When it comes to marketing campaigns, direct mail still holds the #1 spot for the biggest return on investment.
So-called “new” media, such as email and paid online ads, aren’t working as well as they used to. People are growing tired of being bombarded daily by online ads and marketing emails – so much so that many marketing emails automatically wind up in the SPAM box before a person gets a chance to see them.
Despite having an upfront cost, more and more businesses are discovering that direct mail is working better than it ever did – due in some small part to their competition having tunnel vision and focusing their entire marketing budget on “online” marketing. This translates into less competition for your target client or customer’s mailbox.
One of the things that prevent many businesses from engaging in a direct mail campaign is the perceived cost. They feel that it’s too expensive to experiment with. This is where AlphaGraphics can help out. We’re direct mail marketing experts and can help you with everything from the design to the printing of the mailers.
But what about the cost of the postage?
It turns out there are a few things you can do to significantly lower the cost of the postage. Here are a few tips on how to keep those postage costs down to a bare minimum:
Wasted Postage
Wasting postage is the biggest drain of money in any direct mail campaign. What is wasted postage? It’s sending out mailers and postcards to people who don’t need your services or products. Only expand your mailing list to those people who are within your target market. Sending out mailers to targets outside your market has as much of a chance of making a sale as putting a note in a bottle and throwing it into the ocean.
List Maintenance
If you’re using the same mailing list year after year, there’s a very good chance you’re wasting a ton of money. People tend to move around and there’s a very good chance that some people on your list have moved from their residence. It’s best to clean your list right before you send out a mail campaign.
Know the Rules
The post office has all sorts of rules for the dimensions and weight of mailing pieces. These rules directly tie into how much you’re paying per-piece. There is a huge difference in cost-per-piece when it comes to flat and letter rates. By knowing the rules in advance, you can have the right mailer for your budget printed up.
Follow-Up
Direct mail should not be viewed as a proverbial “message in a bottle”, only to be cast out into the open ocean, never to be seen again. Give your list a way or means to continue the conversation. This is best accomplished by adding a pURL, QR code, or SMS Short Code to your mailer. Having a mobile-optimized website is also critical to making sure your customers have a chance to hop online and continue the conversation.
Marketing Help in New Bern
If your marketing campaigns have run out of steam, or you’d like to learn more about starting a mailing list and taking advantage of direct mail, contact us. At AlphaGraphics, we’re much more than a print shop. We’re marketing experts who can help grow your business with time-tested and proven marketing methods such as direct mail. To learn more about how AlphaGraphics of New Bern can produce and design your next project, you may
email us,
request a quote or call us at
(252) 633-3199.