The 1.7 percent average increase is at or below the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index – although actual percentage price increases for various products and services vary, USPS said.

Most price changes will affect commercial mailing services, including Standard Mail, Periodicals, Package Services and Extra Services. Larger volume business mailers will see price increases in a variety of categories.

Detailed pricing information is available at www.usps.com/prices.

To help offset the postage increase, contact KMR Partners to help drive a 10-20% direct mail savings.

The Power and Importance of Direct Mail – August 2010

Below is response data from numerous sources over the past year regarding direct mail and other related marketing methods including online, social media, TV etc.

Take a read and good marketing!

1. USPS Research Study

Public Television stations have reversed their decline in acquiring new donors through direct mail campaigns. Findings from a study analyzing 700 campaigns representing 34 million pieces mailed:
· $295.32 was raised per thousand pieces mailed in 2009, up 16.3% from 2008.
· Average gift was $42.10 up from $41.64.

2. R2integrated news release, Marketers Indicate Social Media Important, Most Not Profiting, Many Still Learning, April 14, 2010.
· 54% thought social media was innovative and invaluable to their business
· 65% said their companies had not increased revenue or profited using social media.
· When it comes to using social media, 53% of respondents stated they were “still learning” or “behind the curve.”

3. USPS Household Diary Study–Direct Mail, August 2009
· 79% of all households read or scan the advertising mail sent to their home
· 31% of households made a purchase as a result of ad mail received
· 48% of households read catalogs
· 28% of homes read credit card advertising

4. ExactTarget, 2009 Channel Preference Study, accessed November 3, 2009
· For young and old, direct mail directly influenced the purchase of an item or a service more than any other channel
· 76% of Internet users said they were directly influenced by direct mail; 67% were influenced by TV; email 58%
· 75% of 25-34 year-olds have made a purchase as a result of direct mail.
· 62% of 18-24 year olds purchased due to direct mail.
· 55% of teens were direct mail influenced.

5. Adweek Media/Harris Poll, Which Ad Medium Helps Bargain Hunters Most?, January 18, 2010
· Print outscored other media for ads that would help a person find bargains
· 23% said newspaper and magazine ads helped them find bargains; Online ads scored 18%; direct mail/catalogs 12%; TV 11%.
· 34% said that the type of ad makes no difference.

6. ATG’s Cross-Channel Commerce: The Consumer View report, March 2010
· 78% of consumers are using multiple channels to research, shop, and ultimately complete their purchase
· 78% use catalogs to browse and discover new products and services.
· 60% make a purchase via catalogs 4 times a year or more. 13% are using mobile devices to make purchase 4 times a year.
· Consumers browse and research online, then make the purchase in the store–39% went to the store to touch/feel the products; 36% visited the store to compare brands; 22% visited the store because they needed the product immediately

7. Outsell’s Annual Advertising and Marketing Study, March 2010
· 72% said multiple formats together were extremely or somewhat effective – Unica, State of Marketing 2010 Survey, March 2010
· 75% of marketers with an online presence make use of the online data they collect-customer interest, intent, behavior–when making their online and offline marketing decisions.
· 74% use web data to complement their email marketing offers
· 58% of marketers apply data collected online towards their direct mail marketing offers
· 46% use onsite personalized web offers based on integrating web data.

To Save On Upcoming Direct Mail Campaigns, Contact KMR Partners at 866-561-5568.

Database Direct Mail Tips – May 2010

Database marketing is a powerful tool for any business.  Keep the following database tips in mind to help fuel successful direct mail campaigns this summer.

THE PROSPECT

Your best mailing list is always your current clientele.  When targeting new prospects, always utilize your existing client list to determine key characteristics.

THE OFFER

Think from your prospect’s perspective about what “they” need and do not try to change their habits.

TIME LIMIT

Find a timeframe that maintains urgency while allowing enough reasonable time for the prospect to respond to the offer.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Special events are a great way to pull in business.  You can use any holiday, even obscure ones like Secretary’s Day or your clients’ individual birthdays and anniversaries.  Any excuse to promote something new is a viable reason to have a special event.

BE CONCISE

Make sure your message is clear and to-the-point.  Don’t expect your clients to work to understand your message.  Make the message appeal to the client’s “what’s in it for me” mentality.

INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS

Get your employees involved in the promotion and give them recognition when a goal is reached.  The more involved your employees, the more likely your offer will succeed.

TRACKING RESULTS

You must track the results of all your marketing efforts.  And don’t just track costs. Track the profits!  Marketing is all about Return on Investment.  Continually test versus your proven strategies to improve your response rate.

To learn more, contact KMR Partners at 866-561-5568.