By Heidi Tolliver-Walker.  WhatTheyThink.  Published: July 5, 2017 85% of people will open mail if it “looks interesting.” But what makes mail “interesting”? While we tend to talk about the elements of direct mail in isolation, the reality is, it’s not one element or the other—but a combination of elements whose results are multiplicative rather than additive—that make mail interesting. It’s important to get that combination right. What’s the big deal about that? We’ve all seen the stats about how much people still love mail. What’s new or more noteworthy about this one? Maybe it’s the wording. What struck me.. Read More »

Many financial marketers assume that Millennials don't like, don't open and don't read direct mail pieces. Not true. The rise of digital channels has forced financial institutions to radically rethink their marketing strategies. While digital media have proven effective — no doubt — that doesn’t mean other traditional means of marketing no longer work. In fact, the opposite is true, particularly when it comes to direct mail. Direct mail still resonates with every age group. This is among the findings from a study by InfoTrends and Prinova. And it doesn’t just work (or work less than it once did), the.. Read More »

There's a common misconception that direct mail is a thing of the past. Don't believe in the hype; direct mail is still very much alive. Would you like to know a proven way to reach more customers, communicate directly with your most ideal target market and communicate in a vacuum, isolating you and your target market away from your competition? What if I told you that you could do all of this in a way that your competitors most certainly are not and in a way, they dismiss as “old generation” and past it? Well you can. Not with Facebook,.. Read More »

Email versus direct mail: Which gives marketers the best results? The answer, as you might suspect, is not clear cut.  The right mix of the two methods can help marketers get the most out of their campaigns, suggests an infographic by UK marketing firm Proactive. Laura Forer is the manager of MarketingProfs: Made to Order, Original Content Services, which helps clients generate leads, drive site traffic, and build their brands through useful, well-designed content.  Read More »

Written by ALEKS PETERSON. January 6, 2017. Aleks Peterson is the content manager at TechnologyAdvice. http://technologyadvice.com/blog/author/aleks-peterson/ Why Direct Marketing is Still Relevant for B2B Thanks to the HubSpots and the Seth Godins of the world, direct marketing (also known as outbound) has lost a lot of ground to its younger, prettier, more socially responsible sibling: Inbound. Some have gone so far as to call it “dead.” Are we to believe that the channels and strategies some of the world’s biggest brands have trusted for decades, since before Steve Jobs grew his first chest hair, are now irrelevant? Of course not. Direct.. Read More »

XpressEnvelopes.com is proud to be exhibiting March 20 - 22 at LeadsCon 2017.  Attendees range from executive to manager and are highly focused on performance marketing to boost their lead counts and bottom line, increasing their conversions and sales. LeadsCon 2017 is the ideal place to learn what’s working in lead generation now and maximize your time out of the office and training investment. Experts and peers show how they get the attention of extremely busy prospects, how to demonstrate the best ROI to management and to get more out of your marketing resources, data and technology. At LeadsCon you’ll.. Read More »

Data Services Inc. has published a case study with the side-by-side results of a test on the effectiveness of CTAs (call to action) use in direct mail and email in the same campaign. The big winner? Direct mail. By Heidi Tolliver-WalkerPublished: February 1, 2017 from What They Think.  http://whattheythink.com/It isn’t very often that you see a case study revealing side-by-side testing results on print vs. email, so when I ran across this one from Data Services Inc., it caught my eye. The case study is older (posted on DSI’s blog in 2013), but it’s conclusions are still valid. It involves.. Read More »

Courtesy of Mailing Systems Technology Magazine (Abbreviated for length).   Introduction The author of this article has created comparison charts that go over the changes to show how they will affect budgets. The reason that he does this is because when the USPS talks about a one to two percent increase, it’s important to remember this is overall. Based on the type of mail you do, the increase could be higher or lower. You need to look at the class, weight, zone, density, and special services required to see the true impact. Also, when you look at the new rate charts provided.. Read More »

Marketers have long understood the impact of using envelopes. Industry research has continually shown consumers are more receptive to direct marketing when an envelope is used. A study on the subject from Pitney Bowes, indicates that 69 percent of consumers would be more likely to open a mail piece with color text and graphics first compared to a plain white envelope without messaging. The power of the envelope Traditional printing technologies have made it difficult and expensive to produce personalized, color envelopes. Even adding full-color customization to pre-converted envelopes is a rarity today because of cost and complexity. Fortunately, a.. Read More »

Quad/Graphics released a 2016 study entitled Millennials: An Emerging Consumer Powerhouse. One of the key areas of focus was how printed materials are used by today’s “connected” generation of Millennials. This article provides an overview why Millennials are an emerging consumer powerhouse!By Barb Pellow, http://whattheythink.com/ In last week’s column, I discussed research findings from a recent InfoTrends multi-client study entitled Direct Marketing Production Printing & Value-Added Services: A Strategy for Growth. One of the key messages from this study was that Millennials (individuals born between the early 1980s through about 2000) still use print, but they want it to be.. Read More »

Reprinted courtesy of Direct Marketing News.  11/10/16.   Direct mail is not standing idly by as digital technology makes its mark in the modern marketing environment. Despite a rep as a marketing tool that is dead in the water, direct mail, too, is data-driven, and is now more targeted, more personalized, more relevant, and more efficient.  At least it can be. Data-driven analytics allows direct mail marketers to customize each piece, with individual's names and addresses, as well as personalized images, using the same data pool that marketers use for email and social media marketing. Additional technology lets direct mail.. Read More »

Print Plays an Increasingly Important Role in a Multi-Channel World for Marketers According to InfoTrends Study Print-based direct marketing is growing which is providing a huge opportunity for digital print. According to InfoTrends’ study Direct Marketing Production Printing & Value-Added Services: A strategy for growth, marketers are realizing print plays an important role in a multi-channel world.Two-thirds of direct mail is looked at and over 40% of consumers have made a purchase in the last three months because of a piece of direct mail they received. One finding from this study is that there is a resurgence in the use.. Read More »

Dear Real Estate Investor: Start making your direct mail more effective!  Express Envelopes are perfect for reaching Absentee Owners, Abandoned Properties, Probates, Foreclosures, Apartment Owners and Expired Listings.  Xpress Envelopes allow you to create “Priority Mail”.  But there is one major difference. They mail at standard or first class postage rates.  These unique Express Envelopes get overnight attention – without the overnight price.  Our envelopes are designed to break thru the direct mail clutter.  It’s the look of “Express Mail” at a fraction of the cost. Two ways we can work with you: 1. Xpress Envelopes can be shipped directly to you OR your.. Read More »

Dear Fellow Marketer: The Xpress Envelope you just opened will make your direct mail more effective.  You are holding the proof in your hands.  Think about it.  Of all the mail in your mailbox today, our distinctive 4 color envelope stood out above the rest.  It caught your attention almost immediately.  Because it did, you picked it up.  Once in your hands, you were compelled to open it.  And now look how far you are into our message and offer.  Need a fresh marketing approach?  Here’s how over 500 clients are using Xpress Envelopes: Customer Mailings, Automotive Traffic Builders, Mortgage.. Read More »

Thanks to faithful customers like yourself, this past year (our third) has been another one of increased growth.  As the year draws to a close, we wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your continued patronage.  I assure you that we do not take this confidence for granted.  We understand that you have many options in the marketplace, and are pleased that you have made XpressEnvelopes.com your first choice for “Overnight Delivery” envelopes.  We are committed to providing the best Express Envelopes at the lowest prices and look forward to serving you in the years to come.  I.. Read More »

2015 Mailing Industry Job StudyThe EMA Foundation for Paper-Based Communications’ Institute for Postal Studies has just released the 2015 EMA Mailing Industry Job Study. The study reveals that the overall impact of the industry remains strong. The study determined that there were approximately 7.5 million jobs and $1.4 trillion in sales revenue associated with the mailing industry in 2014, the most recent year for which data are available.  The U.S. Mailing Industry is the backbone of the American economy, and changes in the Mailing Industry echo throughout the entire marketplace. Key points include: Provides $1.4 trillion in sales revenue which is 4.6% of U.S. Total Output,.. Read More »

XpressEnvelopes.com proudly introduces a NEW 9 x 12 envelope.  This powerful and unique envelope will ensure your next direct mail promotion gets noticed, opened and responded to!  Printed on heavy card stock using bold Orange & Blue colors, these striking Express Envelopes allow marketers to create Priority Mail.  But there is one major difference.  They mail at standard or first class postage rates.  These distinct 9 x 12 envelopes get overnight attention - without the overnight price.  It's the look of "Overnight Delivery" at a fraction of the cost and are sure to increase direct mail advertising response rates! Scott Palmer, President of XpressEnvelopes.com.. Read More »

Bold and Bright: Why This Direct Mail Campaign Works By Janet Rho.  US DATA CORPORATION.  May 2015.   Although it is often overlooked, direct mail marketing is still a very effective marketing tool today. Not only is direct mail great at creating new leads and bringing back old customers, it also creates brand awareness and is one of the most effective ways to dramatically increase sales. However, what makes a great direct mail campaign? There are many key components to a successful campaign: a top-quality mailing list, well-written copy, a compelling offer, and of course, the design. It’s easy to.. Read More »

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS), whose rate increases for its first-class and competitive products were approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) in late February, opted to push back the effective date for those increases after the PRC twice denied its requests for standard mail, periodicals and package services increases. The approved rate hikes were set to take effect April 26. Customers, like the International Mailers Advisory Group and the National Newspaper Association, learned of the USPS's decision to delay the price changes Friday. "The Postal Service Governors decided [March 27] to delay the implementation of new market-dominant and competitive.. Read More »

Is direct mail still effective in the Digital Age?  ABSOLUTELY.  XpressEnvelopes.com is now offering a valuable White Paper titled The Envelope Resource Guide for Successful Direct Mail that provides an answer.  This comprehensive manual is filled with interesting facts, practical advice and informative articles.  You’ll discover and learn PROVEN direct mail methods to increase response rates and improve your ROI.  Although regarded as “old school” by many, direct mail is not dead.  It is still a powerful way to find new clients.   Our FREE workbook will educate you on how to make your direct marketing campaigns more effective and,.. Read More »