| Direct marketing is a very recent trend for most | | | | Contact details - these are personal details pertaining |
| businesses. However, there are a still a lot of people | | | | to your customer which includes your customer's post |
| out there who still does not know what it is, what it's | | | | code, type of area, age, gender and other details |
| for and how can it help your business. I prepared some | | | | about their lifestyle or socio-economic status. |
| basic FAQs about it for your convenience. | | | | If you are aware of your customer's personal details, |
| FAQ #1: What is direct marketing, anyway? | | | | then you can devise a marketing campaign which can |
| It takes place when you initiate contact with your | | | | be very effective in promoting your business. Using the |
| current and potential customers through unsolicited | | | | right technology and method, you will be able to reach |
| means-email. phone call, text message, etc.-whose | | | | and recruit more customers. |
| primary motive is to increase sales and raise | | | | FAQ #3: What methods are being employed in direct |
| awareness of other people on your products. | | | | marketing? |
| Most businesses favor direct marketing because it is, | | | | There are various methods involved in direct marketing |
| by far, one of the most cost efficient way of | | | | which may include one or more of the following: |
| marketing. Direct marketing reaches a wider customer | | | | 1. Direct mail. In this method, you are sending |
| base than any other methods while minimizing cost. | | | | information about your products and services straight |
| FAQ #2: How do businesses contact their customer | | | | into the mailbox of the people who might be interested |
| when they perform direct marketing? | | | | on that you are offering. While most people do not |
| There are two types of customers: existing and new | | | | even bother opening these mail/advertisements, it is still |
| customers. Contacting your existing customers is fairly | | | | considered as the most effective means of direct |
| easy because you don't have to find their customer | | | | marketing. |
| contact information because you have all these | | | | 2. Fax marketing. With the recent advancements in |
| information in your database. Your client database is | | | | faxing technology, people are now able to send and |
| your most valuable resources for direct marketing | | | | receive fax messages simultaneously and in bulk |
| schemes. For a more efficient customer database, | | | | through online fax. Since most businesses have |
| your database should always include: | | | | websites and online fax uses the internet to |
| Your customer's ordering behavior - when are they | | | | communicate, it can send fax messages to hundreds |
| more likely to order your products or subscribe to your | | | | of people with just one click of a button. |
| services, how much they are paying, the interval of | | | | 3. Email marketing - if direct mail is the most effective, |
| orders and how often to they purchase. | | | | email marketing is cheapest form of direct marketing. |
| Your customer's buying behavior - what types of | | | | You can send one email to millions of recipient using |
| goods are often bought, how much are being bought | | | | the internet. Very few energy is consumed because all |
| and your customer's value | | | | you need is a simple click on mouse. |