Nowadays, most savvy marketers plan their direct mail campaigns to generate mobile response. One of the best ways to increase response is to move people from one marketing channel to another.
I had a great Mail Moment the other day. I got a direct mail from an advertising specialties company that had my last name “Filhaber” direct printed on a golf shirt. It looked like it was actually embroidered on the shirt.
I was so excited about this mailer that I showed it to everyone in my office. To me, this 6” x 9” postcard hit all the high notes. It was unique. It was personalized. And, and it directed me to a website for easy on-line ordering with a simple QR code.
This was so enticing and so easy, I actually ordered a shirt for my husband. Now has a golf shirt that says Ed Filhaber, instead of Dataman Group.
Let’s face it, while direct mail marketing has been around for a long time, updating it to partner with new technology can make a huge difference in ROI.
Start with Best Practices
So, where to start? Marketers need to begin with the basic direct mail best practices that have proven successful for years. We call them best practices because they work. Marketers who follow these simple guidelines will keep their direct mail costs down and increase their ROI by testing some of the latest integrated marketing options.
• Targeted mail lists: Slice & dice to the max. Make sure you define your best prospects and work with your mailing list provider to pull the best possible prospects for your offer.
• Mail tracking: Know when your mail is delivered so that you can follow up.
• Creative designs: Stand out in the mail box using die-cut postcards, colorful envelopes, eye-catching photos on envelopes.
• Test-test-test: Really track results on what messaging and formats get the best response.
• Personalization: Today’s technology makes it easy to do…and it really works.
Since many people now spend more time on their mobile devices, Marketers need to focus their direct mail to catch people on the go. In this day and age, we can empower our direct mail with technology to drive response.
Marketers whose direct mail utilizes the latest technology, let the recipient into the driver’s seat of the marketing experience. Recipients can pick and choose the information they are interested in at that moment. By incorporating mobile marketing into a direct mail campaign, marketers give their prospects an easy gateway to find online information via their cell phone.
New Trends
When you’re planning your direct mail, keep these trends in mind to increase your mobile response.
• QR Codes: Directs them to a landing page with an offer, a way to buy or more information.
• NFC: Near Field Communication – this a chip that can be embedded in direct mail (or brochures, product guides, etc.) and can be used to drive mobile devices where ever you want to with a tap or touch.
• PURL: Unique and personalized landing page created especially for each recipient.
By adding these instant response methods, Marketers increase the opportunity to catch someone in the moment as a hot lead, if not a sale. Exact Target says that direct mail influences 76 percent of internet users to buy a product or service online, so marketers need to make sure they are driving that online engagement when they plan their direct mail campaigns.