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How to Measure Marketing Success in Direct Mail Campaigns in Just 6 Steps

July 13, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing, Mail Services

You’re a marketer who manages many moving parts. Your responsibilities include how to measure marketing success in every campaign. Plus, you must target the right audience, choose the right images, create a compelling message and offer, and select the right direct mail experts to guide you.

An expert who has managed thousands of direct mail campaigns can help you choose the methods and metrics that yield the data that can help you see the results of your hard work. In addition, they can help you use the information to shape future direct mail campaigns and drive long-term success.

Here’s how to measure marketing success in six steps, in two distinct categories:

How to Measure Marketing Success Using Tracking Methods

Each mailing should have a way to measure how recipients respond. When a new or returning customer makes a purchase, you must be able to trace the action back to the mailer or campaign.

Each campaign can have more than one tracking method, depending on whether you want to measure response from different types of customers, each phase of the campaign, or more. You can even track whether customers prefer one method. Conduct an A/B test to see if you capture more sales using one tracking tool over the other.

Now, let’s dig into it:

Step 1: Coupon Codes

An easy way to track the effectiveness of each mailing, coupon codes have been used for decades. Simply print a code on the mailer or postcard, near the offer, and ask the customer to enter it for online orders or turn in the coupon for a face-to-face sale.

A distinct code can be issued for postcards that are sent to each customer list, and a different code for prospective customers. You can even use different codes for mailers that are sent in different quarters. For instance:

Quarter 1 – Customers – Coupon code: 1C2022
Quarter 1 – Prospects – Coupon code: 1P2022
Quarter 2 – Customers – Coupon code: 2C2022
Quarter 2 – Prospect – Coupon code: 2C2022

Thanks to the affordability of digital printing, variable data printing makes adding different coupon codes, messages and offers much easier to execute today.

Helpful Hint: It’s easier to get sales from customers versus prospects, consider giving prospects a deeper discount for their first sale.

Step 2: Trackable Phone Number

If you’re advertising a service that requires customers to make an appointment – pest control, landscaping, or handyperson services, you can measure the response to your mailer by setting up a specific telephone number. This number would only be active during the sale’s timeframe.

Helpful Hint: If a separate phone number is too much of a hassle, use the coupon code as a measurement instead and ask the caller for the code on the postcard when they call in.

Step 3: Landing Page

Create a landing page to capture visitors who want to find out more information. Measure conversions when they fill out the “request for information form” (RFI). or schedule an appointment.

The forms should include a field for email addresses and an opt-in opportunity that will allow you to email offers to visitors in the future.

If your goal is to capture conversions, the landing page should have text to convince visitors to try your product, service, or download a flyer.

Helpful Hint: To ensure that conversions are driven by the mailer, add a field to the RFI or Appointment form for the coupon code.

How to Measure Marketing Success Using Metrics

Direct mail campaign success is usually measured by greater market awareness or sales. Choose the measurements that will show you whether your direct mail campaign is performing.

Step 4: Response Rate

Measuring the results – coupon codes, calls, visits to websites – is critical in determining whether your direct mail campaign is creating awareness. According to the 2019 Data and Marketing Association, the average response rate for direct mail is 9% for house lists and 4.9% for prospect lists.

If your campaign isn’t performing to average levels, assess key marketing elements. Could your offer be better? Is your message clear? Would a larger postcard or 4-color mailer perform better?

On the contrary, if it’s exceeding expectations, take note of what is probably working so you can duplicate it again and again.

Step 5: Conversion Rate

If you want to go beyond awareness to engagement, measure how many prospects request more information or purchase your product. Capturing the coupon code is critical in determining whether the sale was influenced by your mailer.

Each sale or completed RFI form that’s driven by the campaign is a conversion. A conversion could be influenced by how your company and product are represented, or the advertised offer. It’s valuable information that lets you know whether your mailer is performing or needs to be adjusted.

Step 6: Profitability

Find out if your campaign was profitable. Calculate the cost that went into creating the postcards, mailing them, and gathering the sales data. Subtract the cost from the revenue that’s attributed to the campaign.

If you spent $12,500 for postcards, lists, the cost of mailing, and the cost of extra staff to take phone calls, and the campaign brought in $20,000, that’s a 32% return on your investment.

The average return on investment for direct mail is 29%, so the results from our example are better than the average. Your fictional campaign is performing better than most direct mail campaigns, but that doesn’t mean you can’t drive your results even higher.

Implement a review process following every campaign. Here, with marketing staff and a direct mail consultant, identify the key elements responsible for your success and plan how to utilize or improve them for future campaigns.

How to Measure Marketing Success Using Direct Mail Pros

Your business health depends on the success of your direct mail campaign. By executing each step perfectly and knowing how to measure marketing success, you have the best chance of creating profitable campaigns with each mailing.

To further your success, a trusted advisor with a proven track record in direct mail marketing is essential. One Stop Mail has more than 15-years of experience with direct mail and commercial printing success. From the campaign, conception to list production, postcard and mailer creation, to mailing and calculating the success of your program – the staff of One Stop Mail is here for you.

If you’re ready to succeed with your next direct mail campaign, get a quote or more information, or contact Marty at 602.932.0365.

Top 7 Direct Mail Statistics You Can Use

September 26, 2017/0 Comments/in Direct Mail

With the business world about to enter into the last quarter of the year, it is a good time to take stock of direct mail’s effectiveness in 2017 so far. Although the volume of direct mail went down last year, direct mail garnered a larger percentage of all mail. With technology and other tools to improve the timing of direct mail, this year’s statistics have shown that direct mail is not only still relevant in the marketing world, but that it is, in fact, one of the most successful channels available to marketers. Here are the top direct mail statistics you can use for this year.

#1 Direct Mail Statistics You Can Use – Household Response Rates Are at 5.1%

Yes, that decimal is in the right spot. According to compu-mail, direct mail has earned the highest response rate, with email and paid search at .6%, social media at .4%, and online display at .2%. Part of the reason why response rates are so high with direct mail is an increase in tools and information through technology that has enabled well-timed and personalized direct mail marketing campaigns.

77% of People Sort Through Their Mail

Many marketers are finding it difficult to get prospects to open emails. I personally usually delete without even looking any extraneous emails and promotions. It has just become routine, which is unfortunate for marketers, for I can only imagine how many other people are like me. Average open rates are typically below 20% in comparison to mail. I for one always sort through my mail, and when I see something that stands out, I usually take a few seconds to see what it is, which bodes well for direct mail.

Every $167 Spent On Direct Mail Resulted in $2,095 Of Sold Goods

I believe that ROI speaks for itself, but one must ask what industries reaped the most benefit from direct mail. The largest users of direct mail include companies that offer financial services and also consumer packaged goods. With print still playing such a large role in marketing, coupled with cost-effective green methods of print, one can only imagine that direct mail will still be a major component of marketing campaigns going forward.

98% of Consumers Bring Their Mail In The Day It’s Delivered

Many are concerned that after putting all of the effort to create a personalized direct mail piece that it will just end up in the trash with the rest of the junk mail. If it does, it is probably not due to a diminishing trend in the public’s responsiveness to direct mail, but rather the direct mail piece itself missing the mark. As the direct mail statistics you can use from the U.S. Postal Service exemplifies, whatever you send out will get eyes on it. Whatever happens after will, for the most part, be within your power to control.

Customer Response Rates Increased Year-Over-Year by 48%

Companies who have never thought of using direct mail would be smart to start considering using it as one of their marketing channels. Not only did customer response rates increased, but prospective response rates more than doubled with a reported 190% increase. As noted by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), this is in part due to the “pairing of mailings with digital intelligence. “

Adding A Person’s Name and Color Can Boost Response Rates By 135%

We have discussed the importance of personalization time and time again, and if for some reason you didn’t believe it before, then perhaps this statistic can lend some credence to this idea. Personalization, particularly with the introduction of variable data printing, is now within reach of most budgets. And in turn, can improve your ROI, and make the money you spend go a greater distance.

Print Is 43% Less Annoying than the Internet

Bottom line, we all hate spam. I for one get irritated when advertising videos start on websites yet it is nearly impossible for me to find it to shut it off. Many of us have become blind and aggressively against online advertising in many ways. That is why direct mail is refreshing to most since it is usually personalized, relevant, and recognized as something that took a lot of effort on the part of the company sending it. This makes the consumer feel important and valued, which at the end of the day, is just good marketing.

When it comes time to rely on direct mail experts, don’t leave it to chance. Go with an organization with vast experience and diverse mail services so you can be sure that your goals are taken seriously. One Stop Mail’s mail and list services will target the audience that will respond to your specific offer. Learn more by calling 602.932.7984 or send a request and we’ll be ready to help.

Proven Direct Mail Campaign Examples – Define The Best Target Market

August 24, 2017/0 Comments/in Direct Mail

Have you identified a potentially lucrative part of the market you want to target? Or, do you simply want to grow your customer base? Doing the groundwork is the best direct mail campaign examples that can be the difference between a positive and a negative return on investment (ROI). The first thing you should do is start with what you know.

Analyzing Your Current Customers

Even if you are targeting a new target market, you should not disregard what you know about your current customers. These people have already purchased your product. To get more customers, you should compile details regarding past customers such as what area many of them are living in. If you can identify some key ZIP codes that stand apart, you can look up information through the Census Bureau to get other pieces of data such as average household income and age.

Purchasing A Targeted List

To supplement any in-house research you do, take it a step further to follow successful direct mail campaign examples and acquire a list compiled by a third-party company. These lists can usually be broken down by certain demographics so you only get the most relevant people to target. These lists can be targeted down to fathers with children under the age of 5 with a bachelor’s degree. You can get even deeper, such as if they own a home, and have a credit card.

If you need support choosing or purchasing a direct mail list or have questions, check out our Mailing Lists & Data Services page.

Crafting Copy and Design That Is Successful

At first, you will probably be doing some guessing in regards to any new target markets. However, you can educate your guess with what you know about your current customers, and infer what will be attractive to this new market. Once you have a clear picture of this target market, you can do a smaller campaign to test the waters at a reasonable price. As you collect this new data, you can start to change the campaign so that you can improve your ROI.

More Proven Direct Mail Campaign Examples – Seek Out Experts

Not only do you need to be targeting the right people, but you need to take some time to determine what kind of copy and design will be the most successful. You want to not only make it eye-catching so it stands out, but also have a concise message with a clear call-to-action. You will at most have 3 to 5 seconds to get your message across.

So whatever you decide to go with, you need to make it count. To get an idea of what you can do with your budget, contact One Stop Mail to get a quote for your specific project.

Making Data-Driven Decisions To Improve Your Direct Mail Campaigns

June 13, 2017/0 Comments/in Direct Mail

The best way to improve the results of your direct mail campaigns starts with your data. It is important to have a system in place to monitor your direct mail results so that you can make more informed decisions later down the line. Whether this is about what copy works best or what color schemes are the most effective, data can help you change your direct mail game.

Audience Segmentation

Though it may seem like a no-brainer, one of the most useful things to help inform your direct mail campaign is information about your customers.

It is crucial to have lots of data on your customers, such as name, age, profession, and other metrics so that you can not only personalize but also see how certain groups respond to your direct mail campaigns. This is called audience segmentation, and its purpose is to not only give you more data to target specific groups of individuals more effectively but allow you to monitor certain groups behaviors so that you can improve the performance of future campaigns.

Data Drives Personalization

You have probably heard it time and time again, but there is a reason why personalization is gaining ground in the marketing world. The use of data has grown over the last decade, and this has allowed companies to target their customers down to a specific individual.

Need more help? Here are some things that you can use to make your direct mail campaigns more relevant for someone is by using their name, be aware of their gender, use their purchase history to your advantage, and make an offer relevant to their location.

What Sort Of Data Should You Be Collecting?

Basically, you want to be collecting data that is going to be driving your decision making. If the data you are collecting is not doing this, then it is probably time to reconsider what data you are collecting.

Next, you have to infer what the data means and determine if you are getting your desired results. Remember, if you’re not currently getting the results you want, this could be either a misinterpretation of the data or the data is not relevant to what you are trying to accomplish.

Having a defined strategy will help to ensure you are collecting data with an accurate system. It’s important to determine what your process will be to weed out data that isn’t relevant.