Tips / Resources
Tips for Direct-Mail Marketing
  • Give a free gift to increase response
  • Make your offer easy to respond to
  • Prove any claims with details to add credibility
  • Offer a free trial to eliminate risk
  • Make your offer easy to understand at a glance
  • Have your direct mail reviewed by an objective third party
  • Consult with a direct-mail specialist
  • Use a reply card or other reply mechanism
  • Personalize as much as you can
  • Make the offer very prominent in the copy
  • Use a no-risk guarantee
  • Offer a free-trial period
  • Include a call to action; tell your readers exactly what you want them to do
  • Use a "P.S."--its one of the most frequently read parts of the copy
  • Offer a discount for a quick response and order
  • Always put a sense of urgency and deadline in your copy
  • Put testimonials at the top of the content and by the call to action
  • Have a call to action at the beginning, middle and end of your copy
  • Use free information, free samples and a free demonstration as a marketing hook
  • Offer a free consultation in addition to the free information hook
  • Include a toll-free number if you have one
  • Use a tear-out coupon or one with a printed perforation
  • Put in a photo of yourself or an associate's to personalize it
  • "Free" is still a motivating word--use it and highlight it
  • Guarantee customer satisfaction
  • Offer proof of the benefits
  • Include case studies and success stories
  • Restate your offer often, especially at the end of the communication
  • Use captions, sayings or titles under all photos
  • Order your mailing list or compile it way in advance of your execution date
  • Test your list and use "Address Correction Requested" to clean your list
  • Put yourself on all mailing lists
  • Test different copy, headlines and offers
  • Measure results and calculate ROM (Return on Mailing) dollars
  • Code your mailings to measure response
  • Use color
  • Mail to PR contacts
  • Self-mailers are read more than stuffed envelopes
  • Postcards are very efficient; usually both sides are looked at
  • Create excitement: "Act Now!", "For a limited time!", "Hurry while it lasts!"
  • Create fun for you and your prospect with your campaign
  • Tie other marketing to your mailings
  • Put your website address on all mailing pieces
  • Odd shapes work, too
  • Mail with stamps get opened before metered mail
  • Lumpy mail gets attention--it gets opened and gets a good response
  • Have a conversation with your prospect
Source: Entrepreneur.com
   
 
 
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