Are your direct mail response rates lower than you expect? Check your sales letter or direct mail package against this checklist to uncover the reasons for your poor response.

LIST
You are mailing to people who are never likely to buy
You are not mailing to others in the same business who influence the buying decision
Your list is out of date
Your names and addresses are not formatted correctly for proper delivery
Your list has job titles only, not names

FORMAT
You are using the wrong format for your audience (self-mailers to professionals, for example)
Your letter and brochure are not complete sales pitches in themselves
Your liftnote or buckslip confuses your offer or main selling promise

ENVELOPE
Your envelope gives too much away, so your prospects throw it away unopened
Your mailing envelope looks like junk mail
Your package is addressed to "Occupant" and not to a person by name

MESSAGE
Your letter lacks a strong, customer-focussed headline
The opening line in your letter is not compelling
You spell your prospective customer's name incorrectly
Your letter lacks specifics about product size, weight, color and other vital details
You discuss product features but not customer benefits
You talk too much about your company and not enough about your reader
You do not create enough desire
Your letter lacks urgency
You do not offer a guarantee

OFFER
You are offering the same thing that your competitors are offering
Your offer is not specific
Your offer is not exclusive
Your offer is not relevant
Your offer is not valuable
Your offer is not unique
Your offer is not useful

CALL TO ACTION
You do not ask for the order
You ask for the order, but too late in your letter
You conclude by saying, "If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me"
You give too many ways to respond-or not enough

REPLY DEVICE
Your reply device is too cluttered
You do not tell prospects what to do to buy your product or service
Your reply device is not postage-paid

TIMING
You are mailing at the wrong time of the year
Your letter is arriving on the wrong day of the week
You are mailing too often, so prospects ignore you
You are not mailing often enough, so prospects do not remember you

About the author
Alan Sharpe is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter who helps business owners and marketing managers generate leads, close sales and retain customers using creative direct mail. Learn more about his services and sign up for free weekly tips like this at http://www.sharpecopy.com.

? 2005 Sharpe Copy Inc. You may reprint this article online and in print provided the links remain live and the content remains unaltered (including the "About the author" message).