Michael Kawula asked:




Direct marketing can allow for immediate business, customer retention and relationship building with your community. Direct mail through postcards, brochures or door hangers works and according to studies over 70% of consumers pay attention to mail sent to their home. Direct mail can be targeted, is measurable and the cost is little. Direct marketing should be part of every marketing budget for the following reasons:

Expect action immediately with DM advertising. Having a good call to action (coupon, expiration date, discounts) will result in the consumer responding immediately. Easily Measurable as you’ll be able to know the cost immediately. Apply some type of unique phone number or coupon code and you can measure the return of your investment based on calls taken or coupons redeemed. Personal connectivity unlike newspaper ads, radio or TV. Consumers can decide when they’ll review their mail on their own time. Ability to target an exact area you’d like to gain attention. Direct Marketing offers you the opportunity to be very selective

The Direct marketing offer and message had better be clear for a higher result to be obtained. Consumers are more likely to read a door hanger, read a brochure or open a piece of mail if the feel connected to it. Over 50% of consumers are reading direct mail for savings. Over 40% of consumers won’t open a piece of mail if the call to action isn’t appealing. This is the top 5 consumer choices for types of advertisements offers:

Coupons & Something Free – Over 70% prefer this Percentage Savings – Over 50% would like to have a discount Grand Opening Message Consumer Advice Customer Loyalty program – Only 15% were interested in this

Once you decide if you’ll be sending brochures, making door hangers, sending coupons or some combination of all here are some reputable companies to choose from:

· Coupon companies Valpak or Money Mailer: When choosing between the two realize that the prices are very negotiable. The larger the number inserts the more negotiable they can be as the fixed cost are covered.

· Brochure, Car Windshield Flyers or Door Hanger Companies: VistaPrint.com or Adeas Printing.com – Both of these companies offer very competitive pricing and for small orders often you just pay for shipping to test.

Direct marketing in summary is an excellent cost effective tool to bring business in immediately. Remember to make the offer attractive, the appearance creative and get personal. The process is easy to start as each of the above will do the work for little cost.

Vistaprint Coupons