Not sure where to post this...

[BUFFALOBT]

My assumption is that anyone on this forum is doing or planning to do their own bob ross postcard mailing program.

In case my assumption is wrong, I would like to reach out to anyone who may want to sell this, but not do all of the other "stuff".

We are continuously tweaking our "ZERO to $1,400 in 30 days" turnkey marketing program, and are looking for Territory Reps to plug in to our program.

Thanks and happy selling!

[Gleborg]

HI! Do you have any reps in Russia?

[BUFFALOBT]

HI! Do you have any reps in Russia?

Nope- but I would LOVE a bunch!

[DoranPeck]

So how does this work exactly? What does one do to get in?

[greggorio28]

Yeah I'm wondering exactly what is going on here Buffalo.....?

Can you break down into simple terms what you are offering people? Because surely it will not benefit anyone who is on here actively pursuing a business in offline print marketing.....Am I missing something? Are you packaging up Bob Ross' system and re-selling outside of your area.....kinda like a WSO without the WSO?

Sorry - its kinda late and I'm just sorta scratching my head lol...

[BUFFALOBT]

Sorry guys...this is an earlier post of what I just posted here today with Bob's permission of course...

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1070 (http://bobrossoffline.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1070)

In simple terms, I'm offering a turnkey solution for those who want to be involved in this business, but don't want to or cannot do everything that is involved to produce their own editions.

We are looking for folks who just want to sell. We do everything else, which is:

-ad design
-invoicing
-printing
-mailing

We also do ongoing lead generation. I can't promise numbers, but we are getting some really good results so far.

I hope this helps!

[greggorio28]

Ahhh I see - so its pretty much a reverse salesperson ad?

[Terry Owen]

I don't quite get it. Some of us are here to build a business and some are career onlookers. Why would those of us building a business need or want to get your "turnkey solution" and split the profits of our efforts when we have access to the same sources and training that you do? Why would you want someone that just likes to watch the mirror ball?

[BUFFALOBT]

Ahhh I see - so its pretty much a reverse salesperson ad?

Sorry G I'm not sure what that means...

[BUFFALOBT]

I don't quite get it. Some of us are here to build a business and some are career onlookers. Why would those of us building a business need or want to get your "turnkey solution" and split the profits of our efforts when we have access to the same sources and training that you do? Why would you want someone that just likes to watch the mirror ball?

Some of you wouldn't, but some of you might...that's the point Terry.

I'm trying to help out those here who for whatever reason don't or can't do this on their own.

I'm offering my services to those who want it- nothing more than that.

I wouldn't call those who seek out my partnership "mirror ball watchers".

I guess I don't quite get what you don't get...but I'm not the smartest guy around either.

[DoranPeck]

Buffalo, I commend you for your vision in putting together ... Well sort of a franchise system. But couple things I see that I wanted to coment on. One is your kind of lucky that Bob and Greg have been gracious toward what your doing because on many fronts it is a conflict of interest. Bob provides printing, you provide printing... And your in his house nipping at his potential profit. .... Same thing with design. Same thing with support.

I understand your model you want to branch out to more territories and get a piece of everyone's action. There's nothing wrong with that but I will tell offer you some hard earned wisdom. The folks in here are not the customers you want. The primary reason is you profit potential from each person is extremely low. These people in here have access to the same resources you do. If you contract with a housewife you can mark up your printing. You can mark up your design. You can't do that with these fellow marketers. Your taking on a monumental amount of work potentially and your reward will be a fraction of what it could be. I have been a full time print broker for over 7 years. Being a middleman to other middlemen really sucks. The big money is in the local market.

[BUFFALOBT]

Buffalo, I commend you for your vision in putting together ... Well sort of a franchise system. But couple things I see that I wanted to coment on. One is your kind of lucky that Bob and Greg have been gracious toward what your doing because on many fronts it is a conflict of interest. Bob provides printing, you provide printing... And your in his house nipping at his potential profit. .... Same thing with design. Same thing with support.

I understand your model you want to branch out to more territories and get a piece of everyone's action. There's nothing wrong with that but I will tell offer you some hard earned wisdom. The folks in here are not the customers you want. The primary reason is you profit potential from each person is extremely low. These people in here have access to the same resources you do. If you contract with a housewife you can mark up your printing. You can mark up your design. You can't do that with these fellow marketers. Your taking on a monumental amount of work potentially and your reward will be a fraction of what it could be. I have been a full time print broker for over 7 years. Being a middleman to other middlemen really sucks. The big money is in the local market.

Thanks Doran...I appreciate your feedback.

I asked Bob if I could post this on his forum- meaning my new thread on this topic...I hope that is very clear to everyone. I would never disrespect Bob and the great work he has done, and he knows that.

And I'm not here specifically to get a piece of everyone's action. Bob invited me to join his forum when he saw the passion I had for his program. I completed my first postcard as many have here, and have plans to continue to do them.

My true passion has always been to build a business model that would benefit others- financially and otherwise. My partner in The Neighborhood Saver, who is also my cousin, will be the first to tell you about all of the crazy ideas we've had over the years. We actually have a different version of Bob's postcard model that has been successful in Florida for the past couple of years, with a Territory Rep making a decent living for himself.

In terms of marking things up, that's not what we do. We've got our baseline expenses like everyone else, and we have our pricing model like everyone else. We actually gross a lot less than what I've read others on the forum do, but it works for us. There isn't any mystery in any of these figures, and I gladly share this with anyone interested.

At the end of the day, I'm here as a resource if anyone is interested in what we have to offer. It doesn't change my motivation to share whatever I can with anyone willing to listen.

I hope this helps to clarify things a bit.

[DoranPeck]

No worries...I guess I'm a little protective of Bob's movement here. lol. I'm not againt what you are doing, quite the contrary I wish you success with it. Direct mail is the most underutilized medium out there...and it is the best one out there. I have been down the exact road you are moving down, so take what I said and keep it close to your thoughts as you progress. I did the same kind of thing a while back with a turnkey direct mail service....most customers in the beginning where other marketers...and it ends up being alot of work for little return. What you are potentially offering people has the potential to be a monumental life changer for people, much the same as what Bob has created here. Being helpful is the greatest reward there is...Just keep in mind that you have to look out for you too.

My Co-Op postcard has also evolved into something quite different than Bob's as well ...I'm testing some pretty aggressive things. I think most people will go through a natural progression of tweeks and changes to preserve the longevity of their postcard business...but it was his 3rd WSO that peaked my interest as I've been doing it professionally now for a long time. I am hoping to lend a helping hand where I cna.

I know my tone was a little sharp at you but I am not against you :)

To everyone's success.

DP

[Mister Natural]

My Co-Op postcard has also evolved into something quite different than Bob's as well ...I'm testing some pretty aggressive things.

DP

Care to share some insight on this area?

[DoranPeck]

My Co-Op postcard has also evolved into something quite different than Bob's as well ...I'm testing some pretty aggressive things.

DP

Care to share some insight on this area?


Sure,

I've made reference to some of these things in past posts on the warrior forum, and in correspondence with some warriors. What I'm doing is tying a community website to the postcard. They are partner products. A business directory / Job listings / Community events / chat or opinion forums / auctions...etc.

Now, with a website obviously you can do quite a bit with it as far as selling ad space for addition income...plus there is video. it also gives you much broader opportunity for community interaction...contests...viewer submitted vids or writing.

The postcard keeps everybody aware of the website, which makes it appealing to advertisers, and useful to the community. (My postcard goes out to the entire population of my community)

The postcard has CONTENT on it. A small portion dedicated to curiosity catching blurbs of news or items that are taking place on the website....whether it be a heated discussion in the chatforum or an interview with a local "name".

Cartoon strips are golden on postcards because people are compelled to read them. Hidden picture games, featured art, thumbnails of videos of interest. There is no limit to what you can do to capture the attention of readers.

All of this aids to the readership and anticipation of the card. Keeps it far far away from becoming another ValPak.

The community site/postcard combo was something that Myself and two friends first put into play in 2005 ish. it went very well and continued to build steam. Then the website guy moved away...and took the site down. ( he coded it from scratch and none of us could do anything with it anyway) The postcard kept going although not always consistently. The card has gone out in numerous renditions, even smaller 3.5 x 11 rip cards ( one edge has a tear off section size of a bizcard)

All of this started even before EDDM existed. Our advantage though was that I had the equipment to inkjet postcards at high speed, so we could do anything with direct mail that we wanted and not huge 3rp party expenses.

For a time there last year I wasn't doing much of anything because of health reasons (now recoevered) and I had just come to a point of rebuilding the website/postcard tandem. This was about the time I met Jake.

I am about to relaunch a community website....now for this I'm using a company called "easydirectorymanager" ...theyve been good so far..we will see how the relationship develops. I experimented with two previous concoctions but I didnt like them. I did notice a post in this forum by someone named "Infoseek" talking about a new WP directory plugin. It looks like it may have more customization that what I'm using now, dunno.

There is no right or wrong way to go down this road. Trust your creativity. Your postcard doesn't have to "look a certain way" and your website doesn't "have to be a certain way". The one thing you do have to have though is quality and value. Never waver on that.

DP

[Mister Natural]

Dynamite idea's,,, very creative.
You've been doing this since 2005?
How many salespeople do you have working for you ,, and where do you find them?

[DoranPeck]

Thank You Sir.

"Since 2005?" ...not "since"...that is when I first did it. it has been in sporadic waves since then. I am foremost a print broker/ direct mail guy full time and thats what I've been doing "since" :)

No salespeople. Not needed. Local people call me or I go see them. I use direct mail to prospect in other cities and states.