If youre looking to sponsor more people into your network marketing business, advertising in card decks can be a low cost way to generate leads. Card decks are sometimes called postcard decks or card packs.

Because a card deck company can handle the designing, printing, and mailing for you, the cost is easier on your advertising budget than trying to mail out postcards on your own. Think how much time and energy it would take, if you tried to mail 25,000 postcards to potential recruits all by yourself. The postage expense alone could wipe out your entire budget.

A card deck company can offer you an affordable rate, because you are sharing the advertising cost and space. Your postcard might be included in a shrink-wrapped packet or envelop with the companys other advertisers (sometimes 25-50), which creates a deck of cards.

The Right Deck

Before you spend a dime, shop around to see what different card deck companies have to offer you. Besides the price, consider the value that you get for your money. For example, if you have a question, can you reach a live person to help you?

Look at the experience of the company and find out how long have they been in business. Also, look at the sample postcards on their Web site. Are they professionally designed, attractive, and eye-catching?

Dont be afraid to call and ask questions. Some of the questions you might ask are:

- How fresh are their mailing lists and how do they get the names?
- Who will receive the deck (i.e., MLM opportunity seekers, general opportunity seekers, entrepreneurs, small business owners, etc.)?
- How many postcards are included in a deck?
- Are adult-content and gambling-content advertisers included in the deck?
- Do they offer a discount on first-time orders, multiple orders, etc.?
- Is there an average response rate that their advertisers receive?
- Will they print your postcard in color on both sides or on one side? How many colors?
- Can they email you a proof of the postcard for you to approve?
- How can you get a better placement in the deck and how much does that cost?
- What proof or documentation can they provide so that you know the deck was mailed?
- Do they guarantee that they will mail the deck on the date that theyve said?
- Can they limit the advertisers so that you can be the only rep from your MLM company included in a particular deck?
- Will they mail the deck to you?

The Right Target

Make sure that your marketing message gets to the right people--your target audience. These are the people who are the most likely to respond. Look for a card deck that is mailed specifically to MLM opportunity seekers and MLM enthusiasts, because you want people who are already open to network marketing. A good card deck company will be able to mail your postcard nationwide to its list of MLM opportunity seekers. Other targets may be general opportunity seekers and home-based business seekers.

The Right Pitch

You want your card to stand out from the dozens of other cards in the deck. Imagine someone opening a deck and thumbing through the cards. How can you make your card stand out and grab their attention? Focus on writing a great headline and make your offer so appealing that they are compelled to respond. You want to move them to take action right at that moment instead of tomorrow.

The headline should instantly let the prospect know whats in it for them. It should give them a reason to read more about what you have to offer. If you are giving away a freebie, then put the word Free in your headline. Put it in big bold letters so they cant miss it. Need a freebie? Consider offering a free report or free e-book buy one or create one yourself. They are typically low-cost or no-cost freebies.

Youll want your sales pitch to focus on whats in it for them as well. Use a pitch that will help the prospect improve a situation or condition thats important to him or her. Make more money is always a winner. You want the card to pique their interest so avoid long copy, large blocks of text, no white space, and small fonts. Keep your message short. Use 3-5 bullet points, large fonts, color on at least one side, and a graphic/photo.

The Right Stuff

Do the prospects that respond to your card have the right stuff? Are they genuinely interested or are they tire kickers? You wont know unless you pre-qualify them first. Pre-qualification is critical so that you dont waste your time or theirs.

After the headline, list 3 to 5 bullet points. They should be short, descriptive questions that prospects answer to qualify themselves. The prospects that still respond after reading the questions are much more likely to have the right stuff and join your opportunity.

The Right Duplication

Your direct sales company probably has a simple, duplicatible system in place to help you sponsor more people. For example, a toll-free number with a pre-recorded message, an opportunity Web site with a video presentation, live opportunity conference call on Tuesday nights, etc. Incorporate that system on your card to automatically plug your prospects into the system. Make sure that its so simple that they will say to themselves, No problem, I can do this! Once they join your downline, many of them will want to copy what youve done. Imagine if just five people on your team starting using card decks and taught others how to do the same.

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