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

December 28, 2021/0 Comments/in EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail), Lists & Data Services, Mail Services, Variable Data Printing

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?

First, 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 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?

The 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.

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8 Knock Out Direct Mail Ideas to Kick Off a Prosperous 2022

December 9, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing

The direct mail industry experienced some big transformations in 2021, proving it is alive and thriving. With the over-saturation of digital tactics, marketing strategists have gained significant momentum from partnering with direct mail companies to fill the need for tangible marketing contact. If you’re unsure of the most effective direct mail ideas for your business, here are some of our best tips to jumpstart the new year, wow your audiences, and build your business in 2022.

1. Personalized Direct Mail

The days of mass mail blasts with the accompanying high postage cost and long delivery estimates are on their way out. Direct mail today has adopted highly complex, data-driven technology allowing for more personalized and customized mail strategies that bring a higher ROI.

Mailing lists have progressed to allow a very specific audience. You can use specific data points to create a specific variable piece that will connect with your audience.

2. B2B Direct Mail Ideas for Small Businesses

After COVID-19 devastated brick-and-mortar retailers, many transitioned from in-person to online. With the oversaturation of the online market, direct mail has allowed many businesses that suffered losses, especially local businesses, to reach recipients in a physical way. They can deliver messages to their audiences with special promotions and offers that will bring customers back through the door.

As the world continues to re-open in 2022, so will the opportunities for B2B direct mail, compensating for the new demand for safe, contact-free ways of achieving tangible connections. A direct mail company can help you strategize the best direct mail ideas to connect you with other businesses.

3. Adopt COVID-19 Messaging

The pandemic has left a lasting impact on humanity and our economy over the past few years. Now that things are opening back up, marketers should emphasize COVID-19 messaging as a critical strategy to inform customers that businesses are safe and conscientious.

The messaging should be welcoming and reassuring. Words like “contactless delivery,” “social distancing,” and “safety first” help audiences feel confident that your business has taken the necessary steps to stay safe.

4. 2022: The Year of the Postcard

Sometimes less is more. Postcards come in various small sizes, for example, six-inch by nine-inch postcards have become a great direct mail solution over the past few years as people are spending less time reading lengthy and wordy advertisements in the mail.

Economical from a printing and production and posting standpoint.

5. Integrate QR Codes

QR Codes have been around for years but have recently become increasingly popular with the boom of online interaction and integration with businesses. Applying QR codes to your direct mail campaign is an efficient way to automate interaction with customers, prompting them to visit a website, view a menu, or visit a social media profile

Adding QR codes also helps with sales funnels, moving customers from physical to digital then back to physical. You can send out a QR code prompting a scan to get a discount, then customers quickly move to the website to redeem, and finally use the discount in-person or online to purchase.

6. Free Samples

Everyone loves a free sample. Incorporating free samples into your direct mail campaign is a highly effective way to familiarize customers with your brand and jumpstart sales. If your recipients are impressed by the sample they tried, they are more likely to purchase more products and recommend you to a friend.

Partnering with a direct mail company can guide you to creative ways to utilize samples into your marketing messaging to reap a higher ROI.

7. Compact Copy

Short and sweet is the trick to direct mail copy. Currently, direct mail copy is nearly half the length it was just a few years ago. In order to grab the recipient’s attention, direct mail demands an effective and easy copy with a clear call to action.

Keep colors lively and fun. Using bright colors with a bold headline can capture attention. Sentences should be short with as few bullet points as possible. Copy should create a response or emotion, sparking curiosity for the customer to want to know more. Direct mail experts can guide you in drafting eye-catching copy for all your marketing needs.

8. Highlight Perks

Direct mail is an exceptional way to let your audience know what deals you are promoting. Instead of promoting your business, promote the deal you are offering. That should be the first thing the customer sees.

For example, Bed Bath & Beyond is well known for its monthly coupon. The largest font on the postcard is the 20% off feature of the coupon. Customers want to immediately know what they will be getting by shopping with you.

Direct Mail Going Strong in 2022

We definitely won’t be seeing direct mail die down any time soon. It has proven itself to be a powerful player in the pandemic marketing industry. With innovative technologies, adaptive marketing strategies, and fresh takes on the traditional formats, businesses can use it to reach financial prosperity in the new year. Work with a direct mail company like One Stop Mail to help you narrow in on which of these direct mail ideas would work best for your business to kick off a goal-shattering 2022. Contact us at (602) 223-3003

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How to Use Direct Mail Fundraising Campaigns to Acquire New Donors

November 22, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing

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

Once 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.

Direct 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

What’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!

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

How Can a Bulk Mail Company Dramatically Increase Your Sales?

October 29, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing

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?

It 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

On 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?

The 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.

OSM Blog Hero image Direct mail companies

How Direct Mail Companies Help You Get and Keep Customers: Top 5 Tips You Need to Know Right Now!

September 24, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing

Everyone gets mail, from consumers to businesses, so direct mail reaches everyone, especially those who are not yet digitally connected all the time. In some ways, direct mail stands out – and works – because it is not digital. Though that doesn’t mean direct mail companies can’t help digital businesses. In fact, it’s quite the contrary. Since it takes an average of eight touchpoints to convert a prospect to a customer and a sale, direct mail pulls its fair share of the marketing load. Below are some ways that any business can use direct mail to gain customers and keep them coming back.

5 Ways to Make Your Direct Mail Work for You

1. Pay attention to design. White space, imagery, fonts, placement – it all matters in direct mail campaigns, especially postcards with more limited space. If you aren’t already working with a designer, One Stop Mail can help direct you.

Along these lines, also consider A/B testing for your direct mail designs. Changing a single variable, such as a call to action copy or how an offer is presented, can offer valuable insight into how to boost the success of future campaigns. You can also change more prominent and cost-effective elements, such as postcard size and paperweight or texture.

The word count changes in the direct mail copy all formats

From WhosMailingWhat.com

2. Keep it concise. WhosMailingWhat.com reports that word count in direct mail copy is on a steep decline. Campaigns that once used 1,000 words in 2000 are now closer to 500 words. More streamlined copy is easier and faster for readers to take in. People also respond better to visuals over or in conjunction with the copy.

3. Direct mail is tangible, so take advantage! One of the primary reasons direct mail works is because readers can touch it and turn it over in their hands. It can easily be pinned to a refrigerator or passed on to a neighbor. To that end, play with different sizes, shapes, and textures. The more your piece stands out, the more it will get around.

4. Try out trends. Green is a growing trend in many industries, print and mail included. This could mean printing on recycled paper or using “eco” and sustainability language in your copy. QR codes are also picking up steam and are easy to incorporate in any direct mail campaign (more on those below).

Another trend to think about is the COVID-19 pandemic. While we all thought it would be over by now, it’s showing signs of sticking around for quite a while. That likely has a direct impact on your business and your customers’ spending. Consider addressing the elephant in the room head-on, including adding safety precautions you may be taking or potential delays in shipping. And if your business is all digital or can be virtual, definitely promote those benefits.

5. Classic still counts. While it’s great to try new trends to see what may work for your specific company in your unique industry, don’t overlook the classics that have proven themselves time and time again, such as postcards.

Direct mail postcards have been around for decades and decades because they are smaller (read: more cost-effective to print, no envelopes) and faster for consumers to read. They also force creativity, since less is more and you are limited in your messaging by the physical size of the page.

When and How to Send Direct Mail

Timing and logistics can mean everything for a direct mail campaign. Send too much mail and your ROI will dwindle. Send too little or at the wrong times and you miss opportunities to grow. Here are three tried and true tips for mastering your marketing calendar.

Send During Holidays

Since people are expecting to receive gifts and cards, they are more likely to carefully shift through the mail. This applies to the traditional winter holidays as well as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Bonus: Beat the rush and send an offer in your mail just ahead of the holiday. You may capture those last-minute shoppers who suddenly realize they need to buy something now!

Send on Customer Birthdays

Blend direct mail with variable data to automate this process. Have cards sent directly to your current customers when again, they are anticipating more and better mail. You also get the added benefit of personalizing your interaction and thus, making it more memorable for your customer. Add an offer or freebie to make it even more memorable.

Send When You’ve Carved Out Time for Follow-up

Sticking to a marketing calendar only works if you have the time to follow up with your potential and current customers. It’s not just about sending mail – you have to connect or follow up when people respond (multiple times). So sending a campaign in the middle of your busy season may not be ideal. Instead, plan ahead and have the direct mail marketing campaign ready to send by the end of your busy season, so that you’ll have the time to track results and serve those potential customers the way you would like.

Use Direct Mail to Introduce Digital

While direct mail and digital advertising can be employed separately, they often work best when they support each other. For those consumers who are not digital dominant, direct mail is an easy way to introduce them to a website, service, or app.

Digital calls to action are increasingly popular among direct mail campaigns in these three ways:

Directing readers to a social media channel.
Using a QR code, either to take the reader to a webpage or to even start a specific order or inquiry.
Encouraging readers to visit a website. More than 60% of people visit a website in reaction to direct mail.

Digital interactivity through direct mail benefits both businesses and nonprofits, as it makes donating much easier. The more ways you give readers to interact with you and the easier you make it, the more likely they are to become and stay a customer.

Who Uses Direct Mail Companies?

Think about your own mail – what companies do you receive direct mail from? Local services, like HVAC companies, dentist offices, and carpet cleaners may come to mind. And these are certainly industries that traditionally see the value in direct mail. However, new and non-traditional industries like SaaS (software as a service), disrupters, and e-commerce are tapping the direct mail well.

Google has been consistently using direct mail for nearly two decades. The company’s trademark white space – also an important design element – translates well to the printed page and helps to capture the reader’s attention.

E-commerce powerhouse Amazon also uses direct mail. The company’s holiday toy catalogs are rivaling the famous FAO Schwartz and likely reaching more potential customers. Activities and stickers are cleverly placed among the toy ads, giving the mail piece a longer life span.

You may think an app would advertise vial direct mail, but DoorDash chose to send direct mail postcards in an attempt to separate itself from the mounting competitors. In good postcard form, the text was minimal over strong visuals and included a discount for first-time users.

Likewise, Uber used local direct mail campaigns to promote its disrupter expansion into those new cities. A great example of how direct mail companies and marketing campaigns can work for non-traditional industries.

LinkedIn’s campaigns illustrate that direct mail is not just for consumers. The networking giant sends mail to companies and businesses explaining how to take full advantage of the SaaS services, such as posting a job or an ad. Some mailings also include enticing offers.

How to Get Started

These mega-companies, and so many more, work with direct mail companies because they see the ROI and know it works. However, you don’t need to be an Amazon or Google to reap the rewards. Whether you have a brick-and-mortar store or a startup in your garage, direct mail can help you get and keep customers.

To learn the best ways to reach those new customers, request a quote from one of the top direct mail companies in the industry, One Stop Mail. We’ll provide you with the information you need as we walk you through all the options for you and your business. Reach out to us today at [email protected] or 602.223.3003.

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How to Pick the best Direct Mail Company: A Checklist

July 11, 2017/0 Comments/in Direct Mail

Top 5 Things Everyone Should Look For In the Best Direct Mail Company

Sifting through all of the companies as you search for the best direct mail company can be time-consuming. How do you determine if one is better than the other? What characteristics offer you the best opportunity for success?

Before we get into finding the best direct mail company for you, let’s erase any doubt you may have about whether direct mail belongs in a modern marketing mix. When you review these impressive results, you will know that it’s among the most effective marketing methods today.

Astounding Direct Mail Statistics

Businesses with customer acquisition goals should utilize direct mail. With an average return on investment of 29%, mail campaigns are profitable. In addition, direct mail recipients tend to buy 28% more items and spend 28% times more than other buyers.

The reason for this high rate of return may have something to do with how individuals interact with their mail. About 77% of people report sorting and scanning their mail immediately after receiving it. With statistics like this, marketers can be sure they touch their audience.

An informative postcard can also be the start of a mutually beneficial relationship with new clients because more than 50% say that they find postcards useful, and 90% say that marketers who contact them through the mail are trustworthy.

Now that you know direct mail can be hugely beneficial, here are the five key criteria to use to find the best direct mail company.

1. They Have a Track Record of Success

OSM AChecklist This is a key indicator if a company is even worth pursuing. You can usually see the type of clients they’ve worked with in past on their website.

Review the testimonials on their site. You’ll be able to see whether their clients like their responsiveness, whether they deliver their services as promised, and whether they have great customer service.

Whether they have testimonials or not, it’s a smart move to talk with a project manager or owner to determine whether you want to consider them further. One of your first questions should be about their track record. Here’s a shortlist of questions that can help you uncover whether a direct mail company has delivered success:

What industries have your clients been in? Do you specialize in a specific area?
Can you describe how you achieve success for your clients?
What do you consider success for your clients?
Can you describe a failure and how you overcame it?

2. They are Reasonably Priced

Budgets can be a tricky area. That’s why price should be one of the key things you ask upfront so you won’t be surprised after the working relationship has begun.

Keep in mind that there is not a simple, static template for direct mail. There are ways to adjust things – the size of a postcard, lower or raise the print run, or adjust the printing requirements – that can help keep direct mail costs under control while still offering outstanding returns.

If mailer personalization is on your mind, today’s printing advances put variable data printing within reach. It’s now a much more cost-effective strategy to connect with customers. (P.S. As a marketer, you want to personalize your mail because 99% of marketers say that it advances customer relationships).

No matter what the size of your budget, you want to make sure every dollar is adding to the end result.

3. They Understand Your Needs

direct mail company colleagues analyzing on an ipad One of the simplest, yet most important things the best direct mail company for you can do is to grasp your unique circumstance and support that understanding with a solution that’s tailored to fit you.

They must be willing to work with you to develop strategies, test tactics, measure outcomes, and make changes to optimize results so that they can gain bigger, better sales for your business. Your own situation requires unique strategies, as you’re interviewing candidates, make sure that you are being understood.

4. They Know the Complexities of the “Game”

While it sounds simple on the surface, maximizing direct mail results takes a lot of experience and insider knowledge. Look for years of success across a diversity of industries. This demonstrates an ability to navigate and assess the needs in a range of markets and provide guidance for reaching a specific audience.

5. They are Customer Acquisition Experts

Persuasion isn’t a given, even with the best product or service. Because there are so many distractions that compete for your customers’ attention, it’s easy to overlook product announcements.

The best direct mail company has experts who can advise clients on the best lead generation tactics. They can recommend specific things, including the use of coupons and new customer discounts.

In addition, they understand how to create memorable impressions with your mailers, so they stand out from competitors in a crowded mailbox.

Getting to Know You

direct mail company woman listening clients If after doing your research and asking questions, you’ve found the best direct mail company for the job, you’ll rightfully expect a bit of marketing magic. Understand that it may take a bit of research, trial and error, and practice to learn how to collaborate with outside experts.

Your experts may ask questions about your business, industry, and goals to determine the best course of action. They may recommend cleaning up your house list if you’ve had lukewarm results from recent mail campaigns, even suggesting a customized list to better target your audience.

Postcard images, specific phrases, and mailer colors may all be analyzed and considered, along with previous campaigns before a specific course of action is set.

Setting the Course for Long-term Direct Mail Success

An exploratory phase early in the relationship isn’t unusual. It’s all about finding the right path to maximize your results – and profits. And, after each mailing and campaign, the results will be analyzed and elements of mailers and campaigns may be tweaked, to get even more value from the next mailing.

During the entire process, the company you choose should make you feel that you are in charge and driving your own results. The course must be transparent and your organizational expertise included to ensure that your mailer achieves incredible success.

On your search for the best direct mail company, we are confident that One Stop Mail’s 40-years of experience and success will make your final list. In addition to unmatched direct mail experience, our customer service and gentle guidance will build your confidence in our partnership.

Get started by calling Marty Morales at (602) 223-3003 or send us a note.

Updated 10.12.2021