| A BIG MAIL SHOULD CONTAIN:At least three to four | | | | years. They are EXCELLENT folios,well written, well |
| Mail order Magazines Circulars containingoffers or | | | | printed, and the advice in them is absolutelyvalid. But it |
| interest to new mail order dealers. Circulars which | | | | is a waste of time trying to sell them to mailorder |
| theBig Mail Dealer has been to mail. | | | | beginners. Most of them already know where to get |
| | | | them atwholesale prices! If you receive FREE |
| Do you enjoy reading Mail Dealer magazines? Do you | | | | commission circularsoffering these folios, by all means, |
| enjoy orderingand receiving "Big Mail?" Do you enjoy | | | | mail them. You may get anorder or two. But if you are |
| working with new MailOrder dealers and opportunity | | | | going to buy expensive circulars, besure you are |
| seekers? If your answer is "YES" toall of these | | | | offering something NEW something which EVERY |
| questions, then it would probably be profitable | | | | mailorder dealer has not already seen at least one |
| andpleasurable for you to start a "Big Mail" service. | | | | hundred times! |
| | | | |
| In the pages to follow I will show you how to set up a | | | | FACTS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! |
| Big MailService. I'll show you how to advertise your | | | | |
| service and I'llalso show you how to use the Big Mails | | | | As a Big Mail Dealer, you will be selling many things. So |
| that you receive in yourmail to your own advantage. I'll | | | | thatyou can fill each order accurately and promptly, I |
| show you how to use commissioncirculars (how to get | | | | suggest thatyou start another looseleaf notebook |
| a lot of them free!) and I'll also show youhow to keep | | | | Divide it into threesections: |
| track of them. | | | | |
| | | | 1 Commission Circular Information2 Co-Publishing |
| We'll talk about co-publishing and we'll discuss circular | | | | Information3 Advertising Schedule |
| mailing(you'll learn how to get people to pay you cash | | | | |
| to mail theircirculars for them!).I'll show a simple trick | | | | 1. Commission Circular Information---Every time you |
| that will get you alot of free advertising and I'll show | | | | receive a newsupply of commission circulars, sit down |
| you where to get a freemailing list that will create a lot | | | | and examine them.(Sometimes you will receive two or |
| of new customers for you, ifyou are willing to put in a | | | | three varieties in oneenvelope.) Tape one sample of |
| little work to get them. | | | | each circular in your notebook.Underneath it write: |
| | | | |
| But...before we get into this...I would like to give you a | | | | * Name and Address of the Drop-shipper* Amount to |
| wordof caution. Big Mail selling looks easy and it | | | | forward to the Drop-shipper* How to obtain additional |
| sounds easy IT ISNOT! Selling Big Mails is a lot of | | | | circulars. (Are they available withyour name and |
| work,HARD WORK. And it is NOTa way to get rich | | | | address imprinted on them?) |
| quick. | | | | |
| | | | 2. Co-publishing Information--Most publishers of mail |
| You will probably not make any money at all for a | | | | ordermagazines will send a "Fact Sheet." If they do, |
| least a fewmonths. In fact, you will have to invest | | | | simplyscotch-tape the sheet in your notebook. If not, |
| more than you take in.If you are willing to invest a little | | | | record thesefacts yourself: |
| of your money, and a lot ofyour time, then you will gain | | | | |
| invaluable experience selling BigMails, and then you will | | | | *Name and Address of Printer*How much to forward |
| make money. You will gain experiencethat you could | | | | on new advertising, subscriptions, etc |
| gain nowhere else in the whole world. And if youare | | | | |
| alert, creative, and AMBITIOUS, you can eventually turn | | | | 3. Advertising Schedule--To keep your ads running |
| yourmail order business into a very lucrative enterprise. | | | | CONTINUOUSLY,you will have to keep track of |
| | | | "closing dates" (the last date onwhich a publisher will |
| If you are still interested...and I hope you are..read on! | | | | accept advertising for his next issue.)Here is a very |
| | | | simple method to use: |
| The first thing you should od is to sit down with the | | | | |
| latestissue of MAIL SALE ADVERTISER or | | | | Take a page of common notebook paper. At the top |
| POPULAR ADVERTISER and order aleast twelve Big | | | | of the page,write the name of the month. Then |
| Mails. After that, get into the habit ofordering a least | | | | number down the page from 1 to31. (Use one line for |
| one Big Mail EVERYDAY! | | | | each day of the month.) |
| | | | |
| Then devote a portion of EACH DAY to STUDYING | | | | The closing date for Mail Sale Advertiser is the 15th of |
| them. And I do meanSTUDY! | | | | themonth, but you will want to mail your ad on the 5th |
| | | | of the month(always mail your ads in TEN DAYS |
| Feed your mind and your imagination with all kinds of | | | | EARLY.) So next to the number5, write down the |
| ideas. TheMail Order Business is a very creative and | | | | code letters "MSA." If you check this sheetreligiously |
| imaginative one. Themore you feed feed you | | | | every day, you will never forget a closing date. |
| imagination, the more it will do for you! | | | | |
| | | | Before you mail your ad, turn to the page for the |
| Set up a personal notebook. I would suggest you | | | | following monthand make a notation of that month's |
| divide into foursections: | | | | closing date. If you will usethis system ( or your own |
| | | | variation), you will remember everydeadline, whether |
| * Commission Circulars Sources* Sources of low-cost | | | | you are advertising in five magazines of fivehundred! |
| printing* Prospective Mailing Customers (Save the | | | | |
| circulars that other dealers have been paid to mail. I'll | | | | CIRCULAR MAILING |
| show you why later on .)* Good ideas. | | | | |
| | | | Once your Big Mail ads are appearing regularly, you will |
| You can set your personal notebook up any way you | | | | start toreceive orders for them regularly. As soon as |
| like, but I usea loose-leaf notebook and scotch-tape | | | | you are averagingfive a day, you can advertise |
| the ads, circulars etc. | | | | yourself as a CIRCULAR MAILER. It'seasy to get |
| | | | started. Each time you renew your Big Mail Ad, sendin |
| Read and re-read every circular and mail order | | | | another ad like this. (As co-publisher, your ads cost half |
| magazine that youcan get you hands on. SAVE ANY | | | | theadvertised price!) |
| IDEA THAT APPEALS TO YOU! Startordering | | | | |
| SMALL supplies of "commission circulars" that | | | | 100 250 500 |
| APPEAL toyou. (never try to sell anything merely | | | | |
| because it pays BIGcommission.) | | | | 3x6 .50 1.25 2.256x9 .60 2.50 2.509x12 1.00 2.00 4.00 |
| | | | |
| When you are satisfied that you really want to start | | | | These prices are given only as examples. The postal |
| selling BigMails, there are two very practical things you | | | | rates andother costs change and you should check |
| must do. | | | | the ads currently runningCircular Mailers and charge |
| | | | about the same rates. Cut-rate priceswill NOT get you |
| 1. Order a name and address rubber stamp. Be sure it | | | | more orders. |
| is SMALLenough to use on commission circulars. | | | | |
| | | | A circular mailing ad will almost ALWAYS pay for |
| 2. Open a PERSONAL CHECKING ACCOUNT. Open | | | | itselfimmediately. ( Incidentally, many dealers have tried |
| it in YOUR OWN NAME.When you start to advertise, | | | | to run acombination Big Mail and Circular Mailing ads. |
| use your own name. If you do that,there will be no | | | | They do work halfas well as TWO SEPARATE |
| problem when you go to the bank to depositchecks | | | | ADS!) |
| that your customers will send you. | | | | |
| | | | As soon as you receive a circular mailing order, send |
| Your next step is to place an ad in a least SIX mail | | | | yourcustomers a sample mailing. Be sure it is neat and |
| ordermagazines or ad sheets. In the beginning you will | | | | be sure itincludes the LATEST issues of several mail |
| have to usepublications that will accept handwritten | | | | order magazines. |
| copy, since you do notyet have "camera ready" ads. | | | | |
| Your ad should read something likethis: | | | | Then include ONE of his circulars in every Big Mail until |
| | | | youhave finished mailing them. If you have not received |
| BIG MAIL-25 cents Commission circulars mailed FREE! | | | | any morecirculars to mail, send him a friendly thank you |
| (your nameand address) | | | | not and let himknow that you have finished mailing his |
| | | | circulars. Tell him youhope he receives some orders |
| A simple ad like this will pull better than one with a lot | | | | from your mailing. Include some newcirculars from new |
| ofwords in it. | | | | advertisers and a NEW magazine. If he has anymore |
| | | | circulars to mail, he will likely send them to YOU! |
| You probably already know which magazines and ad | | | | |
| sheets you wantto advertise in. That is fine! But I would | | | | Remember, circular mailing depends on REPEAT |
| suggest you start offby advertising in at least one or | | | | customers. Neverexaggerate mailing capacity ( either |
| two of the following: | | | | in personal letters or ads.)If you really try to get orders |
| | | | for your customers, they will beback for more! |
| Mail Sale AdvertiserPopular AdvertiserMail Order | | | | |
| BulletinTimely Tips | | | | HOW TO GET FREE ADS |
| | | | |
| All of these are letter press publications, which means | | | | There are many editors of mail order magazines and |
| they willset your ad up for you. They appear regularly | | | | ad sheets whowill print your ads free if you will mail |
| EVERY MONTH ONTIME, and almost everyone | | | | 100 to 200 copies oftheir publication. Here is a very |
| interested in mail order reads them! | | | | effective way to get them torun YOUR ads: |
| | | | |
| Because these publications are CO-PUBLISHABLE, | | | | Take a sheet of white typing paper. Type the |
| the publishers ofeach publication will send you 50-100 | | | | following words onit. |
| copies to include in yourBig Mails. Your name will | | | | |
| appear on your copies as theCO-PUBLISHER. You will | | | | PRINTERS PUBLISHERS: If you will print any of these |
| get to keep around 50% as your commissionon any | | | | ads in your publication, I will mail 100 copies for you |
| ads or subscriptions you sell. If you are faithful | | | | FREE! (Withco-publishing rights, I'll mail 200 copies!) Note |
| mailingyour copies, you can often make enough profit | | | | that all ofthese ads are camera ready for your |
| on ads andsubscriptions to pay for all your ads. This | | | | convenience. Then use a rubber-cement to paste |
| way your ads actuallycost you nothing. | | | | copies of ALL YOUR DIFFERENTADS on the sheet! |
| | | | (If your ads have been printed on coloredpaper, bleach |
| Each advertiser is also mailing his copies to his | | | | them before you paste them up. Pour a little |
| customers ormailing list, and every last copy mailed | | | | cloroxover them, until the color disappears. Rinse them |
| has YOUR ad in it... Theprinter is also mailing a copy to | | | | in water, anddry them on a piece of flat cardboard.) |
| every person on hissubscription list...so, usually within | | | | |
| about ten days after youraddress appears in print, you | | | | Once your circular is pasted up (camera-ready), take it |
| will start receiving letters withquarters in them asking | | | | to yourlocal instant photo offset printer and have 500 |
| for Big Mail. Some advertisers, for onereason or | | | | or 1000 copiesprinted on WHITE paper. (Be sure its on |
| another are quite slow in mailing their copies, butthis | | | | white paper.) Enclose oneof these circulars in every |
| can work to your advantage. You will often get orders | | | | mailing. You'll be amazed at theresults! |
| two orthree months after your ad appears! | | | | |
| | | | WHERE TO GET GOOD MAILING LISTS FREE |
| COMMISSION CIRCULARS | | | | |
| | | | If you advertise regularly, you will get a lot of response |
| Long before you start receiving orders for your Big | | | | toyour ads. But if you will do a little specialized direct |
| Mail, youshould have acquired a starting supply of | | | | mailing,you can double your business almost |
| "commission circulars."You will want to include them in | | | | immediately. Here's how: |
| every one of your Big Mails. | | | | |
| | | | Imagine that you have just received your mailing |
| Commission circulars are usually 3x6" or 81/2x11" | | | | copies of TIMELYTIPS from the printer. If you look at |
| circularsoffering such things as:Rubber Stamps | | | | your self, you discoverthat you still have 14 of lasts |
| Name-address Labels Folios MagazineSamples Mailing | | | | month's issue left to mail. Sitdown and make up 14 |
| Lists Envelopes Printed Stationary Business Directories | | | | SPECIALIZED mailings. In each mailing,enclosed: |
| Catalogue Samples Drop-ship Samples Printed | | | | |
| Circulars Formulas Books Mail Order Plans Magazine | | | | 1. One copy of last month's TIMELY TIPS2. One copy |
| SubscriptionsName Listing Services Pen Pal Clubs, etc, | | | | of each circular you have been paid to mail.3. One |
| etc. | | | | copy of your new FREE MAILING FOR FREE |
| | | | ADVERTISINGcircular. |
| Wholesale firms supply commission circulars to mail | | | | |
| orderdealers, usually at cost. The dealer stamps his | | | | To whom do you mail them? COMPILE YOUR |
| name in the blankspace under "Order Form" and mails | | | | MAILING LIST FROM THOSEBIG MAILS YOU HAVE |
| them to prospective customers.When he receives | | | | BEEN ORDERING EVERY DAY! Mail them too: |
| orders (and he will if he mails them regularly),he keeps | | | | |
| his commission, which is usually about 50%. He | | | | * CIRCULAR MAILING PROSPECTS--Each time you |
| thensends the balance, along with his shipping label, to | | | | receive Big Mail,examine all the circulars. Who has paid |
| thewholesaler, who drop-ships the order directly to the | | | | the dealer to mailcirculars for them? If they have paid |
| customerunder the dealer's shipping label. | | | | him, THEY WILL ALSO PAYYOU...if you will take the |
| | | | time to send them a sample mailing! |
| Commission circulars can be profitable for you, as a | | | | |
| Big MailDealer, if you are very careful to select only | | | | * NEW AD-SHEETS AND MAIL ORDER |
| those circularswhich appear to MAIL ORDER | | | | MAGAZINES--Whenever you see theannouncement |
| BEGINNERS. You will soon learn thatgift items and | | | | of a new publication, send a sample mailing and besure |
| general merchandise rarely appeal to people whoare | | | | to enclose your Free Mailing for Free Advertising |
| ordering Big Mails, unless you are offering them on | | | | circular.You'll get many, many free ads, if you work at |
| wholesalebasis. (Safari boots, transistor radios, hunting | | | | it. |
| knives,automatic can-openers, $15.95 necklaces are | | | | |
| nice, and they can besold by mail...but not to mail order | | | | * NEW MAIL ORDER ADVERTISERS--Save the |
| beginners!) | | | | names of new advertisers in the mail order magazines |
| | | | or ad-sheets. You'll be amazed at howresponsive they |
| If you work at it, you can make a lot of extra money | | | | will be to your mailings! |
| by includinggood commission circulars in your mails. | | | | |
| Test a few hundredcopies of each commission | | | | Every time you receive new mailing copies, mail out |
| circular. If it evokes no interest,discontinue it. But if it | | | | the remainingcopies of last month's issues to the |
| produces and order or two,then includeone in every | | | | categories listed above andyour mail order business |
| piece of mail you send. When you have found | | | | will grow faster than you ever dreamedit could. You'll |
| acircular that "pulls,"try to have them printed with your | | | | be surprised at the new business you will beable to |
| name andaddress on them. (printed circulars will often | | | | generate using this method. |
| pull FIVE timesbetter than stamped ones.) | | | | |
| | | | WHERE DO YOU GO FROM HERE? |
| Don't mail poorly printed circulars. They tend to make | | | | |
| yourentire mailing look sloppy> You will also find that | | | | I honestly can't answer that question! Only you have |
| 6x9" and 81/2x11" circulars pull better than 3x6", | | | | the answer.If you are ambitious--if you are willing to |
| although some 3x6's pullsurprisingly well. | | | | develop yourimagination--if you are willing to |
| | | | experiment with newideas....the sky is the limit! |
| Once your ad appears ( starting COMMISSION | | | | |
| CIRCULARS MAILED FREE)you will start receiving | | | | Don't let anyone tell you that Big Mail Selling and |
| commission circulars. Test everycircular that is given to | | | | CircularMailing is only for beginners. There are |
| you. Push the winners, discontinue theduds. You will | | | | SUCCESSFUL mail orderdealers who have been |
| eventually develop a list of real money makers | | | | selling Big Mails and mailing circulars fortwenty-five |
| toinclude in your Big Mails. | | | | years! If you really love it, don't ever give it up! |
| | | | |
| Most of the suppliers of commission circulars are | | | | What direction your mail order business takes is |
| honest people.They offer items of real worth. But | | | | entirely up toyou. I hope you will keep your ads running, |
| occasionally you will findcirculars that you should not | | | | and I hope you willexpand your business by constantly |
| mail. They will get you in TROUBLE! | | | | adding new publications toyour advertising list. |
| | | | |
| * Adult Offers (pornography). Even if you do not | | | | Keep your eyes and ears open. Saturate yourself with |
| object to this,some of the customers will...and some of | | | | fresh, newand imaginative ideas. I hope you'll keep |
| your customers may beminors. | | | | excited about the MailOrder bussiness...I hope that ten |
| | | | years from now, You'll love itand be more involved |
| * "Stuff and Address Envelopes at Home..Send a | | | | than you are today. |
| $1.00 for yourStarting Kit," These offers are illegal. | | | | |
| People have beenconvicted in court for selling them. | | | | Mail Order is far more than just a money-making |
| Beside, the plans areworthless. | | | | business for me.It's a way of life! And I hope it is your |
| | | | way of life, too! |
| * Chain letters--These are also illegal. Beware of any | | | | |
| circularthat says you will receive $20,000 in sixty days | | | | Copyright 2004 by DeAnna SpencerDeAnna Spencer |
| if you will maila dollar and "follow the instructions, etc." | | | | is a virtual assistant that helps entrepreneurs run a |
| | | | successful business by providing affordable |
| There is one more thing I would caution you about. | | | | administrative help. She also publishes a blog for small |
| There areabout 40-50 standard folios that have been | | | | business owners. Visit this small business resource |
| around the Mail OrderBusiness for the last twenty | | | | today. |