Envelopes are the unsung hero of direct mailers. Envelopes entice, excite, and engage your prospects.  If your envelope does not grab attention, the rest of your communication may go to waste.

Here are some envelope tips to help you increase open rates:

Emphasize Benefit
The first thing your prospect would like to read is the reason why you are writing the communication. So scream, if necessary, why your audience should open your envelope.

Create Urgency
Create desire by bringing urgency in your copy. Powerful copy like “Act Now”, “Limited Period Offer Inside” can make all the difference. Deadlines always induce action.

Keep it Simple
Make sure your envelope copy is concise and easy to understand. Six to seven words maximum.

Teasers Work
Tease your readers; excite them to open the envelope. Talk to prospects, relate to their interests, and make them feel special. Create excitement with words like “Introducing”, “Discover”, and “New”.

Hit Where it Hurts
Focus on the needs or wants of your prospects and show them the way to quickly and easily achieve their goals.

Ask a Question
Be direct; ask a question that directly involves your reader. Make sure the question is directly related to your proposition and easy to answer in a simple “Yes, I want to know more”.

Give Easy Direction

Tell your prospect exactly what he needs to do. Words like “See/Look Inside for Details”, “Open Here” increase your chance to be read and acted upon.

Add visuals that create desire
A picture is worth a thousand words. Crank up the excitement with exciting visuals to complement your copy.

Watch your tonality
Your envelope should look like a personal request not an advertisement. Your tone and mannerisms should be very professional and stick to a pleasant tonality.

Your envelope sets the table for your communication and is an important factor in the success of your mailing.