A lot of “old-thinking” marketing was built on reaching as many people as efficiently (and cheaply) as possible. Increased printing, mailing, and postage costs have eliminated the economies of scale that used to exist. But that’s not the only reason mass mailings don’t work for most of us. The fact is that these mailings just aren’t very effective. We call them “direct” mail, but there’s not much direct about them.
Sure, some companies “personalize” these mailings by using the recipient’s name throughout the copy. They may even have use specific demographic information to select their lists. But make no mistake; there’s nothing “personal” about those mailings. They’re mass mailings—designed to hit as many people as possible with the same message.
What makes a mailing a direct mailing? The whole idea of direct marketing (including direct mail) is that you have a chance to deal directly with your clients. You engage them. It’s a conversation. If the way you engage them is to constantly bombard them with a sales pitch, you’re not going to build much of a relationship.
You see, there’s a difference between direct mail and mass mail. With direct mail, you can make a direct connection with your audience. And if you’re looking to establish a long-term relationship, or to promote a high-ticket product or service, that connection is what you want.