1-800-706-MAILcmcmail@swbell.net
sitemap Home - Contact Us
| About Us | Our Services | Postal Rates | Indicia | Helpful Tips | Directions | Contact Us | Download/Upload List | In The News |
| In the News | ||
 Back to 3rd Qtr News
Mail with 'Cents'abilty July 2004 While we'd all like to have plenty of marketing and advertising dollars, the reality is there is seldom enough time and money to go around. Projects get downsized, put off or cut altogether. After more than 50 years in the business, we've learned a few things to help our clients trim mailing costs. Remember these tips for cost sensible direct mail. Start building your own database today. People who already use your services, or have expressed interest in the past are those most likely to buy. Renting lists for new names is great. But supply your own list of buyers and prospects as well. They are your best avenue for high response rates. Design postal-friendly mail. Mail that is too square or brightly colored may be great eye-candy, but will end up costing you a bundle in postage with a number of surcharges and lost automation discounts. The options for postal-friendly mail are endless. The key is to find an appropriate size and shape for your project and let a professional mailer help you with the specifics. Check with your mailing representative before you print to make sure your pieces fit within postal regulations to ensure cost sensibility. (Editors note: Consolidated Mailing has USPS Certified Mailpiece Quality Control Specialists at your service to ensure well-designed mail that is cost-effective and appealing.) Partner up. A coffee shop teams up with a neighboring bakery to increase breakfast traffic. Designing a mailing with area merchants or other businesses in your shopping district helps build traffic for the entire area and helps defer costs. Are there other businesses that could benefit from your direct mail? You may want to put together a partner mailing and get the same coverage for less. Or try teaming up with a complimentary business to offer an even better deal. Make use of merchant cooperative allowances. If you sell merchandise from a major manufacturer, they may offer "co-op allowances". These allowances are usually a percentage of the total amount of purchases. The manufacturer puts this money aside to help you market your business and their products. Talk to your local distributor to see if your business qualifies for cooperative advertising. Track yor marketing efforts. This point can't be mentioned enough. The best way to spend your money effectively is to know what works best. Test different offers or a different audience to see what gives you the highest return on investment. The only way to know your marketing dollars are being put to good use is to track the results. Try adding a code to your direct mail piece, or direct readers to a specific web page or phone number to effectively track your success. |
||
