FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
Our mission is to provide our customers with an easy to use, high quality product with the highest level of customer service possible. If your question is not answered here, please contact us or call 1-888-8.use.bbt (888-887-3228)
About BBT4Salons Campaigns
What makes BBTCards different from any other postcards?
I've sent postcards in the past with little response. What makes BBTCards different?
I've participated in cellophane-packaged card offers and newspaper circulars before with poor results. How is this different?
Why do you recommend sending 6 to 12 smaller mailings instead of one big mailing of, say 5,000 cards?
Why send six cards?
How frequently is each card in the series mailed?
What do you mean by "designed and written to target a specific audience?"
Why do all cards in a series have a similar look?
When do my prospects receive their first BBTCard?
What do the BBTCards look like?
How do I know the finished product will be high quality?
Can I get a custom campaign just for my business?
How soon will I see results?
Offers and Coupons
Why do I need an offer on my cards?
Which offer should I start out with?
Is it possible to make too good of an offer?
Can I use a different offer on each card in my series?
Should my offer have an expiration date?
Should we accept expired coupons/offer?
Lists and Mailings
Can I use my own mailing list?
How do I get a mailing list from you?
If I upload my own list, what format do I have to use?
Are my personal lists safe on your website?
Can I mail just one time?
How do I choose who gets my cards?
Why should I target my mailing to specific customers?
How many people should I be mailing to?
I'd like to mail a card for a special event. Can BBT4Salons help me with that?
Pricing, Fees and Payments
How much is your service?
Do I pay for the printing and mailing of the complete series up front?
Can I use manufacturers Co-op dollars to help pay for a campaign?
What is a license fee?
What are your setup fees and other charges?
Is my information secure (such as credit card, contact names, etc…)?
What are my payment options?
Personalizing, Proofing and Ordering
What format do I need for uploading logos?
What if I don't have a logo?
How do I proof my job so I know it's exactly what I want?
What about reorders?
What happens to my old jobs and lists?
Can I FAX, e-mail or call you with my campaign requirements?
About BBT4Salons Campaigns
What makes BBTCards different from any other postcards? Return To Top of List - First, rather than
entrusting your marketing to one card alone, BBT4Salons mails a series
of cards over a period of six months or more, so you have multiple
opportunities to reach the right people.
- Second, each card in
the series has a similar, but different, look so customers begin to
recognize your advertising and associate it with your business.
- Third, every card is
written and designed by highly experienced professional copywriters and
designers who have spent years helping businesses like yours be
successful.
- Fourth, each card is
created to visually and verbally appeal to the type of customers you
want to bring into your business. It all adds up to the best advertising
opportunity for you.
- Fifth, each card is targeted to reach the type of customers you hope to attract. There's no waste going after people who will never be customers.
I've sent postcards in the past with little response. What makes BBTCards different? Return To Top of List
Rather than just spraying the neighborhood with postcards, BBTCards are highly targeted to reach the exact people you want to bring in as customers. This coupled with the fact that you are mailing a series over six months will make your BBT4Salons marketing successful.
I've participated in cellophane-packaged card offers and newspaper circulars before with poor results. How is this different? Return To Top of List
When your offer is in a stack of offers or printed side-by-side with them in a newspaper circular, you are competing for attention. When you mail a series of BBT4Cards, you compete with no one and you have the added advantage of getting your offer in your prospects' hands multiple times, so you have multiple opportunities to get a response.
Why do you recommend sending 6 to 12 smaller mailings instead of one big mailing of, say 5,000 cards? Return To Top of List
There is magic in repetition. When you mail 5,000 all at once, you hit 5,000 customers who may or may not be ready to use your service, who may or may not have any familiarity with your business and who may or may not like your offer. With BBTCards you hit the same prospective customers multiple times, overcoming resistance, extending different offers and bettering your chances of getting a response.
Why send six cards? Return To Top of List
Experience shows that it takes up to 5 contacts with a prospective customer to make your message stick. Also, a customer may not need your services right away. By sending multiple cards over a six-month period, chances are you'll get an offer in their hands at the right time. For this reason, each BBT4Salons campaign consists of at least six postcards. The regular tap on the shoulder will remind your prospects that your business is worth checking out.
How frequently is each card in the series mailed? Return To Top of List
Research has shown that it takes multiple contacts to make a lasting impression with customers and get them to give your business a try. For this reason, BBT4Salons mails a card every four weeks. To make an even stronger impression on prospective customers, you can sign up for multiple series. Statistics show that response increases with consistent mailing.
What do you mean by "designed and written to target a specific audience?" Return To Top of List
What appeals to an 18 year old isn't the same thing that attracts a 35 year old. That's true of design, photographs and copy. The writers and designers with BBT4Salons have decades of experience targeting their copy and art to specific audiences. They know what to say to an 18 year old to get them to respond and what to say and show to their mothers to elicit a response. Experience is a key part of the BBT4Salons difference.
Why do all cards in a series have a similar look? Return To Top of List
Although each BBTCard is unique, all cards in a series have a similar design in order to build customer recognition of your messaging. That's part of the power of the series of six or more cards.
When do my prospects receive their first BBTCard? Return To Top of List
The first full-color cards are mailed within 72 hours of your online order. Think of it: the people you most want to attract to your business will have a card not only highlighting your business in a professional way, but also extending an irresistible offer that will make them want to book an appointment.
What do the BBTCards look like? Return To Top of List
Each BBTCard is 5½" x 8 ½" full color (front and back) and gloss coated, which keeps the card looking great as it travels through the mail. From the photography to the compelling copy and designs to the high-quality printing and card stock, your BBTCard campaign projects a strong, positive image of your business that will encourage prospects to buy from you.
How do I know the finished product will be high quality? Return To Top of List
We utilize state of the art digital printers. All of our finished products are printed at 1200 dpi and UV coated with a glossy finish. This coating provides for extra durability during mailing process and brightens ink colors so that a high quality product arrives at your customers’ mailbox. In addition, when possible, all barcoding is done as part of the printing process so that additional labels or bar codes do not have to be added by the U.S. Post Office. There is no additional charge for bar coding or coating.
Can I get a custom campaign just for my business? Return To Top of List
Yes. If you are looking for a beautifully printed, full-color postcard series designed specifically to reflect the personality and look of your business, BBT4Salons is the place to have it developed. The same marketing experts who devised the campaigns offered here will also create a campaign just for you. Please call 1-888-8USE-BBT for details or click the Contact Us link.
How soon will I see results? Return To Top of List
You should see some results within the first few weeks. However, with the arrival of each card your response will grow. By the end of your campaign, you will be convinced that the BBT4Salons approach to building business works and you'll want to keep the stream of business flowing by sending out a new series of cards. The cards are a great way to assure yourself a steady stream of ongoing business.
Offers and Coupons
Why do I need an offer on my cards? Return To Top of List
Years of direct marketing testing and research have shown that in order for a mailing to get customers' attention and drive in business, it absolutely must feature an offer. By providing you with a wide variety of proven offer choices, BBT4Salons makes it extremely easy for you to select an offer that's appropriate for your business and known to work.
Which offer should I start out with? Return To Top of List
You want to make the best offer you can afford to make, one that will grab the attention of prospective customers and get them to act. BBT4Salons presents a wide variety of proven offers for you to choose from on our drop down menu.
Is it possible to make too good of an offer? Return To Top of List
Actually it is possible to make an offer that's too attractive. While you want your offer to be good enough to catch your audience's attention and spur them to action, you also want an offer that is believable and that doesn't undercut the value of your services. For example, if you are a stylist and your typical cut and style costs $50 and you offer it for $5, your prospective customers will consider your services to be worth less than they really are. Instead consider offering a percentage off or even $10-$15 off.
Can I use a different offer on each card in my series? Return To Top of List
Yes, in fact we recommend it. By putting different offers in front of your prospects, you can see which one works best. If one brings in way more business than the others, you can make it your ongoing offer on future mailings.
Should my offer have an expiration date? Return To Top of List
Yes, every offer should have an expiration date to encourage the prospective customer to take action right away. Without an expiration date, it is too easy to file the card away in a desk or put it up on the refrigerator and forget about it.
Should we accept expired coupons/offer? Return To Top of List
Yes, the reason for making an offer in the first place is simply to bring in business. If the customer comes in with an expired offer, you've still accomplished your goal. Plus, even more important, you've generated a lot of goodwill by graciously accepting the offer. You've likely won a customer for life!
Lists and Mailings
Can I use my own mailing list? Return To Top of List
Yes, you can easily upload your own mailing list using our simple process. Just follow the Create a Campaign steps and we walk you through to success. Additionally, we encourage you to combine your list with ours, using our easy list selection tool. Our lists are available free of charge and are highly targeted to reach customers you specify through your demographic choices.
How do I get a mailing list from you? Return To Top of List
Our FREE list service is easy to use. Your first step is to choose the type of list you want - carrier route residential or consumer demographic. Your next step is to enter the search criteria for the list type you have chosen. You will instantly receive the record count for your search criteria to be certain the list size is right for your project and budget.
If I upload my own list, what format do I have to use? Return To Top of List
We accept lists in any comma separated or comma delimited format. The most common example of this is Microsoft Excel. When a list is uploaded, you can map the fields of that list to be certain they match up with our program just the way you want. This format can then be saved for any future uploads so that the formatting has to only be done once. If your format changes for another list, you can add a new one if you like.
Are my personal lists safe on your website? Return To Top of List
Your list information is totally secure on our website. We never make your information available to anyone not authorized by you. You can also delete your personal lists from our server when your job is complete. For additional information, please access a copy of our Privacy Policy by clicking here.
Can I mail just one time? Return To Top of List
The proven principles of direct mail indicate that it takes multiple contacts with a prospective customer before your message sticks and they make using your business part of their routine. For this reason, each BBT4Salons campaign consists of at least six BBTCards mailed out every 30 days. The regular tap on the shoulder will remind your prospects that your business is worth checking out. Plus, six cards give you six opportunities to try out different offers. If one offer doesn't appeal, perhaps the second or third will be the irresistible offer that brings them in the door. Many clients choose to have the six card campaign repeat to give them a complete year of marketing, saving them time, money and providing a more consistent flow of business, as opposed to the hills and valleys most experience.
How do I choose who gets my cards? Return To Top of List
Our state of the art selector tool helps you choose the people you will mail based on where they live (geographic area), age, gender and other characteristics that may be important to you such as income or ethnicity. The system makes it easy to select the kind of people you want to reach so every card lands in the hands of a viable prospect.
Why should I target my mailing to specific customers? Return To Top of List
You know what kind of people are your best customers now. By thinking about their characteristics - age, gender, ethnicity, income, etc. - and sending your cards to people who are similar to them, you have the best chance of building your clientele. The truth is some people will never be your clients, and there is no point in wasting your advertising dollars on them. However, there are people who are very likely to buy from you and these are the people you want to mail your BBTCards to. We give you the tools to select these people.
How many people should I be mailing to? Return To Top of List
BBT4Salons has no minimum order requirements, so you may mail to as many - or as few - households as you wish. However, because of the huge postal discounts you receive for mailing quantities of at least 200 cards (23¢ vs. 39¢ per card), we encourage you to try to make 200 your minimum order. It also stands to reason that the more cards you send out, the greater your response.
I'd like to mail a card for a special event. Can BBT4Salons help me with that? Return To Top of List
Yes. BBT4Salons offers several cards targeting special sales and events such as grand openings, relocations and wedding season and other events. Simply select the specific mail drop time on a-la-carte cards to order these mailings.
Pricing, Fees and Payments
How much is your service? Return To Top of List
Please visit our pricing page at http://www.bbt4salons.com/new_pricing.asp
Do I pay for the printing and mailing of the complete series up front? Return To Top of List
No - you pay only when the cards are mailed each month. We realize as a small businessperson, your budget may be stretched. For this reason, your credit card is never charged more than 5 days prior to any mailing.
Can I use manufacturers Co-op dollars to help pay for a campaign? Return To Top of List
Perhaps. Please check with the manufacturer to determine their policy on using co-op dollars for a campaign like BBT4Salons. Manufacturers may request you include their logo on the mailing, which you can do and we can assist with. In fact, manufacturers may be more excited about you using co-op dollars with a program such a BBT4Salons which can help promote your business, their products and track results.
What is a license fee? Return To Top of List
All content on BBTCards are protected by copyright laws. The license fee gives you permission to use our professionally designed cards on a per usage basis.
What are your setup fees and other charges? Return To Top of List
We have no hidden fees. There are no setup fees, no enrollment fees and no addressing charges.
Is my information secure (such as credit card, contact names, etc.)? Return To Top of List
Yes, all credit card information is secure, as well as personal contact information and lists. Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
Personalizing, Proofing and Ordering
What format do I need for uploading logos? Return To Top of List
We prefer to receive images in .jpg format. Our system will automatically size your image to maintain the proportional integrity as it is inserted into your BBTCard.
What if I don't have a logo? Return To Top of List
No problem! You have two choices: You can use our Font Styler that's built into our ordering system to create an eye-catching rendition of your salon name. It's easy, just type in your information and let the styler do the rest. Or, if you prefer to use no logo, that's fine too. The choice is entirely yours.
How do I proof my job so I know it's exactly what I want? Return To Top of List
Before you can checkout and order your job, an online proof has to be approved by you. The proof is created in a PDF format and is available immediately. If the proof is not exactly what you want, you can go back and edit your work before the job is ordered. It does not help our customers or us if a job does not go out exactly as our customers expect.
What are my payment options? Return To Top of List
We accept credit cards from VISA, Mastercard and American Express.
What about reorders? Return To Top of List
As easy as it is to order the first time, repeat orders are even easier. It takes 5 minutes or less to launch a series once you've gone through the simple process the first time.
What happens to my old jobs and lists? Return To Top of List
Your old jobs and lists stay in our system for future editing and use by you and only you. This can be valuable and save a lot of time. For example, if you want to re-run a campaign with a different list or offer, access your previous job, make a few quick changes, and send it out in a matter of minutes. There is no need to create a totally new job from scratch.
Can I FAX, e-mail or call you with my campaign requirements? Return To Top of List
Yes. We will gladly accept your FAX, e-mail or phone call to assist you. You may FAX in your order using our easy order form, found here: http://www.bbt4salons.com/orderform.pdf. We have tried to make our program as customer friendly and easy to use as possible to allow you to order when it is convenient for you, day or night.
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