Sending information through email to your potential customers can be neat and everything but not very practical if you want to get your voice heard. If you’re asking why, think about how many emails you get in your inbox daily vs how many you actually read.
The point is, if you send an email you risk it falling into a sea of unread mail, vs. snail mail where you know your message at least gets into your potential customer’s hand. You also have more opportunities for customization and bringing in local customers with coupons and special offers. Sounds like a much better idea, doesn’t it?
Here are a few more reasons why snail mail works and why business owners should consider sticking with it.
1. It’s More Targeted
Snail mail allows you to target individual customers in your area and send them offers. There are some websites where you can actually obtain data to see who in your area has been buying products similar to yours and then it’s just a matter of sending out a message to make yourself known.
You can do this with email but the problem is a lot of other companies are doing it so yours will get lost.
2. There is No Competition
Not too many companies use snail mail anymore so you won’t have any competition for a customer’s attention. Even most billing companies have gone digital so the letter that you send is probably going to be the only one that your customer gets.
Due to the fact that they never get letters, this will create enough curiosity for them to read it rather than throwing it in the garbage right away. If you really want to make sure you get your message gets into their hands then you should consider slapping on a certified mail label. You can check out this post from Certified Mail Labels to see if that’s something you’d want to look into.
3. It’s Cost Effective
Sending out a bunch of letters sounds like it would wrack up a huge cost in postage but it’s actually pretty cost effective. Just come up with an eye-catching design, have them printed out in mass, and then send them out.
It costs a lot less than other forms of marketing like paying for an advertisement on a TV channel or radio anyway.
4. You’re Less Likely to Get Filtered Out
There is a good chance that any emails you send a potential customer are going to end up in their spam folder. Most of the emails that end up there just get ignored or deleted.
Your message will be lost amongst a sea of Twitter notifications and news stories that they don’t care about.
5. You’ll Have Creative Freedom
Sending a letter through snail mail gives you a lot more creative freedom because you won’t have to worry about pesky file sizes. You could send a potential customer an entire coupon book in the mail if you wanted to.
Furthermore, you can’t send free samples for products like sprays and lotions through an email. You could try, but it might end in a messy computer screen.
6. They Can be Customized
Not only can you customize the inside of the letter but the outside of it too. You’ll be able to address the letter directly under the customer’s name which will make them more eager to read it.
It also gives you season advantage. For example, if during Christmas you send your promos in bright green and red envelopes with holiday stamps, a potential customer will be even more excited to read it or they might think it’s a Christmas card. Either way, they will at least open it to check.
You can completely convey the tone of your message with just the outside packaging. You just can’t get the same effect with emails.
7. It Can Be Measured
It’s actually very easy to measure how successful a snail mail campaign is. For example, if you send out coupon books, you can measure how many of them were used during the duration of the campaign.
This lets you know if you need to order more coupons for the next one or if you should cut back a little. This will save you money in the long run because you won’t be sinking more cash in a campaign that didn’t work the first time you did it.
8. It Can Increase Your Sales in Your Particular Location
By sending out snail mail to people in your particular location you’ll be able to easily bring them into your physical store by advertising sales going on, sending coupons, and giving out free samples.
By bringing in people you will, of course, increase your sales and be able to keep your business on its feet. Your employees will thank you when they get their paychecks.
9. Increased Trust
As technology increases, so does people’s distrust in it. Especially the older generation who always thinks someone is out for their passwords. They aren’t entirely wrong.
It’s because of the constant threat of theft that people are less trusting of electronic communication. You can try to get potential customers to go to your site to shop but just about nobody is going to click a link they aren’t familiar with.
Also with an email, all you have is a subject headline and most of the time that’s not enough to show people that you are legit.
Why Business Owners Should Keep Using Snail Mail
You may think that snail mail is outdated but it’s because of this that you might find more success in it. Other small business owners are going to be thinking the same thing and so they will put all their eggs in the email basket. This gives you the chance to swoop in with a great letter full of promotions, coupons, and free samples.
Take advantage of snail mail and bring business to your store. Your employees will thank you, and you will thank you.
If you liked this then you’ll love our other business tips! Browse through our business section for more ways to get ahead.
