The Future of Direct Mail and Marketing | DTC Podcast Interview with Drew Sanocki
Jun 20, 2023
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Ecom guru Drew Sanocki talks about the profitability in ecommerce success, including the comeback of direct mail marketing in DTC industry. They also discuss improving marketing for D2C brands, transitioning to building PostPilot, high-level trends and keys to success in e-commerce, understanding CAC and marginal CAC for entrepreneurs, and missed opportunities with Twitter and Yahoo.
Segmenting customers based on their value can drive more efficient and effective growth in businesses.
Direct mail offers a unique opportunity to connect with customers on a physical level and should be integrated into marketing strategies.
Deep dives
Focusing on Profitability and Customer Segmentation
One of the main insights from the podcast episode is the importance of focusing on profitability and treating different customers differently. The speaker shares his experience in turning around businesses by buying them, making them profitable, and then selling them. He emphasizes the significance of segmenting customers, stating that a small percentage of customers often drive the majority of revenue. By understanding these high-value customers and catering to their specific needs, businesses can grow more efficiently and effectively. Additionally, the speaker highlights the role of direct mail in extending marketing efforts to reach both existing and new customers.
The Role of Direct Mail in Marketing
Direct mail is discussed as a powerful tool for marketing. The speaker shares his early experiences learning about direct mail and catalog marketing. He explains that while many businesses focus on digital channels, direct mail offers a unique opportunity to connect with customers on a physical, tangible level. The speaker suggests that extending successful email campaigns to direct mail can be a highly effective strategy. He also mentions the importance of targeting different customer segments and using direct mail to reach potential customers who have not yet engaged with the brand.
The Value of Acquiring and Turning Around Established Businesses
The speaker advocates for the value of acquiring and turning around established businesses. He discusses the advantages of buying a business that already has customers and revenue, as opposed to starting from scratch. The speaker shares his experiences in acquiring distressed companies, identifying their problems, and implementing strategies to make them profitable again. He highlights the potential for entrepreneurs to build successful businesses by acquiring existing ones and emphasizes the importance of finding businesses with strong profit potential.
The Shift towards Building Profitable Businesses
The speaker encourages entrepreneurs to prioritize building profitable businesses rather than solely focusing on growth. He suggests that chasing rapid growth and venture funding is not always necessary or sustainable. Instead, he advises entrepreneurs to focus on cash flow, profitability, and serving their best customers effectively. By adopting a mindset centered around profitability, entrepreneurs can create sustainable and successful businesses. The speaker also mentions the importance of diversifying marketing efforts across different channels to reduce risk and avoid dependency on a single channel or platform.
Host and ecom guru Drew Sanocki joined Eric Dyck on the DTC podcast to talk about the world of ecommerce success. Known for his obsession with profitability (sorry, growth-obsessed folks) and his love with Marginal CAC, Drew is helping brands unlock a new profitable channel: Direct mail. Yup, good ol' snail mail is making a powerful comeback in the DTC industry.