Run a QR Code Campaign and save 6% on Postage

It's time to get your creative juices flowing and take advantage of the USPS discount on direct mailings that involve QR campaigns.  This summer during the month of July and August the USPS will give a 3% DISCOUNT to both First Class mail and Standard Class mail that displays a QR code outside or within their mailing pieces for purpose of  marketing, promoting, or educating mailing recipients.

Young's Printing will MATCH the USPS incentive and will provide an ADDITIONAL 3% DISCOUNT on postage during the USPS promotion period.  All together you would be saving 6% on postage AND also benefit from the QR codes themselves.

"How can I use QR codes?" you ask.  Your offering can provide recipients to on-line content, special offers, and competitions.  Here are a few examples:

1. How about a contest?  Example:

We are currently producing a mailing for Goodspeed Musicals that is promoting "Cutman" at boxing musical at the Normal Terris Theatre in Chester, CT.  This mailing contains a QR code that when scanned by a smart phone will bring you to the Goodspeed's website where you can enter a chance to win tickets.




2.  Do you have a special promotion?  Example:

Macy's  has incorporated a QR code image into their well known red star logo that is showing up on their website, Facebook page, window displays, print ads, and around the neck of every employee. Macy's has successfully created interest with the QR code which when scanned can link customers to special promotions, fashion designers, and or promotion videos.


3.  Are you marketing a product where a demonstration might be helpful?  Why not use a QR code to link to an on-line demonstration video that you have posted to YouTube.  Example:
The German company MyToys.de came up with a very creative way to increase sales on  Lego toy products.  Play the video to see the details of this promotion.

To receive our MATCHING 3% promotion scan the QR code below and print the coupon, or display the coupon on your smart phone at Young's to receive a secret offer.

December Printing Showcase

Today's blog features work produced in December for our clients at MiddleOak, Pratt & Whitney, and Dauntless Specialty Brokerage.

Christmas With Class!

We just finished printing and mailing MiddleOak's Holiday Cards for 2010.

This folded holiday card was printed on Kromekote Canvas12 pt. C1S stock.  This is a premium paper, chosen to have the feel of an actual present.

The gift image and the red embossed ribbon on the card gives it a 3-dimensional look.  MiddleOak's logo is foil stamped and creatively incorporated to represent snowflake-like gift wrap.

Each card is individualized with the recipient's name imprinted in red on the gift tag.

Gorgeous!!!





Branding Extraordinaire

Pratt & Whitney uses their signature eagle logo decals as a branding element in trade shows and on aircraft and rocket engines.  These seven-color, free-form die-cut decals, that is printing in four different sizes, each with eagle feathers extending beyond the circular perimeter to give it a 3-dimensional look.  Young's Printing is proud to have developed this design together with Pratt & Whitney several years ago, and to have printed over a million decals for engine maker so far!

Multi-Channel Marketing That Works!

Dauntless Specialty Brokerage has been using innovative direct mail as a part of a multi-channel marketing strategy that really works.  We just completed a flight of direct mail campaign for Dauntless across several product categories in targeted states around the country.  The campaign begins with printed postcards, which include a free offer for a pocket calculator to increase response rates.  Respondents go directly to a webpage customized for this campaign and the product targeted to them.  Once registered on this page, respondent confirmations and notifications to our fulfillment center are handled through a marketing automation system.

The output of this process, of course, is a highly-qualified list of leads which can then be marketed by the brokerage's sales team, using marketing collateral, phone, and, of course, face-to-face contacts to close the deal.

So, Dauntless has been able to utilize quite a number of marketing channels, all highly integrated, and all driven by direct mail.  Further, the company uses only what works for them, not necessarily the latest & greatest marketing technologies.  For example, they found static web landing pages to
 work just as well as dynamic (P.U.R.L.) ones, at a fraction of the cost. 

Well done, Dauntless!!

Eco-Friendly Printing

Direct Mailing – Delivering your Message and Bring your Customers to your Door

Seven Steps to Direct Mailing:

Step 1:  What's your Offer?

• What are you offering and why do your customers need it?
• What do your customers need to do when they read your direct mail piece to get your offer?
• Does your offer create excitement, appeal to your customers, and make it easy for them to take action?

•  Mail a post card that announces a special sale
• Send a coupon calendar
• Mail a brochure that previews future in-store events
• Team up with neighboring businesses for a block party.
• Mail a special occasion or holiday self-mailer.

Step 2:  Determine how your customers will respond to your offer?

• Do they come to your store, respond to a website, an e-mail, a personal url, use a coupon, send in a prepaid post card?

Step 3:   How will you know if your offer was successful?

• Gather and measure your data
• Track your inquiries and the number of coupons redeemed

 Step 4:  Plan your budget:

• Determine how much you can spend on this campaign.
• Include design, printing, and postal costs.
• Decide if you need to rent a mailing list to reach customers

 Step 5:  Determine your customers and target that audience

• Build your customer data list by using a guest book
• Create a frequent buyer program
• Hold drawings for prizes and gather customer info
• Rent a mailing list from a mail list broker

 Step 6:  Create your Direct Mail Piece

• Decide on its size and format
• Tell your story/message (text)
• Design it:  Make it appealing with graphics and include your logos
• Print - high quality pieces
• Young's Printing can help you with your design and printing needs.  Young's Printing

 Step 7:  Mail It

• United States Postal Service (USPS) can send your direct mail piece by First Class Mail or Standard Mail.  Visit your local Post Office today for details or view their Guide to Mailing Requirements at USPS A Customers Guide to Mailing