Tag Archive for: direct mail

OSM_What_Is_A_Good_Offer

Want to Entice Clients? See Irresistible Offer Examples

What makes a coupon compelling? What makes an offer truly irresistable? No matter how great your postcard design is, direct mail that doesn’t offer anything of value are, well, worthless. There are three types of direct mail offers that work best:

  1. Lead magnet freebie – A coupon that offers something free that can be attained with little effort or commitment.
  2. Tripwire – An offer of something of value that has a low barrier to entry at a substantially reduced cost.
  3. Promotional Discount – An offer that gives a percentage discount on specific or sets of products and services.

We dive into each of these types of direct mail offers, how to think about designing a promotional coupon to get the most out of your mail marketing, and examples of direct mail advertising.

Coupon Offer Type 1: Lead Magnet Freebie

The quid-pro-quo of marketing, a lead magnet requires the business to provide a freebie in exchange for an opt-in or participation from the prospective customer. A few examples of irresistible lead magnets can include free product, a significant discount, product trial or giveaway.

Irresistible offer examples that are lead magnets include:

  • Tony’s Pizza gives a voucher for an absolutely free personal pizza to new residents in the city.
  • AAA+ Automotive provides absolutely free basic diagnostic via an OBD Scanner to get people in his shop.
  • Grandview Timeshares provides a $100 restaurant gift card in exchange for participating in a presentation.
  • Sarah’s Insurance gives all prospects a $10.00 gas card for getting an insurance quote through her agency.

Coupon Offer Type 2: Tripwire

Creating a low barrier entry point for prospective clients is a great way to let consumers test a company’s products or services without having to commit to a large purchase. A tripwire aims to capture a greater amount of new customers by casting a wider net and luring them in with a low-cost offering.

An example of this might be an HVAC business offering a cleaning and inspection for $49.00. This provides a service which may not be incredibly lucrative but allows the company to do business with the homeowner. As additional services are needed it becomes easier to sell the client higher priced items or services based on the established business relationship.

Examples of great tripwires include:

  • Perfect Auto & Mechanic is offering a $30.00 oil change and multi-point inspection. Irresistible offer examples like this in hopes to uncover additional repair needs.
  • A’s Pizza & Brewery sells $2.00 slices during lunchtime to help increase familiarity with their dinner menu and ideally bring the whole family.
  • West Park Valley Dealership is offering a $300.00 ‘Sell Your Car’ detailing package which gets your vehicle to a pristine state. Their emphasis is to get people to test drive and buy vehicles since they know the detailing customers are looking to sell their vehicle.

Coupon Offer Type 3: Standard Promotion

A promotion can simply be a discounted percentage or variable offer and still produce a high conversion rate. Although standard promotions are most commonly seen in marketing, they are often poorly implemented.

direct mail couponsOne of the most important aspects of a standard promotion is to include an urgency factor such as a time constraint for redemption.

Examples of standard promotions include:

  • Jeff’s Dog Grooming offers 15% off a bath and haircut service.
  • Golden Hair Salon is marketing a promotion that gives $10.00 off a cut and color.
  • Ray’s Tires is giving a 4th tire free when you purchase three at full price.

Types of Irresistible Offer Examples

Keep in mind consumers are advertised constantly and in every aspect of life. Via cell phone apps, Facebook, Instagram, billboards, radio, TV, you name it. An offer has to really sizzle to make a consumer decide to purchase or opt-in. A great incentive will be the differentiating factor between you and your competition.

If you own a lawn care business, you know that 95% of your customers will need to use you more than once, so it makes logical sense to offer a steeper initial discount in an effort to persuade the prospect to choose you over the competition. Here are offer incentives ranked from most to least effective.

Best

FREE – Everyone loves free. When Iron Strength Karate is gearing up for summer and back to school promotions they offer a completely free karate uniform. Dave, the owner, understands the initial investment eliminates the entry barrier for most families and is able to maintain most students as customers for years. Due to the

Good

Dollar Amount Off – Getting a set amount off a product or service is great. Consumers don’t have to guess or do the math to understand the savings and benefit. Customers will be more inclined to frequent your business versus competition and have increased loyalty if they feel you provide a good value.

Mediocre

Percent Off – We’ve all see discounts ranging from 5-75%+ off. Although consumers do redeem these offers, they’re often difficult to understand. Unless a buyer thoroughly knows your pricing beforehand, it’s tough to get an idea of true savings and often requires a calculation. This method makes it difficult for a consumer to understand the value. Additionally, many buyers feel that percentage discounts are played out and often feel prices are artificially inflated to give a false sense of savings.

Why Coupons In The Mail Work

Direct mail coupons and offers are some of the most successful types of marketing your business can do. Let’s examine why coupons can help motivate your potential customers.

irresistible offer examplesReason for Purchase: A discount or special freebie can help sway a customer who’s hesitant to buy a product or give people a reason to use your company over others. This added motivation will entice them to purchase.

Perceived Value: Feeling you got a deal or are getting something of value at a lower than market cost is a fantastic feeling. Coupons allow people to feel that sense of satisfaction while also giving you their patronage.

Urgency and Scarcity: Coupons often come with expiration dates or limited quantities, creating a sense of urgency and scarcity. This also motivates customers to take action quickly or by a certain time period to avoid missing out on the deal.

Customer Acquisition and Retention: Deals that are exclusive to a type of customer allow you to target your marketing and boost new or existing customer sales. Certain coupon offers can motivate customers to join or return.

Promotional and Marketing Tool: If you have a larger marketing campaign, coupons or special offers can supplement that campaign by promoting new products, clearing out old inventory or even creating buzz around your business.

Competitive Advantage: If you’re offering a coupon through mail and your competitors aren’t, you have a huge advantage in getting chosen by cost-conscious shoppers solely because your have a discount.

Trial and Adoption: There are times when people are ready to try new things, a direct mail coupon can be an excellent way to convince people to try your business and become loyal customers.

Word-of-Mouth and Referrals: When customers feel they got a great deal through a coupon, they are more likely to share their positive experience with friends and family. This word-of-mouth marketing can lead to new customer referrals.

Customer Value

Ultimately what you’re willing to spend or give in exchange to acquire a new customer will depend on what you are willing to invest to earn the client over your competition. It makes far more sense to invest in a new client upfront rather than having to win them over from the competition.

The cost of a new customer with incentives factored in can actually have a higher customer value over customers acquired without incentives. With the examples of direct mail marketing we’ve reviewed, you should have a good idea as to some do’s and don’ts of creating a compelling offer.Consumers see marketing promotions as a positive benefit and are much more likely to become loyal, repeat customers.

There are many steps to a successful direct marketing campaign – don’t just add a call to action on a post card and go it alone. An experienced direct mail company, like One Stop Mail can build a specific customized mailing lists, offer diverse printing options and can execute crucial elements of your campaign. Give us a call at 877-371-4004 or reach out to us to discover how we can help you make your next campaign successful.

 

*Blog updated 8/8/2023

crush sales goals

7 Industries Still Crushing Sales Goals with Direct Mail Marketing

These 7 industries rely on direct mailer companies to crush marketing goals and catapult sales because results are trackable and consistent. Using direct mail marketing campaigns is a vital part of an overall marketing strategy that these businesses use every day.

Read on to get best-bet tips that have proven successful in these industries (and check out the free ebook download offer with 25 pages of information you can use to connect with your customers)! Learn who uses direct mail, the types of direct mail and why direct mail is so effective for these businesses.

1.) Real Estate Brokers & Agents – EDDM Efficiency

Need a quick listing to sell or have real estate you need to move? Every Door Direct Mail is a powerful tool that allows for tracking methods to be used.  Real estate agents are using Mail Marketing to get in the door.

As an agent you can utilize direct mail to advertise a home for sale – Try sending direct mail postcards or direct mail letters to homes in neighborhoods that fit buyer requirements. If you’re trying to sell a condominium or townhouse, sending mailers to apartment communities is a great way to reach enthusiastic first-time home buyers. To get that million-dollar listing–send your Direct Mail Postcards to upscale homes telling them why it’s a great time to sell and what makes you the perfect broker or agent! 

Learn more about EDDM and how you use it to effectively canvass neighborhoods. Or check out our real estate direct mail services to see how you can target and attract the clients you need to crush your real estate sales goals.

2.) Car Dealerships – Lead Targeting

With strategic data segmentation designed around car buyers, the right direct mail marketing company can create successful direct mail campaigns for dealerships.

Postcard Mailers are a great way to reach out to people based on geographic location. Whether you’re selling luxury vehicles, mid-range, or even entry-level used cars, direct mail postcards can be the cornerstone of a successful marketing campaign. Many car dealerships will feature promotional vehicle pricing to get buyers on the lot, mail out scratch-to-win postcards, and instant discount coupons. Use direct mail marketing to get the word out for your next super sale event, you’ll regret it if you don’t.  

One cost-effective way car dealerships crush their sales goals is with direct mail postcards.

3.) Charities (Non-Profits) – Cost Effective Fund-Raising

Fundraising simplified, direct mail marketing campaigns are the ideal way to get back in touch with previous donors, find new donors, and recruit potential volunteers. One of the biggest obstacles charities face is getting their message out there, often due to limited staff which is why they often turn to direct mail agencies. 

Your charity can reach out and ask for donations in a non-invasive manner,  simplifying the donation process with easy-to-use return mail envelopes. Canvas no more! With Every Door Direct, you can be certain that your powerful message will reach every home in the neighborhood or city you target.

Here are 5 surefire tactics Non-profits use to crush their donation goals.  Or check out our nonprofit direct mail services to see how you can target and attract the donors you need to fund your mission.

4.) Marketing & Advertising Agencies – Personalization Perks

When you need to drive qualified leads to your ideal customers you need a marketing method that is highly effective and allows for precise tracking. Direct Mail Postcards & Letters are a perfect way to generate high-quality, organic leads for sales teams.

Variable Data Printing ensures the best possible response rate by allowing you to custom-tailor text and images on each individual mail piece. Don’t be shy, if your client is a veterinarian who wants to ensure his valuable clients keep coming back – Direct Mail is perfect. A customized postcard saying, “Honey is due for her annual check-up!” is a great way to personalize the messaging and show your customers you care. Whether you are sending service reminders or building brand ambassadors via birthday postcards, Direct Mail Marketing is the answer for any marketing strategy.

5.) Schools – For Parents & Students

Charter and private schools are a perfect solution for advertising enrollment and keeping in touch with parents. With Direct Mail you can be confident that you’ll reach the right demographic and families with close proximity.

If you need to remind families of important dates, events, or messages you can send Postcards are a perfect way to notify families of important announcements even on short notice!

6.) Medical Offices – New & Existing Patients

Dentists, physical therapists, physicians, veterinarians, and other medical professionals rely on regularly scheduled appointments to maintain consistency within the business. Direct Mail is a great way to wish patients a happy birthday or remind them of an upcoming appointment or annual exam.

For new patients, send direct mail promotions, new patient coupons and even let them know you’re accepting new clients.

Or check out our medical and healthcare direct mail services to see how you can target and attract the patients you need to increase the bottom line of your practice.

7.) Solar companies – Better Than Knocking

Let’s be honest, canvassing on foot is brutal. The best direct mail campaigns are the ones that allow you to target specific neighborhoods so you’re not walking around a neighborhood endlessly or sending postcards to apartment complexes.

With quality Data Services, for example, you can send Postcards to homes where the median home price fits your ideal customer profile, ensuring you the most conversions possible. To get homeowners to call try offering an incentive or free consultation and using a tracking phone number to monitor the effectiveness of your campaign.

How Can We Help With Your Mailers For Marketing?

When you have questions or want to crush your sales goals with a direct marketing campaign, reach out to us today at contact us today or 602.223.3003. We have years of experience creating effective direct mail campaigns, from conceptualization to deployment.  

Get your 25-page Strategy eBook FREE – Just click the image below!

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Private Schools Science Exploration looking at worm

5 Tips for Direct Mail Marketing for Private & Charter Schools

Parents are bombarded daily with digital marketing advertisements. Between email, social media, commercials, etc. it can become overwhelming. The average person receives over 100 emails every day! While people’s inboxes may be flooded, their mailboxes are less so, with an average of only 16 pieces of mail received each week. This makes direct mail marketing efforts highly effective.

Parents do not have time to open, let alone read, all those emails, reflecting the email open rate of only about 30%, whereas direct mail open rates can reach up to 90%.

Use direct mail marketing to avoid getting lost in the sea of digital marketing offers parents receive every day. Direct mail is a compelling and unique marketing strategy perfect for:

One Stop Mail Private Schools Marketing Tips Family

  • Schools
  • Community mailers
  • Higher education
  • Family attractions
  • Family events
  • Tutoring services

The majority of people prefer direct mail marketing because it is more personal than online interactions. Direct mail is also sent to a household, whereas email is sent to one specific person. This is significant for educational marketing since it is a personal topic that is likely to be discussed among family members.

The lifespan of marketing materials is also an important factor. Products and services related to education may require a longer decision-making period. An email has a lifespan of only a few seconds, while direct mail’s lifespan averages 17 days.

Parents juggle countless responsibilities, but they will always prioritize educational opportunities for their children that will set them up for a successful future. Use direct mail to quickly show parents how your product or service will improve their child’s life while making their lives easier. Follow these four tips to increase your campaign’s efficiency using direct mail marketing to parents.

Find Family-Friendly Zip Codes to Mail to

You may have informative and well-designed marketing materials, but if they aren’t sent to an appropriate household, then they will not be effective. Looking at all American households, there is an average of less than one school-aged child per housing unit. So it is important to locate zip codes where high percentages of families with children reside.

When compiling or procuring a mailing list of parents, look for:

  • Households with an average size of three or more people.
  • An average age of about 30 years old. Studies have found that parents between the ages of 25 and 44 are more influenced by direct mail marketing than digital marketing.
  • Persons under the age of 10. These children are entering elementary school or preparing for middle school.
  • Persons aged 14 to 20. Children of this age are preparing for high school and college.

One Stop Mail Private Schools Marketing Tips Home

Surprisingly, the type of home can make a difference, too. A study by the National Association of Home Builders found that detached single-family homes have the highest number of school-aged children per unit. Rented units also have more children than owner-occupied units and existing homes have more children than newly constructed homes.

Prioritize zip codes containing larger households with Millennial-aged parents and high numbers of single-family homes. Avoid zip codes with small, older households and newly constructed neighborhoods. The more specific you can get with your target list, the more likely you are to be successful.

Educational Direct Mail NOT Advertorial

You’re not selling the parent a shiny new widget – you are selling an experience, product, or service that will positively impact their child. As such, your marketing materials should be more informational and less advertorial.

Of course, you want to get the parent’s attention, but direct mail affords the unique opportunity to give consumers a tangible experience with your brand. Use the opportunity to show parents why your school, experience, or product is right for their child.

Share information like:

  • Why kids will enjoy this experience
  • What the product or service means for parents
  • Why the barrier to entry is low
  • Concrete facts and statistics about your service’s impact
  • The versatility of your product or service
  • Images of your product in action
  • Testimonials
  • Upcoming events (like open houses or summer camps)

Direct mail, like postcards or event flyers, have a limited amount of space. Studies show that direct mail campaigns are most effective with a digital call-to-action directing them online for more information.

Use Private Schools Marketing To Show Parents Long-term Impact

Education is an investment and parents want to see how that pays off. Demonstrate the value of your opportunity, product, or service by showing parents the long-term impact it will have on their child. It is especially important for charter schools and post-secondary institutions to demonstrate how their school will influence their child’s academic prospects, future career, and success.

One Stop Mail Private Schools Marketing Tips Graduation

Convey impact by including metrics and qualities such as:

  • Lasting skills developed such as creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills.
  • New friendships that teach social skills and relationships for potential networking.
  • Long-term success such as graduation rates, acceptance rates, or increases in test scores.
  • For college-bound students or career/tech schools, include job placement statistics and how your school will equip them to meet workforce demands.

Consider sharing a short success story. Parents want to be able to identify with real people and hear about their experiences with your product. Your current students and their parents are often influential spokespersons.

Parents want to know that they are providing their children with the best opportunities and it’s hard to argue with facts. Sharing information like that listed above is both relevant to your service and a great way to resonate with moms and dads who want the best for their kids.

Speak to Parents’ Direct Needs with Direct Mail

The day-to-day needs of parents will always vary, but a constant is occupying their children with enriching activities that will set them up for future success and ideally are fun and entertaining. This should be a clear message in your direct mail postcards and materials.

Be sure to include:

  • Approximate time activity or school will occupy
  • What their child will enjoy
  • What their child will learn
  • The level of parent commitment
  • How do you provide a safe and supportive community

One Stop Mail Private Schools Marketing Tips Art TeacherParents are busy and appreciate efforts to make their lives easier. Help them by making the message simple and easy to scan for significance. Make additional information easily accessible. Try including a QR code that leads to your website and be sure your contact information is clear.

Above all, parents need peace of mind.

Use your education direct mail to demonstrate the value of your service and show them the benefit and enjoyment their child will receive. Make it a clear and easy choice that gives parents peace of mind knowing their child is happy, well cared for, and receiving enriching opportunities.

Charter Vs. Christian Vs. Private School Marketing

A school could be considered one or any combination of a private, charter, or parochial/Christian school. Use your direct mail messaging to highlight which of these is most core to your school. While these aren’t mutually exclusive to one another, they give your marketing a targeted approach to likely households targeted with mailings.

  • Private Schools – messaging geared towards parents looking to provide a better education/experience for their child.
  • Charter Schools – messaging around alternatives to traditional public education options.
  • Christian Schools – messaging about how faith will help inform and shape a child’s education.

At One Stop Mail, our experts help you with your Direct Mail Marketing from start to finish. From mailing lists to design and fulfillment, our cost-effective services help deliver your message to your ideal customer.

Learn more about our Direct Mail Marketing Services or reach out online to tell us about your project and request a quote.

direct mail advertising costs team celebration

What’s The Cost Of Direct Mail Advertising? Why & How Much

Replenish customers who’ve left! A direct mail marketing campaign gets you a steady flow of new customers. Discover how to calculate and compare costs vs. results to get the best results.

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Direct Mail for Churches: How to Make It Work

As the world becomes increasingly digital, traditional marketing tools like direct mail seem to have taken the back seat. However, that doesn’t mean direct mail marketing no longer works or that organizations have stopped using it altogether. In fact, at $38.5 billion, spending on direct mail still makes up the largest portion of local ad spend in the U.S.

This gives testimony to the effectiveness of direct mail marketing, especially when it comes to reaching a local audience. With the right approach, it could also be the perfect tool for your church to attract more attendees and engage your valued members.

Benefits of Direct Mail for Churches

Direct mail marketing for churches can have many advantages:

Church Advertising Allows You to Stand Out

With direct mail, you have the ability to customize your mail materials. This allows you to deliver church outreach cards that stand out from standard envelopes and flyers. The more your mail stands out, the better the chances of it being noticed.

Helps Build a Personal Connection with Recipients

The physical material of direct mail can have a stronger emotional impact on recipients, allowing them to form a personal connection. No wonder 70% of consumers feel that receiving direct mail is more personal when compared to online interactions.

direct mail for churches postcardHelps Attract New Parishioners/Attendees

Your direct mail marketing campaigns can reach homes and families that aren’t already a part of your parish. With a compelling message, you could welcome these recipients as attendees to your church.

Great Way to Re-Engage Members

Direct mail for churches is also an excellent tool to re-engage members who have stopped attending service for a period of time. Reminders that you’re thinking of them could invite them back into the church.

How to Use Direct Mail Marketing

If your direct mail campaigns haven’t worked in the past, improve your efforts with the following tips:

Design Mailers that Stand Out

Colorful envelopes, oversized mailers, and interesting textures can help your mail stand out in the mailbox. Take it one step further by personalizing the mailer with the recipient’s name or a handwritten message. Colorizing and personalizing your mail could improve your response rate by a whopping 500%. Additionally, oversized envelopes see the highest response rates at 5%.

Leverage Nonprofit Postage Rate

To make your outreach budget go further, take advantage of the nonprofit mailing rate that USPS offers to nonprofits.  This could help you save a bit on postage and use the money you’ve saved for other necessities.

Write a Compelling Message

Your eye-catching mailers should be accompanied by a message that’s equally thought-provoking. Carefully plan your messaging so you can inspire recipients and encourage them to attend your church. Messages of forgiveness and love and messages of acceptance could be the key to attracting parishioners – both new and old – to your church. You could also write messages to show your work through the communities you’ve supported and the people you’ve helped.

Take Advantage of New Mover Lists

One of the best ways to attract new people to your church is by sending direct mail to people who have just moved into the neighborhood. Take advantage of Just Moved Mailer services to gain access to new mover lists and get new attendees to your church.

direct mail for churches young group laughing

Make It Actionable

Do you want people to attend the next Sunday service? Or perhaps you want them to participate in an upcoming event? Whatever the goal of your direct mail marketing campaign is, make sure you include a call-to-action so recipients know exactly what you want them to do next.

Use the Right Direct Mail Marketing Tools

Depending on the goal of your campaign, use different direct mail marketing tools strategically:

  • Door hangers for quick intros
  • Postcards for quick intros and regularly checking in on parishioners
  • Church invitation postcards for upcoming events
  • Flyers and brochures for detailed information on your church, cause, or event

With a combination of the right tools, messaging, and mailer design, a direct mail marketing campaign can make a positive difference for your church. 

Holly Emerson One Stop Mail StaffNeed help crafting powerful mailers for your church?

 

Find out how One Stop Mail can help.

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How to Boost Your Mortgage Leads With Mortgage Mailers

The competitive housing market is gearing up for another very busy spring season. With mortgage purchase originations expected to grow 9% in 2022, more consumers, businesses, and even organizations will be seeking mortgage programs. If your company is poised to take on new clients, now is a fantastic time to create a mortgage company direct mail campaign to take advantage of the uptick in the mortgage lending market.

As part of a well-rounded marketing strategy, a targeted, data-driven direct mail campaign helps to dramatically increase new leads and mortgage loan conversions. We dig into why direct mail can be an optimal fit for mortgage lead generation and how you can supercharge your marketing efforts.

Why Use Direct Mail For Mortgage Lead Generation

Houses with cactus

In a marketing landscape that’s becoming increasingly digital, direct mail remains one of the best ways to reach potential customers. In fact, direct mail use among mortgage companies alone has grown 439% in the past three years and shows no signs of slowing down precisely because of the overly crowded online space. Modern direct mail can leverage the modern data-driven targeting and list curation strategies to be the perfect complement to mortgage lending marketing programs.

Here are a few of the reasons mortgage companies prefer direct mail marketing:

  • Cost-effective: When done right, direct mail is far more cost-effective than many other alternative marketing strategies.
  • Targeted: With data-driven mailing lists, you can rest assured that your ads will target only the most qualified leads, boosting awareness and conversions.
  • Customizable: Mortgage direct mail products come in a variety of designs and are highly customizable, allowing you to stay on brand while sending the exact message you want to the right people.
  • Trackable: With advances in technology, direct mail marketing strategies are now more trackable than ever before. You’ll be able to see if your efforts are working and adjust when needed.
  • Off-line still works: Online advertising will always have its place in mortgage marketing, but direct mail is still an effective way to generate leads.

Use Custom, Data-Driven Mortgage Direct Mailing Lists

The first step to incorporating direct mail into your marketing strategy is to identify the ideal customer profiles that could become your next potential leads. Using a number of different factors, such as loan type, mortgage/interest rates, and other important demographic information, you can target the households that are most likely to need your services.

Woman Looking at mortgage mailersMortgage direct mailing lists are an essential part of reaching the right customers and informing them about your business. Since these lists are such a crucial element of your campaign’s success rates, it’s a good idea to turn to experts for help creating them. Direct mail experts will conduct a thorough review of the specific demographics in the neighborhoods you’re targeting, so you’ll know exactly whom you should be sending your direct mailers to.

If you already have mailing lists that aren’t performing as they should, direct mail list experts can also analyze them and make recommendations for improvement. They may even suggest additional names to add to your list or provide a “new movers” list.

Use A Range of Letters, Flyers & Postcards

After you’ve compiled your mailing list, the next step is to choose the best direct mail products to help you effectively reach these new leads. The three most popular choices for mortgage company direct mail marketing programs are personalized letters, flyers and postcards, each with its own advantages.

Mortgage Letters & Envelopes

Out of all the options, they feel the most formal and have more space for any information you may want to send. Mortgage letters are great for rate changes, previously funded, and many other types of notifications.

Mortgage Flyers

Somewhere between a traditional postcard and a letter is a customized flyer that can both get a potential client’s attention and deliver a relevant message. Sizes, designs and messaging can vary depending on the marketing goals of the company making them a highly flexible option.

Mortgage Postcards

Simple and straightforward, postcards are the most cost-effective choice to get into every lead’s mailbox. They are ideal for a quick message along with creative imagery and a call to action, featuring your business’ contact information.

Use Personalized Experiences With Variable Data Mailing

The best way for mortgage lenders to generate more potential leads using a direct mail campaign is to create a personalized experience using customer data and evolving trends.

Happy Smiling couple shaking hands with broker

The mortgage types and rates that your company offers will likely vary based on a potential customer’s qualifications, such as credit score and rental/buyer status. By accessing this information, you’ll be able to customize the kinds of direct mail you send to specific addresses and hopefully increase response rates.

For example, direct mail messages offering low down payment options can increase response rates for first-time homebuyers discouraged by the initial financial requirements of a mortgage. A well-executed direct mail campaign using customized imagery and messaging will be able to reach more qualified leads and encourage them to learn more about what your company has to offer.

Learn More About Your Mortgage Company Direct Mail Options

A direct mail campaign integrated into a well-rounded marketing strategy with multiple touchpoints is a great way to ensure that you’re reaching potential customers at every step. The team at One Stop Mail has experience in a wide variety of industries, including finance, and will be happy to help you achieve the best results possible from your mortgage direct mail campaign.

From choosing your direct mail products to compiling targeted mailing lists, our experts will work with you through every step to help your campaign perform at its best.

To learn more about our mortgage direct mail options, contact us at (602) 223-3003. Ready to get started? Request a free no-hassle direct mail quote!

Postcard for Dental Practice

Direct Mail Marketing for Dentists: What Services Will Help You Get More Patients?

With the ability to effectively reach a local audience, direct mail is the perfect marketing tool for dental practices. From attracting new patients to staying in touch with existing patients–direct mail marketing for dentists can have many benefits. Read on to learn how dentists can benefit from direct mail and how to strategically use this tool to market your practice.

Why Dentists Should Have a Direct Mail Strategy

There are a number of ways that dentists can benefit from having a direct mail strategy in place:

Gives You an Opportunity to Stand Out

In a world that’s increasingly moving online, marketing communications have also shifted mostly to digital spaces even among smaller businesses. A survey by The Manifest found that 69% of small businesses communicate with consumers using only online channels while 23% use a combination of online and direct mail. As such, direct mail gives you the perfect opportunity to differentiate your dental practice from that of the competition.

Dentist- grow your practice with direct mail

Enables Multichannel Marketing

As your practice caters to a wide variety of people across different age groups and having varying behaviors, their choice of communication channel also varies. Direct mail allows you to extend your marketing to a different channel so you can connect with people who prefer to get physical mail with dentist postcards. 

High Response Rates

People are responsive to direct mail. In fact, the Data and Marketing Association found that direct mail campaigns see an average response rate of 9%. Moreover, consumers engage with 96% of all direct mail. 

Helps Fight Dental Anxiety

Dental anxiety is a common issue that plagues not just children but adults too. The proper marketing materials can be used to provide valuable information and ease this anxiety in existing and prospective patients. 

Mailer Marketing Strategies for Dentists

If you don’t want your mailers to end up in the trash, you need to be strategic with your approach. Here are some tips that you can use in your direct mail marketing strategy:

Reach the Right People with the Right Message

This is one of the most important steps in any direct mail marketing strategy. To make sure that your investment pays off, you need to get your marketing message to the right people. This means targeting the right market segments such as new movers who will need to find a dentist in their area, households with children, and households with seniors—target homes only within a few miles of your practice.

New Homeowners

Personalize Your Messaging for Different Segments

Dentists cater to a wide range of patients with varying needs, pain points, and concerns. So, the same marketing message may not have the same level of impact across different segments. For example, parents with several kids may not be too convinced by your top-of-the-line equipment but may be more interested in dental care packages to help them save money. 

It’s important that you craft different messages that will resonate with each of the market segments you want to target. Think about the unique challenges that each segment may be experiencing and develop your message to address those challenges.

Be Strategic About Design

Your dental postcard design should be impactful enough to hook in recipients. For starters, choose the right color representation to create a feeling of trust and security in prospective patients. This is a great way to subtly convince more people about your expertise and get them to make their first appointment with you.

Drive Costs Down With Automation

Leveraging direct mail automation can help you save time and reach your prospects and patients at the best time possible and at the best cost. For example, using a saturation list can help drive postage down as low as 17c per postcard.  

With customized mailing lists and personalized messaging, direct mail can be the perfect tool to attract new patients to your practice. Need help with direct mail marketing for dentists? Get in touch with One Stop Mail to learn more about our Healthcare Direct Mail Marketing service.

 

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How to Choose Between EDDM, Targeted, or Saturation Mailing Lists

Searching for new ways to reach out to potential leads and turn them into customers? Every business must develop its own unique combination of three common lists to gain an edge over its competitors and effectively reach its audience. EDDM, saturation, or targeted mailing lists are three direct mail marketing strategies that can be a great addition to any direct mail plan.

Despite so much of today’s advertising being digital, direct mail marketing is a very effective way to bring in new potential customers. In fact, direct mail still accounts for the largest portion of U.S. ad spend. Knowing exactly which direct mail marketing strategies are best for your business can help you get even greater results.

In this article, we will go over the 3 main types of direct mail tactics that your business can employ, weighing the pros and cons of each. Equipped with this information, you’ll be better prepared to work with a direct mail agency to get your business in front of valuable new leads.

EDDM vs. Saturation vs. Targeted: What’s the Difference?

saturation mailing lists woman checking mail arriving homeFirst, let’s start with the difference between EDDM and saturation mailing lists. These two options are often confused with each other, but there are some key differences between them. EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) is a program designed by the USPS as an easy and cost-effective way to get a business’ ads to customers without the need for a mailing list (as no direct addresses are listed).

Saturation mailing is a very similar program to EDDM, but it does require a mailing list, and addresses are included on the mailed advertisements.

The third option, targeted mailing, is far more personalized. Rather than sending mailers to everyone in a specified area, this method uses specific criteria to send advertisements to the addresses of qualified leads.

With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which direct mail marketing strategy is best for your business. Next, we’ll go into more detail about each service and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using one method over another. Ultimately, direct mail marketing experts can provide you with all the information you need to help you choose the best option.

EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)

EDDM is an efficient way to distribute your business’ advertisements to every mailing address within a specific region. Since these advertisements don’t require a name or address, they save you the trouble of purchasing mailing lists.

There are many pros to using EDDM, but the most important may be that it is one of the more cost-effective options. Since the post office doesn’t have to do any special handling or preparation, and the program follows a carrier’s regular postal route, you can save on postage and avoid the costs associated with purchasing mailing lists.

There are also a few drawbacks to EDDM. First, the service is only meant to be used for flats (like postcards, newsletters, or folded pamphlets), meaning the mail you can send is limited to very specific sizes. A second disadvantage to EDDM is that, without names or addresses, it can feel less personalized than other methods.

Saturation Mailing Lists

saturation mailing lists mailboxesSaturation mailing campaigns are a more personalized version of EDDM. Saturation mailing works mostly the same way as traditional EDDM, but names and addresses are included on the mailers (or more commonly “Current Resident). In contrast to EDDM, this method does require you to purchase a mailing list.

One standout benefit of this method over EDDM is that a saturation mailing is not limited by size, which can give you more options for your bulk direct mail tactics. Even though you’ll have to pay for mailing lists, the postage will still be inexpensive compared to targeted advertising. Saturation lists qualify for the lowest bulk postage rates of all three methods because of their delivery efficiency.

As with EDDM, one disadvantage to using saturation mailing lists is that they aren’t as personalized as targeted efforts. This means that, although you are reaching more households, you may not always be reaching the right potential customers.

Targeted Mailing Lists

If you’re looking to narrow down your direct mail tactics to a more specific audience, then targeted mailing lists may be the right choice for you. With this strategy, instead of sending your mailers to everyone within a specific geographical area, you purchase one or more mailing lists with the addresses of qualified leads who are more likely to need your products or services.

One obvious benefit of a targeted mailing is that it allows you to focus on the right audience, which can help significantly increase response rates. This is especially helpful for businesses whose products are geared to a more specific or “niche” customer base.

However, one of the biggest downsides of targeted mailing is that it is more expensive than the previous two options. You also need to be sure that you purchase your data-driven mailing lists from a reputable source. When you partner with a full-service direct mail agency, they can even create customized, targeted lists for you.

Which Option Is Right for Your Business?

saturation mailing lists woman opening seeing her mail in front of mailboxThe right option will depend on your marketing goals and the results you want to see from your campaign. Does your company want to generate more potential leads, drive up sales, or increase customer loyalty? To get the most out of a direct mail marketing strategy, you’ll need a clear objective and metrics for tracking your results.

Before you make your decision, take some time to think about the kinds of customers you want to attract and the best ways to reach them. Each of the three direct mail tactics has its own benefits and drawbacks for specific businesses and industries.

For example, larger businesses that want to reach a broad range of potential customers might be better off using EDDM or saturation mailing lists. For businesses that have a specific niche and know exactly who their target audience is, the extra cost of targeted mailing could be offset by the ability to engage with pre-qualified potential leads directly.

A Direct Mail Agency Can Help You Choose

Even if you think you know which option you should choose, you may be missing critical information that could help you make the most effective decision. Partnering with a direct mail agency helps to ensure you get the most out of your direct mail marketing campaign.

Having experienced direct mail marketing experts in your corner can give you all the tools you need to fine-tune your strategy to achieve the best results. Not only will they help you pinpoint your method and create your direct mail campaign, but they can also show you the best ways to execute your plan to achieve maximum results.

Ready to learn more about your options and create your direct mail marketing plan? Reach out to us today at (602) 223-3003 or contact us.

 

Want Help Crushing Your Sales Goals? Get our 25-page Strategy eBook Free! Click the image below.

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Acquiring major donors with direct mail

How to Use Direct Mail Fundraising Campaigns to Acquire New Donors

Nonprofit fundraising campaigns help new and current donors understand the good you do and gain supporters for your work. When a donor holds something in their hand automatically creates more of a connection than seeing an ad online or getting an email. Create a direct mail piece that resonates with people and makes them the hero of the story! Here are some tips for using direct mail fundraising campaigns to acquire new donors.

5 Tips for Direct Mail Fundraising Campaigns

Direct Mail Fundraising Tip #1 – Start With Great Copy

direct mail fundraising woman reading a letterOnce you catch the eye of your potential donors, draw them in with a copy that evokes an emotional response. Start with a greeting, build rapport for your organization, make a case for a donation, and then offer them a way to donate.

To be the most persuasive consider the emotional pain or pressure points of your audience. Your story must resonate with your donor, which can be achieved by being honest, passionate, and direct. Tell them something they don’t already know about your company and ask the questions your donor will ask – “Why should I care about this? How can I help?”.

Consider adding an image that backs up the message. Make it clear that the donor can be the hero of the story! Address the impact that a donation from one person can have.

Direct Mail Fundraising Tip #2 – Use Targeted Lists

Not getting the results you’d like to see, or not sure how to collate a mailing list? One Stop Mail has a team dedicated to creating custom lists with targeted demographics. We have a strong knowledge of the non-profit industry and can help with list segmentation, data management, and appeals.

Some ways in which we can help:

  • Identify the type of donor and audience that your mailing needs to attract.
  • Finding new donors within your targeted area or demographic.
  • Data segmentation through coding to help you keep track of your giving history and levels.
  • Remove non-responsive recipients from the active list.
  • Adding new donors for follow-up collateral.

Whether you’d like a new list or an upgrade to one that’s not performing to your needs, One Stop Mail has you covered.

Learn more about our Targeted List Services.

smiling man with envelope direct mail fundraisingDirect Mail Fundraising Tip #3 – Personalized Mail

Don’t just send out any old direct mail! With modern print technology, it’s easy to personalize the name of the recipient, portions of your message, giving history, and the call-to-action to speak directly to the potential donor.

Direct Mail Fundraising Tip #4 – Upgrade Your Mail Package

There are many additional tools we can offer to make your direct mail fundraising campaign as effective as possible.

We have in-house graphic designers that can create unique materials that won’t get tossed. This unique touch helps get cost-effective results from the mail you send. We’ll work with you to create a mail piece that:

  • Stands out
  • Has a clear and strong call to action
  • Meets postal regulations

Above all, your piece should be easy to read and easy to respond to!

We have the following capabilities to execute any giving campaign plan and design, including:

  • Customizing the classic direct mail elements – letters, lift notes, inserts, brochures, reply forms, and even the reply envelopes.
  • Variable data letters of all sizes including perforation.
  • Including a #10 window or regular 4-color envelope.

Keep in mind that if you have a unique design but use the cheapest materials or packaging, your direct mail might be tossed anyway. Consider upgrading your mail package by using nicer envelopes, thicker or matte card stock, embossing or foiling, or other methods of showing off a high-quality piece.

Direct Mail Fundraising Tip #5 – Use Reply Devices

direct mail fundraising woman posting a letterWhat’s a reply device? This essential piece of fundraising campaigns can also be known as a reply slip, response form, or gift form. By including a pre-addressed reply device with your mailer, you’re making it as easy as possible for donors to return a gift in the mail.

Remember to:

  • Make the donation information clear.
  • Leave plenty of space for donors to write.
  • Include your organization name and address, just in case the reply device and reply envelope get separated.
  • Our variable data team can customize form fields and amounts that are curated for the mail recipient

Get In Touch

We hope these tips are useful for you to begin using direct mail fundraising campaigns to acquire new donors.

At One Stop Mail, we have the knowledge and expertise to help create or improve your direct mail fundraising campaign. We understand the donation process and can help by providing personalized messages and the recipient’s giving history data to each segment of your donor list.

Learn more about our options for direct mail fundraising campaigns

Call us at – (602) 223-3003 or request a quote online!

 

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Want help crushing your fundraising campaign goals? Get our 25-page Strategy eBook free!

 

 

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How Can a Bulk Mail Company Dramatically Increase Your Sales?

Every business owner wants sales. Their organization won’t exist long without them. They typically hire expert help to generate sales, sales managers, outside salespeople, inside sales, and a bulk mail company.

Yes, you read that right. A great way to generate sales is by hiring a reputable, knowledgeable bulk mail company. Before we get into the reasons why let’s examine what direct mail is and what it does.

What is Bulk Mail?

man with a mail stack bulk mail companyIt is physical mail that’s sent through the U.S. postal service in large volumes to reduce postage costs. Typical direct mail consists of advertising messages on postcards, in newsletters, catalogs, brochures, and letters of all sizes. Direct mail campaigns advertise a new product or business launch, advertising a service, product, or promotional offer.

Businesses who send bulk mail can include coupons to spark sales, promotional codes to measure the effectiveness of the direct mail campaign, and welcome offers to attract new buyers.

Bulk mail is simply an efficient way to reach many potential buyers. And it’s effective – 42.2% of people say they read their mail daily. House mail lists have an average response rate of 9%, 4.2% for prospect lists. 

Benefits of Bulk Mail

We’ve already demonstrated that mail is read and gets a good return (email on its own got about a 1% response rate in 2018), now let’s find out why.

“Sales” is a process. It starts when consumers become aware of your business and offerings (awareness). With repeat exposure to your business and products, the reader may start thinking of buying (the consideration stage), then with more exposure, they move to sales, and eventually a customer relationship with your firm.

Bulk mail campaigns ensure your potential customers see your offers (awareness). With repeated mailings, you can move them further along the buyers’ journey to consideration, then to purchasing, and a customer relationship. Not many people buy immediately – it usually takes an average of 7 exposures to your brand message before the average person will buy.

An experienced bulk mail company helps businesses create campaigns to guide prospects further along the buyers’ journey. Additionally, bulk mail sends your message far and wide to help more future buyers become aware of your business and products.

Mail sticks around

woman holding a mail bulk mail companyOn average, mail stays around the average household for 17 days. If the mail is a colorful, engaging postcard, it can be given a prize spot on the refrigerator or bulletin board increasing the number of times family members see it. Remember – with each exposure, viewers can be moved further down the buyers’ journey.

People love mail

Would you believe that 73% of people say that they like being contacted by mail by businesses because they can read it whenever they want? It’s true – and they also feel nurtured by the sender, which can be a good starting point for an ongoing customer relationship.

Why a Bulk Mail Company is Your Perfect Solution

Lead-nurturing and generating sales take time. Partner with a bulk mail company and they will do the time-consuming work for you. A company with experience in a wide variety of businesses can recommend the best frequency to mail and send follow-ups to get the results that you want.

Some bulk mail companies have graphic designers on staff to help you create the most engaging mailers to give them a better chance of ending up in an honored place on family refrigerators to remind people about your amazing offers.

In addition, they can create compelling coupons that will encourage them to take advantage of your offers.

Are You Ready to Boost Sales?

woman working bulk mail companyThe team at One Stop Mail are bulk mail experts and will be happy to guide you to get the best results. The team has worked in a wide variety of industries, from solopreneurs like realtors to home services like contractors and landscapers to insurance brokers and medical practices.

They also have graphic design expertise on staff to help make your mailers stand out. They are list experts that can customize a list to ensure your beautiful mailers reach a new target audience.

In addition, they are commercial printers and can complete digital follow-ups.

If you’re interested in a results-driven bulk mail company, reach out to One Stop Mail by calling (602) 223-3003 or requesting a quote.

 

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