Quick Response (QR) codes got their humble start in the mid 1990s to track inventory in a warehouse or manufacturing environment. It was promoted from there that QR codes could be used to link printed materials to websites and apps, landing pages, and to enable touchless ordering experiences.
The clamor for consumer attention only gets more complicated and crowded over time. Digital marketing experts now estimate that most Americans are exposed to around 4,000 to 10,000 advertisements each day! These ads are coming from an ever-increasing list of channels: billboards, radio, TV, phone calls, email, direct mail, social media, website banner ads, Google AdWords, text messages, etc.
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a useful, cost effective way to promote local businesses within the community. You may recognize these pieces of mail because they don't have your name or address on them, they are just addressed to "residential customer" or "postal customer."
Have an offer that you know will be a big hit, but need help getting the word out to the right people? Try using Share Mail and let your current customers help spread the good word for you.
If you want to improve the performance of your direct mail fundraising campaigns, there are some best practices you should follow. Ensure your annual appeal campaigns are delivering the best ROI with these top tips:
The beginning of a new decade brings about a postage rate increase scheduled to go into effect on January 26th, 2020. We are lucky that the price of a Forever stamp is staying at the current rate of 55 cents.
The trees are turning brilliant colors of orange, yellow, and red which means the holidays are right around the corner. That means it’s time to think about getting those holiday packages shipped out to arrive before Old Saint Nick does. We have a shorter holiday season with Thanksgiving being late this year, planning will ensure your holiday cards, letters, and packages will arrive on time.
Marketers know direct mail is a powerful channel to reach their customers and prospects. The DMA reports that direct mail response rates outperform all digital channels and continue to climb year over year. In their latest Response Rate Report, the DMA found the direct mail response rate was 4.9% for prospect lists and 9% for house lists in 2018. This is significantly higher than the previous year and the highest since the report started in 2003.
The USPS has approved six mailing promotions for 2019. You may remember that USPS did not have any promotions in 2018. This year they are bringing back five promotions from previous years and have added one new Informed Delivery promotion. The promotions for First Class Mail are Earned Value, Personalize and Preprinted Color Transpromo. The Emerging & Technology and the Informed Delivery promotions can use either First Class Mail or Marketing Mail, while the Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Engagement and Mobile Shopping promos are only for Marketing Mail.
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has approved the United States Postal Service (USPS) rate case. On January 27th 2019, postage rates will increase an average of 2.479% for Marketing/Presort Standard Mail.
