Direct mail might be fairly easy to brush off in a modern world. When everyone is staring at their phones, how exactly can they be torn away to focus long enough on a piece of mail? The short answer to the title question is that a list can provide some serious economic opportunities, but you will have to both start with the right one and know how to use it.

 Start with Accurate Data 

An accurate direct mail list is one that’s been vetted long before you get it. This means that if someone moved, the NCOA (National Change of Address) database was consulted. You’ll also want to make sure that your list is full of people who are able to pay for your product or service and have a need for it. 

Use Geo Targeting for a Fresh Perspective 

Geo targeting is the process of breaking up your list by location. A zip code certainly can’t tell you everything about a person, but it can tell you something about their income bracket and general demographic. (Also, if you have multiple branches for your business, it tells them which location is nearest to them.) 

Loose statistics, like the average age of the population or the ratio of men to women, can be insightful when it comes to how you market. Granted, some of this will still be trial and error. For instance, maybe one zip code prefers a hand-written letter while another prefers a short postcard with a few key items listed.

Geo targeting is a smart way to optimize your communications, so you’re getting the most bang for your buck. At Conversion Marketing, we help our clients segment however they need to. So if you wanted to divide people based on the services or goods they’ve purchased in the past, this might be a more lucrative strategy than segmenting based on zip codes. 

Tips for Better Direct Mail Lists 

We know it’s inside the box to tell you to think outside the box, but it really can pay off to put a little effort into what you send your customers. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Give people a choice: Not everyone wants direct mail, and this is true even if they signed up to be contacted by your company (or a company like you). If you can, give them an option to receive e-correspondence only somewhere in your text. 
• Think about newsletters, postcards, or brochures: A letter, particularly one that proclaims loud and clear that it was sent in bulk, is easy to throw away without opening. At least with these items, you maximize the chance that someone will see your message. 
• Make your own opportunities: Direct mail can be a part of your brand in a number of ways. For instance, you might include a letter in every sale. Or you might come out with a clever catalog every season that boasts everything from humor to stock unit numbers.

 Deliverable direct mail lists can work to your advantage by putting you in the driver seat. Once you have all the information at your fingertips, you can start putting all of your plans in motion. 

Contact Conversion Marketing 

Conversion Marketing offers affordable direct mail lists and data to our customers, so they can start connecting with people and building the kinds of relationships that make for better revenue. Often the first contact point with a customer is a piece of direct mail, and the impression you make can go a long way toward your next interaction. Contact us today to learn more about how we can make a difference. 

With the solar industry heating up, the question for business owners is quickly turning into how to best use their marketing dollars. Live transfers offer countless benefits, including the chance to talk to someone who’s already interested in what you have to offer. 

Of course, there’s a downside too, mainly that it’s more expensive and there’s a chance for the conversation to still somehow go wrong. We’ll look at the details so you can decide whether it’s worth the investment. 

How They Work 

Live transfers don’t start with you, but rather with a general representative from an outsourced company. Essentially, a call center employee calls people and then determines what a prospective customer is looking for. If your business can provide the solution, the rep will make the connection. You get a quick briefing before jumping right into your spiel. 

Theoretically, it’s great for everyone. You won’t have to try to sell residential panels to someone who owns three office buildings, nor will you have to field 30 different failed calls before you strike gold. When live transfers go right, they cut down on the confusion that kills sales before they even have the chance to get off the ground. 

Are They Worth It?

Potentially. Here are some questions you’ll need to ask:

• Cost-per-call: Unlike solar aged leads or even real-time leads, live transfers aren’t for the cash-strapped budget. Because this is one of the most sure-fire ways to sell products and services, it’s also one of the most labor-intensive. You’ll see that reflected in the final bill. 
• Industry knowledge: A call center rep doesn’t have to know your industry like you do, but they will need some degree of understanding before they transfer the calls. If you end up with a subpar team dialing out, you could end up destroying the goodwill that live transfers are supposed to build up. 
• Market: This reminder is related to your costs. If you operate in a sunny area with plenty of disposable income, then chances are live transfers will be worth that initial sticker shock. If you don’t have enough people interested in the service though, the strategy could eat into your revenue fairly quickly. 

The Odds Are in Your Favor 

Sales pitches are sometimes endless back-and-forths, many of which ultimately go nowhere. You could easily waste time that you don’t have on people who are never going to buy. Live transfers are a way to help solar business owners build their income and establish a reputation in the community. If you want to bring your company to the next level or build a bigger base of customers, this could be exactly what you need. 

At Conversion Marketing, we’ve found that this marketing option can be an extremely effective strategy for solar businesses that just need to get a foothold to thrive. As more people turn to green energy, the demand for renewable fuel shows no signs of dipping. This is a solid sector, and it’s only going to get better. 

When you choose us for your live transfers, you can rest assured that you’re working with a partner who understands what’s at stake. You already have an advantage with the industry you’ve chosen, but this is a way to get a real edge over your direct competitors. This approach ensures that you start in the best possible position: you know what the customer is looking for and you know how to get them the solution. If you want to learn more about how the process can work for your business, contact us today for the details.