| Author |
Message |
rhondap Forums Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 284
|
#1 · Posted: 31 Aug 2007 11:03
Hey guys,
I am looking for examples of a retail intro letter to send to potential retail customers such as Realtors, Insurance Agts, Salesmen, Business Owners etc etc...
I know quite a few people in those fields, some not local, and was thinking of sending them a short letter with a complimentary vacation voucher included to either use personally or try it with their business as a promotional item.....WHEN they use it and see that it works they will then want more and I can sell them the actual package.
I know I can go to my Director but thought there may be some here in this forum that would benefit from this question and the answers given.
I am just so thrilled with our PRODUCT that I just want to share it.
__________________
|
jnapier Forums Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 647
|
#2 · Posted: 31 Aug 2007 11:16
Hi Rhonda,
You can goto http://www.iprintcenter.com/coastal and find a nice flyer that will do the same work, without having to put together the letter.
Letters can be cold and most of them tossed.
Jay NaPier
__________________
|
rhondap Forums Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 284
|
#3 · Posted: 31 Aug 2007 11:52
Ooh thanks Jay I never thought of it that way.
See what I mean guys there is a wealth of knowledge on this forum.
Rhonda
__________________
|
rhondap Forums Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 284
|
#4 · Posted: 31 Aug 2007 19:08
O.k. I just went to iprintcenter, the Biz Incentive flyer is awesome BUT the quanity of 250 is a bit too many at this time. Has anyone ordered from them and if so can we order smaller batches?
__________________
|
ibizniz Forums Member
Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 272
|
#5 · Posted: 31 Aug 2007 21:45
Hello Rhonda
I have ordered many things from IPRINTCENTER
and the quantities are as stated, but the quality of their printing is really good and worth the money.
You might want to get some ideas from the site and then design your own.
Vistaprint is an excellent source, for all kinds of printing, incl cards, brochures etc they also have many templates to choose from.
Their current specials can be found on vistaprint dot com/sizzle
Hope this helps Maria
__________________
|
jnapier Forums Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 647
|
#6 · Posted: 1 Sep 2007 00:51
Quoting: rhondap O.k. I just went to iprintcenter, the Biz Incentive flyer is awesome BUT the quanity of 250 is a bit too many at this time. Has anyone ordered from them and if so can we order smaller batches?
Hey Rhonda,
Just an FYI. 250 is not really alot when you consider that one shopping center can have as many as 25 businesses in the shopping center.
You might also goto the local chamber of commerce and ask how many members they have - some will even give you a list of members. You could fax over info to each member who'll allow you to do it.
Jay NaPier
__________________
|
rhondap Forums Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 284
|
#7 · Posted: 1 Sep 2007 09:30
Quoting: jnapier Hey Rhonda, Just an FYI. 250 is not really alot when you consider that one shopping center can have as many as 25 businesses in the shopping center. You might also goto the local chamber of commerce and ask how many members they have - some will even give you a list of members. You could fax over info to each member who'll allow you to do it. Jay NaPier
Now that you say that 250 really isn't a lot. I was just thinking of my personal list and not about the other potential customers.
__________________
|
ateamfuntimer
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 759
|
#8 · Posted: 1 Sep 2007 12:51
Hey Rhonda,
Give me a call..ive left you a few messages and emails and have a few ideas for you. Lets talk soon.
Adam
__________________
|
CarolinaConsign Forums Member
Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 73
|
#9 · Posted: 1 Sep 2007 13:41
I was just wondering when the last time anyone had ordered the tri-fold incentive flyer from iprintcenter.
Regardless of how great they look, from what I've seen they are outdated! Look at the back of the tri-fold incentive flyer. This might be just me, but I prefer to advertise up to date information.
Create something yourself that is personable to your business!
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic." author unkown to me
__________________
|
rhondap Forums Member
Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Posts: 284
|
#10 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 11:09
Hey Maria,
Thanks for the heads up about Vista Print I had completely forgotten about them.
I took them up on their specials this weekend and today and designed 3 postcards and have ordered them along with biz cards specifically to promote business incentives.
__________________
|
ateamfuntimer
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 759
|
#11 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 16:12
Ive been reading this thread and have been thinking about retail letter and have some mixed thoughts about it. A true letter letter might not be the best option I think maybe a email might be better or a website or capture page might have more weight.
A website could contain more info that will show the business owner the benefit of Coastal Vacations to them. A capture page could do the same and then give you some info about them. In this fast paced day and time I think using the most innovative technology stands out. I know that id rather have less paper than more. Plus paper is expensive. You get it printed up all nice and shiny and pay a nice premium for it and they might still throw it away. Id rather make a nice flyer once and email it.
Rhonda as you have been trying to figure out how to market to these businesses a bit id love to talk to you as I have an idea that might work for us both. You could get the material you need and I could get a testimony on it. Give me a call and lets talk.
Adam Frederick 302 476 2753
__________________
|
jnapier Forums Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 647
|
#12 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 18:00
In a nutshell...If your going to go business to business. You want SOMETHING that will get peoples attention. The BOD does weekly B2B training and you'll be able to hear how a business to business call works.
Those coming to Nashville for the Sept. 8th event will also SEE a B2B presentation.
Email marketing is DEAD...if you want to get business owners attention you'll call them and WHEN THEY HAVE AN INTEREST....they'll respond back to you.
As for a Lead Capture page...there's no reason for it when working B2B - You'll get their attention when you talk with them.
Jay NaPier
__________________
|
ateamfuntimer
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 759
|
#13 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 19:23
I have to totally disagree Jay. I appreciate your input as I know you were a business owner but my expertise is in B2B sales. Having a innovative capture page is something that business people understand. They do the same. You just have to make the site something that they feel is worth their while. So they understand you are giving them something of value to them and you need their info to get back to them with what you have to offer. And the point on email marketing being dead is off base in my opinion as well. How much better is it to let them know you will send them an email series going over the details that they can read at their convenience. Have you seen all the Blackberry devices out there. The day of the business road warrior is here. Everyone communicates by email. You just have to create emails that are different than those you send to regular prospects.
The way you do B2B is so different than what you have learned in phone dialing. You have to up your game. I for one cant wait to see what the BOD brings out for B2B. I have yet to see an organization that has truly shown its people how to really market B2B. I cant wait to see what is going on.
Adam Frederick 302 476 2753
__________________
|
jnapier Forums Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 647
|
#14 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 20:02
Hey Adam,
I too have been a B2B sales rep, in fact I was an account executive in the telecommunications industry. I know what it means to pull a few door handles...in fact, my nut was 30 a day.
When it comes to B2B, it's really simple...business owners want to know how to better market their business. They don't wan't to play games. That's why a simply flyer does the job in most cases.
When you are given the opportunity to do a presentation, that's when you can show the benefits of the memberships.
Jay NaPier
__________________
|
luvtravel Forums Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 811
|
#15 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 20:17
Adam, good post, seems we always hear the same thing over and over BEFORE the seminar the BOD has.
"Those coming to Nashville for the Sept. 8th event will also SEE a B2B presentation."
The rest of us who can't make these seminars lose all the time. Even tho there are those of us who would pay to get that info.
What about having Webinar seminars we would gladly pay for that but this making a Director attend these functions and saying to the rest of us who cant make it to bad so sad is not fair.
Terri
__________________
|
luvtravel Forums Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 811
|
#16 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 20:27
I had an opportunity to participate in a local business owners marketing coop.
Unfortunately I was called today by the director of the coop and told the packages would not be acceptable. I asked her to explain she said that because it wasn't a total package that included airfare it was not acceptable. So I said there were ways to get discounted airfare thru the booklets and by using the cards.
She also felt that the complimentary cruises and vacations paying taxes, port fees etc was a bit misleading of what they are getting. The entire marketing was based on offering products and services but having to offer a 25% discount.
Terri
__________________
|
ateamfuntimer
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 759
|
#17 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 20:53
B2B sales are a whole different animal than phone calls to prospects. If any of you think you can go into a major city to the downtown area and just walk into an establishment and get the owner to sit down with you as you have a flyer you are mistaken. Try it and if you get great results please call me and teach me. It takes learning your clients and getting through all the gatekeepers. This is what makes email a good fit for B2B marketing. Also when you have a capture page and get the clients info you then are able to update them from time to time of new specials and deals you have to offer them. Now again this cannot be an every other day campaign like we do to business seekers. Remember their time is valuable and they have many people approaching them. Now if you live in a small town and you know the business owners throw all of these tips out of the window and use your personality to make a dent.
I think we have to redefine email advertising as well. First off email advertising is not dead. You know that Jay, you are selling Contacttalk like hot cakes. You just offered me a deal as you had an order of ten going out. Oh btw I appreciate the offer but I see if you buy bulk licenses you get an even bigger discount than what you were offering it for to me. I guess that can be another stream of income as well for all of you with big teams. Email marketing just might not be as effective as it was a few years ago with all the spam out there. But the fact of the matter is text messaging, and email devices are selling like wildfire. People love being able to be connected to the office but being mobile. Look at the Blackberry's and all the PDA's out there. At the Coastal event coming up look at how many people have them and are checking their emails thru them. These are the mobile business people so you must always have email follow-ups. We must learn the skill of good emails that are eye-catching. Business owners appreciate that. Plus again everyone wants to get rid of paper. If you are going to leave something behind I say a flash movie presentation or PowerPoint would have a much bigger effect.
I can wait to get word of what the new tools the BOD is showcasing and I know as Jay is on the advisory board he will be more than willing to share the info of whatever he can to us here in the forum. So Terri its okay you can't make it.
I will say you do learn a bunch at the events as you get to rub shoulders with the leaders in the industry but there is so much info on the net if you know how to search you can get alot of it through your due diligence. I plan on being at some events in the near future but with my retirement from the CSG ive taken a bit of a holiday from the big crowds of events. Rather spend the time at home with my lovely wife and talk to you all here in my PJ's over my laptop. But be rest assured when I do come out if will be recharged with a wealth of info to share as freely as I can with you all.
Adam Frederick 302 476 2753
__________________
|
jnapier Forums Member
Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 647
|
#18 · Posted: 4 Sep 2007 22:15
Hey Terri
It's really upto you. If you can't go...you can't go. You'll get official Coastal information broadcast from the Board Of Directors as long as you are connected to the official system. It's not too bad, so sad.
You'll get the information, but you'll get it after the fact.
I've been to so, so many training events and I ALWAYS meet some great people and I always take something home. The Official Seminars are great as there are new cards and vacations added to the membership. If you've been connected to the official system you've heard about the new tool that'll be launched in Nashville...it's awsome and will allow for more coastal sales.
We can argue the best way to do B2B all day long, but in the end.....the official system has a great page to inform and IF a lead capture page was needed I'd create one.
Each of us is our own business owner and it's upto you to decide how you want to market your business. Adam is right...it does take a different approach to b2b....but experience is the best education you can get...join us on the official b2b training call and you'll see how it's done.
All the top leaders of Coastal come to the official Coastal Events. I've met all the top producers with Coastal by attending these events.
See you in Nashville
Jay NaPier Platinum Director Coastal Vacations
__________________
|
luvtravel Forums Member
Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 811
|
#19 · Posted: 5 Sep 2007 09:41
Jay, I am with the official system and I would love to get the info even after the fact.
In fact we already know there will be yet more new cards and vacations again.
The fact is that there are other things that we do miss out on that we all would gladly purchase after the fact that we aren't privvy to unless we go to the seminars.
I was offering better alternatives, you seemed defensive in your reply.
We are all here to voice opinions etc and I was voicing better solutions and options.
Terri
__________________
|
wapahm Forums Member
Joined: 6 Jun 2007 Posts: 202
|
#20 · Posted: 5 Sep 2007 15:38
Quoting: jnapier If you've been connected to the official system you've heard about the new tool that'll be launched in Nashville...it's awsome and will allow for more coastal sales.
What is the new tool?
Quoting: luvtravel Jay, I am with the official system and I would love to get the info even after the fact.
Terri, Do you know what new tool Jay speaks of?
I had planned on being in Nashville this weekend, but unforeseen events are keeping me home. I, like Terri, would love the for the seminar to be broadcast live. This would open up another option for Directors all over the World to share the Coastal opportunity to new prospects.
__________________
wapahm I'm not perfect, just forgiven!
|