• Gearing Up For Election Time

    Political campaigns have relied on direct mail for years but this year there will be new twists. With direct mail integrating with the new waves of interactive media this year will be like no other. Here is a little insight in to what both Democrats and Republicans have in store. Far more than in elections […]

  • Effectiveness of Coupons

    Coupon mailers are a staple of direct mail. There is a reason why. This study shows that coupons work even when they aren’t used. An experiment analyzed by University of Virginia Darden School of Business professors found that unredeemed coupons are still valuable to the companies that issue them. “In fact, the coupons that wind […]

  • Make Your Customer Feel Special

    When you spend lots of time doing anything it is easy to overlook the basics. Here are some simple things to think through that maybe you’ve been taking for granted lately. Make them feel important. The people who understand the value of an offer best are the folks who develop direct mail and e-mail programs. […]

  • If it Doesn't Sell…David Ogilvy

    Advertising legend David Ogilvy hated the word “creative” in the context of the work his firm did for clients. In Confessions of an Advertising Man he wrote, “I tell new recruits that I will not allow them to use the word creative to describe the functions they are to perform in the agency.” The job […]

  • Impressive Returns on SMS Marketing

    More and more consumers rely on their phones for more than just phone calls. It’s no wonder that SMS messaging is developing as a real avenue for reaching customers. Among consumers who have signed up for text alerts from retailers and merchants: 26% say that the information they received has led them to purchase the […]

  • Be Better at Email

    We all use our work email differently but there are some things that our co-workers do that just drive us bonkers. You might want to read through this to make sure you’re not causing others too much grief. 1. Don’t complain about getting a lot of e-mail. We all do. Sharing an inflated number of […]

  • What Are Direct Mail Customers Looking For?

    A recent survey by marketing research firm Ask Your Target Market asked recipients, “What type of direct mail is most likely to grab your attention?” Here are the results: 79% of respondents said that mail with coupons or exclusive deals is most likely to grab their attention 39% look for mail from chain businesses with […]

  • Impact Receives MDMA 2012 Exceptional Service Award

    Impact Proven Solutions received the Midwest Direct Marketing Association (MDMA) 2012 Exceptional Service Award on April 24, 2012 at the MDMA Annual Conference. Each year the MDMA presents one such award to a direct marketing supply company that demonstrates distinguished customer service, exemplified leadership and commitment to excellence in the integrated direct marketing industry. “The […]

  • Easy Ways to Track the Effectiveness of Your Mail

    Everyone wants to make sure their marketing dollars aren’t going to waste. This is one of the reasons that direct mail analytics have grown in popularity the last few years. Here are some tips to help: 1. Ask a recipient to bring the piece into your store for a gift or discount. 2. Direct targets […]

  • Have a Story. Tell It To Your Customers.

    Hard to imagine a consultant or investor asking the CMO, “so, what’s your telephone strategy?” We don’t have a telephone strategy. The telephone is a tool, a simple medium, and it’s only purpose is to connect us to interested human beings. And then the internet comes along and it’s mysterious and suddenly we need an […]