just purchased my 1st ad, need advice

So I just purchased my first ad in a Mississippi magazine. I get the opportunity to download real leads each month. I looked and there are over 1000 leads for potential brides.

So here is my question.

Do you think when I do mail outs I should do a simple post card with a single image and website/phone or a nice brochure with info about me, packages, several images, what I offer, etc?

Simple or semi elaborate???

My approach tends towards the simple. Remember, the ad doesn't sell a wedding, you do! The way I view it, the ad drives traffic to the website; the website encourages people to reach out and call me to schedule an appointment, I sell the wedding. Don't task your ad with doing more than it should for you.

Awesome. I didn't think about it that way. That makes complete sense.

I agree with Peacefield, keep it simple, it makes it easy for the potential client to remember. Most people skim read so the less they have to skim the better.

With your emails, I'd do some formatting in them to give the client an idea of what you have to offer them. but again, keep it simple.

Hey Sheryl.
I have access to a similar (I presume) leads program through Perfect Wedding Guide.

In three years I've only reached out twice.
The first time was with a large postcard mailing. We spent about $500 on really nice postcards and postage, and it probably took hours of time to address them all. The second time was via "email blast", directly through the leads program.

The results:
We got several inquiries as a direct result of the postcards, and actually earned a booking. However, the email blast didn't even get us an inquiry.

I have recognized to myself that I often ignore companies who market via email. It is much less personal, and people have an inherent initial distrust of the sender.

If you're going to do it at all, do the postcards. Keep them simple and elegant, with a clear message and a CALL TO ACTION (ask/tell the recipient to do something...such as visit your website, or email you with "promo code XYZ" in the subject line).

Good luck!

TAZorich wrote in post #11253476
I have access to a similar (I presume) leads program through Perfect Wedding Guide.

Would you mind offering some additional insights with respect to your ROI? After the cost of the materials, the postage, the administration of the mailing, did you feel you got good value?

I do have access to leads. I can get names and addresses but not emails. I don't like lots of emails so i won't do that. The post card seems to be the best option. thanks for all the feedback!!!!

I'm advertising with Premier Bride MS and its costing $1980 for a whole year. I get a 1/4 pg ad in their biannual magazine plus get listed on their site (which my ad on there is already up and functioning). So I can log in and download current leads ajd get new ones on the 20th of each month.

Peacefield wrote in post #11254238
Would you mind offering some additional insights with respect to your ROI? After the cost of the materials, the postage, the administration of the mailing, did you feel you got good value?

No, I don't really feel as though we got good value in that particular case.

When you consider that - not counting the cost of the ad which got us access to the leads in the first place - we spent approximately $500 to get one booking, that's not very good ROI. When you add in the cost of entry to the leads program ($1500/year, which includes an online directory listing plus print ads in PWG's bi-annual publication), we essentially spent a total of $2000 to earn that one job. Of course, this isn't the whole story; we earned several bookings through Perfect Wedding Guide that year, mainly based on our full-page print ad in their physical publication. In all, the ad was probably worthwhile; however the direct mail was less effective than we'd hoped.

Thanks for the insight! I was debating on waiting on doing mail outs. Now I'm really debating. I live is Mississippi and there are either those who think a photographer is a waste of money and then those willing to pay the price for a pro. It's hard to find that second group. I'm hoping this ad I got helps. I asked another pro who advertises in this same mag and he said its totally worth it. So we will see.

Thanks for sharing those insights, TAZ. I've been asking myself the same question but with TheKnot instead. They really are the guys, but I choke over the price. And with such a crowd of suppliers, I wonder if/how it would pay off.