Tag Archive for: direct mail services

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Direct Mail for Churches: How to Make It Work

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As the world becomes increasingly digital, traditional marketing tools like direct mail seem to have taken the back seat. However, that doesn’t mean direct mail marketing no longer works or that organizations have stopped using it altogether. In fact, at $38.5 billion, spending on direct mail still makes up the largest portion of local ad spend in the U.S.

This gives testimony to the effectiveness of direct mail marketing, especially when it comes to reaching a local audience. With the right approach, it could also be the perfect tool for your church to attract more attendees and engage your valued members.

Benefits of Direct Mail for Churches

Direct mail marketing for churches can have many advantages:

Church Advertising Allows You to Stand Out

With direct mail, you have the ability to customize your mail materials. This allows you to deliver church outreach cards that stand out from standard envelopes and flyers. The more your mail stands out, the better the chances of it being noticed.

Helps Build a Personal Connection with Recipients

The physical material of direct mail can have a stronger emotional impact on recipients, allowing them to form a personal connection. No wonder 70% of consumers feel that receiving direct mail is more personal when compared to online interactions.

direct mail for churches postcardHelps Attract New Parishioners/Attendees

Your direct mail marketing campaigns can reach homes and families that aren’t already a part of your parish. With a compelling message, you could welcome these recipients as attendees to your church.

Great Way to Re-Engage Members

Direct mail for churches is also an excellent tool to re-engage members who have stopped attending service for a period of time. Reminders that you’re thinking of them could invite them back into the church.

How to Use Direct Mail Marketing

If your direct mail campaigns haven’t worked in the past, improve your efforts with the following tips:

Design Mailers that Stand Out

Colorful envelopes, oversized mailers, and interesting textures can help your mail stand out in the mailbox. Take it one step further by personalizing the mailer with the recipient’s name or a handwritten message. Colorizing and personalizing your mail could improve your response rate by a whopping 500%. Additionally, oversized envelopes see the highest response rates at 5%.

Leverage Nonprofit Postage Rate

To make your outreach budget go further, take advantage of the nonprofit mailing rate that USPS offers to nonprofits.  This could help you save a bit on postage and use the money you’ve saved for other necessities.

Write a Compelling Message

Your eye-catching mailers should be accompanied by a message that’s equally thought-provoking. Carefully plan your messaging so you can inspire recipients and encourage them to attend your church. Messages of forgiveness and love and messages of acceptance could be the key to attracting parishioners – both new and old – to your church. You could also write messages to show your work through the communities you’ve supported and the people you’ve helped.

Take Advantage of New Mover Lists

One of the best ways to attract new people to your church is by sending direct mail to people who have just moved into the neighborhood. Take advantage of Just Moved Mailer services to gain access to new mover lists and get new attendees to your church.

direct mail for churches young group laughing

Make It Actionable

Do you want people to attend the next Sunday service? Or perhaps you want them to participate in an upcoming event? Whatever the goal of your direct mail marketing campaign is, make sure you include a call-to-action so recipients know exactly what you want them to do next.

Use the Right Direct Mail Marketing Tools

Depending on the goal of your campaign, use different direct mail marketing tools strategically:

  • Door hangers for quick intros
  • Postcards for quick intros and regularly checking in on parishioners
  • Church invitation postcards for upcoming events
  • Flyers and brochures for detailed information on your church, cause, or event

With a combination of the right tools, messaging, and mailer design, a direct mail marketing campaign can make a positive difference for your church. 

Holly Emerson One Stop Mail StaffNeed help crafting powerful mailers for your church?

 

Find out how One Stop Mail can help.

OSM Blog Hero image How to grow your medical practice 1

How to Grow Your Medical Practice Exponentially with Direct Mail

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When seeking to attract new patients to your practice, you might be inclined to look first toward digital marketing instead of its alternative, direct mail. Let’s face it: most businesses today are focused on social selling and online ads, questioning, “Does direct mail still work?” The truth is, if you’re wondering how to grow your medical practice in 2022, direct mail might be the best option. It’s cost-effective, targeted, and can deliver significant ROI.   

How to Leverage New Mover Direct Mail to Grow Your Practice  

On average, about 41 million Americans move each year. And when they move, they need to find local providers, including medical and dental professionals. They often don’t know the area at all and rely on the information they receive in the mail to make a choice of where to schedule their next appointment.

Consider these statistics about mail from the USPS for why direct mail still works:   

  • 67% of people feel mail is more personal than the internet.  
  • 55% look forward to exploring their mail. 
  • 56% feel that receiving mail is a pleasure.  

Buying a list of new homeowners and sending them direct mail can help them learn about the area, make them feel welcome, and encourage them to call you to learn more.  

Turning New Movers into New Patients  

How to grow your medical practice new moversIf you’re wondering how to grow your medical practice, residents near your practice provide a perfect option. For instance, when a family moves to a new location, they want to gain familiarity with the neighborhood. Mail helps them establish a sense of place. They are looking for a new dentist or physician who is welcoming, knowledgeable, and friendly. The same is true of current residents, who may be considering another medical or dental provider for their family. By showing up in their homes via direct mail, you help develop name recognition and erase barriers there might have been with clicking on a digital banner. They can’t ignore your message when a postcard or newsletter is in their hands.  

Medical offices are crushing sales goals through the use of direct mail. For new movers, just letting them know you’re accepting new patients and including a coupon can help them get over that initial hurdle and schedule an appointment.     

Best Practices for How to Grow Your Medical Practice  

Wondering how to grow your medical practice? With direct marketing, it’s all about the message you’re sending.

How to grow your medical practice mailbox1. Showcase Your Expertise  

While you may be inclined to jump right to advertising your practice, your future patients need to trust you first. By sharing information such as tips for better health, you’ll teach them something and share information without asking them for anything. Certainly, you’ll have your contact information on the piece, but it’s not a hard sell. When they need you, they’ll remember your expertise and generosity.   

2. Calm Fears  

Many people are, unfortunately, afraid of doctors and dentists. Add in the fact that we’ve been dealing with a pandemic for nearly two years now and you can understand people’s anxiety about scheduling a medical appointment. You can assuage those fears by addressing them outright. “We specialize in putting your fears to rest” is a great opening statement, especially for people who are apprehensive. Another approach for how to grow your medical practice is to focus on your practice’s safety and cleaning protocols. Answer the questions they have before they even have the opportunity to ask them.  

3. Help Potential Patients Find You  

People who live in your area may not realize that your office is just a few miles from their home. Help them by adding a map to your direct mail piece. That’s why direct mail works: It gives you plenty of areas to share information, creates a sense of trust, and lets readers know where you are. 

Give New Patients Options with Direct Mail  

How to grow your medical practice man checking mail

According to the USPS, 98% of consumers bring in their mail the day it’s delivered. If you wonder does direct mail still works, there’s your answer. Plus, 73% of advertising gets scanned, if not read, and 76% of consumers trust direct mail. How to grow your medical practice is clear with direct mail.

Learn more about how One Stop Mail makes a difference for medical practices and contact us to get started!   

 

OSM Ebook Image UpdatedWhether you need to generate new business or keep in touch with existing customers, you need to know the best ways to contact them.

Download this free eBook now and learn!

 

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Direct Mail Marketing Envelopes

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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 –

DIRECT MAIL MARKETING ENVELOPES Girl with envelopes in background 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

DIRECT MAIL MARKETING ENVELOPES hands holding yellow envelopeThe 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

Guy holding an envelopeThe 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

DIRECT MAIL MARKETING ENVELOPES Colourful EnvelopesIf 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.

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

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

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

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

Is New Movers Flyer Right for Your Business? 

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

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

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

Empathy Creates Loyalty, Thanks to New Mover Lists

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

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

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

Get on Shopping Lists 

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

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

Give Them Reasons to Shop 

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

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

Extend Your Reach with New Mover Mailers 

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

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

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

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

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

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Simple Ways to Get Explosive Growth with Direct Mail Coupons

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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?

DirectMailCoupon EXCoupons 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?

direct mail coupons opening envelope with a coupon insideRetailers 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

direct mail coupons hand holding two couponsNew 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!

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

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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?  

Crush Your Revenue Goals With a Direct Mail Campaign young woman opening mail webResearch 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 webWhat 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.  

Crush Your Revenue Goals With a Direct Mail Campaign flyer postcard web

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. 

Direct Mail Specialty Envelopes Number 10 One Stop Mail

Specialty Envelopes: Beyond Your Average #10

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If you have ever had to send correspondence to someone or mail billing, then you are familiar with the #10 size envelope. To many, when someone says envelope, that is the first image that comes to mind. However, envelopes come in many different shapes and sizes. Each one has a specific purpose, allowing its shape and size to suggest its purpose. In this article, we will cover different envelope styles and how they can be put to use.

Outside of the #10 Envelope

So we already know everything about #10 envelopes, which is the most commonly used size of commercial envelopes. Businesses typically use these envelopes, and they range in size from #5, smallest, to #14, the largest. They are open-sided, and may or may not contain a window on the front.

Direct Mail Speciality Envelopes You Should Know

There are 5 envelope options that can make you stand out. They are:

  1. “A” Style Envelope
  2. Catalog Envelope
  3. Booklet Style Envelope
  4. Remittance Envelope
  5. Donation Envelope

Here is what makes these specialty envelopes…well…special!

A Style: Have you heard of A-Style?  There is an easy way to remember it. The “A” stands for “announcement.” They can come in two forms: either with a deep pointed flap or a shorter flat flap. They are usually used for special announcements, whether that be business related or more personal. They can also be used for photographs, small booklets, and greeting cards.

Catalog: Another familiar envelope style is the catalog. It is the standard mailing envelope for important documents such as reports, folders, and contracts. If you are like me, when I hear Manila envelope, these are the kind of envelopes I think of. They are typically open on the short side of the envelope and may have a flexible piece of metal to hold the flap in place or a mount to tie it shut.

Booklet: Similar to catalog but different in its own respects, the booklet style. These kinds of envelopes are typically used for magazines, catalogs, booklets, media kits, and other multi-page documents. They are open ended on the long side of the envelope and have some sort of sealant to close the flap.  

Remittance and Donation: The final two envelope styles we will cover are remittance and donation. Remittance envelopes have large flats and are used to hold private information like credit card numbers or other private documents. Donation envelopes also referred to as offering, pew, or tithe envelopes, are a cheap way to collect donations. These are most prominently used by religious organizations and nonprofits and cannot be mailed.   

Direct Mail and Other Use Cases  

Marketers should carefully consider the envelope that will contain their marketing materials. After pouring over every detail of that document, you should not put it in something that is not equal in quality. As you can see, there are a lot of different options. Whether you want to attract attention by using a different style than the standard commercial envelope, or you want to spruce up a commercial envelope to stand out, One Stop Mail can put to use its own in-house envelope printer to fit your marketing needs.

The use of specialty envelopes doesn’t stop there.

Perhaps you are in real estate and need to send an important property notice that is time-sensitive?

Or perhaps you own an auto care shop and want to make car drop offs more convenient for your customers.

Envelopes have many other use cases outside of mail. With the ability to fully customize them to your needs, consider them as a solution to improve customer service, or increase the efficiency of how you handle day-to-day business.

Remember, we’re here to help you – check out what else we can do to help or give us a call 602-233-3003!

 

OSM Top 7 Direct Mail Statistics

Top 7 Direct Mail Statistics You Can Use

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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.

OSM Mailboxes mathyas kurmann fb7yNPbT0l8 unsplash direct mail statistics you can use77% 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.

Direct Mail Campaign Examples

Proven Direct Mail Campaign Examples – Define The Best Target Market

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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.   

Branding_Marketing_One_Stop_Mail

The Advantages of Direct Marketing Versus Branding

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Anytime you’re creating a new marketing campaign, you may find yourself asking a slew of questions about the advantages of direct marketing and whether it matches your campaign goals. Will the objective of your campaign be to increase brand’s reach, acquire new customers, monetize your existing customer base or if you’re like most– are you unsure of what to expect? Understanding the difference and setting the correct expectations will infinitely improve mediocre advertising tactics and allow you to make the most of any campaign.

 

What’s the Objective?

 

If your marketing department functions like most, you’ve got an annual budget and department expectations that were established by upper management during the latter end of the previous year. We’re past the halfway mark and now the pressure is on, we need results. One of the most frequent questions we get is, what’s the difference between branding and are there specific advantages to direct marketing?

 

Brand Awareness – Think billboards. You’re driving on the freeway and see a catchy ad with cows telling you to eat more chicken. Some drivers familiar with the brand will get a laugh out of the billboard while others unfamiliar with the brand may connect the logo with a restaurant they see occasionally. The goal of this marketing method is to increase awareness and be visible to as many people as possible. Strictly defined sales goals are not to be expected of this method and more often than not, you won’t see strict tracking methods implemented with brand awareness campaigns.

 

Marketing – If the name doesn’t say it loud enough, direct-action result-based campaigns strive to provide a measurable increase in conversions. Whether the conversion metric is more newsletter signups or an X increase in new customers that translates into a Y increase in revenue, your campaign has set expectations and goals. Examples of these campaigns include coupons, limited time offers and opt-in campaigns.

 

The Purpose of Branding 

 

Increasing brand awareness may nearly impossible to correlate with monetization. For branding, reaching new, existing and potential customers is the objective. An example of an awareness through conversion cycle for a brand awareness campaign can look start with a direct mail postcard or billboard ad designed to peak your interest.

 

Fictitious pizza chain Chewy’s Pizza has been experiencing a slump in sales for nearly a decade. A focus group has revealed the brand’s image is struggling due to its low-quality pizza’s and sub-par taste. The pizza chain has decided to revamp its entire operation and will now use high-quality ingredients and focus on an artisan pizza rather than provide a bottom dollar product. The general perception of the brand needs to improve. Chewy’s Pizza runs radio ads, tv commercials and send postcard mailers to all homes within a 4-mile radius of a franchise in each market.

 

The advertisements emphasize a brand revitalization and commitment to top quality ingredients and taste. The messaging directs people to pizzamatters.com, a website the Chewy’s Pizza created to build value and modify existing perception of the brand. The company is monitoring campaign impact by keeping a close tab on the amount of unique and return visitors to the website. A conversion will be counted anytime an individual watches a video about the company’s new image or signs up for the mailing list.

 

The Advantages of Direct Marketing

 

For many SMB’s it is crucial to understand if a marketing effort is profitable, has the potential to become profitable or perhaps it’s a complete wash. Direct-action result-based campaigns strive to provide a short customer monetization cycle with a measurable value tied to each conversion. The ideal way to track campaign effectiveness is to use a variety of calls-to-action and tracking methods that will simplify how the results can be segmented.

 

Fictitious company Lazer manufactures computers and computer peripherals. The company has 50,000 addresses of previous customers but is having a difficult time engaging its fan base through emails and social media. Robert, Lazers sales director, has been tasked with spearheading a sale in an effort move stagnant inventory and make room for upcoming new products. The company decides to mail a scratch to win postcard to all previous customers. The direct mail marketing postcard offers vary with incentives ranging from 5%-50% discounts and a select few postcards have online-store gift cards or free item redemption codes.

 

The offer codes needed to redeem the incentives will allow Lazer to track how many customers redeemed offers, the campaign participants’ average spend if individuals purchased additional products and additional data to determine lifetime customer value and the potential for future monetization. Data shows Lazer that the campaign was able to provide a significant increase in revenue and was able to re-engage previous customers who had not made purchases in a long period of time.

Check out our helpful article for more information about building a great direct marketing mail campaign.

 

Which Do I Use?

 

Although branding and marketing can function in tandem, it is important to understand the difference in order to craft a successful advertising campaign. If your goal is to spread the word far and wide, branding could be the best solution to your advertising woes. Marketing campaigns have the benefit of being incentive based and allow time constraints to increase urgency. Next week we will discuss the difference between good offer and a fantastic one.

In the meantime, if you’re looking to get results on a direct mail marketing campaign, turn to experts with many years of direct mail experience. One Stop Mail can help you achieve your objectives — give us a call at 602.962.5104 or reach out to us here.

 

This article is part 2 of a 4 part series covering:

The Advantages of Direct Marketing Versus Branding?

Learn to Entice Customers with these Irresistible Offer Examples

Direct Mail Tracking Methods

Crafting a Successful Direct Mail Campaign