Franchises, the down economy, and direct mail marketing

Franchises, the down economy, and direct mail marketing

In questionable economic times, people tend to roll back to dependable stuff and to distrust innovation. Like most things people tend to do, there are both bad and good elements.

When it comes to marketing, direct mail is a longstanding, proven method. Direct mail marketing is easily targeted to specific communities, great for local businesses and franchises.

So, rolling back to proven direct mail marketing techniques is a good thing.

Distrusting innovation, however, can be problematic; for business owners already wary of anything involving the Internet, which can seem ephemeral and mystical, ignoring new marketing techniques can leave the business behind when the economy improves.

In an unhappy economy, prices for just about everything a business tends to need are generally lower, and though it may go against instinct, it’s actually a good time to innovate.

The Direct Mail Combo Platter

Direct mail marketing combined with modern data techniques can be pretty nifty; for those companies who dare to innovate during hard times, the combination of moving electrons and direct mail can be an exciting prospect.

Some of us can remember when demographic research for direct mail marketing was done at the library with reference books, telephone books, and a yellow legal pad.

Direct Mail Starship

If databases make your direct mail marketing campaign about a thousand times easier, why not boldly go?

Marketing Yourself

Marketing Yourself

You are not unskilled, okay? Think of yourself as a product that a marketing firm is taking on as a client -- stand back and look objectively at everything you do for the world – your family, house, church, community, yard, even your pets.

Don’t edit, just free-flow; make a list of what you’re good at, what you most enjoy doing. Don’t be modest, be marketing firm objective about your client, yourself.

Marketing analysis for instance:

This 50-year old man has a 20 year history of solid employee traits –
dependable, resourceful, creative.
He’s the official photographer for his kid’s activities and always volunteers his skills for family weddings and events….

While performing your marketing analysis, keep in mind that the Internet makes dreams possible now that weren’t when you were a rash, crazy kid. Why shouldn’t you be able to sell your photography online? If creating a marketing website seems beyond you, then start with tutorials on how to sell on ebay.

Marketing, say, original photography, art, handmade crafts, to the entire planet is suddenly quite possible.

Marketing Mantra to Live By:

When life hands you a lemon, create an ebay marketing plan that hypes lemon interest to the point of hysteria.

For help with marketing and direct mail for franchises click for more information.

Franchise Issues for Women

Franchise Issues for Women

It’s odd to realize that my mom was raised in an era that produced Mildred Pierce, perhaps the earliest film female franchisor.

And Mildred’s story is fairly standard when it comes to franchising; she rose from being a waitress to support her family on her own, to being an owner, to being a franchise owner, ruling over a sea of franchisees, all in a woman’s area of expertise – food.

Mildred's Marketing Expertise
Marketing and branding, along with building and expanding her franchise, come as second nature to Mildred – her restaurants are called “Mildred’s” – and the franchise seems to expand practically effortlessly.

Franchise Issues Nowadays
Statistics nowadays for female franchise owners are difficult to come by – though female franchisees seem to be keeping pace with female business owners in general – around 38% -- statistics for female franchise owners are more difficult to come by. Speculation is that, quite often, the husband’s name appears on the franchise finance papers because, surprise! Banks still prefer men when they’re doling out money.

And, it’s still true that the path to franchise for a woman is fraught with difficulty – developing, marketing, branding, franchises is time-consuming, and something else is time-consuming – what was that? Oh, raising children!

...And What About Marketing?
A franchise owner has to develop marketing and promotional plans that will work in varying markets, as well as be an expert in the business itself, in franchise contract law, in franchise training and administration – it’s a big task.

Mildred Pierce was successful with her franchise but failed – spectacularly – with her children – and for women today it’s still a legitimate fear – running two parallalel franchises – a business and a family – is still a fabulous prospect.


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Franchise and Coping with a New Economy

Consider a Franchise

In today's economy, with traditional jobs feeling insecure, some are turning to thoughts of franchise. That's tradition that goes far, far back in our collective unconscious -- running our own business, making day-to-day decisions, creating a new promotional direct mail marketing campaign while managing the kids running around underfoot, answerable only to an overlord of sorts.

When you own a franchise, much more of your destiny is within your control - no consultant in a room full of suits can decimate your company or department. When it's your company franchise and your life, marketing ideas blossom up, promotional notions flower, branding identity becomes a joy. Direct mail marketing copy composes itself.

Franchise - Your Future?

This stifling, repressive cubicle life could become a half-remembered nightmare as you shift your mindset to your own franchise, whatever business franchise may interest you, for there are literally thousands to choose from. Suddenly, the direct mail marketing you receive in your home mailbox becomes interesting – here are small business franchise owners pursuing a career they believe in, building a small-town community mindset with love and sweat and direct mail advertising.

And as you sit in your cubicle, worrying over worrying over your TPS reports and your eight supervisors, imagine turning a favorite, rarely-used talent to operating a franchise – create in your mind your own direct mail marketing campaign to your neighborhood – I promise, your promotional creativity will astound you.

The word is Franchise. The word is Empire.

Check out Venture Manager Solutions for your franchise direct mail marketing needs.