Reprint Instructions: This article may be reprinted freely in print and online. Title: Mail Order: Myths, Magic, And Absolute Truths! Author: Avril Harper Words: Approx 1,000Mail Order: Myths, Magic, And Absolute Truths!
By Avril Harper 2003 http://www.studythesecrets.com
"The World's Most Exciting Business", so said Joe Karbo, direct response guru and legendary creator of The Lazy Man's Way to Riches.
Then how come so few people get started in mail order and direct mail?
Perhaps it's
myths - lies - surrounding business, doubtlessly perpetrated by successful direct mail and mail order specialists keen to prevent others cashing in on their secrets.
This is what they will tell you ..... and why you should consider mail order and direct mail, as a new business, or add-on to an existing venture.
Myth #1 You Must Have Money - Lots of It - To Make a Fortune in Mail Order and Direct Mail!
Not True! As many fortunes, maybe more, are created by people starting on low budgets as others possessing unlimited cash reserves. Multi-millionaire, Melvin Powers, one of America's leading direct response specialists, sells books and information products, alongside numerous niche market products and others with universal appeal. His immense empire started several decades ago on strength of one small classified ad!
He's not alone. The great Joe Karbo - The Lazy Man's Way to Riches - hit rock bottom and bounced back on tide of several popular mail order products. The same is true of British couple, Daniel and Kathy Crandall, who tell an amazing rags to riches tale in How to Get Rich Sooner Than You Think, published in UK by Chartsearch.
Myth #2 You'll Never Get Rich On One Product!
A half-way truth! One can't deny, more best-sellers you have, more money you're likely to make. But one best-selling product can still generate very good profits, even a fortune. A good example is Peter van Berckel of Wade World Trade, whose import/export course has sold consistently well for over half a century. Peter tells me that one small advertisement used to promote course has hardly altered in more than fifty years, except for changes of address and telephone numbers.
Myth #3 There's No Such Thing As Small Markets in Mail Order and No Place for Little Guy. You Have to be A Big Fish in a Big Pool! Preferably An Ocean!
Poppycock! You don't need an ocean, even a big pool to make a fortune in mail order or direct mail! In fact, quite often reverse is true, and sometimes smaller your target market, easier it is to reach and lower your marketing costs are likely to be. It's called niche marketing - targeting a tiny pool of people with a clearly defined shared interest, like entering competitions, fishing, direct mail or animal husbandry. You won't work hard to find them or spend much in process: they read same publications, join same clubs, they're passionate about their subject, and always eager to buy!
Myth #4 The Average Response in Direct Mail Is 3%! If You're Lucky! Sometimes It's Much Lower than That!
Oh dear, biggest, best-traveled myth of all, and one that deters most people from earning a fortune in direct mail. Let me tell you why that 3% suggestion is absolute rubbish. I've had 3%, yes, probably many times more than I've achieved far higher response rates. But I've had as high as 40% to my own list of past buyers and 16% from just one outside list that grows at rate of 2,000 new names each week! It's all a question of continuously mailing past buyers (they know and trust you), testing new lists, and once you achieve a good response to an outside list, roll out consistently to new names and add even more regular buyers to your house list. As always, test all lists carefully, even your own, to ensure best return for your money!
