Homeowners Marketing Services 1-888-743-3037

Review on Yellow Pages

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:13:19 -0700

Diversify Your Marketing Mix Now

Tue, 15 May 2012 14:57:07 -0700

When the economy went into a tailspin two years ago, many marketers did what they had to do: Cut their spend and focused the few bucks they did have on the cheapest available options — primarily digital channels.

That’s understandable. But now that the economy is showing signs of life, too many are sticking to that strategy, essentially standing on the sidelines as the economic recovery kicks into gear. Or, worse yet, increasing their budgets but not the channels they use to communicate.

If there’s one painful lesson that every investor learned when Wall Street crashed, it’s that you need to diversify. So why haven’t marketers learned that same lesson when it comes to their communications?

As a result of this mono-channel approach, the digital world has become increasingly crowded — the average consumer receives 14 to 15 e-mails a day from companies or brands. That’s not good for marketers looking for engaging ways to get their messages in the hands of consumers.

Consider, for example, that the average household receives about 16 pieces of advertising-related mail per week (according to the USPS^® 2008 Household Diary Study), and you can plainly see the potential that mail offers. Less clutter, an ability to stand out and the ability to — literally — put your brand’s best case in the hands of your customer.

Beyond the clutter, there’s simple math that says the more you diversify the communication channels with your customers, the better the impact. A recent study found that 80 percent of consumers rely on more than one channel when making a purchase decision. That makes sense. Most of us need to have multiple interactions with a brand before parting with our hard-earned dollars.

All of this doesn’t mention the inherent advantages of mail, that it can drive your customers to a personalized URL, deliver a QR (quick response) code that links them to a highly targeted message online or even put a sample of your product directly into their hands. Only mail can do all that.

Tactical, dimensional — cuts through the clutter and gets you noticed. Puts your message — or even a sample of your product — directly into the hands of your customer. That’s what you want — a chance to make a connection.

Don’t get caught standing on the sidelines — it’s time to get in the game.

Diversify your marketing mix now and you’ll benefit in the long run.

E-mail Versus Direct Mail: Which works better?

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:07:43 -0700

Using opt-in e-mail can be a great way to generate leads and sales. But so can regular snail mail. Here’s a quick guide to the pros and cons of direct mail and email to help you choose the right way to contact prospects and build your business.

Email Pros

Email is cheap. Which is why spammers love it. They don’t care whether response rates are low because their costs are negligible. If you want to reach a large number of people and if you have access to a solid, opt-in list, go for it. A test sure won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Email is fast. In two senses. First, your production time is minimal. As soon as you get an idea to test, you can write a motivating email, and hit the send button. Second, your prospect gets your email instantly so responses can start pouring in within minutes. Speed, from start to finish, means you can be a super-agile marketer.
Email is a fabulous testing medium. As a result of the speed I mentioned above, you can get virtually instant answers to your marketing questions. Is a cross-sell offer going to be a winner? Send a group of prospects an email and you’ll have an answer. Have you written two great headlines but can’t decide which one to go with? Do some email testing and get your answer fast!
Downloadable fulfillment pieces are instantly accessible. For example, if you’re offering prospects a White Paper filled with valuable information, they can click through to your landing page, fill in a little qualifying information, and download your White Paper in under two minutes. The fact that they don’t have to wait long to get their free fulfillment piece boosts response rates.

Email Cons

The email “environment” is poor. Thanks to the spam avalanche, sorting through email messages is a real drag. That means your prospects are looking for messages from colleagues, family, and friends, and everything else is out. And fast.
Email messages have to be (relatively) short. When prospects are going through their email, they want information quickly. So long copy is out. Complex offers are out. Supporting facts and arguments are out.
Emails limit your creativity. An all-text email is obviously visually quite boring. The message is the whole ball game. Even in an HTML email, you can throw in some color and photography, but the look is never great. Let’s face it. With email, your graphic designer is fighting with one hand tied behind her back.
Great email lists are hard to find. Yeah. List brokers promise you a high-quality “opt-in” list but you’re often playing with fire. The simple fact is that the direct mail list business is a lot more mature and you can find ethical and helpful list brokers if you shop around.

Direct Mail Pros

The direct mail environment is a good one. Sure, people call direct mail “junk mail.” But they use the term with a lot less anger than they do when they speak of “spam.” When you read through your email, you’re sitting at a desk staring at a monitor and you’re busy. When you sort through your postal mail, you’re probably much more relaxed and feel less put upon. This difference in receptivity is, in my judgment, incalculably important.
Direct mail gives you the space you need to tell the whole story. If you write a compelling letter, readers will stay with you. They will NOT stick with you in an email.
In direct mail, you can use emotion. In your letter or flyer you can inspire, frighten, cajole, convince, make cogent arguments, and motivate. Readers just don’t want that in an email. They want you to tell them the facts and get out. Which, for a writer like me is very limiting, indeed.
In direct mail you can include different pieces you can hold in your hand. I’m talking about a colorful flyer, a testimonial sheet filled with raves, objective product reviews, you name it. You never know what’s going to capture a reader’s interest or attention. With an email you get pixels on the screen and nothing more.

In direct mail, you can use emotion. In your letter or flyer you can inspire, frighten, cajole, convince, make cogent arguments, and motivate. Readers just don’t want that in an email. They want you to tell them the facts and get out. Which, for a writer like me is very limiting, indeed.
In direct mail you can include different pieces you can hold in your hand. I’m talking about a colorful flyer, a testimonial sheet filled with raves, objective product reviews, you name it. You never know what’s going to capture a reader’s interest or attention. With an email you get pixels on the screen and nothing more.

Direct Mail Cons

Direct mail can be expensive. Postage is sky high and heading higher. Printing often costs a ton of money and there are list rental and letter-shop costs to consider. Not to mention creative development.

The bottom line? Direct mail can be very cost effective but there’s no question that your front-end costs are going to be higher. That’s the only big “con” I think you have to worry about.

Final Thoughts
As you can see from the pros and cons listed above, email and direct postal mail both have their advantages. Lately, direct mail has been in a bit of a decline, partly because of the economy and partly because email marketing has made inroads. My own feeling is that direct mail will be making a huge comeback as spammers continue to destroy a legitimate marketing channel.

My advice? Keep on testing email but don’t neglect the proven, money-making power of a letter package or self-mailer!

[quoted from an article published in BusinessKnowHow, written by Ivan Levison, an award-winning freelance direct response copywriter who creates direct mail sales letters, emails, and ads. He publishes a free monthly newsletter. Visit his website at http://www.levison.com]

Home, sweet homebuyers: Homeowners Marketing Services delivers to its 4,000 clients throughout the country customers who are ready to buy almost anything. (Small Business).

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 16:41:50 -0800

Home, sweet homebuyers: Homeowners Marketing Services delivers to its 4,000 clients throughout the country customers who are ready to buy almost anything. (Small Business).

http://bit.ly/homeownersmarketing See what Remodeling Magazine...

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:49:49 -0800

http://bit.ly/homeownersmarketing

See what Remodeling Magazine says about us!

Postal Service plans to end next-day delivery of first-class mail

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:48:38 -0800

Postal Service plans to end next-day delivery of first-class mail:

Now you know another good reason for using nothing but the nation’s freshest and fastest list.

As the USPS gets slower in service it is more and more critical of getting your offer out to homeowners as soon as they move into their new home, not waiting even one day more than you have to.

Let Homeowners Marketing Services show you how. We’ve been doing it since 1967.

A BBB Review of Homeowners Marketing Services, Inc.

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 11:52:29 -0800

A BBB Review of Homeowners Marketing Services, Inc.:

See why BBB gives us a steady A- rating without a paid accreditation . Again, we’re not a member, this is an independent review of our business and it’s been holding steady.

Homeowners Marketing Services, Inc. Founder & President Mr....

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:25:00 -0700

Homeowners Marketing Services, Inc. Founder & President Mr. Barry Weiner talking to Radio Show Host Michael King about the importance of marketing to new homeowners and how it can boost YOUR small business effective lead generation.

Listen for great tips for contractors and anyone with product and services offering targeting new home buyers and homeowner occupied properties.

How can you reach new clients in your area?
Take a listen to find out!

Heard it and got questions? Call and talk to Barry directly

1-888-743-3037

Can Direct-Mail Keep More Customers Than Groupon?

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:53:00 -0700

Can Direct-Mail Keep More Customers Than Groupon?:

Consumers have gotten savvier about finding good bargains, so businesses have to work harder to build customer loyalty. Offering them one-time deals doesn’t work anymore.

Popular daily-deal sites LivingSocial and Groupon have exploded, but clients of Welcomemat Services, a direct-mail marketing company, say those customers are only as loyal as the coupon’s expiration date.

Benefits of Direct Mail

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:42:00 -0700

Direct Mail touches people every day.

Many people look forward to receiving their daily mail. In fact, 98 percent of consumers bring in their mail the day it’s delivered, and 77 percent sort through it immediately. In addition to that kind of exposure, Direct Mail offers these benefits:

It’s targeted.

Mass advertising (TV, print, radio, etc.) can be expensive and isn’t always an option for small businesses. But Direct Mail can focus on a smaller group of individuals who are more likely to respond to your offer, giving you more bang for your buck.

It’s personal.

With Direct Mail, you can address your customers by name, speak to them individually, and appeal to their interests. And when customers feel that you understand their needs, they’re more likely to respond. in fact, 55 percent of consumers “look forward” to discovering the mail they receive.

It’s flexible.

From letters to postcards to brochures, there is a large variety of inexpensive and easy formats you can use to create your direct mail campaign. You can add impact by including a special offer or free sample in the envelope.

It’s tangible.

Direct Mail allows you to physically place your message in your customers’ hands and encourage interaction. Along with an engaging message, you can make an unforgettable impression by incorporating elements that actively involve the customer, like stickers, and coupons.

It’s measurable.

Direct Mail is one of the few media channels that gives you the ability to track the success of your campaign. it’s as simple as counting the inquiries you received or counting the number of coupons redeemed. By tracking and analyzing your results, you’ll see what’s working and can make adjustments to future mailings if needed.

It’s easy and cost-effective.

You don’t have to be a Direct Mail expert with a big budget to advertise with the mail. With a computer, some desktop publishing software, and a little know-how, you can create your own professional-looking Direct Mail piece. With some Direct Mail Web sites, you even design your piece, import your mailing list, and have the campaign printed and sent—all online.

** Reproduced from an article posted on the USPS site (http://www.usps.com/directmail/benefits.htm on 7/5/2011)

New Homeowners Buying Trends

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:09:00 -0700

New Homeowners Buying Trends:

Learn about leading trends of products and services consumed by new homeowners upon purchase of their home and how can your business can benefit them.

Click this post to download the fact sheet.

Hometalk Interview Listen to our founder & President talking...

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:10:00 -0700

Hometalk Interview

Listen to our founder & President talking about the importance of marketing to new homeowners to YOUR small business.

How can you reach new clients in your area?

Take a listen to find out!

Are you tired of misleading ads on the Internet?

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 07:07:00 -0700

Everybody claims to have the fastest, most accurate New Homeowners List. Most do not; they are resellers, not data compilers.

Homeowners Marketing Services has keyed and compiled New Homeowners Lists since 1967

We provide the fastest list in the U.S. - our data is only owner occupied
Guaranteed 93% deliverable
Fast weekly delivery of 90% of the U.S.
Daily delivery available in many areas
Our list is provided on labels or email
We have an A- rating with the BBB without being a member
We have serviced over 45,000 clients in 40 years, and the company has been under the same ownership since 1975

If you have used a slow or inaccurate list, call us right away for counts and a free sample. All lists are customized to your area.

Now available, Weekly New Homeowners with pools.

Call us today for an offer tailored to your specific needs

1-888-743-3037

Free Counts & Quotes Available 24/7!

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:54:00 -0700

Free Counts & Quotes Available 24/7!:

Call 1-888-743-3037 for expert advice or with questions on how to use this system to increase your lead generation