John Lewis may have spent £7m on Christmas advertising this year, but you don’t have to spend the big bucks to get your business noticed. An increasing numbers of businesses are using direct mail campaigns to get their message heard. And when you consider that 40% of consumers try new businesses after receiving direct mail, isn’t it about time you tried it too?
In this blog we’ve put together 5 direct mail tips to help you boost sales this year. Keep reading to find out they’ll help you sell more this Christmas!
1. Create an impression
According to a report by Royal Mail UK, 92% of direct mail is opened. Don’t waste this opportunity to make an impression. Think carefully about the image you want to project and make sure that your branding is on-point.
Remember: If you want to be taken seriously, make sure it looks good.
2. Personalise
Of all the direct mail tips available on the internet, this one is worth remembering. 98% of respondents in the Royal Mail survey preferred direct mail that was personalised. Try to avoid the impersonal ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ introduction and make the extra effort to include a name. It may seem like a small detail, but you should never underestimate the importance of making people feel special.
Remember: The chance of your mailer being read is greatly improved by convincing the recipient that it has been targeted to them specifically.
3. Set a deadline
Don’t miss the boat: plan ahead and set a date for dispatching your direct mail and stick to it. The average household hangs onto advertising mail for 17 long days. Ensuring your campaign arrives in plenty of time will maximise your chances of influencing engagement: and boosting sales: before Christmas.
Remember: If you’re thinking of sending out a very large batch of direct mail, consider staggering the delivery dates slightly. You wouldn’t want to find yourself overwhelmed with enquiries and unable to take every call.
4. Have a great offer
Research by the Direct Marketing Association shows that direct mail provides a very healthy ROI of £3.22 for every £1 spent. With this in mind, make sure you have something GREAT to offer or you’ll ruin your chances of success. It doesn’t matter if it’s a discount, new product or free sample: just make sure it’s appealing and not something you offer 51 weeks a year!
Remember: Do your research first and tailor your direct mail accordingly.
5. Don’t forget the call-to-action
Make the most of direct mail by including an irresistible call to action (or CTA). Ideally, a CTA should point the customer in the direction of your products. Make sure it’s short, engaging and encourages the customer to act by doing something to actively seek out your products or services.
Remember: The more engagement options you offer, the better than chance of success. After all, some people prefer making a call to going online. Limiting yourself to just once contact method limits your businesses chances of success!
Conclusion
So there you have it: 5 direct mail tips to make your business a little jollier this year. Remember – start early, target your content and don’t forget a strong CTA. Good luck!
Get in touch
Looking for help with your next direct mail campaign? Save time and money with help from Selectabase. Why not try our cost savings calculator to see how much you can save? It’s quick and easy to use. To find out more, call 01304-382-211 to speak to one of our expert advisors.
