Tag Archive for: omnichannel marketing

3 Ways to use direct mail for virtual events

Most fundraising professionals have reaped the benefits of events for years. Whether it be the education, healthcare, or nonprofit space, the value of visibility and interpersonal interaction at events is undeniable.

Thanks to COVID-19, many organizations are struggling1 from both a donor acquisition and revenue perspective due to the loss of in-person events. While some events have been cancelled or postponed, still more have switched to a virtual format instead.

It might seem counter-intuitive to state that direct mail pairs well with a virtual event. How could a perceived “basic” tactic like direct mail compliment a highly sophisticated online gathering?

Here are three ways to use direct mail for virtual events:

  • Use direct mail to send special offers to attendees

Events are the perfect time to engage or re-engage donors with a little extra TLC.

While donors are at home looking forward to their daily walk to the mailbox, it makes sense to utilize direct mail in the wake of a virtual event. Sending a pre-event checklist that donors can hang in their home office or a special promo code2 postcard are some simple and budget-friendly options.

  • Use direct mail as an extra touch point

One of the current weak spots of a virtual events is, quite simply, the competition. While attending a virtual event has many pro’s, the biggest con in this climate is over-saturation.

Using direct mail as an additional touch point can help break up some of the virtual clutter and overall fatigue.3  Consider sending a personalized direct mail invite or save the date, just like you would an in-person event (example here).

  • Use direct mail for appointment setting

Appointment setting is a hugely popular practice of sending an offer to attendees before the event in attempts to connect with them at the show. Usually there is some kind of special offer being teased at the booth or an opportunity to speak to an expert in person.

Direct mail can still be used for virtual event appointment setting. Provide attendees the opportunity to speak with you in a one-on-one chat room. You can also send them a special code to enter your booth prize drawing.4

In short, events may be more complicated for the foreseeable future, but that does not mean they have to be overly difficult. Virtual events exclude more traditional logistical challenges and costs, such as paying for airfare and hotels. Adding the ease and proven track record of direct mail to your event strategy is sure to prove successful.

If you like this post, check out our guest blog spot with the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on how direct mail can cut through the virtual noise in 2020.

Sources:

1 = Harvard Business Review

2 = Impact

3= 4 Ways to Use Direct Mail in the Current Climate

4 = Event Marketer

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Optimizing Direct Mail Programs: Post-Pandemic and Beyond – Tip #3

Tip #3: Better Together – Email and Direct Mail

This is the last post in our special blog series discussing effective ways you can optimize direct mail programs in a post-pandemic world and beyond.

Many organizations that rely on annual giving have embraced an omnichannel approach in their direct mail efforts. Although they are often pitted against each other, combining email with direct mail is a great example of two mediums that are stronger together.

Combining email and direct mail can help maximize your fundraising campaigns by boosting your engagement rates and increasing your ROI. While these two tactics certainly have merit individually, many organizations don’t realize how powerful they can be when paired together.

This partnership couldn’t have better timing from a content, messaging, and outreach perspective since “digital burnout” continues to plague potential donors.

Digital burnout has many variations, including “virtual fatigue” and “webinar fatigue.” It’s easy to overload your constituents with virtual information if you are relying heavily on email in the current climate.

Consider the following statistics:

  • 56% of customers find print marketing to be the most trustworthy type of marketing1
  • 44% of email recipients made at least one purchase last year based on a promotional email2
  • Digital burn out has been on the rise since 2019 and has worsened since the pandemic3

Utilizing direct mail and email together is more impactful than using just one. Benefits of email include quick and direct contact, easy tracking, and the ability to change messaging quickly. Direct mail can be more logistically challenging, but the ethos it invokes is hard to ignore. Why not combine them and have the best of both worlds?

Here is an example from a client who was able to successfully pair these tactics to create a comprehensive spring appeal program:

Pingree Spring Appeal Letter

Email

Although there is still some uncertainty around the future of fundraising, there are many creative and practical ways that organizations like yours can reach potential donors and convey your organization’s message. Analyzing your outreach methods and seeing how they can complement each other is a great start.

What do you think about our third and final tip in this “Optimizing Direct Mail Programs: Post-Pandemic and Beyond” series? We’d love to hear your feedback. Click here to leave us a comment.

Sources:

1 & 2 = Mann & Co.

3 = Inc.

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