The Hottest Holiday Direct Mail Tactics This Season

Holiday mailing is in full effect! But, if you’re like many businesses, you may only be on your second or even first round of mailers. Don’t worry, that’s good news! It means there’s still time to perfect the ideal seasonal direct mail piece. Perhaps you know that your mailer is tried, tested and true, but if it’s time to switch up your methodology, take a beat from these on-trend tactics:

1. Medium Is In

Medium-sized direct mail pieces are winning the show. Since 2010, nearly 71% of mailed offers were medium in size, one third of which used a #10 envelope. The trend is sure to continue through the holiday season. Medium pieces are big enough to stand out amongst other items, but not so large that they become a nuisance in the mailbox (It also doesn’t hurt they they’re healthier for your budget, too).

2. Make a Statement

Yes, of course, a clear call-to-action should always be a key component to your mailer, but that’s not the kind of statement we’re talking about here. If you consider the fact that your mailer is sure to be just one of many in a colorful stack of holiday mailers, it becomes clear why it’s that much more important to make a strong statement with the mailer itself. Think bright colors, catchy phrases, unique shapes, or a haptic element – anything to stand out and make your piece more unique.

3. Give Consumers a Present

It is the season of giving after all! Give your consumers, or potential consumers, a gift! Whether that come in the form of tempting discounts, offers, or a small item sent with your direct mail piece. In the words of Don Corleone, “…Make him an offer can’t refuse.”

4. Mail Frequently

Once is nice, but twice is better, three and they’ll finally buy that Christmas sweater. Okay, okay, we just made up that saying, but it fits the moral of point number four well. Consumers are being bombarded with offers during the holiday season so be sure to mail regularly to keep your business fresh in the mind.

We want to know – what tactics are you planning to use in your holiday mailers this season? Tell us in the comments! 

Five Finalists Remain For The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award

The annual competition to select the top college quarterback in the nation has been narrowed from an original field of 27 to five finalists for The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

Named after the man many refer to as the greatest quarterback ever to play the game of football, the prestigious Golden Arm Award is presented annually by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica.

The five finalists for 2014 Golden Arm Award are:

• Brett Hundley (UCLA) – After 10 weeks of play, Hundley has completed 191 of 269 passes for 2,245 yards (71% completion rate) throwing for 15 touchdowns with just 4 interceptions and a QB rating of 151.5.
• Cody Kessler (USC) – After 10 weeks of play, Kessler has completed 207 of 297 passes for 2,548 yards (69.7% completion rate) throwing for 25 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions and a QB rating of 157.5.
• Marcus Mariota (Oregon) – After 10 weeks of play, Mariota has completed 169 of 248 passes for 2,541 yards (68.1% completion rate) throwing for 26 touchdowns with just 2 interceptions and a QB rating of 171.1.
• Bryce Petty (Baylor) – After 10 weeks of play, Petty has completed 132 of 241 passes for 2,034 yards (54.8% completion rate) throwing for 20 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions and a QB rating of 165.7.
• Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) – After 10 weeks of play, Prescott has completed 131 of 215 passes for 2,016 yards (60.9% completion rate) throwing for 16 touchdowns with 7 interceptions and a QB rating of 141.8.

 

Candidates for the Golden Arm Award – which has been presented at the end of each college football season since 1987 – must be college seniors or fourth-year juniors on schedule to graduate with their class. In addition to the accomplishments on the field, candidates are judged on their character, citizenship, scholastic achievement, and leadership qualities.

 

This season, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. has again teamed with longtime partner Transamerica, as well as 120 Sports, a first-of-its-kind live-streaming digital sports video programming network, in promoting this prestigious honor. As the media partner, the goal at 120 Sports will be to tell the stories that surround the selection of candidates, profiling their football career and community involvement as a member of their football program. We are very excited about this partnership.

 

NFL Hall of Famer, former Baltimore Colt, and the great Johnny Unitas’ favorite target – Raymond Berry – will deliver the keynote remarks at this year’s Golden Arm Award ceremony.

 

Past Golden Arm Award winners include: Peyton Manning (Tennessee, 1997); Carson Palmer (USC, 2002); Eli Manning (Ole Miss, 2003); Matt Ryan (Boston College, 2007); Colt McCoy (Texas, 2009); and Andrew Luck (Stanford, 2011). 

 

Proceeds from the event help support the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. The Foundation provides financial assistance to underprivileged and deserving young scholar-athletes throughout Maryland and Kentucky.

 

This year’s winner will be announced on December 8, 2014 and The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award will be presented at a ceremony on Friday, December 12, in Baltimore, MD. For the 2014 Golden Arm Award ceremony, The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation, Inc. and Transamerica are happy to be returning to The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue.

 

In addition to Transamerica, sponsors of the Golden Arm Award include: Andretti Sports Marketing, Athlon Sports, 120 Sports, The Babe Ruth and Sports Legends Museum, Baltimore Sun Media Group, Bloomberg Television, Century Engineering, Coach for America, Comcast, Dunbar Armored and Dunbar Cybersecurity, The Embassy Suites Baltimore Inner Harbor & Grand Historic Venue, Haddock Investments, HMS Insurance Associates, Inc., Metropolis Funding, PSAV, Panini, SILKS, TRAY, The Scott Garceau Show, MedStar Union Memorial Sports Medicine, VPC Inc., Weiss PR, Woodberry Kitchen, Wilson Sporting Goods, and ZBest Executive & Global Transportation Services.

 

To learn more about The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardÒ visit:

http://www.transamerica.com/about_us/johnny_unitas_golden_arm_award.asp 

http://www.goldenarmfoundation.com/

 

Additionally, please follow the conversation on Twitter: @GoldenArmAward or use the hashtag, #GoldenArmAward.