5 Reasons Why Mailing Lists Should Be In Your Marketing Arsenal

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Looking for a new way to connect with future customers? Direct mailing lists are helping marketers see stellar ROI.  The Print Council and DMNews/Pitney Bowes 2008 Direct Mail Survey reported that close to 40% of consumers surveyed say they tried a new business after receiving a direct mail piece from that business. And an amazing 70% state they have renewed a business relationship after receiving direct mail or a promotional item.

If mailing lists aren’t in your marketing arsenal yet, now is the time. Here are five reasons to start:

Mailing list marketing supports your other marketing and advertising efforts. You may already have a fantastic Web site and Tweet about your latest specials. However, even if mailing lists seem "old school," they offer a customer touchpoint that’s not possible online. For instance, your customers may not see your latest Tweet, or find you in the search results. But they do regularly check their mail. And if your customers do find you online and hear your radio ads, seeing your mailer helps reinforce top-of-mind awareness and show that you are the go-to resource.

You can precisely target your ideal prospect. Why do targeted mailing lists provide such stellar returns? The answer: The ability to specifically target your messaging and send it to people who are interested in what you have to offer. If you’re a dentist searching for new patients, new mover mailing lists introduce your services to folks new to the area. Of if you’re a broker advertising a new property, your mailing list could be filtered by recipient Zip Code, household income and how long ago they purchased their home. You can even target by hobbies, lifestyle interests and product purchases, ensuring that your offer fits your prospects’ profile.

Targeting businesses? Mailing lists make it easy! Mailing lists provide quality sales leads for just about every industry imaginable. Do you offer special, high-tech dental equipment? There’s a mailing list  for that! If you offer time-saving solutions for insurance agents , mailing lists provide your business solid sales leads.

In-house mailing lists help you keep in touch with your customers When’s the last time you contacted your current customers? Sending a direct mail piece to your customers is a great way to tell them about your latest specials - and help them remember your business when they need what you offer. If your list is more than three months old, consider having a mailing list company update your data through NCOALink (National Change of Address.) That way, you’ll know your mailer is reaching the right person at the right address - and you’ll save money on undeliverable mail costs.

Reaching an entirely new market is simple. Sure, you love your local business. But what about gaining new business from across town - or even across the nation? Whatever your marketing goals, mailing lists can help you expand your business horizons, helping you reach customers you haven’t previously targeted. Think about it: If you received just 10 more customers by sending out a mailer to a new geographic area, how much money would your business make?

If mailing list marketing is new to you, don’t worry. Reputable mailing list companies can help with everything from choosing your data selects to sending out your direct mail piece - so you’ll have someone helping you every step of the way.  With the right mailing list and a targeted message, you’ll soon be hearing people say, "I learned about your offer through your mailer..." And those are sweet, sweet words for any marketer to hear.