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In this issue:
• Marketing Article: 5 Lists To Build Direct Marketing Success
• Marketing Article: Win The Battle To Sell, Market, Advertise & Promote!

This week, the USPS Commissioner approved a 2-cent increase in the price of a stamp, set to take effect in June or July. It is more important than ever to keep your address lists clean and up to date.

Our list Move Update / Cleaning Services are an all-in-one solution to make sure you do not waste postage by mailing to non-existant addresses. It includes:

5 Lists To Build Direct Marketing Success
by Accutips.com © 2007

The direct marketing industry places a lot of emphasis on buying and selling lists—but what about creating your own? These five ideas can turn your own experience into a valuable resource library.

1. The Learning List. As you work through your week, collect names and times of webinars, seminars and continuing education events you are interested in. During the course of an average workday, marketers come across many different opportunities to learn—whether it’s learning about a new website or surfing The DMA’s Events page for local happenings. Keep a running list at your desk. The next time you have a free hour, you’ll have lots of ideas at the ready.

2. The Trade Show List. Trade shows are a great opportunity to spread the word about your new business, service or product. They’re also a great way to create a network for your personal career development. Start with a seed list of DMA, PODi, Adtech and On Demand—then add to your list whenever another one comes up in conversation or comes across your desk.

3. The Networking List. Think of all the people you know in your industry: contacts, mentors, coaches, experts and many times your customers can be a great help when you’re looking for insight or making marketing plans. Don’t throw away the business cards you receive at trade shows or conferences—keep them. You never know when a business contact will have just the right answer.

4. The Research List. From white papers to websites to books and magazines, our days are filled with information. It can be hard to filter through all that content, and harder still to remember which of those articles and sites you wanted to earmark and read later. Keep a list on your desktop, or use your bookmark function to mark websites in an instant.

5. The Out-of-the-Box List. Everyone needs to get away and refuel their creativity. Keep a list of all the things that intrigue you, from movies you’d like to rent to interesting tag lines or advertising promotions you come across. Lists of “cool stuff” can genuinely come in handy as idea-starters and energy-drivers. And if nothing else, “Cool stuff” lists can simply help you plan a better weekend! Happy marketing.

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AccuTips is a free monthly e-newsletter full of direct marketing news and legislation, strategies, how-to information, case studies, resources and more. For more information, visit www.accutips.com.

Associations and non-profit groups are a powerful resource for building and expanding networking and business opportunities, finding jobs, evaluating goods and services, and industry publications.

Our database puts you in direct contact with these organizations.

Win The Battle To Sell, Market, Advertise & Promote!
by Bob Nelson © 2007

It doesn't matter how long you have been in business, your business can't survive without customers. Being able to gain your customers' attention is the most critical factor in your business success.

Customers only buy because of a benefit that your business provides. It is called -- WIIFM (What's in it for me?) If you make your store a more inviting place to be, people will prefer to buy from you instead of the competitors.

A. What benefits do you offer?
B. What are you doing better than your competition?
C. What are they doing better than you?

Trick is to Know the Competition

Today, there is a new tough consumer... they demand value - they love choices - they love new products - they want convenience - they want to save time - they don't want hassle - and they enjoy fun-filled experiences.

1.) Design compelling customer-winning advertising
2.) Create eye-catching direct mailing sales letter(s)
3.) Use interior and exterior point-of-sale signs
4.) Implement distinctive ways to display stock
5.) Merchandise your store to get the highest response

The bottom line is this: If you don't do an exceptional job of training employees... motivate customers to take action... or don't do the strongest job to sell them once you have their attention... you are cheating your company of profits it could potentially be earning.

Be Prepared to Make Changes
Identify Unfilled Market Niches
Display Warmth of a Smaller Store
Improve Your Level of Customer Service
Utilize the Latest Business Technology
Develop a Long Term Business Plan

In the final analysis, don't ever take customers for granted. Most people have so many demands on their time… so many situations interrupting their day, with so many things on their everyday to-do lists. That's why you must communicate with them in a timely newsworthy manner with powerful messages to collectively capture their precious time.

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Bob Nelson is President of POWER Retailing. The company works with retailers to create strategic marketing and promotional plans to quickly strengthen your cash flow and financial position. Powerful solutions to improve cash flow, profit margins and the net worth of your business. Call 1-800-399-1980. Website: http://www.retailing.com