Tag Archive for: Mailing List

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Welcome to the Neighborhood! The Unbeatable Rewards of New Mover Mailers

In the English language some words evoke pure delight – “thank you,” “yes,” and “welcome” are among them. You can start your relationship off on the right foot by welcoming future customers with new mover mailers.  

That first greeting should be more than an invitation, it also provides information. You’re telling new neighbors about services/products available in their new community – that’s so neighborly. 

If you are wondering “Why target new mover mailers in this way?”,  let’s start with taking a closer look at new mover lists and why they belong in your direct mail campaign.

Is New Movers Flyer Right for Your Business? 

In 2020, nearly 30 million Americans reported moving, and they need everything, drug stores, and grocery stores to new service providers, like a handyman, plumbing, contractors, pest control, dry cleaners, etc. They also need medical providers like dentists, vets, and optometrists.  

If you offer a service or product that people usually access in their location, then your business would benefit from a list that will target new movers. 

Now, let’s address what to do to capture a percentage of those 30 million movers.  

Empathy Creates Loyalty, Thanks to New Mover Lists

new mover mailers family holding boxes moving into a new houseApproach mailer creation from what your audience needs (empathy) and your new mover lists become a platform to launch long-term and fruitful relationships.  

Moving is stressful. After home inspections, paperwork, loan processes, getting into a new home is a relief. But then there’s more stress enrolling kids in school, hiring new service providers, and figuring out where to shop.  

When you make new movers feel welcomed and understood, you’re on your way to establishing a connection with them. Following up with another mailer in a few weeks may help them feel comfortable with your brand.  

Get on Shopping Lists 

As mentioned earlier, new movers must choose the grocery and drug stores, clothing and shoe stores, hair stylists, masseuses, and other providers to frequent in their new community. 

Get in the door before your competitors to cement a place in new customer’s consciousness and persuade them to try you out!

Give Them Reasons to Shop 

Coupons and offers work for physiological reasons. According to recent statistics, 38% reported higher oxytocin levels, which are feel-good hormones usually associated with cuddling and kissing, and 32% lower stress hormone levels. 

Shoppers feel good when they get a bargain. Put together a new mover discount to get that first order.  

Extend Your Reach with New Mover Mailers 

new mover mailers young men checking mailboxDid you know that you can choose to target an entire region or just certain types of people within that area?

For instance, if your business involves kids younger than 12 you can save by not mailing to the senior community within a targeted zip code. 

One Stop Mail’s direct mail marketing professionals can help trim time and expenses without sacrificing quality. 

Managing the entire campaign on your own is complex and time-consuming. That’s why an experienced direct mail marketer with list-building, data analytics, and variable printing capabilities must be part of your team.  

Ready to get started building profits for your business by welcoming new movers to your neighborhood? Contact Marty at 602.223.3003. He and his team of pros will help create new mover mailers that attract attention and new customers. 

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How to Create an Effective HVAC Direct Mail Marketing Campaign in 5 Easy Steps

Businesses that rely on local, in-person customers—like HVAC companies—can greatly benefit from running a direct mail marketing campaign to reach more people. Direct mail marketing campaigns gather regional data to contact prospective customers by mail. HVAC HVAC Direct Mail Marketing OneStop Mail blog repair technician working on AC unti outside webdirect mail marketing can introduce a company to many more clients all at once, and at a fraction of the cost of digital marketing.

Direct mail is one of the most cost-effective marketing options out there for companies by offering a significantly higher response rate (up to 10x!) than digital marketing.

When working with a direct mail partner like One Stop Mail, HVAC companies have experience and resources on their side to target ideal customers, create eye-catching mailers and make a big enough impression to draw clients in.

If you’re thinking about running a direct mail marketing campaign, follow these five easy steps to get it underway.

1. Get the Right Mailing List

Getting the right mailing list is key to a successful direct marketing campaign. There are several ways to gather a mailing list.

An excellent base for a mailing list is current and previous customers. However, if you are looking to drive new introductions with your campaign, this may offer limited options.

You can buy or rent lists from list compilers and brokers. They make lists that are easy to revise based on particular industries. By providing a customer profile based on your current customer list, you can show them exactly what kind of customer you’d like more of.

Another option to consider is every door direct mail (EDDM). Working with the USPS to get mailing route information, you can have access to large geographic swathes of potential customers. The only thing they have in common is living near each other, but for local HVAC companies supplying a general product or service that virtually everyone needs at some point, this can be enough to start building contacts.

2. Design Your Mailer Intelligently

One Stop Mail Blog colorful envelops webBoth the content and the design of your mailer matter when it comes to getting noticed in someone’s mailbox. There are many ways to make direct mail intriguing enough to deserve a second glance, such as specialty envelopes or tapping into some color psychology.

Postcards are a common go-to for direct mail. These are a cost-effective option for direct mail with a lot of real estate to include visual cues and information. Opting for slightly larger postcards can get you more space without a significant increase in cost.

Incorporating digital elements into postcards, like QR codes or scannable coupons, is a simple, effective way to take the recipient to a next step.

3. Make an Impression

In marketing, an “impression” is each time potential customers come in contact with your brand. Industry wisdom says it usually requires around seven impressions before someone truly recognizes a brand.

Each time your mailer ends up in the hands of a potential customer, you can make a new impression. By building on design, incorporate information that will help them remember who you are. Snappy slogans or directions framed as, “Find us right next to the Dunkin’ on Main,” can start to build connections for the customer.

4. Utilize Tripwires in Your HVAC Direct Mail Marketing

One Stop Mail HVAC Direct Mail Marketing team strategizing with charts and graphs webThe goal of HVAC direct mail marketing is not always to make a huge profit. Typically, it is a way to extend a business service to new customers. By offering a low-cost service, such as HVAC inspection, and leaning on a discounted promotion, you can connect with new customers, let them see the type of work you do, and hopefully add them to your client list for higher-priced projects.

This is known as a “tripwire.” Price items and services at can’t-resist low costs. Provide something convenient and desirable that clients may have been skimping on until they found the right price.

5. Learn Something

You can’t think of a direct marketing campaign only in terms of the number of dollars it fetches in precise response to this single wave of your marketing strategy. Instead, think of your direct marketing campaign as one of the best options for market research.

Strengthen your mailing list by seeing which neighborhoods responded best to your campaign. Any returned addresses can be removed from your list to streamline your targets and save money on the next wave of the campaign.

Work with One Stop Mail on Your HVAC Direct Mail Marketing

If you’re ready to take on the direct marketing world to enhance brand recognition and introduce yourself to more customers, work with One Stop Mail on your HVAC direct marketing campaign.

With almost 40 years in the direct mail and print services industry, One Stop Mail has the knowledge and experience to support your direct marketing campaigns. Our wide variety of services include mailing list, data service, print, and graphic design, offset, digital printing services, direct mail service, and easy fulfillment. We are truly your one-stop direct mail service!

To expand your customer base, request a quote from One Stop Mail. We can offer you information about how to get started and what your best options might be. Reach out to us today at [email protected] or (602) 233-3003.

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Using Direct Mail Campaigns to Increase Donations

How to Increase Donations with 5 Sure-Fire Direct Mail Tactics

In good and bad economic times, achieving your fundraising goals is essential. Not knowing how to increase donations to hit the numbers you need puts your mission in jeopardy. You know what failure could mean – reprioritizing initiatives, delaying, or abandoning them altogether. 

Fortunately, we are sharing 5 proven direct mail services for nonprofit organizations to help fundraising managers hit those all-important goals. 

How to Increase Donations with Direct Mail

We’ve shared many statistics about the effectiveness of direct mail – so you know it gets great results. Here’s a variation – 

Direct mail is 37 times more effective than email response rates according to the Direct Mail Association. 

The smart money says to go with direct mail. According to recent statistics, 42% of recipients read their direct mail and it hangs around the household for an average of 17 days which gives all members of the household time to review it. Explaining sustained giving options may have a better chance to be read and understood in a carefully crafted letter. 

Now that you know how direct mail will deliver, what should you do with it?

How to increase donations senior in blue shirt with envelopes in hands#1 – How to Increase Donations? Reach Out to Current Donors

You’ve heard the old saying that it’s easier to sell a customer than a prospect. Well, the same is true of your current donors. 

Because your donors have shown they are aligned with your mission and want to help your organization achieve it by donating before, they don’t have to be convinced. This group is the most likely mail recipient to give during your next campaign. Yet, it’s easy to overlook them. 

If it’s awkward to start the conversation with someone who has already been generous to your organization, just say thank you for their past support and invite them to continue that support.

#2 – How to Increase Donations? – Use Targeted Lists

Your nonprofit probably knows the type of donor who is the most generous and consistent in their donations to your organization. Create a custom list and use the donor segments that have worked best for you – or send variations of your campaign letter to current, lapsed, and long-lapsed donors to increase donations. 

Sustainer Giving

Instead of requesting a large contribution, consider sending lapsed donors a sustained giving proposal that’s built from their prior giving history. For instance, if they’ve routinely given $200 a quarter, you can suggest they pledge $70 a month to make donations more manageable. 

Major Donors

Send a separate communication to your largest donors, who have a bigger stake in your organization. They may be more interested in special initiatives, the benefits, and how you will use their money. In addition to a special message, the communication may require higher quality stationery. 

Want to know how to increase donations from new major donors? Target high-income neighborhoods on customized lists as 93% of these women donate to nonprofits while 87% of men also donate.

How to increase donations personalized envelope web 1#3 – Personalize Your Marketing to Increase Donations

Nearly every business influencer and sales guru, from Dale Carnegie to today’s experts, know the power of using a person’s name. It immediately draws the reader’s attention and provides a personalized feeling to the mailer. 

When you’re approaching a donor – current or new – with the reasons why they should donate to your cause, using their name can be influential. 

Fortunately, with today’s digital marketing printing solutions, the cost of personalization, sometimes called variable data printing, is much more affordable, making it a must-do!  

#4 – Pro Tip: Use Reply Devices

This is simply a way to make it easier for the recipient to act. A mail-back card and a pre-addressed envelope can encourage donors to include a check or complete a form to demonstrate their commitment to donate on a regular schedule.

Why is a pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelope so important? With a marked decrease in mailing (in 2000 there were 103,526,000,000+ mailed; in 2020 it was nearly half the volume, 52,624,000,000) what’s the likelihood that your recipient doesn’t have an envelope or first-class stamp?

Why take the chance that a well-meaning donor wants to give, but they have to get stationery supplies or go to the post office to do it? How many will set aside the letter with the intention of getting back to it, and then forget it? Instead, make it easy for donors to give. 

How to increase donations opening a thank you note web#5 – How to Increase Donations – Keep in Touch with Donors

Even if you’re between donor campaigns, keep in touch with your donors to let them know how their donations have made a difference within your organization. Keeping them connected to the organization can make it easier for donors to say “Yes” to your next campaign. 

This step applies to lapsed donors, too. If you’re reluctant to stay in touch, keep in mind that you don’t know why they stopped donating to your nonprofit. It may be that they lost their job – fortunately for many, this is a temporary situation. Put your nonprofit front and center when they’re ready to give again. 

These 5 steps can help your nonprofit to have the best chance of increasing donations in good economic times and not-so-good times. Partnering with a direct mail campaign and print experts with nonprofit experience, like One Stop Marketing can make your campaigns easier to execute and your goals easier to achieve. 

Contact us or give us a call at 602.962.9243 to find out just how committed we are to helping you hit your big goals. 

OSM Blog Effective direct mail campaign

Effective Direct Mail Campaigns Repeat Themselves

There’s an adage that says doing the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. But what is it called when you repeat behavior that has given you great results to get the same good results? I call it genius, especially when it comes to effective direct mail campaigns.   

Sharp business owners know that repeated mailings can be successful, but that doesn’t mean sending out the same cards with the same messages to the same clients. Sending duplicate offers too many times could result in diminishing results.  

Let’s explore why you want to do repeat mailings and the strategies that you, as a business owner can use to elevate your success with each mailing. First, why would you want to mail, then repeat your mailings? 

Effective Direct Mail Campaigns Pay You 

Despite the proliferation of digital marketing, there’s data that shows that direct mail delivers a bigger return than email marketing. Did you know that direct mail sent to house lists had a 9% response rate and a prospect list yielded a 4.9% response? That’s great compared to email, which got a 1% response rate.  

With response rates like that, who wouldn’t want to repeat their mailings? There are other benefits to mailing customers multiple times.  

Brand Visibility 

effective direct mail campaigns man with laptop opening mail webIn marketing, there’s a theory that a prospect must encounter your brand an average of seven times before they are ready to purchase. This theory is creatively called The Rule of 7.  

Whether or not effective direct mail campaigns will get results after the seventh mailing isn’t the point. The point is, when you’re introducing your business or service to a new prospect, you can’t just expect them to whip out their wallet. You need to woo them and get them comfortable with your brand. Multiple mailings will help.  

Build Credibility 

If you’re a new business or new to an area, you must start from scratch. New prospects can’t rely on word-of-mouth recommendations from neighbors or the presumption of reliability that comes with decades in business.  

When you’re the new kid on the block, you must be noticed before you can ask for a seat at the popular table. This means you must trade a piece of chocolate cake for a mushy apple a couple of times to get invited to the popular table. What that means is a tasty offer mailed several times – at least three in my experience, after your prospect has heard from you at least once.  

Beat the Competition 

If you have business competitors, it’s a matter of getting in front of a targeted audience before the other guys do. That means mailing more frequently. A postcard delivered on the right day can make all the difference.  

Take Advantage of the Novelty 

effective direct mail campaigns woman reading a flyer webDid you know that mail volume has been steadily declining in volume each year since 2006? It was 213 billion units in 2006 and in 2020 it was only 129.2 billion units of mail.  

For direct mailers like me, this isn’t bad news – it’s an opportunity! In 2006, there were nearly double the mail in the mailbox and you had to stand out among heavier competition. Today, it’s half that amount and more of your competitors are online.  

Now, holding your colorful oversized is unique, a novelty – and your business stands out.  

Additional Steps for an Effective Direct Mail Campaign

Planning an effective direct mail campaign includes strategies for multiple mailings. This includes the type of mailer you choose, the strategic positioning of each mailing, offers, and lists. If this all feels too overwhelming, no worries. One Stop Mail has a team full of experts who can help you navigate the intricacies of direct mail.  

And, if you need design services or list expertise, we have that, too. Just contact us or give us a call at 602.962.5104. 

OSM SM Post Build a targeted mailing list

How to Build Better Targeted Mailing Lists

Every direct mail campaign relies on targeted mailing lists. You need to know who you are mailing to personalize your mailings and utilize best practices. The first step starts with a little hard work, and that involves compiling the data you already have on hand. With this data, you can understand who your biggest purchasers are and determine similarities between each individual so that you can target other customers like them in the future more effectively.

Put Your Own Data in Targeted Mailing Lists

The first step should be determining who is your target customer. You can do this by reviewing past customers and start building targeted mailing lists from the ground up. When you do this, you should pay special attention to commonalities between customers so you can start constructing customer profiles. These profiles will give you a snapshot of your various customers and empower your marketing campaigns with all of the unique data that segments these individuals.

Now, every customer is unique. To say that a certain segment of your customer base is identical is a little misleading. You will most likely end up with a lot of different kinds of customer profiles, and there will be subtle differences that make each purchase just a little bit different. But this is where your hard work comes in since it’s your job to find where the data may overlap.

Though it may seem like a no-brainer, it is important just to focus on the customers that generated the most revenue for your business in some way—at least at first. Your other customers are important too, but initially, you should focus first on the profile that will help you target the most lucrative prospects.

What To Do With Your Profiles and Mail List

Although the goal is to ultimately understand your target audience, these profiles and mailing list can serve to inform many of your marketing decisions. You can break the mailing list down, if you haven’t already, by each individual’s purchase history so you can find trends in their buying habits to improve any marketing that targets past customers. You can also use these lists to help you form a reminder campaign, which is particularly relevant to any business that is appointment based.

Your Ideal Customer – Cloning Mailing Lists

Another common practice businesses use is after they have put in all of the hard work of building their mailing list to determine their ideal customer, they take this vital information and go purchase a clone mailing list.  A clone mailing list is a collection of prospects that fit the customer profile you have developed. This is why it is important to focus on the customers who have purchased the most from your business since this new set of similar prospects will have a greater potential of bringing in large amounts of revenue.

How to Get Started

If you’re new to building targeted mail lists or haven’t had much success,we at One Stop Mail can help. We are direct marketing experts and will discuss your goals for your campaign and can offer consumer, B2B and customized lists. If you’d like help with the campaign itself, we develop the marketing materials and deploy the materials for you. Simply call 602.806.8775 or reach out to us, we’re here to help.

 

Updated 2.17.21 

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How to Pick the best Direct Mail Company: A Checklist

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 AChecklistThis 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 ipadOne 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 clientsIf 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

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