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Maximizing Impact: How Direct Mail Boosts Donations for Non-profits

Maximizing Impact: How Direct Mail Boosts Donations for Non-profits

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Direct Marketing Solutions, Not-For-Profit, Printing, VDP

Maximizing Impact: How Direct Mail Boosts Donations for Non-profits

direct mail campaigns

Non-profit organizations play a crucial role in addressing various social issues and causes. To continue their vital work, they often rely on the generosity of donors. In today’s digital age, where online fundraising platforms and social media dominate the scene, one traditional method still stands strong: direct mail. In this blog, we’ll explore how these campaigns can be a powerful tool for non-profits to boost donations and make a lasting impact.

The Power of Direct Mail in Fundraising

direct mail campaignsDirect mail is a tried-and-true method of fundraising that has stood the test of time. Its effectiveness lies in its tangible nature. Unlike digital communications that can be easily deleted or ignored, a well-crafted mail piece physically lands in the hands of your potential donors. According to the Data & Marketing Association (DMA), the response rate for direct mail to a house list was 9% in 2018, compared to just 1% for email.

Understanding Your Non-profit’s Audience

Before launching a campaign, it’s crucial to understand your audience. Non-profit organizations typically have diverse donor bases, including individuals, corporations, and foundations. Each of these groups may have different motivations for giving. Direct mail allows you to tailor your message to specific segments of your donor base, making it more likely that your message resonates with the recipient.

Crafting Compelling Campaigns

To maximize the impact of your campaigns, focus on creating materials that capture attention and evoke emotions. Start with eye-catching design and imagery that aligns with your cause. Preferred Direct can assist with design services – contact our team today for a quote. Your message should be clear, concise, and emotionally compelling. Include a strong call to action, guiding recipients on how they can make a difference by donating.

Data-Driven Decision Making

Data plays a crucial role in optimizing campaigns. Segment your donor lists based on factors like giving history, demographics, and location. Personalize your messages using variable data printing to make donors feel valued and understood. Track the performance of your campaigns using analytics to refine your approach over time.

Case Studies and Success Stories

Nothing speaks more persuasively than success stories. Share real-life examples of how your organization’s work has made a tangible difference in the lives of those you serve. Highlight the impact of past campaigns, including specific results and how donations were put to use. Direct mail catalogs and newsletters are a great way to share impact stories and generate engagement through genuine connection.

Ensuring Data Security and Compliance

direct mail campaignsNon-profits often deal with sensitive donor contact and financial information. It’s crucial to ensure data security and compliance with regulations like HIPAA when handling healthcare-related data. Partnering with a HIPAA-Compliant and HITRUST-Certified Printer like Preferred Direct can provide peace of mind in this regard.

Measuring the ROI of your campaign

Calculating the return on investment (ROI) is essential to assess the effectiveness of your campaigns. By comparing the cost of the campaign to the donations received, you can determine how efficiently your efforts are driving donations.

Integrating Direct Mail with Online Fundraising

QR code direct mail campaignsDirect mail and online fundraising can work hand in hand. Include URLs or QR codes in your materials that link recipients to online donation pages. This provides an easy and convenient way for donors to contribute, and it allows you to track the online response to your mailings.

Tips for Non-profits Getting Started with Direct Mail

For non-profits considering direct mail for the first time, it’s essential to start with a clear strategy. Define your goals, target audience, and budget. Partnering with a reliable print and mail provider like Preferred Direct can help you navigate the complexities of direct mail campaigns.

Conclusion

Direct mail continues to be a potent fundraising tool for non-profit organizations. Its ability to deliver tangible, emotionally resonant messages to potential donors sets it apart in a crowded digital landscape. By understanding your audience, crafting compelling campaigns, and leveraging data, you can maximize the impact of your direct mail efforts. Remember, it’s not just about sending mail; it’s about making a difference.

If you’re ready to explore the potential of direct mail for your non-profit organization and want to ensure the highest level of data security, consider partnering with Preferred Direct. Our expertise in commercial printing and direct mail can help you craft impactful campaigns that drive donations and support your mission. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can assist your non-profit in maximizing its impact.

Contact Preferred Direct Today!
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Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

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About the authors

Bill Nee Jr. is the CEO of Preferred Direct Marketing, where he oversees all aspects of administration, operations and business development. He has guided the company’s overall strategic growth since he stepped into the leadership role in 2015. Bill has been with the company for nearly three decades, joining Preferred in 1996, shortly after it was started as a mail house by his parents, Patricia and Bill Nee Sr. Bill launched and developed the offset printing side of the business before moving into production management, marketing and other leadership positions. His emphasis has been on technological innovation to position Preferred as an industry-leading and customer-focused print, direct mail and digital communications partner.

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Nonprofit Marketing – Print & Digital Tips and Tricks

Nonprofit Marketing – Print & Digital Tips and Tricks

by | Direct Marketing Solutions, Not-For-Profit

Nonprofit Marketing – Print and Digital Tips & Tricks

Print marketing and digital marketing should, no doubt, be a part of your nonprofit marketing strategy. Used in combination, they reinforce and further your organization’s mission and goals. As a commercial printing services provider, Preferred Direct helps many nonprofits maximize the success of their print and digital marketing efforts. In this article, we’re going to share several marketing tips for nonprofits that can help your organization boost awareness, raise funds, and recruit volunteers.

We live in a digital era. But that has not rendered print marketing obsolete. Instead, it has intensified the impact that printed materials have when they’re created strategically and executed flawlessly. Printed pieces will help your nonprofit marketing stand out and provide a tangible way to reach your target audience.

What types of print collateral can help your nonprofit marketing and fundraising efforts?

Before working with a printing company, check to make sure they have the latest digital printing and inkjet printing technologies to produce superior results cost-effectively.

direct mail marketing estimate

1. Get personal and precise with direct mail marketing. 

Print collateral that is personalized to the individual recipient helps to build trust in your organization and incite action. Seek to work with a commercial printing company that offers direct mail marketing services that include: 

  • Variable data printing (text and images) to customize print pieces to each individual on your mailing list.
  • Mailing list services to make sure your direct mail marketing pieces are targeted at the right people based on demographic, geographic, and other criteria.
  • Postage automation to save you time and money through sorting, shipping, and delivery to the post office and by passing along volume discounts. 

2. Stay within budget with on-demand printing. 

By working with a commercial printer that offers on-demand printing, your can keep costs in check for your nonprofit marketing campaigns. On-demand means you’re not locked into minimum order commitments. You pay a low price per unit, even if you only need a small number of print materials produced. Best of all, it’s simple and quick when you want more pieces printed because your digital files are saved and ready to go for your next order. Also, consider the eco-friendly attributes of on-demand printing. Because you can better align your print volume with your actual needs, you conserve paper, electricity, and other resources. 

3. Get help managing your print inventory. 

If you work with a commercial printing company on an ongoing basis, you’ll find that you can save time and money on your nonprofit marketing when the printer offers inventory management services. Inventory control is especially critical when using on-demand printing services. It ensures the supplies you need for your direct mail and other print marketing materials will be readily available when you need them.

 

Nonprofit Marketing – Using Digital Marketing Solutions

 If you have a commercial printer that also excels in digital marketing strategies, your organization will gain efficiency and effectiveness in all of its marketing and fundraising campaigns. It will enable you to ensure consistent messaging—delivered at just the right time for maximal impact. 

1. Create irresistible email marketing campaigns. 

Fortunately, nonprofit organizations have one of the highest average email open rates (25.17 percent) compared to other industries, according to Mailchimp data. 

However, people are inundated with email messages every day, so it’s critical to carefully craft your nonprofit marketing campaigns to rise above the noise. Work with your digital marketing and commercial printing services provider to create email designs and content that will grab attention and compel people to act. 

2. Keep your cause front and center with SMS messaging. 

According to an article on the Crazy Egg blog, research has shown SMS open rates to be as high as 98 percent. Yet only approximately 61 percent of marketers use SMS to promote their brands even though 45 percent of people reply to SMS marketing messages. By marketing your nonprofits events and fundraising campaigns via text messages, you seize a viable opportunity to encourage interaction with your organization. 

Commercial Printing3. Customize your digital marketing communications. 

Tailoring your nonprofit marketing messaging to the individual allows you to build a stronger bond with existing and prospective donors, volunteers, and community partners. Make sure that the commercial printer you choose can handle variable data and personalize messages to individuals on your print and electronic mailing lists. Customized email marketing and SMS marketing messages will help increase recipients’ engagement with your nonprofit. 

Choosing the Right Partner for your Nonprofit Marketing Campaigns

Not all commercial printers have the breadth of capabilities needed to give nonprofits excellent quality and value in both print and digital marketing services. At Preferred Direct, we have years of experience working with nonprofit marketing to minimize costs and maximize returns. We provide a full spectrum of services related to printing, direct mail marketing, email marketing, and SMS marketing.

direct mail servicesWe will work with your nonprofit on all aspects of your projects.

  • Designing
  • Developing mailing lists
  • Printing (digital printing and inkjet printing)
  • Reducing postage costs
  • Mailing
  • And more

Contact us to discuss your nonprofit’s marketing needs! We have the technology and expertise to save your nonprofit time and money while improving the results of your direct mail and digital marketing campaigns.

Request a quote online or call Preferred Direct toll-free today. 1-833-425-7007

 

Request a project estimate
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Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

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Supporting Charities Using Your Company’s Print Marketing

Supporting Charities Using Your Company’s Print Marketing

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Not-For-Profit, Printing

Supporting Charities Using Your Company’s Print Marketing

Looking for ways to raise money for your chosen charities? Are you wanting to brand your business as a philanthropic organization? Direct mail print marketing creates one of the best fundraising opportunities for charities. You can work with charitable organizations to promote both the charity and your business at the same time.

Supporting charities doesn’t have to be restricted to monetary donations. You can also support your choice charities by tying them into your current marketing campaigns or creating new campaigns based on the charity. It is very beneficial for companies to support charities. Here’s why: 

Benefits of Supporting a Charity

Charitable image – Your company shows commitment and interest in your community and in the well-being of humanity when it sponsors a charitable organization.

Increased visibility – By sponsoring charitable organizations and their events, your company’s name and logo appear in more places, increasing your visibility to potential customers.

Networking – Attending charitable organization events introduces your company to others that support the charity and can lead to networking opportunities.

Tax deductions – Your business receives tax deductions when supporting a charity. You can deduct up to 50 percent of your Adjusted Gross Income, but be sure to check with a tax professional for regulations.

Build stronger relationships with your customers – Your customers will like that your business is charitable and therefore will feel better about supporting your company.

At Preferred Direct, we have a full line of services available to help you design, print, and deliver your next project.  Contact us to receive expert advise and to learn which product is best for you.

direct mail marketing estimate

Ways to Tie Charities Into Your Marketing

You can make your charitable organization partnership beneficial to both the charity and your business through cross-promotional marketing.

Here are a few cross-promotional marketing ideas:

Promotional months – Does your company support a breast cancer charity, diabetes charity, or a pet charity? There are months in the year that are specifically designated for these types of charities. Breast Cancer Awareness Month, American Diabetes Month, and National Dog Adoption Month are examples of months designed for charities. Find ways to promote your business and theirs by tying marketing campaigns to these promotional months.

Give back on every sale – You can advertise a product or service and pledge giving back x amount of dollars to the charity.

Sell tickets for charitable events – To increase your business’s online and/or physical traffic, sell tickets for your chosen charity’s events.

Coupons – Give the charity coupons for your business’s products or services to distribute as added value for their donors. Added value can help the charity keep or entice new donors while giving your business exposure through print marketing. 

Types of Print Marketing to Support Charities

Whether you are tying in a charitable organization to a current promotion you have, or sending out information on your own products or services and mentioning the charity, direct marketing is a great way to benefit both the charity and your business.

Here are ways to use print marketing to support your choice charities:

Direct Mail Print Marketing – Let your customers or potential customers know about your cross-promotional charitable events, campaigns, products, or services through direct mail. Direct mail print marketing is one of the top ways charities fundraise, and your company can attract business and/or build your company’s reputation by using the same means.

Transpromo Marketing – Are you sending out statements to your customers? You can generously add an advertisement for the charities you support on your statements without spending additional money on postage. You can also promote cross-promotional charitable events or campaigns.

Newsletters –  Mention the charities you support in your newsletters. Whether you send out e-newsletters or mail out newsletters, you can support your chosen charity, or let your customers know about cross-promotional events or marketing campaigns.

Coupons and/or Tickets – Print coupons and or tickets for charitable or cross-promotional events.

 Preferred Direct provides print marketing and direct marketing opportunities for businesses and charities. Find a list of services here. For a quick online quote, click here or call toll-free 1-833-425-7007. 

 At Preferred Direct, we make sure to keep your cost down. You will have a project manager who keeps your print jobs on track. Our project managers stay on top of your print jobs and can answer any questions you have along the way. We even provide emergency print services for those fast-approaching deadlines. We also provide tracking so you can be assured that your shipment is arriving in a timely manner. One of our printers is the Xerox Impika®, a top-of-the-line machine that prints quality materials fast, ultimately saving you time and money. When choosing a commercial printing company, you can count on Preferred Direct to be cost-effective, speedy, and customer-friendly.

Call us toll-free today at 1-833-425-7007 or click here for an online quote.

 

Sources: smallbusiness.chron.com, kabbage.com, frugalmarketing.com

Request a Direct Mail Marketing estimate!
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Nonprofits, Take Advantage of Direct Mail Fundraising

Nonprofits, Take Advantage of Direct Mail Fundraising

by | Direct Mail Marketing, Not-For-Profit

Nonprofits, Take Advantage of Direct Mail Fundraising

Direct mail fundraising is one of the best ways to increase giving and grow your donor database. Nonprofits depend on money and support from donors to keep an organization functioning. Out of all of the types of nonprofit marketing, fundraising by mail should be on your list of fundraising strategies. Here’s why:

Direct mail marketing helps you find potential donors. Targeted mailing lists can help your nonprofit to find new donors that fit your organization’s ideal demographics. Mailing lists can target by location, gender, income, etc. You can also target the homes within proximity to your organization using every-door-direct-mail tactics. 

Direct mail fundraising keeps you in contact with your current donors. When you send direct mail, you remind your donors of your organization and keeping it at the forefront of their mind. Many recipients keep direct mail pieces, if they are well designed, to remind them of the causes they support. At Preferred Direct we have graphic design experts ready to work with you to create a recognizable and memorable campaign.  

You can let your donors know what your organization’s current needs are. Is there something specific your organization needs to purchase? Is there something that needs immediate financial attention? Let your donors know your urgent needs in a visually and emotionally appealing way.

Connect with new and potential donors in a tangible way. Direct mail fundraising provides an engaging print piece that recipients can interact with. Whether posted on the fridge as a reminder or given to a friend, your nonprofit’s direct mail can be a great tool your advocates can use to spread awareness of your cause.

direct mail marketing estimate

Tips on creating direct mail fundraising pieces:

  • Suggest donation amounts on your mail piece. You can list the benefits of each to make it more effective. (i.e. $100 will allow an underprivileged child to attend summer camp. $50 will provide an underprivileged child a tutor for a month.)
  • Create multiple options for giving. Can they give online? Over the phone? Include this information on your mailing.
  • Thank your donor for their last gift and tell them why their next gift will help your organization.
  • Include the reminder that their donation is tax deductible.
  • Drive an emotional connection by personal stories of how their donations benefit real people.
  • Make sure to include the option of updating their mailing address, adding an email address, etc.
  • Be sure your mailing is appealing to the eye, with a clear call to action, and don’t forget to always include your organization’s logo and contact information.

Do you need help creating an effective direct mail fundraising piece? At Preferred Direct, our team of expert graphic designers can help. You can also check out our blog, 12 Tips for Creating Effective Direct Mail Print, for an in depth guide. 

Preferred Direct can help you through the entire fundraising by mail process, from creating mailing lists, designing artwork, printing products, handling postage, packaging, and shipping, Preferred Direct can do it all.

 

direct mail servicesAt Preferred Direct, we make sure to keep your cost down. You will have a project manager who keeps your print jobs on track. Our project managers stay on top of your print jobs and can answer any questions you have along the way. We even provide emergency print services for those fast approaching deadlines. We also provide tracking so you can be assured that your shipment is arriving in a timely manner. One of our printers is the Xerox Impika®, a top-of-the-line machine that prints quality materials fast, ultimately saving you time and money. When choosing a commercial printing company, you can count on Preferred Direct to be cost-effective, speedy, and customer-friendly.

Call us toll-free today at 1-833-425-7007 or click here for an online quote.

 

Sources: fivemaples.com

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Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

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Boost Your Political Marketing Campaign with Print

When it comes to elections, every detail matters. This is especially true for local downticket elections — those that involve smaller, local offices like city council members, school boards and more.

About the authors

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