7 replies to this topic

[For The Kids Vending]

I have been reading all over the place and I haven't seen this topic covered extensively here. I attended a Antares "Financial Freedom" conference knowing that the machines would be heavily over priced (which they were) but I think I learned a lot from that experience.

The presenters claimed that they use direct mail with a "targeted mailing list." The mailing list is easy to come by because many cities post a list of businesses with the number of employees on their web site or they have it available in some other form. Now Planet Antares has a beautiful mailer that they put together as part of that package. While I certainly can't copy their mailer I should be able to make my own that is good quality.

The presenter claimed that he has tried 4 different mailings of 200 each and received 5, 5, 5, and 4 responses respectively. That would average around 2 - 2.5 per 100 mailed. I could live with that kind of return on a direct mailing since the cost of that would be substantially less than a professional locator.

The question is: How many leads have you all gotten from your direct mail attempts? I believe the presenters really were actual operators of the system and so this might not be a bad estimate. However I just want to know your general experience with this.

If this has already been covered in the forum I apologize. I did several searches and could not find the post.

If you have experience and don't mind posting what kind of mailer you used and how you asked for responses (visit your web site, call your number, or send back a business reply form) I would also appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.

[surefire vending Co.]

I signed in on the wrong account!! Oops!!

[JMB Vending]

I signed in on the wrong account!! Oops!!

Thats Better!! I am still getting used to the new name!!


Dear FOR THE KIDS VENDING,


I also wen to one of those "Financial Freedom" seminars, and you are right about the price.....WOW!! Luckly i did not go with the deal. Which one did you go to and who was your rep.? I went to the one in Wichita KS, and Ceasar talked to me. I REALLY liked their mailers, but i have not ever used them. Hope to hear back from you!!

[For The Kids Vending]

Thats Better!! I am still getting used to the new name!!
Dear FOR THE KIDS VENDING,
I also wen to one of those "Financial Freedom" seminars, and you are right about the price.....WOW!! Luckly i did not go with the deal. Which one did you go to and who was your rep.? I went to the one in Wichita KS, and Ceasar talked to me. I REALLY liked their mailers, but i have not ever used them. Hope to hear back from you!!

Salt Lake City, UT. It was last weekend so this is still fresh in my mind. I'm working a full time 9-5 so it will be a while before I can go door to door. People in the forums say direct mail doesn't work so well but 2 responses out of 100 (if that holds true) would be worth it for me.

[coinvestor]

I got a couple of my first locations this way. I saw about a 1.2% response rate from the mailing. I have only one of the locations left. The rest were not stellar locations and the machines where pulled. I will be doing another mailer in a few weeks. This time it will be for OCS and not vending. If you want good vending locations you need to decide location by location then call, call, call and go in and talk to them. The locations generated by mailings are the locations that are not good and have nobody else to call.

You need to be competing for the good locations, not getting the leftovers.

FYI... Vistaprint.com will mail for you cheap if you go this route.

JD

[BVI]

I got a couple of my first locations this way. I saw about a 1.2% response rate from the mailing. I have only one of the locations left. The rest were not stellar locations and the machines where pulled. I will be doing another mailer in a few weeks. This time it will be for OCS and not vending. If you want good vending locations you need to decide location by location then call, call, call and go in and talk to them. The locations generated by mailings are the locations that are not good and have nobody else to call.

You need to be competing for the good locations, not getting the leftovers.

FYI... Vistaprint.com will mail for you cheap if you go this route.

JD

Excellent post. Vending is a very targeted business to be in... it's all about location. You waste incredible amounts of time and money when you settle for bad locations. Shotgun approaches, such as direct mail where vending is concerned (OCS may be different), in my opinion, is a waste of money. You're much better off cold calling in person or targeting a specific business profile and generate a database and doing your own telemarketing. Know what your customer needs to look like before you put any equipment on location!

Even that is no guarantee, but you sure do put the odds in your favor that way.

[The Vending Guys]

I got a couple of my first locations this way. I saw about a 1.2% response rate from the mailing. I have only one of the locations left. The rest were not stellar locations and the machines where pulled. I will be doing another mailer in a few weeks. This time it will be for OCS and not vending. If you want good vending locations you need to decide location by location then call, call, call and go in and talk to them. The locations generated by mailings are the locations that are not good and have nobody else to call.

You need to be competing for the good locations, not getting the leftovers.

FYI... Vistaprint.com will mail for you cheap if you go this route.

JD

Do you have a copy of your ocs mailer? How did that work out for you?

[Destined 4 Greatness]

ive never heard about this would love to know more....

I have been reading all over the place and I haven't seen this topic covered extensively here. I attended a Antares "Financial Freedom" conference knowing that the machines would be heavily over priced (which they were) but I think I learned a lot from that experience.

The presenters claimed that they use direct mail with a "targeted mailing list." The mailing list is easy to come by because many cities post a list of businesses with the number of employees on their web site or they have it available in some other form. Now Planet Antares has a beautiful mailer that they put together as part of that package. While I certainly can't copy their mailer I should be able to make my own that is good quality.

The presenter claimed that he has tried 4 different mailings of 200 each and received 5, 5, 5, and 4 responses respectively. That would average around 2 - 2.5 per 100 mailed. I could live with that kind of return on a direct mailing since the cost of that would be substantially less than a professional locator.

The question is: How many leads have you all gotten from your direct mail attempts? I believe the presenters really were actual operators of the system and so this might not be a bad estimate. However I just want to know your general experience with this.

If this has already been covered in the forum I apologize. I did several searches and could not find the post.

If you have experience and don't mind posting what kind of mailer you used and how you asked for responses (visit your web site, call your number, or send back a business reply form) I would also appreciate it.

Thank you in advance.