Every three months, as sure as the sun rises in the east and press operators like coffee, it arrives in my mailbox. I have no idea why.
I don’t think I ever gave them my name. I don’t recall ever having done business with this company. Still...for more than four years now, they’ve mailed me their office supply catalog—all two and a half pounds of it.
I’ve tried to stop it. Believe me. I called, and a very pleasant lady took down our address and promised to take us off the mailing list. That was about three years ago.
In an Elvis-inspired moment, I wrote “Return to sender.” on the piece and dropped it back in the mailbox. But apparently they’re channeling Stevie Wonder … Signed, sealed, delivered. I’m yours!
Uninvited and unwelcome
“I think any mail that comes to me unannounced is junk and worthy of the recycle bin.” That comment from Darrell generated some heated exchanges in one of my online discussion groups, but really, he has a valid point.
Unannounced — “I’ve never done business with you. Who are you?”
Unannounced — “This is not relevant to me at all.”
I know some of you marketers out there will be quoting Henry Ford: “If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” But really, there is a difference between relevant mail and junk mail.
“Junk mail is simply an offer that has been sent to the wrong person,” chimed in Peggy on the discussion drop. “We track direct mail in...” Ah Ha! There’s the problem. Two problems actually:
- Someone is throwing precious money away by sending me this catalog. My company is a small one, and our needs don’t come close to the bulk quantities that are offered by this office-supply provider.
- Sadly, this office-supply provider does not track. And that is even more to the point. After more than four years and at least 12 recycled catalogs, the company hasn’t received any business from me. Yet, it keeps sending me this rather heavy, full-color catalog that I don’t even open.
Hello...I’m not your target group. How many years will it take for you to realize that fact? Even worse, I’m starting to have very negative feelings about your company. And, quite frankly, when I want to tell a story about direct mailers that just don’t get it, you’re my go-to example.
Will they be happy to see you in 2013?I’ve always been a proponent of clean mailing lists. Why would you want to ship your or a client’s direct mail piece or catalog to anyone that is not remotely interested? So, as we approach the New Year and resolutions are bound to be made:
- Clean out those mailing lists (yours and your clients’) and make sure to send only one copy per household whenever possible. The reduction in print quantity, mailing costs and last, but not least, savings to the environment will be well worth the time.
- Stop sending expensive materials (think of the printing, handling and mailing costs) to people who have no intention whatsoever of looking at said materials. Track your results and market accordingly.
- Give recipients a way to opt out—a business reply card, a phone number to call or an email address to contact. Don’t waste your time and your client’s resources. Your ROI will thank you.
