Direct Mail vs.E-mail Marketing

Click here to read an article in the Huffington Post which does a great job discussing the merits of direct mail vs. e-mail.

Many of our own experiences with e-mail marketing were backed up by the data in this article.

Only approximately 20% of postal addresses can be matched with e-mail addresses, so if you rely on e-mail exclusively, you're not reaching 80% of the market.  Those messages that get by the spam filters are quickly forgotten or lost amid new messages.  If seniors are in your target market, you're in trouble as only approximately 45% of seniors are online.

Check out the entire article  here  for more insights.

Basic Reminders

This article by Barbara Morris, reminds us of the effectiveness of direct mail, especially when targeting certain segments of the population such as senior citizens.

Direct mail can still deliver great results if you remember a few basics:
Personalize your message
Engage your prospect
Offer bonuses and incentives

The lifehealthpro.com website has some other useful articles that may be of help in marketing your practice.

Tips for E-mail Marketing

Although our focus here is normally on direct mail, many of our clients are using e-mail marketing as a tool in their marketing mix.  It is critical to the sucess of your campaign to craft an effective e-mail message.

Click here to check out this helpful article from the Financial Brand for useful tips to help create impactful e-mail messages.

Direct Mail...Still Effective

Direct mail is not dead.  In fact, it is still a cost effective method for marketers.  While many are eschewing direct mail for the convenience and accessibility of online marketing, successful marketers know that there are many advantages to direct mail that give it an advantage over online marketing.

Click here to read the article by Elaine Love that outlines some of the basics such as how selecting the right list and crafting an effective letter can work for you.

Helpful Tips for Marketing Your Practice

Normally our focus in on marketing professional development conferences and seminars.

However, today we shift our focus to the professional marketing their practice.

In this article Dr. Susan Giurleo discusses "Gentle, Yet Effective Marketing For Mental Health."

Among her suggestions are to avoid the overly slick and pushy marketing.

Instead, remember that the focus should always be on your client. Provide helpful and useful information and messages and you will find it easier to fill your appointment book.

The Value of Direct Mail

A recent article posted by the Huffington Post highlights the value of direct mail.

Direct mail is the method most consumers prefer for communication.

Though the cost per piece may be higher with direct mail, the return is normally greater, outweighing the associated costs.

For more reasons you need to implement direct mail, read the article here.

E-mail Vs. Direct Mail

While both direct mail and e-mail marketing are effective sales tools, they are not interchangeable, and should be used differently to maximize results.

E-mail is most effective at communicating with current clients. Since you already have a relationship you can use this to notify them of special offers and move product.

To convert a prospect to a customer you have to build trust which is more difficult with e-mail since many people are conditioned to view e-mails from unknown companies as spam.

Direct mail marketing is more effective at converting prospects to customers. With direct mail, you have a better opportunity to tell your story and engage the prospect.

Know your prospect. If you are targeting middle aged professionals, this demographic is probably most open to direct mail solicitation. Younger prospects are probably best engaged through social media.

For more tips check out the complete aritcle from Chief Marketer.