A lot of people rent or purchase a business mailing list and then find themselves not knowing what to do with it. Unfortunately, mailing lists are only current for a short period of time. That means that if you don’t use it when you buy or rent it, you’ve basically wasted your money. Luckily, the following three tips should help you get the most out of your list.
1 – Make Sure it Is Current
When you buy or rent a mailing list, the first thing you need to do is check it was update no more than 30 days ago. It should also be cross referenced with the NCOA (National Change of Address database). Make sure you use your list before the 30 day time period since the last check has passed. This is why you should already have your mailing ready to go before you buy or rent your list. If you intend to send paper copies of your mailings, consider asking the provider to also print the mailing labels for you.
2 – Use Suppression
When you find business mailing lists online, try to look for a provider that allows you to suppress some of the names on there. The names you should suppress are the ones you already have yourself. That way, you can make sure that you only send your mailing out to new people. You may be worried about handing over your personal mailing list to a company that sells these lists, but you should be fine if you have chosen a company that is properly registered with the Better Business Bureau.
3 – Choose Your Particular Demographics
Business mailing lists tend to be very expensive. So much so, in fact, that many smaller businesses feel they cannot sign up to one. However, you can narrow the list down significantly, including a number of important filters that may render the list shorter, but that will also make sure that the list is actually more relevant to your particular audience. The shorter the list, the more affordable it is as well. Naturally, you will not get to see the names and address details of people who do not meet your various filters.
It is absolutely vital that you use your mailing list the minute you get your hands on it. Too many people rent a mailing list and then leave it for a few weeks while they do other things. This really means that they have totally wasted their money, as the list will no longer be accurate or up to date. In fact, people will find that a number of their mailing emails will be returned or that paper copies of their mailings will end up in the bin. Make sure you find a broker that is able to really help you create a list that is beneficial to you, and then use it immediately. A lot of information exists on how best to use mailing lists, and you should look that up for your own advantage.
