Direct Mail ROI
Blog Tag
To the USPS: Focus on Mail Volume Growth, Not Postage Rate Increases
After the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released its 10-year strategic plan, Delivering for America, I shared my thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of the plan. Two of my largest concerns were the limited focus on growing mail volume and the plan’s reliance on price increases to drive financial stability. Since the plan was released, the USPS has proposed the largest postage rate increase in 15 years.
In Praise of the Direct Mail Letter
“Letter schmetter,” said the marketer who wanted to cut the cost of her direct mail package. “Let’s mail an oversized postcard.” Maybe your first thought is, “Sure, we could do that.” But then another thought chases that one away and you say to yourself, “Self, wait just a minute. The letter is the most important […]
USPS Promotions are Becoming More Important Than Ever
With a significant postage rate increase on the horizon, the postage discounts that can be earned from participating in USPS promotions have become increasingly important to many marketers. As an added bonus, these promotions encourage marketing techniques that can make the direct mail portion of multichannel campaigns more relevant and engaging for the recipients, driving higher response and greater return on marketing investment (ROMI). Here are some key details and dates for the more popular mailing promotions:
ANA Conference Reports on the Effectiveness of Direct Mail
Since the pandemic I’ve found myself enthusiastically leaving my house…to check my mailbox. I wouldn’t just glance at my mail, but really looked through and read my mail daily. Apparently I’m not the only one who did this. According to the USPS, 41% of consumers said due to the pandemic they were more excited to […]
The Seven Magic Words of Direct Mail
Magic words of direct mail? That seems a little “out there” for such a hardworking marketing tool. Especially with the strategic, data-driven approach IWCO Direct uses for performance marketing. But, yes, there are magic words you can use in direct mail; they’re “magic” because they can cause a dramatic increase in response to your mailing.
A 4-Step Process for Developing an Effective Marketing Strategy Based on the Cost Per Sale
In my last post, I defined cost per lead (CPL), cost per sale (CPS), and allowable cost per sale (ACPS) in relation to your direct marketing budget and mail quantities. That being said, effective marketing strategy is not just about these costs, but how you use that information to inform future campaigns and measurably improve the ROI of your marketing efforts. These four simple steps will help you and your team use this data to your advantage.
Manage Your Direct Marketing Efforts Based on the Cost Per Sale
Today, I’d like to talk about how to better understand how your direct marketing budget is working for you by evaluating your cost per lead, cost per sale, and determining your allowable cost per sale. The first priority in evaluating the effectiveness of your direct marketing campaign is to define your customers’ decision steps. This […]
Integrated Marketing Approach Delivers Measurable Results
We all know the old saying ‘may you live in interesting times,’ which is often described as being both a blessing and a curse. We have certainly seen the continued pace of change in the marketing industry around us―and in direct marketing specifically, but I strongly believe these are in fact exciting times for IWCO […]
What Does it Take to Create Great Direct Marketing?
It’s a big question. True direct response marketing starts with putting relevant, personalized marketing communications in front of targeted prospects. Done well, great direct marketing campaigns target more than just small groups with similar demographics―they target individuals. Every mailpiece or advertisement should reflect the needs of the individual targeted. Effective direct marketing drives response by […]
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 […]
