Political consultants consider direct mail to be one of the most cost-effective ways to communicate targeted messages to swing voters. Imagine the possibilities: A letter from a senior group assuring likely voters over 60 that your measure is well-designed and cost-effective. A brochure about youth...
Have we done a project for you? If so, we would love to hear from you. Did we do a good job or are there areas that we can improve? Good or bad we welcome your feedback. Please take a few minutes and let us know, and we will offer you a 10% discount on your next order with Velocity Direct!
When you have a moment, please take a look at the following link.
Velocity Direct LLC is proud to do our part in this great initiative. Mention the 3/50 project when you place an order or quote for a 10% discount off your next order!
Velocity Direct will be hosting a booth at the Lake Erie Crushers game on Sunday August 9th, 2009 at 5:05PM. Please stop by and say hello and enter for a chance to win an iPod Shuffle or a $25 itunes.com gift card. We look forward to seeing you then. For game tickets please check out the following: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/Team.asp Or for additional team information you can visit the Crushers at: http://www.lakeeriecrushers.com/
New Client Offer: For any new accounts opened before August 7th, 2009, we have a gift for you! We have two tickets to this game! Please call 440.835.5552 and ask for Matt Gecik for additional information.
Personal URL’s (PURLs) are websites targeted to a specific individual’s profile, customizing text, graphics, offers, and even interactive elements that are personalized on-the-fly for each individual. Velocity Direct’s new Personal URL campaigns deliver PURLs plus other powerful elements, including data driven variable graphics, dynamic layouts, real-time notification of responses and the ability to integrate seamlessly with direct mail campaigns or e-mail campaigns servicing any of your sales platforms.
The research provided by organizations like the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) show that adding a PURL to e-mail or direct mail campaigns boosts responses, improves information gathering and increases opt-in behaviors. PURLs track overall marketing effectiveness by showing sales teams and executive management the origin of leads and how they are being delivered to sales.
Velocity Direct’s unique Personal URL marketing boosts multi-channel marketing campaigns, helping to break through response barriers and draw out detailed responses from customers, all while gathering metrics for campaign analysis.
Most importantly, our PURL responses help create a personal relationship with each customer, referencing response information to build the relationship. Personal URL marketing strengthens customer communication, and results in high-volume responses for future campaigns by integrating PURL references with direct mail, e-mail, and call campaigns.
Velocity Direct can aid in the creation of a Personal URL campaign for your company that will allow you to design without restrictive design templates or contact forms. Personal URL’s provide design flexibility and adds functionality, including mail list de-duping and address standardization for integration with direct mail, real-time notification of leads, and virtually unlimited data capture from a responder’s interaction with the PURL website.
You can gather responses in real time left by customer’s that visit the site you have set up for them. You can also view in real time any customer that goes to their PURL regardless of whether or not they enter data.
These complex features are delivered at a price that is less than half the rate of similar, but less dynamic solutions in the marketplace. Velocity Direct’s PURL marketing system is designed to fit well within a marketing budget; to enable exploration of new and creative campaigns that achieve effective customer contact and response.
Ask about PURL’s for your business today, and get a jumpstart on the competition for tomorrow!
Political consultants consider direct mail to be one of the most cost-effective ways to communicate targeted messages to swing voters. Imagine the possibilities:
Types of Direct Mail
There are several different types of direct mail to consider.
Persuasion mail does just that – persuades targeted voters, through copy and images, to support your measure. These pieces communicate key messages and urge readers to vote for a measure. A letter from an elected official, a postcard highlighting endorsements, a full-color brochure filled with photos of threatened lands – all of this is persuasion mail.
Persuasion mail is also used to increase absentee ballot voting among targeted groups. Typically, an absentee ballot application is combined with a persuasion piece and sent to likely supporters. Absentee ballots are a good way to lock in votes among likely supporting groups early.
Educational mail, as opposed to persuasion mail, informs voters about a measure without asking them to vote “yes.” This can be an important way for public agencies and foundations to educate voters about a measure.
Direct Mail Production
Here are some things to consider when designing and implementing your direct mail program:
Velocity Direct can help manage your campaign large or small. We have expertise in everything we’ve discussed today. We have vast resources to ensure our relationship takes YOU where you need to go. There’s a reason why Velocity Direct is # 1 when it comes to print & direct mail. Our goal is to help you win the race! Velocity Direct LLC
Source: tpl.org
Non-profits, religious and charity organizations depend on donors for survival. Direct mail and printing in general have been a mainstay of these organizations fundraising plans. The challenge is to reach many different levels of givers based on their amounts. These organizations must be careful in the types of printing they do. If they send something out perceived to be to costly they can turn away the lower end of their givers but if someone donates a great deal of money and receives a mass mailing they can also be offended.
One solution to this has been digital printing where you can do short runs that are more tailored to a smaller segment. You can also print variable data to thank or target high end donors. By doing this, these non profit organizations can still do their mass mailings but then target their smaller circle of larger donors or prospects with a personal touch.
Velocity Direct can help maximize your savings, and we are very used to printing and mailing for non-profits. Please contact us at 440.835.5552 or drop us a note at: info@vcitydirect.com. We would love to help you with your next fund raising initiative. Velocity Direct LLC
Direct mail is more than just a three-legged stool: list, offer and copy. To make it really stable, you need the fourth leg called production.
Direct Mail production which encompasses both printing and mailing services is generally given little attention – sometimes with disastrous results. Most of the focus is on pre-production efforts; so therefore the last steps are rushed and it is wrongly assumed that the final production will go through quickly and efficiently. Too little attention is paid to the smaller, lesser-known details of production.
According to the Direct Marketing Association, almost one-third of the in-home cost of a direct mail campaign is the actual production. And, depending on the format of your package, up to 80% of the production cost can be PRINT production.
While design, strategy, copy, artwork and lists are all no doubt important, it would be foolish to consider the actual physical production as a foregone conclusion. In fact, during my many years in dm production, one maxim stood out — the simplest direct mail campaign requires the greatest care!
Here are 10 important strategies you must follow in order to achieve success with direct mail:
Strategy #1: Use a direct mail designer who is experienced with direct mail production techniques. He or she will save you time and money. It will be the cheapest money you’ll ever spend.
Strategy #2: Use a printer who is experienced with direct mail production techniques. He will be a valuable partner by preventing minor issues from becoming major mistakes.
Strategy #3: It is always advisable to provide artwork in its original design format to the printer. PDF-formatted art allows the printer to make only minimal design changes at his end. Adobe InDesign and Quark Xpress are the two most common design programs.
Strategy #4: An excellent way to avoid costly delays is to take advantage of the expertise of your production vendors prior to the actual production by having them sit in on design sessions.
Strategy #5: Schedule the proper amount of time in your timetable for production. This will allow for the necessary quality control and buffer time to accommodate unexpected delays.
Strategy #6: Select the most appropriate vendor for your job based on your needs and not just your budget. Building a solid relationship with the ideal vendor will ensure that your jobs will not turn into nightmares.
Strategy#7: Be careful what paper stocks you plan to use for your direct mail campaign. They must be compatible for both the imaging equipment as well as the downstream insertion machines. The wrong stock can cause expensive delays and reprints.
Strategy #8: Calculate ‘overs’ into your print order up front. It is a cheap insurance policy to allow for lettershop (mailshop) setup and spoilage as well as the occasional printer under-runs. Above all, refuse to work with any printers who specify an ‘industry policy of 5% over or under.’
Strategy #9: Keep the number of versions of offset-printed stock or laser ’shells’ to a minimum. Increasing the number of versions raises the risk for error during production. Whenever possible, use variable data printing (VDP) or personalization to minimize the number of printed versions.
Strategy #10: You can keep your imaging costs down by pre-printing (offset print) non-personalized areas of your letter. These areas include multiple pages and special techniques such as colored text, underlining, signatures and handwritten notes.
Conclusion:
Success in direct mail is not only dependent on the proper list, copy and offer but also on sound print production strategies. Since a significant part of a direct mail program cost can be print production, it is important that care be taken with even the simplest campaign.
Incorporate as many of these strategies as you can into your direct mail campaigns. The more you incorporate, the less problems you will encounter in getting your mailings successfully into the hands of your target audience. We here at Velocity Direct would love the opportunity to earn your business. Call us or drop us an e-mail and we would be happy to start working on a marketing project tailored to your business! Velocity Direct LLC
On May 11 the price for a 1-ounce First-Class Mail stamp will increase from 42¢ to 44¢. Prices for other mailing services — Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services (including Parcel Post), and Extra Services — will also change. The average increase by class of mail is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
For a complete list, please follow our link to the United States Post Office or feel free to call us at 440.835.5552. We will be happy to assist you with your next mailing project. Velocity Direct LLC
We here at Velocity Direct know that our economy is tough right now. We came across this article and thought you may find it helpful. Ask us how you can economize on your next print or direct mail project. That is what we do best. Velocity Direct LLC
1. Wash and reuse foil wrap.
2. Save ‘junk mail’ reply envelopes for filing recipes, receipts, etc. (we do not like to use the word “junk” but we wanted to maintain the article as it was originally intended).
3. Trade things you don’t want with friends, neighbors, relatives.
4. Restrict family between-meal snacks to inexpensive and healthful in-season fruit and vegetables, home-popped corn, raisins, etc.
5. Become a ‘brown bagger’. Take your lunch to work.
6. Save and reuse plastic sandwich bags and paper lunch bags.
7. Tie soap remnants in a piece of nylon net and use as a body sponge.
8. Crumpled up used aluminum foil is ideal for scouring pots and pans.
9. Paper towels are expensive. Use washable cloth dish towels instead.
10. Wash and reuse transparent plastic wrap.
11. Save empty plastic food containers for storing leftovers & freezer use.
12. Don’t throw away anything. Save everything for a future garage sale.
12. Attend movies early when prices are generally lower.
13. Don’t buy expensive gifts. Give exotic home grown plants or bake a cake.
15. Give yourself a home permanent instead of paying top prices at a salon.
16. Consider cutting your family’s hair yourself.
17. Use plastic bread wrappers and produce bags for freezer use.
18. Use washable cloth handkerchiefs instead of expensive facial tissues.
19. Organize a baby-sitting club with friends & neighbors. Take turns.
20. Think in terms of doing it yourself rather than hiring someone to do it, such as home repairs, painting, garden work, cutting the lawn, etc.
21. Swap services with friends and neighbors who can do things you can’t.
22. Take advantage of free recreation, such as picnic areas, libraries, public tennis courts, swimming areas, parks, zoos, etc.
23. If you’re not going out to shop, leave your credit cards at home.
24. Learn about the many bargains at ‘no frills’ discount stores.
Here is a helpful Glossary of terms taken from the USPS Website. Please be sure to check our useful links for other Postal Information. It can be very helpful. We also would be more than happy to assist you with any questions you have regarding an upcoming project. Velocity Direct LLC
Advance Deposit Account – A debit account into which a mailer deposits funds that are maintained by the USPS and from which postage is later deducted at the time of mailing. (Also called trust account.)
Automation–Compatible Mail – Mail that can be scanned and processed by automated mail processing equipment such as a barcode sorter.
Balloon Price – A price charged for Priority Mail and Parcel Post items that weigh less than 20 pounds and measure more than 84 inches but no more than 108 inches in combined length and girth.
Bulk Mail – The term is generally used to describe presorting mail including Presorted First-Class Mail and Standard Mail.
Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU) - The area of a postal facility where mailers present bulk, presorted, and permit mail for acceptance. The BMEU includes dedicated platform space, office space, and a staging area on the workroom floor.
Carrier Route Presort Mail – Mail sorted by carrier route to qualify for discount postage. The mail requires no primary or secondary distribution. The term is a general descriptor of the available prices for this type of preparation, which includes Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail, carrier route Periodicals, and carrier route Bound Printed Matter. (Also called Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail.)
Destination Entry Discount – A postage discount for depositing mail at specific postal facilities (e.g., delivery unit or bulk mail center) that are closer to the final destination of the mail. )
Dimensional (Dim) Weighting – Postage price for Priority Mail packages, addressed to zones 5-8, that exceed one cubic foot. Based on the higher of two prices: weight; or dimension weight and distance.
Full Letter Tray – A tray filled at least 85% full with faced, upright pieces. Each tray must be physically filled to capacity before the filling of the next tray. A tray with less mail may be prepared only if less–than–full or overflow trays are permitted by the standards for the price claimed. (Also see less–than–full tray and overflow tray.)
Indicia - Imprinted designation on mail that denotes postage payment (e.g., permit imprint).
Known Office of Publication – The business office of a Periodicals publication that is in the city where the original entry for Periodicals mailing privileges is authorized.
Mailing Permit – Permission to mail at bulk (presorted) prices.
Meter Tape – A piece of adhesive paper that is fed through a postage meter and imprinted with postage. The meter tape is then applied to a mailpiece (usually a large envelope or parcel that is too big to fit through the postage meter).
Not Flat-Machinable – Standard Mail pieces not meeting flat-size requirements, are charged higher prices than a flat (large envelope) but lower prices than a parcel.
Nonmachinable Surcharge – A surcharge applied to Parcel Post packages that cannot be sorted on mail processing equipment because of size or weight. These mailpieces must be processed manually. Also First-Class Mail letters that are square, rigid or have one or more nonmachinable characteristic are subject to the nonmachinable surcharge.
Oversized Price - Parcel Post price for pieces exceeding 108 inches but not more than 130 inches in combined length and girth.
Permit Imprint – Printed indicia, instead of an adhesive postage stamp or meter stamp that shows postage prepayment by an authorized mailer.
Postage Meter – A device that can print one or more denominations of postage onto a mailpiece or meter tape. It is available for lease only from designated manufacturers.
Presort - The process by which a mailer prepares mail so that it is sorted to the finest extent required by the standards for the rate claimed. Generally, presort is performed sequentially, from the lowest (finest) level to the highest level, to those destinations specified by standard and is completed at each level before the next level is prepared. Not all presort levels are applicable to all mailings.
Presorted First-Class Mailing - A nonautomation category for a mailing that consists of at least 500 addressed mailpieces and is sorted and prepared according to USPS standards. This mail does not bear a barcode.
Presorted Mail – A form of mail preparation, required to bypass certain postal operations, in which the mailer groups pieces in a mailing by ZIP Code or by carrier route or carrier walk sequence (or other USPS–recommended separation).
Presorted Prices – A discounted price. In exchange for this lower postage price, mailers must sort their mail into containers based on the ZIP Code destinations on the mail.
Sectional Center Facility (SCF) – A postal facility that serves as the processing and distribution center (P&DC) for Post Offices in a designated geographic area as defined by the first three digits of the ZIP Codes of those offices. Some SCFs serve more than one 3–digit ZIP Code range.
Single-Piece – The “undiscounted” or “full” postage price available for individual pieces of Express Mail, First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, and Package Services. Single-piece prices contrast with prices available for presorted mail.
Sort – To separate mail by a scheme or ZIP Code range; to separate and place mail into a carrier case; to distribute mail by piece, package, bundle, sack, or pouch. (Also see primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Sortation – The distribution or separation of mail to route it to its final delivery point. (Also see mail processing.)
Weighted Fee – The fee charged the sender for Standard Mail pieces endorsed “Address Service Requested” or “Forwarding Service Requested” that are returned as undeliverable. The fee equals the single-piece First-Class Mail price (e.g. $0.42, $0.59) x a factor of 2.472, rounded to the next whole cent.
Zoned Rate – A price structure for certain Priority Mail, Periodicals (except nonadvertising portion), and Package Services (Parcel Post and Bound Printed Matter) pieces that is based on weight and distance traveled (or zones crossed).