Postcard
Cost-effective and simple postcards are best for brief, clear messages. They work well for reminders, thank-you messages and special offers. Postcards are also an excellent way to contact current customers, who already know about a company’s products and services. Some postal operators offer customisable online postcard creators which significantly reduce the time you need to send out a postcard mailing.
Self mailers
These are brochures that fold into themselves and stay shut with an adhesive tab. Self-mailers make excellent introductions for prospective customers, because they can be full-colour and include thorough details about the company. These are more expensive than postcards but carry much more information and do not require an outer envelope.
Letters
In situations where confidentiality, order forms or the element of surprise are required, the traditional letter is often the best option. The letter can be a single-item personalised direct mail item or part of a comprehensive mailing package which includes business cards, a small brochure or a leaflet for a professional, polished presentation. Letters require separate postage and envelopes, they are best for current customers or highly qualified prospects.
Dimensional mailers
A dimensional mailer, such as a pop-up, tube or box, looks fresh and upscale. They are a compelling option for high-level contacts. Dimensional mailers can be used to give an overview of a company or simply to deliver a unique valuable item which the recipient would like to keep.
Non-standard folded mailers
Accordion, basic, exotic, gate, map, parallel, poster and roll folds. By using one of these solutions, you will make sure your direct mail stands out from the crowd and gets more attention and hands-on time. A large collection of print folding ideas is available on the foldfactory website.
Catalogues
This is a visual format, so design with that in mind. Often, the goal is to inspire readers and have them visit online or in-store. The higher cost of producing high-quality catalogues means that it is best to send them to current customers or highly qualified prospects. Catalogues offer a great cross-selling opportunity, since customers don’t only see products they originally purchased, but also related or new ones.
