Creative Direct Mail Ideas.

1. Hand address your envelopes with both the sender's address and your return address. Letters that are hand addressed as opposed to a computer printed label will have a better open rate as it will look like a personal letter. On the return address, use your actual name and leave off your company name.

If you have a small mail project, this shouldn't be too much of a burden. For larger direct mail projects, there are services you can hire that will do the hand printing for you. Below are a few companies that provide this service. Call them to get a free quote on your next direct mail project.

Services for Hand Written Mail

Write On™ Results - Located in Frederick, Maryland, Write On™ Results provides hand addressed mail and hand written messages to bring you closer to your customers.

Fasprint - Fasprint is located in Malone, New York. They provide hand written notes, cards, and envelopes.

Upper Hand Marketing - Upper Hand Marketing is located in San Diego and specializes in hand written envelopes, letters, and sticky notes.

2. Attach a first class stamp instead of using bulk postal metering. If you decide to have your envelopes hand addressed, the above services can also attach a first class stamp for you.

3. Mail your letter in a plain white #10 envelope or use a colored envelope that looks like an invitation.

Remember, Stealth Mail is a technique to help get your letter opened. It's your job to create a compelling offer inside.

Even if an envelope is identified as junk mail, lumpy contents virtually ensures that the recipient will at least open it up.

Make sure that whatever it is you send ties in to your promotional message. There must be a clever connection between the item and what it is your selling or this trick will miss the mark. I mention a packet of seeds in the above list. This would be a perfect item for a florist or landscaper.

And most importantly, you must have a simple and direct call-to-action. A free download for registering at your website or a free item when they come to your retail store are excellent choices.

Three-Step Mailing Example: The Landscaping Company

Step 1: Send a packet of seeds to potential customers in a hand addressed envelope and letter stating:

"It's time to create the look you've always wanted for the outside of your home. We'll tell you how very soon!"

Make sure you do not provide a return address and do not call out your business name. This will help create mystery. I recommend just signing the letter with your first name and nothing else.

Step 2: A short time later, send another package in the same handwritten style. This time, include your return address but again leave out your company name. This letter might include a printed booklet showing the best types of flowers and shrubs to plant for their specific area. You could include a teaser like:

"Have you planted your seeds yet? The first step in a beautifully landscaped home is designing the proper mix of shrubs, plants and flowers for your specific area. We'll show you how very soon!"

Step 3: About one week later, you send a final letter. You again provide your return address but you only reveal your company name in body of the letter. This letter offers to have a landscape specialist come out and provide a quote on three different levels of landscaping - a budget, medium, and premium service. All the homeowner has to do is call and schedule an appointment or go to the website to schedule. The potential client should understand that there is no commitment to purchase and that the quote will be completely free of charge.

Be sure that your call-to-action is something very easy for the customer to do. You've intrigued and engaged the customer from your previous two mailings, don't lose them now with a complicated multi-step call-to-action.

The above campaign is fictional but it should stimulate some creative thinking for your particular business. Done properly, this idea will generate a very high response rate for your direct mail program.

Traditional direct mail may be dead but creative direct mail will always be a profitable vehicle for the small business owner. Start planning a creative direct mail project today and watch your response rates skyrocket!

Creative Direct Mail Ideas

Creative Direct Mail Idea #1: Stealth Mail

Services for Hand Written Mail

Creative Direct Mail Idea #2: Lumpy Mail

Creative Direct Mail Idea #3: Mail Series

Three-Step Mailing Example: The Landscaping Company