I was adding it up last night and it would cost me at least $390 to send out 1000 mailings. How do the lead companies do it for $350 especially since they do the return mailing too? Is there a way that I can mail for less? Does anyone else do their own mailings for leads? How much does it cost you?
We do our own mails... we have a bulk mail permit and a BMR permit for the return. It still ends up costing because we personally print all pieces so there is toner and paper but that is the only way that we have been able to get a quality lead.
You get the bulk mail permit from the post office directly. There is a minimum and I want to say that it is more that 150 pieces mailed to same 5 digit, 3 digit, aadc or mxd aadc.
The costs for us very depending on the type of mailer and the data source. We did it to get fresh leads that have not been sold every single way so we sometimes pay more even with that but we know exactly who sent them out... our agents like that
Our luck has been that when the mail is a low cost, they are using old data and/or they are selling the lead to more than one person but I bet that you could get to their rates if your companies offer you free marketing materials.
Bulk mail is much cheaper, but, it also has a much lower open rate. When I get bulk mail at home, I throw it out, unopened. You saved a few pennies in postage, but you'll find your response rate will decrease as well.
To me, you have 2 choices. Use postcards, which carry a message and don't have to be opened, or, use stamps and make the letters look a bit more personal by at least using a stamp rather than metered mail.
The other alternative, is to follow up the mailing with a phone call. In which case, you want to send as cheap as you can, but you have to follow the do not call rules.
Would it work to send a postcard bulk rate? I am not looking for them to return the card I want them to call me., or I will follow up. I don't want to waste money though.
Maybe. can't guarantee it will work out economically, but more people will see your message, since they don't need to open it.
Please note, this is my own opinion. I tend not to open junk mail. Some people do. At least with postcards, I'll glance at them as I throw them in the recycle bin, and in this case, it doesn't matter if it's stamped or metered.
You gotta figure out who your marketing to, and try a few different ways to see what works.
Postcards do not offer a bulk rate... let me rephrase, it is no cheaper than a letter with bulk.
We have had several companies that have told us that mailing bulk or stamping does not have any difference. We have not seen a difference in our mailing totals. Return has strictly to do with the area that you mail. I personally do not look at the postcards so but I will open a letter metered or not
Good luck
Last edited by angwagner1974 : 04-26-2007 at 03:28 PM.
Yes, it is true that you do not get your bad addresses returned but we have done both ways (first and bulk) and have received about 2% as undeliverable. We live in a beach community and most of the homes that are bought here are 2nd and 3rd residences so their houses do not have a mailbox. Our post office does return our returned bulk mail to us for free (sometimes) and it has never been so many that we feel we are taking a loss.
When you bulk mail you have to run your addresses through cass and print reports to atleast make sure that the address is set up correctly. The data companies guarantee their data to cass out at a certain percent. Most data companies that we have used have been at 100% or just below.
Also, we only mail to our lists once or every few years so if there is a little address fallout it is not detrimental. You can't mail the same people over and over again, especially final.
I am not trying to talk you into bulk mail either way... but it has REALLY helped us out. Of course, we have a lot of agents spread over the country and the cost issue alone would not allow us to do first class.
Make sure the start up cost of permits make it more cost efficient to mail bulk.
I have found that the best lead from mail is when the prospect calls me on my 1 800 # verses a postage reply card. However, I get more leads on postage reply card.
I have found that the best lead from mail is when the prospect calls me on my 1 800 # verses a postage reply card. However, I get more leads on postage reply card.
I've been looking into the postcard thing as well. Just not sure what avenue to take at the moment.Postcards, selfmailers, telemarketers, buying leads direct and telemarketing those leads...........just alot of factors to weigh out still.
------------------------------------
What doesn't kill you makes you stonger.
You can go to www.usps.com and try netpost. They print and mail everything for you at a very good price. Do the flyer it is very cheap. There is a calculator so you can see how much it cost. this way you can see if a permit would pay for itself. A bulk permit will cost you a one time $160 setup fee and $160 per year. 250 pieces minimum each mailing.
Have you looked into doing an insert in your local daily paper, or weekly paper, with a flier. They can do a target insert of the zip codes your looking to hit, or area wide coverage. Just call them, and ask what their cost per thousand is for inserts.
Have you looked into doing an insert in your local daily paper, or weekly paper, with a flier. They can do a target insert of the zip codes your looking to hit, or area wide coverage. Just call them, and ask what their cost per thousand is for inserts.
I just did this very thing. I ran 14,000 inserts twice for $1,600 including the printing. I already had my own business reply account and paid for the returns (about $1.50 each.)
I did it on pre-need funeral insurance. I recieved 16 replies. MOST of the replies have been the poorest of the poor and the sickest of the sick.
I've made three sales from it so far paying about $2,000. I have one more lead (husband and wife good ages good health) that I count on about 80% that I will close within 60-days. I have about 3-more that I give a 30% possibility to.
I don't consuder this campaign a success. I have had much better results with direct mail and seminars. I will do this again and tweek my insert to try for better results.
Cost of mailings.
Linear Mode
