Direct mail, when is it good?

[k8_doran]

If you were to recieve post from someone advertising
their business to you, what elements would attract you
to this piece of post? What does it need to look like
for you to be interested and not throw this post away?
Any thought or comments you have on this type of
direct mail would be highly appreciated. What kind of
thing would make you want to keep this piece of post,
or wouldn't you keep any type?

Thank you very much for your time.

[stoo_pid]

In my case, absolutely nothing. It would either get posted back to sender telling them to stop sending me junk mail or get swiftly transferred to the recycle bin.

[k8_doran]

So can nothing catch your attention when it is sent throught the post, even if it is something you are looking for, not an object but a business service, say

[stoo_pid]

Fraid so. Of course, you might get my attention but I still wouldn't open it. 2 reasons: First, the only thing that would get my attention is an offer that's almost too good to be true - in which case I would immediately expect it to be a scam. Second, I detest junk mail. I have stopped as much as I can through the MPS, the remainder either gets sent back to the sender or gets recycled.

If I want to buy something or need a service I already know what I want and will go looking for it.

[rosyrussell]

I only ever open junk mail if it has a free pen in it, but even then I never read the contents. If I need to find a service I then take the time to research different companies that offer that service. On that basis, the envelope would have to have something inticing on the outside, either offering incentives, money off, free something or other. That may catch the eye and encourage the reader to take interest in what is inside the envelope!

[Golem]

I put all direct mail directly into the bin. I do not open it or read it and I can't imagine anything ever attracting me to it.

With persistent offenders I open it and put everything (including the delivery envelope) into their business reply envelope and send it back. Eventually they take you off their mailing list.

If I'm looking for a service, then I'll watch out for ads in the local paper, the yellow pages or shops. Without wanting to get into a big rant about it, I think direct mailing is an invasion of privacy - if I want you in my home, I'll ask you; you don't force your way in.

[Drusilla1S]

I don't open any junk mail and put it straight into the recycling bin. If I require a service, I check up online or use yellow pages. One of my local estate agents is constantly bombarding me with fliers and I would never use their services because they have irritated me so much over the past year. In this day and age, I honestly believe sending junk mail can have the complete opposite effect to the one desired by the sender.

[Espalier]

Direct mail, like all forms of advertising relies on getting the right message to the right person at the right time. One thing to bear in mind. If it didn't work no one would do it. Advertisers spend �100's of millions each year on Direct Mail and aim for around 3% of all targets to respond.

It's true, to most of us, including me, Direct Mail is a pain, but it does work.

[lafrancaise]

Advertising material arriving in an envelope that has to be opened in order to save the recycable and bin the rest makes me furious so I don't even look at it. However, leaflets that have been put into the letter box attract my attention more. This feels more local especially if it's a local phone number. Mind you if there's just a mobile number I bin it, to me that isn't a business number.