Friday 5 September 2014

The Benefits of Personalizing Your Direct Mail Campaign


Personalization is one aspect of direct mail marketing that has consistently demonstrated high return on investment (ROI) and strong retention and conversion rates.  Direct mail campaigns that speak to individuals instead of the masses tend to be more efficacious in their goals. One way to increase personalization of direct mail pieces is to use variable data printing (VDP).
According to Target Marketing Magazine, VDP produces a mass of customized documents via digital print technology. Instead of printing the same message to, companies can use this technology to customize individual messages and designs as they see fit.
“When marketers are able to share specific information with specific individuals…they are able to increase engagement,” Gina Danner, the CEO of Mail Print, told the news source. “Essentially with VDP, marketers make it easier for people to buy.”
Companies have increased access to customized data and information. Marketers are able to acquire mailing lists that not only provide names and addresses, but also more specific and detailed demographic information, such as marital status, income, personal interests and other personal information. Using VDP allows your company to cater to this sensitive data by creating custom copy for a direct mail campaign.
Rather than viewing consumer information as raw data though, the most successful marketers understand that the number one reason for response to direct mail campaigns is emotion. Marketers can turn private data into emotional impulses. Target Marketing Magazine claims that VDP aids marketing executives in creating customized imagery and effective personalization more likely to evoke emotional triggers. These triggers ultimately lead to higher response rates on specific calls to action.
Another aspect of VDP that results in positive response rates is the increased ability to use color and imagery. VDP allows for more widespread and advanced use of customized color, which has been proven to catch consumers’ attention more effectively than black and white printings.
Careful consideration of color use – that is, not simply splashing it across all direct mail pieces – can be an effective way to complement your brand identity and highlight important information. Digital printing capabilities allow for easy customization and printing on demand which speeds up turn around time and increases flexibility in your marketing needs.
Similarly, images can be customized and carefully selected for the specific audience.  For example, one advanced way to use imagery is to handpick select images based on a specific customer’s demographic. A lower-income neighborhood might be less inclined to respond positively if beset by images of affluence and wealth, and vice versa.

Finally, one of the greatest advantages of using variable data printing in your direct mail campaign is the chance for better tracking of response rates. Marketing executives place a huge emphasis on tracking ROI because of the need to bring positive results to their higher ups. Target Marketing Magazine suggests that VDP allows marketers to place unique bar codes and coupon identification numbers on these communications pieces, which would provide an easier and more accurate way of tracking results.

No comments:

Post a Comment