Flyers in the mailbox?

Does it work?

I'll appreciate any advice.

Thaks

I am not sure it would be worth the cost. Its kind of a market which is specialized and not everyone is in need of....but, it might give someone ideas if they are in the "Party" market. I don't know. I think most people look on local online advertising for face painters, not sure paper flyers would be the best way for your money. Just my 2 cents . Good luck with it, let us know if it is successful if you decide to do it.

My ex-hubby was in sales. Flyers are what you call "cold calling" meaning people weren't looking for you before. The statistics for even call-backs with cold calling are 1-3 in 100, so figure that out with cost and time. I think it would benefit you more if you could ask a few key places if you can put a little stack of your cards on their counters. Some places let me do this. Examples, party stores, bowling alleys, restaurants with kids specials, diners, roller & ice skating places, Mcdonalds & Burger KIngs etc., any place where kids might frequent.

The bowling alley in my town has advertising on their score board and it is pretty cheap...maybe some of those places around you have a coupon sheet that you can get a small ad in? I think it would be more targeted that way.

I'm not even sure it's legal to put flyers in mailboxes.

The answers I turned up on Google mostly came from sites like Yahoo Answers, Ask.com and the like so the credibility there is under question. That said, they all come to a consensus that no it is not legal (in th US) to place unstamped flyers in private mail boxes. One poster indicated that they are a mail carrier and that they return unstamped flyers to the post office to be dealt with by the post master. Fines may be levied against the company in question. Again, take that for what it's worth considering the source.

yes, a long time ago I read somewhere also, that it's illegal! I forgot about that too!

I get unsolicited flyers all the time, mostly from landscaping companies. BUT ... they are careful to either hang them on the doorknob or insert them between the screen door and door frame. So it must be illegal to actually place them inside a mailbox.

JJJJJ wrote:I get unsolicited flyers all the time, mostly from landscaping companies. BUT ... they are careful to either hang them on the doorknob or insert them between the screen door and door frame. So it must be illegal to actually place them inside a mailbox.

Yup, that sounds right. Still, the return on the investment doesn't seem worthwhile. I'd say you're better off being more selective and putting the money toward higher quality marketing rather than focusing on volume.

Me too. That said, I do have a plan to place a very simple (i.e. - cheap) flyer with my business card attached (which has lots of photos of the art on it) between the screens of my neighbors within a 3 - 4 block radius this summer. I figure I will offer a decent discount on any weekday party that is held at homes on these streets. I know there are lots of kids around here, and the travel time would be cut out, making the one-time effort of the flyers worth it. On the flyer, I may print out a photo or two of Halloween designs, etc., to plant the seeds for October. I'm not doing it till August though, because I'm booked every weekend in July and I'm taking a breather for the next few weeks on weekdays.

I've also thought it might be a good idea to pass out flyers at the bus stops where all the moms wait with their kids. That way, everyone gets to meet face-to-face.

As a retired disgruntled Postal person   I can confirm that it IS illegal to put anything in a mailbox (or even a door slot) that has not been paid for thru the USPS. Carriers, do indeed take it back to the office and the PO    will contact you shortly since they now know exactly who you are.

Thanks for confirming that Valerie. I like the idea someone mentioned about handing flyers out at the bus stop. Make sure you have your face painted when you go!!!

Really Valerie? I didn't know that...we have a mail dump bin, and if my kids forget a jacket/hairbow/toy/sippy cup at any of the neighbor's houses I've more than once told my neighbor to dump it in the bin...

There's a difference between unsolicited mail and returning personal possessions.

I believe mailboxes are considered Federal Property - many counties also have solicitation regulations, I think some require a permit before you can actually post on peoples doors.

I assumed the original poster meant having flyers mailed to people through a service (like Vistaprint), I believe there was a thread on here about that.

eviedejesus wrote:
I assumed the original poster meant having flyers mailed to people through a service (like Vistaprint), I believe there was a thread on here about that.

Good point, Evie... that's a whole other story.