WhatTheyThink

Premium Commentary & Analysis

Direct Mail’s Integral Role in the Marketing Mix: A Direct Marketer’s Perspective

Despite the surging popularity of digital marketing, direct mail will continue to play an integral role in savvy businesses’ marketing initiatives. This article cites data from recent InfoTrends research to explore the role that direct mail will likely play in the marketing initiatives of the future.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Despite the surging popularity of digital marketing, direct mail marketing continues to hold a significant position in today’s marketing industry. Over the course of the past 12 months, InfoTrends conducted three major studies surveying marketing executives about their strategies as they move forward in today’s market. One key message from all three studies was that direct mail marketing is here to stay. Based on the prevailing trends, direct mail will continue to play an integral role in savvy businesses’ marketing initiatives.

To stay ahead of the game, today’s print service providers must keep an eye on the trends of the future so they can plan their direct mail services and solutions accordingly. This article summarizes some key trends that print service providers should consider as we move through 2016.

Making the right impression on your target audience means communicating through personalized direct mail. One of the biggest advantages of personalized direct mail is that it can make your customers feel valued. In late 2015, InfoTrends completed a study entitled Micro to Mega: Trends in Business Communications. Of the 800+ enterprises surveyed in this study, over 61% reported that the communications they were sending were personalized or segmented.


Continue reading your article
with a WhatTheyThink membership.

WhatTheyThink Annual Membership

Less than $4/week.

Get unlimited access to in-depth commentary and analysis covering the latest trends, emerging technologies, operational strategies, and key events across every segment of today's printing industry.

Stay informed. Stay competitive. Stay ahead.
WhatTheyThink Day Pass

$5 for 24 hours

Unlimited access to all of WhatTheyThink. Get your Day Pass

Already a member?
Sign In

About Barb Pellow

A digital printing and publishing pioneer, marketing expert and Group Director at InfoTrends, Barbara Pellow helps companies develop multi-media strategies that ride the information wave. Barb brings the knowledge and skills to help companies expand and grow business opportunity.

Please offer your feedback to Barb. She can be reached at [email protected].

Recent Articles from Barb Pellow

It’s an Omni-Channel World… Especially During the Holidays!

This holiday season, savvy retailers are working to meet customers on the channels where they are shopping and buying, whether it’s in a physical store, online, or via social media. This article highlights how various retailers are driving sales and encouraging engagement with multi-channel integrated campaigns. Read More

Differentiating Your Business with Wide Format

Wide format printing is a profitable and complementary product offering for print service providers that are seeking new markets and higher-margin businesses. This article discusses the three key practices for success in this market. Read More

It’s Time to Take the 15 Page a Day Challenge… and Share it with Friends!

This past July, the Paper and Packaging Board launched its 15 Pages a Day Challenge, which encourages everyone to commit to reading 15 pages each day. This article cites recent research to highlight the benefits of reading on paper and also provides information on the challenge. Read More

Industry 4.0 Will be Everywhere at Print 2017

Many historians agree that there have been three industrial revolutions to date, but interconnected digital technology might be triggering the fourth. Print 2017 is nearly upon us, and the concept of “Industry 4.0” will likely be a major theme at the event. This article discusses some of the Print 2017 advancements that are expected to change how print is manufactured, what service providers produce, and who print service providers will become as they transform their businesses to better align with digital technologies. Read More

Pricing Strategy: Labor Theory of Value versus Value-based Pricing

Companies within in the printing industry have historically had a manufacturing mentality—they subscribe to the labor theory of value, which states that the value of a service is determined by the amount of labor that goes into production. Now, thousands of firms in a variety of industries are pricing their services according to the external value created—as perceived and determined by the client—rather than the internal costs incurred in generating services. This article explores the concept of value-based pricing and highlights some real-world examples of companies that are embracing this strategy. Read More