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Direct Mail Marketing Envelopes

October 26, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Marketing

The magical potion that Alice in Wonderland consumes to begin the once-in-a-lifetime adventure said, “Drink me.” As the magical potion, your marketing offer can start a life-changing journey for your customer. That’s why your direct mail marketing envelopes should say, “Open me.”

Arguably, envelopes are the most overlooked direct mail marketing element – yet they play a pivotal role. Your envelope can say, “fun,” “mystery,” ”sophistication,” and can pique a viewer’s interest. Here’s how to leverage their unmistakable allure –

Tactic #1 – Size Matters

When most folks think about envelopes, their minds turn to a plain, white business-size envelope with or without the cellophane window, typically used to send invoices. These types of envelopes DO NOT say, “Open Me!”

In terms of direct mail sizes, use atypical large envelope sizes. Larger envelopes get a better response rate than postcards and standard-sized envelopes. Because they attract attention and sometimes create curiosity, oversized envelopes have the greatest response rate with 6.6, with postcards getting a respectable response rate of 5.7%. The average email click-through rate is about 2.6%.

If you use a large envelope, your mailer must fit the larger size, otherwise, it creates an unfavorable impression of your business. And larger or oddly shaped envelopes cost more to mail. If oversized mailers and envelopes don’t align with your brand or budget, consider using 9X12 envelopes to stand out.

Tactic #2 – Mesmerize with Color

White envelopes are boring. Try using an eye-catching color or a color that matches your brand. Colored envelopes are 20% more likely to be opened than white envelopes.

You can even use color on your envelope marketing to create a mood. Not only does color stand out in the mailbox, but you have the opportunity to influence how your customers and prospects respond to your direct mail marketing envelope:

Red – Conveys excitement – often used for limited-time sales
Green – Calmness, nature, growth – can inspire trust
Blue – Experience, strength – offers a sense of security

Keep in mind that dark colors make logos and printing more difficult to read – stick with lighter colors.

#3 – Ignite Action with Offers

The face and back of an envelope are useful for more than addresses and postmarks. Create an added incentive to open your envelope by adding an intriguing line on the outside of the envelope, like:

Hurry! Limited Time Offer Enclosed
You’re one of a few to get this special offer.
This preview is just for you …

Entice customers and prospects with a few choice words that generate excitement and ignite curiosity to get your envelope opened!

You can also ignite action using envelopes with QR codes. This strategy combines online and offline marketing and helps to drive traffic to your website. An appealing offer paired with a QR code can get customers to engage before they even open the envelope! And don’t forget to include a powerful call to action on your direct mail envelopes.

#4 – Create Curiosity

The examples above definitely create curiosity about what’s in the envelope – but you can also do that with other elements, including:

Clever graphics and images
Make it look like a personally addressed envelope
Tease, tease, tease

The last item is about creating fun, even flirty relationships between your brand and your customer. You could include a short teaser that hints that there’s something fun inside. Here are some of the best direct mail envelope teasers:

You’ll love what’s inside…
Excitement awaits…
Can you stand not knowing what’s inside?
Shhh! It’s a Secret >>

Of course, the tactics have to fit your brand, so if you are an investment firm you may want to be more professional in your approach.

Tactic #5: Engage the Direct Mail Marketing Experts

If you don’t want to spend time and money on costly re-dos, hiring direct mail professionals can save you time and money. Seasoned pros can tell you techniques for direct mail envelopes that work, suggest cost-saving hacks that still get results, and make recommendations for ongoing campaigns that pay off year after year.

Although technology has made direct mail marketing more affordable, who wants to spend more when they don’t have to? When you rely on a direct mail marketing professional, you can spend your time doing what you do best – running your business.

Engage a direct mail marketing firm with more than 20-years of expertise, like One Stop Mail for creative marketing envelopes and profitable direct mail marketing campaigns.

With list experts, graphic designers, writers, printers, and more on staff, the One Stop Mail team can take your campaign from conception to distribution.

Get a quote online or contact us at (602) 223-3003.

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

direct mail coupons man holding gift voucher

Simple Ways to Get Explosive Growth with Direct Mail Coupons

Contrary to what many believe, the time-honored method of reaching people by mail is not dead. Catch the attention of potential customers by sending them direct mail coupons, something tangible in this digital world. Customization is key to reaching new clients and inspiring them to act.

Coupons appeal to consumers, and not just the family’s main meal planner. In 2013, 60% of printed coupons were for non-food items, such as clothing, cleaning products, restaurant meals, and office supplies. There is so much opportunity for things other than groceries!

Do Direct Mail Coupons Still Work?

Coupons can play a big role in direct mail campaigns. Almost everyone uses coupons, and a good coupon marketing campaign can drive new customers to your business. Did you know that 94% of consumers still use coupons? Keep shoppers coming back to your brand or steal them from your competitors by reminding them of current offers.

Combining direct mail coupons with digital products such as online rewards programs can help reach consumers across multiple channels. A great marketing strategy can bring new business through your doors, to your website or social media, or to your app. “81% of consumers would take additional action, such as enrolling in a loyalty program, to redeem a rebate or coupon.”

Campaign Options

There are many considerations to make when starting a direct mail coupon campaign.

What?

If you’re all set with consistent branding, next is your marketing message.

Start with a value statement. Why should the customer take advantage of your product or service? What sets your brand apart from the rest?
Use quality messaging. Clearly state the rules of your promotion. Make it easy for them to redeem the offer using a code or something that can be scanned. Use simple, clear language and good design for readability.
Offer variety. Include companion offers to entice potential consumers who may not be interested in your first deal.
Give the offer an expiration date to create urgency.

How Much?

Retailers of all sizes can use coupons and anticipate good results. The most common coupons you see are dollar or percentage off. Most of all, make it worth their while. “43 percent of shoppers agree that clipping coupons are a good investment of time when the discount is worth up to 25% off.”

How Many?

The correct frequency and reach is a sweet spot that can only be found by working together to determine the perfect combination to exceed the return on investment.

Coupons are very easy to measure. Calculate direct sales conversions by comparing the number of coupons redeemed versus the number mailed out. Not sure what’s best? Try sending out two or three different offers to see which one performs better.

Tangible Marketing with Direct Mail Coupons

New brands are harder to overlook when they’re presented as physical objects. Emails can be deleted and digital ads can be ignored, but a piece of paper in your mailbox has a much higher retention rate, even if they only see your logo or retail store colors. Variable data (like a name associated with a postal address) gives your postcard, letter, etc. a level of personal connection.

One of the most popular examples of direct mail coupons is a full-color, two-sided postcard. Make the offer compelling and the design eye-catching and this is a marketing piece that will end up in the “keep” pile or on the refrigerator.

More Information on Direct Mail Coupons

Think of a direct mail coupon campaign as just the beginning. If you provide an excellent buying experience for the customers, they will come back for more! Hook them and then keep them interested with direct mail and follow-ups.

Feeling overwhelmed? The team at One Stop Mail will help guide you through this process. We’re familiar with obtaining targeted lists, designing eye-catching mail products, printing, bulk mailing, and digital follow-ups.

We offer results-driven direct mail marketing focused on achieving your call to action. Still not sure where to start? We can help!

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.

Why Direct Mail Is Key For Omnichannel Marketing Strategy

May 26, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Mail Services

An omnichannel marketing strategy places brands nearly everywhere customers are. They pop up wherever people put their attention – while they watch television, at the movie theater, as they browse social media and the internet.

You don’t have to look far to find a brand that’s gone omnichannel. Think about how often a certain insurance brand with royal-blue block lettered logo, their Australian pitch-Gecko, and Flo the bundling enthusiast continually crosses your view. Geico’s merry band sets up shop on all digital, media channels, print magazines, and in mailboxes – it is impossible to miss them.

Why go to the trouble? Not everyone who sees Geico today will be in the market for personal insurance, but when there’s a need, one of its catchy ads or recognizable logos will probably be there.

If you’re doing a version of multi-channel marketing and wonder how it can be more effective, you’re not alone. You may even wonder whether direct mail belongs in your omnichannel marketing strategy. Let’s examine what it is, whether to include direct mail and how to build a winning plan that can be adjusted to your budget.

What is an Omnichannel Marketing Strategy?

A key to an effective omnichannel marketing strategy is to create the same experience across all platforms. When a prospective customer sees your brand in an email, as a website banner, or in the mail, they identify them as belonging to your business.

Techtarget defines omnichannel marketing as a sales approach that creates an integrated, seamless customer experience, whether the customer is shopping from a desktop or mobile computer, by telephone, in a physical store location.

Key elements include utilizing the same artwork, colors, and tagline across all channels – and similar or the same messaging. By expanding the message through broader platforms, you extend your reach and create greater impressions.

Does Direct Mail Fit into Your Omnichannel Marketing Strategy?

Yes. Direct mail is already an effective way to connect with customers and generate new sales. Its staying power alone is worth the investment. When you integrate a seamless message across several other channels it strengthens your return on investment.

A study shows that adding direct mail to an omnichannel marketing campaign boosts performance 63% if it’s well-branded, integrated, and personalized.

Considering the overall effectiveness of direct mail, an omnichannel approach offers an exceptional return on investment while remaining an excellent method to stay in front of your clients. Here some recent stellar stats about direct mail:

House mail lists get great response rates

If you use direct mail, you probably have a “house” list. According to data gathered by the Data and Marketing Association (DMA) and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) in 2018, the response rate for house lists is 9% compared to 4.9% for prospects’ lists.

And, if it’s like the recent trajectory, it will continue to get better. The DMA notes that there has been a significant increase in response rates between 2015 to 2018; 125% for house lists and a whopping 400% for prospect lists.

Direct mail gets noticed

Although email may be a bit cheaper and easier, it’s easy to miss. It can end up in the spam folder or look just like the other annoying email that’s been trolling you for months.

According to the DMA, about 42.2% of direct mail is read or scanned because the recipients go through the mail.

Mail has decreased so your mail stands out

Since the popularity of digital marketing, mail has decreased steadily. This gives direct mail marketers a tremendous advantage – less competition means you get noticed more often. Take advantage of this unique space.

Mail recipients purchased 28% more items than those who don’t get mail

The fact that mail is kept much longer than email could contribute to this statistic. What marketer wouldn’t be happy with that conversion rate?

Oversized packaging gets extra attention

Although you can expect a respectable response rate from postcards, (4.25%) and catalogs (3.9%), the biggest response rate belongs to oversized envelopes at 5%, according to these statistics.

Now that you can see that its results put direct mail into most winning marketing campaigns, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and discover how to integrate it into your omnichannel marketing strategy.

Creating an Omnichannel Marketing Strategy with Direct Mail

While you understand how to create an effective marketing campaign, omnichannel requires you to expand a consistent marketing message across multiple marketing platforms. The idea is to create an experience your customers will recognize as belonging to you when they are online, receive mail, and are watching or listening to broadcast media.

Assuming you already have a marketing message that you want to share, let’s choose the channels you’d like to use to market your business, product, or service. Here are common choices:

Mail
Email
Social media
Print media
Media advertising

What goes into the omnichannel marketing plan?

Then, choose the vehicles that you’ll be using and how frequently you’ll use them. Here are examples of a quarterly campaign:

1. Mail – Oversized postcards

a. 1 postcard for a house list
b. 1 postcard for prospect list with a new buyer special offer
c. Personalize all postcards
d. Sent every other week (6 mailings)

2. Email – Drip campaign with 4 bi-weekly emails

a. 1 email for current customers
b. 1 email for prospects with a new buyer special offer
c. Emailed every other week with new subject lines

3. Social media – Facebook campaign

a. Ad for current customers (12 ads)
b. Ad for prospects with new buyer special offer (12 ads)
c. Posted 3 – 4 times weekly

4. Print media – Local monthly magazine

a. ¼ page ad run 3 times

Controlling your budget

While this may all seem too labor-intensive and potentially expensive the results you get from a well-executed campaign with clear messaging, great branding, personalization, and an unforgettable offer will be worth it.

You may have noticed that the broadcast media didn’t make it into the final list. That’s because the cost of running a 30-second ad can be expensive unless you want it to air at 2:00 a.m., especially if you’re in a larger metropolitan area. Don’t forget to factor in the cost of producing the commercial.

To keep within budget, you may want to eliminate the media ads in favor of a more targeted advertising platform, like mail.

To further keep your budget below the breaking point, print advertising may also be on the chopping block. A national magazine cites the cost of print advertising typically ranges between $500 and $20,000. While well-targeted print ads can be effective and exceed the staying power of mail, your customer must find them among the publication’s many pages. With postcards – the message is crystal clear.

Executing Your Plan

After the decision has been made about which channels to use, if you haven’t created the marketing, it’s time to do that. Then, look at the timeframe that your campaign will run and determine when each element of the plan will be deployed.

While you may have an in-house team to create the campaign message and execute the social media and email portions of the printing, mail lists, and mailing requires special skills.

Choosing an organization that understands the importance of direct mail and how it fits into an omnichannel marketing approach is essential.

One Stop Mail has specialists on staff who can create a customized prospect mail list to give you the best opportunity to get new customers. They can also cleanse a non-performing house list to get more of the direct mail-omnichannel marketing benefits your business deserves.

In addition, their printers understand that a vibrant, quality mailer has the best opportunity of delivering your message to your recipient. And, if you need graphic design help to ensure your campaign design transitions seamlessly to a postcard, One Stop Mail can deliver that, too.

To be successful, your omnichannel marketing strategy must be on-point and delivered to absolute perfection – especially your direct mail. If you’re looking for a partner who is committed to the success of each mailing, contact One Stop Mail at 602.233.3003.

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

April 23, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Mail Services

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 direct 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

Both 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

The 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.

How to increase donations man in suit opening a yellow envelope web

Using Direct Mail Campaigns to Increase Donations

April 8, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Lists & Data Services, Mail Services

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?

#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.

#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.

#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.

Direct Mail Catalogs Are Centuries Old… And Still Relevant!

March 29, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Mail Services

There’s a very common misconception about the history of advertising, and that’s the idea Arron Montgomery Ward created direct mail catalogs. While Ward was a pioneer, he was far from the first.

Crush Your Revenue Goals With a Direct Mail Campaign woman checkin her mailbox web

How to Crush Your Revenue Goals With a Direct Mail Campaign in 2021

February 23, 2021/0 Comments/in Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Graphic Design, Lists & Data Services, Variable Data

If you’re starting the year with big revenue goals to accomplish, that can be a huge, continuous task. Establishing a target and a plan to achieve it is essential if you want to reach for the stars – and we are here to help. Here is your blueprint to create a winning direct mail campaign in 2021.

Why a Mail Campaign?

It converts prospects into buyers.

Yes, email is a less expensive way to reach customers and prospects, but it doesn’t convert prospects into buyers. According to the Association of National Advertisers’ (ANA)/Data & Marketing Association’s (DMA) 2018 response rate report, an average of 4.9% of prospects who receive direct mail will order from that company. Only 1% of prospects responded to an email.

When buyers receive a mailer from a company they’ve purchased from before, 9% of them will make another purchase.

If you want more buyers, go with direct mail.

How Does Mail Get Sales?

Research shows that Americans prefer mail.

Marketing research heavy-weight Marketing Sherpa says 76% of people trust ads that they receive in the mail.

The organization points to the scarcity of print that makes it so valuable to recipients. Think about how many ads, catalogs, mailers that you receive daily and compare it to the number of emails that you receive. If you’re like most, you get 121 emails each day on average. How much harder is it to be noticed in the inbox versus the mailbox?

If you want your message to reach your recipient, use mail.

Create a Mail Campaign in 2021

If you don’t already know who your best customers are, research your target market to determine demographic markers, such as whether the decision-maker is male or female, what’s their age and education level. Your marketing message will vary depending on who your customers are and what you’d like to offer.

Are you trying to generate business with new customers? Are you looking to retain current customers? Are you trying to win back customers who haven’t used your services for a while? Answers these questions to understand your overall goals and what your mail campaign will help you accomplish.

Craft a Compelling Offer

When you want to reach specific revenue goals, make it attractive for customers to say yes by giving them an exciting offer that makes them want to say, “Yes!”

You don’t have to discount your products or services if you frame your offer to appeal to your best audience. Or get loyal customers to offer a genuine testimonial. To learn more about how to craft an offer to help turn prospects into customers, read on.

Build your List(s)

Crush Your Revenue Goals With a Direct Mail Campaign managing mail web What makes or breaks your direct mail campaign in 2021 is your list. If you’ve been using a mail list that isn’t performing the way that you want, it’s time to upgrade.

Scrub the non-performing addresses from your list and rebuild it with addresses that will perform better, like recipients that fit the demographic profile of your best customers. To find them, you’ll need expert list builders, like One Stop Marketing’s professionals.

In addition to cleaning up your house list, they’ll be able to put together a customized prospect list or can provide you with all new movers in your neighborhood or will work with the post office to complete Every Door Direct Mail, or EDDM.

Put Together your Mail Schedule

If you’re like most business owners, you may have noticed a seasonality to your business. During certain times of the year, there’s a spike in business. If you scheduled mailers to reach your customers, could you increase those spikes in revenue?

Pre-plan for the year and create your compelling offer to get the best result.

Mailer, Flyer, or Postcard?

Decide which mailed collateral will help you stand out in mailboxes and get you the best result. If you’re unsure, work with an experienced print and mailing house to help you balance the attention-grabbing graphics and size of your mailer with your budget.

If you require graphic design expertise, One Stop Mail has that, too.

Personalize Your Offer with Variable Data Printing

Research shows that people who see a letter or postcard with their name on it have a better feeling about the sender and are more likely to buy. A survey shows that 59% of buyers say that personalization influenced their buying decision.

Fortunately, digital printing has brought the cost of variable data printing down in recent years, making it an affordable, as well as profitable, option.

Get the Right Partner for your Direct Mail Campaign

When it comes to developing a successful direct mail campaign in 2021 and beyond, a solid partner with experience is essential. One Stop Mail has more than 14 years in direct mail and guides you at every step of your campaign development.

If you have big revenue goals to hit, the professionals at One Stop Mail are waiting to help you get started. Contact us, or call 602.932.0276 and get started today.

OSM SM Post Build a targeted mailing list

How to Build Better Targeted Mailing Lists

February 17, 2021/0 Comments/in Uncategorized

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

Accountants Get Hefty Returns from Tax Postcards

February 5, 2021/0 Comments/in Digital Print Postcards, Direct Mail, Direct Mail Flyers, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Mail Postcards, Offset & Digital Printing

It’s the start of another tax season! Although most humans find the first quarter of every year cringe-worthy, accountants well-versed in taxes, like you know it can be a highly lucrative time. How do you make it even more profitable and maximize the need for your expertise? Two words: tax postcards.

Consider what happens if you don’t reach out to prospective clients – lost revenue. Today there are online accounting services that charge minimal fees along with budget tax-preparers that provide basic, production-line service and are happy to collect fees that could be coming to you.

Uninformed taxpayers could be attracted to the price, not knowing that you offer added benefits, like tax savings for the current tax period and strategies to reduce taxes in the coming year. What happens when you don’t secure new clients? As attrition naturally eats away at your customer base, your thriving practice could slowly die.

Let’s explore how you could get a larger share and attract more clients with an affordable strategy that allows you to advertise your accounting practice to a legion of individuals who need your expertise.

Direct Mail Is Still Popular & Profitable

These days, everything is online – that doesn’t mean that everyone likes it. The novelty of receiving something colorful, fun, and informative in the mail can help small businesses be more memorable.

Tax postcards create lasting impressions

According to a number of sources, direct mail has an average lifespan of 17-days while an email will only stay on your prospects’ minds for a few seconds.

Not only will you stay top-of-mind with your targeted audience, but you can touch their friends and family, too. An attractive offer may end up under a refrigerator magnet. When a friend says they need tax help, all the recipient needs to do is share your name and phone number on the mailer or pass along the tax postcard!

Millennials like mail

This generation has grown up using digital resources, banking, going to school, and work online. It’s logical to assume that they prefer to get all of their information online.

Quite the contrary, surveys show that 76% of Millennials say they feel special when they receive personalized mail. With the personalization costs plummeting, thanks to digital printing, it’s worth the cost to make future clients feel special by sending a personalized postcard.

Take the stress out of tax time with tax postcards

Busy clients have a lot on their mind and often have competing priorities vying for their attention. By sending reminder postcards, you’re easing their stress by letting them know that you’re ready to offer expert advice and take a stressful task off their hands.

Turnkey Tax Postcard Solutions

Attract more revenue by targeting your best clients with a postcard that’s 4.25”X6” in size. According to Accounting Today, this accounting postcard size that gets the best results.

Next, how to position your accounting and tax service practice to reach your ideal customer? Choose an experienced direct mail marketing service and commercial printer, like One Stop Mail (OSM) to drive the right leads to your business.

List services that target new clients and movers

Mail lists are critical for successful direct mail campaigns. If you don’t get the results that you want from each mailing, experts in list building and direct mail can suggest how to improve results, from changing your demographics or reach new movers in your neighborhood.

You can also customize a list that’s specific to your practice to optimize your budget and return on investment.

Eye-catching graphic services for your tax postcards

Reaching your targeted client-base requires standing out among all of the “noise” in the mailbox. If you want to create a one-of-a-kind look for your accounting postcards, OSM’s professional graphic designers can create a design that aligns with your quality, trusted brand.

Affordable printing options

As mentioned, personalized messages are more memorable and appreciated. OSM’s digital printing services allow you to greet every prospect by name without costing you an arm and a leg. Ask our printing pros the cost of a printed message, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

EDDM

“Every Door Direct Mail” may be the answer if you want every household on a specific mail route to receive your tax prep postcards. OSM will make sure that all of your neighbors receive your message, and it saves you the cost of a mail list, too.

Consider More Than Tax Postcards…

Client giveaways pack a punch. When you provide clients with pens, magnets, and other promotional products with your name, logo, and contact information, you’re reminding them of your service and providing them a way to contact you.

If clients are presented with copies of returns in a folder that’s personalized with your name and number, they’ll remember you when it’s time for next year’s taxes.

In today’s competitive business environment, savvy business professionals leverage every advantage they can. When you have direct mail marketing and printing experts like One Stop Mail in your corner, you can create a unique campaign tailored to your practice.

Don’t delay getting your tax prep postcards on the press – contact us or call 602.962.9243 and start maximizing your tax time revenue today!