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Mail Order Software

Makers and sellers of mail order software.
Catalog Management Software Directory
Compare mail order software using Capterra's free, comprehensive directory.
Capterra.com
PCS Mail Order Software
Catalog, Order & Fulfillment System for Multi Channel Marketers
www.profitcenter.com
Order Management System
Software for catalog, web, retail. Free Workflow Evaluation.
www.mach2k.com
Response M/O Software
End-to-end management for mail order & e-commerce businesses.
www.colinear.com
Order Management Software
for your Mail Order, Catalog, Web, and Fulfillment business
www.csiflorida.com
Mail Order Software
Mail Order Fulfillment And Delivery MOFAD it's .NET and Amazing
www.MOFAD.com
Mailing List Software
Easily Manage Your Mailing List, Create Labels, & Save on Postage.
www.avanquest.com
Verify Shipping Addresses
Award-winning QAS software corrects and verifies B2C shipping addresses
www.qas.com/us
Email Marketing Software
Great for Small or Large Businesses IM & Phone Support! Free Trial.
iContact.com/Email_Software
Internet Services
Find providers and discounts for your local neighborhood
InternetServicesGuide.com
Call Centers & Logistics
Order Taking / Shipping Multi-Lingual USA Citizen Agents
www.nationalccl.com
Order Entry Software
Find the right order entry solution with our free software search.
www.findaccountingsoftware.com

Guide to Selling by Mail Order

Increase profits with a focus on list management and order fulfillment


Selling by mail order may seem like a thing of the past with the success of online retailing, but if you already own a mail order business you know that there are still plenty of dollars to be made via U.S. mail — if you know how to sell, that is. After all, a successful mail order business takes time and tenacity on the front end, but on the back end it's simply a matter of:
  1. Pricing your merchandise correctly
  2. Marketing your products effectively
  3. Fulfilling your orders quickly
  4. Serving your customers completely


Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Revisit your sales offers Pricing is crucial in mail order, and so is presentation. A product that you sell at 'two for $2' might be better marketed as 'buy one at $2, get one free.'

I recommend:  While consultants are often costly, it may be worth the investment to hire pricing experts, such as those listed in the Professional Pricing Society's directory of experts, to help you find your magic numbers.

Overhaul your mailing list Continued success in mail order demands that you keep your mailing lists current.

I recommend:  Microsoft's Dynamics CRM, NetSuite or iRadeon, can help you manage your lists to keep them current and prevent decay. You should also work with a list broker, however, such as AllMedia Inc. or USAData, to identify new list opportunities. The National Mail Order Association can also advise you regarding list management and growth.

Study shipping Selling more products won't help your bottom line if your shipping costs are spiraling out of control. Know your shipping options in order to find often-overlooked savings.

I recommend:  Even the smallest mail order companies can save on shipping. Start with eBay's Tips on how to save on shipping cost.An Introduction to Mailing for Businesses from the U.S. Postal Service has tips for mailing more efficiently and inexpensively. The UPS Solution Finder helps you save money on shipping.

Fix your fulfillment problems Mail order isn't only about collecting orders; it's also about processing, packing and shipping them. Doing all of the above accurately and inexpensively is key.

I recommend:  Use Ecometry Software or Everest Software to manage your fulfillment process more easily and effectively. Or consider other options, such as drop shipping or even outsourcing your fulfillment to efficiency-minded experts, such as Coast to Coast Fulfillment or Technipak.

Market more strategically Successful mail order requires successful advertising. Put your marketing dollars to better use by advertising your merchandise in the right media at the right time of year. And always include a call to action, including a Web site and phone number from which to place orders.

I recommend:  Use MediaFinder to find the best media outlets and publications for your ads. QuantumMail or DirectMail help design, create and send direct mail campaigns, as well as buy and manage mailing lists.

Choose a better product Perhaps the easiest way to improve your mail order sales is to choose stronger merchandise. The best mail order products are lightweight, difficult to break, appeal to a broad market and have a large profit margin.

I recommend:  Rather than selecting a product and then finding a market for it, a unique approach to new product selection is to start with your market and then choose a product. Survey your existing customers – via an online survey service such as InstantSurvey – to find out what they'd be interested in buying.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
  • The secret to selling more via mail order is testing; test thoroughly and often to find out what marketing venues work best, what sales language gets most results and what distribution makes your mailings most profitable.
  • Marketing to repeat customers is key; keep detailed records of past purchases in order to identify – and target – your most loyal consumers.
  • Consider using a co-op mailing service, which can help you save money by sharing postage costs with other mail order sellers.
  • Be aware of all laws applicable to the mail order business; for example, the Federal Trade Commission's 30-day Delay Delivery Rule.
  • The best months to sell by mail order are, from best to worst: January, February, October, November, March, September, August, April, December, July, May, and June.

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How-To Guide from WORK.COM

Guide author
By Amy Gesenhues
Increase profits with a focus on list management and order fulfillment.
Selling by mail order may seem like a thing of the past with the success of online retailing, but if you already own a mail order business you know that there are still plenty of dollars to be made via U.S. mail — if you know how to sell, ... Read more
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