Welcome to the Dove Direct Print and Marketing Blog. Today's post, "6 Marketing Solutions That Improve Results!" revisits and brings forth a set of solutions that not only improve direct mail response rates and digital marketing initiatives but increases marketing engagement rates overall. Response rates are now top of mind among all other calculations in the marketing world, well before engagements, likes, shares, and other communication metrics. While likes, shares, and engagements continue to register positive, uplifting endpoints, one should note that these types of metrics often fall short of getting the prospect to cross the purchase line. That said, likes, shares, and engagements do matter; however, in the scheme of marketing strategies such as ROI, they fall short of getting the brand to the promised land, where sales results are the final barometer.
Further, what is more, challenging for all marketers in the age of the pandemic, is the ability to deploy marketing collateral that is trustworthy. For example, it's no secret that the official COVID guidance and public policy are undeniably muddled at best and downright confusing, with multiple official reports that don't align with the science. Trust is the central issue of all marketing communication efforts. Now more than ever, as the sales mantra goes, "People buy from whom they like and trust."
In the age of the pandemic, more folks use the internet for search, news, social media, and of course, online purchases. Internet trustworthiness is a considerable concern as more unsubstantiated posts and false information is shared, thus leaving the reader to determine what content is accurate or not. Mail falls under federal guidelines, and as such, can have penalties imposed for sending false information through the US postal system. For example, transactional documents, billing statements, and promotions cannot overstate charges as that would be a federal offense. With this in mind, the following six marketing solutions, when bundled, can lift marketing's ROI.
Quote of the Day: "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." — Walt Disney
Engaging with Marketing Content
Direct mail marketing is heads and tails above email marketing based on each medium's open and read rates. Both the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and the United States Postal Service (USPS) have recent reports that substantiate the data analysis.
In fact, according to the USPS, 98% of people check their physical mail every day. Therefore if you send out direct mail collateral, there is high confidence that prospects will view the marketing message. According to the USPS, the more mail a brand sends from a branding perspective, the more people will know about it.
Solution #1 - Data Management
According to Gartner, by 2022, 35% of large organizations will be sellers or data buyers. Most organizations collect some data, including employees, customers, prospects, vendors, suppliers, etcetera. Data is the bedrock of any enterprise. However, you can't harness data unless you manage that data efficiently for targeted results. Data management, when executed correctly, can deliver a holistic view of your data by providing insights, automation, and analytics, including:
Solution #2 Variable Digital Printing
Digital printing has been with us for more than a decade and will continue to advance for the foreseeable future. Variable Digital Printing, aka Variable Data Printing, aka VDP, has come of age. Digital presses now understand and print data points for custom collateral with distinct text, graphics, and messaging for each recipient. To that end, marketers can customize each message for each recipient with Variable Digital Printing, including such attributes as:
Solution #3 Lettershop & Fulfillment
According to the DMA, 48% of consumers keep direct mail marketing for future reference. This leads one to review the importance of Lettershop & Fulfillment. Lettershop & Fulfillment is the single source to efficiently and effectively manage your projects, with the following offers to cite a few.
Solution #4 Marketing Support
Today's marketing strategies include multi-channel and omnichannel placements. Multi-channel involves utilizing multiple channels to distribute marketing collateral, including social media channels, email marketing, video marketing, website marketing, television, cable networks, outdoor, radio, and podcasts. Omni-channel is similar, except that the strategy focuses on creating a seamless, personalized experience covering all marketing channels and mediums the brand uses. With this in mind, brands should have marketing support that enables them to realize results more efficiently. The support that an integrated solutions provider can extend includes the tools and resources that move a marketing message from creation to destination and have:
Solution #5 Secure Data Lifecycle Management
Securing data has become a significant consideration among brands, individuals, entrepreneurial start-ups, government agencies, and individuals. Gartner reports that by 2025, 90% of all data created in the global data sphere will require some security level, although less than half of the data will be secure. That is why it is of utmost importance for brands to seek vendors that provide a Secure Data Lifecycle Management Solution as part of their solution-based offerings. Aligning information with the resources to support customers' needs should be a 24/7 cycle and offer the following:
Solution #6 MLOCR
MLOCR stands for Multiline Optical-Character Reader. MLOCR is a unique mail sorting machine. MLOCR machines employ optical character recognition (OCR) technology to understand how to route mail via the postal system. MLOCRs capture images on the front of letter-sized mail-pieces and can extract the complete mail address from each piece creating efficiencies.
Brands requiring a higher level of efficiency and professional mail preparation should engage a certified USPS fully automated MLOCR Presort Bureau. The mail solutions available help speed up delivery, lower costs, and help you get the most out of your business communications. Organizations should look to engage vendors that can offer the following solutions:
The Net-Net
When a marketer decides to bundle these six solutions as part of its marketing strategy, the response rates will undoubtedly improve sales and brand equity. It is incumbent upon marketers to look at these solutions and invest in a direct mail marketing medium. In the age of all things digital, direct mail marketing delivers trustworthiness and personalization while providing a lift to any online marketing initiative. Thanks for reading 6 Marketing Solutions That Improve Results!
Let us show you how to improve your document processes to optimize your workflow, reduce your costs, and maximize your organization's printing, letter shop, and mailing capabilities.
Dove Direct has an official USPS certified bureau located within our offices to save you time and money. We can even create a demo file for you. For more information, call Carla Eubanks at 404-629-0122 or email Carla at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Dove Direct, your Atlanta based print and mail solutions provider, offers organizations end-to-end data, printing, and mailing solutions:
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