t do for themselves.

What follows are IDEAS and TESTED PLANS (by others) which youcan begin to advertise and sell to others by MAIL ORDER!

1. A Circular Mailing Business.

Sample Ad:

FAST CIRCULAR MAILING

3×6 and 5×8…………… 1 cent each

8-1/2×11……………… 2 cents each

1000 8-1/2x 11………… $15.00 Minimum (200 of each kind)

This is an inexpensive and easy way to begin.  Offer to mail circulars (distribute them by mail) to prospective buyers. Youcharge a fee for this service, by asking for a set rate per week or per month or per sheet charge.  (Write and request information from other advertised offers.  Ask questions that you would like answers to on starting and operating this type of business.  Know what is involved and know what you are doing before you begin.)  If you advertise, let other companies know how much you charge to distribute their circulars.

2. Sell Packages of Mail Order Offers.

Sample ad:

QUALITY BIG MAIL! Packed with top mail order publications, discount ad rates, money making opportunities, dealership offers.  FREE mailing list, FREE Big Mail Listing and much more. Everything rushed to you first-class mail for only $2.00! Order Today!

This ad shows that one company usually charges $2.00 for their Big Mail.  You can offer a “BIG MAIL” for $1.00 or $2.00… Keep all the money and have this company fill your orders for free. Write the ones you like for details.  Buy other “Big Mails”. Offer your own for $1.00.  You make money both ways.  Companies pay you to distribute their circulars… AND your customers pay you to be sent one.

Note:  It is very strongly recommended that you first contact each company you are interested in doing business with prior to your placing any ads and offering any companies products to others by mail!

3. Operate a Commission Mailing Business

This is different from item 1 above, in that you are not paid a fee or collect any monies up front, to mail each circular.  If you mail “Commission Circulars” for other companies, you agree to “take your cut” or commission from the orders received.  This can be MUCH MORE profitable!  A lot of Mail Order companies are willing to allow YOU to keep HALF the money from each order as your commission for getting the order.  Usually each circular has a space for YOU to put your name on each one before you mail them out.  Your name will be the only one on each.  All orders will come to you.  You keep your share of each order, forward

the remainder onto the company that supplied that circular and they will (usually) forward the item direct to your customer for you, under your name.  (This is called “dropshipping”.  For Mail Order sources, you place ads which ask for “Dealerships” from such companies or look for ads which ask for “Dealers Wanted”.

4. Contact Sources to Sell Their Products

Sample ad:

Dealers Wanted.  Moneymaking Plans & Ideas!  Ideal home mailorder business.  Up to 1300% profit.  No inventory.  Wedropship.  Send $2.00 for 64-page catalog.  Dealer details and wholesale prices.  Satisfaction guaranteed.  ACT TODAY!

An ad like this one, is placed by a Mail Order company who are seeking dealers to sell their products.  Write them and ask for all necessary details.

5. Sell Money-Making, Mail Order Plans

Sample Ad:

$10 Orders Filled Free!  Easiest, most profitable mail order program yet.  Get easy $10 cash sales and keep all the money yourself.  Don’t wait – send now for free details now!!  Rush SASE to:

Write and ask for Dealer details, or their sales aids for Commission Mailers.  You may have to buy their book (or whateverthey are selling) before you can offer it to others.

6. Purchase or Type Up Your Own and Sell Short Informative Reports.

Sample Ad:

FREE REPORT$.  38 $MONEY MAKER$.  Fill YOUR pockets with $CASH$, plus FREE reprint rights.  Just a LSASE.

Besides selling a various list of suppliers, you can type up short, one to four page, reports on a multitude of subjects, like “Where to Get Free Advertising”, “Big Profits – Selling Information”, “How to Write Profit Pulling Sales Letters and Circulars”.  You can type up other reports that you create for greater profits.  Get reports Printed; Advertise; Sell It!

7. Type Up, Print and Sell Your Own Booklet or Directory.

A booklet of several pages in length is no more difficult than typing up a few reports and stapling them together.  Look at this short booklet:  It is a model for how to do it.  Have this “camera ready” booklet printed, (minimum 50 each) and sell it to others.  (You can give copies away, hoping for sales later on, from your ads that appear in this booklet.)  You can even sell

copies to other dealers and let them sell it as their own.  You can advertise and sell quantities direct.

8. Offer a Name Listing Service.

Advertise that you will send your customer’s name to hundreds of other Mail Order companies.  Charge a small fee for this service.  Once you have a few hundred names of interested, paying customers, type up their names on sheets and have copies made.  Advertise these as “Names of Prospective Customers”. Mail Order Dealers and other companies will pay you 3 cents,

current price or MORE for each name.  Sell the same names to ALL who are willing to buy them.  You get PAID to accumulate names and you get PAID when you sell the names.  You make money from both ends.  No way you can lose on this deal!  Keep advertising your listing service (charge $1 to $3 to each person to list their name).  This can be a “Money Maker”!!

9. Sell Names of Mail Order Buyers by Mail.

Sample Ad:

Mailing Lists.  Opportunity Seekers.  Fresh Daily.  On Peel & Stick Labels.  These “Hot Lists” really pull.  Buy direct from the source.

If you have your own names of past customers, type their names and addresses on sheets of paper or on labels.  Sell them for 3 cents to 6 cents each or current prices. Or buy names from others and sell their lists to your customers.  It can make money for you.

10. Start a Club and Sell Memberships To It.

What kind of club?  You can start any kind of club you want.  A stamp club, cooking club, pen-pal club, a writers or readers club, coupon or discount club, you name it.  Each new member joining pays a fee.  List all members on a roster.

11. Issue a Monthly Bulletin or Club “Newsletter”

Once you have your club going, ask for contributions of notes and news from members, including you own. Put it in a Newsletter, sell subscriptions to it.  Sell it to members,  for a fair monthly or yearly fee, but realize a small profit from it.  Sell ad space . Members can list their wants and needs in it and it will be read by all members.

12. Offer a Typing Service.

Many people don’t know how to type or even have a typewriter. Charge so much per page… $4 to $6 or more for difficult copy.

Type resumes, salesletters, college papers, reports, bulletins, circulars, instructions, copywriting, newsletters, etc.  It must

be sharp, clean and error free.  Advertise your services in local papers and/or yellow pages.

13. Offer a Card Mailing Service.

Others may be too busy or too forgetful so you do their card mailing for them… For a Fee!  Arrange in writing all details

to mail their birthday, anniversary, Christmas cards, etc. for them each year.  They supply the names and addresses, etc.

Advertise it and let others know.

14. A Mail Forwarding Service.

Forward mail for other people.  This is great if you live near some well known site.  Others send you their cards and letters,

you then remail them from your location, but charge them up front by the letter or a straight fee.

15. An Advice/Consultation Service.

People will be happy to pay some expert for their advice.  Why give away your knowledge or wisdom?  Charge people to hear your

advice.  This is accomplished in person, fact sheet, statistical sheet or by newsletter.  Financial advice, investment advice,

marriage help, crafts, building, planting and so many, many other topics.  Everyone of us knows something that few others

know.  Charge people to learn it from you.

16. Re-writing or Ads and Sales-Circulars, etc.

A great many people don’t know how to put their thoughts and ideas into simple, every day sentences.  If you know how to

string words together, sell that ability to others.  Re-write their ads and circulars, letters or reports or whatever.

Advertise it.  Charge by the hour, per item or by the inch.

Note:  Send LSASE means that the advertiser needs your help to get more details to you quicker.  He wants you to send a long

self-addressed stamped envelope along with your letter.

17. Make Money With Your Computer

Sample Ad:

HOW TO GET RICH with your Microcomputer.  SECRETS REVEALED.  No experience necessary.  Potential tax break!  Invest in YOUR

future.  CASH IN ON THE $100 BILLION COMPUTER INDUSTRY.  Order Book #XXXX.

Lots of people have their own computer and lots of people wish they could afford one.  If you have one, rent it out, sell its

abilities and make yours pay for itself.  With local advertising and word of mouth you may find more work than you can handle.

PLUS… receive a nice income doing something you enjoy. Visit your library or local book store for books or manuals regarding

how to start up this type of business.  Individuals, business persons, etc, need and will find your services very necessary.

18. Sell “Made to Order” Stamps by Mail.

Sample Ad:

RUBBER STAMPS.  Made to order and stock rubber stamps.  3 lines $2.25 ppd.  Additional lines 50 cents each.  Signature stamps

$7.00 ppd.  25 unmounted 1 line stamps $5.50 ppd.  Catalog 50

cents.

This is a VERY needed and popular item to sell by mail.  The cost is low and you make a nice profit per sale.  Read and study

ads you’ll always find in Mail Order publications.  Send for their rates along with a letter asking for ways on how to get

started in this type of business.

“PPd.” means the advertiser will pay all additional postage or shipping costs… And that you need not send along any extra to

pay postage.

19. Sell Labels and Stickers by Mail

Sample Ad:

DESIGN LABELS.  Designs created for product labels, stickers. Free details.

Again, your need to contact sources and ask for dealer details or sales aids for commission agents. Some may not want or need

dealers.  Some who advertise may not be the source.  They may be another dealer of the source.  Write and ask.

20. Start/Operate a Profitable Newsletter Home Business.

Join the smart ones who presently write simple or sophisticated styled NEWSLETTERS.  If you do possess GOOD IDEA, VALUABLE

ADVICE, OPTIONS OR INFORMATION or have access to any one of these, you will find that this is all that is really needed to

get you started in selling valuable information that thousands of people are looking for, and profit handsomely while doing so.

Thousands of newsletters are being published covering almost any subject you can imagine.  EVEN YOURS.

21. Selling Recipes.

Pick out one or several of your very best recipes.  Ask Grandma or Mom to write down their very own original delicious creations.  Whether from city, farm or the “old country” these unique recipes can be sold through classified ads.  Pin money or big money, it’s there waiting for you.

Let meet at the top!

By: Temitope Ogundiran

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content

INTRODUCTION

Much of the following text is based on mistakes, some of them  costly ones, which I made during the early part of my mail order career.  In addition, I have worked with many people over  the years and have observed the most common mistakes that are made over and over again by most entrants into this business.

THE GREAT MAIL ORDER MYTH

There are a number of totally unrealistic and irrational beliefs about the mail order business. To believe in any of them can be

dangerous to your pocketbook. Here are some of the most common  ones:

1. It is possible to make vast amounts of money in a short period of time under the following conditions:

a. No experience

b. Little or no investment

c. Insignificant work effort

If this were a multiple choice test, then A, B, and C, would be FALSE– FALSE AND FALSE AGAIN

It does take experience, and knowledge, which can be acquired through reading, observing, and doing… There are many good books as well as some bad ones, on the mail order business. Stay away from books that make unreasonable promises. Our Special Report Series is designed to give you factual  information on a specific subject. Universities and colleges across the country give courses in mail order and direct mail.

You can learn a great deal by observing companies that have been around for some time and are successful. Read their ads,

study their offers and promotional literature. Some of the most effective direct mail offers are written by professional

writers who are employed by large companies and who will not have a job unless they write successful and effective material.

So, the next time you throw away a piece of mail from American Express or the Book of the Month Club, look at it and study

it carefully.

The mail order business, like any business, requires an investment… It may be smaller, in many cases, than a business which requires a store front.. In most cases, mail order entrepreneurs launch their businesses from their homes. The amount of the investment is largely determined by the magnitude of the entrepreneur’s effort. A part-time mail order business can be gotten off the ground for less than a thousand dollars…  The belief however, that a business,

any business, can be started for $50 or $100 is totally false. I might add, it can be very profitable to those who make their living telling people it can be done.. of course, they are usually the ones that want, and often get, the only $50 they say it takes to start the business.

And now we get to the really good part–little or no work. In some peoples’ minds, it goes something like this: Put in a few hours here and there, easy work, just stuff some envelopes, run a few ads; and wow, the money will be pouring into the mail box! Anyone who believe that probably also believes they are going to win a few million dollars in the lottery. The odds are not very far apart. Building a business, mail order or any other, is hard work.. It takes great perseverance, belief in your efforts and lots of work.

2. Many people belive that they can get lucky in this business. Don’t believe it for a minute.. It is the greatest mail order myth of them all. To belive it is fatal. Look at this business in the same way you once looked at your job anytime you first began to learn a new skill. It took time to acquire those skills and this is no different. It will take time and also effort.

3. Finding the one book or product that thousands or even millions will buy. Well, it is obviously possible since it has been done, however, your chances of coming up with another Pet Rock or Rubik’s Cube are highly unlikely. It is equally unlikely that you will discover the one book that will be bought by hundreds of thousands. But your chances of becoming a success in this business and making a lot of money are excellent, if you adhere to the rules and principles of the business.

4. Running a small ad in a national magazine and getting hundreds or even thousands of orders.

5. Renting a mailing list of 1,000 names and getting 150 to 200 orders. A very good list will generally produce no more than 2%

to 3%, 20 to 30 orders for 1000 names. Your own list may do much better.

There are a few of the ,most common beliefs about our business that are almost always totally false.

PRODUCT CHOICE

Since my experience in the mail order business is exclusively in the area of selling information products, my comments will be most

pertinent to that segment of the market. However, much of the

information covered here is applicable to any product sold by mail.

The first task any new entrant into this business has to deal with is to determine what product to sell and to whom he will sell it.. This is a considerable task and it should not be taken lightly.. Many serious errors are committed in this area.. To become well informed in this area, it is necessary to read various publications that cater to those people to whom you wish to sell your products. REad the news content and study the ads. Send in for free information on those ads that are close to the products that you select have an ongoing demand so your customers will want to buy from you again and again.

During this early stage of your mail order career, it is of utmost importance to control your enthusiasm. If you don’t, you will get drawn into the SHOTGUN APPROACH. In this scenario, you will be so enthusiastic and impatient that you will make a

number of rapid moves such as the following: You will buy one or more distributorships; choose one or more products that you know a little about (it amazes me beyond belief that people make marketing decisions about products they have not seen–this is simply insane): run one or more of the publications; or rent a mailing list and have no idea how the names on that list were accumulated.

Needless to say, you can spend a thousand dollars or more in a hurry and you may get little or no results from your efforts.. And what is even worse, you will probably become discouraged and get out of the business before you had a chance to understand it at all.

When choosing a product, take care in considering all aspects

associated with the marketing of it.. The most important considerations are:

demand and repeat demand

Cost and mark-up potential

Shipping or dropshipping arrangements

Reliability of your major suppliers

Product storage in case you decide to do your own shipping

Cost of shipping

The most important consideration in choosing a product or line of products is your belief that this product represents a service or need to your potential customer. The product or products must also have related products that can be sold to your customer at a later time.. Each product you sell should be marketed with the aim of selling additional products. This is why, in general, selling just one product is so very difficult and selling a line of products via a catalog for example, is so effective… A versus a single one. The more items you can sell each customer, and the more repeat sales

you can generate, the more money you will make.

THE PROMOTIONAL OFFER

Once you have chosen your product, set the price, decide who your supplier is going to be and how it will be shipped, you

begin to put together the marketing material.. This is more crucial in our business than in any other business and it is also precisely the reason why a percentage of the population will not buy by mail—because they cannot see, smell or fell the product until they have paid for it.

The most common mistake committed in this area is to duplicate exactly what another enterprise is doing. One of the big problems with this approach is, since there is so much plagiarism going on in this business, you may be copying someone who is just as new in this business as you are and who is also copying someone else’s idea. It is OK to copy what others are successfully doing example, many companies in the information product line will provide their dealers

or distributors with ready-made promotional material. In most cases, this is the least expensive way to get started and, if you are dealing with a reputable and successful company, you will be promoting products that have been proven successful.

It is recommended however, that you use this approach only until you get your feet wet. Then you should begin to develop your own material. Once you have a better understanding of what sells and who is buying it and why, develop your own brochure, circular, etc.  You can still utilize the material of others as an addition or follow-up to your material. Developing your own material is not at all difficult and can be done professionally and effectively on a rather

small budget. A good promotional offer consists of several important components which include:

The circular or brochure, or catalog. A brochure or catalog does not have to be a 40 page instrument but can be as few as 4 pages.

An effective sales letter

The ordering instrument–this may be a built-in order form, separate order form, etc.

Return envelope

Of the above, the development of the brochure, circular or catalog, is the most expensive so here is where you will most likely use something that is supplied to you by your supplier.. A hard hitting sales letter is as important as the brochure. You have generally three options in tackling this project:

1. You can copy one from someone else. Since an exact copy may be illegal, you should probably use elements of the letter and make some changes but the end result generally leaves much to be desired.

2. You can pay someone to write one for you. This can be very expensive and may still bring about less than desirable

results. The biggest problem here is that the writer of your sales letter will generally not understand your product

as well as you do.

3. Do it the right way, the hard way. Do it yourself.

There are many good publications on effective letter writing for direct marketing and you should read one or more of them. Keep in mind that no one will understand your product as well as you do..

To do a good job, it is a definite requirement that you believe in the product and believe that it has one or more important benefits to the buyer. Just having the desire to sell the product, so it will make money for you,, will not cut it as a rule.. Once you understand the basic components that need to be in every sales letter, you should be able to write one.. A little practice may be necessary. You will become more proficient with each new product.

An order form should be user friendly. Your customer should be able to read the instructions with ease. If your brochure, circular, etc. has a built-in order form, it is generally a good idea to enclose a separate order form.. This way the customer can keep the original offer intact.

Enclosing a return envelope is strongly suggested. The idea is to make it as easy as possible for your potential buyer to part with his money and send it to you without too many hurdles.

The biggest sins are committed under this topic of The Promotional Offer and, since the promotional offer is the only thing your customer sees before deciding if he will buy from you or toss you in the nearest trash can, you must do things right, there are absolutely no exceptions. If you are sloppy here, if you try to save a few bucks, you are cheating yourself, not your customers. Keep in mind he is an expect at rejecting offers since he had many years experience. the average American is presented with approximately 6,000 plus offers to buy something per week–TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, road signs and, last but not least direct mail. Or,putting it into more personal terms, YOUR OFFER. So sweat over this one SO YOU WON’T GET TOSSED.

THe money which is wasted annually in this country on substandard direct mail would make a substantial dent in our country’s national deficit. Every week I see dozens of offers come across my desk that could make me weep.. Such garbage! Return envelopes with crooked rubber stamp imprint, sales letters with spelling errors, grammatical errors, etc., so called brochures which were apparently copied by a 20 year old copying machine.., circulars that look extremely

unprofessional because the order from section has obviously been changed by a typewriter and they arrive all by their lonely selves, no sales letter, no return envelop.. God it is awful! The authors of this garbage are screaming to the world: “! am an amateur, I am an amateur, I have no idea what I am doing but I want your money. You’d better believe and not forget that this country is made up of 240 million of the most sophisticated buyers to be found anywhere on

this globe.

Yet, this is also the area where you can shine and excel beyond your wildest dreams.. Modern technology has given us the tools to produce marketing material that can make you look as good as some of the largest and most successful companies in this country. And you can do it right out of your home. You will find professionals who can help you in this endeavor. Right in your own city there are desktop publishers, graphic designers, and word processing services that are eager to help you. You could get a 4 page brochure designed for as little as approximately $100, in most markets, plus printing. The brochure can look just as good as the brochure of a million dollar company.

Therefore, you must do things right. The average buyer will look at your piece for less than 8 seconds to decide whether to junk it or study it.

To your progress!

By: Temitope Ogundiran

About the Author:

mail order

INTRODUCTION

This information is provided for individuals who are starting a mail order business and require a basic bookkeeping system. It has been written for someone who has little or no bookkeeping background. No income tax or professional advice is rendered. Such advice should be obtained from a CPA or an Attorney.

The operation for any business requires a basic system to keep track of income expenses. There are two good reasons to keep good records.

1. It is the law. The IRS, State Income Tax Division and State Sales Tax Division (where applicable) requires you to keep complete and accurate records.

2. Keeping good records is good business. It helps you to understand your business better. It will let you know at all times how your business is doing — how much money you are making or losing. In addition it enables you to analyze expenses and revenues. You can see how seasonal and other trends develop. All of this will he;p you to make sound business decisions.

BUSINESS CHECKING ACCOUNT

It is best to set-up a separate business checking  account with your bank for your business. This account should be used only fordeposit of business related income and payment of business expenses. In this way you a maintain a distinction between business and personal expenses.

STATE SALES TAX

You are required by law in most states to collect  the appropriate State Sales Tax. This only applies for sales within your state. Out of state purchasers are not charged a sales tax. Only the end-user pays sales tax. If you should be selling to a dealer he can provide you with a sales tax exemption certificate.. In this case he is not required to pay the sales tax to you since he will be collecting if from his customers.

STATE USE TAX

THe Use tax generally applies when a company buys supplies or equipment for its own use from an out of state business. It does not apply when material or merchandise are bought from an out of state company which will be re-sold. The use tax rate is the same as the sales tax rate.

For specific information on regulations in your state call the nearest State Sales Tax Division in your area.

ACQUISITION OF EQUIPMENT

When acquiring office machines, such as typewriters, computers, copiers, furniture, etc. such expenditures are generally depreciated on your tax return over a period of time.. For specific information check with a qualified tax advisor.

EXPENSES RELATED TO A HOME OPERATED BUSINESS

If a business is operated from home in many instances a portion of rental, mortgage or other expense may be deductible when filing your income tax.. The same may apply to utility expenses. There are specific laws pertaining to this, and again you should get professional advice.

EXPLANATION OF FORMS

We have provided you with several forms. You can use them as they are or change them to fit your particular needs.

1. DETAIL OF MONTHLY EXPENDITURE FORM

In the left hand column you keep track of expenditures for merchandise and products that you resell to your customers. The accounting term is generally cost of goods or product, or cost of sales.. If you sell books by mail you would record your purchasesfor these goods (including drop shipments) in this column.

The right hand column should be used to record all other expenditures. You obtain this information from your business checking account. If you pay for business expenses by cash keep track of theses expenditures separately and enter into this column also.. If you also use one or more credit cards to pay for business expenses list these expenses here too.. It is best to designate a specific credit card to be used for business expenses only.. Do not intermingle personal charges. In this case you  maybe able to deduct the interest on your taxes.

2. INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FORM

Record your daily income in the left hand column. Since you may not have income on a daily basis in the beginning stages of your business you can record income less frequently, such as weekly or even monthly.

You may wish to keep a separate income journal. The purpose of such a journal would be to give you a more detailed breakdown of your revenue. Set it up in any way you feel it will best suit your needs. For example you may want to record new business separately from repeat business. If you sell dealerships and books, for example, you may want to record the revenue from dealerships separately from the revenue for books, etc.

In fact the right column of this form you can keep track of your expenditures by category. Again you can change the categories to suit your particular needs.

When you deduct your expenses from your receipts at the end of the month you will have an income or loss figure for your business

PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT FORM

Here you show you monthly revenue, expenses and profit loss. There are no requirements for you to do this on a monthly basis..

Especially in the beginning stages of your new business, you may want to generate a Profit & Loss Statement on a quarterly basis, semi-annual or even annual basis.

SUMMARY

The above information and forms will give you a basic system. Tailor it to fit your own situation. You may want something more elaborate or less detailed. Or you may not even put all your business accounting on your P.C.. If you are considering to acquire a software program to help you with your accounting I would strongly suggest you wait until you understand your

business well. Also accounting software can be difficult to use for an individual without  accounting background. A personal money management software system will generally be quite adequatefor most small businesses.

Don’t get overwhelmed by record keeping for you new business especially if this is something new for you. Governmental agencies do not require you to keep your books in a particular way but do require you keep good records. This also means that records must be substantial. Again your accountant can give you detailed information on existing requirements.

While the big task of any new business is developing sales and acquiring customers, good record keeping is generally found in successful business operations. Your records provide you with accurate present and past information that you as the owner and president of your company must use constantly analyze your business so you will maximize profits.

To your progress!

By: Temitope Ogundiran

About the Author:

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