Design Formats For Direct Mail

Graphic Design Choices for your Traceable Mailer

Let’s not forget about all the possibilities before we begin our graphic design. What format would most suit your audience?

Letterhead Design

Letterhead mailings usually are enclosed in an envelope that is addressed to the recipient. Today we can print custom messages on each letterhead by using Microsoft’s mail merge feature. This makes for a highly personalized mailing. Done properly, you can avoid the work and cost of address labels by using a window envelope.

Postcard

Postcard mailers can be printed on one side or 2. They can be sent out as unaddressed ad mail or addressed through postal services. They are commonly used in real estate.

Reply Mailer

Will allow you to print in bulk and send your printed marketing message directly to selected people. You can send it first class and pre-pay the return postage. The return mail cost is only charged if the receiver sends it back to you.

Direct Mail Package

Direct mail packages are my favorite. They can include several elements intended to announce your business and services you offer. To save money gang all of the elements together and print them on one big press sheet. By combining items they are all printed at the same time with the same plates. Plates and set up in the printing process are where most of the cost is with smaller print runs.

Dimensional Mailer

For generating sound leads and impressing your audience, the dimensional mailer is your best bet. Although this format is expensive to set up and produce, the results are truly amazing. I have seen the best results from this format again and again.

Catalogue

Catalogue mailings are useful for informing clients and prospects on your full product line. Out of all mail items this is the one I think is used the least. In the 80’ and 90’s printed catalogues were widely used. In the late 90’s and the new millennium the internet became the best format to display full product lines. Keeping you ever changing product line up to date is a whole lot easier online than with printed catalogues. That is why they are not as popular as they once were.

Unaddressed Ad mail

US post and Canada post offer an unaddressed ad mail service. Before setting up you ad mail you will want to carefully examine the specifications…weight, size, and thickness are limited. This method of distribution is very affordable and a great way to send out your direct mailer flyers directly to FSA zones,

Coupon Packs

Value packed coupon book are sent to households and businesses to represent savings and value. You’ll often see them in your mailbox. When you open the value pack you will typically find dry cleaners, pizza discounts, local shopping malls, and restaurants. A custom design coupon is very inexpensive to print and distribute because the shipping and printing costs can be shared. This makes it cheaper for each business included in the pack.

Once you decide on the structure of your mailer artwork must be designed to commercial printing specifications. Now you know the most popular formats used in direct mail. Which one is for you?

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