Everyone
that starts out learning the mail order business is normally
introduced
to Commission Circulars very early in the game. You have probably
seen
ads claiming "how you can make money - sometimes as much as $5,000 - for
every
page you copy".
Just
by making copies of pages, I can make money? Sure - but that's not all
what
it takes.
Commission
Circulars are ads that are already typeset and photocopy-ready.
All
you have to do is stamp or type YOUR name and address in the "order
from"
box.
Then, all you need to do is make copies or print and mail these
circulars.
It's
a very simple process and serves an excellent purpose for many people.
Commission
Circulars allow a person to make money without handling the
product.
Orders normally will come directly from the customer to YOU. You
keep
50% or more of the money and send the rest, with the customer's order
to
the dealer. The dealer will process the customer's order and ship it
directly
to them. Your only function is to take your money out of envelopes
and
re-mail the rest of the order and money to the dealer who is the prime
source
of the product. Some people base their business on Commission
Circulars
alone. Some people really love separating copies, stamping their
name
with a rubber stamp, collating and stuffing envelopes and mailing them
at
the post office. Some businesses get their families involved because
children
can help in most phases of this business process. It's really a fun
hobby
for some people.
However,
what happens if you are not right for Commission Circulars? What if
you
are just getting started in the mail order business and don't mail more
than
10 letters per week? What if you don't know anybody to send the
circulars
to? Some people will tell you to buy a mailing list _ but can you
really
afford to spend $290.00 for first-class postage to mail to 1,000
people
at this time? Besides, 1,000 people probably wouldn't bring in more
than
2 or 3 orders. If you are only getting $2 or $3 commission from the
circular
_ you'd go broke quick!
You
need to ask yourself several questions before ordering Commission
Circulars.
First and foremost, you need to determine how much you are mailing
per
month. If your postage costs are less than $200 every 30 days, it
probably
won't pay you to order Commission Circulars. However, if the
Commission
Circular can become a part of your mailing without causing you an
extra
postage expense, you might consider them.
Commission
circulars bring in good profits only when they are mailed to a lot
of
people _ 1,000 won't cut it. Big mail dealers who process tons of mail per
week
and mail to thousands every month benefit the most from Commission
Circulars.
They have the volume it takes to participate in this type of
business
and will generate enough orders to make them pay for themselves.
There
are a number of ways though for the new beginner to take part in
Commission
Circular mailings and receive a response that is sufficient.
One
way is to take part in Co-Op Printing deals. Read and study the mail
order
publications and you will find several good co-op printing deals.
This
is where you send a circular to a printer. He or she will print a
certain
number of copies. Your ad will be printed on 1-side and the printer's
ad
will be printed on the other. They will send all the copies back to you
and
you are responsible for mailing them. This immediately cuts your printing
costs
in half! A lot of people use this method if they do monthly bulk
mailings
or mail a lot. (Just be sure the ad the printer puts on the back of
your
ad is something that doesn't compete with items you are selling).
If
you don't do a lot of mailings and/or you don't want the hassle of
stuffing
and mailing a lot of envelopes, you can advertise your circular
in
a mail order publication. At a standard rate of $25 per 1,000 _ you can
get
your circular printed and mailed without any additional work on your
part.
This
is the least expensive way to take part in Commission Circulars because
you
save on postage, envelopes, mailing list of names, folding, stapling and
the
time spent carting everything to the post office. Purchase a few Big
Mails
and keep up to date on publications and prices.
The
third way of getting your Commission Circulars out is by printing them
yourself
and having someone else mail them for you. Most bulk mailers (people
who
process large volumes of mail) will normally include your 8 1/2x11
circulars
in with their own mail for 2c to 4c each. You benefit from the
mailers
own mailing list plus you are saved the time of mailing and
processing
them.
If
you have a office copier or other printing equipment that will make copies
from
a camera-ready master, you're in business. Just print as many copies as
you
want, box them up and send to the mailer you select.
Commission
Circulars are really a great way to help others promote their
products
and bring in an income also for you. I myself participate in 3
different
commission programs, however I co-publish publications. The only
difference
between them and Commission Circulars is the fact that they are
publications.
You make money on any advertising ordered through you as well
as
subscriptions. Advertising, printing and mailing are the 3 MOST sought
after
products in mail order. So naturally, I take part in the promotion of
advertising.
Before
participating in any Commission Circular or Co-Publishing effort,
you
should always take the time to inspect the product you are promoting.
If
it's low in cost, order it before promoting it. This way you will be able
to
answer questions if potential customers call or write you about it.
If
the product is more than you can afford or you don't want to buy it _ ask
the
dealer to send you a brochure or other information. You need to be aware
of
any product or service you are promoting because it is a direct reflection
on
YOUR company. Your company name is on the circular and people will think
you
are the Prime Source.
Think
about it this way. Suppose a shoe salesperson came to the door without
any
shoes to show you. They had no brochures, no information about their product and no
knowledge of what shoes were available. Would you make a
purchase
simply from a price list? Probably not! And your customer probably
won't
either. If they do happen to take the time to request more information
get
it for them. Don't toss their letter in the trash and not answer it
because
you don't know the answer. You could be throwing away a $100 order.
Wouldn't
it be worth the 29c investment?
Direct
Mail Mailing Tips
If
you do decide to mail your own circulars yourself because you want to be
sure
they are mailed _ here are some tips to cut costs:
1. Be sure ALL the circulars are printed on BOTH
sides of the paper.
This way _ you can get 8 circulars (4
sheets of paper printed on both
sides) in a standard business-size envelope
for 29c.
2. Never, never, never put only one sheet of
paper in an envelope and mail
it. The person receiving it will be
confused and you will automatically
be recognized as a newcomer who loves to
waste money!
3. If you choose to include a cover letter with
your direct mail, put a
coupon or bonus offer at the bottom of the
letter to encourage the
customer to look through your offers and
consider them.
4. Fold your circulars in a "Z-fold"
when placing them in the envelope
itself. This way, as soon as the envelope
is opened the customer does
not have to unfold it. Your best offer or
"eye-catcher" is looking
directly at them.
5. When printing circulars on the back of other
circulars, turn one of them
upside down. This way, the order coupon for
the flyers are not
back-to-back and customers can place two
orders from one circular.
6. Place similar or complementing offers in each
envelope. Don't put a
hodge-podge of all kinds of different items
as this will tend to confuse
the customer. A good combination is: (a)
Mailing List, (b) Stamp Program,
(c) Printing or Typesetting, (d)
Money-Making Program.
Continually
try different ideas to market your products properly. Work on it.
Make
a game out of it. Eventually you will hit upon the right combination
that
will literally stuff your mailbox with orders!
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