Direct Mail Testing: Why Good is Never Good Enough — And How to Keep Getting Better
Do you ever get the feeling we live in a “what have you done for me lately” world? Maybe it’s not a feeling for you; it’s your reality. If your work is measured in any meaningful way — and more is these days since data makes the world go ‘round — you could find yourself thinking that good is never good enough. That might be true, but there is an upside. Direct mail testing is a good example of how measurement is a positive.
Our Strategy is Put to the Test with Champion vs Challenger Testing
Have you ever wondered if your direct mail package is performing as well as it could? Are you certain you’re reaching the people most likely to buy, or that the creative truly captures your audience’s attention? One way to know for certain is to conduct Champion vs. Challenger testing. Our team is increasingly involved in […]
Time for a Marketing Health Check-Up?
Going to your doctor to get an annual physical is part of being and staying healthy. We schedule these appointments a year in advance, and if we have been following the doctor’s orders for the previous 365 days, we are rewarded with a clean bill of health (though most of us are also given a […]
Our Personalization Equipment Upgrades Keep Us Ahead of the Curve
At IWCO Direct, there is a lot that goes into keeping our production equipment aligned with the growing needs and complexity of highly-personalized, data-driven marketing campaigns. Marketers continue to expand their use of personalized messaging in all parts of their direct mail designs. We are continually exploring the latest technologies and personalization equipment to fulfill […]
Conjoint Analysis Lowers Cost and Increases Speed of Direct Mail Testing
If you are a regular reader of IWCO Direct’s blog, you’ll know that we are active proponents of direct mail testing as part of a comprehensive direct marketing strategy. When we test direct mail, we learn what creative messaging and formats (and data) achieve the best results for our clients. At the same time, […]
A Proper Direct Mail Testing Strategy Helps You Determine Which Packages Are Really Winning
If you’re like me, the summer has certainly been welcome. Along with the return of warmer weather, school is out and kids are brimming with excitement about attending camps, sports, and other activities. I know I feel a bit like my nine-year-old daughter’s activities director (or, more accurately, her chauffeur). Ava’s schedule is jam-packed with […]
Testing Tuesday: The Best Approach to Auditing Your DM Campaign
Our clients are under constant pressure to improve results. They might already have a solid, high-performing direct mail campaign that brings in thousands of leads per campaign, but then the next planning cycle rolls around and their CMO says, “Great job – now, how do we take it to the next level?” At IWCO Direct, […]
Testing Tuesday: The Road to Multi-Channel Attribution
Last week Jim Leone described the current state of the industry when it comes to using data to drive dynamic content for direct mail campaigns. He mentioned it’s an on-going process that continues to get better, but we haven’t reached our final destination. In much the same way, when it comes to multi-channel attribution and […]
Four Principles of Direct Mail that Stand the Test of Time
Every industry has a set of principles that hold true despite years of change, innovation and disruption. Direct marketing is no different. Although there is an expanding array of channels, when it comes to the overall marketing mix, direct mail is still fundamental to marketing. It’s the flour to bread, the grapes to wine, and […]
Direct Mail Testing: Your 3-Step Guide to Better Response Rates
As direct marketers, we’re all looking for an edge, even just a slight adjustment to the offer, copy or design that will lead to better response rates. Would you believe me if I told you that something as simple as one sentence, just five little words, has the power to lift results by 20%? The […]