Why do people buy your products or services? It seems a simple question, but for most companies it’s surprisingly hard to define. Consumers and B2B customers alike largely make their buying decisions based on emotions. If your product is a motorcycle for example, people ultimately decide whether or not to buy it not for its […]
The Big Promise A big promise, often in the headline of your direct marketing postcard, is in effect your product’s mission statement. It lets the customer know, clearly and concisely, what they should expect if they make the smart decision to purchase your product or service. “Your friends will be begging you for the recipe […]
Few people want to be the first to take the plunge, even if the idea does look alluring. Social proof is a huge part of most purchasing decisions – people want to know that other people that they respect have made the same choice in the past, validating their own decision to go ahead and […]
Although many entrepreneurs like to think that their product is new and unique, the truth is that almost all successful products and services are based on existing ideas. On the one hand, this is only sensible business – it makes sense to follow a path that has already proven successful, and customers are more open […]
Your headline is the first thing your customer will read; get it wrong and it’ll be the only thing they read. Direct mail postcards live and die on their headlines. You need to make your direct mail headline compelling and attention-grabbing, as well as set the theme for the entire mail. With that one […]
How to Get the MOST Results From Your Direct Mail By Jim Schimpf For more than 10 years the folks at Opportunity Knocks have been producing the kind of direct mail, and direct response mail tools that have helped businesses grow their businesses — without breaking the bank. Throughout all this time, it’s safe to […]
All right – so you’re ready to hit the year strong with a power-packed business and marketing plan with budgets, action plans, and marketing tools all lined up! Now, it’s time to put it into ACTION. And by ACTION we don’t mean store it away in the file cabinet or desk drawer until next year. […]
You know what we sometimes DON’T do enough as entrepreneurs? ASK for help. Once you’ve taken time away and created what you believe to be the best Master Plan for your business and goals, get a trusted business partner, mentor, or planning professional to review it for you and help you find the ways in […]
Here’s the bottom line. Today’s consumer is focused on ‘Me, Myself, and I.’ The only thing your customer is thinking is, “What’s in it for me?” The only thing your customer cares about is, “Will this work for me?” And just because you are partial to a particular design or style does not mean the […]
Now that you know what your numbers are, it’s time to work your way backwards to divide up your goal into monthly, weekly, and daily activities. This way each day, week and month looks like a mini plan. I’ll give you an example. If you need 50 deals a year to realize your goal, you’ll […]