My EDDM results

Mo, I didn't want to hijack AC's thread so I will elaborate more here. I'm on my third EDDM mail-out and honestly I'm busier than I want to be....I had a slow period and mailed them out and before they hit I got the calls again....my third mail-out was because I wanted to measure results and had to, to get the info needed, my second mail-out in the same list of 1200 did better the second time....the weather was better the first time and the second resulted in more jobs in less desirable weather....so follow ups are good from what I can tell. I get a lot of work just giving cards out...I have a job today from the lady that cut my hair this morning. Yesterday I had lunch with my wife at a bakery ....the lady said, if you can clean them today without me being there its a deal....did it and got free cupcakes AND $345. I have a way of making people laugh...or maybe feel sorry for me, but, either way it works. Oh, I told my dentist this morning that its NOT a good day to talk to me about any DEALS! Mr I hurt people!!! He scheduled anyway. lol

The real beauty with EDDM is you can have the cards made to spec and stock them....when it gets a little slow, boost an area...small or large based on budget and desire. I found that I do better with no prices posted on cards (learned that here).....even though I have no problems showing discounts....my discounts are real and I like to give them from time to time...it helps reach a certain crowd and its NOT always to bargain shoppers.

1st mail-out (1200+) I did 42 scheduled jobs from a direct EDDM standpoint. ($11k)
2nd mail-out (1200+) I did 49 scheduled jobs to the same crowd with same material ($13k)
3rd mail-out (1500+) new card with no prices mentioned I did 51 and counting.....still have another strong week with this one. ($14k)
4th is ready to go to measure against this 3rd one.
(keep in mind I get a card from time to time that cant be measured because its unclear when they got it)

I had jobs in between all of these that were referrals or just jobs I sold as a result of being in front of someone and selling it. This is very accurate as I really asked for info based on how they found us....one lady said it was from the mail-out and I learned it wasn't...it was a referral and she wanted the discount on the card....it would have been better for her to use the referral. lol

The biggest plus in the whole EDDM thing is the fact I spent an entire two weeks within 2 miles of my home.....the van really needs to warm up a bit! lol Im not even kidding when they call they say...go two blocks (about 8 houses down) and one of the 8 houses they were talking about was mine. So, that counts for something....I can only think of poor ole DP in traffic on this one.

The areas I selected are not what someone in this business would call a prime area...I stayed away from the higher income as I feel they are targeted more often and odds decrease when they get "junk mail" I went to the homes with upper middle class people....later, I will measure and prove my theory.

There is an old quote belonging to Marilyn Monroe to the extent of "If you can make a woman laugh, you can make her do anything."

I can't support the "anything" part, but it sure makes is a lot easier to get business in this industry, just like you described.

I am not a EDDM guy, but I share you sales method of floating the charm both on and off the clock. As we all know, when you own the business, there are no "off hours" so smile people.....your business requires it.

Great results D and thanks for the follow up.

I'm also not a direct mail guy. Have any of you been a member of BNI (business networking international) We've been for a number of years and it brings in a steady stream of business.

If you have any questions let me know...I'm learning as I do this too. I weeded out the commercial work from all of these. I wanted to measure residential only...I have a few jobs that are commercial and came as a result of a job or the mail-out direct but I separated. The reason for separation is commercial will tilt the over all total income really hard on one vs the other....for instance, if I had a $2500 job on one mail-out and not the second....it would give false results from what I am seeking.

Dont know about BNI

They have a chapter most everywhere. It's an association of many different kinds of business. No duplicates are allowed so there's no competition. During their normal course of doing business, members look for referal's for each other.

Is there a fee?...how does it work?...maybe a website?

Www.bni.com
When I was still in central california many moons ago, my partner tried that, there is a fee and the members of each chapter have to meet once a week usually at a restaurant, I can't say it worked when he attended, he stopped attending after about 8 months or so. But then again every area is different.

Scott when you said 2 blocks and 8 homes I hate you already, lol, in my neighborhood 2 blocks means about 100 homes, lol.
I have experienced EDDM, I believe I have shared it with y'all ??
I gotta go to work, got 6 homes to knock out today, later

DP...when I got into this i was running the same area as you! I worked from Covina to Pasadena and from the mountains to Whittier areas....the owner purchased a few companies over the years and we had 5 strong phone lines....I was a busy dude! loved it but hated traffic....Im amazed at how I can work just miles from the house...dont get me wrong though...I have to travel some too....but its not in traffic...may see a deer or some nice country in between. so, stress is low. The great thing here is we have areas cleaners just wont go to, so I can market to them and clean two or even three in one area on the same day.

I was part a very successful networking group (BNI) for about a year, awhile back.

It works if the people in it give referrals. I did my fair share by referring a lot, and I got quite a few back myself. The problem I had with it was, the time involved and cost (about $100+ a month, and met for 90 min once a week). The main reason I dropped out was about 90% of the time only getting min charge, or small jobs from it.........maybe just bad luck, really don't know.

I prefer larger and higher paying, and it just wasn't happening most of the time, so I bailed on it.

Ive heard they can work well but I have never taken part.

Seems like it could generate some commercial work, but if its mostly "giving a deal" for cleanings on the members homes then it wouldnt be worth it.

It's not a give a "member a deal" or it's not supposed to be.