Direct Response Marketing As A Home Business?

Direct Response Marketing

Right now is one of the most exciting times to be involved with direct response marketing, primarily because it is cheaper and quicker than ever before.

What I particularly like about this category is the scientific approach... you can wear down the uncertainty and mistakes, and make success just a matter of time and persistence.

This type of marketing used to be expensive, and so was only available for companies with deep pockets, now it is open to all of us.

In A Nutshell

Has huge potential if you get it right, costly if you get it wrong
Is a real way to use the power of compounding
Can be extremely expensive, especially offline, to become proficient
Need right market, product, offer, you, to be successful

There are many courses, seminars, and manuals on direct response marketing. It is one of the most popular business categories advertised as a home business.

Conventionally this has involved offline methods such as direct mail, catalogues, and coupon or 0800 advertising.

More recently adverts incorporate a website address or the whole process is done online.

What exactly is direct response marketing?

It is a marketing practise that uses databases or a method of targeting a specific section of the population, and a one or multiple-step approach to getting the sale.

Trials were undertaken with all the major sections of this discipline. Like all marketing success depends on the product, presentation, offer and target market.

Click here to read about direct mail as direct response marketing

The usual guides and tactics being sold are often crammed with and lean towards promoting back-end products which will set you back an arm and a leg.

From the trials I would suggest, unless you are a dynamic entrepreneur, combining direct response marketing with e-commerce, as this is the cheapest and quickest method to measure what the market wants.

I can only re-iterate the words of the experts:

"Treat every marketing effort with pessimism...
...topped by gloom!"

Pros

Direct response marketing combined with the internet CAN be cheaper and quicker than offline methods
You can test a promotion platform immediately
The most effective and holistic method of getting customer/prospect feedback
Massive potential when done right

Cons

Can be very expensive
Direct mail is very expensive
Just a means of promotion, i.e. only half the sales battle

Recommended?

This is more lenient of an individual's temperament, but still requires a methodical and steady approach.

Offline you will need several thousand in capital, online a lot less.