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Author: Kristen Hollar

How to Increase Billing ROI with Transpromo Marketing

How to Increase Billing ROI with Transpromo Marketing

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!

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Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

Whether you’re looking to recruit new students, engage alumni, or share important updates with faculty and staff, print campaigns are a highly effective medium for higher ed marketing.

Printed materials offer a tangible and personal touch that digital marketing can’t always provide. For example, a well-designed orientation booklet can be held, shared, and stored as a keepsake, capturing the moment of a young entrepreneur’s first years in college.

As a trusted print & mail partner for over 35 years, Preferred Direct has some ideas for using print to connect with your college community…

 

Higher Ed Marketing Print Campaigns

Colleges and universities can target several key audiences through print campaigns. Here’s a few great print marketing strategies for each group. For assistance, contact Preferred Direct.

 

For incoming students and undergraduates

Higher Ed MarketingProspectus / Admissions Booklet: Send a custom designed university booklet to prospective students and show what life at your institution could be. Include a college overview, academic programs, campus life, the admissions process and financial aid options. Attract the next class with engaging images, campus activities, student testimonials and a message from the President or Dean.

ROI tip: send a postcard first to ALL prospective students to sign up for your email newsletter. For those that sign up, follow up by sending the full University booklet. The postcard is a budget-friendly option to generate interest, allowing you to send your valuable printed materials only to those that are more likely to apply.

Program Brochures:  Informative program brochures can help attract and excite students for the degrees they’re most interested in. You can include information on pre-requisites, courses, tuition fees, program events, and semester schedules (or where to find them) for each degree program. Having a separate booklet will help students choose the right course of study and inspire confidence and independence as they navigate their academic career. 

Orientation & Campus Life: Once students are accepted, professionally printed orientation materials can help ease their transition to campus life. Booklets for student housing options, building info and campus maps, student groups and associations and more are all print pieces students need to take full advantage of all your university has to offer.

 

For alumni and donor relations

Alumni Newsletters: Newsletters keep alumni and donors informed about the happenings of their alma mater and how funds are impacting student life and success. Feature stories on recent accomplishments, star programs, sports tickets, upcoming events, student spotlights, and ways to get involved or give back.

Annual Report: Showcasing the impact of donations can be a powerful way to engage with donors too. Consider creating an annual report that highlights project updates, fundraising goals, and program impact that have been made possible through their contributions.

Event Invitations: Printed letters or postcards inviting alumni to events such as homecoming, reunions, seminars, or fundraising galas can help generate excitement and encourage attendance. Be sure to include all relevant event details and a call-to-action for RSVPs.

Transpromo Marketing: Incorporate transpromo marketing into your donor billing letters to maximize engagement and highlight upcoming marketing initiatives. Transpromo marketing is incorporating marketing promotions into your billing materials. Learn more here.

 

For athletics and Greek life

Recruiting Materials: Attract and recruit top talent to your university with rockstar printed booklets. A saddle-stitched brochure or booklet can showcase your programs, scholarships, and success stories from current student-athletes and greek life and convince top performers to pick your programs.

Higher Ed Marketing CampaignAthletics Schedule: Send out athletic schedules and flyers for upcoming sporting events to promote game attendance, highlight star players, and encourage fans to show their school spirit.

Fundraising Campaigns: If your sports teams are in need of additional funding, a well-designed mailer or postcard can help raise awareness and encourage donations from alumni, parents, and fans.

 

 

Your Partner for Higher Ed Marketing

When selecting a print partner for higher ed marketing, you want to choose a reputable and reliable company that has experience working with educational institutions. At Preferred Direct, we understand the unique needs and goals of colleges and universities. Our local, family-owned printer offers print solutions, direct mail services, and bindery options to meet your needs.

Preferred Direct is HITRUST-certified to ensure the security and confidentiality of your sensitive information. Request a project estimate to get started today!

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Navigating the Agency-Printer Relationship

Navigating the Agency-Printer Relationship

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!

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Preferred Direct’s, Kristen Hollar, featured in HP Graphic Arts Article titled “Fabulously Focused”

Preferred Direct’s, Kristen Hollar, featured in HP Graphic Arts Article titled “Fabulously Focused”

February 10, 2021 – After the success of the HP PageWide T240 installation at Preferred Direct, HP reached out to the company to discuss the history of Preferred Direct and the ROI of the new print technology. Here’s the article content:


If Preferred Direct can be described in one word, it’s surely passionate.

As an industry-leading print, direct mail and digital communications company, the Norfolk, Virginia company thrives on an innovative spirit – something their Director of Operations carries in abundance. Kristen Hollar has worked at Preferred Direct for 18 years, standing ready to meet the marketing and communications needs of any commercial organization in direct mail, digital or, mixed media. She continually looks for new ways to help her customers succeed on all marketing fronts with the help of the HP PageWide We Press T240 HD. But forward thinking has been Preferred Direct’s hallmark for 34 years.

The company was started as a mail shop by owner Bill Nee’s parents out of a spare bedroom in 1987. Bill Nee, Sr. spearheaded the company’s entrepreneurial drive, having worked for years with different mailing, printing and software firms. He determined to write his company’s own software and streamline as many processes as possible. By 1992, the Nees had expanded their offerings into printing, as they found themselves waiting constantly for printers to deliver, which impacted drop rates.

In the ensuring years, as has been their history, Preferred Direct kept innovating, quickly adopting personalization and incorporating variable data processing into production. That dedication to forward thinking served the printer well in a challenging economy. Kristen saw how the 2007 recession impacted competitors that had not yet transitions to digital printing. Kristen kept fulfilling orders, handling runs of any size on short deadlines, and helped her company get through tough times. She believes strongly that customers will always choose vendors with newer ideas, lower costs and speedier turn arounds.

As digital printing came of age, Preferred Direct’s next step was the installation for the HP PageWide Web Press T240 HD. Of its speed and versatility, Kristen says, “It allows us to print on a much larger scale, the color is tremendous, and we can print roll-to-roll on different substrates. When someone comes to us with a need for 100,000 pieces in two days, the HP press makes all the difference.”

Today, with the T240 HD at hand, customers can bring in complete integrated campaigns. With the advent of email, display ads, and SMS, Preferred Direct has watched digital communications grow to 40 percent of their business. But direct mail will remain the heart and soul of their operations.

As Kristen says, “Our evolution into digital marketing happened because we’re always staying on top of technology as it comes to market – always reinvesting in the company and our processes, procedures, and equipment. We believe it’s important to have everything under one roof.


Preferred Direct is an industry-leading commercial print, direct mail and digital communications provider founded by Bill Nee, Sr. in Norfolk, Va. in 1987. Now, 35 years in and in its second generation of family ownership, Preferred Direct is a HITRUST-certified, HIPAA-compliant partner to the healthcare, insurance, finance and other industries nationwide. Learn more at www.preferreddirect.com.

 

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Outsourced Medical Billing – The Top 5 Advantages for Healthcare Providers

Outsourced Medical Billing – The Top 5 Advantages for Healthcare Providers

Outsourced Medical Billing – The Top 5 Advantages for Healthcare Providers

If you don’t send patients their bills in a timely manner, your account receivables will suffer and your collection rates will be very low. It may be time for outsourced medical billing.

Should billing be done in-house or outsourced to a direct billing company? There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Third party billing comes with many advantages. Medical organizations and businesses need cost-effective and efficient ways to collect their hard-earned revenue. Businesses can either outsource medical billing or hire qualified employees to do it in-house. 

Take a look at our blog on the 5 Key Considerations When Choosing a Third-Party Medical Marketing Partner.

Here are the top five advantages of outsourced medical billing:

1. Outsourcing Can Save a Company Money. When billing is outsourced, a company saves money on monthly salaries and benefits for those who would do in-house billing. Flat rates charged by billing companies are generally less than what it would cost to staff an employee to do the same job. Companies who outsource also do not have to purchase or maintain billing software and computer equipment.

2. Outsourcing  Helps a Company Collect More Money and Improves Cash Flow. Billing duties can be slowed and lost in the shuffle of running a business, but billing companies keep billing moving in an efficient way to get money to the medical organization faster. Ultimately, the timely submission of bills increases the influx of cash.

3. Billing Professionals Are Less Likely to Make Errors. Because billing companies have the sole purpose of getting billing correct, they are less likely to make errors. Billing companies are equipped with the knowledge and equipment to ensure that claims and bills are submitted in a thorough, speedy process.  This reduces the amount of denied or rejected claims.

4. Companies/Organizations Can Focus More on Their Patients Leading to Higher Customer Satisfaction. Especially for small medical businesses who cannot hire people to do billing, using front office staff to split their time and efforts between billing and other duties can detract from other areas of their job. Outsourced medical billing improves the office staff’s productivity and can ultimately lead to better customer satisfaction.

5. Adding Advertising Messages to Your Bills Can Encourage Patients to Return and Increase Revenue. When advertising messages are added to bills, using variable data, it is called transpromo marketing. Transpromo marketing is effective because unlike junk mail, people open bills and read them. Medical businesses and organizations can advertise events, vaccines, reminders for preventative treatments or any other relevant messages on bills. Is it flu season? A practice may want to promote coming in for flu shots. Is there a health fair? Advertising on a bill is a good way to get existing customers to be in the knowhow and return to the business.

Whether outsourced medical billing or not depends on multiple factors. Businesses should look at the number of employees, finances, the age of the business and the local labor market. Outsourcing billing can save healthcare businesses and organizations time and money, giving the organization the ability to focus on primary tasks.

Choosing the Right Outsourced Medical Billing Provider

When choosing an outsourced medical billing provider for your organization’s communications, there’s much to consider. Not all print providers have the expertise or equipment to handle the security and volume demands of medical billing.

Below are some key characteristics to look for in your third party provider:

  • direct mail servicesAbility to handle a wide array of variable data printing applications
  • Flexibility in how they can receive your data
  • Experience with billing and postage
  • Compliance with HITRUST and HIPAA
  • Advanced printing technology to ensure the utmost accuracy and print quality
  • Services beyond printing

A medical billing services provider should have all of the technology and measures in place to ensure that your customer data stays safe at all times. For optimal value, also consider if a vendor has the versatility to handle your organization’s diverse needs.

Preferred Direct has years of experience and a stellar reputation in managing variable data and sensitive information to generate invoices and other medical notices, accurately and securely. We guarantee prompt and confidential processing of your information while giving you flexible solutions to accommodate your unique requirements. We can replicate your existing invoice format, give you templates to choose from, or create a custom design to fulfill your vision. You’ll also have several options for submitting your data to us—via our secure FTP site in .xls, .txt, .csv, or .dat formats or send .pgp encrypted files. We can handle printing, folding, inserting, presorting (for postal discounts), and delivering your invoices to the U.S. Post Office. 

When you partner with Preferred Direct, you partner with a data-secure, technology-focused outsourced medical billing provider, dedicated to your goals. Contact us today for an estimate!

Call Preferred Direct toll-free today. 1-833-425-7007

Sources: medicaloffice.about.com, poweryourpractice.com, itservicereviews.com

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Nonprofit Marketing – Print & Digital Tips and Tricks

Nonprofit Marketing – Print & Digital Tips and Tricks

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

 

Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

Print Campaign Ideas for Higher Ed Marketing

Whether you’re looking to recruit new students, engage alumni, or share important updates with faculty and staff, print campaigns are a highly effective medium for higher ed marketing.

Boost Your Political Marketing Campaign with Print

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.

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