Direct mail typically accounts for almost 60% of my company’s billable work, and a bunch of mailing lists pass through my inbox every week. (My preferred mail house currently averages about 30,000 pieces of mail per business day.) Because of this experience, I regularly get asked where to find lists of buyers and sellers.
Usually I get a request like, “Where do I find people who want to buy [insert asset here]?” There is no such list of people with intentions. There are, however, multiple resources for lists of people who categorically are more likely to be interested in specific assets or services. I’ve narrowed them down to seven categories. Below, you’ll find a brief description of each category and then a flow chart to help you determine which is right for your situation.
Chamber of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce are typically looking for new infusions of income and are open to new members, even those from outside the community.
Pros: gets you in front of local movers & shakers, business people, and referral agents
Cons: usually only give addresses on labels (which can’t be automated and don’t receive USPS discounts); usually takes longer to obtain than electronic lists
Business SIC Codes
Big brother knows what companies do according to tax records and other public information. If you’re selling items with commercial value, it’s fairly easy to find similar businesses to the assets’ current user.
Pros: connects you with targeted prospects; lists arrive electronically and usually can be reused for little or no list cost; geographic targeting ranges from hyper-local to national
Cons: no guarantee that the piece will get past gate keeper to decision maker; mailing typically to a company, not a person; dependent on company accurately reporting their industry specialty
Trade Publication Subscribers
This can be industry-specific publications on the state, regional, or national level or generic business publications in a small geographic area. Regularly, because of publication dates and deadlines, advertising in these print publications isn’t feasible. However, many publications offer rental of their subscriber list.
Pros: gets you in front of niche buyers or local investors & referral agents; often come with surveyed demographics
Cons: can be very expensive, if available at all; often come as labels, which cost you postage and automated addressing
Every Door Direct Mail
The United States Postal Service (USPS) allows you to saturate neighborhoods like no other media with reduced postage costs.
Pros: concentrated geographic coverage, lower postage
Cons: can be slower than first class if not circumvented with secondary services; printing and mailing quantities can be higher to cover geographic area and USPS size minimums
Interest-Based Publication Subscribers
Collectors and people with similar interests often read niche publications. Regularly, because of publication dates and deadlines, advertising in these print publications isn’t feasible. However, many publications offer rental of their subscriber list.
Pros: gets you in front of niche buyers and highly-qualified prospects; often come with surveyed demographics
Cons: can be very expensive, if available at all; often come as labels, which cost you postage and automated addressing
Demographic Consumers
Thanks to public records, you can find people from a wide variety of demographic selectors, including some lists related to hobbies or interests.
Pros: connects you with targeted prospects; lists arrive electronically and usually can be reused for little or no list cost; geographic targeting ranges from hyper-local to national
Cons: prices can vary greatly, according to specificity of selectors
In-House Contacts
Auction, contact management, and database software allow you to capture past clients. Some of that software allows you to query specific indicators such as geography, spend level, etc.
Pros: typically free to use; offers pre-qualified prospects based on past interest; electronic nature allows for electronic use and USPS presorted discounts
Cons: requires maintenance (content input) and constant updating; not as exhaustive as purchased lists in that the selection is only from past interactions, not the community at large.
