How to get your mail opened---GUARANTEED!

With direct mail often delivering a 1-3% response rate or even less, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that you’re using a targeted mailing list and have a well-written, attractive letter. Now I don't mean pretty professional letter. Without these things I just mentioned in place, you’re in for a disappointing campaign and maybe even losses rather than profits and that is something you do not want.

There are other steps you can take, however, to increase the rate at which your envelopes are opened and read therefore increasing the number of people who will respond. With direct mail, your first impression is the appearance of the envelope. When an envelope looks unusual and is personalized, the recipient is more likely to take a second look. If you think you're going to take shortcuts and save money, all I can say is good luck. It ain't going to happen. Also, you want to make sure that your envelope stands out – consumers have seen it all before from the pre-approved credit card applications to bland postcards, so you might as well be prepared to spend the bucks and do it right.

There are five tried and true rules that I follow with each campaign.

1) Use a Live Stamp

Postage meters may be the easiest way to prepare your mail for delivery, but it is not going to get you the best response. Spending a little extra time to actually stamp each and every envelope will make it look like you aren’t mass-producing direct mailers or ‘junk mail’. It will seem as though you drove all the way to the post office to pick up the stamps and then spent a while focusing on each envelope and the impression you were making. You have to do this and if you need someone to do this personalization for you, contact me at drroddc@yahoo.com and I'll send you there name and phone number. They are so specialized, they are take you by referral only, so make sure you contact me FIRST.

2) Never use an inkjet printer

This is a big no-no! Many high volume mailers use high-speed inkjet printers to spit out their direct mail quickly and reliably. But the key problem here is that many high volume mailers use it! People have seen it before and can tell the difference when you use a nice quality printer that may take a little more time. Again don't try and take any short cuts. It's going to cost you more in the long run. I guarantee it. Just stop and spend the money in the right places the first time. You'll SAVE that when the money starts rolling in because people are opening your mail.

3) Personalized Return Address Labels

Again, it may take time or a few extra cents to stick these on each envelope, but the recipient will appreciate it. Taking time for each customer makes it appear as though you are thankful for their business. Also – think about it – how many direct mail pieces you have received lately that had a personalized return address label? Not many. I like my envelopes personalized and handwritten. Doing this gets your envelope noticed --- and opened! Most address labels have their name printed in the upper left hand corner, a Pitney Bowes stamp in the upper right hand corner, and a little clear hole in the middle where your address is. They couldn’t even take the time to print your address on the envelope! If you are using your business return address, try putting an individual name instead of the business name. This really makes the piece look more personal. I like to send my direct mail pieces with just a return address. No name. This helps build curiosity and that will get your letter OPENED!!

4) Use an outrageous, individualized design on the envelope

The days of the plain white envelopes are over as are the days of a little logo in the corner. You have got to go crazy, be outrageously creative, get someone to notice your envelope. Make your envelope the first thing the recipient notices when they open the mailbox. How do you do it? Use a wild color like PINK or LIME GREEN, draw some ‘unplanned’ doodles on the outside, and make it known that you’re not the average company and this is not the average piece of direct mail.

5) Use a handwriting font to write the recipient’s address

How many times do I have to say it? Personalize the envelope! Make it look like you spent a lot of time! Find a believable (not fake-looking) hand-written font so it appears as though you handwrote their address on the front of the envelope. Like I said there are places that sell different fonts so you can do this with a computer, but again, that's taking the time to personalize your envelope and letter. When you do this you lose business. Your direct mail piece will look like it came from a friend if you take the time and personalize your envelope. If you’ve followed the rest of my tips noted above, the recipient will be so curious as to which company spent so much time personalizing the letter for them that they’ll be excited to open it. And if they don’t need the service right now, you’ll have made such an impact that they may just save your direct mail piece on their refrigerator for next time.

I have some personalized postcards, and some really cool stuff if you're interested in doing some serious marketing. Contact me at drroddc@yahoo.com or call me at 951-760-0798 and leave a message.

MARKETING IS GOOD WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN

What I like to do off time from marketing!!!!

Hey It's Monday!

Hey it's now 5:45 in the morning on Monday. I'm not really really sharp yet, so
give me a break when you're ready this post.

Science tells us that the things we observe in our outer world are
nothing more than a projection from our inner world. Now that's science
telling you and I this. Okay, so based on that, let's take a deep breath and
let's put it in practical terms.

Imagine you offer a goal for the future that you want to
create $100,000 extra for yourself in the next year.

If you are focusing on that, feeling it, acting on it and then reinforcing
it with your actions, the money starts to take physical form.

Conversely, if you're putting out an intention of $100,000 EXTRA in income but
you stress out when your credit card bill comes in and you keep telling
your friends how broke you are and how bad the economy is, and how
bad practice has been this last few months in your office and you're having
a hard time paying all the bills at this time and you're late on your house
payment and you're not paying your employees payroll taxes, ...
then they cancel each other out.

Anytime you think, feel and act broke, or worry about the economy,
you are sending out a vibration that is bound to cancel your
intention. When you watch the NEWS at night, you are sending
out a vibration, a negative vibration and your brain will listen to
this intent. This is why so many people struggle with manifesting the
things they desire in their lives and their businesses.

In other words, only your goals and vibrations
that are in resonance with each other can harmonize.

This is the scientific principle behind the Law of Attraction. Now
I'm not so sure about the Law of Attraction but I am sure about
having the right intent going on inside your brain. You know as
well as I do, if you know someone and they are having problems
at home etc., you can tell. It's their intent and it seeps through
their trying to cover it up, so be careful.

Since we create our reality on whichever dimension we choose to
participate, it is critical that the BIG THREE - thoughts, feelings
and emotions - are in harmony along with our actions. If they are
not in sync, your present and future won't harmonize. They will
INTERCEPT, and they will cancel each other out. Be careful.

Now you can see how setting your desire or intention in the
present, that is, creating your vibration or goals, equates with how you are
choosing to participate in the universe. If the vibration you are
offering is out of resonance or harmony with what is coming back
from your future, you won't be able to create it. Get this right,
get this straight in your head, set your goals right and everything,
and I mean everything will start to change.

This is why making a decision based on where you are going, not
where you are - is so critical.

The key is to accept where you are without resistance.

You accept "what is" without fighting it, but
you keep your intention on your desires and your main
goals.

This is the secret to manifestation.

You don't have to create your desire. It is ALREADY created!
You just have to align your intent with it.

So get in harmony with yourself, start taking action based upon
it and that is what will unfold.

Today will bring you a new awareness, a lesson or a manifestation
that you are making progress - IF YOU LOOK FOR IT!

Have a great Monday and make your goals REAL.

I wish you the best.

Marketing to the Gatekeepers

Today is Saturday.

I'm doing a special recording on
marketing for my special clients.

It's about how to get past the gatekeepers
and to the head people, so you might
want to be watching this site.

Thanks

Dr. Carney

Marketing Secret

Here's something I realized a long time ago, and something you should realize if you're going to develop real relationships.

Help others get what they WANT as you're figuring out what you want.

There's another old expression that I like. It says, "Good things come to those who wait." That implies that you're just sitting by the door, waiting for the postman or the next client to bring you something good.

That does not fly.

Here's the TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH!

Good things come to you when you have patience, and take CONSISTENT, PERSISTENT action toward what THEY WANT!

If you didn't get that, you'd better read this post again, because it's that important.

I always try to give the people I deal with benefits before I ever ask any thing of them. I send them my personalized postcard examples, with my caricature on them, my special packaging, etc.

I share and give them what they MAY want to know about.

Give - Give - Give!

That's important in today's economy and society.

Here's what one of my mentors said... "Before you can get what you WANT...
you have to know what you WANT, and then make a game plan to get it."

Everyone wants to be RICH.

Well not everyone, but most of the people I hang out with, they all want to have the opportunities that are afforded someone with MONEY!

Here's the deal though.

I've realized that most people think being RICH is about having money, rich is a description for everything BUT money.

I learned that from one of my mentors in a book.

RICH relationships lead to much more than MONEY!

They lead to SUCCESS, FULLFILLMENT, & WEALTH.

Hey do me a favor. Take a moment and LIST your top ten most powerful connections. Then ask yourself this.

What have I done for these people lately?

Are these people you just call every once in a while to SUCK their blood or get something from?

If someone ever calls you up and asks you to lunch so they can pick your brain, your response should be,
"I have a $300 per hour brain-picking fee and I'll buy your lunch."

How many people are willing to
pay you to go to lunch with them?

Here's something you should do.

Ask yourself...

"Who can I call at 2:00 a.m.?"

This is without a doubt... the most powerful question you can ask of your own network.

Who can you count on?

And who is counting on you?

Who would call YOU at two in the morning? Is anybody home?

Hey here's a good one for you today.

I post about one to three of these per day.

I'll be adding some video later on, so you might look at this at 9 am and by 3 pm there might be three or four more posts and videos. I'm not sure what will happen, but I can tell you this, I'm all about helping people, no matter what business they are in, to thrive. That's my goal.

And I'll give you some insights as we go along on this blog.

So don't forget about me.

--------------------------------------------------------

If you're marketing your services to the Affluent, (I have a complete course on this but it is a little pricey $1,995.00), I suggest you do this to start.

SECRET:

Touch something that is already a passion of the person you're marketing to.

Here's what I mean.

Instead of playing a round of golf with them, I have recommended going to a driving range at lunch, hitting a bucket of balls, and HIRING A GOLF PRO to come and give your patient/friend/customer/client a PRIVATE LESSON WHERE they migh shave a stroke or two off their score while you enjoy a catered lunch. You're spending some money but oh the returns are awesome.

For less than $100, you will create an incredible memory and make an incredible impression on your friend. and I can promise you the story will be retold one hundred times in the future and you'll get phone calls requesting lunch dates that will amaze you if you market this aspect of building a real long term relationship correctly.

This is how you build real relationships.

All things being equal, PEOPLE WANT to do business with their friends.

All things being not quite so equal, people STILL want to do business with their REAL Friends!

But here's a little hint: To climb the ladder of success in your business, you do NOT need more techniques and strategies, you just need more friends, people that consider you a friend and will buy your services from you. It's really that simple. Think about it.

Turning contacts into relationships. No. 2

Two of the things I have found that make the most impact on cultivation, building, and enhancing relationships with people, patients, customers, and friends is... giving small personal things or doing small personal favors.

This is a big one and one that I'll talk more about in my FREE M.E.N. which you should be receiving if you're into creating long term life time relationships with people.

Obviously, the KEY word there is personal. So many people make this HARD for some reason. That is something I have never understood. One of my mentors developed a habit of giving his
customers autographed children's books for them to READ to their kids or grandkids (or keep for themselves).

If you're interested in the best place to get autographed children's books, shoot me an email
and sign up for my FREE M.E.N. newsletters. They go out once a week on Tuesday and they're just starting to heat up if you will.

Well I'm not going to bore you, so hey, email me at doccarneymarketing@gmail.com and tell me you want to learn where the best place is to get autographed children's books. I'd do it pretty quick if you want to make a difference in your life, your practice, your business, your personal life etc.

That's it for today.

I'll write more later.

Talk then.

Dr. Carney

P.S. Leave me a comment if you will. I like to build relationships with people that want to know more about marketing.
P.P.S. Send me your address at my email account and I'll ship you out some really cool postcards and show you how to develop a long term relationship with anyone. Okay, it's up to you now.

Use Words To Persuade No. 1

Interested in tapping into the wisdom of the marketplace and getting more business?

Besides simply listening with an open mind, try these actions:

• Ask new clients, patients or customers what prompted them to take action to buy when they did. This is very important because you WANT their feedback. Their feedback is going to help you write your next insert, ad, etc.
  

• When you meet people who patronize your competitors, ask them what need prompted them to use them. Something like this. "I was wondering. What prompted you to use XYZ? I mean was it an ad, the TV, a newspaper ad? I'm just curious what made you go to them?"
• Then shut up and listen.
  

• If you have a new-client questionnaire, (which you should have and send out or give them after the first time you work with them) ask people what they're hoping to get from your business relationship. This is the perfect time to find out.
  

• Ask those who do business with you to describe YOU in five words or less.

"Listen to your fans,". Your repeat customers/clients/friends/patients are your best fans. Take advantage of their marketing intelligence! Learn how to make them raving fans.