Finally! - Virtual Assistant Forums

#1 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007

OK everyone. I can't count how many times I made and printed brochures to send to potential clients and never mailed 1 out.

Well, finally I made post cards, ordered them, and actually sent out over 200 of them. My biggest set back was looking for the companies I wanted to send to. That was the one thing that kept me from sending them al this time but finally I decided that now is the time to get business steam rolling with some contract clients instead of a bunch of "per service" clients. I will keep on this monthly and send out postcards to different clients and see what comes my way.

Tess · #2 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007

Major congratulations Nicole, that's a great move! I wish you tons of success with your latest marketing decision

Just out of curiosity, how did you decide who to send them to? Did you use the local yellow pages, run an internet search or?

winslowgirl · #3 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007

That is soo exciting!! Anything we do in marketing is a step up! I too was wondering how you researched to get your addresses etc..Keep us posted on how it goes

Office Goddess · #4 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007

We were sent the following info from our ACT! guy:

The following two companies offer software that may be of help to you building prospect lists and the like with information living on the web.

The long standing player is www.egrabber.com They offer a full line of mature products. Their software is not inexpensive but extremely robust and function rich.

A new player in the marketplace is Broadlook's Contact Capture
http://www.broadlook.com/solutions/

Contact Capture is new and relatively inexpensive. I believe the cost is $80 certainly under a $100. It should work with Act! 6.0.

Check the sites. I believe each company offers trial versions of their software.

winslowgirl · #5 (**permalink**) 08-23-2007

Great ideas!! You always post great info

Thanks!

#6 (**permalink**) 08-24-2007

Well, what I did was; I went to www.local.com, chose a few choice fields and then I just started copying address into my notepad on my computer then I paste the names into Avery templates and printed. Local is a site that features local businesses and most of the ads were place by small business owners like us so I had a better chance of selecting businesses that could utilize my services.

The good thing is; I ordered 500 postcards so since my search was South of me next month I will do a search North of me. Then I will go East. That way they don't get the same postcard twice. When I'm out of those I will create a different design with another "special promotion" on them and start all over again. It only cost me about $70 for the 500 postcards that's including shipping.

Office Goddess · #7 (**permalink**) 08-25-2007

Originally Posted by nicolejvon

Well, what I did was; I went to www.local.com, chose a few choice fields and then I just started copying address into my notepad on my computer then I paste the names into Avery templates and printed. Local is a site that features local businesses and most of the ads were place by small business owners like us so I had a better chance of selecting businesses that could utilize my services.

The good thing is; I ordered 500 postcards so since my search was South of me next month I will do a search North of me. Then I will go East. That way they don't get the same postcard twice. When I'm out of those I will create a different design with another "special promotion" on them and start all over again. It only cost me about $70 for the 500 postcards that's including shipping.

Great idea! I think I will check that out for Boulder!!

GuardianVA2009 · #8 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009

Wow I know this is an older post but I hope that website is still available it can be of good use to me,

Thanks,

Tyeshia

Office Goddess · #9 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009

It is! I have a listing on local.com for my area...

GuardianVA2009 · #10 (**permalink**) 04-08-2009

Thank you so much I will be sure to put this on my to do list for today.

DSR Administrative Services · #11 (**permalink**) 03-24-2010

I know this is an old post but I am hoping that someone can point me in the right direction. I recently went to local.com and was doing a search so that I can put my list of potential clients together and I seem to have run into a bump in the road and now I am baffled. When I used some keys words it brought up numerous listings, I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on what keys words to use and not to use so that I can possibly narrow down this list.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

vrsi-office · #12 (**permalink**) 03-24-2010

I also use postcards to mail to potential clients. Cheaper postage then regular mail (only $.28).

I download my mailing lists from Reference USA for free through the library. If you already have a library card, most libraries let you log in online then access Reference USA for free. By logging in online I can download the lists directly to my computer. This saves a lot of data entry time. When using a library link for Reference USA you can only download 25 records at a time, but there is no limit as to how many times you download. Therefore, I just download one page at a time until I have all the requested records. (This still saves time over manual data entry.)

Simply log onto your local library
Search for Reference USA
Click Access Online
Click Go to Residential Phone Directory - Reference USA Website
Click on one of the databases (US Businesses, US New Business, etc.)
Enter your Custom Search Criteria
Create Search
Sort Records and Download

Julie

D'Stinction · #13 (**permalink**) 03-24-2010

Very nice. I had previously pulled information from the State Division of Corporations and could pull all new businesses by county. Took some work, but this enabled me to target new businesses that don't have office staff yet.

Dembo Inc · #14 (**permalink**) 03-24-2010

Originally Posted by vrsi-office

I also use postcards to mail to potential clients. Cheaper postage then regular mail (only $.28).

I download my mailing lists from Reference USA for free through the library. If you already have a library card, most libraries let you log in online then access Reference USA for free. By logging in online I can download the lists directly to my computer. This saves a lot of data entry time. When using a library link for Reference USA you can only download 25 records at a time, but there is no limit as to how many times you download. Therefore, I just download one page at a time until I have all the requested records. (This still saves time over manual data entry.)

Simply log onto your local library
Search for Reference USA
Click Access Online
Click Go to Residential Phone Directory - Reference USA Website
Click on one of the databases (US Businesses, US New Business, etc.)
Enter your Custom Search Criteria
Create Search
Sort Records and Download

Julie

WOW thanks for this info Julie I am getting ready to start up my business and was wondering how I would get access to business so this really helps...

Stephanie

dognose · #15 (**permalink**) 03-24-2010

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks to Lily & Julie, I've been using Reference USA to download mailing lists. I got so many listings I had to narrow down my criteria! And it's free!

I decided how much I wanted to spend a week, calculated the cost of my card with stamp & I mail out 70 cards a week. Each week is a new list of 70 small businesses. On week 7, I will start over with my first week's list. I'll probably change the text on my card, but not the overall look, as I want them to recognize that they got a previous card from me.

Currently I plan to cycle through my lists three times. I just started this a week ago, so I'm excited & curious to see what kind of response I get. I'll post back & let you all know!