Dataman Group - Direct Mail and Telemarketing Lists

Opportunity Knocks for Texas Insurance Agents

2012-02-17T12:50:00.000-05:00

In marketing, sometimes timing is everything.

State Farm has cancelled homeowner insurance policies on 11,000 Homeowners in 5 Texas Golf Coast counties: Orange, Jefferson, Chambers, Galveston and Brazoria.

This means that independent Insurance Agents in this market have an opportunity to pick up some new business in these counties by contacting home owners in these counties by direct mail or phone.

Dataman Group Direct specializes in providing mailing lists of Home owners.
Insurance agents can select their Homeowner list by county or by zip-code. Current home value, year built, and home square footage is available on most records in the Dataman X-Date Plus List. Scrubbed telephone #s are also available on a percentage of the file.

Dataman Group has been working with Insurance agents since 1981, providing the mailing lists they need to increase their business.

Direct Mail - In Vogue Again

2012-02-12T18:58:00.000-05:00

Do you remember the days when your mailbox was chock full of ‘junk mail’. No more – our physical mailboxes are empty and nowadays it’s our inboxes that are full of “junk”.

To me, as a veteran Direct Marketer, this means there is great opportunity for marketers who use direct mail and target their prospects with relevant offers.
Last week’s USA Today’s front page featured an article about the Postal Service alone with statistics about the kind of mail people want to receive. Relevant is in. Targeted offers to the right prospect group is in. Blanket emails are out.

Smart Segmentation: Build A Great Reputation

Segmentation – analyzing your list to determine those for whom your offer is most relevant – is a practice that separates the great marketers from the also-rans. It doesn’t seem to matter whether it’s e-mail marketing or direct mail, for some reason most marketers just can’t resist blasting their message to everyone within earshot. There’s no quicker way to ruin your reputation than to blast unwanted, irrelevant offers to your prospects. After you’ve created a quality piece with an authentic offer, take the time to segment your list so that those most likely to benefit are on the receiving end. It’ll save you money and help build your reputation as someone worth listening to.

Quality Counts

Quality suffers in today’s 7/24 marketing frenzy. This is especially true of the barrage of online marketing your prospects receive. Most emails demonstrate little thought to proportions of white space and copy (is it even called copy any longer?). Garish graphics are clip-art, or worse. There are spelling errors galore and those darn links everywhere. So when your prospect receives your compelling offer in her mailbox, the quality of your creative can really make an impact. Make your piece something a person wants to hold in their hand and appreciate. When a mailbox has only the newsprint circulars and bills in it, your direct marketing piece done on substantial stock, with authentic images bathed in a silky flood finish that appeals to both the eye and the hands, can give your message that extra 15 – 20 seconds of prospect attention to really make an impact. Quality counts, more than ever.

Authenticity Matters

Marketing Authenticity Guru John Rooks argues that people crave authentic relationships. He goes on to suggest that authenticity is a powerful competitive differentiator in a world where even news takes on the quality of propaganda.
Just the other day I received a postcard urgently proclaiming that a company had been trying to contact me about the free vacation package I had won. I would miss out if I didn’t respond within 24 hours. First of all, the postcards was addressed to resident rather than to me personally; it was sent via bulk mail and everyone knows that a postcard sent via bulk mail isn’t a time sensitive delivery format. Not authentic and not worthy of my response.

Direct mail, done correctly, creates the opportunity for your business to establish an authentic connection between your brand and your prospect. Make your offer sincere. Make it authentic to what your business stands for. It will pay off in the quality of response you receive.

So if you’re the kind of marketer who really wants to get noticed, re-think direct mail. If all the noise in your prospect’s inbox, Facebook & twitter has you fighting to get noticed… it’s time to re-invest in the tried and true, the reliable and measurable, the segmented & targeted, the responsive and profitable, the valuable and very “in” medium of direct mail.

Direct Mail Bests Online Marketing with Personalization

2012-02-02T15:17:00.000-05:00

If you’re looking for a revenue-generating powerhouse for your business, you’re looking for direct mail. Direct mail campaigns are the Old Faithful of marketing—businesses count on them because they’re dependable and promise a consistent ROI.

You can push direct mail’s ROI from consistent to record-breaking with a focus on personalization. Some online marketers mistakenly think their methods are more personal than direct mail. But thanks to Internet cookies, over-sent emails and Google Ad Words, consumers are turned off and tuning out.

Direct mail bests digital marketing tactics in the area of personalization because, to the consumer, it feels more human.

The key to effective personalized direct mail is to get as much useful information as you can from your customers and prospects. Use sales records, surveys and social media to collect good data about your mail leads.

Now it’s time to personalize your direct mail piece. To craft a message that’s relevant to the prospect without being creepy, you’ve got to use your data carefully. Let’s say, for example, that your jewelry store wants to market diamond engagement rings. You’re working form a list of young people who you assume—or hope, for your business’s sake—are single (and you should know that from your data).

It makes sense to write copy that speaks to a buying audience in the mail piece you will send to males. On the other hand, the mail piece sent to females should feature different photos and copy. Although who will buy and who will receive such a gift varies, catering the message of the direct mail according to gender is a subtle method of personalization.

The best marketers have to interpret the data and use it in a way that tactfully shows consumers that your business is just what they need. But you don’t have to be selling jewelry to personalize direct mail skillfully and in a non-intrusive way. Think about your audience and how their demographic information may affect their buying habits or business needs.

Work from your recipient data to go beyond names in personalizing your business’s direct mail. When you personalize your direct mail piece with a name, you’re working to catch your prospects’ attention. Go one step further—and one-up online marketers—by letting demographics inform your direct mail piece.

Is There A Magic Marketing Bullet?

2012-01-18T14:47:00.000-05:00

Marketers are always looking for the “magic bullet”.
That magic marketing medium that delivers great response at a low cost.
You know, the one that doesn’t need and testing or tweaking and delivers amazing ROI.

I work with owners of many small to medium sized businesses who firmly believe that there is a quick and easy way to bring new customers into their business and that I am personally standing in their way when I provide a reality check.

Great response doesn’t come easy. There is so much involved with researching the market, determining the best groups of prospects to target, considering the best mix of media, implementing the program, then testing & tweaking and testing & tweaking some more.

The best ROI does not necessarily come from a multi-channel marketing campaign. I have many clients who have tested mail, TV, e-mail and telemarketing. Many of my clients in the Home Improvement Industry have found that telemarketing brings them more clients than any other medium. Most of my Fund Raising clients swear by direct mail.

Regardless, while there is no magic bullet, it is always magic when the responses come in!

Google +1 Button – Marketers need to take advantage of it!

2012-01-04T10:56:00.000-05:00

Google’s +1 button is reportedly more popular than Twitter and Facebook’s "Like" button, at least amongst retailers. When it comes to social plug-ins, Google+ is already embedded on more retail websites than Facebook or Twitter.

Six months ago, , more people were using Facebook plug-ins...but the Google+1 button has taken over in the business to business space. I would guess Facebook is still first today, but only when considering all types of websites, and its lead may not last for much longer.

So, why is Google+ already winning with retailers? Well, by adding +1 buttons to their websites, businesses can potentially improve their Google search ranking. That’s something that Facebook, Twitter, and every other social network simply can’t offer.

Google’s +1 button tells Google that you like what you see. On Google+, the action can show up in your stream, but on Google, it could also improve a given website’s ranking. For retailers, being higher up on the search results page can be crucial, so they’ll do anything to increase their chances with Google.

Please take a minute to click on Dataman Group’s Google+1 Button and tell the world you like us!

Ask DataDale: What Do New Homeowners Spend Money On?

2011-12-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

Since Dataman Group has been providing New Homeowner Lists for over 30 years, many marketers look to me as the Expert in the New Homeowner field.

New Homeowners are an amazing market segment who need a wide range of goods & services and will spend their dollars to get what they need.

So, what do New Homeowners spend Money on?

Services – 99% of new homeowners spend money on Services such as new doctors, new beauty salons, new dentist, new mechanic, new dry cleaner, etc in the first 30 days after buying their home.

Furniture – 60% of new homeowners spend money on Furniture.

Window Coverings – 57% of new homeowners spend money on Window Coverings in the first 30 days after buying their home.

Electronics – 52% of new homeowners spend money on Electronics in the first 30 days after buying their home.

Kitchen appliances – 40% of new homeowners spend money on Appliances in the first 30 days after buying their home.

Bedding/Mattress – 33% of new homeowners spend money on Bedding/Mattresses in the first 30 days after buying their home.

Smart marketers who reach out to New Homeowners with a great offer get a strong response and the opportunity to make a new customer for life!

Ten Marketing Tips for Water Quality Dealers

2011-11-21T18:58:00.000-05:00

Water Dealers can finesse their marketing program with DataDale's Top Ten Marketing Tips for Water Quality Dealers - printed in this month's issue of Water Conditioning & Purification Magazine.

These are the Top Ten Topics I'm discussing in depth in the article:

1. Is now the time to advertise?
2. The cost of media depends on the size of your market.
3. Should Water Dealers use electronic media?
4. Telemarketing. Does it still work?
5. What about Direct Mail?
6. Using media to promote your business.
7. What about Social Media?
8. Video is a powerful tool.
9. Consistent Advertising is key
10. Taking a long-term approach

Click here to read DataDale's complete article.

Can Digital Collaborate with Direct Mail?

2011-11-17T17:17:00.000-05:00

As a veteran direct marketer with a strong background in direct mail, sometimes I look at digital solutions and wonder how it will impact me, my business, the DM economy and our friends over at the Post Office who's declining revenue puts much of the traditional direct mail industry in jeopardy.

Apple has introduced a free Cards app for the iPhone and iPod Touch which lets user snap a photo and seamlessly send a personalized letterpress card to an actual physical street address anywhere in the county for $2.99.

This collaboration between the USPS and Apple utilizes the USPS Intelligent Mail Barcode (the same one that Netflix uses), which is printed on the front of every envelope sent via the app. It also sends out a push notification the day your card is sent out for delivery.

Maybe Apple can save the Post Office.
What do you think?

Mobile Marketing

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-05:00

The more I read about mobile marketing the more amazed I get at it’s applications and uses.

For example, I love mobile barcodes. I actually have used them to get directions, find phone #s and find things in Target. I have even printed them on selected Dataman Group brochures - so our clients can simply point their phones and go right into our site!

This emerging technology transforms traditional media into marketing that is both interactive and measurable, even on print ads, billboards, product packaging, hang tags, and more.

When consumers scan these barcodes with their mobile devices, they are immediately connected to the web, where they can view movie trailers, music videos, book excerpts, and other marketing offers. They can even launch options such as click to call or initiate a texting session. What's more, all of these actions are measurable.

Mobile barcodes let marketers reach consumers anywhere, anytime.

I am going to go to the FDMA program this coming Thursday on Mobile Marketing because I want to learn more about this emerging technology…and how I can use it profitably in my business.

Want more information about the program – go to www.fdma.org

Ask DataDale – Which Home Improvement Segment Is Reaping the Best Response?

2011-11-11T09:41:00.000-05:00

Dear Data Dale –

My Home Improvement Company offers many services to Homeowners. I want to lead my advertising with the improvement item that will bring me the most profit. Which project is most popular right now? Who should I market to?
Anthony DeSclera
Tony’s Home Services
Levittown, NY

Dear Tony –
Thanks for the question.

The most popular projects tend to be ones that are more easily affordable, like replacing a garage door or replacing windows with more energy-efficient ones, said Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling Magazine. Also popular are projects that add space without increasing the footprint of a house.

On average, U.S. homeowners who made home improvements in 2011 only picked up 58 cents in home equity on their remodeling dollar, according to the Cost versus Value survey released on Thursday by Remodeling Magazine. That's down sharply from the 2005 peak, when a new project immediately earned back 76 percent of its cost in higher home prices.

The project with the highest cost-to-value ratio on the list for 2011 was a mid-range replacement of the front door. That cost an average of $1,238 and raised the average sales price of a home by $903, or 73 percent of the project's initial cost.

Based on all that research, my suggestions would be to lead with Door & Window Replacement. You might also want to use terms like energy-efficient in your marketing; since many states offer rebates for upgrading window/doors

You will want to reach out to affluent Homeowners in single family homes, where the homes are 7-15 years old. Depending on the direction of your marketing, you might also want to overlay eco-consciousness on the list. If you are marketing by phone, you can get this list with scrubbed telephone #s.

Time Is Money

2011-11-07T15:42:00.000-05:00

I saw the new movie In Time this past weekend.
The premise of the movie is that time will replace dollars (drachmas?) in the future and become the new currency.

Individuals have a free ride until they’re 25 years old and then their internal time clock starts, always visible in luminescent green numbers displayed on their arms. People get paid in time; they pay their rent in time; in short, hours and minutes become the new dollars and cents.

The next day, I walked into Amtrust Bank and stood on the line….There was an electronic display sign that kept flashing “Time is Money”. After 10 minutes of waiting, I walked out of the bank. I don’t have the time to waste on waiting in line.

So, how does this impact marketing?

Today’s customers want it their way and want it immediately. Any company who doesn’t provide quick efficient service might as well put up a sign that says Waste Your Time Here.

At Dataman Group, we really try hard to provide our customers with speedy and accurate counts and orders. No one goes home with unanswered calls or e-mails. Every count request is sent out. Every order is fulfilled as quickly as humanly (or automation-ly - is this a new word?) as possible.

We believe our customer’s time is valuable and just like Justin Timberlake in In Time, we want to make the most productive use of every minute of every day.

Non-Profits Can Reap Rewards from their Lapsed Donors

2011-11-02T11:39:00.000-05:00

As most of my readers know, the world of non-profit fund raising is very dear to me and I am always looking for something unique to share with my colleagues.

The Diocese of Erie, in collaboration their Ad Agency, the Cathedral Corp, developed a campaign geared towards reinvigorating lapsed donors using a series of three postcards to drive them to personalized URLs to reconnect, followed by a direct mail solicitation.

The postcards themselves did not directly solicit the lapsed donors but focused on the question “What Does It Mean to Be Catholic?” with a series of answers available through the recipient’s personalized URL.

The Diocese reported a successul campaign with a 100% increase over previous efforts. Given the attrition of donors in the past decades, when other campaigns to target lapsed donors have achieved success rates in the 0.05-percent to 2-percent range, the campaign may serve as a model for future outreach programs.

The Diocese of Erie is the first diocese in the United States to use a PURL program to reach out to lapsed donors. This novel approach worked for them.

Every non-profit needs to look at their lapsed donor file – there is money to be found on that table.

Happy Halloween from Dataman Group

2011-10-31T08:36:00.000-05:00

My good friend Andrea Nierenberg posted her tips of the month today and quoted the Halloween Marketing Lessons published by Michael Stelzner. I think these tips are meaningful and wanted to reprint. Thanks, Andrea, for sharing.

1. Treat them like family: Although complete strangers are knocking on your door, treat them like family and they'll remember you.
2. Give unconditionally: Giving without any expected return can actually bring more to your business than you realize.
3. Be nice: Don't scare people away from your door or they may never return.
4. A bonus: Remember that the rewards are not to be eaten in a single sitting.

At Dataman Group, our Canine Staff is ready and waiting for anyone who comes to our door with treats galore.

Our People Staff will give any client who orders a list today 100 free names with a minimum 500 names purchase!

Ask DataDale – Do you have a list of Homeowners who are “Underwater”

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

Dear DataDale

I am a mortgage broker looking for some new business.
I know that there are changes going into effect that will make it easier for Homeowners to refinance, even if they are “underwater”. I also believe they will jump at the chance to refinance their loans at the current low rates. Can you help me reach these Homeowners?
Jessie Alexander
Strident Mortgage

Dear Jessie

You can get a list of Homeowners with little or no equity in their homes who are current on their Mortgage. The new refinancing program is only available for Homeowners who are current, so you need to make sure of that. You can also select by Mortgage Balance and Most Recent Mortgage Date. The key is to your success is customizing the available information into a list that will work for you.

DataDale Filhaber
Dataman Group Direct

Magellan Released Into The Wild

2011-10-25T11:10:00.000-05:00

It was a bittersweet day at the Dataman Group offices.
Today, I released Magellan (aka Gelly), a juvenile red-eared slider, back into the wild.

Gelly has been in our office for the past 4 months.
He (I think he’s a he – can’t tell a turtle’s sex for several years) was given to me by Captain Dan who services our pool. Knowing my love for turtles (and pretty much all animals & reptiles), he brought over a tiny, quarter-sized hatchling for me to watch over, feed and prepare for a future life in the wild.

OK – it’s not all that wild. It’s a lovely pond in Loggers Run in Boca Raton where I live…but for tiny turtle hatchlings, even a local pond can be fraught with danger. My goal was to insure that Gelly had a good start to life and was bigger than an easily digestible tidbit for a fish or bird.

Gelly grew to about 4 inches on his thrice-daily turtle stick diet. He outgrew his little kidney-shaped acrylic pool (you know, the one with the little palm tree that we all had as kids) and his most recent home was a fairly large Tupperware bin with a hiding area and float platform. I know what you’re going to say – yes, it’s just a turtle – but I take pride in spoiling any animal in my care.

For the past week, I have been “carbo-loading” little Gelly, in preparation for his release, just so he had a full stomach in case finding his own food for the first day or two was challenging.

I brought him over to the pond in his little plastic travel container; took him out, wished him good luck and placed him gently on the edge of the pond. He looked around and headed right into the clear water, where I was able to watch him happily somersault and swim boldly where other little turtles have gone before.

Gelly will be missed by the Dataman team. If you’re passing by the pond on Ponderosa drive, make sure you wave out your window and tell him hi.

The Personal Eco-Concierge

2011-10-24T15:25:00.000-05:00

I read an article in today’s NY Times about Personal Eco-Concierges who work with individuals to help them live a greener life.

The article goes on to say that business have sprung up all around the country helping time-starved consumers manage their lives and handle their guilt over their environmental offsets.

Great new business concept – very niche. And, based on the article, very upscale since the biggest users of these Eco-Concierge services have large homes and huge carbon footprints.

Of course I am always looking at new business ventures to see what kind of direct marketing would resonate…so I was thinking about the ability to select a list of highly affluent Green Homeowners with 3000+ square feet as a prospect market.

If there is an Eco-Concierge who wants to try it, give me a call – I’m into saving the environment one database at a time!

My New Google+ Page Is Up

2011-10-21T09:14:00.000-05:00

I signed up for my Google+ account when I got back to my office after this week’s FDMA Direct Marketing Summit. Thank you Maria Harrison for your great presentation. I actually almost understand what I’m doing!

I want to thank my FDMA colleagues who are inviting me into their circles and accepting my invitations in return. I am also hoping that this Google+ practice will help me hone my skills so when Google+ for businesses is introduced, I can get a Dataman Group Google+ site up and running effectively.

After hearing Maria’s presentation, I am also having the +1 button added to my website. When your business depends on being found through Search, anything that will help improve my search position is worth doing!
(OK, almost anything)

BTW, if you want to +1 me, I’ll be your friend forever!

Data Dale's Blog - New & Improved?

2011-10-19T20:28:00.000-05:00

I had an epiphany today about my Blog.

In the pouring rain, I drove down to Ft Lauderdale to the annual Florida Direct Marketing Association DM Summit and after I listened to Lois Geller talk about creativity, I was inspired.

Now you need to understand that Lois is amazing. I respect what she says; the way she tells the story. Lois talked about getting through “the clutter” in our totally over-stimulated society and the absolute need to not do the same old/same old and never to be boring.

I went up to Lois after she spoke to pick her brain about my Blog, to which I post regularly, which never seems to get picked up by Google...or be read by anyone anymore. It finally occurred to me that my Blog was boring; I was writing to make sure I had the appropriate keywords sprinkled liberally through the copy; sometimes I copy/pasted from other people's posts, trying to get some “mention- mileage”, or product awareness out of it......It wasn't resonating and, in short - my Blog was boring. Even I was bored by it

My husband Ed says that I always have something to say....so I will Blog it. Nowadays, I can post my missives from anywhere, have I-Pad will travel, in case my brain starts thinking about something I absolutely have to share.

In any case, DataDale's Blog might become water-cooler chatter again. I hope you like the new look I just pulled down from the Google templates. And I promise to never be boring again.

Does Direct Mail Fit into a Multichannel Marketing Strategy?

2011-10-16T16:28:00.000-05:00

Conventional wisdom in marketing circles is that nobody does direct mail marketing anymore, direct mail is too expensive, direct doesn’t work today.

The conventional wisdom says: Shift your marketing investment to email, social media and the new darling, mobile media.

"Direct mail is probably the most cost-efficient method for reaching the truly affluent, i.e. the wealthiest U.S. households — These are the households with a net worth of $800,000 or more and incomes of $200,000 plus.” – Ron Kurtz, AARC

Add the newest option of selecting households by their Discretionary Spending Power and marketers have a great new targeting opportunity.

With my contrarian bent, that is all the reason that I need to recommend old-fashioned direct mail to my clients. If nobody is using direct mail anymore, then the marketer that swims against the tide will get noticed.

When I open my mail box each day, I see proof positive that marketers haven’t yet abandoned direct mail. But I do think those marketers that are getting results through direct mail want their competitors to believe the conventional wisdom in order to keep the secret that direct mail can be a powerful tool in the 21st century luxury marketer’s arsenal.

The fact is direct mail is still an important vehicle to deliver sales directly, but also it works with other marketing platforms synergistically to connect with customers. For example, I shop catalogs quite frequently but never order by phone or mail – rather, I always go online to make my purchases. Statistics from the Direct Marketing Association confirms the synergies between direct mail and other multichannel strategies:

• Fifteen percent of customers receiving a catalog and 12 percent receiving a letter, postcard or flyer from a company made a purchase on the company’s website.

It all comes down to the best way to get in the customer’s door and capture their attention. Direct mail continues to deliver on that score, particularly among the affluent luxury consumers.

Thank you to Pam Danziger for this post.

Americans Play Computer Games and Eat Yogurt

2011-10-15T09:44:00.000-05:00

Some of the statistics presented in the 2012 Census Bureau Stistical Abstract really impact the Direct Marketing industry.

Twice as many Americans play computer games as do crossword puzzles. More go bird watching than attend classical music concerts. Iowa has six times as many hogs as people. 26.6 million households do not use land lines but rely only on cell phones. One in 13 women in their early 20s identify themselves as gay or bisexual.

Farmers produced fewer potatoes and less spinach but more watermelons. People drank more tea and less coffee and ate more yogurt and less high-fructose corn syrup. Half the population said they had not dined out during the previous year. Smokers among 18- to 24-year-old men rose to 28 percent from 23.6 percent between 2008 and 2009 alone.

Montana had the highest motor vehicle accident death rate, and the Postal Service handled fewer first-class letters than in any year since at least 1990. Of the 1.9 million or so surviving veterans of World War II, only 643,000 were younger than 85.

Those are just a few samples from a vast portrait by numbers painted by the Census Bureau’s 2012 Statistical Abstract of the United States released this month. The abstract, which combines information from government agencies and private organizations, is available both online and in a 1,400-page print edition.

Now that we have all of these statistics, what do we do with it? I know the yogurt people will be happier with the news than classical concert promoters....

Mortgage rate hits new low

2011-10-07T09:46:00.000-05:00

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage has fallen below 4 percent for the first time in history. On Thursday, Freddie Mac said the rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 3.94 percent from 4.01 percent last week, the previous low. The average rate on a 15-year fixed loan, a popular refinancing option, dipped to 3.26 percent, also a record.

Mortgage rates are now lower than they were in the early 1950s. The average rate reached 4.08 percent for a few months back then, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Mortgages at that time typically lasted only 20 or 25 years.
For the lucky few with good jobs and stable finances, it's a rare opportunity to save potentially thousands of dollars each year.

The rule of thumb: If a homeowner can save 1 percentage point on the current rate. If you've been paying a mortgage for 15 years or more, it's sometimes not wise to refinance.

For banks and mortgage companies looking to reach out to these individuals, Dataman Group in Boca Raton, FL has a list of their names.

Life Insurance is Key for Under 45-ers

2011-09-30T13:40:00.000-05:00

While it's true that the Baby Boomer population is increasing, older consumers aren't the only customers life insurance companies should be courting. In fact, research shows that the 45 and under population doesn’t have nearly enough life insurance.

One explanation of this could be that targeted life insurance marketing generally alienates the under 45 age group.

The 46 and older age bracket saw 85% of the direct mail volume in the first six months of 2011, up from 2010. Conversely, the age 18-45 bracket saw 15% of the direct mail volume in the first six months of 2011, down from 2010.

The age 31-45 age range is more likely to consist of families with children, breadwinners approaching their prime earning years, and those beginning the daunting task of caring for aging parents. Basically, these are the people that need life insurance the most.

They are interested but need more information, as well as a call to action that resonates with them

Direct Mail Drives Half of Consumers to Websites

2011-09-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

Despite the growing popularity of emerging marketing channels such as social media, new research reveals that almost half of consumers are driven to visit brand websites by an item of direct mail.

The research, by customer insight firm GI Insight, found that online traffic is largely driven by direct mail, with 47% of consumers saying that ‘more often than not’ they are prompted to check out a website by something they have received in the mail.

The continuing importance of direct mail in a multi-channel era was also highlighted by the finding that more than half of consumers (52%) declare that they receive most of the promotions and special offers they redeem in-store or online though the mail. And 43% of respondents also say that direct mail items they keep around at home act as reminders to visit the sender’s website or shop when they have the time to do so.

Ensuring synergy between media channels is key to marketing success.

Target Blew It

2011-09-23T13:50:00.000-05:00

When we talk about E-Commerce and the fact that customer service & convenience is key to success, we don’t think that the “big guys” are going to screw up.

Target’s Missoni launch did just that.

The discounter drummed up so much hype around its exclusive, limited-time line by upscale Italian designer Missoni that its website crashed and was down most of the day on Sept. 13 when the collection was launched, angering customers.

More than a week later, some shoppers who bought the Missoni for Target line are posting on social media websites Facebook and Twitter that they won't shop at Target again because their online orders are being delayed -- or worse, canceled -- by the retailer.

The folks at Target can learn how to do better at the FDMA - DM Summit on October 19th from Michael Dell’Archiprete from Native Rememdies, LCC who will be speaking on From Sex to Cars to Vitamins, E-Commerce Dominates the Web and Convenience Closes the Sale.

Dataman Group Attending DMA in Boston

2011-09-22T10:36:00.000-05:00

It’s always important to be on top of the “latest and greatest” in one’s industry. That’s why members the Dataman Group team will be flying up to Boston to attend the annual DMA Conference.

While it’s great to network and re-connect with colleagues throughout the industry, the Dataman Group team is constantly searching for top quality mailing lists and direct marketing data to provide to its customer base. The DMA offers a great opportunity for us to “go shopping”.

If you are going to DMA, give us a call and let’s see if we can meet up during the Conference.

Direct Mail Works for Dental Practices

2011-09-13T13:19:00.000-05:00

Direct mail volumes are on the rise, with several small businesses launching new initiatives. While direct mail naturally compliments some industries, it benefits others that many entrepreneurs wouldn’t expect.

One such sector is dentistry. Many dentists use directories to recruit new patients. However, a recent article from Dentistry IQ suggests that direct mail can be highly effective for dentists if used properly.

Direct mail can be "the most effective external marketing campaign" as it has the highest return on investment. The channel has numerous benefits for dentists. "A good direct mail campaign will bring in not just more patients, but also ideally a patient base that is more likely to accept your treatment recommendations," says the site.

When designing a campaign, dentists need to perform a comprehensive demographic analysis of their community communities. Considerations such as location, customer tendencies and average income need to be addressed.

There are certain market groups that perform well for Dental practices year-after-year: Newcomers (either New Movers or New Homeowners) will always be the dentist’s #1 mailing list.

Depending on the type of practice, there are other key target markets. Pediatric dentists can market to Parents of Children Turning 1; Cosmetic dentists mail to women, age 35-60, income $100,000+up; Orthodontists reach out to families with children age 3-12.

Frequency and message consistency are two other aspects that need to be considered well in advance. "Contrary to normal thought, sending the same mailer to a group of consumers several times is more effective than sending several different marketing pieces," explains Dentistry IQ.

For dentists, direct mail does not produce immediate results. Part of the reason for this may be that most consumers only visit the dentist’s office once per year. When starting a direct mail campaign, dentists need to manage their expectations and keep them realistic.

As with any direct mail campaign, creativity is the key. Some marketers suggest creating initiatives that involve all five of the consumers’ senses. By doing this, businesses can leave a lasting impression on their consumers. In the case of a dentist office, their direct mail postcards could be shaped like a tooth or contain a small tube of tooth paste.

Non-Profit Case Study 2 - Lighthouse International

2011-09-12T09:57:00.000-05:00

This is the third blog in a series for our Non-Profit friends and this week I am writing about Lighthouse International.

For Lighthouse International, its mature fundraising program was in decline. Due to a combination of inconsistent management of the direct-mail program in previous years, huge expansion in acquisition at great cost in 2005, and then the resulting acquisition program being halted while the renewal program was cut resulted in a dramatic loss of donors. Obviously, Lighthouse International was in desperate need of re-energizing its program.

So, it undertook a strategy based on best practices to do just that. Lighthouse International:
• Increased its number of renewal appeals from six to eight per year.
• Refined audience selections to improve cost efficiencies.
• Added a premium appeal into the renewal series.
• Tested different creative messaging — those new themes and messages generated higher response rates and annual revenue per donor.
• Added a midlevel strategy.

The midlevel strategy was designed to upgrade donors and strengthen loyalty. Thus Lighthouse International created a midlevel donor club called “Beacon Society” which helped develop a group of donors who generate more gross and net income, and offers major-giving prospects.

Once it began to strengthen its relationships with current donors, Lighthouse International reignited its acquisition program. It expanded acquisition by using long-term value analysis to ID the best lists, unearthed new dual control packages —a mission-focused appeal and an address label package — and introduced a new expanded state/national strategy. That coincided with an emphasis on new-donor retention.

As a result, both the renewal and acquisition programs are in much better condition and continue to grow.

Keep your eyes upen for further information on the Dataman Group blog for our non-profit colleagues.

Non-Profit Success Case Study 1 - Coast Guard Foundation

2011-08-23T15:06:00.000-05:00

In last week’s blog, I focused on best practices to help non-profits jump start their fund raising programs. This week, we will focus on a case study from the Coast Guard Foundation.

In 2010, CGF achieved rapid breakthroughs in its annual fund. It expanded active donors by 35 percent, increased the number gifts by 50 percent and increased gross revenue by 40 percent.

To being, the CGF hired a third-party direct-response fundraising agency partner. Then it embarked on new acquisition list strategies, which had a dramatic impact on response, and implemented new creative, frequency and timing approaches to boost acquisition and renewal.

As a result, CGF increased acquisition mail volume by 73 percent from 140,000 direct mailers in 2009 to 243,000 last year and mailed at different times of the year to avoid the “all eggs in one basket” scenario. CGF also increased the number of renewal mailings from six to seven and increased mail volume by 800 percent. The thinking there was that the increased frequency and volume would keep donors aware of CGF, make sure the organization was hitting donors when they were ready to respond and help CGF reap the harvest of year-end giving. In both acquisition and renewal, CGF incorporated personalization, continual testing and multichannel integration.

The results spoke for themselves:
• More than three times the response rate of the acquisition mailing from the previous year.
• Acquired 680 new donors with a $64.37 average gift — this after reducing the ask string from $50 to $25.
• The strong acquisition results netted a profit of $14,649 for CGF when acquisition is typically an investment with an initial loss.
• Significantly increased the donor base.
• In renewal (using a pillar package with personal stories), donors responded with a 5.28 response rate and $86.53 average gift.

Next week we will look at another case study from a different non-profit agency.

Proven Strategies to Increase Direct Mail Fundraising

2011-08-17T14:40:00.000-05:00

Fundraising best practices become best practices because they've been proven to raise funds. At the sixth annual Bridge to Integrated Marketing and Fundraising Conference held in National Harbor, Md., two fundraising professionals shared 11 best practices and discussed how implementing them helped the Coast Guard Foundation (CGF) and Lighthouse International achieve tremendous results.

Here are those 11 tactics that Bradley Sisley, chief operating officer at the Coast Guard Foundation, and Andrew Laudano, account director at LW Robbins, provided in their session, “7 Proven Strategies for Jump-Starting a Small Fundraising Program,” — plus four bonus tips — and what they helped CGF and Lighthouse International accomplish.

Best practices

1.Mail enough names to acquire a meaningful number of new supporters.
2.Test new mailing list audiences in acquisition with new messages and offers.
3.Test your acquisition gift ask strategy. Lower entry points may increase participation.
4.Mail at least six to eight times per year in renewal. Be there when your donors are ready to respond — because your competitors will be.
5.Use your strongest campaign themes (pillar campaigns) each year in renewal.
6.Test strong acquisition campaigns in renewal and vice versa.
7.Use personal stories to create an emotional connection with donors. Testimonials and photos bring stories to life.
8.Use long-term value analysis to identify the best acquisition lists.
9.Develop a midlevel strategy to strengthen donor loyalty and upgrading.
10.Create a new donor-welcome touchpoint to increase new donor retention.
11.Offer donors a premium appeal in the renewal program if you acquired them with premiums

Next week's blog will include actual results from the Coast Guard Foundation and Lighthouse International.

Mortgage payment habits improve in 2nd quarter, but improvements are coming at a slow pace

2011-08-12T14:13:00.000-05:00

Just read this Associated Press article:

The housing and job markets are still weak, but homeowners are slowly gaining strength.

The percentage of late-paying mortgage holders — those who were 60 days or more late with payment — decreased in the spring for the sixth straight quarter, according to credit

The rate fell to 5.82 percent compared with 6.67 percent a year ago. It peaked at 6.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The drop reflects stricter lending policies at banks. Since banks are more cautious about ending only to customers with higher credit scores, new homeowners are less likely to default on their mortgages. Newer mortgages are performing better and are becoming a bigger portion of outstanding mortgage universe. On older mortgages, the number of borrower who lost their jobs or had mortgage payments that adjusted beyond their ability to pay are now on the downswing.

I am trying to figure out if that's good news or bad news.

The states with the highest delinquency rate remain Florida at 13.91 percent; Nevada at 13.04 percent; California at 7.83 percent, and Arizona at 7.78 percent. These four states were hit the hardest by the housing market collapse.

The state with the lowest delinquency rate remained North Dakota at 1.45 percent. South Dakota at 2.31 percent, Nebraska at 2.43 percent and Alaska at 2.64 percent round out the states least likely to have late payments.

RealtyTrac forecasts that the delinquency rate will continue to down drop for the rest of the year, ending 2011 just above 5 percent.

The current rate is nearly three times the pre-recession norm, and at the current pace of improvement, it will likely be the end of 2015 before the rate has dropped back down.

In the meantime Mortgage Marketers are buying Dataman Group's Mortgage Late lists as well as mailing lists for Loan Modification programs and refinancing, allowing Homeowners to take advantage of lower rates or better terms.

Direct mail driving half of consumers to websites

2011-08-10T10:28:00.000-05:00

Mortgage Rates Drop Below 4.5%

2011-08-08T07:56:00.000-05:00

The 30-yr fixed rate has fallen to 4.45% from 4.57%, its lowest point since last November. In addition, the upfront points lenders charge dropped from 1.14 to .78 for 20% down loans.

For the homebuyer, this means monthly savings on mortgage payments as well as a lower cost at closing. These lower rates have caused an increase in mortgage application, both for purchases and refinances, of about 7% compared to a week earlier.

Mortgage brokers and Real Estate companies need to reach out to Renters and First Time Home Buyers right now - before rates go back up. Dataman Groups First Time Home Buyer File helps real estate agents and mortgage professionals reach out to renters who are ready to buy!

Long Term Care Insurance Agents Can Now Target High Risk Consumers

2011-08-05T11:27:00.000-05:00

A Souderton, Pa.-based insurance company introduced product solutions designed to cover those individuals who have been or who otherwise would be turned down for long-term care insurance. In the past, many Ailment Sufferers have been denied Long Term care Insurance coverage.

United Security Assurance Co. of Pennsylvania now offers LifeStyle Solutions (LSS) and LifeStyle Solutions Select (LSS Select), tax-qualified, pool of money plans, in Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington.

The products expand United Security’s underwriting guidelines and offers the opportunity to obtain coverage to individuals suffering from specific ailments who have trouble acquiring long-term care insurance such as those with cystic fibrosis, diabetes, cancer, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis or osteoporosis, the company reported.

LSS and LSS Select also offer a network of integrated wellness, HomeWorks and care planning service programs.

“Coverage for long-term care costs is the last large unfunded liability for many Americans,” said Bill Neugroschel, CEO of United Security, in a statement. “Many of us have coverage for our lives, our medical needs, our houses and our cars, but we often don’t think about how we will cover the cost of long term care. This is a major gap in our financial planning which long-term care insurance can address.”

Dataman Group, provides mailing lists of Ailment Sufferers, including individuals with Diabetes, Cancer, Parkinsons, MS, CF and osteoporosis for Insurance Agents who are marketing this Long Term Care product. Data is available with age & income criteria to help pinpoint the best prospects for this product. Scrubbed telephone #s are also available.

This is the Long Term Care Insurance agent's best way to reach out to this highly sensitive and responsive population.

10 Pitfalls to Avoid in Direct Mail

2011-07-28T15:17:00.000-05:00

Direct mail is one of the most powerful ways to market your products and services, but it’s easy to sabotage your efforts. Here are 10 pitfalls to avoid:

1. Not identifying your audience. Mail gives you the ability to target specific individuals, so take advantage of that strength and decide which segments will most likely respond.

2. Leasing a bad mailing list. Sending mailers to people who don’t match your intended criteria is wasteful and could prove embarrassing, too. Work with a quality List Broker, like Dataman Group in Boca Raton FL to obtain a well-targeted mailing list.

3. Relying on unclean data. Scrub your house list to ensure you’re not mailing pieces to inaccurate addresses, the deceased, people who have asked to be taken off your list and targets who have moved or changed jobs.

4. Not presenting a compelling offer. You’re sending a piece to motivate people to act, but your mail will do just the opposite if an offer is absent or lackluster. Tweak your offer — and the benefits of your product or service — to appeal to different segments.

5. Being impersonal. Personalizing your message can make targets feel like you value them individually and understand their needs and interests. Greeting them by name is one way; offering a personalized URL (PURL) is another.

6. Failing to indicate a call to action. Clearly spell out how people can take advantage of your offer (By phone? By e-mail?) and provide lots of choices. Create a sense of urgency so they’ll act fast.

7. Using mediocre creative. Copy and design that aren’t engaging, relevant or easy to comprehend could turn off recipients before they even get to your offer. Professional copywriters and designers can help you best communicate your message.

8. Not continuously testing. Your campaign can always improve, but you’ll never know how if you don’t conduct small tests of variables like your list, offer, format and colors.

9. Omitting tracking mechanisms. You need to trace responses back to a piece to gauge how well it performed. Options include embedding codes on coupons and creating a special toll-free number.

10. Poor follow-up. Be prepared to quickly fulfill any orders or requests generated by your piece. If you disappoint a target who has raised his or her hand, why did you go through the effort at all?

Introducing Products in the Hispanic Market

2011-07-26T11:01:00.000-05:00

Sending a sample is still one of the best ways to introduce a product, and it can be what marketing expert Alberto Ferrer calls a “1+1=3 proposition” for engaging U.S. Hispanic consumers.

“Sampling via mail is at the intersection of two well-performing tools in marketing to this very valuable consumer,” says Ferrer, managing partner at The Vidal Partnership, a New York–based Hispanic communications agency.
Ferrer’s shop has found that direct mail targeting Hispanics outperforms equivalent mail targeting non-Hispanics. And, he says, sampling allows the audience to try something new without worrying about the cost.

To be sure, there are unique challenges facing marketers interested in mailing samples to Hispanics; varying acculturation levels and language preferences are among them. But it’s a worthwhile investment — market research firm Packaged Facts says Hispanics have a collective buying power of more than $1 trillion.

Dataman Group’s Ethnic Insight Lists allow marketers to reach Hispanic households by surname, country of origin, ethnic group and even the level of assimilation. Marketers who are introducing products in spanish language can select a list of spanish speaking or bi-lingual households.

The Hispanic market continues to grow and marketers need to focus on this market and finetune their list strategies to reach the right hispanic households for their sampling efforts by focusing in on multi-generational households or households with children which can be selected on Dataman Group’s Hispanic Houshold mailing list.

African Safari - Amazing!

2011-07-20T09:35:00.000-05:00

Just came back from an exciting Safari experience in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. We were privileged to see the most amazing wildlife, breathtaking scenery, along with what is delicately referred to as predation as well as endangered species.

I took literally a thousand pictures, which I have honed down to about 75, which I am posting on the Dataman Group Facebook page, since I have been getting phone calls and e-mails asking to see our photos.

Technology is amazing.
Ed & I went on safari 12 years ago and waiting for 2 weeks to have our film developed and printed out so we could see where we had been.

Nowadays, we take our digital photos, do a little photo-shop, sharpen our focus, touch-up the hue and voila – we have amazing photos.

Social marketing allows us to post and share our experience and dialogue. My photos are not just going up for my friends & colleagues in the US to see, but people from all over the world.

Telemarketing Still Works

2011-06-27T13:36:00.000-05:00

According to CallCenter USA in Bend, Oregon it seems that businesses are once again spending money on outbound telemarketing programs. This makes sense since one-on-one conversations via phone with decision makers are still one of the best ways to generate leads and set appointments.

Companies that are still engaged in traditional forms of marketing, such as direct mail and advertising can really see a difference in returns when outbound telemarketing is integrated into the overall marketing effort. The general rule of thumb is that only one-half to one percent of all direct mail pieces result in a lead, whereas when followed up with a personal phone call, the result can be as high as five percent.

Certainly the key to success for outbound telemarketing is the ablity to locate accurate, scrubbed telemarketing lists targeted to the right group of prospects. There have been so many changes in the industry since the inception of the national Do Not Call list and many businesses do not realize that they can safely and effectively call new prospects.

Nowadays, telemarketing list providers scrub their lists at least once a month to offer businesses clean. Dataman Group Direct Mail & Telemarketing Lists scrubs twice a month.

Any company embarking on an outbound calling campaign should visit the FTC Do Not Call website, read up on the rules, register for their SAN, and feel comfortable that they can set appointments, sell subscriptions, and do business via the phone.

Ethical Direct Marketing

2011-06-17T13:18:00.000-05:00

We all know it’s tough out there. We want people to take notice of our marketing materials, open them, and read what we’re mailing - and we know that sometimes shock value works. Does anything go? Is that what we’ve come to in the world of marketing?

Not everyone agrees that marketers bear responsibility for what and how they sell. Obviously, the prospective buyer is free to check facts. But search the how-to literature of direct mail. It’s full of advice on building credibility, winning trust and giving readers information for taking immediate action. We urge readers to buy now. We provide great offers to entice them to do that.

As you decide how you want to move forward, here are six points to think about that I pulled out of USPS Deliver Magazine. When it’s time to finalize your offer and copy, these points may help your conscience.

1. Does the small type contradict the large? Not all fly type is underhanded. Much of it is useful and appropriate. But when what’s buried in fly type is the antithesis of what’s conveyed in headlines, sub-heads and body copy, it suggests something about the overall integrity of the piece. Not to mention of the advertiser.

2. How many weasels will you indulge? Here’s a revealing exercise: count the use of terms like “may,” “can,” “believed to,” “said to,” “no claim is made,” “not evaluated by,” “not intended to,” “not typical,” “may vary,” “not verified by” and so forth. See if the total falls within your personal limit.

3. Get real. Come on. You know when “results may vary” means “works nine out of 10 times in properly conducted, controlled tests” vs. “works no better than you’d expect from randomness.”

4. Does evidence back the claim? If your client and 1 million passionate customers assert, but cannot demonstrate, a claim — on demand and repeatedly — you have testimonials, but not evidence. Given the power of testimonials in direct mail, that’s good reason to check the evidence before using them.

5. Do you use the product? Does the client? When a company selling a get-rich-quick scheme contacted me, I found it telling that none of their employees — even those who were great at selling the product on the phone — used the product themselves.

6. Would you recommend the product to your kids? How about to your aging, fixed-income parents?

Most direct marketing is aboveboard and honorable. But, there are still some bad apples in the barrell who use deceptive marketing strategies to increase their business at the risk of others.

New Opportunities for Reverse Mortgage Marketers

2011-06-15T10:02:00.000-05:00

The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently decided to allow brokers not approved by the Federal Housing Administration to originate Reverse Mortgage loans. This decision will likely provide a significant growth opportunity for the Mortgage Industry as a whole.

As the Baby Boom generation begins to reach retirement age, Reverse Mortgages should become an important part of any Mortgage Company's product offerings. As the number of non-FHA approved third party originators offering reverse mortgages keeps growing, smarter marketing becomes an even greater imperitive.

Dataman Group offers a vast array of marketing tools designed to pinpoint Senior Homeowners who not only meet the requirements for a Reverse Mortgage but are also more likely to respond to offers for this unique mortgage product.

For information about Reverse Mortgage Prospect Lists as well as other marketing programs for the Mortgage Industry call Dataman Group's senior mortgage marketing specialist Dave Tanenblatt at (800)771-3282 or visit the Mortgage Section of the Dataman Group website.

Dataman Group Canine Staff Attend Bark At the Park

2011-06-06T09:47:00.002-05:00

The Dataman Group Canine Staff attended the Florida Marlins Bark at the Park night this past Friday, June 3rd.

Kobe & Kaycee Filhaber were early arrivals to Dolphin Stadium, selecting excellent seats for a birds-eye view of the action. This was Kobe’s second Bark at the Park and he cheerfully led his esteemed colleague Kaycee, through the stadium as she joined him in all in the excitement.

At 3 ½ years, Kobe has become a highly-respected data-dog who spends his days insuring that parcels & shipments are properly handled & received. Kaycee will be 2 next month. She is responsible for bringing newspapers and mail into the office. Sometimes, she is over-zealous in her job and chews the NY Times, but for the most part, Dataman Group mail is delivered in one piece.

Kobe & Kaycee truly excel in all their responsibilities at the Dataman Group office and we were proud to bring them to the game as a special treat. Sometimes just getting a cookie for delivering the mail is not enough.

Nadi Erasmous, the newest part-time trainee at Dataman Group made her appearance in the 2nd inning. Nadi is 4 months old and full of energy and it took all of Kobe’s patience to convince her to stop chewing mustard-covered napkins and watch the ballgame. With Kobe & Kaycee’s guidance, we know that Nadi has the potential to be a data-dog as well.

There were 767 dogs at the Park. They were all well-behaved and a credit to their owners.

Dataman Group was proud to be represented at Bark at the Park by Kobe & Kaycee, Dataman Group's Canine Staff Members extraordinaire.

New FPL Rebate for Solar Home Improvements

2011-06-01T14:04:00.000-05:00

A new rebate program was just announced for FPL customers to get rebates for solar water heaters and solar panel systems for their homes and businesses.

Customers who are interested need to act fast! FPL is spending $15.5 million on rebates on a first-come, first serve basis. Progress Energy and Tampa Electric Co. ran out of money on similar rebates in just three days.

The first step customers should take in this process is finding a good contractor. These projects require a significant investment and customers need to do their homework to find the different options avaliable.

FPL will offer the following rebates: $1,000 for residential customers who install solar water heaters, $2 per watt and up to $20,000 for residential customers who install solar panels, $50,000 per property, and up to $150,000 for all properties, for businesses that install solar water heaters or solar panels.

These rebates plus the federal governments 30% tax credit for solar systems could nearly cut the cost in half of solar water heaters and knock off about two-thirds the cost for solar panels.

Solar Improvement companies, who are looking to increase their market share, need to reach out into the community by mail or phone and share this news with homeowners in their trading area. They can even target target environmentally conscious homeowners, using the Dataman Group Green Aware Homeowner Mailing List since solar improvements not only adds tremendous property value to the home, but helps the environment as well.

Solar Improvement companies are invited to visit the Home Improvement section of the Dataman Group website for more information on reaching the right homeowners in their area.

How to Compute Direct Mail Response

2011-05-27T14:14:00.001-05:00

Customers are always asking me what percent response can they epxect when they buy a Dataman Group mailing list. I always explain that response is based on the list, the creative, the offer and market timing – all important factors that go hand-in-hand to determine response.

But when they want to know how to actually figure it out, there’s an easy approach to determining a response:

1. Project the cost of your direct mail program. Since I’m no math wiz, let’s keep it simple by assuming the budget is $1,000 on the mailing list, printing, addressing, postage, etc.

2. Calculate the profit you will clear, on average, with every response. Again, for simplicity’s sake, let’s say that each response will bring you $100 in net revenue.

3. Therefore - You need only 10 responses to break even (10 responses x $100 = $1,000). So with a mailing to 1,000 people, just 1 percent would be a good response. If the mailing was to 2,000 people (with same $1,000 cost), just one-half of 1 percent would be good. If you mailed to 2,000 people and each respondent made two purchases, then a mere response of one-quarter of 1 percent would be good.

But all percentages aside, bottom line – if they made more $$ then they spent the first time they did a mailing, they can consider it a successful program. They gained customers – whose value will increase as they stay customers (lifetime value), they brought new leads into the business that they may close at a later date, and they learned from the experience, allowing them to tweak future maiings for even greater success.

Donors Prefer Direct Mail but List Hygiene is Vital

2011-05-18T13:17:00.000-05:00

Fifteen per cent of consumers would not read poorly addressed charity direct mail and 10 per cent think it has a lasting and negative effect on their perception of the charity, a survey has shown.

In an online poll of more than 1,200 demographically representative UK adults, carried out by the direct mail specialists Onepost, W8data and Fast.map, more than one in four of those polled thought that poorly addressed charity direct mail was a waste of money.

The survey found that consumers preferred receiving letters from charities rather than emails, phone calls and contacts through social media. Almost half said they would start donating to a new charity if they received relevant and well-targeted communication from it.

Adam Bryan, director of partnerships at the Institute of Fundraising, which supported the research, said it showed that in spite of the growth of technology, direct mail remained an important way to connect with donors.

"The research highlights the preferences of the modern direct mail donor and provides an opportunity for us to build even stronger, long-term relationships," he said. "We should look to continually update our approach to managing both our data and our engagement with donors."

Ross Caddy, research and insight manager at the Direct Marketing Association, said: "With more than a quarter of respondents stating they were unlikely to respond to poorly targeted mail, it is imperative that charities have rigorous data hygiene practices in place and ensure marketing materials are targeted and relevant

Asthma triggers affects nearly 25 million people in the U.S and Marketers Can Reach this Valuable Segment

2011-05-16T12:53:00.000-05:00

Asthma triggers affects nearly 25 million people in the U.S and marketers of Indoor Air Quality Systems can reach this valuable group through carefully targeted direct mail and telemarketing lists.

Asthma has consistently increased over the past decade with more than 4 million additional cases reported, including nearly 1 million additional cases reported in children. One out of every 10 school aged children is affected and approximately 13 million people have reported having an asthma attack in the past year

Although there is no cure for asthma yet, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental triggers. It is a serious, sometimes life-threatening respiratory disease that affects the quality of life for millions of Americans.

Some of the most common indoor asthma triggers include secondhand smoke, dust mites, mold, cockroaches and other pests, household pets, and combustion byproducts. These triggers can be alleviated by an indoor air quality system.

Many Indoor Air Quality businesses use Dataman Group as their source for mailing lists of asthma and COPD sufferers in their areas. These are the best possible leads for businesses who provide clean air products. Dataman Group has a dedicated section of the company website for Air Quality companies looking to increase their business.

4% Drop in Birth Rate – Biggest Decline in the Last 30 Years

2011-05-03T16:21:00.000-05:00

Businesses that market to growing families need to keep a sharp eye on the latest statistics.

A report released by the National Center for Health Statistics reported that births fell 4 percents from 2007 to 2009, the biggest drop for any two-year period since the mid-1970s.

The rate, 66.7 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44, isn’t the lowest in recent memory. The 1997 rate was an all-time low of 63.6. But the authors of the report say preliminary data show the birth rate continued falling through the first half of 2010.

The report found:
• Birth rates fell for all women, except those 40 and older
• The birth rate for women ages 20 to 24 was the lowest ever recorded for that age group: 96.3 per 1,000. That’s a 9% drop from 2007 – 2009.
• Among ethnic groups, the biggest drop was seen in Latino women, a 9% decline.
• Birth rates fell the most in the West and Southwest. Arizona and Nevada saw a decline of 10% or more.
• Fewer families are having more than 2 children. Almost 75% of births in 2009 were first or second births.

Pediatricians, pre-natal imaging companies, day care & pre-schools, life insurance agents, auto dealers, maternity shops, children’s furniture stores, churches and community centers – need to rethink their efforts to attract prospects in their market from this dwindling universe.

Dataman Group Direct provides Pre-Natal and New Parent lists specifically tailored to reach out to these key markets, providing lists for direct mail and/or telemarketing.

Demographic overlays such as homeownership and income are available on both files. Dataman Group also offers a GreenAware overlay to help marketers target those eco-conscious households with new babies.

For more information, visit the Growing Families Section of the Dataman Group website.

A free copy of Dataman Group’s White Paper on New Parents can be obtained bye-mailing the Dataman Group office.

Fences Are Key for Swimming Pool Owners with Young Children

2011-05-02T09:16:00.000-05:00

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention drowning is the second leading cause of death for children 1-14 years old and an extensive study found that 1-3 years olds made up 75 percent of the children involved in swimming pool submersion and/or drowning accidents.

Protecting children from drowning or becoming submerged in a backyard swimming pool requires more than just a single safety device or barrier so just a fence is not enough but it should definitely be installed. In many areas of the country having a pool fence is required by law.

A pool fence should be high enough to prevent resourceful children from easily climbing over and sturdy enough to keep kids from breaking through the fence in pursuit of their goal. A gate that locks instead of just latching is recommended. Don’t underestimate the resourcefulness of children they will try to get through anything.

There are many options available including metal mesh wood and plastic swimming pool fences and Homeowners who are unsure of the best choice typically speak to their Swimming Pool Service or the local expert at the swimming pool supply store. Being educated on safety and security should be their top priority. Pool owners must make sure to follow all the safety measures to keep everybody happy and safe.

Pool Fence Companies can not simply wait for the phone to ring. They need to be proactive and reach out to Swimming Pool Owners with children for new business.

Swimming pool fence companies who are looking for new prospects can contact companies like Dataman Group who can provide mailing lists of Swimming Pool owners with children under 5 years old.

Direct Mail is the top marketing channel for Swimming Pool Fence Companies, since their prospect market is so narrow. There is no reason to spend marketing dollars on homeowners without swimming pools. Direct Mail is the most efficient, cost-effective marketing outreach method for successful Pool Fence companies.

Marketing Life Insurance through Direct Mail

2011-04-28T16:07:00.000-05:00

Life insurance isn’t a simple sale. Who really wants to think about their own mortality? And the information-gathering process is a lengthy one, which means the sales cycle can take months.

Once folks decide on a plan, they’re going to hold onto it for a long time. And that’s exactly what COUNTRY, an Illinois-based insurance and financial services firm, was counting on with its “Grow Your Retirement” campaign.

Financial representatives focused on cross-selling and up selling existing clients. Using a mailer that resembled a large seed packet, they targeted about 30,000 existing clients — aged 35 to 55 — who already bought auto and property insurance from COUNTRY.

A custom window revealed “growing money” artwork, and five shiny pennies hidden inside were offered as “starter seeds” for growing retirement savings. A carefully crafted message encouraged clients to schedule a meeting with a financial representative to learn more about planning their retirement.

The right audience and the right message, together with a creative spin, turned this mailer into a conversation starter — and netted compelling results to boot. It sold more than 2,100 new policies, exceeding the organization’s goal by 166 percent.
While other COUNTRY direct mail campaigns have garnered more responses, the “Grow” piece has been the most successful because it resulted in life policy sales.

“Few people want to talk about life insurance,” says Randy Lorimor, manager of advertising and marketing media at COUNTRY. “This piece, however, turned a serious topic into a light-hearted and eye-catching campaign with tremendous results.”

He adds that direct mail was the only option considered for the “Grow” campaign. “It was the most cost-effective method for us to reach our audience of existing clients,” Lorimar says. “We typically spend from $2 to $3 per piece on our direct mail campaigns. And while some marketers may think this is an outrageous amount, we make it up — and then some — in terms of ROI.”

Other key list segments for Life Insurance marketers are: Parents of New Babies, Affluent Homeowners with Young Children and New Homeowners. Insurance marketers should reach out to this group several times a year with creative and offers dedicated especially for these younger families. A new baby brings on a new sense of responsibility and for many young families, this will be the first time the topic of life insurance ever crosses their minds.

Life Insurance marketers should contact a top list broker, such as Dataman Group in Florida, who specializes in lists for the Insurance market, to get counts for the top life insurance prospects in their markets.

Home Remodeling Companies Look for Upswing in Business: Strategic Marketing is the Key

2011-03-29T08:49:00.000-05:00

One part of the housing market is experiencing a rebound that will probably continue even if the rest of the market remains sluggish: remodeling.

A recent report by the Joint center for Housing Students at Harvard University predicted that remodeling would rebound strongly this year after a three-year downturn. The center estimated growth of 9.1 percent for the first quarter and 12.1 percent for the second quarter. Even thought the predicted rate drops for the end of the year, annual growth in remodeling is still expected to be around 8%. In fact, the study found, the remodeling market held up far better than housing construction during the recession, with annual spending still cost to $300 billion.

This is great news for home remodeling companies. Homeowners are staying in their homes longer; financing is loosening up; “Stay-cations” are becoming more and more popular and the options for prospecting are more fine-tuned than ever before.

Home remodeling companies need to take the initiative and reach out to Home owners in their markets….or hope that someone will find them. With increased competition in the market, no company can afford to sit on their hands and wait for the phone to ring.

Marketers can select mailing lists of Homeowners with single family homes by the actual age of the home, as well as the homeowners’ age, income and even credit score. Scrubbed telephone #s are available for about 15% of the prospects. While most Home Remodeling companies mail or market by phone; these lists even can be sorted by street address for companies that rely on door knocking.

Home Remodeling companies rely on companies like Dataman Group Direct to provide them with the mailing lists they need to be successful and compete in today’s highly competitive marketing environment.

Hospitals Use Direct Mail to Reach out to Mammogram Prospects

2011-03-21T17:36:00.000-05:00

Mammograms aren’t recommended for everyone. So using a mass marketing approach to convince individuals to get screened can produce its own form of medical waste.

That’s why DeKalb Medical opts for the more cost-effective strategy of sending direct mail only to those most likely to respond.

Segmenting prospects for a targeted direct mail campaign

The three-hospital system based in Decatur, Ga., does this by segmenting its data and sending tailored postcards to three individual age groups: women nearing 40, women ages 40 to 49 and women ages 50 to 64.

DeKalb Medical further segments those prospects by identifiing loyal patients who have not come in for a mammogram, local non-patients who have a high risk of developing breast cancer and patients who should be excluded from marketing because they’ve come in for a screening within three years.

The hospital even can identify who has health insurance. “Mail lets us go directly to those patients who will improve our bottom line, which will then allow us to provide free services for those who are underinsured,” says Terri Whitesel, director of corporate communications at the not-for-profit hospital. “We can’t do that type of screening using TV or radio.”

Creating direct mail imagery for target market profiles

Additionally, mailers for each age group are versioned for Caucasians and African-Americans in terms of imagery reflective of the audience and copy that offers relevant statistics for both targets.

“We know that our particular market is heavily African-American, and we also know they’re at greater risk for many of these diseases,” Whitesel says.
But all the mailers have a friendly tone that conveys a serious message. “We don’t want women dying of breast cancer,” Whitesel says. “We want to try to catch it early and make sure we can help them help themselves.”

DeKalb Medical sends about 2,000 postcards a month. About 46,000 pieces have gone out to about 30,000 area individuals to date, and more than 1,500 women who have received the mailer have come in for a mammogram.

Whitesel is pleased with the response but also focuses on the greater potential, or the lifetime value, of a customer who comes in for a mammogram and may return for other services.

Bottom line, direct mail is highly responsive for hospitals and medical practices. Hospitals attract area newcomers with New Mover lists; can reach out for specific health issues with Ailment Sufferer lists; and market demographically to reach women, families with children or other market segments for specific hospital programming.

Hospitals and medical centers who are looking to expand their outreach can contact companies like Dataman Group in Boca Raton who can provide them with quality lists to reach the right people at the right time.

Reflections from last week's WQA Conference

2011-03-18T09:48:00.000-05:00

Each year when I come back from the WQA show, I reflect on what I’ve learned. While it’s great to meet new people and catch up with old friends, we go to WQA to get up to speed on the newest developments in the industry.

This should be The Year of Water. No, this isn’t some Chinese New Year name – but I truly believe the industry is poised at the brink of something very important.

The last year has been filled with so much in the news about the condition of drinking water in the U.S. Chromium 6, lead, fluoride, radioactive waste – we’ve heard it all and every newspaper in the country has carried articles and statistics that are frightening to consumers and fodder for every dealer’s marketing efforts.

At WQA, I met dealers from all over the country who have used material from their local newspapers to help them sell systems. Let’s face it, an educated consumer will make a smart decision and it’s every Dealer’s job to educate the homeowners in their market about the upside of a POU system.

In one of my lectures at WQA, I spoke about micro-targeting specific market groups by mail – because that is the Water Dealer’s single best opportunity to reach new prospects and obtain new clients. Those Dealers who have concentrated their efforts solely on telemarketing are leaving money on the table, since only 15% of all homeowners are not on the Do Not Call and can be contact by phone. Dealers will need to shift some of their marketing dollars to direct mail and reach out to the top prospect segments on an on-going basis.

Again, I am not talking about spending huge amounts of money on mass mailings – that went out with Nehru jackets. I am talking about well thought out, finely-tuned small mailings targeted to the Water Dealer’s key market segments: New Homeowners; Homeowners with Growing Families, Affluent Homeowners, Homeowners with Ailments, and Eco-Friendly Homeowners.

In the water business, these are the groups that count. These are the groups to invest in since they will buy. These are the Homeowners dealers must continuously reach out to, inform and educate about the value of a system to protect their health & well-being.

An educated consumer will want to protect their family and their home and they will buy a system. The Water dealer who doubles as a smart marketer is the one they will buy it from.

Dealers who would like a copy of my presentation of the Top Direct Marketing Techniques for Small Businesses, which I presented at WQA, are welcomed to call our office at (800) 771-3282, e-mail me, or visit the Water Quality Section of the Dataman Group website.

Today's FDMA Program

2011-03-17T15:44:00.000-05:00

Just got back from today’s FDMA program.

Mary Antoine, Director of Marketing Services at CruiseOne/Cruises Inc gave us a real look at the method behind their direct mail program. My most important take away was that CruiseOne/Cruises Inc increased their business 57% from 2009 and 2010 due to direct mail.

Direct mail is not dead. It will continue to grow and thrive because companies like CruiseOne/Cruises Inc use smart marketing techniques to segment their lists and tweak their creative, their message and offer to match the list. They continuously measure their response rates and tweak their mailing lists and creative to reap big results.

Direct mail has been proven to be a cost-effective, top response marketing tool for CruiseOne / Cruises Inc. They have won 2 Magellan Awards for their luxury cruising campaign and Carnival direct mail campaign.

It goes to show that the principles of dirct marketing continue to be effective even with today's ever-expanding marketing choices.

Hope to see you all in April at the next FDMA program!

DataDale Filhaber
Dataman Group Direct

Hospitals Use Direct Mail to Target Mammogram Prospects

2011-03-10T16:10:00.000-05:00

Mammograms aren’t recommended for everyone. So using a mass marketing approach to convince individuals to get screened can produce its own form of medical waste.

That’s why DeKalb Medical opts for the more cost-effective strategy of sending direct mail only to those most likely to respond.

Segmenting prospects for a targeted direct mail campaign

the three-hospital system based in Decatur, Ga., does this by segmenting its data and sending tailored postcards to three individual age groups: women nearing 40, women ages 40 to 49 and women ages 50 to 64.

DeKalb Medical further segments those prospects with help from Madison, WI–based CPM Marketing Group. It identifies loyal patients who have not come in for a mammogram, local non-patients who have a high risk of developing breast cancer and patients who should be excluded from marketing because they’ve come in for a screening within three years.

The hospital even can identify who may have health insurance. “Mail lets us go directly to those patients who will improve our bottom line, which will then allow us to provide free services for those who are underinsured,” says Terri Whitesel, director of corporate communications at the not-for-profit hospital. “We can’t do that type of screening using TV or radio.”

Creating direct mail imagery for target market profiles

Additionally, mailers for each age group are versioned for Caucasians and African-Americans in terms of imagery reflective of the audience and copy that offers relevant statistics for both targets. "We know that our particular market is heavily African-American, and we also know they’re at greater risk for many of these diseases,” Whitesel says.

But all the mailers have a friendly tone that conveys a serious message. “We don’t want women dying of breast cancer,” Whitesel says. “We want to try to catch it early and make sure we can help them help themselves.”

DeKalb Medical sends about 2,000 postcards a month. About 46,000 pieces have gone out to about 30,000 area individuals to date, and more than 1,500 women who have received the mailer have come in for a mammogram.

Whitesel is pleased with the response but also focuses on the greater potential, or the lifetime value, of a customer who comes in for a mammogram and may return for other services.

Dataman Group Direct provides many lists for hospitals, including targeted lists with demographic selects, new movers and donor files.

How polluted is U.S. drinking water?

2011-02-23T13:11:00.000-05:00

Water supplies in the United States are safer than they used to be, but plenty of old and new dangers still lurk beneath the surface.

The Safe Drinking Water Act covers 91 contaminants, but there are tens of thousands of chemicals used in the U.S., including more than 8,000 monitored by the EPA, and many of their health effects remain unclear. Studies have linked a wide range of unregulated chemicals to cancer, hormonal changes and other health problems. Plus, as large-scale industrial farming has grown more prevalent in recent decades, so has the risk of fertilizers and animal waste infiltrating water supplies.

In 2010, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson imposed stricter limits on four cancer-causing chemicals in water, and also unveiled a new strategy for taking on other water contaminants. On top of using newer technologies and working more closely with state agencies, Jackson announced plans to start evaluating and regulating chemicals in related groups instead of one by one, a move aimed at making it easier to add new substances to the Safe Drinking Water Act.

As regulators struggle to maintain 40 years of halting progress in cleaning up U.S. tap water, countless Americans will inevitably be drinking unsafe water long into the future - both from unregulated pollutants and regulated ones that make it past water-treatment plants. Not all of these pollutants are dangerous, some may only cause mild stomach pains or may take years to show any effects. But since chipping away at the uncertainty will be a slow process and the only sure-fire way to prevent this problem is the installation of a home water purification system.

This is a tremendous opportunity for Water Quality Dealers and I strongly urge Dealers to attend the upcoming WQA-Aquatech Annual Conference in San Antonio that starts on March 8th. Dealers will see new technology, hear from experts, and learn the latest techniques in prospecting for new customers.

Visit the data-people at the Dataman Group Booth 1122.
For more information or to get a FREE guest pass, call Dale Filhaber at (800) 771-3282 or e-mail her today.

Top Green Building Trends for 2011

2011-02-18T09:53:00.001-05:00

The top Green Building Trends for 2011 have to do with green homes becoming more easily affordable. Businesses can now reach out to eco-friendly homeowners who can afford these upgrades easily and efficiently with mailing lists targeted to these Green households.

Affordable green. Many people associate green, energy-efficient homes with higher costs, but that's changing. New business models, technologies, and high performance materials are bringing green homes within reach of all homeowners.

Free or low cost energy audits are now widely available, and as homeowners become more aware of the benefits of simple, inexpensive retrofits, energy efficiency upgrades are increasingly commonplace. Through programs like Solar City's lease-to-own business model, homeowners can get solar on their roofs without an up-front payment. Habitat for Humanity builds affordable LEED and Energy Star-certified homes across the US for as little as $100,000.

Smart Appliances. Through the use of smart meters, homeowners will get feedback on their energy use, allowing them to conserve during expensive peak hours, and to see in real time how much energy each appliance consumes. Manufacturers are introducing "grid-aware" appliances that have sophisticated energy management capabilities and timers, enabling the homeowner to gain control over their use.

Accessory Dwelling Units. During the recession, the McMansions trend gave way to "rightsizing," and with fewer people moving or building because of financial concerns, many are staying put and building accessory dwelling units. These small detached or attached units can be used for offices, studios, in-laws or rentals, and are the ideal size for energy efficiency and green construction.

Rethinking Residential HVAC. Advances in applied building science have resulted in homes that are so tightly sealed and insulated that furnace-less, ductless homes can be a reality. The increasingly popular "Passive House" standard, for example, calls for such thick insulation in walls and ceilings that the home is heated by the everyday activity of the occupants, from cooking to computer use.

Businesses who are looking to reach out to eco-friendly prospects who can afford these types of upgrades to their homes can contact Dataman Group for the homeowner lists that meet their needs.

Even Disney Markets to Parents of New Babies

2011-02-08T15:12:00.000-05:00

The Walt Disney Corporation has started a new program reaching out to Parents of New Babies. Late last month, the company quietly began pressing its newest priority, Disney Baby, in 580 maternity hospitals in the United States.

"If ever there was an opportunity for a trusted brand to enter a market and provide a better product and experience, it's this," said Robert A. Iger, chief executive of Disney.

Disney estimates the North American baby market, including staples like formula, to be worth $36.3 billion annually. Its executives talk about tapping into that jackpot as if they were waging a war. "Apparel is only a beachhead," said Andy Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products.

Disney is not the only organization that markets to Growing Families. Your clients don't have to visit hospitals. With our great data, your clients can reach out to this lucrative market easily and cost-effectively for only pennies a name!

You can provide lists of Parents of New Babies or Pre-Natal families. We offer monthly on-going hotline data as well as lists "on demand". Home ownership, income and even our unique GreenAware segmentation can be overlaid onto the data, making this the #1 New Parent list in the market.

Want more info? Please visit the Growing Families section of our website.
Want a copy of our New Parents White Paper? E-mail me and I'll send it right over!

If you have any questions, give me a call at (800) 771-3282

Talk to you soon,
DataDale Filhaber, Listologist Supreme

Direct Mail - the #1 Source for Donor Acquistion

2011-02-03T15:18:00.000-05:00

Direct Mail has always been a key player in every fund raising organization’s marketing toolbox. While many non-profits are looking to increase their outreach with electronic and social media, direct mail still performs best in terms of donor acquisition and renewal contributions.

Here's a Case Study – Feeding America, a major hunger-relief organization in Chicago.

A pervasive myth is that hunger primarily affects the homeless. But experts say the condition crosses into all but a few demographic boundaries. In fact, Feeding America, the largest organization that specializes in domestic hunger relief, reports that 89 percent of its constituents have private addresses.

Identifying and reaching the families and individuals who depend on their national network for food banks and pantries has been Feeding America’s focus since the Chicago-based program was first established as Second Harvest in 1976. And the group’s mail-centered marketing program is their centerpiece.

“Over the last five years, Feeding America has raised more than $65 million through the mail,” says Suzanne Joiner, head of direct response for the nonprofit. “This represents over 70 percent of our total direct response revenue. Additionally, mail is currently the primary driver for our new donor acquisition, bringing in over 80,000 new donors every year.

“The key to utilizing any medium, including mail, is to diversify and cross-promote, meaning that every mail piece pushes to the web or phone or some other option for donation and asking questions.”

Feeding America’s multimedia strategies include partnering with heavy hitters in the entertainment industry to help the charity expand its audience: Fox TV’s top-rated reality competition, “American Idol,” has supported the nonprofit, encouraging online pledges during live broadcasts.

Adds Joiner: “Every digital piece, at some point, has an alternative option for making a donation or asking a question about interest in other forms of support: mail, phone, in-person event, etc. It is not necessarily the cutting back of one in favor of the other, but making sure the supporter has options to interact with you, however they choose, at that point in time. And with a significant volume of mail sent every year, it is a key driver to making sure donors are aware of their options to communicate with Feeding America.”

Twenty million mailers are distributed annually by Feeding America, in addition to the 180,000 mailers that represent the initiatives of Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Serving 40 Michigan counties, the Grand Rapids base sends 28,000 pieces six times a year to its mailing list, says donor relations manager Linda Vanderbaan.

The program added a freelance writer and graphic artist to create more memorable promotions and successful campaigns, says Vanderbaan. “We’re kind of setting the bar high in getting the message out in a very creative way and a very powerful way that elicits a good response.”

Non-profits need to carefully construct their direct mail program, continually testing and tweaking. List selection is a key element and today’s technology allows fund raisers to model existing donors as well as take advantage of lists of donors to similar charities.

Dataman Group has been working with non-profit agencies for over 25 years, providing quality mailing lists and creative guidance. Dataman Group President Dale Filhaber serves on numerous non-profit boards, locally and nationally, and takes a personal interest in the success of it’s non-profit clients.

For additional information, visit the non-profit section of the Dataman Group website or , e-mail us, or call Dale Filhaber at (800) 771-3282.

Reverse Mortgages Gain More Acceptance Than Ever Before

2011-01-28T14:27:00.000-05:00

Reverse mortgage home loans for senior citizens are now widely accepted as a way for homeowners to use the equity they have built in their home to help pay for their living needs & medical expenses.

Some financial advisers insist that a reverse mortgage should be a homeowner’s last resort for supplemental income and others suggest that older adults jump right in to some of the reverse mortgage options, such as the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Saver.

The HECM Saver requires homeowners to go through reverse mortgage counseling to be make sure they are aware of the pros and cons associated with this type of home loan which helps these older adults with the budgeting and expenses.

For those Homeowners who really need assistance with their monthly expenses, a reverse mortgage is the best way for them to acquire the funding they need without worried about repaying that loan as long as they remain in their home.

Typically, a homeowner’s reverse mortgage will be either repaid through funding from their estate after they pass away or through the sale of their property by their heirs, but if a homeowner is unable to continue meeting property taxes, can no longer claim their home as their principal residence, or does not provide upkeep on the home, they may be required to repay this reverse mortgage loan. Since reverse mortgage counseling is required for a homeowner seeking a reverse mortgage loan, this will help counsel homeowners in terms of whether they should take advantage of this opportunity.

Reverse Mortgage companies can work with a qualified list broker, like Dataman Group, to create targeted mailing lists for Reverse Mortgage prospects in their area. Lists can be selected by homeowner age, current home value, and amount of equity in the home.

Griffin Pest Control Wins Direct Mail Award for Bedbug Campaign

2011-01-24T12:20:00.000-05:00

Griffin Pest Solutions has won a Bed Bugsy Award from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) for its educational direct mail bed bug campaign. The NPMA created the Bed Bugsy Awards to recognize creative excellence in the marketing and advertising of bed bug services executed by pest control companies across the nation. Winners were announced at the recent National Bed Bug Forum in Denver, Colorado.

"We are very pleased to have won this award," stated Linden Griffin, owner and president of Griffin Pest Solutions. "Bed bugs are a significant issue. There is a lot of information out there, but not all of it is accurate. We have taken the approach that education is the key in helping our communities tackle this issue."

Griffin Pest Solutions has been sending the posters to federal, state and local agencies as well as places where bed bugs are commonly found such as apartment communities, hotels, colleges and universities, assisted living facilities, shelters and hospitals.

"It is our hope that the posters will be hung where staff or residents can see them so they know what bed bugs look like and where they hide," Griffin explained.

In addition to the bed bug posters, Griffin Pest Solutions has been educating consumers on bed bugs by hosting seminars across Michigan. "People want to know what they're up against. They want to be able to ask questions and get straight answers," Griffin continued. "They want to know if they can prevent bed bugs and what are their treatment options."

Griffin Pest Solutions, Inc. (www.GriffinPest.com) services Northern Indiana and Michigan. They are certified Bed Bug FREE as well as GreenPro and QualityPro certified by the National Pest Management Association.

Dataman Group provides direct mail & telemarketing lists to the Pest Control industry. For more information, call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282, visit the Pest Control section of the Dataman Group website, or simple Ask DataDale.

Direct mail still popular with most people

2011-01-20T10:08:00.000-05:00

Direct mail remains a popular and acceptable form of marketing among most people, new research suggests.

According to a survey by Onepost, a provider of independent postal advice and management, 79 per cent of people wish to continue receiving direct mail.

In addition, one in five of those polled said they received more than ten pieces of direct mail each week.

Meanwhile, Onepost stated that contrary to popular belief in some marketing circles, 75 per cent of people expressed no clear preference as to what day of the week they receive direct mail.

Commenting on the positive findings for the direct mail industry, Luan Wise, Onepost marketing manager, said: "This is a direct reflection of adherence to recommended best practice.

"In the current climate we believe there is no better way to showcase your products or services to a highly targeted audience than via direct mail."

Chris Combemale, executive director of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), added that DMA research had also found that direct mail "has an extremely important role to play in the marketing mix".

Weeding Out Prospects: Direct Marketing for Lawn Care Specialists

2011-01-10T15:24:00.000-05:00

When it comes to direct marketing, industry aside, the key to having a successful campaign is delivering the right message, to the right prospect, at the right time. This holds true, especially for the Home Improvement/Home Services industries.

Pest Control companies need to market in their local communities to maintain, and more importantly, increase their market share in these tough economic times. Marketers need to be asking themselves: Where are my lawn care services being used? Where are my competitors? How do my prices compare to theirs? These questions are vital in implementing an effective marketing strategy.

Spring-Green Lawn Care, headquartered in suburban Chicago with nation wide franchises, is one example of a lawn care company successfully using a direct marketing campaign. Four years ago, they employed a 3 stage direct mailing campaign which includes samples, educational information, coupons, and local franchise owner business cards. Spring-Green President James Young says, “.., it influences more than 50% of all new customers each spring. Local advertising, search engine optimization, and social media are all part of the mix, but, by far, mail is our dominant channel.”

New franchises feel the impact right away. First year franchise owner Rick Locke out of Indianapolis says direct mail accounted for 75% of his new sales this year.

Being able to target your prospect with an effective marketing list by property type, land size, and length in residence is crucial for an effective mailing.

Other responsive targets are:

- New Home Owners
- Parents of New Babies
- Golden Homeowners
- Eco-Conscious Homeowners
- Homeowners with Ailments
- Businesses

This is a key time for Lawn care & Pest Control companies to plan their Spring marketing campaigns.

Dataman Group has been helping Lawn Care specialists reach the right target, at the right time, with their message for 30 years. Visit the Home Improvement section of Dataman Group Website, or call 800-771-3282 for additional information and free counts.

Hospitals Score with Dataman Group’s New Mover Program

2011-01-03T15:55:00.000-05:00

Many hospitals around the country use Dataman Group’s New Mover list to reach out to new people in their marketplace.

A great example of effective, cost-efficient direct marketing is a series of mail campaigns by Ohio-based Mercy Health Partners.

Mercy’s New Movers campaign is aimed at new residents and is designed to increase awareness about services offered at Mercy’s six Cincinnati-area hospitals. Mercy offered a free first-aid kit to mail recipients who filled out response forms to learn more about the chain’s services.

Two years after being initiated, the New Movers campaign is a success, generating approximately 2,000 pieces of mail a month. More than 50,000 mailers have been shipped, according to Pete Gemmer, regional director of external communications for Mercy.

“In the first six months of the program we were able to track more than $1 million in gross revenue for a program that cost approximately $70,000,” Gemmer says. “We also have connected hundreds of new movers to primary care physicians in their community.”

Mercy also uses direct mail to promote its Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) screenings, which targets high-risk men and women age 50 and older. Through the campaign, Mercy has been able to successfully fill the 100 available slots for each event.

“With direct mail we are able to target our audience and focus on consumers who may be at risk for PAD,” Gemmer explains. “More important, we are finding that there are patients whose lives may have been saved by the screening.”

Hospitals, physicians and medical centers can also market to individuals who have self-reported that they have specific ailments and medical conditions. This offers health care providers the opportunity to target specific households for particular program. For example, hospitals with prostate screening programs can market to men who with prostate problems or a Pulmonary practice can reach out to individuals with asthma, COPD or chronic bronchitis.

Dataman Group has been providing direct mail lists to Hospitals, Physicians and medical practices for over 25 years. For medical providers looking to increase revenue, the Dataman Group’s New Mover List is their #1 source of new patients.

Visit the Dataman Group website or call Dale Filhaber at Dataman Group,
at (800) 771-3282 - for additional information.

CNN Report on Chromium-6 in Tap Water

2010-12-20T12:21:00.000-05:00

Today's lead story on CNN highlighted Chromium-6 contaminents in US Tap Water.

This is pretty scary stuff. If I lived in one of the communities listed in the article, I would be chomping at the bit to get a water filtration system into my home asap!

Rebecca Sutton, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group, was very blunt in her comments "Getting the water filter is a great way to protect yourself and your family. It's a step you can take yourself and you don't have to wait for government action. With the water filter, you actually know you're removing hexavalent chromium."

Water dealers should read the complete article, as well as the list of 100 cities listed as having high levels of on this contaminant. There will be alot of press about water quality in these cities. Water dealers should take the opportunity to make themselves highly visible at this time and reach out in the broadest possible way to homeowners who can afford a system.

Dealers should absolutely not use scare tactics. Residents in those cities cited as having high carcinogens will already be edgy. Messaging is concern, safety, health and speed of response.

In the world of marketing, sometimes bad news is an opportunity. If your dealership is in one of the top 100 cities cited, reach out and do it now.

Dataman Group Direct Mail & Telemarketing Lists works closely with Water Quality Dealers to provide them with the right marketing lists for their prospecting needs.

Remember to put the annual WQA Aquatech USA 2011 in San Antonio on your calendar for March 9-11. I will be speaking twice during the conference and hope to see you at one of my sessions.

Marketing to Moms - Mothers are Getting Older & Greener

2010-12-06T18:01:00.000-05:00

Marketers need to take heed of a recent study from Experian that shows that younger mothers are becoming increasingly eco-conscious. This study also shows that Mothers are getting older as well.

The number of mothers age 35+up with children 18 and under has grown from 40.9 million to 44.9 million in the past 4 years. And the younger mom segment, age 35 and under - the group most likely to be influenced by advertising – is shifting towards a higher eco-consciousness and willingness to buy green products.

In the past, it's typically been older consumers who have been most likely to purchase green products. We are now seeing the number of younger moms moving into the 'Thinking Green' and ultimately, the 'Buying Green' categories.

This shift can be attributed to more information available about the impact of green choices on children's health, whether it's reading about organic milk or the benefits of free-range chicken. The growth trend toward green purchases among younger moms, at this point, is outpacing the 35-and-older mothers by at least 5% a year.

The report also indicates that the recent economic recession forced a more intense focus on household budgets, which has helped increase women's influence in all family purchases, with 69% of moms saying they are the most influential person in the household when it comes to making purchase decisions.

The study also puts the population of moms who work outside the home (either full- or part-time) at 62%, or 19.6 million moms, while 21.5% (or 6.8 million) identify themselves as stay-at-homers. Some 30.8% of moms, or 9.7 million, are unmarried.

Dataman Group's GreenAware list lets marketers reach eco-conscious moms at their home addresses. Marketers of green products who leverage the right message to this market, using recyclable paper stock and soy-based ink, will find that their response rates increase. The GreenAware model can also be overlaid on Dataman Group's Growing Families Database: New Parent and Pre-Natal Households, giving smart marketers yet another edge over the competition.

For more information about this highly relevant market segment, please call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Five Ways to Make Lead Nurturing Effective in 2011

2010-12-01T16:10:00.000-05:00

I read this article in the Marketing Maven blog in early November and I wanted to share it with my loyal blog followers. As we move into 2011, we all need to finalize our marketing plans and Lead Nurturing needs to be an integral part of our programs.

Many marketers employ lead nurturing programs to keep the communication channels open and interest level up with long-term leads that are not yet sales-ready. Lead nurturing is important because you’ve already invested resources to generate the lead and you don’t want them to forget your company when they are ready to buy. These long-term leads have already raised their hands once to express interest in your products and services, and there’s a good chance they will again if you develop a good relationship with them.

Here are five ways you can make your lead nurturing programs dynamic in 2011. These strategies will help keep potential customers engaged with your company and increase your opportunities to win more business from long-term prospects.

1. Map out a content plan
The number-one factor in keeping leads interested is providing useful and relevant content that helps them do their jobs better. Try to plan out a year’s worth of content that you can deliver as part of a lead nurturing program. You probably already have a lot of the content on hand; other pieces you may need to develop.

Now is the time to get started.
The content can, and should, take a number of forms. Here are few ideas:
• White papers/articles
• Case studies
• Data sheets
• Videos
• Podcasts
• Webinars
• Links to specific industry news/resources
• Interviews with experts/executives

2. Personalize your outreach
By personalization, we mean more than beginning an e-mail with ‘Dear David,’ although that’s always a good idea. Take the next step and personalize the content you deliver based on the interest area of your prospects. If your company sells only a few products, it’s easy, but if you have a large portfolio of offerings, try to provide specific pieces of content related to your prospect’s interest area. Again, it comes back to relevancy. You have a much higher chance of keeping your prospect in the fold if you provide information they want.

One way to personalize lead nurturing is to deliver content based on action taken by a prospect. For example, if they click on a link in an e-mail about one of your new products, you might send them a product information sheet next. Or if they download a white paper on a specific topic, you might invite them to a related Webinar.

Sometimes you don’t know a lot about a prospect at the beginning. Maybe you only have a name, e-mail address and a company name. If that’s the case, then one of your first lead nurturing touch points could be an invitation to participate in a quick online survey. You can ask a few questions to learn more about your prospect’s needs and interests, then use the data to tailor your lead nurturing.

3. Create a lead nurturing schedule
Try to develop a schedule for communicating with long-term leads that enables you to deliver your content piece-by-piece at regular intervals. Each new long-term lead your company generates should be started at the beginning of your lead nurturing program, not thrown into the middle of the lead nurturing process.
In a lead nurturing program, you will have different prospects receiving different content at different times. This may sound complex, but most lead management/sales automation programs allow you to set up processes to support this type of lead nurturing.

4. Mix it up with media
Some people like to read, others prefer to watch, still others favor one-to-one conversations. Therefore, you should mix up the media you use in your lead nurturing programs:

Use e-mails with links to content (white papers, videos, data sheets, application notes, blog entries, etc.), invitations to Webinars, or offers to subscribe to an e-newsletter or your blog. Invite prospects to visit your Facebook page and become a fan. Ask them to follow you on Twitter.
• If you have postal addresses, send a personalized printed letter along with a brochure, data sheet, or interesting article.
• Pick up the phone and place a call. It’s okay if you get voice mail; this is your opportunity to leave a brief 15-20 second message and let your prospect know there’s a person at your company that cares.

5. Engage prospects with interactivity
A great way to nurture leads and keep their interest up is to ask for their opinions and give them many opportunities to interact with you. Conduct online polls and surveys, invite them to participate in online discussion forums, or invite them to an online event where they can ask questions online and chat with your team. Lead nurturing is about building strong, memorable relationships and one of the best ways to do that is to make communication a two-way street.

Insurance Agents Look to Dataman Group for New Prospects in their Areas

2010-11-15T16:28:00.000-05:00

People turning 65 years old have three months before and three months after their birthday to enroll in Medicare Plans. These are brand-new prospects and the Insurance agent that reaches out to them can earn their business.

The open enrollment period started today and runs from November 15th to December 31st of each year. During this time, Medicare recipients can change plans without incurring penalties, and many Insurance Agents reach out to individuals who may want to switch their plans, since once an individual makes their choice, they cannot change them until the next year’s open enrollment period.

Because of the co-pays and deductibles associated with traditional Medicare, many people choose to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan or purchase a Medicare Supplement plan. A supplement can help to cover out of pocket expenses that Medicare doesn’t.

These types of plans are as follows:

• Medicare Advantage Plans: Like a traditional medical insurance plan, most Medicare Advantage Plans (M.A.P.s) have co-pays for doctor visits as well as deductibles for hospital stays. M.A.P.s are available as HMOs, PPOs, and POSs and the benefits vary by insurance company.

• Medigap Plans: These plans are supplemental plans that help cover the costs that Medicare doesn’t. There are 10 different plans that are available and they are all standardized by Medicare. Although plans offered by each insurance company are the same, their premiums can vary.

• PDP: These are prescription drug plans that help cover the cost of medicines. Different plans will cover different medicines so it is important to choose the right prescription plan.

Dataman Group helps Insurance Agents find the right prospects for the Medicare Supplement Plans they offer. Most Agents simply select prospects in the zip-codes/counties closest to their location and select those individuals that recently turned 65 or are Turning 65 in the next 3 months.

Insurance Agents looking to increase their marketing outreach can call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282, visit the Dataman Group website, or e-mail DataDale for additional information.

Increased Risks of Tap Water Consumption for Key Market Groups

2010-11-11T07:01:00.000-05:00

I recently re-read an article from last Decembers WC&P Magazine having to do with the Increased Risks to the Elderly from Tap Water Consumption.

Studies show that elderly individuals who drank municipally treated tap water meeting all state and federal quality standards, had a 12 % increase in stomach illness compared to people drinking purified tap water from the same source.

The article also lists other populations, in addition to the elderly, which are also considered sensitive - including the very young, pregnant women and those individuals who are immunocompromised or chronically ill. These groups make up over 25% of US households and they are at a higher risk of infection due to waterborne agents.

Many of these infections could have been prevented by the use of a POU system.

Water Dealers who do not reach out to these key market groups with that message are missing a tremendous opportunity to educate and thereby influence these potential prospects. Dealers do not need to use scare tactics – they just need to make sure that homeowners in their area are informed. Remember, we all want to know about things that will help us live a better, healthier life. Those dealers who are seen to promote this view will attract new customers into their dealership.

I know that many of you have heard me speak about the “Have-to-Haves” vs. the “Want-to-Haves”. In today’s economy, necessity is outperforming luxury and spending dollars are allocated to the “Have-to-Haves”. Well, these sensitive populations Have-to-Have purified tap water to stay healthy and dealers need to educate these consumers about the benefits a POU system can bring to their lives.

This is time to work on your marketing program for Holiday. The top New Year’s Resolutions are health-oriented and your dealership’s messaging needs to focus on the gift of health. There is no better gift for members of these sensitive populations.

Dataman Group Direct Mail & Telemarketing Lists works closely with Water Quality Dealers to provide them with the right marketing lists for their prospecting needs. I urge dealers to sit down with their marketing managers, ad agencies and staffs and brainstorm about the benefits their POU systems will bring to those sensitive populations - Elderly Homeowners, Parents of New Babies, Pre-Natal households and Ailment Sufferers – and talk about mailers, scripts, offers and closing tools.

By the way, put the annual WQA Aquatech USA 2011 in San Antonio on your calendar for March 9-11. I will be speaking twice during the conference and hope to see you at one of my sessions.

18-34 Year Olds Prefer Direct Mail

2010-10-21T11:20:00.001-05:00

I was pretty surprised by the results of this new study on Direct Marketing. For those of you who were under the impression that direct mail is dead, think again!

A new study on direct marketing, for certain types of products and services, young people in the 18-34 year old bracket prefer receiving messages by print.

The study, titled “Finding the Right Channel Combination: What Drives Channel Choice?” was conducted by ICOM, a division of Epsilon Targeting, and surveyed over 2500 U.S. and 2200 Canadian households and found that, when asked their preference, consumers prefer direct mail over online media for many types of marketing communications.

By the numbers, here are some of the key results from ICOM’s 2010 study of North American consumers’ marketing communication channel preferences:

For household and health products, the preference among 18-34 year-old Americans for receiving marketing information from offline sources led by mail and newspapers is 2 to 3 times greater than online sources such as social media.

Examples of consumer preferences for offline versus online are:

Product: Offline: Online:
Personal Care 62% 22%
Food Products 66% 23%
Cleaning Products 66% 20%
Over the Counter Medicine 53% 21%
Sensitive Health Products 46% 21%
Prescription Medicine 45% 21%

Travel was the exception, where 18-34 year-old Americans preferred online to offline information by a 42% to 35% margin, however, insurance and financial services followed the overall trend, with the 18-34 age group preferring offline sources 43% to 21% and 44% to 19%, respectively.

The survey also indicated that consumers of all ages are finding postal mail more trustworthy these days. Information is more private if sent through the mail versus e-mail or online, according to 36% of US respondents and 38% of Canadian respondents.

You can download the complete report here.

That for certain types of information that is deemed either more personal or important, even young people have more trust in print.

This is a key market group that responds to Direct Mail - let's not forget them in our media planning!

Marketing for Dentists

2010-10-08T11:13:00.000-05:00

There are two main dental marketing strategies being used by dentists today: waiting for patients to show up and going out and getting them.

The successful dental practice makes a habit of continually prospecting for new patients – after all, with patient attrition and market stressors the practice that does not generate new patients withers and dies.

The #1 source for new patients in a dental practice are newcomers to the area. Since 20% of the population moves annually, new movers provide a continuous flow of potential patients to a practice.

Dental practices that reach out to these newcomers with a compelling message win their business and their loyalty.

Dataman Group’s New Mover Lists allow dentists to contact new movers in their area on a monthly on-going basis – with costs as low as $50 per month. It’s a great way for a dental practice to build their business.

For additional information about Dataman Group’s New Mover list, please call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282, e-mail dale@datamangroup.com or visit the Dataman Group website.

Parents of New Babies Have To Buy.

2010-10-04T17:28:00.000-05:00

The birth of a child, particularly the first child, is a major life stage event for new parents. It triggers a wave of consumer purchases ranging from diapers, clothing, food and insurance to homes, home improvements, furnishings, cars and appliances.

Almost 1 out of every 2 births today is a first birth, creating enormous marketing opportunities.

Most first-birth families are also two-career families; working moms and dads with large, disposable incomes and no brand loyalties where child care products are concerned.

Dataman Grop's New Baby mailing lists and Pre-natal mailing lists are updated weekly, adding fresh new names to the file on a continuous basis. We use more than 50 general public and proprietary sources, such as newspapers, baby photographers, retail stores, diaper services, maternity clothing stores, and hospital gift pack programs which helps us identify approximately 3,200,000 births each year.

Our goal is to source data across many different categories and multiple industries, resulting in the compilation of a heterogeneous file. Normally, 85% of the records are added within six months of the child's birth.

No other life cycle list offers the accuracy, cost-efficiency or selections of OUR new parent mailing list or prenatal list. Marketers can even select Pre-natal households by trimester....or New Babies by actual month-of-birth.

Marketers with questions about the New Parent list can contact the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 or e-mail dale@datamangroup.com for counts, pricing and additional information.

Small Businesses Are Planning for Another Economic Downturn

2010-09-13T15:24:00.000-05:00

The latest news from Citigroup – which conducts a quarterly small-business poll to gauge how companies are navigating the unpredictable economic times – offers surprising results. The majority of business owners surveyed are all-but expecting another plummet in the economy – and as such, about three-fourths of them are, to some extent, ready for it.

It’s theorized that the recession atmosphere of the last couple years prompted owners to become more cautious in how they run their businesses. Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported that the way they run their companies has been permanently adjusted, thanks to the hardships. Only 4 percent indicated they’d consider going back to their old ways. Samples of wise business decisions that have been implemented include putting a freeze on staffing, cutting down debt and operating lean instead of pursuing plans for growth.

Unfortunately, the number of small-business owners reporting they are in a better position as compared to one year ago is less than 30 percent. In fact, more than three-fourths of respondents classify the present economic climate as poor or only fair. The upside is these entrepreneurs were more prepared to deal with the hard times.

Citibank officials are optimistic that the owners who learn to navigate the tough business landscape will be poised for growth when things ease up. Not many survey participants acknowledged having a service or product that was immune to the economy. Rather, credit for surviving the recession was given to proper money management and longstanding customer connections. Tactics for continued success in the coming months include maximizing resources (especially in light of continued halts in staffing), boosting advertising and personally putting in more hours.

The Dataman Group Team is always optimistic. Business who need to market are targeting their message to the best possible prospect group in an effort to conserve dollars and make the most out of their advertising budget. Marketers have found that small, well directed campaigns will beat broad general advertising any day.

The pros at Dataman Group can help you narrow your scope and reach the Right People At the Right Time. Call the Dataman Group office (800) 771-3282 or visit the website at www.datamangroup.com.

Ask DataDale About Lists for Home Improvement Companies

2010-09-07T16:58:00.000-05:00

According to a recent report by the Pew Research Center, 80 percent of Americans say owning a house is the best long-term investment a person can make. The study adds that about 48 percent of all homeowners state that the value of their home has declined during the recession.

A 2010 survey by American Express indicates that homeowners will spend more than $6,000 on average on home improvements this year. For many homeowners this money may come back not only in the form of enhancements to their home, but also thousands of dollars right back in their pocket in the form of tax credits and higher resale value.

Marketers of home improvements need to reach out to the right Homeowners. Remember, not every Homeowner is a good prospect.

Home owners can be segmented both demographically (age, income, length of residence) as well as by their property characteristics: value of their home, actual age of the home, acreage, # of bathrooms, presence of swimming pool, etc. Other criteria can be overlaid on the file, including credit information, net worth and discretionary spending ability.

This kind of pinpoint targeting let’s Home Improvement marketers really reach out to the best prospects for their product, after all, reaching the right people at the right time is what it’s all about!

Marketers with questions can e-mail DataDale for counts in their specific territory, visit the Home Improvement section of the Dataman Group website, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with a List Concierge.

Dataman Group welcomes Scott Filhaber.

2010-09-03T10:57:00.000-05:00

The FDMA just gained a new member with Dataman Group’s newest team member, Scott Filhaber.

“I’ve attended several FDMA meetings, even before I started working with Dataman Group, said Filhaber. Going to these events has given me some great insight into the world of marketing, really showing me how many different aspects and just how crucial direct marketing trully is”.

Everyone give a big welcome to Scott Filhaber at the September 16th meeting

New Homeowner Lists - More Important Than Ever

2010-08-28T17:03:00.000-05:00

If there are fewer New Homeowners, doesn’t it mean that those people who did buy homes are more important to marketers than ever before?

This month’s New Homeowner List count is 202,432 nationally.
In the past 6 months, these were 946,518 brand new homeowners on the Dataman New Homeowner list.

Retailers and in-home sales companies need to make this key market group a priority since they will buy more products & services in the first 6 months in their new home than regular consumers. Marketers can tailor the New Homeowner list for their products by dwelling type and Purchase Price.

For companies that market by phone, Dataman Group scrubs telephone numbers twice/monthly against Federal, State and DMA DNC lists.

Marketers can select weekly hotline data, monthly service or order New Homeowner lists as needed, depending on their product and offer.

Dataman Group’s New Homeowner List is the flagship list in the industry with data in more U.S. counties than any other resource.

Dataman Group has been providing New Home Owner data for over 30 years.
For New Homeowner counts, call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 or visit the New Homeowner section of the Dataman Group website.

Driving Website Traffic with Direct Mail

2010-08-16T10:46:00.000-05:00

According to the 2009 Channel Preference Study by ExactTarget, direct mail influences 76% of Internet users to buy a product or service online. Let’s be honest, direct mail remains the one medium that gives you direct and reliable access to nearly everyone in your target market.

How do you drive Web traffic with direct mail? Here are some pointers.

• Make a compelling offer. It's not enough to ask people to visit your website. You need to give them a powerful reason to do so—a compelling and valuable offer, such as a free trial, seminar, white paper, savings coupons, or sample. It must be something they want, not just something you want them to see.

• Use an easy-to-type URL. Unlike email, where you can include a clickable link to your landing page, in direct mail you can only print a URL. Your prospect must type it into a browser. The shorter and easier it is to spell, then, the easier it will be for people to visit your page. If you create a separate domain exclusively for the promotion, the URL can be much shorter. If you want the landing page on your site, redirect from the unique URL to your page.

• Test a personalized URL (pURL). a pURL gets extra attention and creates curiosity. For example, a pURL using my name might look like this: DaleFilhaber.Gadget.com. This is easy to type and allows for tight integration of the direct mail piece and landing page for tracking.

• Try personalized copy. Just as a pURL gets attention, personalized teasers, headlines, subheads, and body copy attract attention and encourage reading. Use personalization with restraint—to avoid the appearance of an over-the-top sweepstakes mailing.

• Issue a clear call-to-action. If you want your prospect to complete a survey, for example, say "Go to DaleFilhaber.Gadget.com and fill out our survey to claim your $100 Savings Coupon." People are more likely to respond when you specifically tell them what to do.

• Push response with a deadline. As in most direct marketing situations, people are more apt to respond immediately when they know they have a limited time for doing so. With whatever offer you make, state a deadline near the call-to-action.

• Test various formats. Because of printing and postage costs, many people use postcards to drive Web traffic. But you can also test self-mailers, flyers, and envelope packages. The amount of pre-sell required should dictate the format. The simpler and more valuable your offer, the less pre-sell you need. Only testing can show you for sure.

• Build a special landing page. Generally, it's not a good idea to drive traffic to your homepage. There are too many choices on those pages and too many ways for prospects to get lost. By creating a unique landing page and driving people to that page, you can control the message, track response, and collect information for follow-up and future direct marketing efforts.

• Capture contact information. A one-time visit offers limited value. Good direct marketing practice dictates that you use a first visit to begin a dialog. And to do that, you must at least ask for the visitor's email address and maybe first name (to personalize future communications). Depending on the value of the offer, you might also be able to get full name, mailing address, and other information to build your in-house database.

Should you use email, social, and other online media?
Absolutely. But smart business people don't make decisions based on personal preferences or novelty. They make decisions based on what works.

New Homeowner Names are More important Than Ever Before

2010-08-02T16:47:00.000-05:00

Let’s not kid ourselves. There are fewer New Homeowners right now than in the past few years. But, that also means each New Homeowner record is more important than ever before.

And, there are still lots of New Homeowners – we had over 163,000 on the Dataman New Homeowner list last month alone!

New homeowners need many goods & services as soon as they move-in to their new homes. Home improvement companies, such as water treatment and security alarm cos, are major marketers to this important group.

New Homeowners need to locate medical practices, schools, and a place for worship. New Homeowners need furniture, lawn/pool services, and insurance. And, New Homeowners eat out 6 times more in the first 3 months in their new home than established residents.

The Dataman New Homeowner list allows marketers to select New Homeowners in their zip-code area by the price they paid for their home; the type of dwelling (single family home or condo) and whether the home is new construction or a resale transaction. Mortgage information is available on 95% of the records. Scrubbed telephone #s are also available.

Our New Homeowner data is updated weekly; names are 21 days after deed filing and marketers can opt for weekly or monthly service.

Visit the special New Homeowner section on our website for more information. You can run your own counts at DatamanLists.com, e-mail us, or call our office at (800) 771-3282 and a Dataman Group list concierge will be happy to work with you!

Mommy Greenest

2010-07-23T11:27:00.000-05:00

Does sending direct mail to green moms – mothers motivated by and committed to green issues –work? Absolutely, if it’s done right, says sustainability, gender and consumer behavior expert Andrea Learned. “Anyone who’s serving a sustainable consumer should be watching green moms” she says. “these women are very influential among their peers and their momentum is building.”

Reach them by selecting Dataman Group's GreenAware list and turn them on by using environmentally friendly papers and ink, and matching your direct mail and website messaging.

This list of Eco-Conscious households lets marketers direct their marketing strategy to reach out to people who think, act and buy green. We can overlay GreenAware onto most of our databases, including New Homeowners, Current Homeowners, Parents of New Babies and Pet Owners

Some statistics on Green Moms that you want to share with your clients:

3 in 4 Green Moms have Pets
37.4% try new products
50.7% use coupons

Green gets bigger and more important every month – marketers cannot afford to miss this boat!

Want more information about the Dataman Group GreenAware List?
Visit our website for more information about our GreenAware list; e-mail me at AskDataDale or call me at (800) 771-3282 and I'll be happy to provide you with some suggestions for your client's specific offer!

Reverse Mortgages Are Hot-Hot-Hot

2010-06-30T10:17:00.000-05:00

Upfront fees on Reverse Mortgages have fallen substantially in recent months, giving homeowners interested in a Reverse Mortgage a great opportunity.

According to the National Council on Aging, many lenders have reduced their origination fees or are willing to pay some of the mortgage-insurance premiums up front in an effort to convert prospects into sales.

This is a key time for Mortgage Companies to market their Reverse Market product.

Dataman Group’s Golden Homeowners list locates Homeowners age 62+up who own their homes outright or have a substantial amount of home equity. This list enables mortgage companies to locate the right prospects for the Reverse Mortgage products they provide in their specific market. The Dataman Group Golden Homeowner List is available for both mail and telemarketing.

Pricing on Dataman Group’s Golden Homeowner List starts at $150.00

For counts and additional information about the list, visit the Reverse Mortgage section of the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282

Increase LTC Sales with the Right List

2010-06-17T15:26:00.000-05:00

Insurance agents simply cannot wait for a prospect to call. Top agents know that they need to continuously reach out to find quality prospects.

It’s a numbers game.

The Agent’s key to success is putting together an on-going marketing program that generates consistent reliable inbound leads. And, doing it efficiently and cost-effectively.

It doesn’t have to be big. It just has to work.

The #1 prospect list for Long Term Care Insurance is Dataman Group’s Turning 50 List.

And, it’s not a big or expensive – but it works!

Smart consumers know that the cost for a Long Term Care Insurance Policy increases after age 50 and smart insurance marketers use Dataman Group’s unique Turning 50 list to reach out to these top prospects 60 days before they Turn 50, and follow up with them again 30 days later.

The truth of the matter is that every American will need some kind of long term health care plan....it's not a question of "if", it's just a question of "when". The successful insurance marketer who focuses on this core group today will earn the largest piece of the LTC policy pie.

For more information about Dataman Group’s lists for Insurance Agents, please visit the Insurance section on the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

New Homeowner List Count increases to 167,830 nationally

2010-05-21T13:04:00.000-05:00

Businesses who market to New Homeowners are starting to see increased numbers on their Dataman New Homeowner List.

The New Homeowner List count for May, 2010 increased to 167,830, up from 145,318 New Home owners in April, 2010. The New Home owner list count for March was 123,548; the New Homeowner count for February was 113,263.

Furniture stores, insurance agents, home improvement companies, physicians, churches and retail stores are all successful users of New Homeowner information.

Dataman Group has been providing New Homeowner Lists since 1980 and is proud to provide the most timely and accurate list available on a national level. Visit the New Homeowner List section of our website for more information about this unique and responsive group.

For counts in specific markets, you can run them on-line at DatamanLists.com; e-mail us or call our office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with one of our experienced List Concierges.

Insurance Agents Increase their Sales with Dataman Group’s Turning 65 List

2010-04-29T13:06:00.000-05:00

Dataman Group’s Turning 65 List lets insurance agents contact individuals who will be Turning 65.

Smart insurance agents market to the Turning 65-ers two months before their birth month, promoting Medicare supplements and other insurance opportunities.

Insurance agents can order the list by zip-code and by month of birth. The list is sequenced in month order, so agents can reach the right prospects at the right time!

Telephone numbers are also available for a percentage of the file.

List costs start at $150.00 for this high-response, targeted list.

For further information, visit the Turning 65 page of Dataman Group website at or call (800) 771-3282 and Ask Datadale.

Dataman Group’s New List - Female Decision Makers

2010-03-15T16:10:00.000-05:00

Dataman Group’s new list of Female Decision Makers let’s marketers reach women with buying power at their home address.

According to Boston Consulting Group, women represent “the biggest emerging market that we’ll see if our lifetime” with a net worth of $5 trillion.

Additional selects on this list include age, estimated household income, current home value, presence of children (or not) and can be overlaid with Smart Targets Plus prospensities or Behavior Bank response data.

Usage: retail & catalog, charities, athletic clubs, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, restaurant, home improvements, health care.

For more information about the options this file offers, visit the Dataman Group website,e-mail us or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

X-Date Plus List for Insurance Agents

2010-02-23T14:52:00.000-05:00

Dataman Group’s new X-Date Plus list lets insurance agents reach out to homeowner renewal prospects easily and cost-effectively!

This new lists provides home purchase date and purchase amount PLUS home square footage, year built as well as telephone # where available.

Agents will find our data simple to use – and they will be able to use the information provided to provide personalized Homeowner Insurance estimates. This can really streamline their marketing efforts!

For more information about Dataman Group’s new X-Date Plus List, visit the Dataman Group website or call (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

New Mortgage Holders are Great Term Insurance Prospects

2010-02-16T16:56:00.000-05:00

Many Life Insurance professionals use Dataman Group’s New Mortgage holder list to locate top-response prospects in their market area.

Why? Because mortgage life insurance can provide the security and peace of mind to a family, enabling them to pay off outstanding home mortgage loans in case the head-of-household passes away before the mortgage is paid off.

Many families choose level term life insurance to protect their mortgage, because they can purchase up to 30 years of life insurance, and the premiums and coverage stay the same each and every year of their policy. This way, a family has money to pay off the decreasing mortgage, and they may receive the difference from the coverage amount and the outstanding mortgage, and have money to live on, if a death occurs.

Insurance agents looking to reach these New Mortgage prospects can visit the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Banks, Mortgage Companies, Home Builders & Real Estate Companies Use Dataman Group’s Enhanced Renter list

2010-02-09T14:16:00.000-05:00

If you have home builder or real estate clients, remind them that they need to market to Prospective First Time Home Buyers NOW, using Dataman Group's Enhanced Renters List.

Since it typically takes 2 months for inspections and approvals, buyers need to have contracts started by the end of February to meet the April 30th Homebuyer Credit deadline.

Dataman Group's Enhanced Renters List allows you to select Renters by location, ME Score, age, income, dwelling type, & marital status.

A note about the ME Score.
Using the Median Equivalency Score separates the Dataman Group Enhanced Renter List from all the other renter lists in the marketplace. We use Experian's Credit information on a zip+4 level to predict the likely consumer credit activity in a neighborhood, enabling us to target the best rental neighborhoods for a particular offer.

The Dataman Group Enhanced Renter List has pulled well for home builders and Real Estate companies, generating sales contracts for them and re-orders for us! Customer feedback has indicated that overlaying ME Scores of 640-840 have yielded a better caliber of responder for Real Estate offers.

For more information about the Dataman Group Enhanced Renter List, visit the Dataman Group website; e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Marketing Life Insurance Offers

2010-02-03T15:18:00.000-05:00

In 2009, searches containing the term 'life insurance' grew 15 percent from the previous year to reach 16.6 million searches. During the same time period, consumers requested 2 million online quotes for life insurance.

Consumers are more comfortable than ever before utilizing the Internet to research life insurance policies for themselves or family members and Insurance companies need to have a strong on-line presence.

An analysis of the top insurance sites visited following searches including the term "life insurance" revealed that MetLife.com was the most frequented insurance site visited as a result of the search, with 5.8 percent of total search clicks (paid and organic) landing on MetLife.com. NewYorkLife.com was the second most referred site with 2.8 percent of search clicks, followed by StateFarm.com with 2.5 percent.

While this on-line growth is very exciting, marketers need to remember that on-line search does not replace the importance of a strong direct mail presence targeting the right people for life insurance offers. And, for those Life Insurance companies or agents selling life insurance, if you’re not with MetLife, NY Life or State Farm, you need to be a lot more proactive in your marketing outreach.

Life Insurance is typically purchased at specific times in a consumer’s life.

• Birth of a New Baby
• Purchase of a Home
• Home Mortgage Refinance
• Presence of Young Children
• New Marriage
• Turning 40

And marketers can target their advertising dollars just reaching out to these top-producing market segments. Such is the beauty of Direct Marketing.

It’s a competitive world out there.

Life Insurance marketers cannot afford to just sit back and hope that an on-line searcher hits on them. They need to be proactive and continually reach out to the right prospects at the right time with the right message in a systemized way.

At Dataman Group, we can help insurance marketers pinpoint the best possible prospects in their specific market area, helping them create an on-going outreach program that brings them a continuous flow of
quality leads.

For more information, visit the Insurance section of the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with a list concierge.

Green Marketing - It Works!

2010-01-25T15:53:00.000-05:00

The Environmental Leader took a critical look at green marketing and found that marketers who have actually experimented with green messages generally found them much more effective than their typical messaging.

Some Findings:
80% expect to spend more on green marketing
4 times as many marketers said green marketing was more effective than those who said it was less effective
Smaller firms spend a higher percentage of their marketing budget on green marketing.
74.2% spent their $$ on-line; 49.8% on print; 40% on direct mail; 7% on outdoor advertising; 7% on radio and TV.
Nearly half said decision-makers hold green marketing in high regard
Marketers who track Marketing Spend and it's relations to sales believe people will Pay More for Green Products

So, how can you target Green Households?

Dataman Group's GreenAware overlay allows direct marketers to target eco-friendly households by focusing on the Behavioral Green, Think Green and Potential Green segments.

Smart marketers know that reaching out to the right households with the right offer will bring response. Americans who have a green mindset about the environment are more apt to respond to a "green campaign".

Click here for information about Dataman Group's Green Aware overlay and it's applications.

Click here to read/order the complete report on Green Marketing from the Environmental Leader

If you are actively engaged in Green Marketing, it's worth it to read both.

For more information about Dataman Group's GreenAware overlay and how you can use it to impact your client's campaigns, please e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale

Americans' net worth up for 2nd straight quarter

2010-01-19T12:47:00.001-05:00

Today’s Associated Press discussed how Americans are recovering some of their vast loss of wealth from the recession, thanks to gains in stock investments and home values. This is good news for direct mail marketers – since mailers can reach out to American’s and select households by their Net Worth range.

Net worth — the value of assets such as homes, bank accounts and investments, minus debts like mortgages and credit cards — rose 5 percent last quarter, to $53.4 trillion, the Federal Reserve said Thursday.

The Dataman Group Consumer File allows marketers to select households by their Net Worth range and direct mail marketers can select prospects by Net Worth of $250K+, $500K+, $750K+ and $1MM+.

Homeownership, age, estimated household income and presence of scrubbed telephone # can also be overlaid on the data.

For more information about Dataman Group’s Net Worth data, please visit the Dataman Group website, e-mail us or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with a List Concierge.

Dataman Group’s SOHO File Helps Marketers Reach Small Businesses

2010-01-14T09:48:00.001-05:00

Small Office & Home Businesses are great prospects.

According to the Wall Street Journal, 52% of small businesses are home-based – representing a broad swath of industries, from software developers and mail-order sales to plumbing and general contracting

Some statistics to consider:
About 6.6 million home business generate at least 50% of the owner’s HH income
Homepreneur businesses employ more than 13 MM people
35% generate more than $125K in revenue
8% generate more than $500K in revenue

Dataman Group offers marketers 3 great options to reach out to this lucrative market:
SOHOs (Small Office / Home Office)
Cottage File (Home Businesses only)
New Businesses – opening at home addresses

For more information & pricing of the Dataman Group SOHO Files, please visit the Dataman Group Website; e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with a List Concierge.

Hispanic Telemarketing Lists from Dataman Group

2010-01-06T10:38:00.001-05:00

Dataman Group’s Hispanic Telemarketing Lists help telephone marketers reach out to Hispanic households.

More than 51.2 percent of companies that market to Hispanics use telemarketing. More than 90% use non-catalog direct mail.

Multicultural marketing has become more popular in recent years as society has become more diverse. It also has become increasingly profitable, when done properly.

Communities are diverse and “one size fits all” no longer works. All marketing has moved toward greater diversity to the point of customization. And within ethnic communities, such segmentation and specialization continues.

Among Hispanics, for example, not every “Latino” speaks Spanish. Similarly, there are hundreds of stories about mistranslations and the use of the wrong dialect. The need to focus on specific ethnic communities, and subgroups within a particular ethnicity, is greater than ever

Dataman Group offers an Assimilation Index for Hispanic surname households so marketers can reach the right households, using the right language, for success.

To find out more about the Hispanic List Assimilation Index and the Telemarketing Lists for Hispanics, visit the Dataman Group website, e-mail us or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with a List Concierge.

CPAs – Time is Running Out!

2010-01-04T12:16:00.000-05:00

CPAs need to mail to 2009 New Homeowners in their area at the end-of-January to coincide with receipt of Mortgage, W-2 and 1099 statements.

New Homeowners who receive a direct mail piece from their local CPA at this time are more prone to pick up the phone and make an appointment than at any other time.

A few weeks ago, Robert Manela, a CPA in Coral Springs, called me to thank me. He told me that he still had several clients in his practice from his very first New Homeowner mailing 20 years ago. Talk about lifetime value. What a return on a $150 investment!

Every CPA needs to reach out to this group. One new client will more than make up for the investment.

Call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 or e-mail us with your zip-codes. You need to order your list in the next 3 weeks to make sure you have time to get your mailing out by Jan 31st.

36,230 New Diabetics Added to Dataman Group Diabetic Database In December

2009-12-15T16:08:00.001-05:00

Dataman Group’s Diabetic Database is the most robust in the industry, offering marketers the opportunity to reach out to Diabetics by mail or by phone.

Diabetics can be qualified by age, income and recency of response. Diabetes I + Diabetes II sufferers can be selected as well as the specific prescription medication indicated.

Our Diabetic Data is compiled from self-reported information provided by the Behavior Bank family of surveys. It is HIPPA compliant and is updated on a monthly basis. This past month, we added 36,230 individual Diabetics to the file.

Telephone #s are scrubbed 2x monthly against state, federal and DMA Do Not Call lists. SAN and sample telemarketing script are required for any list requesting scrubbed telephone #s.

For counts and additional information about Dataman Group’s Diabetic Database, please visit our website, e-mail us or call the Dataman Group office and speak with a List Concierge.

CPAs and Tax Professionals Use Dataman Group to Increase their Tax Business

2009-12-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

2009 New Homeowners are the top prospects for CPAs and Tax Preparers who want to increase their Tax Business. New Homeowners must file taxes on their new homes and need the support and expertise of a qualified tax professional.

CPAs can select their New Homeowner lists in their specific zip-codes or in a radius around their practice. A new tax client is invaluable, since the lifetime value of a new client is thousands of dollars.

Special pricing is available to CPAs and Accounting Professionals for the Dataman Group New Homeowner lists, starting at $100.

Dataman Group has been providing New Homeowner lists to CPAs and Accounting Professionals for over 25 years. CPAs and Accountants are invited to visit the Dataman Group website and download a free White Paper on Marketing for Accountants, e-mail or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 for counts and additional information.

Millions in US Drink Dirty Water - NY Times Article

2009-12-10T10:38:00.002-05:00

There is tremendous concern about the quality of water we drink and provide to our families. The NY Times Report shows that millions of people are drinking dirty water.

This is a prime time for Water Dealers to market and let Home owners in their areas know that Home Water Filtration Units are important for their family's health & well-being. New Homeowners, Parents with New Babies and Home owners with Children are prime markets.

At Dataman Group, we provide the mail & phone lists that help Water Quality Dealers locate new prospects in their territory and offer a free White Paper for Water Quality Dealers on Marketing Tips for 4th Quarter 2009.

There is a dedicated section on the Dataman Group website specifically for the Water Treatment Industry and Water Quality Dealers are invited to visit the website, e-mail us or call our office at (800)771-3282 for additional information.

Cash Flow Note Brokers Use Dataman Group’s Private Note Holders List

2009-12-08T13:44:00.000-05:00

Private Note Holders are great prospects, especially during Holiday. Cash Flow specialists who use Dataman Group’s Private Party Lenders and Seller Carry Back list
produce great response from individuals who are looking to sell their notes.

Dataman Group’s Note Holder Lead Lists are available for direct mail and telemarketing and can be ordered in specific markets by note amount and seasoning. Cash Flow Note Brokers just starting out can order as few as 500 Note Holders to start their Cash Flow businesses.

For counts and pricing, Note Brokers can e-mail the Private Note List experts at Dataman Group, visit the Dataman Group website or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282.

Parents of New Babies are Top Life Insurance Prospects

2009-12-06T15:44:00.001-05:00

“The first thing any parent needs to do is to buy life insurance. PERIOD. There’s no question that kids are expensive; diapers, clothing, cribs, formula…the list goes on. For many people, budgets are tight and nobody wants another expense. But the most important thing you can do is protect your family”
Ryan Leib, The Investment Guy

Ryan is 100% right – New Parents must buy Life Insurance and the Dataman Group New Parents list is the best source for prospects.

New Parent lists can be qualified by homeownership and income. Scrubbed telephone #s are available for a percentage of the list. A brand new Dataman New Parents list is published each month with the most recent additions to the file and Insurance agents can subscribe to Dataman Group’s monthly hotline service for as little as $50.00 per month.

It’s the single best source for new prospects in the Life Insurance industry!

For counts and pricing for the Dataman Group New Parents list, e-mail us, visit the Dataman Group website or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and speak with a ist Concierge.

Non-Profits – Direct Mail vs. E-mail

2009-11-18T10:42:00.001-05:00

I get lots of questions from non-profits, wanting to know about the viability of direct mail in today’s e-marketing environment. I pulled this from todays’ NY Times section on Fund Raising.

Question:
I am interested to know whether new nonprofits are still using direct mail or if they have moved completely to e-mail and other online ways of raising money. Obviously, the return on investments from e-mail and online is much higher, and, as a new nonprofit, gathering addresses is a time-consuming activity. Any information you have on whether new nonprofits continue to gather names and addresses for direct mail or are bypassing that for e-mail addresses would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your time and knowledge.
Andy
Answer:
Thank you for an excellent question. Most new nonprofits do not have the financial wherewithal to use direct mail, which is expensive, and thus rely on e-mail and other technology-based means of communication.

As most of us know, however, big, established charities continue to use direct mail because it still raises more money than online tools. Although fund-raisers and technology experts once predicted that social media would be the death of direct mail, they now say that having the right mix of direct mail, e-mail and social media is more important.
Stephanie Strom
11/12 Journal on Philanthropy

At Dataman Group, we provide non-profits all over the US with high quality direct mail & telemarketing lists to help them increase their donor base.

For additional information about the lists that Dataman Group provides, please visit the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call our office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Dataman Group New Business Service Running on Monday

2009-11-05T11:37:00.003-05:00

New Businesses need many products and services when they open their doors and Dataman Group’s New Business List puts marketers in touch with this high response
market segment.

220,000 new businesses open their doors each month and the Dataman Group New Business Service allows marketers to reach out the New Businesses in their specific territory by zip code, county, or radius.

This list is compiled from Occupational Licenses and DBAs filed at the County Courthouse. Advertisers can select all New Businesses or only those new businesses operating out of commercial locations. Contact names and telephone #s are provided where they are available.

Pricing starts at $60 per month. The next service will run on Monday, November 9.

Marketers who would like to test the New Business Service can order a one-time $75 test of 300 records in their area. Orders must be placed by 6pm on November 9th.

Dataman Group' New Business List, visit the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Dataman Group's Female Decision Maker List

2009-11-02T11:58:00.001-05:00

Dataman Group’s new list of Female Decision Makers let’s marketers reach women with buying power at their home address.

According to Boston Consulting Group, women represent “the biggest emerging market that we’ll see if our lifetime” with a net worth of $5 trillion.

Additional selects on this list include age, estimated household income, current home value, presence of children (or not) and can be overlaid with Smart Targets Plus prospensities or Behavior Bank response data.

Usage: retail & catalog, charities, athletic clubs, plastic surgery, cosmetic dentistry, restaurant, home improvements, health care.

For more information about the options this file offers, visit the Dataman Group website, e-mail us or call the Dataman Group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Solar Companies Use Dataman Group's Homeowner Lists

2009-10-22T07:07:00.004-05:00

Solar Installation companies across the country are working with Dataman Group to locate the right Homeowners for Solar System installation, selecting Eco-Conscious Homeowners from Dataman's Green Aware database.

Homeowners are finding that the cost of electricty contnues to increase and many cities across the US are offering Solar rebate programs to help homeowners afford solar systems.

Savvy Solar Systems companies in those areas know that this is the time to reach out and market heavily to those Homeowners who are conscious about their environment.

"What's good about solar as an investment is that as the energy market worsens and energy becomes more expensive, your investment pays off better," said Roger Jennings, Texas Solar Power. "A 4 kilowatt system, essentially. That's going to produce about $50 in electricity -- somewhere around $500 to $600 worth of electricity at today's prices," said Jennings.

The City of Austin is working on a program that will front the cost of Solar for Homeowners, so there is no outlay at all.

"The basic structure is this -- the government or the city would loan you money for a solar system or major energy efficiency repairs. Then you would repay that loan in increments in property taxes," said Karl Rabago, vice president of Austin Energy.

Solar Energy companies looking to increase their market share and locate new prospects for their services can visit the Green Aware section of the Dataman Group website, e-mail us, or call the Dataman group office at (800) 771-3282 and Ask DataDale.

Dataman Group's Newest Data Dog - Kaycee Filhaber

2009-10-07T11:42:00.003-05:00

Kaycee Filhaber is a 12 week bundle of energy. She romps through the Dataman Group offices eagerly following her big brother Kobe as he shows her the do's and dont's of office protocol.

Kaycee has learned to recognize the distinctive sound of the UPS truck and waits patiently at the door for daily shipments. She enjoys helping empty the trash and walking to the mailbox to help get the mail.

Lunchtime is also a big part of her day.

Kaycee is making great strides in her rigorous training program and we are hopeful that she will be as successful in her canine duties as the many data-dogs who have graced our office.

When you call our offices and hear happy squealing in the background, you’ll know that Kaycee is busy at work!

And remember - if you are looking for a list of Dog Owners, we have the right list for your needs. There are many options, including type of dog food, home ownership, presence of children in the household.

Call our office at (800) 771-3282 and ask for Kaycee and she'll be happy to help you.
Visit Kaycee's webpage for more photos of Kayee hard at work.