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MAIL VS INTERNET MARKETING

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:32:23 GMT

I’ve been interested lately about what sort of response rates companies using the internet for marketing are achieving. We were worried for some time that the internet was going to damage our business because of the obvious advantage of being comparatively inexpensive when compared to the costs of marketing through direct mail.

The interest in this came to me when I was busy deleting the latest batch of spam (and scams) from my computer. So far this week I have forgotten to pick up a parcel from Australia Post and will have to pay a fine to collect it, I have apparently won the lottery in Nigeria and am now a multi millionaire and I have a $500 Bunnings voucher (not to mention Woolworths, Coles, Myer and several others I can’t remember) waiting to be collected.

As I write this I have received a text from The Commonwealth Bank telling me of their latest banking product, I have had messages from Westpac, ANZ and NAB banks informing me of the suspicious activity happening with my accounts. Fortunately, I don’t have accounts with any of them, so I know they are scams.

Oh, I nearly forgot, apparently my Tax return was calculated incorrectly last year and the ATO has a refund for me if I click the link on their email! All I have to do to claim this wealth of riches, or to fix those nasty scammers attacking my multitude of bank accounts is CLICK THE BUTTON. Once I do this, I will be able to retire on the truckloads of cash and prizes I have won!!!

QUESTION: When was the last time you opened an unsolicited email, from an unknown source and CLICKED THE BUTTON? If you are like me (and should be), the answer is NEVER!

I was listening to the ABC the other day and a gent was telling the story of receiving the Australia Post scam, and as he was expecting a package (and not wearing his glasses) he CLICKED THE BUTTON!

To his horror, his screen went black and he was locked out of his computer! Then the message appeared “If you want access to your computer, pay $1,200.00 to bank account X by 10th May and we will unlock it”, followed by “If you don’t pay by the 10th May, the price will go up to $2,400”.

And I have heard similar stories about businesses going into bankruptcy because their computer system was hacked, with the subsequent massive loss of business. I could be a very wealthy man, I’m not sure, and because I like working here at Adelaide Business Bureaux, I’m not CLICKING THE BUTTON to find out! SO HOW'S THAT INTERNET MARKETING GOING FOR YOU??

5 WAYS A MAIL HOUSE CAN MAKE YOUR PROJECT EASIER

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:26:37 GMT

If you’re planning on using direct mail marketing to get your message across then you’ve already made a great choice. Everyone from small businesses to charities and political parties can benefit, and the good thing is that it doesn’t have to be hard.

With a bulk mail house on your side, everything from planning to the finished product can be much easier. So let’s put our message in the professional’s hands and find out 5 ways that they can make our project easier

1. SAY GOODBYE TO MANUAL LABOUR

There are a lot of manual processes involved in sending out a large amount of letters from your office. Who will draw the short straw in your organisation and be lumbered with things like envelope addressing and licking, and letter folding? Before you start advertising for an intern, know that there is a better way. The technology contained within bulk mail houses makes many of these previously manual processes a breeze. With high speed folding machines, envelope enclosing technology, and even inkjet addressing, you won’t have to worry about any of these menial tasks. PLUS, your mailhouse can sort and/or barcode your mail to ensure that you receive the maximum postal discounts available to your packages.

2. PROFESSIONAL PROTECTION FOR YOUR MAIL

Have you ever received a magazine or a pamphlet in the mail that came wrapped in a clear casing? Consider all the advantages that they bring. The use of clear wrap as a packaging medium has a number of benefits. Not only do they keep your delivery dry, they also give off the perception of professionalism and authority. Bulk mail houses can literally wrap your message up in a nice little package that keeps it safe and gets it noticed. A new product on offer is 100% Home Compostable wrap . It contains no plastic and breaks down completely into harmless organic matter when placed into your home compost bin. The film is certified as Compostable and biodegradable to Australian and global standards.

3. AUSTRALIA POST EXPERTS

When organisations are using the postal system they’re usually doing it in bulk and as part of a wider campaign. This makes planning essential and the best professional advice absolutely crucial. As well as turning to your marketing guru, turn to your mail house. These professionals understand Australia Post specifications intimately, helping your message to be produced in the right format and at the best prices. Speaking of price, they will also give you a rundown of costs and deadlines, as well as offering processing and professional printing.

4. THE ESSENTIALS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS

This might seem like an obvious question, but where are you going to get all those envelopes? Getting the essentials for your mail campaign might seem simple enough, but after researching, sourcing and individually buying each element, the costs can add up – both in time and money. Your mailhouse will also ensure that the correct postage indicia for the service you are using appears on your package.

A bulk mail house provides a true one stop shop and end-to-end solution. Not having to worry about the smaller details can really help you focus on the more important metrics.

5. SIMPLY EXPERIENCE

Doing something for a long time doesn’t guarantee proficiency, but when coupled with professionalism it gives you a much better chance of success. When you’re building a new office you turn to architecture and construction professionals and when buying or selling an asset you get the lawyers involved. Choosing an experienced bulk mail house for your project is the same thing. It gives you the peace of mind that only comes with professionalism and experience.

With more than 30 years experience, coupled with full certification as an Australia Post Bulk Mail Partner, Adelaide Business Bureaux is the experienced team for your project. We’re so confident in your success that we’re even happy to give you a tour of our facility.

Call 08 8340 8340 or contact us today to organise a tour or to employ our professional services.

*See " MAGAZINE WRAPPING " for more information on 100% Home Compostable mailing film.

BEAT THE AUSTRALIA POST PRICE HIKE

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:23:40 GMT

Whether you’re a local businessperson or a concerned consumer, you have undoubtedly heard about Australia Post’s changes to pricing and service. The nation’s iconic mail service has reformed its prices and procedures to try and wind back the clock and reverse a massive loss in money.

Headlining Australia Post’s changes is a more than 40 per cent increase on the price of basic stamps and a new priority system for delivering mail. While this could be mean big price increases – particularly for organisations – there are ways around this. By partnering with a bulk mail house to deliver your message, you can continue to save cash.

WHAT’S HAPPENED AT AUSTRALIA POST?

Australia Post’s nationwide network is made up of more than 4000 post offices and 11 million postage points.

As traditional mail goes through a revolution this massive operation has been threatened, resulting in a $222 million loss in the 2014/15 year. In response, Australia Post officially updated its prices on January 4 2016, with the basic postage rate increasing from 70 cents to a dollar. A new priority system also see’s changes to when your letters are delivered, split into express, priority and regular post.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY ORGANISATION?

Services like bulk mail processing and direct mail marketing have always been important to organisations. Whether you are promoting your business, organising an appeal for a charity or simply supplying an information bulletin, these services remain a frontline way to get your message across.

Many organisations choose to manage their mail internally, due to perceived cheaper prices and a low volume.

The postage rate increases at Australia Post will – at the very least – threaten the viability of this internal management, and for some organisations this will become completely unviable.

COUNTERACTING THE EXTRA COSTS

If your organisation wants to cut these costs, consider an external source for your mail management. Bulk mail houses are experienced, professional and knowledgeable teams who can handle your post.

These teams often handle everything from printing, to sorting and barcoding for bulk postage, with a few being fully accredited Australia Post Bulk Mail Partners (an intense quality control system). By acting as a one-stop shop, they cut out the middlemen, providing a service and a price that internal mailing simply can’t match.

The prices charged for the very efficient planning, production, printing and processing services, with the ensuing postal discounts are often more than enough to counteract the Australia Post price changes.

SAVING TIME AND MONEY

How many letters can you fold in one minute? What about addresses – can you write them quickly, clearly and accurately? And can you add a barcode and sort correctly for lodgement? (Both are essential to achieve postal discounts). These are the sorts of questions that you don’t need to worry about when dealing with a mail house. Their tools and technologies ensure that everything is done quickly and accurately. From high-speed printing and high speed folding to envelope enclosing, your friendly mail house will have machinery for everything. Using a mail house limits the chance of costly mistakes, because they will advise on the best size and conformation of your materials to maximise your savings, thus giving you the time to concentrate on your core business. If cheaper and more effective mail sounds ideal to you, then contact the bulk business mail experts at Adelaide Business Bureaux.

Call 08 8340 8340 to talk to an accredited Australia Post Partner and turn price hikes into large savings for your organisation.

FROM PRODUCTION TO POSTAGE

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:20:04 GMT

In the world of professional communication, one thing is certain. It’s not necessarily about what you have to say, but how you’re going to say it. When it comes to your message it’s all about delivery, and when you’re using the post to communicate, delivery takes on a whole new meaning.

Not only does your mail piece have to hit the right notes and be designed to stand out, the logistics behind delivery need to be planned to run smoothly too. If you plan this to perfection though, a mail campaign is sure to have success. Let’s look at some of the elements that will make your message more masterful.

PRODUCTION QUALITY PRINTING

When your message exists in a physical and visual medium, having it look its best is essential. If your design isn’t immediately appealing and professional, it could end up in the junk pile. This is where printing comes in.

Most homes and offices have a printer these days but few of them can match the quality and speed required for a direct mail marketing campaign. Production quality digital and laser printers can produce letters, postcards, flyers and more on a wide range of paper in various sizes. In black and white or colour, the results will be crisp. Not only that, these printers also print quickly, meaning they can meet the demand of larger projects.

ADDRESSING MACHINES

When you’re choosing mail as your delivery method, you’ve generally got a targeted audience in mind. The process of physically addressing envelopes can be laborious and time consuming, not to mention expensive if you misprint a few addresses. This is where inkjet addressing comes in. This process ensures that envelopes are barcoded and addressed quickly and professionally. Not only will they get to their location, but they will look professional when they get there.

BOOKLET PRODUCTION

Are you planning on producing a flyer, pamphlet or booklet? There’s actually much more to these processes than printing and folding your paper, especially if you want to look credible. For things like this, it’s best to turn to a professional. Not only will they ensure the end product is crisp and professionally bound, they will also create a product that’s maximised for postal delivery and pricing.

MAXIMUM MAILING DISCOUNTS

Professional delivery also means the most effective delivery. After all, every organisation has a budget to meet. There are a range of postage conditions that determine the sorts of discounts you can access and these might help to frame your campaign. For example, you can enjoy bulk mail discounts if you’re sending at least 300 machine addressed and barcoded items, and this might encourage you to scale up your campaign for maximum value-for-money. Equally, if you’re eligible for charity mail status you may be able to receive additional discounts.

Partnering with bulk mail houses can earn charities even more competitive rates. If you send out newsletters, magazines or catalogues twice a year or more, you also need to investigate Print Post. Designed specifically for the mailing of these publications, Print Post offers very good rates when compared to Barcoded Presort postage rates.

A final example is unaddressed mail. If you’re simply targeting a specific area for promotional or customer-building reasons, seek advice from your mailhouse on the most cost effective way to do so. Unaddressed mail allows you to gain blanket coverage of a particular geographic area at a very reasonable price.

If you’re looking for printing and mailing services in Adelaide that provide all these benefits and more, look no further than Adelaide Business Bureaux. Give us a call on 08 8340 8340. Contact us today for professional message delivery, covering everything from set up, to production, processing and lodgement for postal discounts.

EXECUTING AN EFFECTIVE DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGN IN 5 SIMPLE STEPS

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:17:29 GMT

In the modern day and age of digital marketing and email technology something as straightforward as a direct mail campaign might seem old-fashioned. While delivering your message directly to a letterbox might seem outdated, it is also highly measureable and when executed correctly, highly effective.

Whether you’re a charity, a political party or another organisation, direct mail continues to deliver results. With that in mind, we’re going to examine 5 simple steps to mastering your mail campaign.

1. START WITH THE SIMPLE THINGS

When people plan these campaigns they tend to get overwhelmed by the large logistical details, overlooking the core steps to success. The first thing to do when planning a campaign is to ask yourself ‘what is my message?’ and what is my market?’ Once you understand what you’re trying to say and who you’re trying to say it to, you can successfully scale your campaign up and down. With direct mail marketing, your message is going right to your audience’s door, meaning what you say and who you talk to needs to be specifically targeted.

2. PRODUCE POSITIVE COPY

Simply having a message isn’t enough, knowing how to communicate it is important too. This is where positive and proactive copywriting comes in. Ensure that your campaign not only gets across your message, but also the direct benefits that your audience can get from this. Make sure your message contains a strong, simple and clear call to action, so people know exactly what to do to enjoy the benefits.

3. COMBINE DESIGN AND PRACTICALITY

From brochures to pamphlets and beyond, a captivating design is undoubtedly important, but remember that you’re running a mail campaign. Whatever you’re producing needs to fit in an envelope and be easily distributable.

The physical factor of mail campaigns doesn’t need to limit you though. Once you understand these restrictions you can maximise your design and enjoy postal discounts. To perfectly achieve this balance, consider working with a professional team who takes care of everything from planning to production and postage.

4. BE PROACTIVE

A direct mail campaign not only goes directly to your audience, you can also use it to direct your readers to other sources. Use your direct mail campaign to lead people to your website, your online campaign, and even physical events. If there are explicit benefits that your audience can access in other locations, lead them there and keep the momentum going. You can couple direct mail campaigns with follow-up efforts too, such as secondary mailing

campaigns or a quick telemarketing survey. This ensures that your message not only gets heard, but that it leads somewhere too.

5. PARTNER WITH THE PROFESSIONALS

From small businesses to large enterprises and organisations; everyone needs an expert on their side. In the case of direct mail campaigns, a bulk mail house and bulk postage rates are one of your greatest weapons.

Businesses like Adelaide Business Bureaux can help you to plan your campaign, and then take care of production and distribution too. Armed with everything from envelopes to digital printers, they will ensure a professional finish for your message, and a flawless distribution. To learn more about how Adelaide Business Bureaux can help you with your mail campaign, call our experts on 08 8340 8340 or contact us online.

HOW TO AVOID CAMPAIGN BUDGET BLOWOUTS

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:09:55 GMT

To the uninitiated, mail processing is a simple process – after all, you just put something into an envelope and mail it. It sounds simple enough, but when you are dealing with 50,000 mail items with fun (or funny) shapes and 16 different protruding angles, just ‘putting it in an envelope’ goes out the window! Most mailhouses offer hand and machine enclosing services, but marketers or agencies sometimes forget that hand enclosing can cost four to five times more than machining.

PREVENTING AN EXPENSIVE MISTAKE

A lack of bulk mail experience and knowledge are the main reasons for campaign overspend.

A simple way to avoid unnecessary blowouts is to consult with your mailhouse from the very

beginning.

At Adelaide Business Bureaux (ABB) we consult regularly with design houses and advertising agencies on client requirements, and we can advise whether it’s possible to mail a particular item.

INVARIABLY WE COME UP TRUMPS AND TICK SEVERAL BOXES:

• Professional end-to-end campaign handling

• A solution that solves the client’s requirements

• Final packaging is creative, and provides maximum impact

• The job fits the budget.

Having been in the business since 1985 in Adelaide, we understand mail processing requirements and Australia Post’s sorting, barcoding and presentation standards.

We will test your mail items for machine processing – and if this isn’t possible, we will give you a quote so you can decide whether to proceed with us. We are also happy to give you a tour of our mail facility in Hindmarsh – just give us a call on

08 8340 8340 or complete our quick online form. Talk to us before you send out your next attention-grabbing campaign.

WANT YOUR CAMPAIGN LODGED ON TIME?

Wed, 24 Jul 2019 13:08:03 GMT

In order for a mail campaign to be lodged on time, we need to stick to deadlines.

Each process in a direct mail campaign involves a specific chunk of time from start to completion, whether it’s printing 100,000 letterheads and envelopes, or personalising the same number of letters.

We often speak to our clients about timeframes and deadlines as part of the planning phase of a direct mail campaign. And often, we’re asked to set the deadlines as we know how much time is required for each process, for example the production of inserts and envelopes, manipulation of data, or the lasering, folding and enclosing of letters. Essentially, we look at the client’s preferred lodgement date (with Australia Post), and depending on mailing numbers and what needs to be produced or processed, we work backwards for specific dates and milestones for our clients. Once deadlines are set, we need every party to collaborate and stick to these! When we receive artwork and assets, we go straight to production and produce the necessary mailing components as soon as possible.

BEST SCENARIO

The ideal situation is when we receive all of the necessary art and copy at the same time. The

production timeframes are governed by the one component that takes the longest to produce. When that piece is produced, everything else should also be ready.

DELAYS CAN IMPACT THE LODGEMENT DATE

However, issues arise when not 100% of the materials are with us and ready for production – for example if we’re still waiting on the finalised logo or signed off text from the agency or client. When materials and assets are delayed, our team discusses all options that’ll make small gains where possible, but the individual processes really can’t be “sped up” as such. The rule of thumb about deadlines is if you miss a pre-determined deadline by a day or two, we will do our best, but we will probably miss the lodgement date by the same timeframe.

WANT TO AVOID A LATE CAMPAIGN DELIVERY?

Talk to Adelaide Business Bureaux today about our direct mail services. Call us on 08 8340 8340 or complete our quick online form and let’s work together for a successful mail campaign. With a plan and milestones in place, we can ensure your mail campaign is delivered on time and on budget.