Articles by Marcus Johnson
Blog Archive
The Johnson Box—What, Why, Where, and How
Before we dive into the value and inner workings of the Johnson Box, a little family history. The Johnson Box was invented by my great great great grandfather Eustice Aristotle Johnson, a pioneer in direct mail. This breakthrough in marketing occurred shortly after he created boxed cereal and sliced bread. I’m a little fuzzy on […]
How to Write Direct Response Copy in Any Channel
Staring into the abyss of writing direct response copy for a multichannel marketing campaign? Pull up a chair and let’s discuss. First, define the scope. Say you have direct mail, email, ad-like objects (think banner/display ads, including those for different online platforms like mobile, tablet, and desktop), and social media. We could go deeper, but […]
Six Direct Mail Don’ts
The usual focus of my wildly entertaining blogs (hold your applause until the end, please) is ways to improve your direct mail—writing, strategic thinking, presentation, etc. In other words, what to do. This month’s topic is based on one of my father’s favorite phrases, dating back to my youth. At some point during an average […]
Does Your Direct Mail Package Pass the Test? An Essential Checklist—Rules 7-9
We’ve come to the final three (of nine) questions that every direct mail producer should ask before, during, and after you create a direct mail package. Reminder: these questions come courtesy of Paul McQuillan, who turned his experience at a marketing seminar into a piece for Target Marketing. His article appeared a few years […]
An Essential Direct Mail Checklist. Does Your Direct Mail Check the Boxes?—Rules 4-6
Continuing our review of the nine questions that should guide every direct mail user— courtesy of Paul McQuillan and an unnamed marketing seminar speaker. Paul turned that seminar encounter into a helpful direct mail checklist and wrote a piece for Target Marketing a few years ago. Let’s move on to questions four through six. All […]
An Essential Direct Mail Checklist. Does Your Direct Mail Check the Boxes?
We’re always on the lookout for and appreciative of essential advice for direct mail producers. A tip of the hat, then, to Paul Mcquillan and an unnamed marketing seminar speaker, whose direct mail checklist I recently came across in a piece Paul wrote for Target Marketing.
Direct Marketing In the COVID-19 Era
“I don’t know.” “We’re not sure.” “Even the experts can’t say.” “Everything is still so uncertain.” The comments above aren’t about the coronavirus. They’re about when business will “get back to normal.” Welcome to marketing in the COVID-19 era.
What Should Your Outer Envelope Say?
You probably know the expression “the eyes are the window to the soul.” It’s much the same with direct mail: the outer envelope (OE)—with or without a window—gives insight into the inner contents. The OE is a blank slate for your direct mail package, and has the potential to telegraph what someone will find inside. […]
Avoid These Three Direct Mail Bad Habits in 2020
I’ve built a shiny metaphorical bandwagon, and I’m inviting you all to jump on and help me improve the quality and effectiveness of creative direct mail writing in 2020. At the same time, we’re going to—once and for all, I hope, although I know better—say a final farewell to a few nagging direct mail bad habits.
Give Your Direct Mail Marketing a Lift with Promotional Cards
You know from our reporting on direct mail response rates that direct mail works better than other channels for getting response. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to improve it even further. Today’s topic: using cards to captivate your audience …
