Text Box: Page # Text Box: Volume 14 Issue 1

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Your workplace can go head to head with others to see who can walk, bike, carpool, telecommute or take the bus the most. There are five award categories (micro, small, medium, large and major, based on the number of employees).  Win prizes and recognition too.  The five winning employers will be recognized at an awards ceremony on May 31st at the Burlington Boathouse by Mayor Kiss of Burlington.

Sign up at www.waytogovt.org or call 802-660-4071 x 14. 

Text Box: Notice of the Annual Meeting of the Burlington Business Association, Inc. BBA’s Annual Dinner on April 19, 2007, is also the Annual Meeting of the Membership of the Association. The official meeting portion of the evening will take place between 7 PM and 7:45 PM. Current Board Chair Tim Halvorson will pass the gavel to Vice Chair Andréa Sisino who will serve as Board Chair beginning May 1, 2007. Retiring directors Lesli Blount and Rick Norcross will be recognized for their dedicated service to BBA, and three new directors will be introduced: Dan Latcheran, Bob McKearin and Chris Reck. Their terms on the Board will begin on May 1, 2007.

Quick Facts About

Catamount Health

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has insurance from another source.  This proposal is stalled in the Vermont House of Representatives.. Controversy has arisen over a separate proposal to also exempt all long-term part-time employees with coverage elsewhere. It’s not clear that this will be resolved by the April 1 start up. Thus, employers should act as though seasonal/part-time will be included in the assessment.

Links: The VT Department of Labor has FAQs, worksheets, factsheets and other help for employers at www.labor.vermont.gov/Default.aspx?tabid=1164

Employer-focused reports and fact sheets about the Catamount Health Plan, the Medicaid Cost Shift and health care reform in general are posted and regularly updated at www.vtreform.com , sponsored by Business Resource Services, Inc.

By Tom Brassard, Paw Print & Mail

 

As business owners and managers, most of us have tried our hands at direct mail marketing at one time or another. Done well – and for some products or services just done at all – dollar for dollar direct mail is still one of the most effective means of promoting your business or organization, and your products and services. Done poorly, you’ll likely be disappointed with the return on your investment.

Based on our years of experience providing direct mail marketing services to businesses, here are some basics we’ve learned:

1. To be effective, direct mail must be used repeatedly. Mailing regularly (monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly) creates a Top of Mind awareness whereby your customers and prospects think of you first when a need arises.

2. Have a strategy for your list. The most important determinant of response rate is the mail list. Compose a mail list of your top customers along with selected prospects developed from a profile of your top customers. If your top customers buy from you, so will prospects that fit the profile.

3. Don’t expect a single mailing to produce spectacular results. Studies show that it takes 6-9 hits before a recipient even notices you! If your budget allows you to mail 5000 pieces, it is better to mail three times to a list of 1600 rather than one time to a list of 5000.

 

And now you can add “Personalization”… it’s like putting

your direct mail marketing on steroids! While direct mail marketing can be very effective, nothing beats one-on-one contact. However it’s not always realistic to physically get in front of all your customers and prospects. By combining the relative ease and mass approach of direct mail with the personal touch of greeting each recipient by name, you can elevate the effectiveness of your effort dramatically.

Why? Because you are speaking to each recipient individually and any relationship is strengthened when we greet someone by name. Whether mailing a letter, postcard, or a self-mailer, you can merge personalized data (name, business name, products, etc) into the copy of your mail piece to communicate with your customers, prospects or constituents on a more personal level. Combine an appealing design with some clever copywriting and your direct mail will stand out from the rest and deliver response rates significantly higher than a conventional mail piece.

AND to really supercharge your direct mail, add a Personal URL or PURL to a mail piece. This will add a whole new element of personalization by transporting the recipient back to your website where new information can be gathered and/or conveyed. This opens up endless sales and marketing opportunities!

To find out more about innovative marketing tools and how they might benefit your business or organization, contact Tom Brassard at Paw Print & Mail, 865-2872 or email at tbrassard@paw-prints.com.

Direct mail marketing “On Steroids”!

Way to Go! Challenge

Congratulations

to KeyBank

 

The Vermont District has been named the 2006 District of the Year among KeyBank N.A.’s 23 districts nationwide. The award recognizes the highest ranking district based on overall financial performance, service to clients and commitment to community.