Direct mail marketing is most effective when it's used to bring local customers to your shop. In order for your marketing efforts to bear fruit, you need to devise a specific plan of action to target the right market segment and convert them into loyal customers. In conjunction with digital marketing, these five steps provide a roadmap that will jump-start your local outreach.

1. Lay the Foundation

Anything that's built requires a solid foundation. Your foundation for local outreach is to optimize all of your digital platforms for local SEO. Local SEO is just a way of tying all of your online social media profiles, websites, and online mentions together for search optimization locally. Doing this also raises your SERPs. At its most basic, local SEO consists of having your business name, correct address, phone number, website, and email address displayed on every digital media platform where your business is listed. You should also list your business on outlets like Angie's List, Yelp, and similar consumer websites. This also provides your leads and customers with several points of contact, as well as a means of interacting with your business and other customers directly to create a community.

2.Get Your Leads Organized

If you're new to business, you may have to rely on family, friends, and former colleagues for a starter list. Postlead works with you to generate leads that are relevant to your type of business with several of their plans. For those who have an existing customer base, reach out to them, provide any news about upcoming products or events, and maybe offer a discount for referring friends. This will remind current customers you're around and build on their goodwill while generating new leads.

3.Create a Targeted Direct Mail Campaign

This should be to the point, eye-catching, and easily digested at a glance. Your initial campaign should have a personal touch, using real stamps, addressing the contact by name, and have a hand-written signature.

4. Build Excitement

Tie your initial mailing to a specific event such as a grand opening sale or a holiday that's widely celebrated by all, like the Fourth of July. If you can tie it into a local event or date of note, that's even better. Make it seem exclusive as if your recipients are among the few people in on this event. End with a clear call to action that's time sensitive.

5. Follow-up

Respond promptly to any queries and express gratitude for any sales. A great way to do this is with postcards mailed out to customers thanking them for their business, remembering customer birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, or any other occasion that lets them know you value them and their business.

Get Started Today

Once you have your plan of attack ready, you need an effective platform to set it in motion. Postlead is a platform that makes creating direct mail marketing campaigns more efficient and productive. We'll help you craft a message, create mailing lists that are relevant to your business, and automate the whole thing so you can focus on growing your company. Get in touch with us to request your free trial today or contact us for more information about our services. You have nothing to lose but business.