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• Main Cost Components of Direct Mail Advertising
• EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) Marketing
• Comparison to Other Forms of Advertising
• Factors Influencing the Cost of Direct Mail Campaigns
• Success Stories and Examples
• Conclusion

Main Cost Components of Direct Mail Advertising

When planning a direct mail campaign, it’s essential to consider all the cost components to budget accurately and maximize your ROI.

Design Costs

Creating an eye-catching and effective mail piece involves graphic design and copywriting. These costs can vary depending on the complexity and quality of the design of your direct mail piece. Investing in professional design services can ensure your mail piece stands out and engages your audience.

Tip: Optimizing Mail Piece Design Using standard sizes and weights helps reduce postage costs for your direct mailers. Opt for designs that fit within standard postal guidelines to avoid additional charges. Our design team at Catdi Printing can help create optimized mail pieces that meet postal service requirements.

Printing Costs

Printing costs depend on factors like the quantity, paper quality, and printing method used for postcards, flyers, or brochures. Higher quantities often reduce the cost per piece, making bulk printing a cost-effective option for direct mailers. Choosing the right paper and printing technique is essential to balance quality and price. Catdi Printing offers competitive rates for high-quality commercial printing services, ensuring your mail pieces are attractive and cost-effective.

Tip: Bulk Printing and Mailing with USPS. Taking advantage of bulk rates can significantly lower costs. By printing and mailing in larger quantities, you benefit from economies of scale, reducing the cost per unit. Catdi Printing offers bulk printing discounts to help you save more.

Mailing Lists

Purchasing or renting targeted mailing lists ensures your message reaches the right audience. The cost of mailing lists varies based on the specificity and size of the target audience. Accurate and well-segmented mailing lists can significantly improve your campaign’s effectiveness.

Tip: Data Cleansing Ensuring your mailing lists are accurate minimizes wasted postage. Regularly updating and cleaning your data ensures you are not sending mail to outdated or incorrect addresses, saving time and money.

Postage Costs

Postage is a significant component of direct mail costs. There are different rates to consider:

• Standard Rate Postage: More economical but slower delivery times. This is suitable for non-urgent campaigns.
• First-Class Postage: Faster delivery with higher costs, ideal for time-sensitive campaigns where quick response is needed.

Tip: Negotiating with Vendors for Your Direct Marketing Needs Seeking competitive bids for printing and mailing services can help you get the best rates. Don’t hesitate to negotiate and explore multiple vendors to find the best deal for your budget. Catdi Printing is committed to offering competitive pricing and high-quality services to meet your needs.

Additional Services

Additional services like mail tracking, response handling, and data analysis can enhance the effectiveness of your campaign but add to the overall cost. These services help track the success of your campaign and provide valuable insights for future strategies. We have created a simple direct mail cost calculator that gets you pretty close to the true cost of your direct mail campaign.

EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) Marketing

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a cost-effective way to reach every household in a specific area without needing a mailing list.

Pros of EDDM

• Cost-Effective: With ever increasing postage rates and no need to purchase mailing lists make EDDM an affordable option for small businesses.
• Broad Reach: EDDM is ideal for local businesses looking to target specific geographic areas. It ensures your message reaches a wide audience within a chosen location, making it an effective component of your direct mail service.

Cons of EDDM

• Less Targeted: Reaches all households in an area, not specific demographics. This can result in a lower response rate if your product or service isn’t relevant to all recipients.
• Potential Waste: This may include households not interested in your product or service. This can lead to unnecessary expenses and environmental waste.

Tip: Digital Integration Combining mail with digital follow-ups can enhance campaign effectiveness. Use QR codes or personalized URLs to drive recipients online, creating a multi-channel marketing approach that boosts engagement.

Catdi Printing offers comprehensive EDDM services, helping businesses leverage this cost-effective method to reach local audiences efficiently.

Comparison to Other Forms of Advertising

They understand how direct mail stacks against other advertising methods and can help you make informed decisions.

Digital Advertising

• The pros are lower initial costs, precise targeting, and real-time tracking. Digital ads can be tailored to specific demographics and adjusted in real time.
• Cons: Requires ongoing investment for sustained visibility. Continuous spending is necessary to maintain online presence and effectiveness, often complementing direct mail marketing campaigns.

Digital advertising allows for highly targeted campaigns, including social media, email marketing, and search engine ads. It offers the advantage of instant feedback and the ability to track user interactions via a marketing campaign. However, the competitive nature of digital spaces often requires ongoing investment to maintain visibility and effectiveness.

Print Advertising

• Pros: They are tangible and trustworthy, suitable for local markets, and enhance direct mail’s benefits. Physical ads in newspapers or magazines can be kept for reference.
• The cons are that print ads can be expensive and produce fewer measurable results than digital ads. It’s also harder to track the ROI of print ads.

Print media advertising in newspapers, magazines, and other publications remains a valuable channel, particularly for reaching older demographics or specific local markets. The tangible nature of print ads can build trust and brand recognition. However, the costs can be high, and tracking the effectiveness can be challenging compared to digital methods, especially when using the postal service.

Broadcast Advertising

• Pros: Broad reach and high impact are two undeniable benefits of direct mail. Television and radio ads can reach large audiences quickly.
• The cons are high costs and less targeted. Broadcast ads are typically more expensive and more complicated to target specific audiences.

Broadcast television and radio advertising can significantly impact the market due to its broad reach and multimedia format. These ads are effective for brand awareness and reaching a broad audience. However, the high production and placement costs and limited targeting capabilities make this a less feasible option for many small businesses.

Factors Influencing the Cost of Direct Mail Campaigns

Several factors can influence the overall cost of your direct mail campaign.

Volume

Higher quantities typically reduce the cost per piece due to bulk rates. Ordering larger quantities can save money per unit.

Economies of scale play a significant role in reducing costs in direct mail campaigns. Bulk printing and mailing allow businesses to use lower rates for larger orders. Planning your campaign to include multiple waves of mailings or consolidating orders can maximize these savings.

Targeting

More precise targeting can increase list costs but improve response rates. Tailoring your campaign to a specific audience can result in better engagement and a higher return on investment, which are crucial elements in any direct mail marketing campaign.

The effectiveness of your direct mail campaign depends mainly on how well you target your audience. Investing in high-quality, targeted mailing lists can increase initial costs but lead to higher response rates and ROI for your direct mail marketing campaign. Detailed segmentation based on demographics, buying behavior, or geographic location can make your campaign more effective.

Customization

Personalized mail can increase design and printing costs but often yields better results. Personalization can enhance the recipient’s connection to your message.

Personalized mail pieces, such as those with variable data printing, allow you to customize each direct mail piece with the recipient’s name, preferences, or purchase history. This level of customization can increase engagement and response rates, making the higher costs worthwhile. Catdi Printing offers variable data printing services to help you create personalized campaigns that resonate with your audience. Keep in mind that this customization is only achieved with digital printing, which is more expensive than offset printing.

Frequency

Repeated mailings can lead to bulk discounts but increase overall expenditure. Regular communication can reinforce your message but requires careful budgeting.

Frequency is critical in direct mail campaigns. Repeated exposure helps build brand recognition and increases the likelihood of response. While repeated mailings can be costly, planning a series and taking advantage of bulk discounts can mitigate these costs. Balancing frequency with budget constraints is essential to ensure consistent communication without overspending.

Postal Rates

Vary based on delivery speed and mail piece characteristics determined by the postal service. Understanding USPS postal rates can help you choose the most cost-effective option for your marketing campaign.

Postal rates vary depending on the size, weight, and type of mail piece and the speed of delivery. Standard rates are cost-effective for non-urgent mailings, while first-class rates ensure quicker delivery. Additionally, presorting your mail and adhering to postal guidelines can help reduce costs. Partnering with Catdi Printing can simplify this process, as we offer presorting and other postal optimization services through USPS.

Managing and Reducing Costs

Effective cost management strategies can help you maximize your direct mail ROI. Here are five excellent tips to help you manage and reduce costs:

Tip 1: Bulk Printing and Mailing

Taking advantage of bulk rates can significantly lower costs. By printing and mailing in larger quantities, you benefit from economies of scale, reducing the cost per unit. Catdi Printing offers bulk printing discounts to help you save more.

Bulk printing and mailing reduce costs per piece and streamline the production process. Coordinating direct mail campaigns to include multiple waves or combining orders with other marketing materials can further enhance savings. Bulk rates apply not just to printing but also to postage, making it a comprehensive cost-saving strategy.

Tip 2: Optimizing Mail Piece Design

Using standard sizes and weights helps reduce postage costs. Opt for designs that fit within standard postal guidelines to avoid additional charges. Our design team at Catdi Printing can help create optimized mail pieces that meet postal requirements.

Design optimization involves creating mail pieces that are both visually appealing and cost-effective. Standardizing sizes, using lighter paper, and minimizing bulky inserts can significantly reduce postage costs. Simple designs are often more effective in capturing the recipient’s attention and conveying your message.

Tip 3: Data Cleansing

Ensuring your mailing lists are accurate minimizes wasted postage. Regularly updating and cleaning your data ensures you are not sending mail to outdated or incorrect addresses, saving time and money.

Data cleansing involves regularly updating and verifying your mailing lists to remove duplicates, incorrect addresses, and outdated information. Accurate data ensures that your mail pieces reach the intended recipients, reducing wasted postage and increasing response rates. Investing in data hygiene services can provide long-term savings and improve the effectiveness of your campaigns.

Tip 4: Digital Integration

Combining mail with digital follow-ups can enhance campaign effectiveness. Use QR codes or personalized URLs to drive recipients online, creating a multi-channel marketing approach that boosts engagement.

Integrating digital elements into your direct mail campaigns can enhance their effectiveness and trackability, providing a better return on investment. QR codes, personalized URLs, and augmented reality features can direct recipients to online content, providing additional information and interactive experiences. This multi-channel approach engages recipients and allows for better tracking and measurement of campaign performance.

Tip 5: Negotiating with Vendors

Seeking competitive bids for printing and mailing services can help you get the best rates. Don’t hesitate to negotiate and explore multiple vendors to find the best deal for your budget. Catdi Printing is committed to offering competitive pricing and high-quality services to meet your needs.

Building solid relationships with vendors can lead to better pricing and service. When selecting printing and mailing services, comparing quotes and negotiating terms is essential to ensure you get the best value for your money. Catdi Printing prides itself on offering competitive rates and exceptional customer service to help you achieve your marketing goals.

Success Stories and Examples

Case Study 1: Optimizing Mailing Lists

A retail business partnered with Catdi Printing to optimize its mailing list, resulting in a 15% increase in ROI. They saw better engagement and higher sales by targeting a more specific audience. The business focused on segmenting its list based on purchase history and demographics, which allowed it to tailor their messaging and offers more effectively. Source

Case Study 2: Switching to Digital Printing

A non-profit organization worked with Catdi Printing to switch to digital printing, saving 20% on direct mail costs. This allowed them to allocate more resources to their cause while maintaining their outreach efforts. Using digital printing, they could produce smaller print runs more cost-effectively and personalize each mail piece to better connect with potential donors. Source

Case Study 3: A/B Testing for Improved Response Rates

A small business collaborated with Catdi Printing to use A/B testing to refine their mail pieces, improving response rates by 25%. They found the most effective combination for their audience by experimenting with different designs and messages. The business tested various headlines, images, and calls to action to determine which elements resonated most with their target market. This iterative approach allowed them to improve their direct mail campaigns continually. Source

Conclusion

Direct mail advertising can be a cost-effective way to reach your target audience, especially when you understand and manage the costs involved. You can maximize your ROI and achieve your marketing goals by leveraging bulk rates, optimizing your design, and integrating digital strategies. Embrace these tips and best practices to make the most out of your direct mail campaigns.

For expert assistance with your direct mail campaigns, Catdi Printing offers comprehensive services to help you succeed. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your marketing efforts.

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If you’re redesigning your website or just about to create one, it pays to know how Houston web design can impact your output and profitability. That way, you can decide how you should invest in this aspect of the business moving forward. To help you get started, here are some ways the design of your business webpage can boost productivity: 

1. Sets the First Impression 

While you can’t fully control how users will react when they first visit your website. You can help set that impression by having an impressive web design that will gain their approval. 

An outdated or unappealing interface can create a negative impression, especially on how you run or operate as a brand. On the other hand, if you invest in a first-rate design that offers different features and enhancements. Their first impression will most likely be positive. As a result, they’ll continue browsing your site and might even make a purchase. Even if they don’t buy anything on their first visit. If you’re able to set a positive first impression, they’ll most probably visit your website again. 

2. Highlights Your Calls to Action 

A good website design has the ability to position your calls to action (CTA) in a way that your target audience will feel strongly inclined to click on them. CTAs are statements used in marketing strategies that elicit a response from your target customers. To make sure they’re compelling enough, your CTAs should help guide visitors to certain parts or pages of your website where they can find vital information such as contact details, product features, and pricing.  

Clicking on a call to action is a productive way of diverting customers to a sales path that you want to create. Using action verbs is highly recommended if you want your calls to action to be enticing enough. Moreover, your web design should use eye-catching elements such as visible buttons, contrasting colors, and large fonts. 

3. Optimizes Your Site for Mobile Users to Boost Business Productivity

It’s no longer a surprise that most of your target customers access the internet via their mobile phones. It’s estimated that by 2025, almost three-quarters of the world’s population will rely on their handheld devices to look up information online. This is obviously a figure that you shouldn’t ignore as a business owner. 

4. Influences Your SEO Strategy 

Publishing content on your website is something that needs to be carefully thought out, planned, and executed. This is because most web design practices and elements can influence your search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. It’s essential to consider this aspect before you finalize a design for your business website. If you’re not new to SEO, you already know that it can significantly affect productivity due to its ability to boost search presence. 

Aside from improving the human experience, an SEO-friendly site boosts indexing and crawling. An optimized page appears higher in search engine results pages. SEO and web design should always go hand in hand if you want to make the most of your website. To make sure your SEO strategy keeps up with the site’s features and other elements, be mindful of your website’s readability, responsiveness, ease of navigation, and loading time. 

Endnote 

Trends come and go when it comes to web designs, but one thing is certain; your choice of design can make or break your brand. As such, you need to constantly update your website. Make sure it meets all the requirements to maximize business productivity. A good web design shouldn’t only look aesthetically pleasing. More importantly, it should influence your search presence, SEO ranking and mobile-friendliness. Additionally, the first impression it sets with visitors and potential customers.  

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Your corporate brand is more than just a logo or a tagline. It’s the sum total of everything that your company represents, from your products and services to your values and culture. A strong corporate brand can help you to attract new customers, build loyalty with existing customers, and differentiate yourself from your competitors.

In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of corporate branding and how to create a strong brand identity. We’ll also highlight the services offered by Catdi Printing, a leading provider of corporate branding services for small and medium-sized businesses.

Why Corporate Branding Matters

In today’s competitive marketplace, it’s more important than ever for businesses to have a strong corporate brand. A strong brand can help you to:

• Attract new customers: When potential customers are looking for a product or service, they’re often drawn to brands that they’re familiar with and that they trust. A strong brand can help you to establish yourself as a credible and reliable option.
• Build loyalty with existing customers: Once you’ve attracted new customers, you need to find ways to keep them coming back for more. A strong brand can help you to build loyalty with existing customers by giving them a reason to choose your products or services over the competition.
• Differentiate yourself from your competitors: In today’s marketplace, there are more businesses than ever before. This means that it’s more important than ever for businesses to find ways to differentiate themselves from their competitors. A strong brand can help you to stand out from the crowd and make a positive impression on potential customers.

How to Create a Strong Brand Identity

There are a few key things that you need to do in order to create a strong brand identity:

1. Define your brand values: What are the core values that your company stands for? What do you want your brand to represent? Once you know your brand values, you can use them to guide your branding decisions.
2. Create a strong visual identity: Your visual identity is made up of your logo, branding colors, and typography. These elements should all work together to create a cohesive and memorable look for your brand.
3. Develop a clear and concise messaging platform: What do you want your brand to say to potential customers? What are your key messages? Your messaging platform should be clear, concise, and easy to understand.
4. Be consistent: Consistency is key when it comes to branding. Your brand should be consistent across all of your marketing materials, from your website to your social media pages.

Catdi Printing

Catdi Printing is a leading provider of corporate branding services for small and medium-sized businesses. We offer a wide range of services, including logo design, branding strategy, and marketing collateral design. We can help you to create a strong brand identity that will help you to achieve your business goals.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your corporate branding needs.

Conclusion

A strong corporate brand is an essential asset for any business. It can help you to attract new customers, build loyalty with existing customers, and differentiate yourself from your competitors. If you’re looking to create a strong brand identity for your business, contact Catdi Printing today. We can help you to get started on the right foot.

Additional Tips

• Listen to your customers: Your customers are the best source of information about what your brand should represent. Make sure to listen to their feedback and use it to shape your branding efforts.
• Be creative: Don’t be afraid to be creative with your branding. The best brands are the ones that stand out from the crowd.
• Be patient: It takes time to build a strong brand. Don’t expect to see results overnight. Just keep working hard and consistent, and you’ll eventually achieve your branding goals.

The post Corporate Branding Services: Establish a Strong Identity and Connect with Your Audience appeared first on Catdi Printing.

A Website

Customers can be curious about seeing new shop signage in their local community. Wanting to know more about it before visiting, they’ll likely look for information online. Make sure they’ll find what they’re looking for by working with a web design agency to create a website. 

A well-designed website with information about who you are and what you do can be important for setting yourself up for success. Once your website has been professionally designed, you can work on search engine optimization (SEO) to help with its online ranking. 

Social Media Pages

Building up a loyal customer following can take time. However, you might be able to speed up the process by creating social media pages. Facebook, Instagram, and even TikTok can be excellent places to begin. On these platforms, you can upload the same branding you used on your website to ensure consistency. You might then start posting to help prospective future customers learn more about you. 

While social media is free, don’t be afraid to spend some of your marketing budget on these platforms. Creating social media ads can put you in front of customers who might otherwise not discover your business pages. 

Promotional Products

Whether you’re doing a soft or grand opening, you’ve likely thought about the best ways to attract new customers to your business. Promotional products might be an excellent marketing option worth considering. 

If customers know they’ll receive free branded goods with their purchase or something for free simply for visiting on opening day, they might be more inclined to pay a visit. Printed pens, keychains, and even confectionery can all be cost-effective goods that will be well-received by possible future customers. 

Business Cards

Networking is a huge part of business success. When you interact with your business community, you can form rewarding connections that can serve you well in the future. While many business owners might remember your name and the business you own, having business cards can’t hurt. You can also use business cards to hand out to potential suppliers or customers who want your contact information. 

Business cards are an inexpensive marketing product you can use for the life of your business. Once you’ve paid for the initial design and printing, you only need to set aside money for printing in the future. 

Flyers

Starting a new business from the ground up can be challenging, especially when no one has ever heard of you before. Make yourself known in your community by designing, printing, and delivering flyers. Despite digital marketing being more prevalent, direct mail is still an effective marketing strategy. 

Marketing is integral to a successful business launch. If you’re about to put out your ‘open’ sign for the first time, consider utilizing some of these effective marketing techniques above. 

The post Best Marketing Options for a Newly-Launched Business appeared first on Catdi Printing.

What Is EDDM?

EDDM refers to Every Door Direct Mail. It is a bulk mailing service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS). EDDM enables mailing customers to reach clients without having to create leads with mailing addresses.

Is EDDM Right for Your Marketing Needs?

It is an uphill task for small businesses and startups to generate a list of mailing addresses. However, EDDM service permits mailing customers to reach leads based on USPS mailing routes. You do not need to buy or generate a mailing list. It is a good marketing strategy for individuals who have a limited product campaign budget.  

Why is EDDM Perfect for Your Marketing Needs?

Today, more and more businesses reach out to the local audience to help meet their sales targets through cost-effective means such as EDDM. Even individuals like dentists, politicians, and non-profit organizations such as churches use EDDM to deliver their marketing to a group of people in a specific zone or local geographical area.

What Type of Businesses Can Benefit from Using Every Door Direct Mail? 

• Realtors
• Contractors
• Retail stores
• Auto sales and services
• Restaurants
• Medical professionals
• Home Service
• Financial services
• Landscaping
• Galleries
• Dry cleaners

5 Steps to Get Started with EDDM

Step 1

Log into the USPS EDDM application to select your preferred routes. However, you must first get a postage quote before you complete the USPS route selection process.  

Step 2

Prepare and organize your schedule. Without a plan and target, you can get overwhelmed when dealing with bulk mail. Therefore, it is wise to document your production and shipping information in an organized manner. For example, know the number of pieces you must print and the location of the post offices you need to deliver your mailers off at.

Step 3

Prepare your mailers and ensure that your design and print meet the required EDDM specifications. You can always seek professional help if you have doubts or need help with your print designs and printing process.

Step 4

Drop off your EDDM printed pieces or postcards at your local post office. You must make sure that your mailers match the number of mailboxes on the predetermined USPS route.

Step 5

Follow up on your sales after you drop your mailers at a local USPS to see the effect of your EDDM campaign. You may want to repeat this process monthly, yearly, or as often as you need to reach your target audience.

7 Tips for a Perfect EDDM

One of the easiest ways you can have an EDDM campaign that stands out from the crowd is to seek professional services from a print shop to help you manage the process. Below are some of the best ideas to help you create a great Every Door Direct Mail campaign that is right for your marketing needs.

1. Large mailer format – Using large print on your mailers automatically draws attention that sets you apart from the competition. 

2. Make use of high-quality paper stock or finishing effects – How you present your message speaks volumes about your business or service. High gloss UV, foil stamping, soft-touch coating, and embossing can give your mailer a classic look. Top-quality print paper is one of the best ways to create an eye-catching experience that makes EDDM perfect for your marketing needs.

3. Attractive headline – Are you asking yourself why you have put so much energy into your EDDM marketing campaign yet didn’t you get the expected results? A dull heading is one of the top reasons no one reads your mailer to the end. So make sure you create a compelling and enticing headline that will make people interact with your mailer.

4. Interactive mailer – Find captivating ways to engage your audiences, such as scratch-offs that reveal rewards or offers.  An interactive EDDM is an effective way for your brand or service to make an impression on your leads.

5. Photos and illustrations – In the advertising industry, pictures speak louder than long paragraphs of text. Furthermore, it is easier to remember a memorable visual print than complex wording. Additionally, photos and sharp graphics help maintain the attention of your audience. 

6. An easy call to action option – Your EDDM campaign or marketing strategy aims to get your leads to get back to you. Therefore, you must ensure that you provide a convenient and easy get-back-to-you option that your prospects can use. You can either add a unique free-to-call number, online contact or include directions to your store.

7. Monitor your EDDM campaign success – You can use special coupon codes, phone numbers, URLs for each EDDM route. The response through these communication mediums can help you know how many leads called or visited your website in response to your campaign.

What Makes Every Door Direct Mail Good for Your Marketing Needs?

There are numerous reasons why EDDM is the perfect choice for any size business to get its message in the hands of the local audience. In addition, you can take advantage of some of the benefits that EDDM offers to help you stay on top of the competition and meet your marketing needs.

However, as it is with all things, there are pros and cons to Every Door Direct Mail that you should know before selecting this service as your marketing strategy.

Pros of EDDM

No need to create or purchase a mailing list – Creating a mailing list for a specific geographic area is hard work and can be frustrating. Furthermore, buying one is costly if you are working on a budget. However, you do not need to generate or buy an address list when you use EDDM. USPS delivers your mailers to every door in your selected zip code.

No postal permit required – Even though direct mail campaigns terms include a yearly postal permit which costs up to $450, you are exempted from this fee if your EDDM mailings do not exceed 5,000 pieces.

Lower postage rates – Startups and small businesses that work on a budget can benefit from the low rates offered by USPS for EDDM service. In addition, every Door Direct Mail costs less when compared to other services such as Express mail, priority mail, or first-class package service.

Easy to target your local audience – You do not need to invest heavily in market research to find your target audience. The only process you have to complete is choosing the zip codes you want to reach out to. Then, after dropping your mailers at the local post office, you can comfortably sit back and monitor the success of your EDDM campaign.

Easy to monitor your marketing campaign – You can only truck your campaign if you provide your prospects with a trackable point of contact. A perfect tracking method will automatically attribute leads or sales to your EDDM campaign in every zip code.

Cons of EDDM

Size limit – Your mail pieces must meet the allowable USPS size and weight restrictions. EDDM service does not allow extra-large postcards, letters, lumpy mail, catalogs, and other irregular shapes.

Limit on quantity – EDDM allows you to send up to 5,000 mail pieces per day. If your target is more than 5,000 mailers to a selected zip code, you need to pay more and obtain a post office permit from USPS.

A lesser targeted campaign – Every Direct Door Mail delivers your mailers to every address on the EDDM mailing route. This marketing strategy is not target-oriented and fewer individuals who are enthusiastic about your product or service may not receive your mail pieces.

No personalization – According to a survey, customers prefer personalized mail pieces. EDDM limits your personalization efforts. You do not have the names or details of the residents you are advertising to. 

Did Your EDDM Campaign Meet Your Marketing Needs?

Thankfully, there is more than one way you can see what worked well or not in your EDDM marketing strategy. First, you can know the results of your campaign by using a tracking method that traces leads back to your EDDM campaign. 

Of course, there are numerous ways you can use to access the outcome of your Every Direct Door Marketing advertising campaign. You can use one or combine any of the following direct mail tracking methods.

• Coupon codes
• Trackable phone number
• QR codes
• Trackable URL

Coupon codes

A coupon code, also known as a promo code, is a computer-generated code. It consists of numbers or letters that consumers enter into a promotional space on a website’s shopping cart to redeem a reward or a discount.

You can print coupon codes on your EDDM pieces for your prospects to claim at your store or over the phone.

Trackable phone number

You can trace phone calls generated from your campaigns by setting up a dedicated toll-free number that directs callers to your business line. By assigning unique numbers to different zip codes, you can track how many people responded to the EDDM campaign.

Small companies and new companies may prefer to use their regular business telephone numbers on the mailers. Even so, you need to ensure that your customer support staff keep track of each coupon that is redeemed and the EDDM mailer it appeared on.

Sometimes, advertising on multiple routes can be exhausting and may overwhelm you. Instead, you can outsource the services of a telemarketer or a call tracking company. These companies can playback the calls you receive and also provide you with campaign reports and analytics data. 

QR Codes

QR (Quick Response) codes are among the most effective ways marketers and advertising agencies use when tracking marketing campaigns. Today, advanced mobile technology has made it easy to scan QR codes using smartphones.

Therefore, you can print a QR code on your EDDM mail pieces that directs your leads to a unique landing page on your website.

Trackable URL

You can print a unique URL on your mailers that connect clients to a custom landing page on your website. Google offers tools that can help you create a campaign URL and also track your results. Your website’s analytics tools compute the number of leads who visit your unique landing page.

Additionally, you can create a personal experience for every direct mail recipient by setting up a personalized URL that leads to a landing page that contains customized content. You can seek help to create these settings from a professional printing service provider.

When Should You Use EDDM for Your Marketing Needs?

Every Door Direct mail is one of the most affordable targeted advertising. There is no set rule as to when you can use EDDM for your marketing needs. However, you may want to use it at convenient times in your business.

When You Are Having a Sale

Shoppers naturally tend to buy items or services that are on sale. You can take advantage of this consumer psychology and launch your EDDM campaign whenever you have a promotion.

Are You Opening a New Location?

Starting a new business is challenging, and you may find yourself short on your budget. EDDM service is an affordable and convenient way to create an awareness of your business in your local community. In addition, you can save on buying leads and purchasing a postal permit.

When Offering Coupons 

Coupons are a great way to draw traffic to your business. Send perfectly designed menus to the target zip code route and experience the joy of traffic in your pizza shop. Additionally, if you have coupons for a specific group of people, you can use EDDM tools to map ZIP codes and filter by age, household size, or income.

What to Look Out for When Using EDDM

There are various indicators to look out for in determining if your campaign is correct for your marketing needs. However, if the analytics data is not initially accurate, some of these indicators can provide misleading insights.

Response rate – a marketing agency reports that the average number of people who respond to EDDM marketing campaigns is 9%. This percentage is for individuals who respond via any of the above tracking methods is about 9%.

You may think that this rate is low, but you need to know that the response rate from a prospect list is 5%.

Conversion rate – how many respondents reacted to your mailer by taking advantage of the offer? Some businesses have prolonged sales cycles while others convert almost instantly. Even so, you can ignore the conversion rate in establishments that sell inexpensive impulse products like clothing stores and pizza outlets where response and conversion occur at the same time. 

However, businesses like law offices and dentists need to consider their conversion rate more than their response rate. 

Conclusion

Every Door Direct Mail allows small and established businesses to send their marketing messages to a specific local geographic area. Even so, the intent or purpose of EDDM campaigns varies from one enterprise to another. Some intend to raise awareness; others want to increase sales, while entrepreneurs may want to uncover new business leads.

Whatever your marketing needs, the direct mail service offered by the United States Postal Service is an effective marketing strategy. It also costs less when compared to other advertising channels like Television.

Furthermore, EDDM is easy to use, and you do not require any expertise. You can find help from a printing service provider to manage the logistics of your EDDM as you take care of the incoming leads.

The post What Is EDDM and Is It Right for Your Marketing Needs? appeared first on Catdi Printing.

Different objectives require different types of landing pages, and knowing what the major types of landing pages are and when they should be used is key to finding a landing page template that delivers. Check out these major types of landing pages to help you determine which will work best for you.

1. Product Landing Page

Your website’s home page is meant to provide an overview of your business and products, as well as have links for those seeking more detailed information. Due to this broad goal, a home page may not be the best place to direct visitors who have come to your website in response to a campaign around a specific product. A product landing page is a better destination for that.

The product landing page strategically displays the product in question to the audience. It typically features images, videos, product descriptions and how-to guides, all capturing the product’s details. Anyone clicking on the product ad on third party websites, social media and elsewhere on your website should land on the product landing page.

2. Squeeze Page

The squeeze page is a means of collecting email addresses from incoming visitor traffic. With an email address, you can create a deeper connection with prospects by disseminating engaging content and persuasive product promotions. Squeeze pages usually have a simple design and include a convincing call-to-action (CTA) button.

Since you are a business they are probably interacting with for the first time, people are unlikely to provide their email addresses unless you can give them something in return. Through squeeze pages, you can offer whitepapers, ebooks, newsletters, free product trials and more, in exchange for the email address.

3. Lead Generation Page

The lead generation page, just like the name implies, is meant to generate leads for your brand promotion or business. While it may have the appearance of a squeeze page, it has a bigger objective of collecting more detailed data from the visitor. Detailed information would often include name, email address, location, designation, company name, industry and company revenue.

Because you will be collecting much more data than you would with a squeeze page, you have to have a compelling headline and message. Prospects will have to spend a minute or two to fill in this information, so it has to make sense for them. Ensure that you make it clear your website adheres to applicable privacy laws such as the GDPR.

4. Splash Landing Page

A splash landing page aims to immediately capture the attention of a visitor. It will usually appear before the person lands on the page they originally clicked on. The splash page is thin on content as it looks to capture visitor attention for less than a minute. 

Brevity is key on this page, as it isn’t aimed at conversion, but rather meant to announce promotions, webinars or new arrivals. You could also use a splash landing page to confirm visitor age or set language and geography preferences.

5. Long-Form Sales Landing Page

The long-form sales landing page is perhaps what many people think of when they imagine a landing page. A permanent fixture of the world wide web for years now, it is the online equivalent of an infomercial. It follows a long-form format written in persuasive wording that directs a prospect into subscribing for a service, or buying a product.

A long-form sales landing page will contain a mix of product descriptions, benefits, discount codes, testimonials, videos, FAQs and multiple CTA buttons. There is no limit to the length of the page but many are under 5,000 words long to ensure they get the message across without losing the reader’s attention.

Plan, Then Choose

Before you create a landing page, set out your strategy, understand your audience and map out your campaign. With that done, you can choose the best type of landing page for your visitors to encounter when they arrive at your site.

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If utilized properly Social Media and Direct Mail are the tools that can be invaluable for small businesses to a great extent. There are many marketing tips and secrets that can help you prevent common mistakes with these methods. Each company is different, with different goals, strategies, preferences, budget amounts, and other variables involved.

Too many brands treat social media as a one way, broadcast channels, rather than a two-way dialogue through which emotional storytelling can be transferred.

Source: Simon Mainwaring

If you own a small business then the affordability of social media accounts and direct mail marketing is unbeatable. Social media accounts are usually free to create; all it takes is some time, effort, and creativity on your part in order to draw people in. This marketing can be managed on even the smallest budget and it can be highly effective.

Direct mail is also a very affordable marketing method that can get results when this type of campaign is well thought out and carefully developed. Don’t limit yourself and your business by just using a single channel for marketing. The more channels you utilize the better the results can be and the more people you can reach and possibly convert.

1. Not Integrating Social Media and Direct Mail Strategies Together

Your strategy for both platforms can be integrated together, so that you get the best possible results and you allow potential consumers to decide how they want to connect with you. Some people prefer social media while others prefer mail, and integrating your efforts in both areas can help you increase your brand exposure and get your business noticed.

2. Not Using Proven Marketing Tips from Experts

There are many different marketing tips that cover both of these methods, and that discuss the importance of each one. Do some research and look for tips from experts who are well known in the marketing world so that you avoid some of the most common mistakes made by small business owners.

Vary your content type – photos and status updates typically get the highest reach.

Source: Mari Smith

3. Failing to Include Social Media in Mailing Materials

Carefully combining both of the social platforms can give you exceptional results from any campaign, and you should always make sure that your mailing materials include your available social media accounts. When the recipient sees your material, they have the option of going online and connecting with you right away.

4. Not Reaching People through Preferred Channels

Using both social media and direct mail offers a versatility that potential customers will appreciate. Marketing tips show that the different preferences each individual has will determine how they want to respond to you. Give them the option of reaching out or following you on social media and you may be surprised at the response rate that you get.

… small business owners are eager to embrace social media, but they’re going about it all wrong—and it’s creating real discontent.

Source: Meghan Casserly

5. Failing to Have Any Social Media Presence or Accounts

In the modern business world, social media and direct mail should go hand in hand. But that is not possible if you do not have social media accounts and profiles established. Set up your social media profiles far in advance, because accounts that are brand new are not as appealing to individuals and could reflect poorly on your business.

6. Not Offering the Same Promotions Through Social Media and Direct Mail Channels

When you combine your social media and direct mail efforts and you follow the best marketing tips you will realize the importance of offering the same promotions through all of these methods. If you send a promotion through direct mail but do not include it for your social media followers then you could be missing potential customers.

7. Not Keeping Social Media Profiles Up to Date

Before you integrate social media and direct mail for your small business make sure that your social media profiles are current and up to date. To a potential customer nothing looks worse than visiting your Facebook page or Twitter account and seeing that it was last updated six months ago. This could cost you sales instead of boosting them.

Have you made any of these small business social media and direct mail mistakes? If so what happened?

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