MailWays

IN THIS ISSUE

• Only the Facts
• Boost Response
• Smart Mailing Tips
• Choose the Best Mailing Lists
• Press Box
• Our Favorite Charities
• How Are We Doing?
• Hold That Thought

The Press Box

Find out what's new at:

Long Island Center for Business & Professional Women

Bi-County Mailing

Focus Express Mail Pharmacy

Go to www.americanmail.com & www.bicountymailing.com

Click on “Our Favorite Charities”...
It's our way of supporting good people
who do good things.
Every little bit helps.

Please visit their sites.
They could use your support!

How are we doing?

Check out our clients' testimonials on www.americanmail.com
About Us - What Clients Are Saying About Us page. We've included their company logos, as well as links to their websites when possible.

If you're a client, and would like to be listed on our testimonial page with your logo and a link to your website, tell us how we've helped you improve your business, email

greg@americanmail.com

HOLD THAT THOUGHT...

"A sharp tongue can cut my own throat"

Anonymous

Take a Look at the Real
“Do-Not-Mail” Facts

In the face of the recent groundswell to pass “do-not-mail” legislation, here are some facts that should be considered:

• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), direct mail represents only 2.4% in weight of the total municipal solid waste generated in the country annually.

• The EPA also reports that in 2006, 53.4% of paper consumed in this country was recovered for recycling.

• A report from The Society of American Forests states that the amount of forestland in the U.S. has remained relatively stable for the past 100 years due to improvements in markets for forest products and reforestation efforts.

In 2006, according to the United States Postal Service, $6 billion dollars was spent on direct mail marketing — about 20% of all ad expenditures. According to USPS spokeswoman Joanne Veto, “They made that investment because mail works. It’s an effective way to reach consumers.”

For more direct mail facts, click here

10 Ways to Boost Response to Direct Mail

• Increase the number of mailings to your customers.

• Enclose a thank you note with each order, as well as another merchandise offer.

• Use a colored window in your envelope to make it stand out more.

• Highlight a message on the outside of your envelope to dramatize an important point such as “Respond within 2 weeks and save 20%.”

• Vary your mailing formats to generate interest: use postcards, brochures, personalized letters, etc.

• Generate off-season business by asking for it: If you normally have a winter slump, run a “winter sale.”

• Test the use of colorful letterheads against traditional stationery.

• Make better use of your mailing lists by mailing more to repeat customers and forgetting about the others.

• State your guarantee on your envelope in the strongest terms.

• Follow-up prospects’ inquiries promptly.

For more direct mail tips, click here

Don’t Let Postal Changes
Keep You from Smart Mailing

• The recent changes in USPS regulations can be daunting. Here’s what you can do to boost the effectiveness of your direct mail marketing programs:

• Update your house list. When you mail a piece, include “Return Service Requested” in order to get undeliverable mail back.

• Use NCOA. Have your list checked against the National Change of Address database to obtain current addresses.

• Marry direct mail to other marketing strategies. Underscore your direct mail campaign with email blasts to prospects and clients.

• Target, Target, Target. The more information you have about your audience, the greater the chance of sending the right information to the right people at the right time. It’s a waste of time and money to market toddler toys to households with teenagers.

• Give recipients enough time to respond to your offer. Deadlines can be effective motivators, but an unreasonable deadline can turn people off.

• Make your message relevant. Design a campaign with a specific message that helps your readers solve a problem.

• Craft a CRM system for long-term gain. Be proactive. Contact your clients and prospects regularly with information to help them run their businesses and offers they can’t refuse.

For more business tips click here.

Tips for Choosing the Best Mailing Lists

What good is your direct mail piece, if it doesn’t go to the right audience? Here are some things to consider when selecting a mailing list:

• Before you do anything, create a profile of your recipient, consider what you’re going to use the list for and for how long you want to use it.

• Business lists usually cost more than consumer lists.

• The more criteria you use to target the list, the higher the price.

• Make sure the list is fresh and has been updated according to USPS standards. The older the list, the greater the chance for errors and undeliverable mail.

• Determine when the list was last used.

• Ask who used the list last.

Check carefully to be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.

For more direct mail tips, click here