The Direct Mail Solution: A Business Owner's Guide to Building a Lead-Generating, Sales-Driving, Money-Making Direct-Mail Campaign

We've been using direct mail successfully for years. However, after reading this book I feel like a kindergartner because of all the stuff I didn't know I didn't know . . . worse, neither did our advisors. For us the timing of this book's release is perfect because we're just starting a completely new direct mail campaign and are using these insights and advice to both refine our list and, by laser-targeting the client avatar we really want, quickly reduce the size of our mailings and therefore our costs.I particularly appreciate the two authors' extremely clear writing style. There's a ton of information in here, and if it wasn't clearly explained it'd be pretty difficult to implement. Now we know not only exactly what to do but why we're doing it and--especially--how to much more accurately measure results so we can continue to refine our DM process, reduce our costs, and increase our profits.This will be especially useful to marketers who are beginning to realize that improved results are going to have to come from competent direct mail rather than email. Obviously those already doing direct mail will find this information crucial, but I think those making the transition from email to direct mail will especially benefit.Highly recommended.

I have been using direct mail to build my multimillion dollar businesses (CPA, Attorney, RIA) for over 20 years. I have studied some of the top direct mail experts in the country, including numerous Dan Kennedy courses, including his recent $2,000 course on direct mail. Craig's book is the best nuts and bolts book out there. Full disclosure requires that I am one of Craig's very happy clients. He has helped me on numerous campaigns and has significantly improved my ROI on my mailings.Of course I wasted a lot of money buying products to market on Facebook, Linked In, etc. Basically, I got little or no return on those investments of time and money. But, I really make my living using direct mail to drive prospects to workshops or to see me directly. Then I repeat the process using Craig's techniques. Then I repeat again, etc.Use this book to make a million dollars. You will not find a better source on the nuts and bolts of direct mail anywhere.James Lange, CPA/Attorney, Author Retire Secure and The Roth Revolution

If you know nothing about effective direct mail then this book will be somewhat useful. Most of the book is very basic info you could find anywhere on this subject. And it's mostly pretty dry information, NOT the kind of simple, step by step actionable strategies you would expect for a business owner.I bought this because Dan Kennedy is the coauthor. But Dan only wrote about 30 pages of the book. I liked those chapters. But the rest of it was written in a way that was hard to get through. I'm not willing to pay $15 for 30 good pages of a book.I know that Craig Simpson is Dan's go to guy for direct mail, but I don't feel like this book delivers the goods.There's also confusing information. In a chapter about expanding your mailing universe, which to most people would mean what it says...he includes changing the format of your piece to attract more people, changing the price, and increasing lifetime value of a customer. While these are definitely good things to do, I don't feel that they belong under the category of expanding your mailing universe. IMHO this topic should address ways to find related mailings lists.

As a copywriter for Craig Simpson, Newsmax, and many other successful businesses, here's what I can tell you...I've personally "watched" Craig put nearly every piece of advise from this book into practice... and quite honestly, it's like gold.If you are even slightly considering testing direct mail (or if you have been doing it for years and really want better results)... do yourself a favor and get this book... it will save you thousands of dollars by keeping you from all the mistakes even top pros can make. I've watched him make gold many times on the projects I've been fortunate enough to write for. Craig really does bring the goods.And if you are ever fortunate enough to have Craig Simpson actually work on one of your projects, you'll quickly find that he really is one of the best. Bottom line, study every word of this book and put it to memory...

Although the book (kindle) is inspiring in that it motivates you that direct mail has opportunity, this publisher is all about selling you more, more, more. Frankly it was a huge put off, and caused me to distrust most of their content. Their support site [...] for the book is just a collection scam to gather email addresses as it immediately harvests your email as proof of their intentions before giving any content. Effectively telling you how the relationship is going to be going forward..take, take, take.Reading through the book does provide basic knowledge to some degree, but claims that were made on their behalf had to be discounted due to so many statements of how to write copy that sells, with no regard for integrity. I can't stress enough how much these authors as well as the general feel of their message just screams "supermarket tabloid". Is that how you want your hard work to be viewed?Business marketing is about creating a relationship of mutual value with a style that in representative of your brand and not just saying anything to get a better response percentage.It's apparent that they have been in the business far too long and have become interwoven with their bold statements. They forgot that teaching isn't selling and that trust is earned and not demanded.Read snake oil salesmen still trying to sell worthless remedies. It's a pass, sorry.

This is a useful guide to direct mail although it's more targeted to B2C mass mailings than it is for anyone who wants to mail to B2B targets and small lists.As is often the case when there is a bug name author sharing credit with a less known author, it us the less well known one does most of the work. To be fair, there are more chapters from Dan Kennedy than I expected. As is normal in his books, you'll be urged to buy plenty of other DK books.It's also American so the chapter on buying a mailing list will be frustrating to British business owners. From my experience, we have a more restricted system making it harder to identify precisely the best targets.As well as selling direct from the direct mail piece, the book also covers website owners using snail mail to direct traffic to their websites with the aim of capturing email addresses or even creating a sale. This includes Google itself who post out offers of an amount of free clicks for AdWords.I feel this provides good advice around the topic of direct mail but it won't help you with the copywriting. You need other books for that and the book recommends one by Dan Kennedy, one by Robert Bly and several by Michael Masterson along with courses from GKIC and AWAI.The advice includes considerations of the lifetime value of a new customer and the average acquisition costs which are essential to understand if your direct mail campaign is to be profitable. It also includes how to track and calculate this information. It's an excellent reminder that writing the copy may need someone creative and empathic but managing the mailings and testing various elements needs the attention to detail of the nerdiest accountant.If I was based in the USA and I wanted to run large campaigns with tens of thousands of targeted customers, I'd give this five stars. As it is, I think it is good but some of the content isn't relevant to me or my normal clients.Paul Simister is a business coach who helps business owners who are stuck and struggling with disappointing marketing, to get unstuck.

An excellent and easy-to-read book (just the right length, no filler) on the mechanics of running a direct marketing campaign. Actually, not a campaign but a programme: this book emphasises how DM can be a measurable and cost-effective core of any marketing strategy over decades, not just a one-off quarter-saver.It's not clear how much of the book was Simpson and how much Kennedy, but both are top-tier DM writers and strategists and either one is worth a read no matter how many years you've been in the business. For me, that's around two decades, and it was still a refreshing reminder of the little (and big) things you can easily forget.

If you are looking for a comprehensive book on direct mail and you don't really understand direct mail, but would like to, buy this book. Imagine sitting down and drawing out a mind-map of all the important aspects of direct mail there are. Well, Craig Simpson covers them all. And better still, his co-author, Dan Kennedy reassuringly underlines some of the most important aspects, in his no-nonsense style that cuts through to the advice you'll need. If I could change anything, I'd prefer more about the UK market. But, almost all of the details are 100% transferable. If you get stuck, look me up in the UK! For now, though, enjoy a very useful book on the subject. Direct mail is alive and well. If you are serious about understanding marketing in today's world, then add this to your reading and acting-upon list.

This book is essential reading for anyone who wants to increase the profits of their business. In a world of Google ads, Twitter, Facebook, etc., Direct Mailing is a vastly under-rated way of convincing customers to buy your products or services. Also, if you have been wasting money on ineffective advertising this book is for you.The book explains why you should use Direct Mailing as an integral part of your marketing – and explains step by step how to do it effectively, and outlines the pitfalls to avoid.Highly inspiring, and very useful. As a business owner, this book was impossible to put down.

Excellent comprehensive guide to direct mail solutions. Covers all the bases