A Relevant, Business Telemarketing List Not Only Identifies Your Target, But Helps Anticipate Outcomes

Posted on April 12, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

To make any telemarketing campaign successful, it is crucial to have a plan and strategy ready to go before you begin.  Many times, cold calling can be mistaken as a chore that needs to be done quickly.  An almost-frantic attempt to contact a large number of people to get to that all-important “yes” can create unnecessary pressure on both the caller and the recipient.

What’s needed is a measured and calculated approach, beginning with these considerations:

Identifying your target market.

Start by reviewing those clients you’ve already succeeded in selling to in the past. Look at what they all might have in common. Are they in a particular income category? Any geographic similarities? And what about their areas of interest?

Making a mental picture of your ideal client will help you approach them in a more conversational and professional manner.

Selling to a business? Above all, get the decision maker’s title, then mine all the data you can, including the average size of the company and maybe some of the issues affecting their industry today.

Profiling prospects in this way will help you understand what they might be looking for in regards to the products and services you offer them.

What’s the outcome you’re expecting from the call?

Sure, it’s easy to say you’re looking for a sale, but it might start with just setting an appointment to get things going—make sure you’re talking to the decision maker! Some sales come about slowly, and meeting with the right person can help you in laying down a solid path to repeat sales.

Understanding that it may take several calls or appointments before you actually make a sale brands you as a professional representative who respects the sales process.

More importantly, the business telemarketing list used should not only be updated, but targeted with relevant data to identify your prospect base in a wide-range of areas.

Contact us to learn more about our team of list professionals who can help you achieve a better ROI on your next telemarketing campaign.

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Bring ‘Balance’ To Your Digital Media Strategies

Posted on March 29, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

Just when you thought direct mail may have been losing its impact with the advent of the digital age, it’s heartening to learn it is doing quite well, thank you.

Then again, the correct approach has always been one of balance, not favoring one medium or outlet over another, according to an article on Inc.com, “Bringing Balance to Your Print and Digital Media.”

True, with all the social media channels, our use of mobile, and even interactive video, it’s no wonder that Digital receives large portions of the marketing budgets: Who wants to be ‘left out,’ or risk giving up market share to a competitor who seems to “be everywhere” you click?

Before one can really determine how to allocate the marketing budget, a basic understanding of the customer is needed; this, says Joellyn Sargent from Brand Sprout, is what it’s all about:

“Finding the right mix of print and digital is less about your business and more about your customers,” says Joellyn “Joey” Sargent, a principal in consulting firm BrandSprout. “Think about who they are, how they buy, where they go

The starting point is in the research as businesses push to understand the ever-changing buying habits and the psychographics of their customer—a process embraced by the professional team at ListGiant.

It’s fitting in this day-and-age of digital madness that recipients of all-things digital are becoming saturated with ill-timed, or irrelevant, messages. That’s even more reason why direct mail “remains a go-to tactic” for a lot of SMBs because the product stands out and away from the digital crowd.
 
Contact us and learn why our clients keep coming back to us as their preferred marketing list providers.

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List-Brokers Mailing Lists Should Offer More Potential for ‘Social Interaction.’

Posted on March 22, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

As a business owner, you’re always looking for ways to drive traffic to your website, from transactional email campaigns that take customers and prospects directly to your site to engaging customers through contests on your Facebook and Twitter channels.

Lately, your analytics show a noticeable drop in conversion rates as shoppers seem to be leaving your Shopping Cart page, or failing to sign up for your newsletter, whitepapers and your next promotional offerings.

In short, you’ve saturated your email recipients with so many offerings that many are not even opening your emails, or they’ve chosen to relegate them to the Spam filter.

At issue is the need to drill-down on your prospect base to understand their buying habits and where they might be in their individual lifecycles (A new family? Retiring?)

Simply accumulating the bare-bones profile, ala “becoming a Facebook fan,” isn’t going to move the needle for a lot of businesses: It’s an important beginning towards engaging the customer who may, at best, consider a “Like” not an admission of “Trust,” according to a DirectMarketingNews whitepaper,“Creating a One-to-One Dialogue Through Social Interaction.”

Such preliminary data are necessary to start the conversation, and only after numerous offerings that further engage the customer will he show signs of becoming your ambassador and a repeat customer.

“Once this basic information is captured, the company should then push the data into its marketing database and use it to start a one-to-one communication stream with those customers via email.

By successfully converting anonymous, often passive fans into marketable customers in this manner, companies can now learn more about the customer’s likes and dislikes, and measure open rates, click-thru rates, conversion rates, and impact on revenues, according to Dan Smith, senior vice president of marketing at ClickSquared.”

Savvy marketers understand the importance of using the right list brokers mailing lists, and that’s why ListGiant prides itself in offering its clients the latest and most relevant email lists.

Contact us to ask one of our team members for an assessment of your customer base; they will help you define your that all-important target market—the kind that brings you the best ROI.

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Google’s Remarketing Program Begins With the Right List

Posted on March 15, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

Direct mail is no longer a one-dimensional marketing strategy, whereby the sender mails out a bulk postcard, for example, to thousands from a general mailing list with high expectations to receive a phenomenal return.

Not only is that a legacy notion of what direct mail is all about, it’s a sure way to decrease the ROI on your campaign. Think of all those expensive cards just sitting on the table with your fantastic promotion unread and not acted on.

Ideally, direct mail marketers start out with a relevant direct mail list provided by proven direct mail list brokers, like ListGIANT.

What’s needed is a list that will get your message in front of those customers that meet a specific profile, one that is fleshed out through collaborating with a team member at ListGIANT.

Then, when your postcard is mailed to your targeted audience, the recipient is more likely to call or visit your website, which increases your chances for closing more sales.

But what if the hundred or so people who do visit your website, move on without clicking through to your online store? Steve Olenski on Forbes.com reminds us that Google’s Remarketing program is synced to Google Adwords and gives businesses another shot at making the sale.

“Direct Mail Now Integrated with Google,” gives an overview of the workings on the program: A business adds a code to their own website; prospects leave the website before filling out a form or purchasing—the Code Knows this!

More importantly, Google ‘follows’ your prospect to other sites, placing your business ad with a reminder to finish their shopping: Businesses pay only when the prospect actually clicks through on the ad.

Looking for that targeted marketing list? Contact us and let our professional, direct mail list brokers, help you define your prospect to increase your sales and ROI.

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Cost Effective Market Strategies for New Businesses

Posted on March 8, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

If your marketing goal is to build a strong customer base and grow your business fast, then reaching out to potential customers is an important first step.   Although many start-up business owners find themselves trying to cut costs by becoming Jacks of all trades, it quickly becomes evident that trying to reach your market by casting a broad net of advertisements will not only eat up your time, but waste your precious capital.

A business list broker can locate the perfect marketing list for your company.  With basic demographic information you provide about your business and its customers, list brokers do the research for you and send you a targeted list of potential customers.

When you’re embarking on a marketing campaign, keep these tips in mind.

  • Set a goal for your campaign, whether it’s building your brand, or reaching new customers, so you can measure your success.
  • Allow your customers to do the talking.  Including testimonials in your marketing materials is an effective way to connect with customers.
  • Give your customer a reason to act now.  Include promotional information that is time-sensitive, and encourages the recipient to make contact with you right away.
  • Be easy to reach.  Include your address, phone number, hours of operation, website, Facebook and Twitter contact information.
  • 40% of your success depends on your ability to target the right audience.
  • For every dollar you spend, expect to make money on that investment.

Targeted marketing campaigns are not only cost effective, but they’re a proven way to grow your customer base.  A business list broker knows what your business is up against and will do the work to locate the right list to give your company a competitive edge.  The process is simple and saves you ample time to do what you do best.

Contact us us at list GIANT to find the marketing list that will help you reach your full marketing potential and grow your business fast.

 

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Confronting The End of USPS Saturday Delivery

Posted on March 1, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓
Direct mail list brokers, and everyone engaged in direct marketing, are dealing with the consequences of the USPS proposal to end Saturday mail delivery beginning the first week of August. This is how things stand, and what the changes might mean for you if your business uses direct mail.

You’ve probably heard plenty of criticism of the announcement, but many people believe that these changes are inevitable as the USPS tries to deal with financial losses. Those losses totaled $16 billion in fiscal 2012, with about 70 percent of that related to defaults on prepayments for retiree healthcare. Objections are coming in from direct marketers, rural areas, postal workers and members of Congress. Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) and Sam Graves (R-Mo.) have written a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe questioning the legal authority of the decision. They cite the authorization process through which lawmakers have traditionally mandated 6-day delivery. Postal officials claim that the fact that the government is now funded through a continuing resolution through March 27 gives them the necessary authority to act.

In any case, cutting off Saturday delivery has been discussed for years and may take effect with little or no delay. The question is how to deal with it. On the one hand, Saturday delivery is valuable. Some businesses prefer to have their mail arrive on the weekend, and advertisers often pay more for ads that will run in weekend issues of publications. On the other hand, the USPS never guaranteed delivery of non-express mail on any specific day. These days, it’s advantageous to use a multi-channel approach whenever possible so direct mail reinforces communications that can be timed more precisely like email and text messages. Any big change like this also makes careful tracking and analysis more important to keep up with new developments.

Let us help you with all your direct marketing list needs. Our knowledgeable staff can help you adapt to industry changes, and we’ve got a giant selection of lists to fit your business. Contact us to learn more.

 

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Posted in Direct Mail Marketing, Marketing Lists

Beating Your Control Package

Posted on February 22, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓
Direct mail list brokers know that one key measure of a successful direct mailing is when you beat your own control package. Your organization needs to be in constant competition with itself if you want to stay ahead.

Your control package is the current package that you use in your acquisition mailings. It may contain a number of separate elements including an outer envelope, a letter, additional collateral like a brochure or catalog, a response device, and a reply envelope.

Many organizations continue to mail a successful control package for many years. That is a good practice as long as you keep testing it on a regular basis against new packages. In practice, this usually means splitting the lists of names that you are using. In this way, you will designate a certain percentage of them to receive the control and the remaining percentage to receive a new package.

When you get a new package that achieves a better response rate than your old control, the winner becomes your new control package. From there, the cycle starts all over again.

Even though this kind of testing is more expensive in the short run than just mailing your control package to all the recipients of each mailing, it is an essential step if you expect your organization to have a future. Otherwise, you would be stuck with nothing to turn to when your control package stops getting good returns. The money you invest in testing pays off in developing resources you will need to stay in business. Even packages that start off strong usually see their performance decline over the years so you can’t be complacent.

Contact us for all your direct marketing list needs. Our data provides the utmost in quality and accuracy, and we offer a giant selection of lists.

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Posted in Direct Mail Marketing, Marketing Lists, Telemarketing Lists

Microsoft’s Report on “Email Scammers”

Posted on February 11, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

There is a method to the spamming-madness that infiltrates our email boxes. Microsoft studied the condition and found that, time-and-again the successful spammer emulates a few sound advertising principles.

Call it “business smarts,” and give that questionable segment of our marketing industry ill-gotten credit for applying their craft, according to an article in Inc.com, “Secrets of the Email Scammer.”

1. Target buyers, not just people

Try wearing the hat of the spammer as he tries to target prospects who are likely to fall for his offer: You can create content that speaks to the masses, or pare it down to fit a profile you’ve painstakingly developed, that truly identifies your prospect.

Why waste your email on someone who doesn’t have the money to buy, or is in the wrong demographic group because you didn’t choose your mailing list carefully?

Anything other than a targeted email campaign means the risk of increasing costs, thus reducing that-all important ROI.

2. Pre-qualify your customers

As you develop that just-right content for your email, keep in mind that your customer is cycling among these three considerations:

* Need
* Budget
* Timeline

Get tuned-in to these key life cycle components, by making sure list brokers mailing lists are fresh with updated demographics…even the latest in information that ID’s their current life cycle.

3. Disqualify the time wasters

Get down to the price upfront, if you’re selling premium products or services. Use ‘price’ to help position your company above the maddening crowd of wanna-be marketers.

Always, you want your follow-up people to be talking to qualified buyers.

In short, tweaking that email campaign is about the process of trial-and-error.  Get your promotion off to a solid start by contacting the professional list brokers at ListGIANT.

Contact us to help you with that first campaign, or your tenth: Our proven lists will get the right customer delivered to your company with the best ROI your seeking.

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Posted in Direct Mail Marketing, Marketing Lists, Marketing Tips, Telemarketing Lists

Increase Your Closing Ratio With the Right Telemarketing List

Posted on February 4, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

As a business owner with a small sales team, you’ve decided to start an extensive B2B telemarketing campaign.

You want to reach business owners in a specific income bracket who spend frequently in the leisure market; your telemarketing lists broker team at ListGIANT delivers a list with updated demographics that meet your requirements, and also provided you with an appending service that updates your existing call list.

But before you make that first call, and risk blowing off prospects with the wrong-kind-of-call, consider a few tips on the Business By Phone.com website.

Getting to the decision makers…

The key is to think of the ‘screener’ as your customer: they may be your only chance to get to the right person.

What to say? Try asking the ‘screener’ for help as a way of not having to ask the Decision Maker a lot of perfunctory questions:

“*I hope you can help me…so I’m better prepared when I speak with____.”

If it comes down to leaving a voice message, or the ‘screener,’ make sure it’s succinct with a “hint of a benefit/result that sparks curiosity…” Above all, don’t leave specifics about your product or service—save that for Mr. Right when you have him on the line.

What’s more, start your planning with a relevant list. Don’t reach for sheer numbers of prospects in the belief that ‘more is better.’

Before you’re tempted to use an outdated call list, and hurt your chances of making the sale, contact us.

Let our professional team of list brokers help you determine who your prospects really are. Learn about our full range of services, including our ability to offer you the benefit of Modeling and Profile.

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Posted in Direct Mail Marketing, Marketing Lists, Marketing Tips, Telemarketing Lists

Understanding Groups In Telemarketing Leads Lists

Posted on January 28, 2013 by List Lady — No Comments ↓

One way to accelerate the success of a telemarketing leads list is to dig deeper in identifying key characteristics of those on the list. Certain contacts may be equally as valuable, but for entirely different reasons. On one and, it’s important not to over-think or over analyze one’s lists. Nonetheless, here are three subgroups that may allow one to prospect with greater specificity:

Buyers With Influence
These are the leads that often get all of the attention. And, to an extent, for good reason, because they have the authority to make the purchasing decisions. However, as ‘the big fish in the sea,’ they often get all the attention from your competitors as well. As a consequence, they offer a more direct, but at times more challenging, path to sales.

Non-Buyers With Influence
These are the people within an organization that wield influence. In fact, they often exert more influence than initially meets the eye. A little extra effort to tailor communications to address the mindset of these important individuals may yield more profound results in the long term. It’s a more sophisticated approach to patiently cultivate such contacts. They may not generate results overnight, but they may have the ear of buyers for the long-term.

Connected Referrers
These are individuals who may turn out to have little present need for the product or service offered, but they may be enthusiastic supporters of your efforts. They believe in what is being offered, and they may be those with respected opinions that can be real advocates for you. ‘Connected referrers’ don’t directly purchase from you, but they may eventually get you one, or two, or many more, new customers.

Being analytical enough to categorize prospects can well be worth the effort. Communication can be customized and therefore, made more effective.

For access to quality telemarketing leads lists, consider List Giant. Contact us for quality, personalized service.

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Posted in Marketing Lists, Marketing Tips, Telemarketing Lists
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