Michael Fleischner asked:


Whether you are an Internet marketer or generalist, turning prospects into buyers is a top priority. Many marketers are continually testing the success of various media and integrated campaigns. One of the most frequently asked questions is the effectiveness of “off-line marketing” as it related to driving traffic and conversions on your website of landing page.

With so many difference across products, services, industries, and price points, its hard to develop a simple yes or no answer when considering whether or not direct mail will drive online traffic for you. The key is to develop a compelling direct mail piece, choosing the right list, and creating an offer that resonates with your target market. Also, consider the following:

1. Package planning is essential for making your mail a success. Before you begin, plan your direct mail package. Will it include a letter, sell sheet, coupon, and business reply envelope? Perhaps you’ll be using a postcard. How big? How small? What creative direction will you take?

2. Effective envelope creative motivates consumers to open your piece. Your offer is no good unless it is seen by your target market. Spend a lot of time on your envelope, giving consumers a reason to open it and learn more about your offer. Create a swipe file of other direct marketing pieces you’ve personally received and opened. What was it about these offers that compelled you to take the next step?

3. Alternative formats can help you qualify for lower postage rates. Manage your budget carefully as large mail campaigns can have a high cost and negatively impact your ROI. One great avenue for lowering costs and increasing response rates is by experimenting with alternative direct mail formats. Learn more at the USPS website.

4. Value-added postcards can help mail get attention. To avoid the issues associated with unopened mail, test a postcard or two. Although much simpler than a direct mail promotion using an envelope and multiple response mechanisms, post cards can be great for driving people online at a low cost. Be sure to have a compelling reason for them to visit your website and a method for tracking results. Defining specific URLs to consumers, to help them locate a special offer, is a great way to track activity.

5. Crate a clear call to action. Too often direct marketers create a compelling piece, even a great offer, but make it difficult for prospects to answer. Overcome this issue by providing prospects with multiple ordering methods. These various methods can include the ability to order online, call a toll free number, and fax an order form. Consider the pros and cons of various ordering methods, and when you do, keep the consumer in mind. You want your buyers to have a positive experience so they order from you again and again.

So perhaps you’re still wondering if direct mail can help you achieve your online goals. Begin with a simple goal that is easily defined and measurable. Choose a preferred direct mail technique and test it. You may find that the best way to find consumers online is to drive them with your direct marketing campaign!

Kiranvoleti asked:


Marketing: Marketing is analyzing and satisfying consumer needs. A strategically planning and executing of a set of objectives to bring buyers and sellers together so that a sale can take place.

3M’s are Money, Management, and Marketing

In the 3 M’s of Business model Marketing play a key role.

Buying and Selling of and exchange of goods for an agreed amount.

Marketing is the promotion of products or service especially advertising and branding.

The 4 P’s of Marketing are

• Product

• Price

• Place

• Promotion

Marketing can be classified as 3C model also

• Customer

• Company

• Competitor

3 conceptions of marketing are

• Production concept

• Selling concept

• Marketing concept

Short Term Factors in Marketing System are

• Product

• Place

• Price

• Promotion



Long Term Factors in Marketing System are

• Technological

• Legal

• Cultural

• Economic

Different Components of a Marketing Plan:

1. Market Research/Analysis

2. Marketing Objectives/Goals

3. Marketing Mix/Strategy

4. Marketing Budget

5. Market Monitoring and Evaluating

6. Plan Check List

Types of Marketing:

• Internet Marketing

• Offline Marketing

• Word of Mouth Marketing

• Guerilla Marketing

• Print Advertising

• Direct Mail

• TV and Radio

• Network Marketing

• Services Marketing

• Evangelism Marketing

• Relationship Marketing

• Experiential Marketing

• Mobile Marketing

New Media marketing types:

• Internet

• Mobile phones

• IPODS

• PDAS

Types of Market Research:

Exploratory Research: Better understanding of the problem dimensions.

Descriptive Research: General understanding of the marketing problem

Causal Research: Used to identify cause-and-effect relationship.



Top Marketing Rules:

• Rules are Meant to be Broken if needed

• Marketing Must Result in Sales and growth

• Be unique

• Keep a deadline

Felix Burke asked:

Traditional marketing methods are still a viable resource to engage customers, and you can use them to drive buyers to your online products as well!

Traditional marketing includes newspapers, magazines, catalogues, fliers, direct mail, business cards, radio and TV ads, and specialty products, such as pens with your logo. These communications have been successful since the printing press, and now they can enhance your online marketing. Here’s how.

Think of each of the traditional communications as your pre-sell for your online presence. Imagine that you have a vitamin product, particularly helpful for eye health. Place an ad, perhaps in a health magazine, that extols the benefits of the product and sends the buyers to your pitch page online for testimonials and to purchase. You have just used traditional marketing-the magazine–to direct buyers to an online purchase.

Here’s another great example. Imagine you are a CPA in business for yourself, and you’ve recently joined the Chamber Of Commerce. Attending one of their “Business After Hours” functions, you give out several of your business cards, and point out that more information about your services is available at your website. When a prospect visits your website, all your accreditations, education, awards, community service, family profile, and available services are front and center. Your site is easily navigable, and with each click, you are building credibility with the visitor. Although your product is your service, and that is done in person, traditional marketing-your business card–drives people to your website to pre-sell them, and predispose them to select you for a CPA.

Here’s yet one more example, to get your marketing juices flowing. Imagine you run a small local bakery which specializes in ten different kinds of pralines, shipped all over the U.S. Twelve weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, your brochures are sent to a large mailing list of former and prospective customers. Your brochure is beautifully appetizing, but it can’t hope to cover all the pertinent information for shipped orders, so customers are directed online. At your website, every kind of praline is pictured, and testimonials abound by satisfied customers from Maine to Oregon. You don’t take phone orders anymore, as every available worker is packing pralines, so all orders are done via the website. And how did your customers find you? Traditional marketing in the form of your brochure brought them to you.

Don’t abandon offline marketing in your online efforts, for you may well find that the sum of the two is mathematically even more profitable than either one alone!

Ben Curtis asked:


Traditional marketing methods are still a viable resource to engage customers, and you can use them to drive buyers to your online products as well!

Traditional marketing includes newspapers, magazines, catalogues, fliers, direct mail, business cards, radio and TV ads, and specialty products, such as pens with your logo.  These communications have been successful since the printing press, and now they can enhance your online marketing.   Here’s how.

Think of each of the traditional communications as your pre-sell for your online presence.  Imagine that you have a vitamin product, particularly helpful for eye health.  Place an ad, perhaps in a health magazine,  that extols the benefits of the product and sends the buyers to your pitch page online for testimonials and to purchase.  You have just used traditional marketing—the magazine– to direct buyers to an online purchase.

Here’s another great example.  Imagine you are a CPA in business for yourself, and you’ve recently joined the Chamber Of Commerce.  Attending one of their “Business After Hours” functions, you give out several of your business cards, and point out that more information about your services is available at your website.  When a prospect visits your website, all your accreditations, education, awards, community service, family profile, and available services are front and center.  Your site is easily navigable, and with each click, you are building credibility with the visitor.  Although your product is your service, and that is done in person, traditional marketing—your business card– drives people to your website to pre-sell them, and predispose them to select you for a CPA.

Here’s yet one more example, to get your marketing juices flowing.   Imagine you run a small local bakery which specializes in ten different kinds of pralines, shipped all over the U.S.   Twelve weeks before the Thanksgiving holiday, your brochures are sent to a large mailing list of former and prospective customers.  Your brochure is beautifully appetizing, but it can’t hope to cover all the pertinent information for shipped orders, so customers are directed online.   At your website, every kind of praline is pictured, and testimonials abound by satisfied customers from Maine to Oregon.   You don’t take phone orders anymore, as every available worker is packing pralines, so all orders are done via the website.   And how did your customers find you?  Traditional marketing in the form of your brochure brought them to you.

Don’t abandon offline marketing in your online efforts, for you may well find that the sum of the two is mathematically even more profitable than either one alone!