Mailshot

[Chrisoldskool]

HI,

We are looking at "mailshotting" around 3000 potential customers, and will be a standard letter/envelope, this will most probably be a one off item for us, just looking for any input on the most cost effective way of doing it, I have made a few inquiries today regarding a franking machine as in my head this would be the cheaper option after a brief look on google.

Any help will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

Chris

[Dr Interceptor]

Royal Mail.... http://www.royalmailtechnical.com/calculator/calcu...

Prices are coming out around £0.38 inc VAT using that for 2nd class, and no franking machine contract/ink costs...

Not sure how it works though if you proceed with it?

[skilly1]

Have a look at imail. You upload the address and the letter and it will auto fill the relevant bits. It will then, print, pack and post the letter for you for 38p plus VAT, or 42p in colour

Its brilliant !

https://www.imail.co.uk/save_on_postage/prices.asp...

[E36GUY]

Probably cheaper to use an email mailshot using Mailchimp or somesuch if you have the addresses. This way you actually get some data back on who has read, forwarded, number of views etc. More powerful than physical mail in terms of feedback. If you see that a potential client has looked at a mail on many occasions and maybe passed it along then that's a great opportunity to call them and follow up.

[Spoonman]

As E36GUY said, email marketing is cost-effective, and Mailchimp very easy to use. If you buy Mailchimp credits (rather than using the free service) it looks more professional, and doesn't cost much.

If you want to do the mailshot old-school, include various-sized bits of paper/promo materials, along with a letter (signed by hand); stuff it into an envelope hand-written in blue ink with a proper stamp stuck on. It's what we did in the olden days but still gives (cost-effective) results now.

[Dr Interceptor]

Spoonman said:

If you want to do the mailshot old-school, include various-sized bits of paper/promo materials, along with a letter (signed by hand); stuff it into an envelope hand-written in blue ink with a proper stamp stuck on. It's what we did in the olden days but still gives (cost-effective) results now.

I would imagine that is more effective than the automated same size paper in a printed envelope campaign that in most cases will hit the bin before being opened.

[Spoonman]

Dr Interceptor said:

I would imagine that is more effective than the automated same size paper in a printed envelope campaign that in most cases will hit the bin before being opened.

Indeed it is. Which is why, come election time, you'll often receive hand-written correspondence (well, hand-written envelopes) from your prospective MP. Most likely it'll be in blue ink, written by a (reasonably) well-educated female (so, not your prospective MP...).

You can, of course, print your envelopes' addresses in a handwriting font, but that's cheating.

(I trained as a direct mail copywriter in the early '90s under a boss who previously worked for Reader's Digest; I actually miss the good old days of junk mail and its creative uselessness.)

[Dr Interceptor]

I'll always open a hand written envelope - looks like a cheque!!

[skilly1]

The quantity of direct mail has dropped dramaticaly, so your chances of someone opening it and reading it have to be far better than email.

[Mr Overheads]

skilly1 said:

Have a look at imail. You upload the address and the letter and it will auto fill the relevant bits. It will then, print, pack and post the letter for you for 38p plus VAT, or 42p in colour

Its brilliant !

https://www.imail.co.uk/save_on_postage/prices.asp...

This will work out far cheaper, by time you factor in cost of the paper, ink, envelope, stuffing labour plus the postage, 38p is a bargain.

[Stephanie Plum]

Last time I checked the stats unsolicited emails achieve only an 11% open rate. If it makes it through the spam filter, give serious attention to the subject line as it's easy for the recipient to just hit delete.

I quite like postcards - a good message has the most chance of hitting home if someone doesn't have to get past an envelope.

[Spoonman]

Mr Overheads said:

This will work out far cheaper, by time you factor in cost of the paper, ink, envelope, stuffing labour plus the postage, 38p is a bargain.

Cheaper, yes. But it doesn't take many sales to make paper, ink, envelope etc more cost-effective.