E-mailing reminders

[Dean May]

My customer database is a simple flat file in Microsoft Works. I copy the
table view to an Excel spreadsheet every month then sort out the ones I do
not wish to contact for the month. When I am done I have my mail merge file
for the post cards and my call back list. I then sort on the email field and
all the records with email addresses bubble to the top. I save them to a
separate Excel file that becomes my email merge file. 

 

I invested in a nice color laser printer that has built in duplex. Adding
color to the postcards, including a color photo of me, really improved the
responses. I print onto really nice 32 lb paper with a glossy finish (HP
Premium)- 2 cards per sheet (5.5x8.5). I cut the sheet in half and slap on a
stamp. Postal regs will allow you to get 4 cards off one 8.5x11 sheet and
use a post card stamp. I like the larger size but it takes a first class
stamp. 

 

Having the color laser is really useful. I use it to print out thank you
cards on the same paper, same size (5.5x8.5) which folded in half makes
5.5x4.25 and that fits into an invitation envelope. It has a piano graphic
on the outside and inside a picture of me with a preprinted message and
contact information at the bottom. I send one after every tuning appointment
with a hand written note. 

 

I also use the printer to print out business cards on the same paper- full
color business cards with my picture! Those cost a fortune at the printers,
but are dirt cheap this way. 

 

I think it is a Ricoh C410DN, cost about $1000 street price, but the
consumables are the cheapest of any of them out there and that is what will
kill you. I had an HP color laser that only cost $500 but the consumables
costs ate me up. I did quite a bit of research to find which was the
cheapest cost per sheet and the 410 was the cheapest I saw. Of course that
was a year ago. Things may be different now. 

Dean

Dean May             cell 812.239.3359 

PianoRebuilders.com   812.235.5272 

Terre Haute IN  47802

  _____  

From: pianotech-bounces at ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces at ptg.org] On Behalf
Of John Formsma
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 11:06 PM
To: Pianotech List
Subject: Re: E-mailing reminders

 

On Dec 16, 2007 7:38 PM, Willem Blees <wimblees at aol.com> wrote:

Does anyone e-mail tuning reminder notices to customers? What kind of
results do you get? How do you set up your "system"?

 

For me it has been mixed.  Mostly poor response.  But it follows the general
trend of customers:  the better ones tend to respond...whatever the method
of contact. 

 

The best way for me to generate tuning income has been to pick up the phone
and call.  I don't like calling, but I do what it takes to get the business
going.  We have to get that mindset. 

 

The second best way has been postcards.  It doesn't get near the response of
phoning, but it is a good reminder.  It's a mass-marketing thing.  You have
these postcards doing the work for you without your having to be on the
phone.  People hang on to those cards for a long time.  They get put on the
fridge or next to the piano.  If for no other reason to mail cards, it keeps
your name in front of them. 

 

If anyone uses software to automatically generate mass emails, I'd love to
hear how it works for you.   I tend to think emails just aren't the best
option for most people.  I wish everyone did email as much as I do, but it's
not that way with many of my customers. 

 

I like the immediate response from phoning.  Emails tend to get buried.  If
you have a good customer (doctors, lawyers, etc.), I think they are more apt
to schedule the appointment by phone rather than email.  I go through the
list of my best customers and call them first.  Usually, 20-30 minutes of
that will generate the work I'm looking for.  Sometimes it takes more time,
though.  Persistence pays off. 

 

-- 
JF 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: https://www.moypiano.com/ptg/pianotech.php/attachments/20071217/fc2f1431/attachment-0001.html