Industry FAQ's
Got a question? About mailing lists? Direct mail? ALC? Whatever it is, chances
are, we've got the answer. After all, we've been "doing" lists, direct mail and
direct response marketing for more than 20 years. Our people include the
brightest and most experienced minds in the industry. And many of the methods
and techniques shaping the industry today have been developed right here. And
besides, if we don't know the answer to your question, we'll find it.
Here are some of the most questions we're asked most frequently. But if you don't see yours, just click on "Ask the Expert," and we'll get back to you with an answer within 48 hours.
I'm a new mailer. How do I order a list?
It's easy. You can order a list by telephone, fax, e-mail or even the
old-fashioned way, with a company purchase order. You'll need to let us know :
*Your name, address, and phone number
*A purchase order number (for reference purposes)
*The name of the mailer (if not you)
*The offer
*The date you are placing your order
*Your mail date
*The date the list is needed
*Name of the list and the segment selected
*The quantity of names you want
*The type of material (i.e. labels or magnetic tape)
*Where you would like your order shipped
*Preferred method of shipment (UPS, Fed-Ex, or Airborne)
Please note:
*If you are ordering a Response file, you must submit a sample mail piece for
approval.
*First time mailers are required to pre-pay.
Are there restrictions to what I can do with a list once I buy it?
Generally, you don't actually "buy" a list, you rent it...and it's usually for
one time usage. If it's a compiled list, you can often purchase it for
unlimited usage-at an additional cost-and there are few, if any restrictions.
Response files, on the other hand-lists of people who are actual customers of
another company-are usually restricted to a particular offer (which needs to be
approved by the list owner) and must be mailed within an approved time frame.
If you mail an unapproved offer to a list or mail it outside the approved time
frame, you may be in default of the list rental agreement and may be liable for
damages. Sounds a bit complicated, but don't worry: We'll help keep you within
the legal guidelines
What if I don't know what list I want, or the selections, or the
quantity I need?
Well, that's what we're here for...to help. Give us a call, send us an e-mail
or write us a letter. Describe your product or service - including how much it
costs-who you think your market is, and what you want to accomplish with your
mailing. We'll do the rest.
I know who I want to reach with my direct mail. I just can't seem to
find a list that will get me to my audience.
We like a challenge! We have more than 30,000 sources of marketing data on our
proprietary database, and we'll exhaust every one of them until we locate one
that will work for you're looking for. And if it doesn't exist, we can probably
custom-compile it for you. Talk to your ALC Data Marketing Representative.
You'll be amazed at how they can turn big problems into fast solutions.
I know what list I want...but I need it yesterday. Help!
Like we said, We like a challenge. We can get some lists to you overnight.
Others might take an extra day. Give us a call. We'll probably surprise you
with our turn-around.
I need more than a list? I'd like some help in putting together and
managing my on-going direct mail program.
If it has to do with direct mail, we can help. Your Data Marketing Account Rep
can help you identify your prime market, put together a direct mail plan,
negotiate list rental rates coordinate activities with your data processing
service bureau...and generally take the headache out of your DM campaigns.
I've been mailing for some time, but lately my direct mail results have
been on the decline.
Ah, what we live for... "List fatigue" brought on by going "back to the well" a
bit too often is usually the culprit of anemic dm. But it doesn't have to be
fatal. We've got the antidote in our little black bag. We rarely (virtually
never) run into a direct mailer for whom our research team can't uncover fresh
sources of productive names. What's more, our Data Marketing Account Reps are
schooled in the most innovative methods and techniques for improving the list
performance of even your best lists.
I've got a list of my own. I'm willing to rent it to non-competitive
mailers. How do I know how much it's worth? How do I maximize its value?
Simple. You give us a call. We'll evaluate your file in terms of its quality,
its uniqueness in the marketplace, and its ultimate value. If you'd like, we'll
put together a marketing plan, too, that will include a complete competitive
analysis and our recommendations for how to realize greatest value from this
asset.
How does ALC make its money?
Generally, there is no additional cost for you to use ALC. When we acquire a
list for you, we get paid a commission by the owner or manager of the list. As
your list manger, we earn a management fee as a percentage of the revenue we
generate.
Does ALC provide e-mail, as well as postal lists?
Yes. E-mail marketing is an incredibly powerful medium. We've used it with
great success to drive traffic to out clients' websites, generate leads and
inquiries, make a sale, stimulate subscriptions, confirm, orders, reactivate
dormant customers, cross-sell and more. It's a perfect compliment to direct
mail; our Data Marketing Reps are trained equally well in e-mail as they are in
"t" (for terrestrial) mail and can provide you with the direction and the
expertise you need to test e-mail for your business.
Any other marketing opportunities for growing my business presented by
the internet?
Our mission is the same regardless of what media we use to fulfill it...and
that is to help our clients acquire new customers at an acceptable cost and
then to leverage their value. The Internet and e-mail represent an extremely
powerful means of doing that. Your ALC Data marketing Rep can present
intriguing case studies to you illustrating how we've used this new media to
achieve truly remarkable results for some of the most well-known names in the
internet space.
Other Tools:
- Articles provides interesting "How-To" articles from seasoned professionals.
- Glossary defines standard industry terminology
- Ask the expert if you don't find an answer to a specific question for a response within two business days.
