When Emailing Local Businesses in Different Locations...

[Bouncer]

Do you have to make a postcard for that location? Allow me to be more specific.

Here in Albany NY there's several surrounding cities like Troy, Schenectady, and Colonie just to name a few. I have Mobile Renegade so when I do a local search, my results will include these areas because their considered to be apart of the "capital district".

I've emailed a vast majority throughout the capital district and what I'm concerned about is what if one business bites in Colonie, another in Schenectady, a third in Latham, so on and so forth, what do I do? These little cities/towns are a few miles apart, so to speak. Some of course are a bit farther, but not more than 20-30 minutes away.

I think quite possibly this is the only part I'm confused about with 9x12. Help!

[Mister Natural]

Don't shackle yourself with impossibly "tight" geographic restrictions.
Yeah I know the 1st BobRoss wso says something like "drop your 10,000 postcards in a 2 mile radius from their doorstep",,,, Now go out and locate 20 businesses within the same 2 mile radius willing to sign up. That's a tough one.

This thing is your baby. You can do whatever you want with it.

But to add some clarification.... Check out the "already established" direct mail publications in your area and you'll notice,,,,, they are advertising businesses all over the place. It appears that whoever has money in hand and ready to sign on the dotted line, the BIG publications will mix them right in. They are all about making money so a 2 mile or even a 10 mile radius means nothing to those guys.

There is a small little magazine that pops up in my mailbox once a month "JB Moneysaver". They list ads for businesses located 100 miles from my location. Maybe they mail 100,000,,, I don't know but,,, they are making money for themselves.

So my advice is.... Feed yourself and stuff your bank account first.... worry about rescuing small business owners later.

Also consider this, if you pass over the small mom & pop type businesses for those a little larger (contractors, lawn care, swimming pool suppliers) that 2 mile radius concept means nothing to those guys. They will drive to the customer and collect their money.

Remember Spring is 8 weeks away. Lawn care, tree guys, irrigation, landscapers, green houses, florists and more,,,, will be easy income for you.
Yeah cookie and yogurt shops "sound" cute for the card but, contractors and lawn guys will hand you 500 dollars a heck of a lot faster than the little old lady who runs Grandma's Cookie Shop.

[Goblue1918]

Bouncer,

First off - look for businesses that already advertise.

Go to ValPak.com and put in your zip code and look who is advertising in the area of your mailer within 5 miles. I bet you are going to find as Mister Natural states a bunch of advertisers from a larger area. Think independant mattress stores and independant carpet installers. These people advertise low prices i.e. Free Padding, Full room of carpet installation for $299 etc. They then upsell the heck out of the customer.

Also, look at the local papers. Not the Albany Times Union, more like the Saratogian or if Schenectady has a local paper, look in there. (I used to live in Saratoga Springs - loved it up there!!).

Focus on the people advertising and you only have to sell them on your product. For those that are not advertising you have to convince them to advertise and then you have to convince them to advertise on your product.

Best of luck.

[Bouncer]

Holy Shiznit! You guys are awesome:) Mr. Natural, you just cleared up some anxiety for me. I'll keep this in my foreground for sure.

And GB1918, thanks a bunch. I love Saratoga too, especially in the Spring.

I'm checking these resources out asap.

[Mr Subtle]

Here in Albany NY there's several surrounding cities like Troy, Schenectady, ...
Off topic, but last week I read a Time article about the most godless cities in America. Turns out the cities you named are ranked 4th (on a list of 100). They even beat out Las Vegas (ranked 7th). Your neighbors Buffalo (ranked 5th) and Syracuse (ranked 9th) are right up there. (Plattsburgh, NY tied at #2).

If I had to guess (before reading the article) I would have guessed Vegas and some West coast city like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle to make the top of the list. The NY cities mentioned above would not have made my top 10 guesses.

[Bouncer]

Off topic, but last week I read a Time article about the most godless cities in America. Turns out the cities you named are ranked 4th (on a list of 100). They even beat out Las Vegas (ranked 7th). Your neighbors Buffalo (ranked 5th) and Syracuse (ranked 9th) are right up there. (Plattsburgh, NY tied at #2).

If I had to guess (before reading the article) I would have guessed Vegas and some West coast city like San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle to make the top of the list. The NY cities mentioned above would not have made my top 10 guesses.

Hey who am I to say it's not true! I just moved back into Albany after not living here for 10 years and nothing's changed. Same ole same ole as they say.