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How to Increase Billing ROI with Transpromo Marketing

How to Increase Billing ROI with Transpromo Marketing

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions, Energy & Utilities, Finance, Healthcare, Insurance, Print On Demand, Variable Data Printing (VDP)

What is Transpromo Marketing?

Transpromo marketing, short for “transactional-promotional” marketing, is the practice of merging transactional documents (like bills, invoices, or account statements) with promotional content. These documents are already being sent to customers as part of regular businesstranspromo marketing example operations, making them a cost-effective channel for adding marketing messages. When done strategically, using billing documents as a dual-purpose tool to both inform customers and drive revenue has massive potential to increase ROI.

Transform Billing into a Revenue Driver

By combining billing with carefully crafted promotional content, businesses can transform routine mailings into a powerful marketing tool. For example, a billing statement could include a promotion for a new referral program, or a utility bill might highlight discounts for energy-efficient lighting and power cords.

By integrating advertisements, cross-sell offers, or informative content into billing documents, you leverage the high open and read rates of transactional mail. Viewers are more likely to open a bill, than they are to open unknown promotional mail.

The key lies in personalizing these promotions. Using customer data and variable data printing (VDP), businesses can tailor the message, piece by piece, to align with the recipient’s known needs, demographics or habits.

transpromo bill printing

Why Does Transpromo Work?

Transactional documents boast some of the highest engagement rates in the direct mail space. Customers are known to likely to open, review, and retain them. Incorporating promotional content into these documents helps your message reach a highly attentive audience.

Additionally, this approach eliminates the need to send separate promotional mailers, reducing marketing costs while maximizing impact. This dual-purpose format is especially effective for financial institutions, business and home services, universities, utilities, healthcare providers, and subscription-based services.

 

How Preferred Direct Marketing Maximizes Transpromo Potential

Preferred Direct Marketing specializes in creating customized financial documents that seamlessly combine essential transactional information with eye-catching promotional content. With expertise in secure data management, advanced printing techniques, and integrated direct mail strategies, PDM ensures that every piece of transpromo material delivers measurable results.

Leveraging financial documents as a marketing channel is a low-cost, high-impact way for businesses to reach their customers. Utilizing personalization techniques such as variable data printing can help boost billing ROI by connecting essential customer information with promotional messages that resonate with their needs.

Contact PDM today to get started with your own transpromo marketing campaign and see the ROI for yourself!

Start Your Next Transpromo Marketing Campaign Today!

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Navigating the Agency-Printer Relationship

Navigating the Agency-Printer Relationship

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions

Navigating the Agency-Printer Relationship

In the fast-paced world of business, collaboration and synergy are key ingredients for success. One very important partnership that often is underestimated is the relationship between your company, your marketing agency and your commercial print partner. In an era where digital marketing dominates, the tactile power of printed materials can be overlooked. Yet, there’s an undeniable charm to holding a beautifully designed brochure or receiving a thoughtfully crafted direct mail piece. This is where the partnership between a marketing agency and a commercial print partner shines. Seamless interaction between these two entities can greatly impact the effectiveness of your marketing and the overall success of your business. In this blog, we’ll explore setting expectations, defining roles, choosing the right partners and the benefits of using a well-connected print partner.

 

Setting Expectations and Defining Roles

The foundation of any successful partnership is clear communication and well-defined roles. When it comes to the relationship between your marketing agency and print partner, the following points need to be established:

  • roles & responsibilitiesDesign Needs & Deadlines: Clearly communicate your design requirements and deadlines to ensure your agency can meet the artwork deadline and your printer can achieve the desired quality in your timeframe.
  • Print Types: Discuss the specifics of the print job, including paper type, color options (full color or black and white), and any bindery, folding, collating or finishing required. Ensure your printer has the capabilities for a wide range of print types, i.e., newsletters, postcards, brochures, handbooks etc. Consider whether you need mailing services as well.
  • Responsibility for Fulfillment: Determine who will handle the fulfillment process. Some print partners, like Preferred Direct, offer comprehensive services that include printing, mailing, and even kitting for promotional campaigns. While some marketing agencies are responsible for kitting specialty client gifts and will need the print piece sent to them for fulfillment.
  • Budget: Transparency in budgeting is essential. Evaluate all costs involved, from the marketing agency’s fees to the printing invoices, shipping charges and more. This holistic view helps prevent surprises down the line.

 

Choosing the Right Partners

direct mail marketing samples pack request

There are several factors to consider when choosing the right marketing partner. The first factor to consider is industry knowledge. A marketing agency that understands your industry can hit the ground running. They’ll have insights into your target audience, competition, and trends specific to your field, all of which will greatly impact the effectiveness of your campaigns. You can also request samples from a marketing agency, this will help you to evaluate the quality of their work and help to determine if they are a good fit with your brand. If the samples include case studies or metrics, you can gain insights into how effective the agency’s campaigns were for their previous clients in your industry. This can give you an idea of the potential ROI you might achieve by working with them.

When looking for the right commercial print partner, you will want to consider things like data security, equipment and technology, customer service, and experience. Protection of sensitive data is paramount. Make sure your print partner has security measures in place to protect your information and maintain client confidentiality. As a HIPAA compliant and HITRUST certified printer, Preferred Direct values the level of security required when dealing with personal information.

Preferred Direct is committed to quality at every step of the way. We use advanced print, fulfillment, and data technology to deliver custom communication solutions, on time and on budget. We take pride in being a highly skilled business partner who can deliver on your most pressing marketing and communications needs. Whether your project is transactional, informational, or promotional, Preferred Direct has over 30 years of experience in delivering engaging, secure print pieces for companies in a variety of industries.

Preferred Direct: A Multi-Faceted Partner

With years of experience in key industries such as healthcare, insurance, finance, energy & utility, and not-for-profit sectors, we have collaborated closely with various marketing agencies. Our extensive capabilities, renowned customer service, swift lead times, nationwide print services, and a data-centric approach have earned a reputation as a reliable, technology-focused print and direct mail partner for companies across the nation. As a family-owned business, we prioritize personalized care and are well-equipped to assist you or connect you with an excellent marketing agency tailored to your industry needs.

The partnership between your marketing agency and commercial print partner is a cornerstone in your marketing strategy. Clear communication, well-defined roles, and selecting the right partners, like Preferred Direct, can elevate your campaigns, simplify the campaign process, and drive substantial results. Teamwork makes the dreamwork!

Contact Preferred Direct Today!

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Printed Collateral is Here to Stay

Printed Collateral is Here to Stay

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions, Variable Data Printing (VDP)

Printed Collateral is Here to Stay

 

With the constant push for higher digital engagement, perfectly curated social feeds, and algorithm optimized content, it’s easy for businesses to focus their marketing budgets into the digital space. But is it really worth it? Digital marketers estimate that the average person sees over 4,000 ads in a single day and spends only 0.7 seconds “gazing” at each social media ad. In this massive sea of digital ads, how can businesses differentiate themselves or stand out? Short answer: Printed Collateral.

Digital Marketing vs. Print Marketing

Before we take a closer look at the advantages of print marketing, let’s quickly compare the two. The term “digital marketing” covers a broad range of marketing channels such as, social media, email marketing, google ads, and more. Every day up to 500 million people browse their Instagram feed, 600 million people scroll through TikTok, and 2 billion users log onto Facebook. With the potential for reaching a broad audience and its cost-effective nature, it’s no wonder why companies gravitate to this form of marketing.

printed collateral preferred directWhere digital marketing lacks, printed collateral thrives. Rather than creating content for the masses, print marketing campaigns are highly targeted, more memorable, and bring credibility to your business. Print marketing includes physical marketing pieces such as newsletters, catalogues, postcards, direct mail, brochures and more.

  • Just opened a new brick and mortar location? Send a Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) invitation to all households within a 15 mile radius to your grand opening.
  • Releasing a new product line? Give your customers a first look in an exclusive catalogue.
  • Have exciting news, upcoming events, or a change in leadership? Send a newsletter to keep your internal team up to date and the public in the know.

Preferred Direct is a family-owned commercial printer, operating for over 30 years in direct mail printing, binding and delivery. Ready to get started in print? Our team can help! Click here to request a consultation or project estimate.

Advantages of Printed Collateral

So, how does print marketing differentiate your business in the digital age? Here’s a quick list of the advantages of printed collateral and why it’s here to stay:

Builds Credibility

The accessibility and ease of social media can be a double edge sword. Apps like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook have simplified account creation, meaning anyone can create an account and start marketing a product or service immediately, even if it doesn’t exist. Since most consumers are aware of fake or suspicious accounts, they err on the side of caution when interacting or purchasing products online. One way a company can build credibility as a trustworthy business is by sending printed collateral to their audience. According to a survey by MarketingSherpa, 82% of people trust print ads when making a purchase decision. Having a tangible print piece acts as an extension of your brand, putting the credibility of your product or services straight in their hands.

 

Memorable Marketing

In a study conducted by USPS and Temple University testing the effectiveness of print versus digital advertisements, they found that the physical ads were “more effective at leaving a lasting impression than their digital counterparts, regardless of the consumer age.” The research also concluded that the participants had quicker recall, stronger emotional responses, and a longer lasting impact from the physical ads. The physical aspect of holding a printed ad appeals to more senses than just scrolling through your phone. At Preferred Direct we have a team of graphic designers ready to create the artwork needed to make a great first impression.

 

Less Competition

Any company you name off the top of your head most likely has a prominent digital presence. This oversaturation of the digital space is what creates high competition and makes it very difficult to rank above larger companies with big marketing budgets. Even when you do prevail, there’s still that dreaded ad blocker in the way. In the U.S., more than a one third of internet users use some sort of ad blocker when they browse the internet. That means you’re paying money for 33% of the viewers to not even see your digital ad. These wasted marketing dollars could instead be used for a direct mail campaign where the consumer will not only see your ad but hold it in their hands. Rather than having to compete with the thousands of digital ads we see daily, your competition reduces to the handful of mail your audience gets every day.

 

An Omni-Channel Approach

When it comes to marketing it isn’t always a one size fits all. The best marketing strategizes take an omni-channel approach having a healthy mix of both printed collateral and digital marketing. While print marketing is effective for exposure and recall of brand information, digital marketing keeps your brand top of mind and can communicate to a broader audience.

With over 35 years of experience providing quality print and mail services to businesses around the country, Preferred Direct is the go-to direct mail printer for effective, data-secure print campaigns. We have the technology, capacity, and drive to assist you in your print marketing endeavors. From printer to post office, trust us to deliver high quality printed collateral pieces on time and within your budget. Contact us today to get started.

Contact Preferred Direct Today!

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Infographic: Key Postcard Elements

Infographic: Key Postcard Elements

by | Direct Mail Marketing

5 Key Elements of a Successful Postcard Mailer

Postcard mailers have long been a trusted and effective marketing tool, delivering concise messages and capturing attention with their tangible marketing appeal. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the five key elements that contribute to the success of a postcard campaign. By understanding and incorporating these elements into your postcard designs, you can significantly enhance recipient engagement, maximize conversions, and achieve your marketing ROI goals.

#1 Postcard Size

PDM postcard mailerThe size of a postcard mailers plays a vital role in its impact and the recipient’s perception of your message. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer, opting for standard postcard sizes like 4″ x 6″ or 5″ x 7″ ensures cost-effectiveness and easy mailing. However, larger, or uniquely shaped postcards can help your message stand out. There is no limit to postcard size, though choose wisely.

Consider the purpose of your postcard. If it aims to showcase vibrant visuals or provide detailed information, a larger size might be ideal. On the other hand, if you want to convey a short and compelling message, a smaller size can deliver the impact you desire. Remember to strike a balance between grabbing attention and ensuring practicality.

#2 Key Visual Image/Graphic

A captivating visual image or graphic is the cornerstone of any successful postcard mailer, it catches the recipient’s eye and sparks their interest. When selecting an image, ensure that it aligns with your brand identity and effectively communicates your message.

High-quality, professional images of your products, people or services can have a greater impact than generic stock photos. Consider investing in custom photography or illustrations that reflect the unique aspects of your business. If you are promoting a specific product or service, display it prominently in the visual. People connect with visuals on an emotional level, so choose images that evoke the desired response.

With a wide range of full color printing capabilities, Preferred Direct has the experience and technology to create vibrant, bold visuals for your next postcard campaign. Contact us today to request a quote.

#3 Strategic White Space

White space, or negative space, refers to the intentional blank areas in your postcard design. These areas play a vital role in maintaining a clean and uncluttered layout. White space helps guide the recipient’s attention to the different key elements of your postcard, such as the visual image and message.

While the visual elements are crucial, it is equally important to leave white space on your postcard to accommodate essential compliance elements. These areas include space for the stamp, address, post office markings, and any additional information required by postal regulations. By incorporating these compliance elements seamlessly into your design, you ensure that your postcard meets all necessary mailing requirements and reaches its intended destination without any issues.

Post offices typically apply barcodes, postage labels, and other markings to process and deliver the postcard efficiently. Failing to allocate sufficient room may result in valuable information being obscured during the mailing process, or an undeliverable piece of mail. As a general guideline, leave at least ½ inch (1.27 cm) of empty space at the bottom of the postcard to accommodate these markings without interfering with your design or message.

By strategically incorporating white space, you can create a sense of balance and enhance readability. It allows the recipient’s eyes to rest, making it easier to absorb the information you present. Moreover, white space helps ensure compliance with postal best practices and will guarantee that it gets stamped and delivered, quickly and easily. Partnering with a knowledgeable print and mail provider will help. Preferred Direct will assist with any design assistance needed so your postcard is a success.

#4 Strong Call to Action/Clear, Concise Message

The success of your postcard hinges on delivering a clear and concise message that resonates with your target audience. A strong call to action (CTA) is the driving force behind your postcard’s conversion potential. For a successful direct mail marketing campaign, you must have a clear message – to have a clear message, we must start with having a clear goal. Take time to define what your campaign goal is and do your best to state it in one complete, yet powerful thought. This approach will boost your ROI and bring in the most qualified leads.

Keep your message concise, using clear and urgent language. Ensure that it aligns with your overall marketing strategy and resonates with your target audience. Consider the pain points your product or service addresses, the competitive advantages you may have, and emphasize the unique value you bring. Incorporate a sense of urgency in your CTA to motivate recipients to take immediate action.

#5 Unique Elements: QR Codes, Coupons, Perforation

 

QR code

To make your postcard mailer even more engaging and valuable, consider incorporating unique elements that provide additional incentives for recipients to respond. QR codes have recently gained popularity and have the ability to link printed items directly to specific landing pages or digital content, making it easy for recipients to access more information online or take advantage of special offers.

Coupons or discount codes are highly effective in enticing recipients to make a purchase, set up a meeting, or visit your physical or online store. Providing exclusive deals through postcard promotions can significantly boost response rates. Another creative element is the addition of perforation, which allows recipients to tear off a section for a specific purpose, such as redeemable vouchers.

By including QR codes, coupon codes and custom URLs exclusive to your postcard campaign, you can track ROI metrics such as page views, coupon redemptions, and engagement, allowing you to make data-driven decisions and maximize your marketing budget.

Pro Tip: Choosing the Right Print Partner for Postcard Mailers

By mastering the five key elements of successful postcard mailer, you can create impactful marketing campaigns that captivate your target audience. Remember to carefully consider the postcard size, set clear goals, select a compelling visual image, utilize strategic white space, craft a clear and concise message, and incorporate unique elements such as QR codes, coupons, or perforation. With these elements combined and a strong call to action, your postcards will become powerful tools for boosting engagement, driving conversions, and achieving your marketing objectives. Discover move in our Postcard Infographic.

Of course, that’s only if you choose the right direct mail printing partner. Don’t waste dollars and time! Preferred Direct has been printing and sending direct mail campaigns, domestic and international, for over 35 years. We have the experience, technology, and postal relationships to get your campaign printed and delivered on time and on budget.

Ready to unlock the potential of postcard marketing? Start your own impactful postcard mailer campaign with Preferred Direct today. Discover how Preferred Direct can help you boost engagement, increase conversions, and take your marketing campaigns to new heights. Contact our team to request a consultation.

 

Full-Size Infographic
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Key Postcard Elements Infographic
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Why Now is the Perfect Time for Print Newsletter Marketing

Why Now is the Perfect Time for Print Newsletter Marketing

by | Book Binding & Finishing, Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions, Print On Demand, Variable Data Printing (VDP)

Why Now is the Perfect Time for Print Newsletter Marketing

When was the last time you received a newsletter…that was not sent to your email? Keeping your clients, customers or patients consistently informed is a big key for brand engagement. And it simply makes sense to reach them where they are… online, right? Not exactly. Due to changing standards in online privacy, a large influx of email marketing, and increased competition in the digital marketing space, a printed newsletter may be the best medium to attract and engage your true audience base.

As a provider of commercial printing and mailing solutions for over 35 years, the team at Preferred Direct knows a thing or two about the consumer landscape. Although direct mail has been around for centuries, there are many reasons why now is the best time is to invest in printed newsletter marketing campaigns for your business.

Get Out the Cluttered Email Inbox

We’d like to think that customers eagerly await our emails for the latest promotions and news. Realistically, their email inbox looks just like ours— cluttered, with hundreds of unopened e-newsletters dying a slow death in the automated “Promotions” folder. With email providers implementing changes effecting deliverability rates and SPAM categorization, it’s likely that your audience isn’t receiving your emails in the first place, wasting the time and effort of your marketing team.

What makes print different? Printed newsletters offer a tangible experience using a marketing medium that has statistically become much less cluttered than the average email inbox. As many companies shift their marketing to online channels, the opportunity to be noticed in the mailbox has grown tremendously. However, there’s still a possibility of your newsletter going directly into the trashcan. That is where brand recognition, quality print materials and professional design come into play. Treating print newsletters like a tangible extension of your company’s product or service quality will differentiate your print marketing in a way that cannot be captured in a short email headline.

To cut through the email clutter even further, reference your most recent digital campaign in your print newsletter (or reference your newsletter in an email!) with a special incentive. You do not need to abandon one method for another, but rather, have them work together for best results. For customers and prospects that you simply are struggling to reach via email, printed newsletters through Preferred Direct may be the way to go!

Reach Clients in a New Way

With most of our daily communication taking place digitally, there is something refreshingly different about receiving mail that speaks directly to our wants and needs. A printed newsletter can be a unique space that elaborates and highlights your company story like no other. Whether through special print promotions or coupons, exclusive insider stories, or unique event incentives, there are plenty of opportunities to surprise and delight your newsletter subscribers in a way they are not accustomed to.

Are your competitors using a printed newsletter to reach their customers? If not, then this is a perfect time to reach your shared audiences in a way that your competitors do not. Your loyal customers will be pleased to see your direct communication and your competitor’s audience may be intrigued by this new touchpoint and the effort you put into the campaign. Though we may not think of the mailbox as “new”, we should. Print marketing is in a modern-day renaissance and this old medium could be the new way to communicate to your audience, effectively.

Forgo Online Privacy Barriers

Online privacy protection laws are actively being passed on national and local levels, highlighting the growing scrutiny on how personal information is found and used. Companies, such as Apple, Google and Microsoft, have responded by introducing various privacy features, that ultimately limit many marketers’ ability to effectively target audience segments. With these changing privacy laws, it may become harder for businesses to collect accurate email information. This has also impacted the number of bogus emails created for the sole purpose of downloading digital content through lead forms, without giving true, personal information.

On the other hand, It is much less common for your audience to set up P.O. boxes for junk mail. Therefore, when you deliver to a given address, you’re most likely reaching a real person and not a junk email bot. Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) campaigns can also help you target an audience by location. At Preferred Direct, we work with our local USPS office to designate the best geographic location for your campaign and pull accurate mailing lists on your behalf.

Here’s a common EDDM newsletter example:

Local veterinarian contacts Preferred Direct to send a print marketing newsletter to its 200+ existing customers and to every residential home within a 5 mile radius of their office using EDDM.

Customer – Jane opens her mailbox and sees the familiar logo of her local veterinarian’s office. The front page features a photo of two dogs posed in front of a holiday display, inviting readers to come in for a special pet photo event. Jane places the newsletter in her “keep” file and quickly texts her friend about the pet photo event. Later that evening, Jane reads the newsletter, adds “Make Fluffy a Vet appointment” to her to-do list, and clips a coupon for dog food.

Email alternative – Jane opened your email, forwarded to her friend’s email (where it hit the junk box) and forgot to follow up for a vet appointment since the email wasn’t consistently visible in the real world.

Prospect ­– Bob is new in town and has been researching veterinarians for his 8-year old Lab mix. Though he had his eye on another practice, he received a quality newsletter in the mail from this local veterinarian. This prompted him to check their online reviews and prices. After reading through their website and newsletter, which features more customer testimonials, health tips and a local dog park guide, he decides to call and set an appointment using his “FREE consultation” coupon clipped from the mail.

Email alternative – Your email went directly to junk mail because Bob does not have you on his email contact list.

In our example, the local veterinarian was able to engage different types of audiences, more than once from one newsletter. They may not have had the same return on investment if they sent out an email newsletter only. In our 35 years of experience with direct mail campaigns, it is not unheard of that a recipient might share a physically printed mail piece with a friend or family member – extending a campaign’s ROI.

Though you may be hesitant, we can confidently say NOW is the time to invest in print marketing and overcome the privacy barriers found in the digital marketplace. With a name and address, you can send professional, informative newsletters with 100% deliverability rates. No cookies, trackers, bots or privacy policies in sight!

Benefits of Newsletter Marketing

Not every printed marketing newsletter will yield the same results as our hypothetical veterinarian’s office example. But for those who work with a professional Print & Mail shop, the odds are in your favor. Here are a few advantages print marketing has over other forms of digital marketing:

  • More Qualified Leads – Client addresses are updated regularly to send invoices and charge payments, so you know your print newsletters are sending to the right address. Through our partnership with USPS, you can verify mailing addresses and even target an audience you do not currently have access to, using EDDM.
  • Longer Engagement Rates – The average ad is viewed for mere seconds. The simple act of holding a newsletter outlasts these digital methods exponentially. On average, a print piece will have a more lasting engagement than a digital marketing ad. Customers interested in your content may save it to read later, use as a bookmark, clip it on a fridge magnet etc. to keep it top of mind. You can increase the likelihood of this by choosing specialty bindings, paper sizes, and finishing options.
  • Reaches a Broader Audience – Not all customers are online, and for those that are, the digital landscape is constantly changing (and so are their email addresses). Through printed newsletter marketing, you can reach a larger audience than just those with working emails. You can also target new audiences by locations relevant to your business, casting a wider net for future clientele.
  • Direct Ways to Measure Impact – Whether it’s through a coupon, event/sale, or connecting print and digital efforts through a campaign-specific landing page, there are multiple ways to measure the success of your printed newsletter without relying on third-party metrics. Work with your print & mail provider to discuss the best way to track campaign ROI.

There has never been a more perfect time to add print newsletter marketing to your company’s mix. With all the clutter and privacy concerns occurring in the digital marketing realm, the mailbox is a very attractive marketing channel that has already been proven to engage, communicate, and inform your audience. Start NOW and solidify your spot in the mailbox before your competitors begin flocking to the post office. Keep in mind, every business has unique marketing goals and abilities. Therefore, it is important to partner with a knowledgeable print provider to discover the right newsletter marketing option to meet your goals.

As a HIPAA-compliant and HITRUST-certified printer, Preferred Direct has invested in top print and fulfillment technology and follows the strictest data security standards to ensure the safety of your data. Partner with Preferred Direct today to get started on your company’s next marketing newsletter campaign today!

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22 Direct Marketing Trends in 2022

22 Direct Marketing Trends in 2022

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions

22 Direct Marketing Trends in 2022 

Direct marketing is the discipline of communicating directly with your audience through one-to-one mediums such as email, direct mail, social media, and text. Contrary to mass media, direct marketing can be personalized on an individual level, and is much easier to track a return on investment.

At Preferred Direct, we assist customers around the nation with direct mail and direct digital communications to achieve their goals. Whether your direct marketing is for transactional, informational, educational, or promotional purposes, Preferred Direct is the preferred provider of secure, successful direct mail and print communications.  

 

22 Direct Mail Trends from Preferred Direct 

As we close out the first quarter of 2022, our team has noticed some direct marketing trends among our client’s projects and within the national market. In honor of it being the 22nd year of the millennium, here are 22 direct marketing trends to pay attention to this year:  

#1. Personalization: This has been a consistent trend since the beginning of 2020. With variable data printing technology, commercial printers can now customize names, images, colors, and more on each print piece.  

#2. Strong Brands: Consumers want to feel a personal connection to your brand. We’ve seen companies increase the success of their direct mail campaigns when they include information about who they are and the impact their brand wants to make in the world.  

#3. Omnichannel Marketing: Direct marketing is very successful when reinforced among multiple communication channels. Clients who follow up direct mail campaigns with direct emails or texts, and vice versa, can further their brand message and improve customer recall.sustainable direct mail advertising

#4. Sustainability: Sustainability has been a trend among consumers for years and it’s important to show that you value the future of this earth too. Include sustainability statements or links to your social responsibility pages in your direct marketing promotions and show you care!  

#5. Reusable Print: When clients and customers receive high-quality print pieces, many will re-use the print for other purposes – keeping your brand top of mind. Preferred Direct can help with generating ideas like using perforations to make bookmarks or mini table games from postcards to keep your brand front and center.   

#6. The Digital-Print Shift: As digital marketing becomes harder to track and customers request more privacy online, many customers are open to receiving more promotional communications in the mail. With email as the new “junk mail”, the ol’ mailbox has much less competition and a higher impact.  

#7. User Intent: Conducting research to understand how your audience approaches and consumes your content can effectively improve the impact of your marketing campaigns. Understanding if your recipients intend to buy, research, share, or save your content, helps you create an engaging campaign designed around what your customer REALLY wants. Knowing what prospects expect from a company like yours, and the intention behind their actions will help build focused content for your direct mail campaigns that achieves your goals and theirs.  

#8. FOMO: The “Fear Of Missing Out” is a natural curiosity that can be a successful tool to engage your audience. Include just enough information in your direct mail to peak your reader’s curiosity and they just must learn more to satisfy the knowledge gap you’ve created.   

#9. Two-Factor Authentication: For transactional direct marketing campaigns, it’s important to safeguard your customer’s information. Sending a letter with changes made in a customer’s digital account can help reduce fraud and identity theft for customers that may have had their digital passwords hacked. Creating “two-factor authentication” through digital and print mediums protects your company and your customers, but only if processed through a secure printer like Preferred Direct.  

#10. Large Postcards: As consumers become more open to promotional mail, some clients are seeing success with oversized postcards. Sizes such as 11 x 6, 8 x 17, etc. stick out from other mail pieces and won’t get lost in the stack.   

#11. Catalogs: To cut through the digital clutter, DTC and eCommerce brands are going back to the future of sending full catalogs in the mail. They recognize print is not dead and online shopping doesn’t necessarily have to start online. Others have even gone a step further adding print coupons to their catalogs to increase online sales.  

#12. Emotional Connection: Using less corporate verbiage and more natural conversation text, Companies can make a more personal, emotional connection with consumers. Customers deal with “fake news” and “fake profiles” all day long. They want real, honest companies and your print text can communicate that.  

#13. Designer Envelopes: Who said professional print needs to be plain? Using a full-color envelope design, insurance carriers, finance institutions, billing companies, and many high-volume direct billing companies are seeing greater engagement on their transactional and promotional direct mail campaigns. Work with a Preferred Direct designer to create the perfect full-color envelope for your customer mailings today!  

#14. Privacy/User Consent: To appease to growing concerns around data privacy and user consent, try sending a direct mail campaign to consumers requesting opt-ins for your digital direct marketing. Skip the firewalls and SPAM folders and connect with visitors directly in a non-invasive medium.  direct marketing QR code

#15. QR Codes: QR Codes have made one heck of a comeback due to COVID-19. Now that many people know how they work, marketers are seeing success in converting print interest into digital conversions using scannable QR Codes. To be scannable, QR codes must be at least .8” x .8”.  

#16. Tip-On Giveaways: Whether a gift card, a mock bank card, or other card giveaways, adding a rigid piece of cardstock to your direct mail campaigns can increase its premium feel and entice the receiver to open.  

#17. Specialty Fold Options: Create a big reveal with your direct mail campaigns through designs with specialty folds. Asymmetrical folds, accordion folds, and gate folds are just a few direct mail folding options that allow more space for your content to delight with every unfold.  At Preferred Direct, we offer finishing services such as folding, scoring, collating, ect.. Take a look here. 

#18. Retargeting Print: You may have heard about retargeting digital ads, but have you considered retargeting ads using print? Creating a process to automate print campaigns for abandoned carts or product upselling can help nudge customers, that have digitally “checked out” of your company, to reconsider a purchase. 

#19. Print Security: Customers want to know their data is safe with your company. That’s why more and more businesses are partnering with print providers who are HITRUST-certified, HIPAA-compliant, and have shown they follow strict data security standards. If a company says they are secure, they must ensure their vendors are too. Business magazine printing services

#20. Company Magazines: As more companies are creating content for digital, marketing-savvy businesses are maximizing this content and distributing it offline in a company magazine. Once your company has 5-10+ educational blogs, you can create a company magazine to distribute to your customers, periodically. This trend can increase your customer retention and referral rates.  

#21. Concise Copy: Keep it simple! Customers are already overloaded with marketing messages all day long. A concise, well-thought-out slogan and supporting text are more memorable than a full paragraph. Direct marketing campaigns with a clear, simple message can be all you need to tip the scales in your direction.  

#22. Contact Preferred Direct! We would like to think it’s a trend that more and more companies are choosing Preferred Direct for their print and mail needs. Popular reasons businesses have moved to Preferred are: their printer is struggling to meet deadlines, their printer isn’t investing in security technology or their printer has limited options. Working with a more connected, technology-focused printer is a trend that can make a big difference in your marketing.  

  

Before You Dive All In, Contact Preferred Direct

Not all trends will work for your audience, so it’s important to partner with a print provider to discover the right campaign for your goals.

At Preferred Direct, we have a team of designers and print experts to help you create the perfect direct marketing pieces that engage your audience. As a HIPAA-compliant and HITRUST-certified printer, we have invested in top print and fulfillment technology and follow the strictest data security standards to ensure the safety of your data. Partner with Preferred Direct today and implement one or more of these direct marketing trends for your most engaging direct marketing campaign yet! 

Get Started on Your Next Print Project Today!
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