Wednesday, September 20, 2017

When Is Personal Too Personal?

One of the benefits of 1:1 marketing is the ability to increase the relevance of each communication by making the message more personal. By using the information you already know about the recipient, you can communicate on a more intimate, 1:1 level.
But this approach can also be misused. Individuals and businesses are very protective of their privacy these days, and rightly so. Customers want to know that their data is not only safe but that the marketers they do business with won't misuse it.
What are some first steps you can take to ensure that your customers and prospects know that you care about their privacy?
  • Include an official privacy statement in your information-gathering materials.
  • If you are collecting data, include a notice of physical and data security procedures and a promise of confidentiality.
  • When personalizing your marketing messages, don’t disclose overly personal details (“Hey, Bob! Ready to default on that sky-high mortgage?”).
  • Be transparent. Provide full details about what respondents have to do to receive any prizes or promotional items.
  • Follow all opt-in regulations, including double opt-ins for email lists and providing the option to opt-out of future marketing contacts.
  • Assure that respondents’ information will not be sold to third parties.

Privacy standards, both in print and online, are always evolving. So stay abreast of the discussion. Talk to your customers to find out any other concerns and address them. The more you can assure your customers that their personal information is safe with you and that it will be used appropriately, the more you will win their trust.

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Old Vs. New Media: Which Is Better?

When it comes to the effectiveness of local advertising, which is better, traditional media or new media? The answer might surprise you.
When local advertisers asked about which channels are most effective for building their businesses, Borrell Associates found that companies rated both equally. On a scale of 1 to 5, traditional media ranked 2.83, while digital media ranked 2.86.
“The push and pull between ‘old’ media and ‘new’ has occluded the fact that both are effective means of advertising products and services,” notes Borrell in its Chart of the Week [1]. “There are differences within each, however: the kings of traditional media, according to advertisers, are television and direct mail; the kings of digital are social, search, and email.”
So if you think that traditional channels are waning in favor of digital ones, think again. Traditional channels, including direct mail, remain strong for a simple reason. They work.
Source: Borrell’s Annual Survey of Local Advertisers, April-August 2017; n = 3,508 responses.

[1] https://www.borrellassociates.com/surveys

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Sell More by Educating Your Customers

Are most of your marketing campaigns used for direct sales? If so, why not mix it up? Try using your next mailer to offer advice or a helping hand instead. It’s a great way to sell products and deepen customer loyalty at the same time.
Just look at Home Depot. Why do you think it offers free seminars on do-it-yourself projects? Sure, seminars offer great advice, but they also generate additional sales for the home improvement giant. Attendees learn about a new product or technique, then while they are excited and motivated to try something new, they buy materials for completing one of those projects while they are right there in the store.
Think about all the products that get sold from a seminar on sponge painting, for example. Out of one event, the retailer might sell things like:
  • paint
  • sponges
  • paint rollers
  • rolling pans
  • paint brushes
  • edging tape
  • edging blades
They will probably also sell a bunch of unrelated items such as light bulbs, lawn fertilizer, and kitchen drawer hardware pulls, too.   
Think about the products and services that you offer. What educational materials could be developed around those products? How could seminars, newsletters, even tips and tricks postcards promote sales indirectly by offering ideas and solutions and letting customers get excited enough to try them or develop their own ideas?

Let us help you develop a direct mail campaign promoting your next educational effort!

Please give us a call at 440-946-0606

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