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One Stop Mail Monthly Direct Mail Can Boost Business

5 Ways Monthly Direct Mail Marketing Can Boost Business Now

April 10, 2023/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards

If sales are slow or you’re looking to expand your business, it is necessary to find new and innovative ways to reach your target audience. Direct mail may be a part of your current strategy, but have you tried monthly mailers to benefit from the full potential of this marketing tool?

According to the Direct Marketing Association, the optimal direct mail frequency is every 21 days, or about once per month. Below are the top five ways monthly mailers can boost business as a standalone campaign or as part of a multi touch campaign.

Increased Brand Awareness: Reach vs. Frequency

In general terms, reach is how many people see your advertising, while frequency is how many times your advertising is seen. In direct mail marketing, frequency wins. Strong recognition with a select audience is more valuable than weak recognition with a wide audience. If you’ve made frequent contact with the right set of potential customers, your brand or service will be top of mind when your recipient is ready to make a purchasing decision.

The main reason for sending out direct mail is to increase revenue for your business. To do this, you first have to increase awareness. The Marketing Rule of 7 is the idea that a potential customer needs to see your messaging 7 times before they take action. The brand awareness from monthly mailers will create referral traffic from recipients who have physically seen and touched your brand multiple times.

Engage Customers with Dynamic Content

Dynamic content is content that is always changing and evolving. You don’t want to send the same mailer over and over again.

Monthly mailers give you the opportunity to change components such as:

layout and design
call to action (CTA) – the ask at the end of your mailer (purchase now, call to book, etc.)
new offers.

Keep it fresh to show that your company is dynamic and keeping up with the latest trends. Show off everything you have to offer with:

seasonal and timely content
targeted incentives
matching branding for recognition
quality printed materials.

Infrequent, irregular, or one-off communications don’t deliver on the level the customers expect. Branded, dynamic marketing works, especially when provided frequently.

More Personalized Marketing

Get to know your customers and allow them to get to know you with monthly engagement. In this era of digital connection, people expect you to know what they want. “Seventy-one percent of consumers expect companies to deliver personalized interactions.”

Personalized direct mail marketing includes:

Relevant product/service recommendations
Messaging tailored to the customer’s needs
Targeted promotions
Celebration of customer milestones such as birthdays or anniversaries with the company
Post-purchase follow-up

Direct marketing can help boost business by providing customers with incentives, such as discounts or free trials, that make them more likely to purchase a product or service. This is especially compelling for business new to a specific area, or for potential customers that have just moved to a neighborhood.

Improved Campaigns with Direct Mail Attribution

Monthly direct mail provides businesses with the opportunity to gather more data on customer behavior and preferences and better understand your target audience.

To help track key information, include:

QR codes
call tracking phone numbers
customized URLs
unique promo codes

You can use this data to adapt future direct mail campaigns to be more effective and to help you make more informed business decisions. You can also link it with digital or multi-touch campaigns for better reach.

Monthly Mailers Have Better ROI

All of the above add up to better ROI on direct mail for your marketing campaigns. Your direct mail campaigns have a goal to generate leads, raise brand awareness, and ultimately make sales. You increase the chances of that happening, and therefore boost your ROI, when you send out monthly mailers.

It’s proven that consistency pays off. “Only 2% of sales are made on the first contact, 3% on the second contact, 5% on the third, and 10% on the fourth. A whopping 80% of sales are made on the 5th-to-12th follow-up.” Don’t miss out, plan your monthly mailers as part of a long-term solution.

Consistency is Key

Managing a monthly direct mail campaign on your own can be time-consuming and requires a lot of resources. This is where partnering with a direct mail vendor can help.

You want to partner with a direct mail vendor that can consistently produce direct mail pieces that are eye-catching, high-quality, personalized, and trackable at the volume and rate ideal for your business. One Stop Mail has the experience and expertise to handle every step of your direct mail campaign.

If you’re ready to boost business with monthly direct mail, contact us for a quote today!

One Stop Mail Real Estate Farming trends

Real Estate Farming With Direct Mail Tips & Tricks

December 12, 2022/0 Comments/in Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards

Real estate farming is an effective strategy to prospect and develop a steady source of home buyer and seller leads by establishing yourself as “your neighborhood’s realtor.” A successful real estate farming strategy should result in at least 30% of the sales within your targeted area. To successfully geo-farm real estate you must consistently be in contact with the members of your target community. This is where direct mail can elevate real estate marketing efforts.

We know that direct mail works. It outperforms digital mail marketing channels by 600% according to the Direct Marketing Association Response Rate Report. They found that 70% of people believe direct mail is more personal and nearly 50% of people keep direct mail for future reference. As a result, 4.9% of direct mail recipients will buy from that company. This level of contact and response rate is necessary for geo-farming real estate to work.

Real Estate Postcards Vs. Flyers Vs. Letters

The ideal real estate farming strategy combines a mixture of postcards, flyers, and letters. However, the real backbone of your campaign is real estate farming postcards. These should be sent twice per quarter and give a snapshot of the market in your target area. This also includes on-demand postcards to send when a home has been listed or sold in your area.

Flyers and real estate door hangers are a great opportunity to advertise open house events and give more detail about your real estate business like the number of active listings, average sale prices, your number of monthly sales, etc.

Real estate farming letters should be sent quarterly. This is an opportunity for you to discuss what is happening in the community and give your audience a more detailed look into the market with more space for thought and analysis.

Of these types of direct mail, postcards are the easiest to produce and the most profitable, costing only a few cents to print and mail. Postcard content is more visual and attention-grabbing. According to the DMA, postcards also have the highest open rate as well as other advantages.

Flyers still use a visually focused design while providing more informative content. Although letters are more text-heavy, they can also be more personal and deliver useful and engaging content. The cost of direct mail varies, anywhere from a few cents to a few dollars per piece depending on the volume, type of mail, size, design, personalization, and more. All types of direct mail have a high ROI, with letters showing an impressive 112% ROI.

Real Estate Farming With Direct Mail

Direct mail should be a central component of your real estate farming strategy. It does require some planning and a thoughtful approach, but the results are well worth it, and the process can be broken down into five steps.

Choose your neighborhood. Research the macro trends, demographics, and community activity of several different areas to find a place with healthy demand and where homes are actively being listed for sale. Ideally, you should choose an area close to where you live that you are familiar with. The area you choose to target should be 500 homes or less. The exact size will depend on your budget and goals. Bigger isn’t necessarily better when it comes to farming. What makes farming effective is that you’re targeting a specific set of homes with a specific message that is relevant and speaks to them directly.
Find a target market within that area. To make your farming strategy even more effective focus on a specific group of people within your areas such as young families, middle-aged professionals, retirees, first-time home buyers, move-up buyers, or downsizing sellers. Really think about what the people in this area have in common.
Plan your direct mail content. Real estate agents who successfully farm neighborhoods deliver consistent value to homeowners. Your direct mail should convey that you are the expert when it comes to buying and selling homes and living in the community. Consider what information would be useful to prospective clients, what type of direct mail you’ll send, how often you’ll send it, and how you will keep your brand consistent across marketing channels. You can increase engagement and integrate direct mail with digital marketing by including a QR code on your mailers that directs recipients to your website or a market report.
Track your results. Include elements in your direct mail that allows for tracking to measure the effectiveness of your campaign. This could include: a QR code linked to a lead form or a campaign-specific landing page, call tracking phone numbers, unique promotional codes, etc. Then attribute leads in your CRM and promptly follow up.
Start your real estate farming program with direct mail! Real estate farming is a long-term game. To be successful, direct mail should be sent regularly and the message should be consistent.

Real Estate Farming Postcard Ideas

When it comes to ideas for real estate direct mail messaging, there are some do’s and don’ts you should be aware of. Some things you SHOULD do are:

Respect seasonality. Fewer people buy and sell homes during the holiday season. Families tend not to uproot their children during the school year. Other seasonal trends depend on the location. For example, warm-weather cities, like Phoenix, experience a snowbird effect when people relocate or buy a second home for the winter months.
Provide informational value. What do potential clients want and need to know? Share information like the number of active listings in your area, the number of homes sold, and average sale prices. If you are advertising a home for sale or an open house, describe the home and provide basic details.
Show your expertise and experience. Offer neighborhood tours or provide a list of the best pizza places to show that you’re a local expert. Share a professional success or the number of homes you’ve sold this year to demonstrate your experience.

On the other side, you should AVOID being hyperbolic. Excessive exaggeration can breed distrust and skepticism. Don’t send too many communications. This can be annoying or come across as pushy. You should also avoid sending the same postcards or mailings multiple times. Keep your content fresh, relevant, and interesting!

When it comes to designing your mailers, use various types of direct mail including postcards, flyers, door hangers, and letters. Be sure to include engaging images like your photo and pictures of homes for sale. Also make certain that the text is scannable, easy to read, and your contact information is easily found.

Above & Beyond Geo-Farming Strategies

In addition to your direct mail campaign, there are other real estate farming techniques that will help position you as the area’s go to realtor. Attend city zoning and council meetings. This will help you identify the concerns of the community. Participate in community events like cook-offs, block parties, and fundraisers.

You could consider offering free consultations to your neighborhood’s residents. Establishing a relationship and providing guidance and helpful information increases the likelihood of them choosing you as their realtor.

If you can, a farm close to your home. Making connections will be easier, you will be more relatable to your clients, and you are knowledgeable about the area. Reports show that 74% of home sellers said an agent with local or neighborhood-specific knowledge was important in helping them choose an agent.

Establish yourself as “the local realtor” with an engaging and cost-effective direct mail campaign. Reach out to the experts at One Stop Mail to learn how to get started!

One Stop Mail Healtcare Messaging Mailing List

3 Do’s & 3 Don’ts Of Healthcare Mailers & Messaging

November 3, 2022/0 Comments/in Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Lists & Data Services

If you have a healthcare business, you know the value of healthcare mailers as part of your holistic healthcare marketing strategy. However, there are certain things you can do to maximize the impact of healthcare messaging in the mail. Healthcare advertising isn’t as straightforward as traditional products or services, there are several nuances and guidelines you should know. Here are some marketing tips, 3 do’s and 3 don’ts for anyone using direct mail marketing for healthcare-related services or products.

DO Leverage Targeted Lists Most Relevant To A Condition

Have you utilized targeted lists in your healthcare marketing plan before? If not, this is an excellent way to make sure you get the best return on your investment. We have a few blogs about how to get an effective list.

Healthcare needs can be very broad or very niche, depending on your service or product.

A broad tactic is sending out flyers about a new dental office opening in a specific neighborhood, while a niche list is important if you are looking to advertise a certain treatment for a specific illness or condition.

Broad lists can be narrowed down using:

Location (Example: Proximity to a new office, or an office accepting a new type of healthcare plan)
Age (Example: A dentist office specializing in cleanings for children)
Gender (Example: Mammograms)

Niche lists should be relevant to a specific medical condition. For example:

Diabetes prevention
Hormone imbalances
High blood pressure patients

DO Use CTA’s For Appointments Or Calls On Patient’s Terms

All marketing messaging needs a clear CTA, or Call to Action. For healthcare messaging, this means leading the potential patient to create an appointment.

Contact methods can include a:

Phone number
Website
QR code
Email address

Putting the CTA in an obvious spot means that the mailer can be saved for later reference, and appointments can be made on the patient’s terms.

It is important that the reader has a sense of urgency and doesn’t toss the mailer in the trash, but instead saves it for later. Messaging like, “Appointments filling up, don’t wait!” or “Limited spaces available, call today!” are good CTAs.

DO Demonstrate Expertise To Prospective Patients

Part of healthcare direct mail marketing is building trust with patients. A great way to do that is to show your expertise. Longevity of practice in the community or of a particular product is a great lead-in. National or local awards or certifications prove results and expertise, so should be highlighted on mailers.

You also need to prove a point of difference to set you apart from your competitors. A specific expertise typically not shared by your competition is a good start. Include any other relevant practical information that would help potential patients choose you.

DON’T Be Alarmist With Medical Messaging

Keep in mind that health-related issues are stressful for everyone. Don’t take this as an opportunity to alarm or scare potential patients! Focus on messaging, and:

Assure rather than alarm
Avoid “should” type messaging
Treat it like an opportunity – not a burden

Don’t list the statistics of a condition unless it’s in a positive light. For example, “This many people benefit from earlier treatment”. You want potential patients to feel safe and comfortable, and let them know that they can reach out with questions at any time.

DON’T Use Too Much Jargon

Jargon is technical language and it can be confusing to people who are not heavily involved in your industry. It can be especially confusing when using medical terms related to conditions or treatments. Avoid long, hard-to-pronounce, or unfamiliar terms.

DON’T Ignore Seasonality

Depending on your practice, certain times of the year may be better or worse for investing in healthcare mailers.

Pay attention to your industry’s seasonal trends. Send your healthcare messaging leading up to and in the heart of the busiest times of the year for your office or product. For things such as dental appointments, remind patients to book early, before school breaks fill up with other activities. Routine physical exams and vaccinations are best (and sometimes necessary) before school starts.

Certain procedures are more easily done in different weather, which varies based on your location. For instance, the Midwest has a lot of snowstorms in winter, while the Southern states can be hit with heat waves, floods, and power outages in summer. Keep these things in mind when encouraging patients to come in at certain points during the year.

More About Healthcare Messaging

Do you have questions about how to get a healthcare mailer into production? Our team can handle every step of the process, from conception to mailing! Read more about using direct mail to serve your healthcare patients here. Contact us for a quote today!

Quick Guide: Direct Mail Postcard with QR Code

October 12, 2022/in Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards

Digital technology has become integrated into most aspects of our lives, and direct mail is no exception. As a result, the modern consumer expects interactive marketing that provides easy access to information and the ability to quickly take action that the digital world provides. A postcard with a QR code can help effectively blend the benefits of both offline and online marketing for direct mail.

QR code use rose dramatically in 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic, and they continue to grow in popularity as both businesses and consumers realize their benefits. Globally, QR code scans quadrupled in 2022 and the US has the highest QR code use rate.

This quick guide will explain how QR codes blend offline and online marketing, increase customer engagement, provide valuable customer data, and boost the success of direct mail campaigns.

How To Set Up And Use QR Codes For Direct Mail

“QR” stands for “Quick Response.” These QR codes are essentially advanced barcodes that can store a lot of information and are accessible using a smartphone’s camera feature. QR codes are incredibly easy to set up and use. The general process involves 3 steps:

Create a landing page for what consumers will see upon scanning the code
Generate a QR code
Link the URL for the landing page to the QR code

There are many free QR code generators online that will create a QR code linked to the URL you enter. This can typically be done all in the same software. Some generators can even create codes in a variety of colors, shapes, unique patterns, and include your logo.

After it has been generated, you can print the QR code on envelopes, postcards, or any direct mail marketing materials to engage consumers and give them a direct link to information and/or services.

Use Direct Mail QR Codes To Engage Your Target Market

QR codes are action-oriented, and you can use them to better engage your target market. Codes can be linked to practically any digital location. Scanning the code can allow your customer to:

Place an order
Collect a special digital coupon
Add events to calendars
Follow a social media page
Set pins in navigation apps
Enroll in a rewards plan
Schedule an appointment or service
Leave customer feedback or reviews
Contact your business

To create effective direct mail QR codes, be creative in how you engage with consumers and provide real value. If consumers don’t get value from scanning, why would they engage? A code that simply links to your business homepage doesn’t provide an incentive to engage with your business. Provide access to an exclusive online sale available only with the QR code. Offer previous customers a 10% off coupon if they follow the link and leave a review.

Don’t forget to pair your QR code with a compelling call to action!

Postcard with QR Code Delivers Customer Data That Aids Marketing

A postcard with a QR code not only adds value and convenience for customers but also provides valuable customer data that aids marketing efforts. When generating a QR code, there is a choice between static and dynamic codes. Dynamic QR codes are best for business purposes because they can be edited at any time and they provide more data.

When consumers scan a postcard QR code, it lets you know:

Location
Device type
Date
Time
Number of scans

With strictly offline marketing, you can estimate the reach and engagement levels of direct mail, but the addition of QR codes gives you more accurate data. This allows you to see how effective a given campaign is within specifically targeted locations.

There are additional services that can provide even more consumer data such as demographics, contact information, and order history. A QR code can also be used to gather additional data by directing customers to landing pages where they fill out forms to redeem coupons or join rewards programs.

Data provided by QR codes can assist with lead generation, optimizing marketing campaigns, and improving ROI for your marketing efforts.

Blend Online & Offline Marketing With QR Code

Not only is QR code direct mail cost-effective, but it blends offline and online marketing methods, increasing the efficiency and success of marketing campaigns. For example, you can create special online offers that are only available with the postcard QR code, utilizing both online and offline methods.

Businesses in any industry can use QR codes to:

Increase brand visibility and website traffic
Supply additional information on your offerings (outside the limited space of the direct mail postcard)
Direct consumers to specific webpages
Provide easy and quick access to your offerings

This blended marketing method also offers users value and the convenience of interacting with your product or service on their personal device.

If you’re interested in stand-out, customizable, cost-effective direct mail marketing services, reach out to One Stop Mail and learn how we can help!

How to Boost Your Mortgage Leads With Mortgage Mailers

April 28, 2022/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Variable Data

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

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.

Mortgage 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.

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!

gain new business with HVAC direct mail campaign

Attracting New Customers with HVAC Direct Mail Postcards

April 10, 2022/0 Comments/in Digital Print Postcards, Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Variable Data Printing

When you rely on local customers to keep your HVAC business moving along, finding those customers is like a trade secret. Word of mouth and online searches can only get you so far. And while digital marketing is keeping you connected to your community, it doesn’t always deliver on new, local business when you need it, unlike HVAC direct mail postcards.

In the face of the digital era, one of the best ways to target new customers close to you is actually through tangible HVAC direct mail postcards. The pieces of print are put in the hands of the specific customers you want to help you grow your business.

Why Invest in HVAC Direct Mail Postcards as ads?

Direct mail postcards for heating and cooling companies provide three clear advantages:

High ROI (Return on Investment) on marketing dollars
Less competition
Potential high volume in conversions

Not only is an HVAC direct mail campaign simple to execute, but it’s also cost effective with one of marketing’s best returns on investment. Why does such an “old school” strategy sent via snail mail work?

Because some see direct mail postcards as traditional and old-fashioned, fewer businesses are doing it, so your postcard has the potential to help you stand out in the competitive crowd.

Studies confirm that about twice as many people notice and read direct mail over email messages. Direct marketing emails end up stored away in an overflowing inbox or worse yet, a junk folder. Postcards get passed around or even pinned up on a wall or refrigerator as a reminder.

Nearly 60% of $65K+ households purchase from Direct Mail.

Postcard Template Design Matters

Designing and printing postcards is the key to a successful direct marketing campaign. To get the best value and most customers, there are five key tips to follow when designing your HVAC direct mail postcards.

Apply the 40-20-20 rule. Direct mail marketers like to use this rule to determine how successful a campaign will be. The success rate is 40% dependent on the offer or promotion, 40% on a quality mailing list, and 20% on copy and design.
Keep it simple. Customers should be able to look at your HVAC direct mail postcard and immediately know who you are and what you are offering. This means it should be easy to read, clearly communicate the value you offer, and build brand awareness. All at a quick glance.
Advertising templates are okay. Whether you see an ad you’d like to emulate or have crafted a few basic designs yourself, using a proven template that you like and that resonates with your customer saves you time and money on the design itself.
Make it colorful and bold. Use colors and various font sizes to help you communicate key points. Larger, bold, or colored fonts demand more attention and using them then creates an information hierarchy, visually queuing readers what to look at first. Headlines and Calls to Action should be in a font larger than the details.
Research your target market. You can be very precise in building you lists and select exactly who has the opportunity to see your postcard – from economic demographics to local neighborhoods. You can also exclude those outside of your service area and renters, who don’t tend to make HVAC repair or maintenance calls.
Timing is everything. People don’t tend to think about their A/C systems when the weather is cool, or their heaters when the outside temperatures are soaring. To even the flow of work, aim to send your postcards throughout the year by changing up the images, headlines, and offers to remain relevant.

Use a Strong Call to Action in Direct Mail Marketing

Potential customers receiving your postcards should be engaged and left with a clear direction. Why should they respond? Without this direction and subsequent responses, your postcards will gather impressions but no business.

Every postcard should have one clear Call to Action – what the reader should do with the information you’ve just provided. This could mean visiting your website for more information, but ideally it means calling you to schedule service.

Promotions or offers are a great way to engage and entice potential customers, however, discount with caution so that you don’t give away so much that the direct mail postcards are no longer cost-effective.

For example, a $50 discount may bring in less customers than a $100 discount, but those customers attracted to the better deal may not be long-term customers (i.e. they are in it for the deal only).

When including a promotional offer, try to limit one promotion per postcard. This makes the Call to Action crystal clear.

Use HVAC Ads & Mailers to Build Your Brand

As part of a larger strategy that also includes digital marketing, the postcards provide another touchpoint to potential customers. The more places that they see your logo and business name – your brand – the more likely they are to remember and call on you when they need your services.

Direct mail postcards are great for gathering new customers, but they also work well to spark repeat business. Even more so when offering coupons or deals for regular service, such as an A/C tune-up. You can also use postcards to thank those customers, offer a referral bonus, or remind them of the service when the season comes around again.

Analyzing your strategy and tracking your results is also easy with direct mail postcards. Just use unique promotional codes associated with each campaign so you’ll know which campaigns brought in the most business.

Partner with One Stop Mail on your HVAC Direct Mail Postcard Campaign

From finding leads to nurturing repeat business, HVAC direct mail postcards could be your standout marketing strategy, priming you for growth and profits. Is it time for your HVAC business to hit the mailboxes?

By working with One Stop Mail you’ll benefit from our nearly 40 years in the direct mail and print services industry. In addition to direct mail postcards, we also specialize in mailing list, direct mail service, print and graphic design, offset printing, digital printing services, data service, and easy fulfillment.

To reach those new customers via your custom HVAC direct mail postcards, request a quote from One Stop Mail. We’ll provide you with the information you need as we guide you through the options that may be right for you and your HVAC business. Reach out to us today at [email protected] or (602) 233-3003.

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

March 24, 2022/0 Comments/in Digital Print Postcards, Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards

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.

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.

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.

restaurant direct mail restaurant owner and chef

3 Eye-Opening Restaurant Direct Mail Marketing Tips that Fill Seats

July 23, 2021/0 Comments/in Digital Print Postcards, Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards

Dining out is an integral part of American life. It’s estimated that 163 million adults or roughly 64% of U.S. citizens eat out once a week. That equates to about $602 billion a year. That’s a lot of cheddar! A restaurant direct mail marketing campaign can help you get your share.

There are the three critical direct mail campaign steps that can result in more profit so you can expand into new locations or simply create peace of mind for you and your staff.

Before we get into the basics of restaurant direct mail, you may wonder if mail is still a viable marketing tool. Yes…

Direct Mail Delivers

It’s more than a catchy headline – direct mail converts more prospects to customers than email alone. According to the Association of National Advertisers, 4.9% of direct mail recipients buy from advertisers versus 1% for email alone. That’s four times more new buyers!

Additional research shows that 76% of Americans trust mailed advertisements. Read more about direct mail stats in this recent One Stop Mail article. Or learn specifics about the keys to restaurant direct mail marketing success by reading on.

Targeted Mailings

This is more important than ever for restaurants that depend on ongoing patronage to be successful. A direct mail campaign sent to all the homes and businesses in your geographic area is better than no direct mail, but by segmenting your audience, you can deliver what it is they’re looking for.

New customers may be attracted by your menu, testimonials, or a good rating from a local entertainment guide, while new business customers might want to know about catering or easy pickup service.

Your patrons already like you and may want to know about menu changes or specials that say, “Thank you,” for being a regular diner.

Multiple mailing lists are important so you can target your customers – both consumers and businesses, new customer prospects, and business prospects. Deliver mailers that are meaningful to each of your target audiences.

Variable data printing can customize a postcard or mailer to fit multiple audiences. Add a different introduction, offer or call-to-action to speak to your targeted customer and get the best results.

You can also customize coupons, because…

Coupons are King

No surprise here – consumers love getting a deal. However, you may not have thought that you don’t have to offer deep discounts to new customers.

A new menu item can be an opportunity to cement the loyalty of regular patrons by sending a mailer to your house-customer list announcing the new item and giving them a small “regulars” discount to try something. Your long-time customers will feel valued and special.

If you’d rather capture new customers, send the announcement to a prospect list that targets homeowners in the geographic area of your restaurant. Customize the list to reach individuals in a particular income demographic or homes with children if you own a family establishment. Invite prospects to your restaurant to try the new dish or any of the other succulent items on your menu.

Bonus Pro Tip – Send different coupons to your regular customers and prospects to maximize results. Your goal is different with each group, to preserve an ongoing, valuable relationship versus establishing a new one. New customers may want to try a variety of items and enjoy a free appetizer with the purchase of a full-price main course.

A Restaurant Direct Mail Marketing Must: Standout Color

To ensure that your mailer always rises to the top of a crowded mailbox above your competitors, use show-stopping color. Yes, your restaurant direct mail must align to brand specifications, but the color must be vibrant and jump off the page to stop readers in their tracks.

You also aim to have your mailer stay in your patrons’ homes, on bulletin boards or refrigerators. Although mailers stay around homes an average of 17 days, if your restaurant’s postcard is beautiful, fun, or elegant – you may just exceed the average and get more top-of-mind awareness.

Getting off-the-chart color isn’t easy. Retain the services of an experienced graphic designer and commercial printer with years of experience in creating winning direct mail campaigns.

Fill Every Seat

Restaurants are essential to communities. Help more of your neighbors discover where to enjoy delicious, nourishing meals and a special atmosphere so your restaurant can experience longevity and long-term profitability.

One Stop Mail has professionals who are knowledgeable in restaurant direct mail marketing who can create your mailer from start to finish. Before your next direct mail campaign, call Marty at 602.962.4062 or request a quote online.

For more Direct Mail resources, click here.

Pool Service Marketing Tips image One Stop Mail web

5 Pool Service Marketing Tips To Attract New Customers

June 28, 2021/0 Comments/in Digital Print Postcards, Direct Mail Postcards, Graphic Design, Lists & Data Services, Mail Services, Variable Data, Variable Data Printing

“Summertime and the living’s easy” or so the song goes. A clean, cool pool makes summer living super easy. If you’re a pool service pro, this season is likely your busiest and most lucrative time of year. Keep your calendar full and hold off the competition with the latest targeted pool service marketing tactics.

Whether you have an established route of customers, you’re building from scratch, or expanding into new territory, these 4 steps can make summer an easy, fun season for pool owners in your area!

Pool Service Marketing Tip 1: Stay Within Their Sights

If you’re not ready to expand, it’s smart to stay visible. Even your best customers could be tempted by a “new customer offer” from a competitor. Remind your customers and tell prospects what your super-power is to maintain your customer base.

Remind them why they want your services – you’re the best pool maintenance and repair service with hundreds of perfect Google reviews, or perhaps you include an extra service like basic deck-washing at no additional fee, or maybe you offer pool accessories at rock-bottom prices.

Now that you’ve determined that you need to communicate to your customers, what’s the best reminder? Swimming pool postcards – here’s why:

Postcards have staying power

The results are in, and surveys show that marketing mail stays around an average of 17 days. Imagine how long pool owners will keep a colorful postcard or killer offer. It’s the perfect size to hang on a refrigerator, bulletin board, or tape to a whiteboard giving decision-makers repeated exposure to your service.

People read marketing mail

The same survey says a whopping 42.2% of people read or scan their mail; 59% say that they look forward to receiving it. That’s good news for you and your pool service because your message will probably be well-received in most homes.

Pool Service Marketing Tip 2: Speak Directly to Customers

There’s a reason why major online brands present browsers with a personalized experience – it’s because they get better responses. And, a 2020 Forbes article tells us why – shoppers prefer personalized experiences.

If it’s true online, wouldn’t it be true for postcards received in their mailbox? Using a customer’s name tells them that they are important to you and can be a door into their world.

Today, the marketing pool services business can personalize every aspect of a postcard – the recipient’s name, the offer, the call-to-action without emptying the piggy bank. Personalization, also called variable data printing, is within reach thanks to digital technology.

Pool Service Marketing Tip 3: Target Best Customers

If you’ve been in business for a while, you know the characteristics of customers who get the high-cost services and stay with you long-term. They probably live in a particular neighborhood, are of a particular age, have kids, and have a college degree.

Compiling a mail list of potential best customers to receive your swimming pool postcards offers the best chance of success.

Reach out to new homeowners. Since they’ve recently moved to the area, they’ll be looking for local service providers – including pool professionals! Remember to include a new mover special to attract their business.

Sure, you could send a postcard to your entire service area, but why not save some budget to do multiple mailings? Remember – you want to target your best new customers, stay in their sights and that means multiple exposures to your service and superpower.

Take Your Pool Service Marketing to the Next Level

If you want to stand out in a crowded mailbox, a professionally designed postcard is a must. The design and offer should be so compelling that the recipient wants to give it an honorary spot in the kitchen or office.

Additionally, mailing list professionals can help you create ideal lists to reach the customers you want. Don’t waste time and cash by using a scattershot approach to pool service marketing – if you want results, get experienced pros.

One Stop Mail has worked with business owners to reach their sales goals through direct mail marketing. They’re mail list experts with professional graphic design services on-site.

For 15+ years, they’ve offered exceptional printing and fulfillment services, and have created direct mail campaigns for business customers of all sizes. They can recommend the type and frequency of mailings to help you meet your goals.

Want more tips to help you reach your business goals? Check out these direct mail resources.

To get a quote on your next pool service marketing project, contact us or call (602) 233–3003.

bulk direct mail services young girl near posting box web

6 Ridiculously Easy Ways to Get More Leads with Bulk Direct Mail

June 17, 2021/0 Comments/in Digital Print Postcards, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail), Lists & Data Services

These days it seems like everyone is about building an email list. Customer relationship management exists in solely online spaces and is built to target those whose information can be collected digitally. Is it possible that so many industries are missing out on bulk direct mail services?

This print service offers a variety of ways to reach potential leads and build out your contact lists. And not only does direct mail work in a variety of industries, but it also fits many budgets. You can tweak a direct mail plan to be affordable or more expensive with just a few simple changes. In the end, you collect more leads.

Discover the six ridiculously simple ways to collect more leads with bulk direct mail services.

1. Increase Brand Awareness

They can’t become your customer if they have never heard of you before. Direct mail is an excellent way to get your name, branding, and value propositions in front of people by delivering directly into their hands.

Bulk direct mail services offer an opportunity to send flyers, coupons, postcards, and more to every address in a given area. For a new business, this can be particularly important as a way to build brand awareness.

2. Get Your Message Out Faster Than an Ad Campaign

Ad campaigns take time and often have multiple stages of rollout. Ad campaigns may also be dependent on the release schedules of the publications they appear in, such as newspapers. Marketing advisors may even suggest scheduling a budget ad campaign over 40 weeks to get the right amount of notice.

A direct mail campaign, however, takes only the time of design and printing to get in the hands of new potential leads. Though you may schedule waves of your direct mailings similar to a traditional ad campaign, you can feel confident that you are getting more individual notice faster as potential leads hold your independent flyer or postcard.

3. Reach Millennials with Bulk Direct Mail Services

One of the most surprising direct mail statistics is how much it appeals to the Millennial generation. Known for their digital upbringing, Millennials are often thought of as strictly digital prospects. But the novelty of direct mail seems to attract this segment of buyers in a unique way.

In fact, 88% of Millennials look at their mail. They are checking to make sure nothing of value is missed and the vast majority—80%—say they look forward to this chore. When it comes to direct mail, Millennials remain just as engaged, with 66% bringing pieces such as coupons to brick and mortar store locations or following directions to a website.

For businesses that are looking to target Millennials—a group now squarely in their 30s and invested in career-building, homeownership, and childrearing—enacting a direct mail marketing campaign could glean unexpected results.

4. Use Precise Customer Targeting

Bulk direct mail services offer a surprising number of ways to precisely target customers. That’s because most direct mail campaigns are based on curated lists that lump customers together by commonalities.

For instance, a pool company can purchase a list of local, high-income individuals who own their own homes. This can help them target people with the income and space to purchase a pool or pool services. Instead of wasting money accidentally targeting potential customers who rent homes, this curated list betters the chances of the pool company connecting with new customers.

Another approach to use in precise customer targeting is every door direct mail. This permits geographical targeting via mail routes. Businesses work with the United States Postal Service to get contact information from specific neighborhoods. This helps businesses really target groups of people for whom a local business—like a pizza place—would be relevant due to proximity.

5. Stand Out in a Digital World with Bulk Direct Mail Services

Standing out is a goal for every marketing campaign, but it may be easier to reach than you might think with direct mail marketing.

Mail is novel in a day where you might receive 50 emails but just one envelope. Successful direct mail campaigns capitalize on the immediacy of holding a piece of mail in your hands. From glossy, bright postcards to richly printed, tactile envelopes, using something physical in your marketing campaign can help you stand out from the on-screen inundation most potential customers live with each day.

6. Use Variety to Be More Relevant

Variable data printing makes it possible to deliver more relevant information to customers within the same campaign. You may be targeting middle-class citizens of a particular town with your new store. But amidst that group, you have an even distribution of men and women. What if you could tailor your flyer to hold most of the same information, but slant in the interests of either a male or female reader?

That’s precisely what variable data printing allows you to do, by hyper-targeting within the same printed campaign. This printing technology is simply a better way to create printed direct mail with some personalization.

It also allows you to add contact information rather than a stand-in like “Our Neighbor” so leads feel attention has been paid to them specifically. With over half of shoppers saying personalized advertising helped them make a purchase decision, it’s a smart idea to embrace variable data printing.

Direct mail marketing is a tool your business needs to generate more leads for less time and cost. With these six ridiculously simple ways to get more leads using bulk direct mail services, why aren’t you using them already? Reach out to One Stop Mail today to get a free quote on your direct mail project or call (602) 233-3003 with questions today.