Don't Toss Out That Junk Mail Just Yet!

Isn't it always when your looking for something you don't ever seem too find it. Well that's what happened. We just got a new dog and several months earlier a local pet store was advertising specials for animal grooming. I would get direct mail postcards consistently for weeks and continue to toss them in the recycle. Well after we decided to get our new puppy from the pound I couldn't locate them and of course I didn't get anything in the mail. And the funny thing at one point I think we were bombarded with advertising for several weeks and we consistently tossed them in the recycle. Well I lucked out I remembered the name of the place because although I tossed the coupons it appears the name of the store stuck in my head. I looked them up and mentioned the direct mail I had received but tossed and they still offered the discount for our puppy.

I'm famous for tossing before I even look at direct mail.I decided to try something different. Instead of tossing the junk mail I get on a daily basis I decided to keep all that mail for a week. At the end of the week I took the time to read all of it to see if there was anything I could benefit from. Needless to say I'm glad I did.

Well I have to say I decided to peruse the direct mail I held on for that week and was able to get $50 off of carpet cleaning, thanks to our learning to potty train puppy, $25 off of our groceries at a new grocery market which we primary spent on puppy food and squeaky toys. Plus we used our new pet grooming coupon to get his toe nail clipped. Direct mail has paid off for us and I can see how it has paid off for the companies we now depend on for our puppy needs and are so conveniently located for us.

When I finally did get another direct mail piece from the pet store I noticed the mail right away and the advertisers were smart to design the direct mail postcard to catch the consumers eye. It did catch my eye and although I routinely tossed it, the name did stick with me. Their direct mail postcard design was smart. Even smarter they still gave me the grooming discount without it.

Food for the Superbowl

It is that time of year. Stores are advertising beer and chips, subs, and chicken wing platters. It is football season and next to drinking way to much and eating to much I get the opportunity to cheer for the underdog.

I've also have been noticing how some local businesses (not as many as I would have expected) are advertising to people in the local area. I actually have several options for my Superbowl party this year. It has become clear that local business advertising is gearing its marketing efforts to sports fans.

Some advise I'd probably offer to local business that want to attract local business, for nearby family restaurants it would behoove them to attract families to come eat and watch the game. It's not as if only bars can advertise football fans.

This being said I plan on ordering a party platter from nearby market and a local liquor store is advertising specials on beer and a football shape cooler...I can't pass that up.

Advertising Before & After the Holidays

The goal of local business advertising is to improve foot traffic into stores and businesses.

So during the holidays I observed how local business advertisers appears to work hard to attract potential customers. However, before and after the holidays businesses don't appear to work as hard to get that same foot traffic. More importantly that new foot traffic into the door.

Smart business owners and entrepreneurs know that new movers are more likely to respond to advertising that is marketed to their needs. Introducing new movers to local cleaners, banks, day cares, and food markets not only benefits your business but the new mover.

In order to get your business and what you have to offer the new mover out their, check out Mover Mail.

Blow Your budget

Imagine you've just come into a million bucks. How would you spend money towards your advertising budget? You could hire a pilot and have your logo sky-written, you could invite every single potential customer in your area to your new business for a free gift. Pretty expensive advertising that would be.

No need to blow the budget. How about going back to basics?

Surprisingly you may find the simplest things can get customers into your business such as direct mail, fliers, word of mouth or rewarding referrals. Local businesses can tap into a wealth of opportunity by gearing local direct mail efforts to people that live in the area. Apartment complexes, retirement communities, mobile home communities, new and old single home subdivisions and even other small businesses are rich with potential customers for your local business.