Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get this information from the council myself? YES but it is not cost effective for you to find leads that way. You can view planning applications and even get a print out from some councils websites but you can't get the excel spreadsheets or databases you will need to mail merge with or a set of fully addressed mailing labels - which are precisely what you will need to make your mailing campaign cost effective and easy to put into action. You will have to read through applications for things like:- tree surgery, satellite dishes, mobile phone aerial masts, park benches, illuminated signs, advertising boards, telegraph poles and retrospective applications - to name but a few - all of which will prove very time consuming for you. Even then the projects that you ARE looking for can remain elusive. Interestingly, we have numerous subscribers who used to get it from the council themselves who are now delighted to find a service that takes the hard work out of the whole process.
Is this advertising? NO. This is direct response mail marketing. Marketing professionals swear by it and it's perfect for businesses of all sizes.
How do you charge? We charge by the District. The minimum order is two districts.
How much Is it? It's not expensive. No one has ever objected to the prices. Prices depend on how many council districts you wish to subscribe to. The good news is that the more you buy the better the price gets for you.
Can I rent data from your archives? YES. Archive data remains very responsive to related and unrelated general offers for up to three years and is rentable at a cost per record. The minimum order is 5,000 records.
What Council Districts are available? Every mainland district in the United Kingdom.
Why does this work? A personal letter sent through the post is simply the best way to communicate with people. It is a polite way to let prospective customers know exactly what you can do for them. Provided your letter does this and you make it easy for them to respond - they will! Combine this with the fact that many planning applicants could soon be looking to buy exactly what you sell anyway then it's not difficult to see why it works.
Will planning applicants object to my letter of introduction? NO. The chances are that your offer of help will be very relevant to their building project. The people who benefit the most from what we do are the planning applicants themselves. They don't mind being written to about something that is relevant, it puts them in a powerful position because it is you who is contacting them first giving them control of the situation. They can open your envelope when they are ready to, they can read your letter or promotion when they are ready to and they can respond to it when they are ready to. They are often impressed by pro-active approaches.
Will I get the information before permission is granted and spending begins? YES. 99% of the time.
Can I have exclusive access to this service? NO. But we do limit the number of businesses of the same type in the same area to just a few to ensure results for all.
Will I have to spend a lot of money on my mail out? NO. Most of our subscribers just send a letter. But, if you can include a brochure or other interesting material your response rate will increase. A reply paid response device or free-phone number will also increase response.
What should I put in my sales letter? Imagine you are the recipient. What would encourage you to pick up the phone and reply? Write about what you can do for them and make it a personal communication. You can increase your response rate by offering an incentive like something for FREE or a special discount. Always make it easy to respond.
Should I test different sales letters? YES. If you want exceptional results - test, test and test again. The more you test the sooner you'll arrive at your most productive campaign.
Will this work for me? There are only two ways in which Planning News won't work for you. ONE is if you don't buy it and TWO is if you buy it and don't use it.