The direct mail industry has evolved to a point where we know that highly-personalized mail drives a higher ROI, but what about mail with print embellishments? At Polaris Direct, we’ve seen increases in engagement when embellishments are added to a personalized direct mail piece – whether it be incorporating a fifth color with specialty toners,…
Read Full PostWith a new year underway, Polaris Direct is on a continued mission to find new and better ways to serve our direct marketing customers. We find that looking at past trends is a great way to learn how to improve in the future, so we saved some of our favorite pieces of mail over the…
Read Full PostHigh school students everywhere loathe it. College students loathe it even more. But alas, testing is part of life…and if we allow it to be, it’s actually a pretty awesome part (well, perhaps more awesome for marketers than for college kids). And while standardized testing and direct mail testing aren’t quite the same, their purpose…
Read Full PostAs a child growing up in rural New Hampshire, going to get the mail was an occasion. For some reason or another, our mailbox was located about a mile away from our house, so my siblings and I would often strap on our helmets, hop on our bikes, and tear down the dirt road to…
Read Full PostLast year, we shared five tips for successful direct mail. Today, I’ve got five more: Allow no sacred cows. Perhaps you’ve been mailing the same control package for a decade—it’s been working great, there’s been no reason to change course. But if (and/or when) it stops working, let it go. Don’t become entrenched in tradition…
Read Full PostMarketers everywhere, rejoice. The search for higher response rates is over. And in fact, the answer is hidden on every single direct mail appeal you send. Though it is often overlooked as just a necessary—essential, actually—part of a direct mail piece, postage actually plays an important role in increasing open rates and response. So, get…
Read Full PostDirect mail is a science. Let me rephrase that—successful direct mail is a science. It takes time and consideration. It takes creativity, patience, and detailed analysis to gain an understanding of what works and what doesn’t. As industry experts, we’ve been part of countless marketing campaigns over the years. With that in mind, check out…
Read Full PostFrom dimensional mailers to oversized envelopes and the more traditional #10 window envelope package, when it comes to direct mail, the options are (almost) endless. Today, however, we’re focusing on the self-mailer as an essential ingredient in your recipe for a successful direct marketing plan. In the past, marketers have been shackled by limited options…
Read Full PostWhy is it lettershops are contacted only as a project is nearing completion? At that point the chosen lettershop is charged with facilitating production and ensuring the job is printed, processed and mailed on time. It is, essentially, the last step before the USPS takes over. The real downside to positioning lettershops at the tail-end…
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