February 25, 2014

Traditional Methods Of Direct Marketing

1. In-home Retailing

This is the oldest form of direct marketing in which the salesperson visits the customer's residence or office with products or catalogs, takes order for the product, and finally delivers it immediately or on the next day. This form of marketing, also known as door-to-door selling or face-to-face selling is still popular.

2. Mail-order Marketing

Mail-order marketing involves sending promotion materials such as letters, advertisements, and folders to prospects, the interested customer orders the product by the mail, and finally receives the ordered product by mail or courier. Mail-order business is still growing in developed countries where home videos, video games, computer software and a variety of light-weight items are sold through the mail-order marketing.

3. Catalog Marketing

Catalog marketing involves sending product catalogs to pre-selected target customers and receiving orders through telephone or mail. Catalog marketing is more popular on selling specialized items such as fashion jewelry, home tool kits, holiday travel packages, and toys.It is also popular in the business-to-business marketing where office equipments, stationary, and variety of product are sold.

4. Telemarketing

Telemarketing mainly uses telephone communication to sell directly to consumers and business buyers. Outbound telephone is used to contact and communicate with prospects and toll-free inbound telephone lines are used for receiving queries and orders from the customers. This form of marketing is growing very rapidly in the developed countries.

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5. Television Marketing

In television marketing, the direct marketers air television programs of about 30 minutes describing and demonstrating the use and benefits of their products. The interested customers use the given telephone numbers to enquire or order for the products.