As we inch closer to 2025, it’s clear that direct mail is evolving. The future of direct mail holds exciting potential for businesses looking to stand out. Gone are the days when direct mail was just a flier or catalog stuffed in a mailbox. Today, it’s becoming an integral part of well-rounded marketing strategies, blending […]

Direct mail is thriving, especially when backed by data analytics. In fact, combining the physical appeal of direct mail with precise data insights can give your marketing strategy a serious edge in 2025. Imagine sending out mail pieces that hit your ideal customer right when they’re ready to buy—that’s the power of data-driven direct mail. […]

Direct mail remains a powerful tool in the savvy marketer’s toolkit. Imagine receiving a well-designed piece of mail in your mailbox. It stands out, grabs your attention, and compels you to take action. Why? Because direct mail taps into deep psychological triggers that digital channels sometimes miss. Understanding these triggers can mean the difference between […]

Direct mail is a powerful tool and when used correctly can deliver exceptional return on investment (ROI). So, how can you ensure your direct mail campaigns hit the mark? Let’s dive into the strategies that will help you not just survive, but thrive in the ever-evolving landscape of direct mail marketing. ​Target Audience Segmentation: Know […]

Creating non-profit fundraising campaigns that truly resonate with your donor base is more critical than ever. Effective fundraising strategies not only ensure a steady source of funding but also foster deeper connections with supporters. Here, we delve into the best practices for non-profits to create impactful fundraising campaigns that drive results and make a positive […]

Picture this: a quaint bed and breakfast nestled in a charming town, the kind of place that exudes warmth and hospitality. Now imagine it’s the off-season, and the innkeeper is faced with empty rooms and dwindling bookings. Sound familiar?  If you’re a marketing specialist in the travel and hospitality industry, navigating the off-season can be […]

As July 14, 2024, approaches, everyone involved in direct mail marketing is paying close attention to the upcoming postage rate increase. With changes on the horizon that will impact the cost of sending mail, it’s crucial to understand the specifics and how they might affect your mailing strategies. Here’s a breakdown of the key points […]

Non-profit fundraising is evolving so understanding trends and donor preferences is crucial. Here, we explore the most significant changes that will impact non-profit fundraising efforts in 2024 and beyond.   Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the fundraising landscape. AI tools can analyze donor data to predict patterns, identify potential […]

There’s something refreshing about receiving a tangible piece of mail when our inboxes are overflowing with promotional emails and social media feeds are inundated with ads. Direct mail marketing for insurance companies remains a powerful tool for reaching potential customers in an impactful way. However, designing effective direct mail pieces requires careful and strategic planning. […]

In the fast-paced world of marketing, where digital strategies often dominate the landscape, it’s easy to overlook the enduring power of direct mail. However, for businesses catering to luxury travelers, direct mail remains a potent tool for engaging potential clients and driving bookings. Crafting direct mail pieces that resonate with discerning travelers requires finesse, creativity, […]

The marketing landscape in 2024 continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, with direct mail marketing carving out new paths for business owners to connect with their audiences. This year, we’re looking forward to seeing some exciting developments in how direct mail is used, blending tradition with innovation for impactful marketing strategies. Let’s dive into […]

Embarking on a mail campaign, particularly for insurance companies, requires not just creativity but also a strategic approach to budgeting. Keeping costs in check while maximizing the impact on your target audience can seem like walking a tightrope, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some budgeting tips that can help insurance business owners […]

In an age where digital noise is omnipresent, the charm and impact of direct mail in the insurance industry are experiencing a resurgence. Understanding how to leverage direct mail advertising as an effective marketing tool can transform your marketing strategy, leading to more significant lead generation and return on investment. Let’s dive into the potent […]

In today’s dynamic landscape of direct and digital marketing, it’s essential for business owners to stay ahead of the game. Finding efficient and cost-effective ways to enhance your marketing strategy is the key to success. This is where the integration of QR codes into your mail campaigns comes into play. It’s a simple yet powerful […]

It’s almost 2024, and while the digital realm might seem to be the focal point for marketers, there’s an old hero that’s far from forgotten: Direct Mail. You read that right. In an era of social media influencers and digital campaigns, it’s the postal service that’s delivering impressive results for businesses. Let’s dive deep into […]

As a business owner, navigating the complexities of marketing can be challenging. Yet, amidst the plethora of digital strategies, there lies the often-underestimated potential of direct mail. Ensuring the right frequency and timing of your direct mail campaigns is paramount. Let’s delve deep to fine-tune your approach. Clarify Your Business Goals Every successful marketing endeavor […]

In today’s digital age, there’s something wonderfully personal about receiving physical mail. In fact, 75% of recipients treasure that feeling of specialness when they find a well-designed piece of print media from their favorite brand in their mailbox.  USPS marketing mail offers businesses an exciting avenue to connect with their audiences in this tactile manner. […]

Account-based marketing (ABM) is a highly targeted approach that B2B marketers use to engage with specific accounts and decision makers. In this blog, we will explore some ABM direct mail ideas that can help you stand out from the competition and increase your response rates. Mail Strategy ABM direct mail requires a highly personalized approach. […]

Imagine elevating your customer retention rates to a whole new level, all with the power of direct mail! This engaging read dives into how you can fuse this classic marketing strategy with modern insights to not just retain your existing customers but transform them into a tribe of loyal followers. Get ready to redefine customer […]

Steeped in tradition yet agile in adaptation, the direct mail industry is proving that it’s more than just a relic of the past. It’s an industry that’s dynamically evolving, redefining its strategies and capabilities to fit snugly within the ever-changing landscape of the digital age. The transformation is captivating—a blend of the tactile, personal appeal […]

The Postage Puzzle: Size, Weight, and Cost You’ve got a package to send. It’s neatly wrapped and ready for the postal service. But have you considered the weight of the package? It’s not just about width and height; your package’s weight is a crucial determinant of postage fees. The USPS Rules: Different Weights for Different […]

Direct mail is no longer the mass marketing tool it once was. It’s better than ever now, for a number of reasons. The immediacy and tangible existence of postal mail means it almost demands to be dealt with. Roughly 80 percent of people scan or read their print marketing mail daily, according to a USPS […]

If you’re looking to boost the success of your direct mail marketing campaigns, the design of your envelopes plays a crucial role in grabbing the attention of recipients and enticing them to open your mail. The average American household receives 454 pieces of mail annually, making it essential for your envelopes to stand out. In […]

Direct mail marketing has numerous benefits that make it a powerful tool for businesses. One of the main advantages is its ability to reach a highly targeted audience. By carefully selecting a mailing list, businesses can ensure that their message is delivered directly to individuals who are most likely to be interested in their products […]

How to Track the Effectiveness of Your Direct Mail Marketing Campaign Direct mail marketing is a powerful tool. In fact, projections show that the global direct mail advertising market will reach $66.28 billion by 2025. However, tracking its effectiveness can be a challenge. But don’t worry, there are several ways to track direct mail marketing […]

Direct mail is a powerful tool to reach clients and provide an additional touchpoint for your business. Personalized direct mail marketing is an incredibly useful and unique way to build connections with your target audience. According to a report by Zion Market Research, the global direct mail advertising market reached a staggering $74.65 billion in […]

*This blog post is for informational purposes only. It is not direct mail legal advice. Having an understanding of direct mail marketing regulations is essential before you launch your next marketing campaign. Review these guidelines to ensure that you are in compliance. With so much emphasis on digital marketing lately, tactics like direct mail marketing […]

Direct mail strategy is to reach as many people as possible that have a need or desire for your product or service.  But when you want to increase your response rate and elevate your direct mail campaign performance, personalization is the best and most common strategy—especially if you’re trying to reach a target audience of […]

What is a Print Portal? A print portal is a dedicated website that printers set up for clients to access and make their online purchases by themselves without interaction from the actual platform. This is very similar to printing options available in B2C where customers can upload photos and pick them up when they are […]

There’s no 1 guaranteed perfect time to mail an acquisition campaign. Still, while there are preferred times, you can’t talk about direct mail fundraising and acquisition mail campaigns without first talking Time. The important upfront truth: Acquisition campaigns comprise a long game.  There’s no such thing as a 1-campaign approach. Returns don’t start coming in […]

Direct Mail List Rentals for Acquisition Work?   Acquisition is super important … which means that a good list can be worth gold! It’s helpful for segment marketing and helps a direct mail campaign perform to the max. That said, renting a list and seeing results is not a simple, one-and-done strategy. There’s a lot to consider—and […]

Do millennials respond to direct mail marketing? They do! It’s time to dispel the myth that millennials only want digital. It’s time to dispel the myth that millennials only respond to digital marketing. Truth is that millennials are actually taken by a piece of snail mail that arrives in their mailbox. According to a recent […]

Inkjet has introduced a new high-speed variable printer. This industrial printer can greatly reduce the costs of a direct mail campaign, through its quick turnaround time and non-toner-based system. In the direct mail marketing industry, it is important to keep up with new technologies to save clients time and money. With that in mind, here […]

Direct mail is a successful advertising tool when you use it properly. Simply mailing out advertising materials to everyone in a specific area will more than likely result in the ads being tossed in the trash. The best practice for retargeted direct mail is to find a way to use online searches to focus on […]

What requirements are needed to commingle mail? Commingled Direct Mail offers you many cost and time-saving advantages and opportunities to connect with your target customers. That’s why it’s important to learn the ins-and-outs of commingling to enhance your marketing opportunities. When it comes to managing your direct mail budget, you’re at the mercy of the […]

  To Get Local Traction for Your Business Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a cost-effective way to generate leads and get local traction for your small, home services business.  A United States Post Office-authorized direct mail service, EDDM helps your business deliver marketing mail to every mailbox in targeted postal routes within a specific […]

How has the world of paper changed?  The shift to digital marketing has been impacting print paper production for years. The shift to digital marketing has been impacting print paper production for years. Then along came the pandemic, and things got lots worse. The ripple effect has not only been felt in the paper industry.  […]

How much does direct mail cost? Direct Mail: A Personal Way to Send Your Marketing Message Direct mail advertising works. In fact, it provides a personal way to reach your customers…and it can be used alone or as a complement to your digital and content marketing initiatives. There are many types of direct mail, and […]

Anyone involved in direct mail marketing should pay special attention to all external events affecting the industry. This especially applies to new laws and policies created to address issues affecting the United States Postal Service. Speaking of which, a sweeping bipartisan bill was just passed in the House and moves on to the Senate that […]

When it comes to new donor acquisition, there are plenty of tactics that can be used. However, since there are so many, this makes it more difficult to not choose the wrong ones. At Ballantine, we go above and beyond to ensure that small businesses and organizations are able to make the best decision to […]

Many of America’s small- and medium-sized business owners still depend on the United States Postal Service to handle their inbound and outbound mail and package deliveries. The USPS is a cheaper alternative to commercial carriers like FedEx and UPS. According to Forbes, “a 2019 report found that 70 percent of microbusinesses (fewer than 10 employees) […]

When you work with a digital printing company, the goal is to love the final product — a crisp, clean print that meets your specifications exactly. What you may not know, is the extensive print finishing process that often needs to take place before a product is delivered to the customer. Finishing must be completed […]

No matter what type of nonprofit organization you may be involved with, fundraising is vital. Raising funds is the only way you will be able to secure the necessary money needed to support your cause. However, many nonprofits do not know the proper techniques required to raise the number of funds they need. With that […]

This blog has been updated from the original version first posted on November 17, 2017. Scroll down to read the original.  Given that consumers are known for spending over a trillion dollars during the holiday season, this is always a great time for businesses to boost their revenue streams. A time in which most people […]

Although there are undoubtedly benefits associated with capturing emails from your customers, this method is not without its limitations. Presently, the average person seems to prefer to give out their email address over their postal address. With that in mind, the following is a closer look at the various benefits of appending postal addresses to […]

In light of the recent news around deliverability issues and the United States Postal Service (USPS), our agency has been researching the best methods to ensure our clients can monitor their deliverability. Direct mail is an increasingly popular method of sending marketing materials to prospective and existing customers due to its package flexibility. These packages […]

For those who are yet unfamiliar, direct mail packages are marketing materials that are sent to potential and existing clients. These are some of the most flexible methods of marketing, as they come in all shapes and sizes. Two common direct mail designs are either a self-mailer format such as a postcard and direct mail […]

Physical newsletters can be a powerful fundraising tool for nonprofit organizations. The low costs and ease of distribution of these conversation starters make newsletters extremely attractive for organizations of all sizes. Creating a print newsletter for nonprofit organizations doesn’t have to be difficult. You can start by telling the story of your nonprofit in a […]

Informed Delivery is a new service that allows consumers to digitally preview incoming direct mail before it arrives. The post office sends pictures of each mail piece, also known as the informed delivery daily digest, on the day the direct mail arrives. The digest also includes tracking information for any package you are receiving. Consumers have to sign up for the USPS informed delivery service before they start to receive these updates. Although it was originally only available in certain areas, it is now a widely available service being used by over 26.5 million Americans and counting.

Although the economy is constantly changing, we can all agree that 2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. Fundraising is more important now than it ever has been, particularly for non-profits. With unemployment figures rising in many areas, the first budget item to drop is charitable giving. This means that non-profits have to be […]

The key to success for any direct mail or print marketing campaign is standing out — being unique in the sea of advertising clutter with innovative products. One of the ways to accomplish this is by utilizing one of the many specialty printing capabilities in the market. Additionally, consumers remember direct mail marketing messages more […]

If you are using direct mail marketing to reach your leads and connect with customers, then it’s important to familiarize yourself with current postage rates to better budget for direct mail costs throughout the year. While postage rates in the US haven’t increased as much this year as they have in previous years, they could […]

This is an update to a blog post originally published on July 10, 2012.  Whether your marketing is print-based, digital, or a combination of both, keeping your contact list up-to-date is a must. The most valuable tool in your marketing tool box is your contact list. A contact list or database contains a wealth of […]

What is user-generated content? It’s the gift that keeps on giving. When you let users help create and shape your website, everyone wins. A strong user-generated content strategy is powerful–and can make your social media and website into a real, active community. Active UGC engagement and excitement is just what every online business wants, and […]

If your business handles direct mailings on a regular basis, then you probably understand how much your marketing budget can be stretched by an unexpected increase in USPS postage rates or other shipping rates. Unfortunately, these increases happen fairly regularly—but the good news is that there are options for saving money on bulk direct mailings. […]

It can be difficult to put parameters on something creative like how to create a postcard. Isn’t it all up for interpretation? While it’s true that creativity blurs the line between what is “good” and “bad”, there are certain things that work better for creative direct mail marketing. We’ve got you covered with the strongest […]

It took a long time for the price of a postage stamp to break the 50 cent barrier, but once it did in January 2018, that number didn’t last long. In just over a year, a new 2019 postage rate chart went into effect. How much is a postage stamp going to set you back […]

Direct mail and print marketing are extremely effective marketing tools for a variety of different businesses and business models. But, designing direct mail pieces must be done by a team of seasoned experts in order to fully take advantage of the effectiveness of direct mail marketing, and have a powerful direct mail campaign . Direct […]

As the ultimate digital natives, Millennials can only be reached through social media marketing, right? Not at all. A growing body of research suggests that this generation actually appreciates direct mail. A notable study from InfoTrends and Prinova shows that while all generations respond to direct mail, the response rate is particularly high for those […]

Never underestimate the power of color in marketing. Brightly colored print materials can make the difference between a sale and just another lead. From RBG to Pantone, colors play a key role in branding, allowing you to build a more personal connection with customers. Print marketing color importance can’t be overstated; choose your colors carefully […]

If you haven’t yet read our 2017 blog that addressed the value of professional print outsourcing as opposed to in-house printing, we encourage you to do so. In it, we pointed out that print remains a vibrant and vital marketing resource today for a variety of reasons. The old saying a picture is worth a […]

Curiosity. It’s why we buy “mystery boxes” or “grab bags”, why kids love piñatas so much and why we wrap presents for birthdays and holidays. For marketers, one of the best things you can do to move a prospect a step further into your funnel is to pique their interest or trigger their curiosity. We […]

Whether you’re raising money for schools, civic groups, charitable causes, or any other organization or initiative, you want to get the most bang for your buck. Supporter cards are a great way to raise money while offering something concrete to supporters that makes them feel proud to be apart of your organization as a donor. […]

There is no denying the power of a well-executed direct mail campaign. Even in today’s increasingly digitized world, studies find that about 50% of consumers still prefer to receive direct mail than digital mail—so if your business or organization doesn’t currently have a print marketing campaign in place, now is the time to get one […]

Direct mail marketing can be extremely effective for businesses of all sizes and industries, but for businesses on a budget, recent increases in postage rates and printing costs can make achieving a high-end look difficult. At the same time, sending out direct mail postcards and other materials that have a high-end, luxurious look and feel […]

As any company using direct mail marketing will know, postal rates can make or break your operation. When the US Postal Service raises its prices, the cost of advertising goes up. The more people you market to and the more spread-out they are, the harder it is to swallow this cost increase, leading many companies […]

While it may seem that the majority of today’s marketing is focused online, the truth is that direct marketing is still a great way to set your brand apart and provide your potential customers with something real and tangible. This is especially true in the travel hospitality industry, where the online market is already over-saturated […]

If you own an online business, there’s a good chance that the majority (or maybe even all) of your marketing efforts are focused online. After all, it makes sense…right? What you might not realize is that incorporating direct print mail into your marketing strategy can yield impressive results without overwhelming your budget. Even for a […]

While it may sound counterintuitive, the rise of digital marketing has the potential to bring about a renaissance in direct mail. When the vast majority of customers’ experiences are digital, direct mail stands out, making them more likely to remember your brand. But that doesn’t mean all direct mail tactics are equally effective. In order […]

Customers today interact with brands across a wide variety of preferred platforms. They engage with them actively on social media, read emails, and also flip through their mail to find information about business openings and the latest sales. Marketing personalization can be an important part of this puzzle: helping brands reach out to their customers […]

Direct mail campaigns offer brands a consistent and effective means of contacting customers and have been shown to offer customers a higher degree of personalization than they receive from other marketing options. 69 percent say that they view mail as being more personal than the internet. The platform also works across all age groups. For example, […]

The human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text, and a single minute of video content is considered equivalent to 1.8 million words. This means that learning to incorporate video into direct mail design provides organizations with a reliable, efficient means of engaging with prospects and encouraging them to learn more about the organization. […]

The travel and tourism industry is one of the largest in the world, with more than $7.6 trillion spent each year. For the various leisure and travel organizations that strive to tap into this market, direct mail can play an important role in attracting the attention of buyers and beginning a conversation with them. Here […]

The holiday shopping season is one of the most important times of the year for retailers. Most companies start preparing in September by developing marketing campaigns that will help increase sales all throughout the holidays. Below, we’ve provided just a few ways that you can use direct mail printing services to support your holiday marketing […]

Direct mail provides brands with a perfect means of reaching customers through personal, appealing advertisements. Seventy-seven percent of people still sort through the mail they receive at home and 98 percent of Americans check their mail every day. In other words, direct mail provides you with a consistent means of reaching your target audience and […]

In recent years, there has been some controversy as to whether or not direct mail remains a viable and effective means of marketing—especially in today’s digital age. However, study after study has shown that direct mail is extremely effective when it’s utilized properly. Even more recently, a blend between digital marketing and print marketing has […]

Does your association want to take your direct mail to the next level? You can start by taking it to the next dimension. Dimensional mail, or 3D direct mail, consists of pieces of mail that are not flat, but rather have some dimension to them, such as boxes or tubes. This type of mail can […]

Given that customers still report that they find direct mail more personal than the internet, the value of direct mail is not likely to decrease in the near future. As brands begin to plan their next direct mail campaign, they will also need to think about the types of direct mail adhesives they will use […]

A survey that looked at the neurological response to marketing found that direct mail requires 21 percent less cognitive effort than other forms of marketing. This means that messages are absorbed faster and require less effort from recipients, making them a highly efficient means of engaging prospects. Brand recall is also as much as 70 […]

  Direct mail can be a highly effective means of attracting customers, building brand recognition, and enticing people to learn more about your organization. A survey of US recipients found that 59 percent of people enjoy receiving postal mail from brands about new products and 56 percent find that print marketing is the most trustworthy. […]

In a world seemingly dominated by digital media, direct mail has the ability to add unique elements of personalization to marketing strategies, capturing the attention of prospects and past customers while encouraging them to convert. Seventy percent of Americans say that they find mail to be more personal than what they read on the internet. […]

There are a number of moving parts involved with developing direct mail and other print marketing materials. In fact, design and content are not the only factors that can impact your response or conversion rates. The printing process impacts the look, feel, and quality of the printing materials, and the decisions you make during this […]

Are you making the right first impression with your potential customers? Your print marketing materials are often the first thing that a lead will see, serving as an introduction to your company. It is important that your company has control over how you present your brand to the world. Choosing effective marketing materials for your […]

Think about the last time a direct mail piece caught your attention. What colors were used for the piece? There is a good chance that the color scheme was not only visually pleasing, but it was also able to evoke a certain feeling that you are closely related to the brand, product, or service that […]

The holiday season is a busy time for your print vendor, who is working harder than Santa’s little elves to fulfill large print orders just in time for the holidays. Here are 5 direct mail printing tips that will help ensure your campaigns are executed smoothly, without delays and at a quality level that would […]

While digital marketing tends to steal the spotlight with its up-and-coming trends, print marketing has quietly taken the role of consistent, and often necessary, performer. Ballantine continues to appreciate print marketing and the medium that played a crucial role in the company’s beginnings. Our family-owned and operated business started in 1966 when print marketing was […]

You’ve seen the effect of the recent Presidential campaign on social media, but the offline components of keeping your voting base fired up are every bit as important — or more so. From rally signs and posters to postcards and flyers, volunteers from all political parties are looking for ways to encourage their loyal base […]

Why Use Large Format Printing? Successful marketers have always known that a customers’ buying decision is initially based on their emotion rather than a detailed analysis of the benefits of a certain product or service. There is also considerable evidence that the human brain is far more emotionally responsive to visual stimuli than to those […]

Successful marketing campaigns make use of a variety of strategies, and traditional print media still has a huge role to play – particularly in building brand awareness.   It’s important to understand that building a brand is not the same as simply marketing products or services. It’s perfectly possible to succeed in business by selling […]

It’s often said that the rise of online and digital marketing has killed off traditional direct mail and print marketing. This is far from the case.   While it’s true that the total number of promotions has declined, there is a good reason why many business owners are still using direct mail as an important […]

With the ever increasing hype surrounding online and particularly social media marketing, it might be easy to conclude that traditional direct mail campaigns have had their day. But they continue to be widely used by marketers for the very good reason that when properly planned and executed they can still deliver a great return on […]

When considering different direct mail advertising companies, you want to make sure you do your homework. You want to find out what the best direct mail advertising agency will be for you and your business. It’s imperative that this company not only be a fit based on rates, but also in terms of attention to […]

An Every Door Direct Mail, EDDM, campaign gives you the opportunity to make a powerful first impression within a particular geographical area of your demographic market. Unlike traditional direct mail campaigns, you are not required to purchase mailing lists or acquire special mailing permits before sending the promotional pieces out to a target market audience. […]

Direct Mail Marketing is an old-fashioned yet foolproof way to reach out to your target audience. Unlike other forms of advertising, strategic direct marketing ensures that your message reaches the customer’s hands. It is a very effective method of marketing your product to potential customers and clients for a variety of reasons. The following is […]

With the advance of the internet, direct mail marketing may seem like it should be on its way out. However, this form of contact is still one of the most effective and profitable ways to reach out to people. Here’s how sending brochures, catalogs, postcards, newsletters, and more directly to your contacts can benefit your […]

You don’t want to waste money. Neither do we. This is one reason why direct mail is such a great marketing tool. It is highly trackable, easy to analyze, and provides clear cost/return accountability. In fact, it is considered the most measurable media vehicle available. As a result, it is easy to measure whether your […]

Customers, clients, prospects – they’re all people. And all people are looking for pretty much the same thing: someone to trust. As a result, businesses and salespeople need to stand out from their competition as trustworthy. And many have discovered that one way to stand out in an electronically-driven marketing world is to use good […]

Some direct mail campaigns are completely ineffective while others are successful. So what’s the difference between an ineffective direct mail piece and an effective one? Most often, it’s the copy. Weak copy doesn’t generate many customer responses, while strong copy will keep the phone ringing and your office busy. The trick is making sure your direct mail […]

How profitable is direct mail for your company? Whether you’re a direct mail veteran or just thinking about launching your first direct mail campaign, with a little excel magic, you can calculate how profitable your potential direct mail campaign will be. The keys are appropriately estimating the specific costs of sending mail and being conservative […]

Direct mail postcards are an effective way to promote businesses despite their diminishing popularity today. However, the fact that you now have less competition in that channel will make it easier for you to grab the attention of your audience as long as you know how to use direct mail postcards effectively. Postcards also allow […]

Need some ideas on how to be more creative in your direct mail? Sometimes all it takes is a little inspiration. Take a look at what some agencies and companies out there are giving away to their customers.   Volkswagen ‘Horsepower’ CNY Card 2014 Released as a direct mail campaign in Malaysia, the Volkswagen team […]

In today’s marketing world, we’ve become accustomed to change. We’ve seen the rise of digital media, the decay of broadcast media, and the near-death of newspapers. And with the emergence of new media, opportunities change, as well. But unlike many forms of traditional media, direct mail marketing hasn’t seen a decrease in effectiveness. Why not? […]

Let’s face the facts: a large portion of the direct mail we send out ends up in the trash. Either it didn’t catch the eye of the intended recipient or a family member deemed it “junk mail.” Either way, that’s wasted money for your company, but there are some simple, effective changes you can make […]

Pipe joints. Printer paper. Wires. While not the most exciting products, they are crucial, often repeat, purchases for companies. But just because your product seems boring on its face, a brand can help it take on a life of its own, highlighting the benefits of your products over your competitors’, ensuring that your brand is […]

Here’s some light reading, but interesting nevertheless. If there are parts we left out, but should have included, please contribute in the comments section. For most of us, there was never a time when we didn’t receive mail to our homes. Even as children, we would run out to the mailbox on our birthdays or […]

Creative teams work in pairs, and behind every great ad is a strong copy and art direction team. Effective ads must combine great visuals with compelling copy. In this article, we’ll help you understand how the art director and copywriter combine their own talents to create award-winning work. The copywriter’s key job Copywriters look for […]

Today’s blog post is a bit different than most of our typical direct marketing articles. From time to time, we like to inject our blog with unique business or marketing related content to keep things fresh and interesting. So that being said, have you heard the term “showrooming”? If not, continue reading… The increasing number […]

We have a direct mail case study to share with you that features our B2B client, Furniture Today. Last year, direct mail wasn’t working for them. And then this year, they tested new creative and lists and boosted response rate by 500%. Want to learn how? Keep reading!   Background Furniture Today is a B2B […]

One of the key strategies for business and marketing success is to keep your customers in the loop or draw them in with exclusive offers via email. To grow your business online, having a list of leads who have agreed to receive emails from you is crucial to your success. However, getting people to agree […]

We’ve all heard the story: Customers won’t entertain any advertisements that don’t pop up on their smart phones. Direct mail is dead. Publishing is over. Finished. Done. Fortunately for us all, that story is a fiction. Customers, on average, are processing literally thousands of advertisements  that come before their eyes every day. Despite the overwhelming amount of ad content […]

Direct mail plays an important role in your integrated marketing campaign because it acts to supplement your other efforts cheaply and effectively. It’s rarely used on its own as the sole way to market a product or service, since it does serve a niche role which limits the total amount that you can spend on […]

Ad space in Super Bowl in 2014 ran a whopping $4m for a 30-second spot. Which brands got their money’s worth for their Super Bowl spot, and which brands were offering up a chunk of their marketing budget on a prayer? While Super Bowl advertising can make sense for brands that need a strong TV […]

Agatha Christie used to say of her novels that her self-imposed structures and rules limited the stories she could tell and forced her to become more creative within that structure. It forced her to tease a character’s essence out in a sentence or two rather than in paragraphs of character development. The same could be […]

Today’s interview is with our business partner Amy Carichner from PrintWorks Etc. She specializes in print production and promotional items, and she also recently launched a t-shirt printing service at pweapparel.com. We asked Amy to share some of her knowledge about premiums which includes solid advice and tips – see below!

Today’s interview is with a good friend of ours, and business partner, Andrew Majewski. Andrew is the principal and creative director at AdSpace Communications, a creative services agency. He has 15 years of creative and marketing experience, and so we pinned Andrew down for an interview in order to soak up some of that knowledge. […]

We’re very excited to share this new blog interview with you featuring direct marketing strategist Ted Grigg from DMCG. Ted shares an enormous wealth of knowledge in his answers below — and he also blogs regularly here. Enjoy!   1. Quick bio — who are you and what do you do?   As an independent […]

We’re very happy to announce that today’s blog interview is with audience development expert Mike Popalardo from Next Steps Marketing. Mike is both a friend and a business partner. He shares some great tips and insight below so let’s dive right in! 1. Quick bio — who are you and what do you do? I […]

Today we are very excited to feature a blog interview with Lori Fletcher, a professional copywriter that is also a strategic partner of Ballantine’s creative services. Let’s dive right in! 1. Quick bio — who are you and what do you do? I am a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant specializing in marketing strategy and […]

Making the most of a direct mail campaign definitely takes time and thought. There are four key components of a successful mailing: your direct mail creative brief, the format of your correspondence, your offers or incentives, and your mailing list. So why are these elements so important and how can you get them to work […]

Yes, 3-D printing is not ink on paper—and it’s not a service we currently offer at Ballantine—but the technology is fascinating and we wanted to write about it. In the very recent past, we’ve left behind a world where the only way to listen to music was to buy it at a record store or […]

In a digital world, some businesses question the effectiveness of direct mail marketing. In reality, the advantages of direct mail marketing are more effective than ever when properly targeted. In an October, 2012, article, The B2C business site says, “Bias towards direct mail marketing as obsolete or out of touch must be cast aside. . […]

In order for a direct mail marketing campaign to be effective you should see new customers, a return of old customers or an increase in repeat customers.  Additionally, you should realize bigger returns on your direct mail campaign investment.  If you structure your campaign more effectively you will increase the odds of your direct mail campaign being […]

There are many ways to contact your customers or prospects these days, from direct mail campaigns to email to social media and more. Something you may have heard of and or not really understood are personalized URLs. PURLs, as they are known in alphabetic shorthand, are unique, personalized web addresses created specifically for each recipient […]

Marketing creative often focuses on pieces that are small and can be handled or sent through the mail.  However, sometimes big is the way to go when you want to get noticed.  Large format printing allows marketers to design and produce very large pieces that can literally increase visibility of your company and promotions. Large […]

In our white paper 2012 Direct Marketing Trends, one of the topics we discussed was the staying power of direct mail. Direct mail has been a marketing workhorse for several decades, consistently providing a good return on investment (ROI) for companies of all sizes. Hamilton Davison, president-executive director of the American Catalog Mailers Association said, […]

Many marketing experts are touting “Integrated Marketing” as the approach to take when developing a marketing strategy, and this can be a very effective game plan. If you’re a company that has historically relied on direct mail as your marketing workhorse, you know that direct mail is still a trusted and reliable tool in a […]

Design and printing of direct marketing pieces have come a long way, but the advent of digital printing solutions have really made the most impact on the industry over the last decade. Offset printing and other traditional print processes still play a huge role in the direct marketing world. That being said, digital printing is […]

While occasionally you do want to send a common email to your entire distribution list, sending specific messages to targeted email lists can be more effective because each of your prospects are seeing the most relevant messages, and messages they are most likely to respond to. A great tactic to add to your marketing campaign […]

Email is one of the fastest ways to get a message out to a prospect list, but can have a lot of quirks in development.  As an example, say you’re sending a postcard mailer to your direct mail list.  While you could theoretically personalize the content, the postcard itself is the same size and shape, […]

Multi-channel marketing is the process of using multiple “channels”, or marketing media, to reach customers.  A channel can be anything from a brick and mortar store front to email marketing, direct mail, catalogs, TV commercials, trade shows, social media, and so on. The benefit of a multi-channel marketing approach is that different channels attract different […]

The simple flyer is one of the most basic options in a marketing toolbox, and flyer printing services can help you create effective flyers for your business. Flyers are printed on standard letter-sized paper, often just black text and images on colored paper. This simplicity minimizes the cost and labor required to create them, and […]

Personalized URLs, or PURLs, are now an important strategy in both email and print marketing to deliver personalized content to potential customers. Implementing PURLs involves creating a specific landing page for each recipient in your campaign. The PURL itself can then be included in email marketing messages or on personalized print media. PURLs can be […]

The tri-fold brochure is the workhorse of print marketing media. Nearly every business uses the tri-fold brochure in some way, such as a menu of services, or as an efficient mailer because they easily fit into a #10 envelope. Because a tri-fold brochure template is so easy to create, it’s quite easy to create a […]

If you’re thinking about testing a personalized URL (PURL), but you’d prefer a more simple and less expensive way to slowly back your way into the technology…or if you’re looking for a way to add more tracking and transparency to your direct mail campaigns, this post is for you. A Standard PURL Involves: Personalized URLs […]

Historically, marketers had to rely on traditional printing methods, such as offset printing, to put their direct marketing material into print. While offset printing provides a high quality image, the process requires plates to be made for each piece to be printed. Digital printing processes and large format/volume laser and inkjet printers have given marketers […]

Industry Email Lists & How To Build Them Most marketers will tell you that the most valuable marketing tool is “The List”. A mass email list is a database of people and information about those people; they could be customers, leads, or random people who tangentially might be interested in a product. Bulk email lists are […]

The Print Industries Market Information and Research Organization (PRIMIR) has recently released a study that examines how direct marketing and in particular how printed direct marketing channels are performing in comparison with other more “high-tech” marketing options, such as email and social networking. The study notes that “direct marketing’s share of advertising expenditures has shown […]

Email marketing is an integral part of many marketing campaigns today.  It’s inexpensive to produce and you can reach a large group of people quickly.  However, due to the volume of email that people receive, many are becoming numb to or irritated by unsolicited email. In an article on Gannett’s Cincinnati.com website, it’s stated perfectly, […]

Postcard mailers have been a mainstay in the direct mail marketing portfolio for many years.  However, it’s compact size can be a blessing and a curse to companies that choose to use this medium.  The small size forces you to focus your message, but some companies try to cram as much content as they can […]

One of the benefits of email marketing that companies have leveraged is the ability to customize each email to the recipient based on specific customer information. This goes far beyond just addressing the email to Mr. Joe Smith; content can be customized based on the recipient’s demographic and purchasing history. However, these customization benefits are […]

Sheetfed Offset Printing For Your Business Three common printing methods are sheetfed offset, web offset and digital printing. Today’s post is going to discuss sheetfed offset printing.   It depends on the size of the piece being printed, but a general guideline to follow is: Digital Printing – best for short run projects. Sheetfed Printing […]

Today’s post is going to highlight a potential problem with fugitive glue that you should be aware of. First off, fugitive glue are drops of glue that are placed on a self-mailer to keep it closed. So for example, if you’re mailing a double postcard, you could apply fugitive glue to keep the 2 postcard panels closed […]

What is commingling and why should you be using it? Commingling has been around for many years and until now was mainly used as a way for smaller mailers to presort their mail. The reason for its increased popularity is due to the recent rate changes for BMC and SCF discounts. As a result, it’s […]

Note: with marketing budgets being slashed due to the economy, more and more companies are looking to outsource their print production to a company like us (Ballantine). We noticed a surge in traffic to our blog using outsource-related terms. As a result, we updated the post below with additional info (11/3/08). ### There was an […]