Comments on: The Return of Direct Mail…? http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/ Marcom - Marketing Communications :: PR/Marcom Pros Mentoring Students Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:45:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: KatieS http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-756 KatieS Thu, 28 Apr 2005 16:30:34 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-756 I agree with the group that thinks snail mail will not make a comeback. We are so accustomed to the digital forms of communication now. Unless it is a truly innovative piece of advertisment, it seems as though pieces that come from the mailbox go directly to my hand and into the trash can. I agree with the group that thinks snail mail will not make a comeback. We are so accustomed to the digital forms of communication now. Unless it is a truly innovative piece of advertisment, it seems as though pieces that come from the mailbox go directly to my hand and into the trash can.

]]> By: Karen http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-750 Karen Wed, 27 Apr 2005 19:06:28 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-750 I don't know if snail mail will make a comeback for direct marketing. It is just as easy to throw away a letter as it is to delete spam mail. However, I do recall a letter my mom received in the mail. It resembled a wedding invitation and when she opened it, it was announcing the wedding of Cingular and AT&T Wireless. I thought that to be a very creative form of marketing. Had it been through email, it would not have had the same effect. I don’t know if snail mail will make a comeback for direct marketing. It is just as easy to throw away a letter as it is to delete spam mail. However, I do recall a letter my mom received in the mail. It resembled a wedding invitation and when she opened it, it was announcing the wedding of Cingular and AT&T Wireless. I thought that to be a very creative form of marketing. Had it been through email, it would not have had the same effect.

]]> By: Sara M http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-746 Sara M Tue, 26 Apr 2005 13:52:15 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-746 I think Maggie is right...It probably won't make a comeback. I don't think there is anyone who truly likes snail mail. I, too, get annoyed at all of the junk mail in my mailbox and email inbox. At least I hope it doesn't make a comeback! I think Maggie is right…It probably won’t make a comeback. I don’t think there is anyone who truly likes snail mail. I, too, get annoyed at all of the junk mail in my mailbox and email inbox. At least I hope it doesn’t make a comeback!

]]> By: maggie http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-744 maggie Mon, 25 Apr 2005 22:37:38 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-744 I do not think that it could make a come back. We are exposed to abnoxious amount of messages each day (at least I think it is abnoxious) Between the radio, tv, internet, spam, billboards, etc., the last thing people will want is to have their mailboxes filled at their homes and in their e-mail boxes. I find myself throwing away all of the junk mail I receive no matter where it comes. I do not think that it could make a come back. We are exposed to abnoxious amount of messages each day (at least I think it is abnoxious) Between the radio, tv, internet, spam, billboards, etc., the last thing people will want is to have their mailboxes filled at their homes and in their e-mail boxes. I find myself throwing away all of the junk mail I receive no matter where it comes.

]]> By: Lindsay_J http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-740 Lindsay_J Mon, 25 Apr 2005 05:30:16 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-740 I think snail mail could make a comeback, but only if the creative boundaries are broken. Just as with traditional marketing and all the other forms of communication that have been deemed dead or useless these days, anything can have potential when a little creative license is used. The post office will mail just about anything. My mother has written messages on and mailed me everything from a giagantic rubber bouncing ball to a plastic flip flop--and not in a box! Anything that a Sharpie can write on is fair game to her. The postman just places a sticker on the item and into the mail it goes! Items like this that come in the mail could be labeled "snail mail" but are also far from the norm. Again, it's "thinking outside the box" that keep companies alive, and snail mail is no exception. I think snail mail could make a comeback, but only if the creative boundaries are broken. Just as with traditional marketing and all the other forms of communication that have been deemed dead or useless these days, anything can have potential when a little creative license is used. The post office will mail just about anything. My mother has written messages on and mailed me everything from a giagantic rubber bouncing ball to a plastic flip flop–and not in a box! Anything that a Sharpie can write on is fair game to her. The postman just places a sticker on the item and into the mail it goes! Items like this that come in the mail could be labeled “snail mail” but are also far from the norm. Again, it’s “thinking outside the box” that keep companies alive, and snail mail is no exception.

]]> By: CourtneyElizabeth http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-738 CourtneyElizabeth Mon, 25 Apr 2005 03:37:20 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-738 Direct mail may be expensive, but the ability to target specific geographic regions is a definite advantage to this particular method of advertising. I will echo the opinion of my peers when I state that we view Spam as more of an intrusion upon our Internet browsing rather than an informative or eye-catching tool. Nevertheless, they both gather profits, so the practice will continue and evolve. Direct mail may be expensive, but the ability to target specific geographic regions is a definite advantage to this particular method of advertising. I will echo the opinion of my peers when I state that we view Spam as more of an intrusion upon our Internet browsing rather than an informative or eye-catching tool. Nevertheless, they both gather profits, so the practice will continue and evolve.

]]> By: Megan_R http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-736 Megan_R Mon, 25 Apr 2005 00:59:28 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-736 As much as I love getting snail mail, I get so many credit card offers these days that I pretty much toss anything that doesn't look like it pertains to my life. The only time I open up other things is when the envelope is thick or lumpy, because then I think that maybe I'm getting free stuff. So if marketers want me to open something from them, it might help them to enlose a prize or something. Or coupons. Coupons are great. If you print "Coupons Inside!" on an envelope, I'll most definately open it. As much as I love getting snail mail, I get so many credit card offers these days that I pretty much toss anything that doesn’t look like it pertains to my life. The only time I open up other things is when the envelope is thick or lumpy, because then I think that maybe I’m getting free stuff. So if marketers want me to open something from them, it might help them to enlose a prize or something. Or coupons. Coupons are great. If you print “Coupons Inside!” on an envelope, I’ll most definately open it.

]]> By: Claire http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-734 Claire Sat, 23 Apr 2005 14:17:25 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-734 I posted earlier, but am posting again. I think "snail mail" can reach some people...if it is well-planned. Some people are sick of spam and just delete it...most people I would think. I think targeting people carefully with snail mail is key since it is so expensive to send out compared to sending out a message via email. If it isn't well-targeted, it will be thrown out and a waste of the sender's money. I posted earlier, but am posting again. I think “snail mail” can reach some people…if it is well-planned. Some people are sick of spam and just delete it…most people I would think. I think targeting people carefully with snail mail is key since it is so expensive to send out compared to sending out a message via email. If it isn’t well-targeted, it will be thrown out and a waste of the sender’s money.

]]> By: Eric Eggertson http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-733 Eric Eggertson Fri, 22 Apr 2005 21:53:11 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-733 I refuse to take phone solicitations, and I delete the little e-mail spam that my ISP doesn't catch. I've now stopped supporting door-to-door fund-raising campaigns except local kids. That only leaves snail mail, advertising or word of mouth if you want to reach me (and I don't listen to commercial radio). I refuse to take phone solicitations, and I delete the little e-mail spam that my ISP doesn’t catch. I’ve now stopped supporting door-to-door fund-raising campaigns except local kids.
That only leaves snail mail, advertising or word of mouth if you want to reach me (and I don’t listen to commercial radio).

]]> By: Emily http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-732 Emily Fri, 22 Apr 2005 15:02:52 +0000 http://www.marcomblog.com/2005/04/19/the-return-of-direct-mail/#comment-732 Mass Emailing is Dead. The gig is up. I believe that mass emails serve no purpose in todays society unless the recipient is expecting it. The public is well aware of spam. In fact, there is a good chance that a company's credibility could be damaged through this form of advertising. I don't know about ya'll, but when I see a respected brand sending emails, I wonder, "Is business <em>that</em> bad for them?" Whereas "snail mail" may be more effective, the costs go way up, and that method is also useless if it's being sent to the wrong people. My thought is that old school "snail mail" is the best way to get your message across. Mass Emailing is Dead.
The gig is up. I believe that mass emails serve no purpose in todays society unless the recipient is expecting it. The public is well aware of spam.
In fact, there is a good chance that a company’s credibility could be damaged through this form of advertising. I don’t know about ya’ll, but when I see a respected brand sending emails, I wonder, “Is business that bad for them?”

Whereas “snail mail” may be more effective, the costs go way up, and that method is also useless if it’s being sent to the wrong people.

My thought is that old school “snail mail” is the best way to get your message across.

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