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7 Powerful Postcard Direct Mail Ideas We Love

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Postcards are a practical, versatile medium to send in your direct mail campaign. According to the Data & Marketing Association, postcards get a response rate of up to 4.25%, one of the highest in direct mail marketing. Take advantage of this marketing method with seven postcard direct mail ideas we love!  1. Switch up the norm Although standard postcards are 4.25” by 5.5”, usually in a horizontal position, not all postcards are designed this way.  Try switching it up with a larger postcard format with dimensions of 5.5” by 8.5” or change the orientation by sending a vertical postcard. These designs that deviate from the norm will stand out from the crowd and make the recipient take a second look.  2. Make bold designs With bright colors and attention-grabbing images, your postcard will speak for itself.  Be bold in your design choices. The design significantly influences how long a piece stays in a home. Of course, adhere to your branding guide so the final design st

3 Top Tips to Get Inside the Mind of Your Customers

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Don't you wish you could read minds? That would make marketing so much easier.  But it's not possible, or is it? There are some legitimate ways you can get inside the minds of current and potential customers. Take a look at the top three ways to do this.   3 Top Tips to Get Inside the Mind of Customers 1. Talk to Your Customer Service Representatives Customer service staff have the inside scoop into what customers want and need. Interview them to find out what customers are calling about, what issues need to be resolved, and what products are the most popular.   Here are some sample questions to ask your customer-service employees. What expectations and disappointments did customers express? What improvements did customers want? What value were customers hoping to find, and what price were they willing to pay? 2. Analyze the Data  You probably have spreadsheets of data and information on your customers' buying habits. Take a look at these carefully

How to Do a Direct Mail Marketing Campaign on a Budget

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Even with a tight budget, you can still run a direct mail marketing campaign with a great return on investment (ROI). If you focus your campaign, design the mail well, and perfect your mailing list, investing in direct mail can be a wise choice for your company's budget. Here are five steps to ensure your direct mail is effective while sticking to an affordable budget.  Step 1: Choose the right product or promotion to market It's best to start crafting your marketing campaign with a specific goal. Your company can use direct mail marketing for advertising a new product, a popular service, or even an update or improvement that you've made.  Promoting something specific that will interest most of the public is wisest. Considering this will help your marketing dollars further increase the likelihood of people taking action after seeing your print marketing materials.  Step 2: Refine your target audience 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase after seeing

Coated vs. Uncoated Paper Stock: Which is Best for Your Project?

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Paper comes in all kinds of forms. Knowing the different variations of paper and when to use each will help you choose the right type for your print projects.  One major decision is choosing between coated or uncoated paper.  Coated Coated paper typically receives a fine clay or polymer coating, which seals the paper, restricting ink absorption and reducing dot gain. Dot gain makes the printed material look darker than intended because of ink absorption. All this gives your finished printed products a crisp, clean look.   Coated paper tends to be great for projects that include images and color, which means it's great for photographs, magazines, and catalogs. One thing to note, however, is that coated paper tends to be harder to write on. Below are a few of the subcategories of coated paper. Gloss A gloss coating is going to have a higher sheen and is lightweight. It also tends to be cheaper than other finishes while having vibrant colors.  Satin and Dull Sat

5 Main Differences Between Print and Online Graphic Design

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Graphic design is critical in making marketing effective. But, unfortunately, you can't just take one well-designed piece and transfer it to another form of advertising. It just doesn't work that way. Graphic designers are trained to know how to design for the two forms. Here's a glimpse of what they know…just in case you want to try it yourself.  5 Main Differences Between Print and Online Graphic Design 1. Print is tactile When you think of print, you think of a more tactile experience, such as texture, smell, and shape. This lends itself to a different experience than online. When printing materials, you might try letterpress, embossing, or debossing, which reaches out to one's senses in another way than online.  2. Web is flexible For print, all information must be presented within the constraints of the printing surface, whereas designers have almost unlimited flexibility to organize, arrange, and filter information for the web . However, using di

How SEO and Print Work Together (Plus 3 Ways to Improve Your Site's Ranking)

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The purpose of search engine optimization (SEO) is to get your website to the top of Google’s search engine.  The higher up your business is, the easier it will be for potential clients to find you. This is especially beneficial given that 68% of online experiences start with search engines.  Many factors impact SEO ranking, such as Bounce rate is when visitors leave a webpage without taking any action—the lower the bounce rate, the better. Dwell time is how long visitors stay on the page. The longer, the better. Traffic is how much activity the page has. The more steady traffic, the better.  Knowing what impacts your website’s SEO rankings can help boost your website.  How SEO and Print Work Together Print marketing can help improve your website’s SEO ranking by driving people to your website.  One convenient, powerful way to accomplish this is through QR codes. QR codes provide an easy way to drive people from paper to online. QR codes can be added to…  Business

Stand Out From the Crowd With Textured Business Cards

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Business cards are a convenient 3.5" x 2" way to share your business with prospective clients.  However, with about  10 billion business cards being printed annually, finding ways to make your business card stand out is essential. The texture of your business card can add character, convey meaning, and make you memorable.  Everything You Need to Know About Textured Business Cards Finishes That Add Texture The finish you choose for your business card not only makes it look more polished but also adds texture, creating another dimension to your business card. Two of our favorite finishes are:  Matte . A matte finish is smooth, giving it an expensive appearance. It enables you to write on the card, making it helpful if someone has a personal inquiry that requires more information than can be found on the business card. However, if you want a colorful card, matte can make colors seem duller.  Glossy . A glossy finish gives the card a shiny look and increases its lo