Direct Mail in an Electronic Age

Even in today's high tech environment, direct mail continues to be an effective way to market.

While many like the convenience of e-mail marketing, the results have not been encouraging. E-mail marketing is expensive and unreliable since many messages do not get past spam filters or they are identified by the reader as spam and simply ignored.

Direct mail is physical, it's impact is longer lasting and thus has a greater chance of generating interest. Do not abandon the successful marketing campaigns you have used in the past. Direct mail is also a very effective way to promote your presence on the web.

Read the whole article here:


http://www.pr-inside.com/direct-mail-booms-businesses-r546191.htm

Direct Mail Tips for Marketing on a Budget

Fortune Small Business recommends direct mail for a cost effective marketing campaign for a company on a budget.

For best results be sure to:
- Personalize the mailpiece
- Provide data to back up your claims
- Include testimonials
- Use risk reversal
- Early action discount
- Test mail before a larger rollout


To read the complete article:


http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/06/smbusiness/software_sales.fsb/

Add Direct Mail to Your Mix for Maximum Results

To get the maximum response from your marketing campaign, combine traditional direct mail to new marketing channels.

According to the DMA, 39% of respondents believe combining new marketing methods with direct mail is very effective, compared with only 34% who preferred the combination of e-mail with telemarketing.

For the complete article:


http://www.qas.co.uk/company/data-quality-news/experts_point_to_benefits_of_combining_direct_mail_methods_869.htm

Interesting Statistic

According to a recent survey by International Communication Research, 73% of people prefer to receive marketing information by direct mail whereas only 18% prefer e-mail.

The key to a successful direct mail campaign is a quality, targeted list.

For more information:

http://www.qas.co.uk/company/data-quality-news/data_quality_key_factor_in_direct_mail_success_866.htm

Growth In Direct Mail Expected to Continue

Direct mail was utilized more last year and is expected to continue to grow as marketers see the benefits of using this approach with the availability of more high quality data.

Many companies are increasing their direct marketing at the expense of online advertising.


Read the complete article here:
http://www.qas.co.uk/company/data-quality-news/_further_advances_to_be_expected_in_direct_mail_in_2008_841.htm

Printer Manufacturers Focus on Direct Mail Marketers

With direct mail being the fastest growing advertising segment off-line, makers of printers are targeting direct marketing advertisers. With more marketers using personalized, targeted messages to their audience, there is a big market for high volume printing systems.

"Altogether, the U.S. direct-mail printing business is a $62.2 billion market that's expected to grow around 6%, or 7 billion pages a year, data from marketing consultants Winterberry Group and Universal McCann show."

New printers are coming to the market which will be able to do high volume, as well as offer more options for color printing, wide format and graphic printing.

As costs go down, these new products could enable more marketers to bring their production in-house.

Read the whole article here:
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/junk-mail-spurs-growth-top/story.aspx?guid=%7BD6A342A1-138C-41C2-88BE-973BBD3D308C%7D

You Must Effectively Target Your Prospects For Success

If you're not targeting your prospects you are wasting resources and severely limiting your chances of success.

This article tells how one company got zero responses mailing to everyone in their area.

When they focused on their "dream" clients, larger companies that would generate bigger sales, they were able to get the biggest sale in the history of their company.

The key to their success was:
Proper Targeting + Creative Marketing + Follow-up = Success

Read the complete article here:

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=43475