I've been involved in marketing and direct marketing since…
my God! Am I that old already? Anyhow, over the years I've
been asked to give tips on marketing along with my specific
advice. Here's a short list of some of my best tips.

1. The most valuable tool in marketing at the lowest cost is
a letter. In fact, the most valuable tool in marketing at
any cost is a letter. Write one business-getting letter
every day.

2. The best formula for creating headlines in marketing is
"New product offers benefit, benefit, benefit." Use this to
create the headline of your press releases and
advertisements, for envelope teaser copy, and for the
beginning lead of your brochure. Example: "New keyboard
offers faster typing, greater accuracy, and is less tiring."
Use Jeff Dobkin's 100 to 1 Rule: Write 100 lines, go back
and pick your best 1.

3. The most valuable single sheet of paper you can create in
marketing is a press release. You should be sending press
releases every month.

4. The most effective trick I've learned in 25 years of
copywriting is this: when you are having a tough time
writing, just start writing anything, then go back and cross
out your first sentence.

5. Follow up serious inquiries and sales leads with more
than one piece of mail.

6. The 11 most valuable words to get any press release
published are "Are you the person I should send this press
release to?" Before sending any important press release,
call the magazine or newspaper editor and say these 11
words.

7. Create a letter series - in advance - to get new
business. Mail one letter a month. This is the best campaign
I can think of, and the basis for one of my books, How To
Market A Product For Under $500! Shhh, don't tell anyone
this, they won't buy it.

8. Always acknowledge when something nice is done for you
with a thank you letter. No, a call is not the same.

9. When you start to write any business communication,
always write your objective first. Figure out and state in
writing what you are trying to accomplish. For example, an
ad objective may be to generate maximum direct orders, or
get as many leads as possible, or generate retail store
traffic. This gives your writing more focus.

10. If you'd really like a response from a personal letter,
include a return envelope in it with a live stamp on it.
It'll increase your response or it'll drive them nuts.

11. Anytime you run a successful long-term direct mail
campaign, test the variables in subsequent mailings.

12. Take your time writing. No one will ever know the
one-page letter they received took you three weeks to write.
Just make sure when you send it, it's perfect.

13. In a direct mail solicitation, don't be afraid to ask
for the order - several times. If the recipient doesn't call
or send an order, the piece fails. For best results, be very
explicit and tell the reader exactly what you want him to do
- twice in the body copy, and again in the PS.

About the Author:

Jeffrey Dobkin, author of the 400-page marketing manual,
How To Market A Product for Under $500 ($29.95), now has a
second book, Uncommon Marketing Techniques ($17.95) - 33 of
his latest columns on small business marketing, exactly like
the one you just read. Both books are available directly
from the publisher - 800-234-IDEA. Or visit him at
http://www.dobkin.com