Marketing blues

[aaron-cds]

Alright, I've got my new website up and running.

I designed a good brochure - eye catching, informative, etc.

I searched long and hard for the architecture firms to target.

I went through an exhaustive effort to find the person at each firm to mail the brochure to.

I spent hours typing addresses because so many websites are flash now

I finally prepare all 150 brochures with great satisfaction.

I go to the local post office and place them in the drop box inside the building.

 

That was last Wednesday over a week ago. There were a few people I sent brochures to in Chicago and locally in my home town. It's been over a week and they don't have my brochure. Nobody knows I exist. I'm starting my business in a very unlucky way.

 

What would you do in my situation? Reprint the brochures and resend them? I've sent one seperate from the batch to a friend in Kansas City and it took two days. So it's not that the brochure is not mailable.

 

I need some suggestions. I don't want to start cold calling without people seeing what I can do first. I don't want to send spam emails. I also don't want to resend brochures and risk them getting a brochure one day and the next. I could call the post office but I suspect they won't be able to help me given that they get over 6 million pieces each day. I'm sure they have no clue what happened to my 150 brochures.

[Woody]

Seeing as you've got their names and you can only presume that they've received the brochure I'd now follow it up with a phone call so that the person receiving the information knows that they're dealing with a human being and not a faceless company. Be helpful and friendly and see if they would be interested in using you're services. Even if they say NO at least you can scratch them off your list and move on.

[Ray]

Maybe even make some visits to the local firms with another brochure in hand, if you can spare the time.

[mtutaj]

Mail, this time of year in chicago is always a mess. I had a client mail me a check last year the week before thanksgiving, and it took me 3 weeks to get it. This is in the NW Suburbs. The client was only 15 miles from me. Some areas get service faster in chicago then others. Its how its always been.

 

Mike

[BrianKitts]

I had zero luck with mailers... all my freelance contacts I've made from phone calls to developers, and then from that point it's all been word of mouth from those guys. Once you get yourself out there quality work will do the rest....

 

are you focusing on a particular market?

[aaron-cds]

Thanks Mike, that's good to know. Bkittsarc, I am focusing on a particular market - architecture. My strategy is to send brochures to architects and developers then make phone calls to set up interviews.

[Sawyer]

Thanks Mike, that's good to know. Bkittsarc, I am focusing on a particular market - architecture. My strategy is to send brochures to architects and developers then make phone calls to set up interviews.

 

I would switch that. Phone call to introduce yourself, then mail. The only luck I have had with marketing has been calling the right person at the exact moment the need an illustrator. Otherwise at best you can send a brochure that gets filled in a catalogue (with the other illustrator catalogues) to be seen when they need an illustrator and their usual guy is not able to do it.

[aaron-cds]

I have more faith in my images to sell my services than my voice. That's why I want to call a few days after they have my brochure. Hopefully, it will still be fresh in their mind.

[eksg]

You could try hiring a pretty and sexy lady to go to architectural firms and do marketing for you,it works well,Ive'd tried it once.