30 Direct Mail Tips

To Help Increase Your Direct Mail Response Rates

  1. Offer something for free with no risk
  2. Use a teaser message on your outer envelope
  3. Use polybags to display attractive literature
  4. Include a "p.s." (postscript) in your letter
  5. Have more than one response method (ie: fax, email, phone etc)
  6. Window envelopes can lower the cost of personalizing your mailing piece
  7. Keep your message simple
  8. Stimulate action by giving your prospect a time limitation on your offer
  9. Mail more than once
  10. Tie in your mailing to current events (ie: cold winter, election year, olympics etc.)
  11. Change the size of your mailing package to create interest
  12. State your guarantee in the strongest possible terms
  13. Check dimensions of your envelope/self mailers to make sure they conform to postage requirements
  14. Include devices such as stickers, die-cuts, perforations
  15. Present outstanding testimonials for impact
  16. Focus on your product’s benefits
  17. List selection is crucial
  18. Try mailing to different job titles
  19. Check postage rates & class regulations
  20. Clean up truncations on your list (IE: Pres., Asso., etc)
  21. Hand sign your letters or have the signature printed in blue ink
  22. Use white space on letters (Less text is better)
  23. Include all your contact info (Phone/Fax/Email)
  24. Make sure the prospects name is spelled correctly
  25. Make it easy for them to respond…Include a postage-paid reply card or return envelope
  26. Use envelopes smaller than 6 1/8 x 9 5/8 to save postage
  27. Use different offers for different target groups
  28. Have your list processed through Canada Post approved Address Correction & Verification
  29. The more personal a mailing piece looks and feels, the more attractive it will be to your audience
  30. Give it to Grant's!