Collecting Web Site Visitors’ Info (Mailing Address, ect.)

wildcard

Maybe I’m wrong, and if I am I hope someone will guide me in the right direction.

I thought I read a thread here the other day about methods of collecting information from web site visitors such as their name, e-mail and mailing address. And also letting the visitor know that their request would be sent via first class mail, fedex, etc.

Seems like today that so many sites attempt to collect names and email address in return for free reports or free access to “little-known” information through pages like squeeze pages.

I’m curious to know if there are any suggestions or any examples that others may be willing to share here on methods of not only collecting the names and e-mail addresses of visitors, but also their mailing address.

Examples that I can think of would be:

Perry Marshall’s Guerilla Marketing CD request page,
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From one of JP’s threads, "Let me send you a FREE copy of my xyz
CD... no obligations, no risks, nothing to buy. Just enter your Name,
Mailing Address, etc. and I'll rush it right out to you."

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“To receive this report via first class mail, simply fill in the blanks
below:”

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“There are two ways you can receive this report: Through e-mail by
simply entering your name and e-mail address below, or by first class
mail. If you decide you want to receive it by mail, you’ll also receive
xyz as an added bonus.” (Either way, have the e-mail address a
required field just in case they do choose the mail option that you could
also send them relevant info or updates by email as well.)

E-mail is great, but there are challenges with filters, overuse, etc. I could see where collecting the mailing address and delivering tangible information to a visitor could out-pull any offer received by e-mail.

Any ideas?

Ricky Breslin · 08:38 PM

You can never go wrong with grabbing their snail mail address.

But I would only promise to send a free CD, etc in exchange for their snail mail only if you had a proven system for converting a certain percentage to a high ticket, high margin product that you know converts.

Most people that do this know their numbers better than their own wives! The know if they get 1,000 snail mail address, send the free CD, that 99% of the time they will see a 7% response for we'll say a $149.95 product.

So, they know that their CD will cost .59 to duplicate, they'll need .39 for a stamp, .04 for an envelope, and .05 for a one page letter to go with the CD. So for the 1,000 people they've just spent $1,060 to get their lead generation product out and they know from past results that they will convert 7% grossing them $10,496.50, and netting them $9,436.50 minus product creation and your personal time spent putting everything together.

Now, once you get these numbers and it's a proven "system", you'll of course be testing different price points, offers, etc.

This type of lead generations works with seminars, info products, anything you can think of really.

It's just one way of doing things. There are people that ONLY market this way and get VERY rich.

If I were you I would test it. Create a product, set up a website, get their snail mail address via Aweber, and manually take the form down once you hit 1,000 optins and try it. It's not expensive and you'll learn a lot.

Also, in the beginning I said don't do this if you didn't have a PROVEN system. The truth is, if you're just starting out, you won't have a system. A lot of it is just having the balls to do it and taking a risk.

Just get out there and try it. After you actually take action, which 98% of people will never do, you can start perfecting your system based on your initial test results.

wildcard

Thanks Ricky for such a well written response.

That's exactly the response I was looking for and have those same thoughts about obtaining someone's snail mail address along with their email address. And just as you say having a system in place and testing are key.

Maybe some others that are on this board would share their experiences when it comes to capturing snail mail addresses via web sites.

John Manley

I have some growing experience in this and just wanted to add some comments that may be helpful--particularly if you don't have a lot of capital to invest, or are not sure of the quality of your list, conversion pieces, etc.

* Either charge a small fee for the lead generation item (e.g., I'll send it to you free, you just pay the postage... or only $5, a 75% discount). State the real value, offer the OTO discount.

* Or only send to people who buy other products from you.

The reason for the two above is that way you are building a higher quality list of people who have shown they know how to use their credit card. Thus, your ROI will be higher. Or if you don't net anything, then at least your loss won't be significant.

It's just safer testing ground. If the ROI is good, than you can expand your list in too less responsive lead, freebie-seeking prospects.

The other is...

* Use a fulfillment company to send the free CD or report. Preferably one that can take the order right from the order form, and handle all the money for you. It needs to be hands free. Either that, or have staff doing it. If you use the small fee offer, than this will pay for itself.

I've done the packaging, stamping, mailing, sticking CD labels to discs, before. Nightmare. Unbelievably time-consuming. Not good for thinking/writing people like us.

May cause stroke or brain damage.

John