So, you are looking for a great idea to build your business mailing list with qualified prospects? Sure, you can buy a mailing list from any number of companies, but it’s questionable how fresh or qualified the names might be, or even if they’re accurate. You could have a raffle or contest and collect names and e-mails – but, are these really people who want to connect with your company, or, do they just want to win something?
There is a better idea that virtually guarantees a list of qualified prospects. Give them something of value from your company in exchange for their e-mail. And, if you want a physical address, give them something physical (of value) that will need to be mailed to them. The key word is “value” – the item you give must be of direct value to the prospect and directly related to your business and identity. If there is no perceived value there is little incentive for someone to give up their personal contact info. You can offer special reports, books, free samples, song downloads, discount coupons… but, for some businesses, custom stickers are the ultimate incentive.
You often see custom stickers as the entry level “perk” on a crowd funding campaign. Why? Value. Stickers are one of the least costly ways to build a community, on-line and off-line. There are several reasons custom stickers are the best idea for building a mailing list – enticing prospects to connect with you and share their contact information.
- A sticker’s message or graphic can be easily tailored to a specific group or target market.
- Properly designed stickers are viewed as a gift or a badge, not a bribe or an advertisement. Stickers represent and build community.
- Recipient is pre-qualified – They wouldn’t request a custom sticker if they weren’t excited about it’s graphic or message.
- Sticker production costs are very low for a sticker product that they can physically interact with.
- Stickers fit easily in an envelope, so shipping costs are as low as possible.
- After delivery they continue to promote your message and organization.
I love this quote from Jason Levinthal at J Skis;
“A sticker is like the ultimate candy, hanging, dangling on the end of a rope. It’s the easiest way to incentivize someone to sign up. Without stickers if I asked someone online to give me their address, I simply wouldn’t get it… A cheap little simple sticker is the biggest leverage I’ve got, and the closest I can get to shaking their hand.”
Websticker can help design and print awesome custom stickers that incentivizes your target market to gladly pass along their contact info.
Jeff Nicholson is the founder and Creative Director at 
One Response
It is interesting to think about what the dollar value of attaining someone’s email is. I would think on average, much more than the 10-20 cents the sticker costs.