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12 Direct Response Marketing Tips

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   August 5, 2010

Didn’t get the response you wanted on your last direct mail campaign? Here are 12 marketing tips to help increase response.

Start by writing your objective in the upper right hand corner of a blank sheet of paper.  Then write your direct mail marketing letter to achieve this objective.

Is your objective to generate further interest in your product or service?  Generate a phone call?  Have customers place orders by direct mail or phone?  Generate phone calls for inquiries or product sales?  Fill in the BRE for a follow up sales call?  In store visit?  Whatever your objectives, state them in writing – then draft your letter to fulfill those objectives. Read More »


How to Increase Direct Mail Response

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   July 19, 2010

Here, we discuss increasing mid-level readership and increasing direct mail response.  Learn to fine tune the body of your letter, paragraph by paragraph.

The opening paragraph

The opening paragraph of your direct mail letter is the place to show your biggest benefit.  Lead with your best stuff first – or did you want to wait and take a chance you’ll lose readers?  This should be your hottest copy and your most exciting benefit. Read More »


Elements of Successful Direct Mail Campaigns

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   July 5, 2010

All direct mail marketing campaign packages have common elements: outer envelope, letter, brochure; most have a reply card or reply envelope.  While a 4-color brochure can supply the glitz and glamor, it’s the letter in today’s direct mail marketing campaign that brings in the orders.  Examine the letter in your direct mail campaign with an eye towards generating higher readership, which means more phone calls and orders.

Once people open your direct mail package they glance at your brochure, but they read the letter. But is it really a letter?  Read More »


The Myth of Google’s First Page

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   June 19, 2010

It was getting late at the Apollo Diner when a thin, tallish dark-haired, fair-skinned blondish fat man carrying a small brown bag under his arm approached me while I sat next to the bathrooms.  “Hey,” he said, his eyes darting around the room.  “Anybody using that?” nodding towards the doors.  “Which one?” I answered without looking up.

He was unsure so I pointed to that one, saying it was free for $2.00 donation, when he blurted-out under his breath, “Did you bring the three large?”

I always thought I’d be cool under pressure, but I froze, staring down at my half empty cup of coffee. Or was it half full? Read More »


The Myth of Search Engine Optimization

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   June 5, 2010

It was a dark night, as most are. On the 12th of January, my Internet connection on the phone said to meet him at the Apollo Diner, a greezy spoon in the Vietnamese section of the Italian neighborhood in the French quarter. “Sit at the table closest to the bathroom in the back.” he said flatly. I could only suspect… he had a bladder problem.

I followed his instructions taking the table closest to the unkempt brown stained mahogany doors marked “His” “Her’s” and “Unsure,” of which I was a bit unsure about myself.  Which is unusual, as I am unusually sure about myself; most of the time, to be sure.  But this time, I wasn’t so sure. Read More »


15 Top Post Card Direct Mail Offers

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   May 19, 2010

Post cards are excellent direct marketing vehicles. Because of their short format, they’re not great at closing sales, but they’re awesome at flushing out people who are interested, generating inquiries and making your phone ring with very warm prospects.

This is the fourth article in the series on increasing response by Jeffrey Dobkin on creating effective post cards. The first article set the goals and objectives of your post card marketing campaign. The second and third articles examined how to write and design post cards that draw maximum response and make your phone ring. Here are 15 offers you can make to get your phone to ring. Read More »


7 More Steps to a Successful Postcard Campaign

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   May 5, 2010

This is the third in the four article series by Jeffrey Dobkin on creating effective direct mail marketing campaigns with post cards. The first article listed 5 objectives and goals of your direct mail post card campaign. The second article on post card marketing highlights 5 ways to create your postcard campaign to make your phone ring with maximum response.

This article continues with 7 more new ways to increase response from mailing post cards. Read More »


5 Ways to Increase Post Card Response

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   April 19, 2010

Post cards are one of the easiest direct mail marketing campaigns to create.  No folding, stuffing, sealing, stapling, affixing – just print, address and go.  Postcard postage is cheap compared to the rest of direct mail, and delivery is fast because mailing first class can cost the same as bulk mail when post cards are bar coded and mailed in zip sequence. Read More »


Postcard Maketing: Top 5 Goals of Direct Mail Postcards

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   April 5, 2010

Here’s why I like postcard marketing campaigns. Short crisp and to the point, direct mail postcards are one of the fastest and lowest cost ways to make your phone ring. This is the first of 4 articles by Jeffrey Dobkin on how to make your post card marketing campaign drive more phone calls to you and generate more response.

Post cards are not necessarily a good marketing campaign for the straight-up, out-and-out closing of a sale, but if created correctly direct mail post cards can be great for pre-selling products Read More »


The #1 Step To Supercharging Any Direct Mail Campaign

By Jeffrey Dobkin   |   March 19, 2010

This is the easiest phone call you’ll ever make. It’s your “Reason To Call.” It’s what you DIDN’T tell them in your letter, post card or your last phone conversation becomes important.

Sure, you’re mailing your best prospects to get them to call you, or at least that’s the objective of the mailing pieces I create for my clients.  Read More »