Tag Archive for: direct mail marketing

Direct Mail Marketing Statistics for 2019 and What They Mean For Your Business

It’s 2019 and direct mail marketing is as strong and effective as ever. 

You may be asking yourself, “Why is this?” With all the more immediate alternative forms of marketing available to small businesses today like Facebook, Instagram, and other social media, why would anyone need to invest resources in an outmoded, wasteful method that moves at a glacial pace? After all, the rise of the internet was predicated on its ability to sell and reach a huge audience. Hasn’t it already replaced direct mail?

Those who believe this are truly missing the forest for the trees. True, a Facebook post can reach thousands instantly, but there are other reasons why you would choose one medium over another. Different approaches will get you different results. Direct mail is far from the dinosaur it can be made out to be. When used effectively as part of a broader campaign or even as a stand-alone effort, direct mail can pinpoint a target market and put your message in front of potential customers who can appreciate it and who seriously care about the subject matter. This means direct mail can bring a greater return for each advertising dollar you spend. 

This blog will illustrate how direct mail is an effective marketing strategy that will get your products and services noticed by those willing to buy them. We’ll also explore how Presort Inc. will help you take full advantage of this powerful marketing tool.

As Mail Volume Declines, Direct Mail Response Rates Increase

The US Postal Service reports that total mail volume since 2006 has declined by about 30%. This is likely attributed to companies opting for paperless billing and allowing their customers to do more over the phone and online. This also includes direct mail as campaigns become more targeted and more sophisticated. But how do people respond to direct mail compared to other forms of direct marketing? Here are some response rates for comparison:

Digital Marketing

  • Email Lists – 1%
  • Paid Search Results – 1%
  • Social Media – 1%

Direct Mail

  • Prospect Lists – 5%
  • Household Lists – 9%

And just because it is paper doesn’t mean it can’t be tracked. Presort Inc. offers a LeadMatch service that takes the guesswork out of your direct mail campaign. Our technology can empower you with the knowledge to track and measure the effectiveness of your direct mail. You can track and record precisely who visited your website from your mailing and who did not. You also can see what actions those visitors took once they were on the site.

Where Social Media and the Internet Can Reach a Wider Audience, Direct Mail Can Pinpoint Your Target

Over 269 billion emails are sent each day. Over the course of a few hours, a consumer is exposed to between 50 and 75 display ads as they browse the internet. While this is some great volume, how effective is all of this electronic advertising? 

Direct mail allows you to cast a smaller, more targeted net. While internet display ads can be tailored to search queries and placed on specific websites, they are mostly seen by casual browsers and ignored. While commercial emails can target a specific consumer based on email address, the rise of ransomware and phishing attempts makes unsolicited emails seem risky, and they are most often ignored. 

Presort Inc. creates direct mail campaigns that are built from prospect lists so you can send individualized offers right to a potential customer’s doorstep. The information is printed on paper or cardstock and the offer itself can be tailored to the addressee, giving the mailing a personal, unique feel. 

How to Connect With Your Audience With Presort Inc.

Instead of replacing mail, social media and the internet work hand in hand with it to create a more complete marketing experience. Advertising has changed greatly over the past few decades. The goal is no longer to get the message in front of as many eyeballs as possible.  The goal, instead, is to connect with groups or individuals who are already inclined to have interest, to bring meaning to your products and services, and to show them how exactly what you are offering is missing in their lives. 

Presort Inc. will combine direct mail marketing with social media and the internet to create a campaign for your company that is:

Engaging – With a mailer that is perfectly designed, your company is put front and center. The right design can make an impression on a potential customer and create a memorable impulse to examine how exactly your product would benefit them. Direct mail also reaches customers when they are in a good mood. The USPS reports that 55% of people look forward to receiving mail. Think back to the last time you received a spam email or found a display ad blocking content on a website you wanted to read. Is that the impression you want to make with your advertising?

Convenient – Internet display ads and emails tend to make the consumer buy on impulse, and while this might be good if you are marketing gum or iced tea at a grocery checkout stand, it’s not the kind of response you are looking for if you are advertising IT or accounting services. Direct mail gives the consumer a tangible document that describes your product or service, explains the advantages it offers, and details how exactly the consumer can go about purchasing it. 

Personalized – With direct mail, you can target a specific household. Even better, you can target a specific person in that household. This is an extremely effective way to engage someone who is willing to accept your message. Customizing a message to a specific consumer seems like a lot of work, but when it translates into tangible responses the return on your investment is well worth it. 

The Most Telling Statistic? Direct Mail Continues to Be Effective

Presort Inc. has helped hundreds of businesses just like yours use direct mail to reach individuals who are most likely to buy your products or services. It offers response rates that are far superior to the most expensive online marketing, you can customize your message to specific consumers, and there is no need to compete for attention. We have worked with direct mail for long enough to say in complete confidence that when used correctly, direct mail can translate to immediate and direct sales. 

Call us today, share your marketing headaches and pain points, and let Presort Inc. show you how direct mail marketing is alive and well.

6 Ways to Build an Effective Direct Mail Campaign

We live in a world dominated by digital advertising, but an effective direct mail piece is a surefire way to stand out in the eye of the consumer. 

Technology has transformed the marketing industry. Digital advertisements flood our screens every time we surf the web, scroll through social media, and check our emails. Yes, these are quick and easy ways to create brand awareness, but there isn’t a lot of authenticity behind these marketing tactics. Though we live in a world dominated by the internet, it’s best to take a traditional outreach approach and execute a more personal strategy. 

How to Building a Successful Direct Mail Strategy

Digital technology may be changing the printing and mailing industry, but there will always be a need for a direct mail service. But before you begin distributing advertisements to prospects and loyal customers, make sure you put these six critical practices into effect: 

1. Study Your Data

The first step in creating a direct mail campaign is to leverage accurate data. If your company operates with a customer relationship management (CRM) system, make sure you’re pulling the latest data sets from your dashboard. This gives you a clear indication of who your target audience should be. From there, you’ll be able to build an accurate mailing composed of potential customers and loyal purchasers.

2. Build a Personal Campaign

The most effective types of direct mail are those with a personal touch. And that means more than just addressing the package with someone’s first name. Every prospect and customer is unique, so make sure you treat them as individuals. Create personal mail items based on the information collected from your CRM tool. Segmenting your data and providing personal offers helps yield the best results. 

3. Time It Perfectly

If you want a good response rate, you need to make sure you time the delivery appropriately. To get a good return on your investment, you’ll have to make a connection with your audience using the right medium at the right time. For example, it’s best to mail a personal brochure about an upcoming holiday sale at the beginning of the winter. Finally, make sure to take note of which stage of the buyer’s journey the prospect is in. 

4. Take Multiple Approaches

When it comes to direct mail, it’s best to switch up your marketing efforts. Integrate multiple pieces into your direct mail campaign. Don’t just focus on a single brochure or postcard. Fill your campaign with a variety of mail items. For best results, it’s wise to A/B test your efforts to see which item has the best effect on your audience. And to generate the best response, encourage audience members to interact with your social media ads and email promotions. This improves promotional efforts all around. 

5. Measure the Success of Your Marketing Efforts

At the beginning of your campaign, you should set up measurable key performance indicators (KPIs). As you build out the campaign, follow up periodically to track the results. These are some of the metrics you should be taking into account:

  • Size of the target audience
  • Cost per item mailed
  • The total campaign budget 
  • Response/conversion ratios
  • The average income per prospect
  • Profit accumulated since the start of the campaign

Measuring these results throughout the course of your campaign enables you to sharpen your strategy, giving your campaign a competitive edge.

6. Execute and Renovate

Once you’ve collected the results you need, use that data. Alter your campaign regularly based on the responses you’ve previously generated. This optimizes your direct mail pieces, ensuring they meet your prospect’s interests. Always be persistent when executing your direct mail campaign as well. Send multiple follow-ups according to the different sets of information you have on file. 

Create the Perfect Direct Mail Campaign With Presort

When you’re ready to put the perfect direct mail strategy into effect, contact the experts at Presort Inc. We are a team of problem solvers who will do whatever it takes to get your personal mail in front of the right set of eyes. You can count on us to be there every step of the way, from the initial design to order fulfillment and beyond.

Get ready to take your direct mail campaign to the next level by setting up a free consultation with the Presort Inc. team today!

Tips To Help You Design Engaging Direct Mail

Direct mail is a great marketing tactic to build rapport with your customers. A great mail piece is something that will make a lasting impression on your target audience. It speaks directly to the consumer and relays a message that resonates to their needs. Today, one of the most important components of a mail marketing campaign is the element of graphic design.

 

As experts in direct mail graphic design, we’ve learned the best approaches needed to pull off a successful direct outreach campaign. If you want to put together more creative direct mail designs, then make sure you practice these strategies:

Keep It Simple:

By now, you’ve probably heard the phrase, “less is more.” This is extremely vital when your company is putting together a mail campaign. When it comes to direct mail marketing, simplicity is the best approach to take. Don’t overfill your mail piece with pictures and long content. Use simple pictures and relevant information that is easy for readers to remember.

Be Brief And Quick To The Point:

Active images and a distinctive design are the most important parts of any tangible mail piece. A high-quality piece of mail always has one clear call to action boldly labeled. Aside from that, you want to use as little content as possible in order to get your message across. Be direct and use brief details.

Add Color:

When you are designing and printing mail advertisements, color is one of the essential elements that will enhance your piece. Use an eye-popping color that grabs the reader’s attention. An appropriate color scheme will trigger an emotional connection with the reader.

Utilize Imagery:

Adding graphics to your design is a great way to convey your message. A powerful image will stimulate the brain much faster than reading text. Be creative and avoid using  stock images as much as possible. Don’t over clutter the design with a bunch of different images. This can be overwhelming for your audience to look at. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to use two to three images per piece.

Use Sense-Appealing Elements:

Colors and graphics are usually the most exciting parts of your design, but it’s important to use the right ones. Additionally, it’s also important to design a piece that appeals to the rest of your senses. Don’t just create a design that looks great. Make sure the body of the document is a smooth, yet enticing texture. If you really want to make the right impression on your audience, then choose a comfortable texture like a glossy finish.

Size Appropriately:

When it comes to direct mail, the size of the finished product can be a major difference maker. There’s nothing wrong with standard postcards, but sometimes it’s best to go against the grain. Sending out prints that are noticeably larger or smaller will stand out to prospects and customers. This is a subtle way to differentiate you from your competitors.

Create Personal Messages That Resonate:

Personalization and authenticity are key to sending mail that will persuade your audience. Personalize your designs towards individuals on your mailing list. This shows customers that you genuinely care about solving their problems. Offering a personal service in your mail piece will show people that you have a trustworthy solution that serves their needs.

 

How to Make Direct Mail Work for Your Business

Over the years, digital marketing and social media have been making a splash in the advertising industry. This is a mass-marketing tactic that reaches large audiences quickly. If you own a business, it’s good to have the right people running these marketing campaigns, but even better to have a direct mail strategy in your arsenal. Direct mail is a great way to make a personal connection with your target customers, but, unfortunately, not everyone knows how to execute this type of marketing service properly.

As an experienced direct mail company, our team knows how to pull off a successful mail campaign. In return, this can help you generate better conversion rates and a more successful bottom line. If you want to take your business to another level, it’s important to practice these printing and mailing strategies:

Enhance Your Social Media Presence

Online advertising alone isn’t the best way to get your message noticed. In fact, according to a recent survey, 71% of people say they don’t pay attention to most advertisements online. This includes emails, display ads, and targeted campaigns. Compare that to 63% of the same respondents reading printed advertising mail that is addressed to them and delivered to their homes. Online ads allow you to go in-depth and give people an easy way to contact your business, but people have a degree of mistrust for online content. Direct mail is tangible and can drive people to go online and find out more about your products and services.

Make Your Call to Action Clear

When it comes to direct mail, it’s important to have a clear and concise message. You should have one main call to action listed on the mail piece. This eliminates confusion and helps you generate the business you’re looking for. Make your call to action jump out at the reader in the title or on another headline.

Use Split-Testing Techniques

Be unique with your postcard designs. When it comes to postcard printing, it’s important to have multiple copies and designs ready. Create different custom pieces to send to different people on your mailing list. Send two different designs and see which one generates the most successful traction. If one design generates a higher response rate, it’s probably best to use that type of custom design going forward. This sets the tone for the rest of your direct mailing campaign.

Check in on Your Customers

Direct mailing is all about building loyalty and trust with your customers. If a prospect purchases one of your goods or services, follow up with them to see what they thought. This will help you build rapport with your customers and show the appreciation you have for their business.

Influence People to Visit Your Website

Sending direct mail is a great way to cross promote the other services you offer. Entice readers to visit your website to learn more about your company’s solutions. It’s always a good idea to supply your prospects with a redeemable code or coupon that can only be activated online. This should help you generate more traffic, sales, and conversions from your website.

Personalize All Messages

Personalization and authenticity are the key components to a successful mail marketing campaign. Tailor your message around the individual as much as possible. If they are a previous customer, try to bring up something you know will interest them. This shows customers that you want to provide an honest service that solves their specific problems.

Use Brief and Relevant Content

Don’t waste time cluttering your mailed piece with content. Be brief with your text and use relevant details. The fact is that readers typically have a short attention span. No one wants to spend time reading a postcard that is flooded with words. Provide them with a piece that is direct, catchy, and meaningful.