By Terry Thomas
Last month we discussed bonus offers and how they can make a difference in sales of your product or service. But there are many more ways to make your marketing offers more powerful. Let's take a look at a few:
1. Special Payment Terms--If you have a product that costs $100, offer it for three payments of $33. Since most people are used to buying items through monthly payments, this will increase your sales. By making the product easier to purchase and pay for, you will have an advantage over your competitors.
2. 800 Number--If you accept phone orders, you may want to get an 800 number. The number can be set up these days for very little money and will result in increased sales. It is especially helpful if you have a merchant credit card account and can accept major credit cards. The 800 number, combined with the convenience of credit card payments, will substantially increase your sales.
3. Order Form/Envelope--If you are selling by direct mail, you can increase your sales by including an order form and preaddressed reply envelope. This eliminates some work for the customer. The more work you eliminate, the more likely they are to order.
4. Urgency--Make sure you put some type of urgency in your offer. You need to give the customer a reason to order--right now! Without urgency in your ad, your customers will be left hanging. Give them a reason to act right away.
For example, you might put a time limit on the offer. Or, you might tie it in with your bonus offer and say that, "the first 100 people to respond will receive this bonus FREE." Whatever you decide, give them some motivation to act now. Otherwise, the customer will forget about you.
Direct marketing isn't easy, by any means. People are bombarded with offers everyday for all types of products and services. You want to make yours stand out above the rest. By offering a bonus, making it as easy as possible for the customer to respond and creating some type of urgency, you will maximize the chances that your offer will be a great success.
But remember--you must offer a good product or service, as well. Since customers are so hard to obtain, the last thing you want to do is lose them because your product was no good. The key to success is REPEAT business. So, you must be sure that your customers are satisfied once you obtain them or you'll kill any chance of selling them additional products or services in the future.
Make your offers irresistible and watch your sales soar!
Terry Thomas is the President of TJT Publications and International Marketing Connection, Inc. He has owned his own businesses since 1987 and publishes the innovative and provocative newsletter, MAIL ORDER MARKETING NEWS. This newsletter provides a continuing education in mail order, along with success tips, marketing strategies, and money-making opportunities. For a FREE sample issue and mail order catalog, send three loose First Class Stamps, or $1 to TJT Publications, P.O. Box 55685, Valencia, CA 91385.
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