That’s a Wrap – Time to Prepare for the Holidays

Summer is on its way out the door, so you have a plan for holiday season, right? “But, it’s only September?!” you might be saying. Correction – it’s already September. Mid-way through September, might we add, and that means that if you haven’t started planning for your holiday mailers yet, you need to stop puttering around on blogs and get going already! Here’s a little nudge to get you going on the right path:

Aim to Send in Early to Mid-November. You want to get the attention of prospects early, before their mailboxes are overflowing with direct mailers – at which point most of those well-planned pieces will go straight from mailbox to trash bin, never having been seen. Begin prep work on your holiday pieces now, so that you can be sure they are clean, neat and finished by November. Be sure to contact your direct mail company early in the process to set deadlines and goals.

Be Jolly. You may be thinking Football season and bonfires now, but mentally fast forward to Thanksgiving as you prepare your piece. The holiday season is supposed to have a warm, festive feel so make sure your piece reflects that.  Add something fun and interesting to your mailer, or an incredible offer, to standout among all the other shiny glittering offers in the mail box. It is the season of cheer, so give your prospects something to be cheerful about!

Create, Send, Repeat. Repetition is key during the holiday season. Shoppers and customers are busy and distracted with the chaos of the season, so you have to give them a gentle reminder every now and then. If you’re first mailer goes out early, you’ll have plenty of time to send multiple rounds without pestering your prospects.

Befriend the Internet. Using direct mail to drive online traffic is a tried and true effective marketing technique. Be sure to include information about your online presence on your mailer. That way, you’re not only targeting the traditional brick and mortar shoppers, but the internet-savvy demographic, as well. Boom. That’s what we call the DM one-two punch.

How have you started planning for the holidays? Tell us in the comments! 

Color Your Mailer Successful

Your direct mail piece says a lot about your business. Literally – name, contact information, a call-to-action, but it’s also saying something more. Something you may not have even realized yourself. It’s subliminally stirring up an emotion within your prospects. How? Color.

The colors you use on your mailer could be sending a stronger message, or a conflicting one. Don’t believe us? Studiesshow that full-color ads are 26% more likely to be given further attention than their black and white counterparts. So, it’s no wonder that smart marketers use color strategically to enhance their message.

Here’s the breakdown:

Red - Stimulates the appetite and encourages action. Red is often used for restaurants and to target impulse shoppers.

Blue – Although the most popular color, blue is preferred by men. It promotes a sense of productivity and security and is seen as being non-invasive.  

Orange – Want your product or business to seem like a better value? Orange is the way to go.  

Green – Green is primarily associated with health, nature, and, of course, wealth.

Grey – When used in moderation, grey offers a sense of intelligence, conservatism and solidity.

Black – Represents sophistication and power, but can quickly become overwhelming to the senses. Use wisely!

Pink – Pink may just be the most complicated color in the spectrum. It evokes different reactions from men and women and induces various effects. Women feel empowered around the color pink, men become calm and less aggressive. It is used to both calm and energize. Additionally, pasties and sweets “taste better” when served on a pink plate due to the color’s ability to induce sugar cravings.

And two words from the wise:

• If you’re targeting a younger crowd aim for bright, vivid colors. If you’re focused on the elderly, go for subdued hues.
• Choose only a few contrasting colors. The greater the contrast the more impact it will have.

Now that you know the insider secrets, are you sure your colors are saying what you want? If you want your next mailer to have maximum punch using color marketing, talk to us about creating the perfect piece to suit your needs!

Save Money on Your Direct Mail Campaign

Are you spending too much on your direct mail campaigns? The answer is probably yes. There is plenty that you can do to save a bit of hard-earned cash on your mailers; it’s just a matter of knowing where to start. Think of this as your rulebook to a more profitable campaign.

Tip #1: Narrow Down Your Mailing List

Really, what are the chances that a high-powered Manhattanite is going to purchase your commercial-grade farm equipment? So why would you waste money sending a mailer to this type of person?  Refining your mailing lists will save you a lot of money and target prospects who are more likely to convert into customers. And don’t forget past customers, as well! It isn’t just about expanding your customer base, it’s also about retaining past purchasers.

Tip #2: Tweak the Size of Your Mailer

You may have requested that a piece be made to fit particular dimensions, but is it absolutely necessary that your mailer be that exact size? Your print vendor may be able to help save you big bucks simply by making teensy size alterations. Why, you ask? Depending on the dimensions of the mailer, your printer may be able to use a different, more cost-effective, press that won’t sacrifice quality but will make a difference in price.

Tip #3: Be Realistic About Needs

It may not be necessary to put a big dent in your budget depending on the goal of your message. Rather than creating a colorful mailer with all of the bells and whistles, could your goal be achieved by sending a simple, personalized letter to a core group? Letters are less expensive than many other alternatives. Consider what type of campaign would be best to help your business be successful in its campaign.

Tip #4: Use and Reuse

You remember that template from your last campaign? Yeah, it’s still good. You can reuse both your template and your mailing list again. Most experts agree that companies aren’t getting enough mileage out of their materials. So safe yourself some money by making a few small changes and send them back out!

Tip #5: Seek Professional Help

Does this all seem like too much? Maybe you’re just too busy to be bothered. If that’s the case, the best thing you can do is partner with a print company that you trust. We’ve prepared countless direct mail campaigns and have more than a few insider secrets to keep your costs low. All you have to do is ask! It can’t get easier than that.

With these budget-minded tips and tricks, you’ll soon find that stretching your marketing dollars further is simpler than you may have thought. Contact us today to get started saving!