Myth: Printed catalogs have been replaced by the internet. Fact: Catalog positively impact purchasing behavior. A printed catalog motivates online customers to visit retail web site more often, stay longer and spend more money. In fact, households receiving catalogs are twice as likely to make an online purchase (Source: comScore case study - USPS). A perfect example of this is Zappos.com, the online seller of shoes (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/07/business/media/07zappos.html) sends out printed catalogs to their customers. Aaron Magness, director for brand marketing and business development at Zappos.com in Henderson, Nev. states that lapsed customers have responded very well to the catalogs. Credits: MakingPaperFun.com and ...

Myth:  You can't recycle catalogs, magazines and direct mail. Fact: Most recycling programs accept a variety of materials. Most domestic curbside and drop-off recycling programs accept a variety of materials, including catalogs, magazines, and direct mail.  Over the past 10 years, the recovery rate for standard mail and magazines has doubled to approximately 40% (Source: Municipal Sold Waste Generation. Recycling and Disposal in the United States). Credits: MakingPaperFun.com and Printing Impressions (Dec. 2009).

Myth: A "paperless" office has no environmental footprint. Fact: The environmental footprint of information and communication technologies continues to grow rapidly. Going paperless comes with an environmental cost. Computers, data centers, mobile phones and telecommunication networks are projected to be the largest emitters of greenhouse gases by 2020 (McKinsey & Company). It is unreasonable to compare digital and print media without taking the entire lifecycle of each into account. Each format has a rightful place in the scope of sustainable communications. Credits: MakingPaperFun.com and Printing Impressions (Dec. 2009).

As most people have figured out, one of the golden rules of marketing is personalization.  The concept is simple; show that you care and know your audience.   Sounds simple, right?  Extensive research shows that personalized messages and marketing pieces show increased response rates leading to higher returns on investment (ROI).  Variable Data Printing (VDP) allows you to personalize each individual  marketing piece so that your reader receives something that is personal and relevant to their needs and wants.  On-demand VDP technology allows the personalization of just about anything on your marketing piece. This can be graphics, text or images.  The technology ...

Variable Data Printing (VDP) allows marketers to target a highly specified customer base with the use of specialty data and mailing lists.  Business owners can actually imagine "the perfect customer," the one most likely in need of their goods and services, and then systematically target individuals who fall into the target market category according to an almost infinite number of specifications, including income bracket, interests, geographic area, marital status, gender, and many other types of data.  The beauty of VDP is this:  the more data you collect about an individual, by tracking purchasing habits, collecting survey information, email marketing and ...

Variable data printing (VDP) and digital printing technology allows business owners to target customers more specifically with the aid of specialty data and mailing lists.  With VDP, business owners can define a target market based on income, lifestyle choices, interests, marital status, gender, and an almost infinite number of categories.  Business owners are able to actually imagine the "perfect client," the customer most likely in need of their goods and services, and then systematically and specifically target individuals who fit that description in their direct mail marketing campaigns. These highly targeted direct mail marketing campaigns are even more effective when they ...

  OneIMS, a full-service marketing company in Chicago, IL, offers clients an innovative and revolutionary way to expand the success of direct mail campaigns using their Personalized URL solution. Chicago, IL (Vocus/PRWEB ) March 26, 2009 -- Old marketing meets new marketing. OneIMS, a full-service marketing company located in Chicago, offers clients a revolutionary way to get more out of direct mail campaigns by utilizing Variable Data Printing (VDP) and Personalized URLs (PURLs). Research shows that most people depend on the internet and are more likely to respond to a direct mail campaign if the internet is involved. Their solution, 4PURL, is ...

The emergence of variable data print technology has ushered in a new and improved highly personalized form of direct mail marketing.  Marketers can now opt to contact consumers through a cross-media marketing campaign, directing individuals to access a campaign specific website using a personalized URL (PURL).  An example of Personalized URL would be www.JohnSmith.CampaignName.com. Personalized URLs are gaining popularity in direct mail marketing for three main reasons. 1.     Personalized URLs allow marketers to track responses more accurately - Because each personalized URL is unique to the individual, marketers can track and measure the behavior of an individual client based on his activity on the ...

During a recession, the business owners that survive - and even thrive - are those who take advantage of the unique opportunities of the times.  In a business climate in which many marketers are cutting expenses by slashing marketing budgets, some are using the latest advances in variable data and digital printing to make the most of every marketing dollar spent. In the past, the owner of a brand new neighborhood restaurant may attract customers and increase awareness in the community with a generic direct mail marketing campaign. The business owner might design an attractive and informative postcard inviting customers. He ...

As modern marketing practices become increasingly high-tech and advanced with every innovation in communications technology, you might be surprised to learn that overwhelming research indicates that a standard of the industry, direct mail marketing, continues to be a strong and high-yielding option, especially in today's slowing economy.  Print in the Mix, a  clearinghouse on print media effectiveness, follows marketing data in all areas of print marketing, including direct mail, magazines and catalogs, newspapers, and custom publishing.  According to Print in the Mix, in 2008, direct mail marketing campaigns produced a ROMI (return on marketing investment) of over $15 for every ...

The natural tendency among small businesses during an economic slowdown is to conserve resources as much as possible.  Marketers who begin to see a decrease in sales as a result of troubled economic times may be tempted to cut their advertising budgets in order to make ends meet; however, relevant marketing data reveals that this is the wrong decision in light of research results. Research indicates that businesses that maintain or increase their advertising budgets during a recession experience positive sales growth.  During the 1981-1982 economic slowdown, businesses that maintained or increased their marketing campaigns actually averaged higher growth during the ...

Studies Show VDP & PURL Successfully Drive Up Response Rates & ROI Recently, we have been writing about the benefits of personalization in a marketing campaign.  Today we want to drill home the point further.  One of the main reasons some people may be hesitant to adopt VDP (Variable Data Printing) or PURL (Personalized URLs) solutions is a lack of numbers indicating probable success.  We want to erase any hesitancy you may have. James Mikes, Director of Technology for PODi, said last year that companies generally double their response rates when they switched from a static marketing campaign to a personalized one.  These rates ...