Cold calling is a sales strategy where a sales representative reaches out to potential customers who have not previously expressed interest in the product or service being sold. This method includes making unsolicited calls or visits to potential customers.
Cold canvassing is the process of contacting potential buyers in a specific area to solicit sales of one's products.
Direct marketing involves selling products or services via promotions delivered individually to prospective customers, enabling measurable responses through various promotion media.
The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is an association of direct marketing organizations and their suppliers aimed at promoting the industry's reputation through self-regulation and providing members with educational tools and a forum for idea exchange.
Drop-Shipping is an e-commerce model where retailers sell products without storing them in their own inventory. Instead, customer orders are fulfilled directly by the supplier who ships the products directly to the end customer.
A flat rate, also known as a fixed rate, is a price that remains constant irrespective of the quantity purchased or other considerations. It is commonly used in various fields including advertising and direct marketing.
A former buyer is a customer who has not made any additional purchases within a specified period of time, typically a year. Former buyers are generally better prospects for additional sales than non-buyers because they have shown a willingness and ability to buy.
Fulfillment encompasses the processes necessary to receive, service, and track orders sold via direct marketing. It includes various systems tailored to specific product types and services, such as subscriptions, book club memberships, continuities, catalog merchandise, and fund raising efforts.
House-to-House Sampling is a marketing strategy involving the direct distribution of product samples to individual homes to encourage trial and eventual purchase, often aiming to stimulate word-of-mouth promotional effects.
A compilation of possible customers prepared as a list for use in direct-mail solicitation.
An order form is a document used to request merchandise from a wholesaler, manufacturer, or direct-mail retailer. It captures all necessary information for a seamless transaction.
A Package Code is an identification code used by direct marketers to track and compare the effectiveness of different mailing packages, particularly when testing new promotional packages against control packages.
Privacy laws refer to the regulations enacted to protect the personal information and privacy of individuals. In the United States, these laws have been introduced following the recommendations of the Privacy Protection Study Commission established by the Privacy Act of 1974.
A channel of sale that generated an order or customer. Source evaluation is an essential part of direct marketing that enables marketers to concentrate their promotion expenditures on the best sources.
Telemarketing refers to the use of the telephone as an interactive medium for promotional purposes. It encompasses both outbound calls, where the telemarketer initiates contact with potential customers, and inbound calls, where customers call to place orders, inquire about products or services, or voice complaints. Telemarketing is also known as teleselling and serves as a response vehicle to support print, broadcast, catalog, and direct-mail promotions.
