In this digital age, you may be inclined to think that direct mail pieces aren’t worth your time and effort. Think again! There are many benefits of direct mail items, such as postcards, business flyers and brochures, including:
You can get it in their hands. Just think about how you still like receiving mail. You’re not alone. I know that I look forward to picking up my daily mail and looking through it for my favorite magazine or if I’ve received correspondence from a friend or family member (not so much the bills, of course). According to Epsilon’s 2012 Channel Preference Study, 73% of U.S. consumers said they prefer direct mail for brand communications because they can read the information at their convenience. These days, we seem to receive more promotional emails than print pieces, making a tangible print piece still an impactful medium that can help your business or promotion get noticed by a targeted group of people.
You can target your audience. Unlike advertising on the radio or television, for example — both of which also can be really expensive — you are able to really focus who receives your direct mail pieces by area code and more.
You can measure results. Sometimes it’s a real challenge to determine your ROI on some marketing efforts, such as public relations outreach — you’re putting your message out there, but how do you know if your campaign is really working? With direct mail, you can follow the success of your mailing by the number of folks who’ve redeemed a special deal or coupon code that you reserved just for that piece.
You can produce it easily. Direct mail pieces are budget-friendly. Plus, check out our Design Services to help you design a custom direct mail item, or you can customize the promotional product of your choice from an online template — so much easier and cost-effective than hiring an advertising or creative agency!
And if that doesn’t spur you to consider direct mail for your small business, maybe this will: 59% of U.S. respondents agreed with the following statement, “I enjoy getting postal mail from brands about new products,” says Epsilon’s 2012 Channel Preference Study.
Have you found success with your business flyers and direct mail? What advice do you have for small business owners looking to start their first direct mail campaign? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments below, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.