The truth: Direct mail is not extinct like dinosaurs! According to recent statistics, (overall volumes are down but targeting is sharper than ever and ROI for direct mail remains strong. In fact, this tried-and-true method for reaching recipients is more immediate and personal than other marketing mediums.

Be Irresistible and SAVE

How can you take direct mail a step further to make it irresistible? Consider these tips:

• Digital wonders. Use techniques to connect customers to a digital world, such as Near Field Communication that fits on a sticker, or Augmented reality (AR) that meshes print with a virtual world. In fact, the global augmented reality market is expected to grow significantly to about 90 billion U.S. dollars by 2020. 
• Watchable. Create a mailer that immerses your recipient with electronics. Paper pockets that house a battery, a shatterproof screen and all necessary wires to control buttons and ta da—you’ve got a commercial embedded in a mailer, a medium that delivers a 100% brand recall rate, according to Starch media research firm. You can also experiment with conductive inks that carry electronic charges that generate noise, lights, or a Bluetooth connection.
• Daring dimensions. Try flipping traditional methods of materials and inks to create a more memorable experience. For example, disappearing inks or color-changing thermochromatic inks are a great way to pique interest. Or adding a 3D pop-up feature can increase response rates significantly, like they did for us in our Spring 2017 Issue of Inside the Envelope & Label.
• Stamp sensations. Applying unique stamps to your mail piece will also capture your audience’s attention. Check out the latest USPS Thermochromatic Stamp celebrating this year’s total eclipse of the sun: https://www.usps.com/stamps/solar-eclipse.htm