In our last blog post, 3 Reasons for using Postcards in your 2016 Marketing Plans, we saw how a postcard with a 20% discount was able to attract attention, engage customers and get them to open their wallets.  It was a real-world example of direct mail success that often gets drowned out by the hype for mobile, social and email marketing.  This post is ready to cut through that hype and share some interesting data that gives postcards and direct mail marketing a little love.

The following infographic compiles data from the Direct Marketing Association’s 2015 Response Rate Report.  It compares direct mail to mobile, social media and email marketing in the key areas of response rate, costs and ROI. Of course, every campaign is different, and there are no performance guarantees, but the data builds a strong case for at least testing direct mail in your multi-channel marketing plan.  Take a look at the facts, and then contact Magnetic Attractions with any questions, or need a quote.

Continue reading to view the full infographic.

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2016 is here. That means it’s time for the flood of articles on the hot Marketing trends for the new year. Naturally, we’ll read all of them to see the best way to improve customer engagement, build influence and improve our authority scores to increase sales. Sadly, these articles usually fail to mention direct mail and postcard mailings.

Now I don’t live under a rock.  I know the importance of a SEO, social and online strategy.  I also know that direct mail and postcards—while not new and sexy—are still very effective in one important area.  They still can generate sales. I saw first-hand how this sales power worked influencing buying decisions for a local business I visited after the holidays.

My experience started in our kitchen on Christmas Eve.  I had visions of a clean kitchen floor dancing through my head, but unfortunately I ran into a little Grinch (my son).  He broke our special floor cleaner, so that meant I had some shopping to do after Christmas.

I was ready to head out, when my wife stopped me by shoving a big oversized postcard in my face. It was for a big kitchen and bath store in a busy strip mall in town.  The postcard had a “20% off anything in the store” offer.“ (Disclaimer.  Magnetic Attractions didn’t print this postcard.)

Now 3 reasons why postcard mailings should be part of your 2016 plans. (more…)

As if summer vacations and fireworks aren’t enough, the Post Office is giving smart Marketers one more reason to love July.  They definately are giving you one more reason to mail a  BigMag MagMailer campaign this summer.      

Starting on July 1st, the USPS is bringing back their Mobile Barcode Promotion (QR Code promotion for those that don’t speak Postalese).   You can earn a 2% discount on your Standard Mail or 1st Class letters, flats and cards just by adding a QR to your mail piece.   This is similar to last year’s promotion, with some important changes that we want to make sure you know about ahead of time. 

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Who said Every Door Direct Mail only works for delivering coupons for restaurants and pizza parlors.  Jacumin Plaza is a new Magnetic Attractions customer that wanted to use Every Door Direct to promote their “Free Friday Night Movies”.   

Now there are plenty of other vendors they could have used, but  they decided on Magnetic Attractions to handle their Every Door Direct campaign.   I think it’s because we offer something other vendors can’t.  

What is it that can set us apart from other Every Door Direct Mail vendors?

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More evidence that print and direct mail still has a place in this digital world – and why businesses still turn to Magnetic Attractions for BigMag and Magnetic Postcard Mailers.    

1. $47.8 Billion was spent on direct mail by businesses in 2011.
2. 76% of small businesses agree that a mix of digital and physical (print) communications is the best way to market their business.
3. On average, those that receive a printed catalog spend 28% more money and buy 28% more items than those who do not receive a catalog.
4. Mail is growing in popularity with younger (more digital) age group.  18% of those 22-24 will respond to an offer from a standard mail piece.  That’s an increase of 12% from previous years.
5. 52.4% of consumers read direct mail from merchants & 53% found direct mail useful.
6. 98% of consumers bring their mail in the day it’s delivered & 77% sort through it immediately.
7. 79% of households read, or at least skim advertising received in the mail. (Only about 19% of commercial emails are even opened.)
8. 51% of consumers read postcards delivered by mail.
9. B-to-B mailers reported an average response rate of 4.54% to postcards mailed to their house files.
10. Those 18-34 years old are 2x to 3x more likely to prefer direct mail and newspapers over online sources for information about household and health products, insurance and financial services.

Magnetic Attractions sure will be busy in 2012.

Wow.  where did January go.  It seems like yesterday we were trying to celebrate the holidays while producing the rush of 2012 Calendar Magnets.  Now, we’re delivering the flood of BigMag Magnetic Coupon Mailer orders that washed over us since January 3rd. It’s like all our pizza customers realized at the same time that their pizza marketing will suffer if they didn’t get their coupons out before the big game.  

Anyway, that was January.  As we roll into February, I thought this is the perfect time to update everyone on the news and events happening at Magnetic Attractions this year.       (more…)

1 – Discounts, Discounts, Discounts– You can find exclusive “Fan-Only” discounts on our promotional magnets and magnetic mailers.
2 – Savings, Savings, Savings– Facebook gives you one more place to access money-saving magnet promotions that you might have missed elsewhere.
3 – News You Can Use – We provide links to valuable content from experts in direct response, social and online marketing.  Use this information to help you do your job better, faster and easier.  
4 – Product Announcements – You’ll get a first peak whenever we launch a new magnet product or direct marketing services.
5 – Company Updates – Find out what’s happening at Magnetic Attractions before anyone else.

Of course, to take advantage of these 5 reasons, you need to first go out and like us at www.facebook.com/magneticattractions.  Then, enjoy the savings, information and images provided – and don’t forget to add your comments.  We want to hear from you.

For weeks, I was planning on writing a post on the benefits of the BigMag Magnetic Mailer for the pizza delivery game.  I wanted to highlight all the facts that show how magnetic mailers deliver results even in this age of iPads and Smartphones. Instead, I think I’ll share an experience that demonstrates the power of the magnetic postcard better than any statistic or chart.     

Last Friday night was another typical evening in our household.  My wife was working late, so I alone had to navigate the controlled chaos that’s our typical routine – kids at daycare, running kids to baseball and softball practices, and a parking lot for a freeway that pushed the stress meter off the chart.  Finally, at 6:00 I walked in the door to find my wife staring into the refrigerator.  I could tell from her blank stare that dinner wasn’t hiding behind the milk.  So, time to go with plan B.

“How about Pizza.” I said.  I know we have coupons somewhere.” (more…)

Do you know what God, the iPhone, New York Yankees and Magnetic Attractions all have in common?   Would you believe that we all now can attract loyal followers on Facebook?  That’s right, you can now like us online and become a friend of our promotional magnets and magnetic mailers.  

Now I know it will be hard to get as many friends as God, but if you’re looking for the latest deals on products like Business Card Magnets, Calendar Magnets or BigMag Magnetic Mailers, then you need to like us and follow us regularly.  You’ll never know what news, deals and other plesant surprizes you’ll find there. 

Go to Facebook and search for Magnetic Attractions, or click the link  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magnetic-Attractions/252084231494082.

Magnetic Attractions recently returned from a little trip to Boston. No it wasn’t for the history or fall foliage, but rather to exhibit our magnets and magnetic mailers at the 2011 Direct Marketing Show. I’m not afraid to admit that I was a little worried about this show.  With this show geared toward digital marketing, I worried attendees might mistakenly view us as the big guy to your left.  

Then the show started, and I worred for nothing.  Sure search, mobile and social media were the hot topics driving the bus, but we still had plenty of traffic getting off at our booth.  They used direct mail because they had success with direct mail.  Here’s just a few reasons why.  I call them:

5 Reasons Mail & Magnets Can Thrive in the Digital Age

$47.8 Billion will be spent on direct mail by businesses in 2011

52.4% of consumers read direct mail from merchants & 53% found direct mail useful

98% of consumers bring their mail in the day it’s delivered & 77% sort through it immediately

79% of households read, or at least skim advertising received in the mail. (Only about 19% of commercial emails are even opened)

51% of consumers read postcards delivered by mail

Our BigMags historically have an average response rate between 8% – 11%.

Adding a magnet to a postcard increases readership by 52% compared to postcards without magnets

Magnets increase response rates by over 73%

OK.  I can’t count, but you get the idea.  Direct mail still delivers results and can live a long, healthy life (especially when working alongside a digital strategy).  Of course, add a magnet to the mail and really see results really take off.  Why not give it a try and see for yourself.

To learn more about our promotional magnets, magnetic postcards and direct mail solutions, please give Magnetic Attractions a call at (800) 521-4773 or visit our market solutions page for more details.