What is Saturation Mail and how it can save you money:

by mariruth.kennedy@gmail.com
April 23, 2012 09:25

Saturation is the strategy of flooding a zip code with your direct mail marketing. This works especially well for local businesses, or national businesses that know they have something special to offer to a particular geographic zone. For example, a maid service will limit itself to homes within a certain distance, or an insurance company may blanket an area with a history of natural disasters. When this strategy is executed wisely it is an incredibly effective means of reaching the greatest number of potential customers with minimal effort and at a reasonable price.

Saturation versus targeted mailing – Targeted mailing is simply the process of ensuring that your direct mail marketing hits a specific demographic or other group. For example, if you sell video games, you may want to target homes with teenagers, rather than seniors who are less likely to play video games. If you spend money on a great looking postcard, you want to be sure that you target only those customers that are likely to respond. On the other hand, a pizza place that has printed menus will be better served doing a saturation mailing to all homes in the town where they are located. Saturation is a very specific strategy of targeting that ‘targets’ an entire zip code. This is helpful if you believe your service or product could be used by the majority of residents in a geographic area.

Pre-sorting for mailing routes – The important thing about saturation is that when you drop off your direct mail marketing to be processed at the Post Office you are required to pre-sort it in the order of the mail carrier’s route. By doing this pre-sort, you will save money on postage because the post office provides discounts because you have made their job easier. Thankfully, there are companies that collect and sell carrier route information for saturation mailing. If you are going to print postcards or flyers, consider using an on-line printer such as Conquest Graphics that can help with both the printing and the mailing. This will help you save money and make life easier by using an expert on both aspects of print marketing and direct mailing.

Maintain updated mailing lists – All forms of targeting require research to make sure that you’re hitting the desired market, and this is also true for saturation. While some businesses overlook this fact, the reality is that many geographic areas change over time. Zip codes are viewed too often as static groupings for targeting, but they can shift as well. If your business targets a zip code when the income level is at a certain average, and that average drops over the course of a decade, it’s important to track those statistics so that you aren’t flooding homes with a product or service they can’t reasonably afford.

Make sure your paperwork is in order – It is important for you to verify any required permits for your area. Some shippers require bulk permits, some have one specifically for saturation, and there are often others still—especially if you want to benefit from discounts. If you do not do mailings frequently, it is often easier to work through a company that can handle the paperwork for you. Conquest Graphics is one company that can help you navigate the confusing world of the postal service. Or, if you want to do mailings frequently, you can visit the USPS on-line or in person to inquire about bulk mail permits and the paperwork associated with targeted or saturation mailings.

For more information and resources for all of your printing and mailing needs, please visit www.conquestgraphics.com

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Tags: advertising, cheap printing, direct mail marketing, direct mail printing, marketing tips, print marketing, printing flyers, saturation mailing

Direct Mail | flyers | Marketing | Post cards | Printing

Print Marketing Trends for Non-Profit Organizations

by mariruth.kennedy@gmail.com
April 18, 2012 11:11

Printed marketing materials and direct mail are great ways to grow new donors for Non-Profit Organizations. There are several non-profit marketing trends but direct mail that drives customers to make donations to your website is always a good option. Dual channel communication, or advertising that hits customers both electronically and through traditional paper printing, is very important to use in modern marketing.

1. Build mutually rewarding relationships with donors – Cross promotion is an important strategy for profit and non-profit businesses and organizations alike. Whether it’s a dog shelter pairing with a pet store, or a women’s rights organization pairing with a hospital, you can draw more attention to your cause with the increased visibility of building mutually rewarding relationships. Additionally, the other partner may be a sponsored donor, which makes it even more beneficial to work together. By displaying signage, posting business cards, and spreading brochures and leaflets, you can do more with paper printing than just direct mail marketing.

2. Charity discounts – Several organizations, including the USPS, still offer charity discounts for non-profit groups in order to save them part of their cost. This is a perk that is offered generally upon proof of official “non-profit” designation. Some on-line print companies, such as Conquest Graphics, also offer cost savings for non-profit organizations. Always ask your vendors if they offer a discount or shop around for those that do help charitable groups.

3. Quarterly newsletters – Many non-profit organizations are trending toward moving their newsletters back from monthly mailings to quarterly mailings; this is in response to a lot of feedback from donors about their preferences for solicitation. Not only do businesses save money by mailing less frequently, but their direct mail marketing is much better received.

4. Streamlining traditional with digital – If your non-profit is looking for an opportunity to help the environment you can merge your digital advertising with direct mail marketing instead of switching completely to digital. This method of dual channel communication can allow you to use green printing on the traditional side of it. This sustainable method of paper advertising is competitively priced through online printers such as Conquest Graphics and also helpful for the environment.

5. Address labels – One of the most popular trends in non-profit direct mail marketing is the addition of bonuses like free address labels and calendars. If a donor sends money to a children’s fund or a church group they will often receive a ‘thank you’ piece of mail with some type of goody inside—often personalized with their name. When donors see their personal information attached to these bonuses it reinforces the belief that their individual contribution was special and made a difference.

There are many popular trends for non-profit organizations to revolutionize their direct mail marketing. By modifying mail schedules, being responsive to donor feedback, emphasizing cross-promotion, and adding print bonuses, it is possible to be both environmentally friendly and smart with your advertising budget. The good thing about non-profits is that your customers often are previous donors with a fondness for your cause; this makes it even easier to reach them.

For more information and resources for all of your printing and mailing needs, please visit http://www.conquestgraphics.com/

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Tags: advertising, charity printing, direct mail marketing, direct mail printing, print marketing, printed materials, print for non-profit organizations

Direct Mail | flyers | Marketing | Printing

Flyer Printing-The ABC's (Appeal, Balance, Color)

by mariruth.kennedy@gmail.com
January 11, 2012 09:13

The purpose of printing a flyer is to provide basic information about a public event, a new business, a concert, a neighborhood gathering, or any other occasion where the public needs to be informed quickly and inexpensively.

Here are five great ideas which will ensure that people pay close attention to your flyer when they see it.

1. Be provocative.

Sometimes people will read your flyer just out of curiosity. They don’t understand why you would ask such an odd question, and so they will read it just to find out.

One of the most successful advertising campaigns in history was conducted by Volkswagen. They put a picture of a VW "bug" in the picture and just the word Lemon underneath. Why would a car manufacturer call its own product a lemon? You had to read the fine print to find out!

2. Use imagery and language which aren’t clichéd.

Too many advertisers use puppies and small kids as images to sell their products. A lot of advertisers use attractive people exclusively. Those images work in some markets, but are dismissed in others. In any event, make sure that your image matches your product so people are not confused.

3. Use colors in interesting ways.

It isn’t necessary to color your entire flyer. It isn’t even necessary to color it at all. A small, bright red image against a grey background can be far more attention-getting than a fully-colored flyer.

4. Imbalance is a variation of balance.

Large image, small text. Large text, small image. Emphasize the elements of your message which give your message the most impact. There’s no rule that says that all the elements have to take up the same amount of space. There are many successful advertisements which are ninety-percent white space. The goal is first and foremost to pull the reader in, to make him pay attention.

5. Make sure your font is right.

Some fonts scream "formal", and that may contradict your informal message. Some are too offbeat. Some are just too hard to read. Make sure your font doesn’t get in the way of your message.

At Conquest Graphics, we can help you print a flyer that is great looking at a great price. We’ve got decades of experience in helping customers put together attractive and attention-getting flyers, and a money back guarantee.

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Tags: flyer printing, printing flyers, designing, marketing tips, cheap printing, quality printing

Design | flyers | Marketing | Printing | Tips

Print Marketing in 2012: Is Print Dead or Alive?

by mariruth.kennedy@gmail.com
January 5, 2012 15:54

Print Marketing is alive and well. Contrary to the popular belief that the internet has killed off the print industry, print marketing is either holding steady or showing a slight increase depending on recent industry reports.

1) Print-2-Click Marketing: Whether you are printing business cards, flyers or catalogs, make sure that you include your web address and a QR code to drive readers to your website. Even if your primary goal is to have a consumer come to your retail location or call to set an

appointment, remember that many people use the internet to get more information before taking action. Make it easy to find you by using print to deliver your web address. Include your facebook and twitter addresses too.

2) Targeted Mailings: Your first step is to consider your best customer, and then you can use targeted mailings to only those households that are most likely to respond. If you are a veterinarian, sending postcards to households without pets isn’t going bring you any new business. But there are lists today that can help you isolate your best prospects and eliminate the added expense of mailing to homes that will not react to your offer. Postcard mailings can give you a great return on your investment if you are smart on who you target.

3) Print Flyers: For smaller businesses, printed flyers are still one of the most economical ways to get the message out about your company. Lowcost flyers can be distributed in a variety of ways. If you are a sporting good company, handing out flyers at the local soccer field can be a great way to gain attention. Make sure the piece is attractive, easy to read and has an offer that gives the reader a reason to respond.

Small businesses need to remember that their print materials and web design need to work together from a branding standpoint. Using the same color scheme, pictures and typeface on both print products and the internet helps you to build better brand awareness. Maintain a consistent image that helps people remember your company the next time they go shopping. Well-designed marketing materials do not cost as much as many think they do.

The reality is that you can get nice looking pieces created at affordable prices. Print has gotten more cost-effective due to new technology such as print on demand. Check with on-line print company Conquest Graphics to get a price on your next print project – you will likely be surprised at how inexpensive print can be these days.

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Tags: marketing 2012, flyers, brochures

Brochures | flyers | Printing

Flyer, Brochure or Catalog – What Works Best?

by mariruth.kennedy@gmail.com
January 3, 2012 14:47

The flyer, the brochure, and the catalog are three of the most commonly used types of printed materials for marketing. But you have to understand what their capabilities, costs, and limitations are before getting started. You wouldn’t use a screwdriver for a job that requires a hammer, and you wouldn’t use a catalog where a flyer will do the job.

First, think about what you are trying to accomplish and who you are trying to reach. Do you own a pizza restaurant and need to reach the closest hundred homes in the area? Or do you own a clothing store that sells everything from footwear to ball gowns? Make sure you have a plan on what to promote and who your audience is likely to be, before you decide on the print vehicle.

· Let’s start with the flyer. It’s the least expensive and the simplest to produce. A flyer is sheet of paper and is usually sized as either 8.5 x 11” or 8.5 x 5.5.” Flyers are usually distributed in large quantities – they can be inserted into a newspaper, placed on car windows or handed out at an event. They cost only pennies per piece but offer limited space to promote your store, product or service. Flyers are meant to get attention but are not likely to have much shelf-life (people will look at them and then discard them within a short period). These are often printed on light weight paper stock to keep costs low.

· A brochure is usually printed on a heavier paper stock that is meant to last. A brochure is distributed in a much more selective manner: it may be handed out personally as a follow up to a lecture or sales presentation, or it may be mailed to interested customers who requested specific information. It is assumed that the people who receive or pick up the brochure are genuinely interested in the topic. Most brochures are printed on 8.5 x 11” letter size paper and folded down to fit into an envelope or be placed in a rack. These are called “tri-folds.” Of course, there are many other sizes available and brochures can have multiple pages or different folds. So the pricing will vary accordingly.

· Catalogs are most often used by a store or manufacturer that has many items that they need to display. Catalogs can run from a handful of pages to a hundreds of pages. They can be distributed in a variety of ways including insertion into a newspaper, sent through the mail or handed out in-store. Catalogs can be printed on light news-stock or a heavy gloss paper so the pricing will range widely depending on the size, total pages, type of paper and the binding method.

If you questions about which product to use and how to lay out the design, it is recommended that you contact a quality print shop like Conquest Graphics that can offer you some professional advice.

Some printers specialize in just certain types of projects and others have the equipment in-house to accomplish everything from business cards to multipage catalogs. Your pricing will usually be better if you work with a print house that has the capabilities to do the entire project at their plant (such as Conquest Graphics). If a print shop needs to send out a certain portion of the job, it will cost more. For example, a neighborhood company may be able to print the brochure but will likely have to get it cut and folded at another facility which will add to the pricing.

Your best bet is to call a good quality printer that has lots of experience. Tell them what you are thinking of printing and get some pricing on the different options before you get started. Remember what you are trying to accomplish and who you are trying to reach! When in doubt, ask the experts.

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Tags: cheap printing, flyer, catalog, printing brochures, printing flyers, catalog printing

Conquest Graphics Blog

What is Saturation Mail and how it can save you money:

Print Marketing Trends for Non-Profit Organizations

Flyer Printing-The ABC's (Appeal, Balance, Color)

Print Marketing in 2012: Is Print Dead or Alive?

Flyer, Brochure or Catalog – What Works Best?

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Conquest Graphics Blog

What is Saturation Mail and how it can save you money:

Print Marketing Trends for Non-Profit Organizations

Flyer Printing-The ABC's (Appeal, Balance, Color)

Print Marketing in 2012: Is Print Dead or Alive?

Flyer, Brochure or Catalog – What Works Best?

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