Leafleting | Letterbox marketing | advertise your business

Our leaflet distribution teams at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk have a sense of humour, at the monthly review one of our operatives shared this joke with all the guys at Fastletterbox and we thought is to good not to be included in our Blog at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk Enjoy it:
You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and say, “I’m fantastic”
- That’s Direct Marketing.

You’re at a party with a bunch of friends and see a handsome guy. One of your friends goes up to him and pointing at you says, “She’s fantastic.”
- That’s Advertising.

You see a handsome guy at a party. You go up to him and get his telephone number. The next day you call and say, “Hi, I’m fantastic.”
- That’s Telemarketing.

You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You get up and straighten your dress. You walk up to him and pour him a drink. You say, “May I,” and reach up to brush lightly against his arm, and then say, “By the way, I’m fantastic.”
- That’s Public Relations.

You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. He walks up to you and says, “I hear you’re fantastic.”
- That’s Brand Recognition.

You’re at a party and see a handsome guy. You talk him into going home with your friend.
- That’s a Sales Rep.

Your friend can’t satisfy him so he calls you.
- That’s Tech Support.

www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk is the official website of Fastletterbox, Leaflet Distribution

There are different forms of Advertising, as we often write in our blog in www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk, such as TV ads, Newspapers, email, promotions etc, but the costs involved are very high. Leafleting is more cost effective and easier to organise.

At Fastletterbox, we organise leafleting distribution for different individuals and businesses, that find us either through our website www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk, recommendations or coming as regular clients. TV and Newspapers publish 00-000 of ads and the chance of your standing out or being used many times are slim, unless you are an already established company with a large advertising budget that can afford to invest on brand awareness at regular intervals.Radio is another medium to utilise, still one has to think of the costs involved and the message to be effective.

Fastletterbox advises its clients to go for the simplest form and the more direct one, Leaflet Printing and then to distribute the leaflets. The costs are relatively low, the response is almost immediate and it work in long term by repeated door drops. Our Fastletterbox operatives [for picture please visit www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk] can cover different areas, via postcode or are saturation as part of our Leaflet Distribution service.

Leaflet Distribution can also be combined with other forms of Local or National Advertising as a tool of support and reminder to the community about your product and service on offer. Fastletterbox thinks that Leaflet Distribution has these advantages: 

* Low costs 

* Easy to set up and organise 

* Direct targets 

* Fast response times

Visit our website www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk to see what service does Fastletterbox can offer to you, like : Leaflet Distribution, Magazine or Newspaper drops, door to door flier delivery, menus or brochures sent inside residential letterboxes in London and Essex, handouts or promotions through leaflets in high density areas.

Let Fastletterbox handle your Local Advertising Campaign in order to get good returns on your original investment.

Before we start to plan Leaflet distribution, the client usually has printed the fliers and is ready for his leaflets to be delivered. Those who ask in advance get advice from us at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk  with regards to make their materials sharper and simpler. Leaflet distribution is the latest step in any local advertising campaign, in London or anywhere, before that the design has to be thought carefully. It is necessary to find a good designer, if you don’t have one we at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk can recommend some good designers so your leaflet distribution is successful. One thing to bear in mind is that once the art-work has been completed you forward that to your printers and they can print right away, so everything has to be planned in advance.

Order quality paper, cover both sides of a leaflet, make your material stand out via vouchers, offers and quality service/product that the public would read, in order for leaflet distribution to bring results. Any leaflet distribution service is able to give you advice with regards to local advertising, don’t hesitate to contact well in advance to avoid pitfalls and make your Leaflet stand out and achieve best results. At Fast Letterbox we are only one call or email away [please use the quotation form] for any advice you may need. Fast Letterbox can bring years of experience not only in leaflet distribution but helping you to find the right printer, advice and recommendation for good and affordable Designers and as fliers as printer to deliver them with our in-house team at Fast Letterbox and drop them door to door and as our Handouts and Promotions Service.

High density areas are the best way to do the leaflet distribution with intent to reach as big an audience as possible. Leaflet distribution has its own complexity and that’s is where our experience and advice comes in. At Fast-letterbox with work with the clients in advance to target the general audience in high density areas, during leaflet distribution. Click at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk for the way we work. Also at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk we have our blog with detailed advice on leaflet distribution in London, Essex and other areas.  

Another method that has proved very effective in leaflet distribution is to target small crowds. A group of people waiting at the theatre, in front of a stadium, pubs, bars, in parks, students hanging around together can be approached and be the target group of leaflet distribution operatives from Fast-letterbox. Leaflet distribution combined with a polite approach and simple explanation is very effective in smaller groups. These groups are usually receptive to leaflet distribution by Fast-letterbox and one message can filter down to more than one person.

In same cases during leaflet distribution some people can be confrontational but  the distributor must remain calm, rational and continue their leaflet delivery work with people who are more receptive. At Fast-letterbox we use different leaflet distribution techniques in order for the newspapers, magazines, fliers, menus, brochures, cards and leaflets reach the people either trough door to door distribution, leaflet handouts, letterbox delivery or promotions as part of leaflet distribution. Visit www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk for any of your distribution needs or for more advise. Fill out the contact form by sending us the your leaflet distribution request and we will call you back inside 4 hours and explain what is needed in order for your leaflet distribution by Fast-letterbox to have great results

Generally fliers need to be handed out with an extended arm in a way that the targeted person should not have to move around you, blocking the path of people moving about is not considered a successful form or leafleting. The distributor should look people in the eye, smile and if someone refuses to take the material not to take this personally. Leaflet distribution, as explained in our website www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk is done by experienced professionals. Fast-letterbox prides itself in training and supervising all its leaflet distribution operatives.

Leaflet distribution is a fluent activity, is no use trying to stand in one place alone like a sentry. Our blog at wheretoadvertise.co.uk has more advice about the way we work. All Fast-letterbox operatives are aware of the requirement and what they need to do during leaflet distribution or handing out of fliers. Walking around with or opposite the crowd helps with the dynamics and the movement of the crowd, this a better way in leaflet distribution in London or anywhere, than a fixed-point leaflet distributor.

Many clients are glad to chose Fast-letterbox for precisely these reasons, us being able to adapt constantly during leaflet distribution. Having many people moving in one place can be good, but counter productive too, people walking at fast pace may not take the flier or drop it at the next bin, in this case the distributor is advised to move to a quieter place able to target people with more accuracy and increasing the chances of the material to be kept. You can find Fast-letterbox at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk and read more about us and our leaflet distribution work.

At Fast-letterbox we focus in 3 leaflet distribution points during Promotions and handouts. If you want to see our operatives at work or need more information please visit www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk also you can visit our blog. By keeping those points in mind we target our leaflet distribution during promotional campaigns in a dedicated and professional way. Any kind of leaflet delivery that lacks in strategy and scope can not increase success. For us leaflet distribution during Handouts means to take care of:·         Appearance – it is very important that during leaflet distribution, leaflet distribution operatives are in hi-visibility uniforms. He/she must look smart, professional. At Fast-letterbox our leaflet distributors hand out fliers in a courteous and professional way. ·         Position – it can make or break any leaflet distribution. You can see pictures of our operatives at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk in high density areas, exhibitions, tube stations. Fast-letterbox is a forward thinking team by working with the clients to find the best areas with a high density footprint. Leaflet distribution can reflect whatever expense and initial planning has gone into it. At any leaflet distribution point our Leaflet Distributors are encouraged to be active, use own initiative and by being able to move around in the best possible area. If near a tube station they have to be positioned in way that both incoming and outgoing traffic can targeted by our leaflet distribution operatives. Fast letterbox can cover any are in London for any kind of leaflet distribution, newspaper and flier handouts and also door to door distribution of menus, magazines, newspapers or brochures.·         Communication – it is not enough to show up for leaflet distribution work, please see our Blog at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk for the way we work. and consider the work done. Our leaflet distribution operatives have to Explain an offer, a launch party, a promotional voucher an address venue etc. Everyone has to know the content of material, what our client is offering and how to reply to people’s questions, this is how we manage leaflet distribution at Fast-letterbox. We have to promote and communicate, while also handing out the flier, because leaflet delivery looks easy but is not.. Thanking people who take fliers marks a professional leaflet distribution operation doing a proper job, from someone that is not focused and motivated. 

At Fast-letterbox leaflet distribution in order to get to a great start, all the specifics of Leaflet Distribution have to be planned with our clients. The Distributor should know all the necessary information: 1. The business / service that our client promoting. 2.Format of material for leaflet distribution. 3. Content of the leaflets to be delivered. 4.Target and demographics groups that a leaflet distribution campaign is aiming for.

Any leaflet distribution company starts with those in order to complete a good job. To carry out a good leaflet distribution campaign is not an easy task if is not organized properly and much in advance. If you need Leaflet distribution at highest levels you can ask for advice at www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk and one of our operators will guide you through necessary steps that any leaflet distribution order, big or small, has to go through.

Fast-letterbox is a leaflet distribution company that places first and foremost clients needs and requests, our leaflet distribution work is second to none and we can increase the value of your local advertising. By choosing Fast-letterbox for all your door to door and promotional needs you are making sure that your material and leaflet distribution strategy get the care and attention they deserve. See our website, www.wheretoadvertise.co.uk for more information or to send a query.

The most common concern on leaflet delivery is: RETURNS. For a good reason. It is the purpose of leaflet distribution to reach clients and point them in the direction of the service and/or product being advertised.

The most common numbers projected are 0.5-2% returns, but those at times at taken to literally by some clients. Those are accross the industry, not case by case basis. Let us explain that leafleting is a long term affair. It may or may not work as one off or in first few times. If it was that easy to make people act on a piece of paper then if will be that easy, by deduction, to print let say 20.000 fliers, deliver them and watch the inquiries and sales roll.

As with everything else leafleting works in long term only. It has been going strong for 60+ years and brings results to those who understand leafleting and have realistic expectations. Many variables can affect returns:

1.       Your Unique Selling Point [UPS] and what makes you different from your competitors [speed of service, price, quality etc]

2.       Quality of advertising material. The thought in design, print and planning that went into the preparatory stages, can increase the chance to grab the future clients attention.

3.        Offers, vouchers and incentives. It may look that the public is being de-sensitised to Free Offers and BOGOFF’s, but do not underestimate the power of gifts-vouchers and offers.

4.       Distribution method. A Shared Plan or a bundle of fliers delivered alongside with newspapers, magazines and other materials often end up unread. Solus is more efficient.

5.       Reliable Distributor. While a distributor can’t make people act on a material, a good leaflet delivery campaign can saturate the area and reach as many people as possible.

6.       Product comparisons. While an Estate agent will be more than happy to rent out 5-10 houses or sell 1-2 or 3, a Pizza Shop will be at a loss with same kind of returns.

7.       Hierarchy of services and necessity. Consumables sell better and faster than products we use rarely. We may need 4 new tyres once a year but use bars and restaurants 50+times more.

8.       Seasonal requirements. Double glazing, gutter cleaning, gardening, buying flowers, central heating etc, are often needed at certain times. Holidays can be all year around but summer time and school breaks usually increase demands.

9.       Expensive purchases and treatments. Some are planned  in advance according to family budget: a new extension, kitchen,  car or  buying a house, some are unplanned like the need to hire a solicitor, visit a dentist, reflect to the services offered at good prices by a charity [i.e mental health, financial advice] or an emergency call out to a plumber or locksmith.

10.   Time factor and chance. I may not be persuaded to buy 4 tyres today especially if I changed them two months back, but if I receive this service-offer with frequency 4-6 times per year and if the offer is good, I may be persuaded to give the new supplier a try.

As in many areas of life, persistence and repetitiveness pays. In sports, learning, acquiring any skill or results, one has to be determined to explain what they are offering, what they can do and how to achieve their end goals. If you want to cover Maida Vale [W9] and St Johns Wood [NW8] with around 30.000 fliers, based on stats and demographics as affluent areas, that can be a good idea. Doing it once and then either stopping or going in another areas next time, it is not. Unless a business is able to establish Brad Awareness anything can be hard to sell. Even local ones need to remind the community what they are offering, from a DVD store to high street Beauty Saloons, that is the only way to keep the regulars and attract new clientele.

If the questions “but what returns will I get?” is replied casually, oh maybe 0.5-2% that will be either naïve or misleading, the distributor is only the messenger and can’t promise to give your business a boost, increase sales and bring clients through your door.  There is no way we can reply, affect or know that. With  5000 leaflets you may receive 20 calls and with 20.000 you may receive 5 calls. As explained is a long lasting process that takes time and needs the right planning and organisation, way before distribution and after it, is the public that decides

We advice all of our clients, that while Leaflet Distribution works is not a casual affair, i. print & deliver, is a marketing method like any others that at every stage needs to be executed properly and followed through stage by stage by constantly adapting to new ideas and what works in long term. Long term always works, short fixes rarely do.

Some clients ask for Share Plan delivery, for different reasons, mainly trying to keep the costs down. We have to note that is not the best way of generating leads and raising awareness about your business or service:

·         The more leaflets on the doormat, the less chance is for people to read them.

·         Adding more, while other people may be doing delivery in the area, is not a wise idea.

·         The impact to reach the target audience gets diluted.

·         The distributor sometimes can’t guarantee a time, it can be 3 weeks to 3 months until another person [or more]  comes in the same area for share plan.

·         Sometimes specific area distribution is not possible, that compromises have to be made and areas are stretched half and half, leaving no one happy.

·         The load of individual operatives will be 2-3 times more heavy, while 1000 A6 fliers can fit into one bag 3-4.000 wont. Time to sort them out on the go, also slows the rhythm of delivery. Overall it can affect work quality.

Our advice is to go for Solus usually, it is in client’s interests, for the cost of few tenners or hundreds here and there, in long run it will not turn out to be that cost effective. Sometimes if kept at small numbers, maximum 2 leaflets for drop can be used for small businesses. Happens that clients themselves find another friend or business and come to us together, clear on their strategy and what they need from us.

Marie from bodyprogresscentre and Dina from therapy4muscles  both Health & Fitness professionals  had grouped their fliers together and went for the affluent area of Regent’s Park, Belsize Park and Camden Town. We sent a small team to do it at steady pace, instructed to deliver on middle to high income properties, in an already affluent area.  If you are in Camden area or nearby, you can pay them a visit.

When the clients come with specific instructions our operatives in the ground will by pass Local Housing Authority areas in order to reach the intended audience. Now lets be realistic here, some of us, would often talk about Geo-Profiling, Target Demographics, fancy software stuff and so on. In the street this does not and can not work. Not at these prices. The best indicator would be the judgement of the distribution operatives on the ground level, after he is sent to a good area. Lets face it to send a letter we pay 35 pence, recorded delivery goes 115 pence, now for 4 pence for leaflet can we ask for specifics of this kind? We have to do the best for the price paid.

Back to Share Plan, we think the best idea would be to try Solus, if you decide to go for Share Plan keep it at a minimum, no more than 2 fliers at the same round.

Catalogue distribution is the same as any material that can fit through a letterbox, but it needs more hard work and preparation.

The client wanted a combination of handouts with d-2-d, in the same areas. Both methods can have advantages and disadvantages. By combining both methods, we were making sure to saturate the areas and also target the high traffic generated in front of the tube stations.  That way people living in the area, also those coming- going into it [for different reasons: work, shopping, visiting etc] would have the chance to get the Promotional material.

This particular catalogues was 76 pages, 220/250 gsm showcasing natural remedies for www.baldwins.co.uk, a highly specialised and traditional health store, one of leading herbalists in London, established in 1844.

By printing a catalogue one can present to the community almost everything in offer. Including all services, discounts, pictures, contacts and suggestions for good deals. It is a big undertaking in design and printing cost, from the moment of the conceptual idea. A distributor has to respect this by taking into consideration the hard work and expense that goes into it; making 100% sure that the final aspect of Catalogue Delivery goes smoothly and reaches its intended audience.

To deliver the catalogues the organiser has to plan the logistic in a different way, by leaving more time for shifts, checks and logistics. It will be slower than a leaflet as our operatives will be pulling the delivery trolley and more careful in the letterboxso the catalogue goes inside the letter box undamaged. The supervisor in his supply car must meet and support them constantly.

Leaflets come in boxes, catalogues in pallets. In space, weight, time they will cost and consume more.  The rewards they can bring can be more considerable compared to fliers. We do not recommend that anyone must go to print a catalogue, only highlighting the strength that can ad in Local and National Advertising terms for an already established medium sized business,  big companies or shops. Even a small one may chose to represent themselves in a catalogue format  with the type of page , content and cost that their budget can support. Despite the size, services and products a catalogue clearly states: I’m here with a serious offer and wide range or choices for you.

At the end of the day this is all we want, Quality Service and Choice.