Are Direct Mail Postcards a Legitimate Marketing Strategy in 2021?

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Direct Mail Postcards|Are Direct Mail Postcards a Legitimate Marketing Strategy in 2021?Just because there are newer methods of marketing does not mean the old tried-and-true methods no longer work. The trick is to do it right. Direct mail postcards can still be a great marketing tool if they are done correctly. This means using the best message, the most eye-catching design, and mailing them to the right demographic. So, if a business owner wants to use direct mail postcards, they should identify their target audience, decide on the most productive message, have them designed and printed by the best printer, and choose the best time to mail them.

Do Some Research First

Don’t go off half-cocked on a mailing campaign. Take the time to learn about direct mail marketing to use it to the best advantage. Yes, direct mail postcards are still a valuable marketing tool if used correctly.

Some tips for postcard mailing marketing include the following.

  • Postcards might be one of only a few pieces of mail in the potential customer’s mailbox. Online and email marketing might involve dozens of marketing messages a day. Computer users can have ads directed to spam folders where they are never looked at.
  • If a person uses a direct mailing company or a list broker, the address list can be tailored to the people and businesses who fit the company’s target audience or potential customers, saving postage and printing costs.
  • Choose a good printing company that will help you design attractive, effective postcards or mailers. You want your promotional material to be eye-catching with an attention-getting message.
  • Before going to the printing company, think about the most effective message to send. It should be short but contain important information about the company, its product or service, and special pricing.
  • Do the research to find the demographic or group of potential customers you are trying to reach. How do you get addresses for potential customers? Using a direct mailing service familiar with your area can be useful.

What Does This Mailing Need to Accomplish?

Every postcard mailing should be well-timed and have a purpose. Is your business new and wanting to introduce itself to the neighborhood? Is a special occasion coming up? Is it time for a big clearance sale? Is your product seasonal? Timing is everything. You want the people getting the direct mail postcard to keep it and use it. A well-designed postcard is sized to carry with you when shopping or to keep handy. If that postcard contains the offer of a discount or other special pricing, it is more likely to be saved and used.

If you have a clearance sale once or twice a year, send out postcards a few weeks in advance to give people notice and get them interested in your sale. Make the postcard design stand out, and make the best deals easy to see. Maybe you remodeled your space or got in a new line of merchandise. This is a good time to send out mailers to let people know what you are now offering. Always have something on the card that encourages people to save it and bring it with them. Special discounts or a prize drawing are always good.

Find out what the customers want and like. Then look at the postcard design and ask:

  • Does it do a good job representing the brand?
  • Does it offer the customer a solution to a problem or need they may have?
  • Do the design and message offer a good call to action? Does it have a compelling reason for the recipient to visit the business?


Deciding who Gets The Mailers

Businesses should not just send thousands of mailers to a whole area. Why waste the printing costs and postage on people who will not be interested in the company product? When a company uses a direct mailing service, they can target the best people for the advertising mailers.

They can sort by age, gender, zip code, income level, neighborhood, and more. In addition, the business should have its own customer list to add to the mailing list. In addition, they may gather information on people’s occupation, whether they rent or own their home, if they are new homeowners, their occupation, and more. One thing online shopping accomplishes for vendors is that, when people shop online, their interests are added to databases for future marketing.

It is like when a person shops for shoes online and then, for a few weeks, they get online ads from shoe companies. Direct mailing services can also use these customer interest lists for their customers. There may be direct mail database lists available for each type of business or service. The main point here is to send direct mail postcards to people most likely to appreciate and use them.

Plan What To Do When People Use the Postcards

When a mailing goes out, have a plan of action for those postcards when they come back to the business. Each postcard should have a call to action like a special offer for a limited time, a discount when the postcard is presented, or a contest that the postcard is the entry to. When people come in carrying their postcards all the company employees should know what to do.

There is nothing more frustrating for a customer than to bring in an offer and have the person behind the counter not know anything about the offer. The time it takes to find a manager and ask what to do is time enough for the potential customer to turn around and leave. Have an employee meeting when the postcards go out, explaining what to do with them as people bring them in. Have an instruction sheet at every check-out counter. If it is a contest, have a box handy for entries to be slipped into.

When people get well-designed postcards that offer them discounts or special deals, they are more likely to keep them. When the postcards are sent to people who can use the company product or service, they will be more effective. A little advance planning always pays off in a marketing campaign.

Combine Marketing Strategies

Combine all the marketing strategies the company uses in a well-organized sales and marketing campaign. Use the same message and the same colors. Bounce one marketing tool off another to multiply the effect. Use online ads to tell people to look for special postcards in the mail. A well-planned ad campaign can increase business and make advertising pay off better.

Investment Mistakes Every Beginner Needs To Avoid

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Investment Mistakes|Investment Mistakes Every Beginner Needs To AvoidEven in the face of the current global pandemic and financial insecurity, the world of investment seems to maintain steady growth, with new investors taking up opportunities to grow their money. Recent studies showed that 15% of stock market investors in the US alone started in 2020. While this is encouraging, investments always come with significant risks. The last thing you want is to jump onto an opportunity with your eyes closed. So, are you thinking about investing for the first time? Here are some mistakes you might want to avoid.

1. Not doing enough research

As mentioned earlier, investments can be risky. While you may not be in control of the market forces, you can minimize the effect of any possible risk by doing your homework before investing. Thankfully, no matter what you want to invest in, you’ll probably find more than enough information online. For example, suppose you’re interested in stock trading. In that case, you will find valuable information from a platform like Kailash Concepts, FX Globe reviews, like feedback left by traders past and present, to help you develop the trading skills you need.

2. Investing before you’re ready

The last thing you want to do is attempt any investment option if you don’t have a solid financial foundation. Most investments take time to yield returns, and you could find yourself in financial discomfort if your returns take too long. The safest thing to do is create a budget considering your monthly expenses, income, etc. It is also best to make an emergency fund covering at least three to six months of your living expenses like rent and utilities.

3. Focusing on short-term goals

The idea that some investment options like trading in stocks can rake in quick bucks makes them very attractive to many first-time investors. While that isn’t a problem, limiting all your investment goals to the near future alone might be a bad idea. Doing this makes it difficult to think about the long-term effects of the investment decisions, which could be pretty damaging to your financial future. Many first-time investors end up making some uninformed and rash decisions to grab steep profits in the shortest possible time.

4. Putting all your eggs in one basket

Diversification is one of the primary keys to responsible investing. Taking the time to diversify your investment portfolio will help minimize your risk in the sense that if one of your investments underperforms, you won’t end up losing everything. On the other hand, if you put all your eggs in one basket, one poor performance could mean losing your entire portfolio and your financial future as a result.

5. Becoming impatient

You don’t want impatience to drive the decisions you make when it comes to investments. As mentioned earlier, most investment options usually take time to produce results, even though it is always possible to strike gold within a short period, depending on your investment choice. However, it is a bad idea to make hasty decisions out of impotence when your returns are not looking encouraging.

Booklet Advertising: Is It Still Effective In 2021?

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StrategyDriven Marketing and Sales Article |Booklet Advertising|Booklet Advertising: Is It Still Effective In 2021? According to a study conducted by Bentley University in the United States, people value printable materials that can be touched. And why not?

After all, digital fatigue can take a toll on anyone’s life. All you would need to feel human again is the sense of touch. In doing so a booklet comes out ever powerful.

Still unsure how?

Let us explain.

You’ve probably read a booklet on more than one occasion without even realizing it. All those catalogs, pamphlets, or training manuals you witness in your daily life are a form of a booklet.

But if your marketing brains are getting ready to reject the traditional idea of integrating a booklet in your communications, then take a pause and rethink your decision.

Integrating this powerful tool can just be the best decision you take for your marketing this year.

This blog post demystifies all the core advantages that a booklet can bring to your organization in 2021.

Why booklet advertising is still an effective communication tool in 2021?

There are a variety of reasons why a booklet that apparently seems to be old school is still a powerful marketing tool. However, to realize the why, you would have to take a few steps back and understand what really is a typical booklet.

Understanding the typical characteristics will enable you to map the scope and power of this marketing tool. More so, it will help you to devise a strategy to design yours according to your unique market requirements.

What is a booklet?

A booklet is actually a little book. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes with 8-40 pages and simple saddle-stitched binding.

Booklets are one of the most effective promotional tools that any company should have. Booklets allow you to provide your customers with eye-catching, relevant, and focused information while properly branding your organization and generating sales.

They are commonly used as brochures, catalogs, rag mags, newsletters, Bluray, and DVD inserts and can be utilized as little tale books, instructional manuals, and recipe books (DVD booklet). Annual reports, for example, are essentially special-purpose booklets.

A booklet is often made up of four or more sheets of letter-size paper folded in half. And the number of pages in a booklet is always divisible by four, for example, eight pages, twelve pages, sixteen pages, and so on. Of course, some of the pages can be left blank.

Benefits of booklet advertising

A booklet is a perfect choice to help grow the company’s business because the booklet states everything related to the company’s products through image assistance.

Here are the reasons why booklet advertising is still considered effective and valuable despite the rising popularity of digital marketing.

1. Immersive interaction

In the age of the internet, we’ve lost the pleasure of touching and interacting with a brand. The amount of data available on the internet is mind-boggling — enough to give anyone a migraine. A booklet, on the other hand, can be read, handed on to colleagues, or kept if it is of excellent quality.

The best part is it has the tactile experience that software products fail to provide.

Having a company’s booklet is much more than just looking up information on the internet. It not only shows that you are a valuable prospect, but it also fosters interaction and attention.

Rather than scouring the web for an individual article or page, you solely need to read the information and possibly store it in the draw. Plus, nothing beats the scent of freshly printed paper – or maybe it’s just us!

2. Simplified audience targeting

When you have your target audience’s exact contact information and address, an advertising booklet is guaranteed to reach them. You can certainly target your prospects online, but even those advertisements may go unnoticed or be disregarded.

You can, however, put your booklet through the door of those you think would become customers, and the potential is infinite.

Consider how many takeaway menus you receive each day, each detailing the restaurants in your area. The tangible marketing is far more memorable, as evidenced by the fact that many of us seek the menu when we don’t feel like cooking.

And as your advertising booklet is tangible, consumers are more likely to remember your brand when they need services related to your marketing.

3. Personalized communications

Booklets have plenty of room to discuss each service or product in a concentrated manner. It helps in the creation of an informative version of your branding by delivering:

  • Your business history to get loyalty
  • Introduction of new services and product
  • Explain existing services and products
  • Relay core ideas

If people find your booklet beneficial, they can forward it to others who might be interested. This helps in the expansion of your company’s reach.

Also, when it comes to digital advertising, there are length and character restrictions. A PPC ad, for example, is limited to 30-30-80 characters (2 headlines up to 30 characters, one description up to 80 characters). A single Facebook image ad can have a headline of up to 25 characters and a description of up to 125 characters, whereas an Instagram ad can have up to 2200 characters, two lines, and up to 30 hashtags.

On the other hand, a booklet allows you more room to discuss your organization, products, and services.

Therefore, choosing a booklet to advertise your product or service is highly effective as there is no length or character limitation.

4. Cost-efficient

Budget is, of course, at the top of everyone’s concern. Online advertising might cost thousands of dollars each month, but advertising booklets, on the other hand, are pretty affordable. And if printed well, it can last a long time.

One of the best aspects of publishing Booklets for advertising purposes is the cost, especially if you order in bulk. The larger your print run, the less you’ll have to pay.

Also, you have a lot of control over the price of your Booklet order. You may easily change the pricing by deciding what you can afford – for example, the number of pages in your booklet, the paper type you want to use, and the product finishes you desire. Customization gives you the ability to make better pricing decisions for your organization.

You can even deliver the booklets by hand or take advantage of bulk postage rates offered by most mailing firms to ensure that your campaign reaches your target audience.

5. Improves Return On Investment (ROI)

Online advertisements do not last long and vanish in a flash. Booklets, on the other hand, being a physical representation of the advertisement, not only stress it but stay for longer. They don’t quickly fade away unless they’re discarded.

6. Improves and retains traffic

Booklets are helpful in capturing the attention of potential clients, especially for small and emerging organizations with limited resources. A booklet designed with the latest graphic design trends is a unique method to catch people’s attention.

An online advertisement is only visible for a few seconds; hence it lacks attention. On the other hand, booklets tend to last longer since clients take them home and keep them for longer.

Booklet advertising is all about the company’s product and service offerings to the customers and enticing them to a visit. It becomes super attractive because it contains little text and a lot of images.

Furthermore, booklets are significantly more effective than digital advertising because they demand the buyers’ whole attention. They encourage the reader to sit and sift through the pages, looking at your products, which is far more effective than simply scrolling through a paid internet advertisement on their smartphone.

If discount coupons or response forms are included, the booklets become even more appealing to potential customers.

7. Improved versatility

Booklets are one of the most versatile tools for informing people about your products or services.

Booklets with product information are frequently displayed at the front of the store or in the waiting area of retail stores and offices with a lot of customer traffic. For example, customers can review booklets on each category of the financial product while waiting in the lobby of banks.

Booklets are also taken to trade exhibitions and presentations by marketers to hand out to potential clients or business partners.

8. Increased business authority

Investing in a proper booklet will establish trust and demonstrate that you value your customers. Furthermore, you can increase your clients’ confidence in your business by including your objectives and goals.

Booklet designs that are professional and eye-catching, along with high-quality printing, lend credibility, authenticity, and respect to a company.

Booklets are so crucial for business promotion, therefore don’t compromise on the printing and design quality. It is worthwhile to invest in good design. A poorly printed booklet can destroy your company’s credibility and value.

A booklet also boosts your company’s authority by demonstrating to customers that you’re a serious organization with regular and reliable business procedures.

9. Effective promotion

Booklets can contain tear-off offers or discounts, making them an effective advertising tool. They can be used for effective promotion, create a time-sensitive offer, or other promotional campaigns. The best part?

It makes the measurement of the efficacy of your campaigns so much easier than the complex digital landscape.

Final thoughts

By looking at the effectiveness of booklet advertising, there remains no reason why you should not try using a booklet as a marketing strategy.

You must have a booklet as a crucial component of your sales funnel to provide more detailed information about what you’re selling or how you’re educating people.

Whether you’re using a booklet for technical specifications, a workplace manual, a product magazine, or something else entirely, you’ll want to make the most of every page to get the most bang for your buck.

To make the most of the booklet, make sure your booklet catches the reader’s attention, entertains them, piques their interest in the offered product or service, and finally prompts them to take a specific action.

It is necessary to have a descriptive and appealing brochure that will stay in people’s minds.

Let us know in the Comments section below what are your thoughts on booklet advertising.

About the Author

StrategyDriven Expert Contributor|Atreyee ChowdhuryAtreyee Chowdhury works full-time as an Instructional Designer and is passionate about writing. She has helped many small and medium-scale businesses achieve their content marketing goals with her carefully crafted and compelling content. She lives in Bangalore, India with her husband and parents. She loves to read, experiment with different cuisines, travel, and explore the latest content marketing and L&D trends in her free time. You can reach her on Linkedin or write to her at [email protected] for any content writing/marketing requirements.

What You Need To Run a Successful Marketing Campaign In Business

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StrategyDriven Online Marketing and Website Development Article |Successful Marketing Campaign|What You Need To Run a Successful Marketing Campaign In BusinessSetting up and establishing your business is just one aspect of running a successful marketing campaign, when you are a business owner. Maintaining it so that you are continually successful is also necessary. You need to be able to run an efficient promotional campaign to keep your business afloat. So here are some areas in which you can use to boost your business brand.

Strong Online Presence

When a customer wants to do a quick internet search, they will type in keywords that relate to the topic or industry in which they are seeking. Google is prolific in this search as it is one of the key online search engines in which customers will use to find out more information. Therefore as an independent business you want to be at the forefront and ahead of your competitors.

Utilising the best SEO agency is a good way to get ahead of the game and ensure that your business brand is the one that clients find. The higher up the search engine list you are, the more likely a consumer will click on your business website link. With the help of the SEO experts they will endeavour to make a positive difference to your online presence.

Prominent on Social Media

Social media marketing has grown in popularity, particularly within the last ten years. If your business is not visible on at least one social media platform then it is certainly going to harm your business success. Practically everyone has a smartphone now and various social media platforms in which they are members. So in their free time they have the opportunity to scroll through these websites and are drawn to those that provide vibrant and memorable promotional campaigns.

Using social media as a marketing tool is an effective way to draw in your target audience with keywords and enticing offers. You can effectively use a social media platform as a great base to communicate with your chosen market and ensure they are aware of your business brand and ethos. With the ability to connect to such an extensive worldwide audience online, you would be foolish not to want to be present on social media.

Excellent Customer Service

Again, with a quick online search, consumers are able to detect whether your business has featured favourably amongst other clients. With many websites linking directly to Google Maps, consumers are able to write a quick review about your customer service skills and the products or services that you offer.

If you are not on top of your customer queries this can certainly work against you. All it takes is one disgruntled client to write a negative review about your business which could then influence others not to do business with you, or purchase a product. In order to prevent such a scenario you need to be efficient with providing the best customer service you can possibly provide.

Tips that will Help you with your Small Business Finances

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StrategyDriven Managing Your Finances Article |Small Business Finances|Tips that will Help you with your Small Business FinancesIt’s very easy to feel incredibly overwhelmed when you are trying to manage a small company. If you want to simplify the process or if you want to make your small business management, feel easier then this is the guide for you.

Automate your Operation

Time is money, and this could not be more true when you are trying to run a business. This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of time to be dealing with all of your day to day operations. You can make every single minute count by simply trying to take advantage of automation. This will help you to increase your efficiency and it will also help you to be more productive. You can use apps and you can also use programs to record timesheets. This will help you to track your inventory and it will also help you to map out anything that might be urgent. Keeping track of all the information that your business has to work with might take forever but if you can automate things then this will make it much easier. If you want to help yourself when it comes to finances, then check out these tips for accountants.

Keep up with Tech

In this day and age, customers and clients expect companies to embrace tech. If you can embrace tech, then this will help you to make your customer experience better and it will also help to make it faster as well. Everyone carries smartphones in this day and age as it helps people to connect with companies in a way that is convenient. If you are running a salon, then make it easy for your customers to book appointments online. They will be happy for the convenience that you can offer, and you may even find that appointments quickly book up as well. If you are running a yoga studio, why not think about offering your customers heart rate monitors so that they can use them while they work out? Things like this can further your customer service and their perception of your company.

Delegate

Small business management isn’t just about you and your company. It’s about managing your team as efficiently as you can. This is your business at the end of the day, and it is understandable that you might not want anyone else to be part of it. That being said, knowing when to delegate can save you time, energy and headaches. If you have a team of regular employees, then you can easily train them how to do things your way until they are truly ready to take responsibility on their own.

If you have regular employees, then you need to train them until they are ready to take responsibility for the parts of their business. If you don’t then you may want to hire a freelancer instead. They can take care of projects that may require labor or even expertise that you probably don’t have, so keep that in mind if possible.