Reviving the Past: The Resurgence of Retro Marketing

In an era overflowing with cutting-edge marketing techniques, one might assume that the appeal of retro approaches has waned. Surprisingly, that couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, the allure of these classic methods has experienced a remarkable resurgence.

The underlying reason behind this phenomenon lies in the enduring effectiveness of these strategies. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly crowded, with countless brands vying for online attention, time-tested methods like SMS, email, and direct mail are making a powerful comeback. Returning to these traditional tactics enables companies to establish more genuine and impactful connections with their target audiences.

Exploring Retro Marketing Retro marketing is a modern term that encapsulates marketing practices originating from two or more decades ago. This category encompasses:

1. SMS (Short Message Service): An early form of mobile communication, SMS allows businesses to send concise and timely messages to customers. These messages range from reminders and offers to surveys and coupons.

2. Email: Despite its age, email marketing remains versatile and popular. It enables brands to deliver personalized, valuable content directly to subscribers. This approach boasts a high open rate and reduces dependence on major social networks.

3. Direct Mail: The epitome of retro, direct mail entails sending physical postcards, flyers, and letters with marketing materials. This method effectively distinguishes companies amidst their competition.

The Effectiveness of Retro Marketing Retro marketing's efficacy derives from its profound impact on customers and target audiences. Several factors contribute to its effectiveness:

1. Evoking Nostalgia: Retro marketing taps into nostalgia, a potent emotion that drives human behavior. Whether it's a direct mail piece or an SMS, these mediums trigger feelings of happiness as recipients reminisce about the past.

2. Fostering Trust and Credibility: Utilizing old-school methods fosters trust and credibility. Customers are more likely to stay loyal, make recommendations, and engage with brands that communicate through these familiar channels.

A Pioneer in Retro Marketing: Duplicates INK - marketSMART For over three decades, Duplicates INK - marketSMART has been a trailblazer in retro marketing. Their expertise lies in helping clients navigate this dynamic landscape, capitalizing on conventional methods to achieve exceptional results. With a legacy of delivering impactful messages, Duplicates INK - marketSMART continues to assist businesses in building lasting connections.

Text 'em All: A Case in Point An exemplar of retro marketing mastery is Text 'em All, a mass texting service. This company thrives by aiding clients in reaching their audiences via time-honored text messages. The inherent effectiveness of text messages stems from their format—unlike emails, text messages are difficult to ignore, creating a direct and immediate engagement.

The Power of Personalization Old-school marketing techniques excel in personalizing brands. Companies leveraging email or SMS stand out from the crowd, capturing their audience's attention. Personalization is straightforward, requiring systems to respond to specific words using specialized software. This approach can yield up to a 4-12% improvement in response rates, according to Text 'em All.

Engagement and Interaction Retro marketing's success lies in its ability to foster engagement and interaction. Direct mail, email, and SMS enable two-way communication, encouraging dialogue between customers and brands. Text 'em All's approach to mass SMS allows for interactive experiences that enhance engagement, facilitating seamless conversations.

Embrace Retro Marketing for Your Success To effectively incorporate retro marketing into your business strategy, consider the following steps:

1. Know Your Audience: Understand your target audience's preferences, needs, and communication style before selecting retro marketing methods.

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3. Integrate with Digital: Rather than operating retro marketing in isolation, integrate it with your digital efforts to create a cohesive approach.

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5. Test and Measure: Employ clear goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the impact of your retro marketing campaigns.

Harness the Power of Retro Marketing with Duplicates INK - marketSMART Ready to harness the potential of retro marketing? Look no further than Duplicates INK - marketSMART. With a legacy spanning over 30 years, our expertise can guide you toward meaningful and impactful connections with your audience. To learn more, call 843-248-2574 or schedule a simple discovery call with one of marketing experts by visiting this link. Explore our website at duplicatesink.com and reach out via email at info@duplicatesink.com. Don't miss out on the revival of retro marketing—embrace it for your brand's success.

5 Sense-ible Tricks to Getting Your Direct Mail Read

In the modern world that we live in, most consumers get constantly bombarded with sensory and visual information through online platforms. 

Over the Last 30+ years our team at Duplicates INK - marketSMART has learned one important lesson about direct mail.  It can be tricky to design engaging direct mail in this landscape that will catch the reader's attention as those online ads do. 

However, 75% of people who receive direct mail can recall the brands easily, as opposed to only 44% of brand recall with digital advertisements. Direct mail can be an excellent tool for your company to use!

Make your company's direct mail stand out by appealing to consumers' 5 senses! It's a creative and effective way to make your print materials memorable.

Use Each of the 5 Senses to Create Unique Direct Mail 

1. Sight 

Visually appealing mail will automatically intrigue your customers.

Use eye-catching designs like foil, metallic features, shimmery ink, lamination/different varnishes, and more options to captivate anyone who opens your mail.

Another idea you could try is incorporating a 3-D pop-up feature or a peek-a-boo flap into your design. Ensuring your direct mail is visually intriguing will lead your customers to check out the message and spend more time with it. 

2. Touch 

Focusing on the customers' sense of touch can be essential to making a memorable direct mail.

Consider using embellishments like debossing or embossing (raising or imprinting letters or your logo) or using textured paper to create a sensory experience for your customers. 

You could also include small token gifts, like pens or stickers with your company name or logo! Tangible items will cater to recipients' sense of touch and make them more likely to reach out in the future!

3. Smell

Research shows that there is a powerful connection between scent and memory.

So why not try including a scented element in your direct mail to help consumers remember your brand?

You could use lightly scented stationery or create a scratch-and-sniff feature on your mail that relates to your product. Or get more creative and include a free air freshener branded with your company name and logo!

4. Sound

Appealing to your recipients' sense of sound with direct mail requires creativity, but it will undoubtedly make your mail piece memorable!

You could print a QR code or include a link on your direct mail design to lead customers to a site with a specialized video ready to play. Another idea is to feature familiar lyrics from your company jingle in the text of your mail to trigger their memory of the song.

5. Taste

Although you are most likely unable to include something recipients can taste in your direct mail physically, you can still give them a 'sample'! 

Include a tear-off coupon for a free sample of your product if they visit your store, or list a coupon code in the mail that they can use online for a free trial.

By engaging all five senses, you can create a direct mail campaign to make a memorable impact and drive meaningful interactions with your brand.

Contact us today at 843-248-2574 or info@duplicatesink.com to incorporate visual appeal, tactile elements, scents, sounds, and even taste-related offers in your next campaign!

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Growing your Dental Practice with Direct Mail use these 5 tips to WIN!

As a dental practice, you know the importance of effective marketing in growing your patient base and increasing revenue. One powerful tool to consider is direct mail marketing, which can help you reach your desired audience and stand out from competitors. At Duplicates INK - marketSMART, our team of experts has helped numerous dental practices achieve their marketing goals using direct mail.

Consistent direct mail marketing is similar to consistent oral hygiene. Just as brushing and flossing every day can prevent dental problems and keep your teeth healthy, regularly sending direct mail to potential patients can help prevent a stagnant patient base and keep your practice thriving. Here are 5 ways to use direct mail marketing effectively to grow your dental practice:

1. Targeted Campaigns Segment your mailing list and create campaigns that speak directly to the individual needs of each recipient. Consider factors like age, location, and specific dental needs to increase the likelihood of converting recipients into patients.

2. Personalization Establish trust and credibility with potential patients by creating personalized mailings that use the recipient’s name, address, and other relevant information.

3. High-Quality Design Create a design that catches the recipient's eye by using compelling graphics, images, and headlines to encourage recipients to take action and book an appointment.

4. Special Offers and Promotions Incentivize potential patients to choose your dental practice by including special offers or promotions in your direct mailings, such as discounts on services or free consultations.

5. Follow-Up Include contact information and a clear call to action in your mailings, and promptly respond to any inquiries or appointment requests to convert interested recipients into patients.

Using these 5 strategies, dental practices can effectively use direct mail marketing to grow their patient base and increase revenue. And with the help of Duplicates INK - marketSMART, you can rest assured that your direct mail marketing efforts are in good hands. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you succeed.

Duplicates INK - marketSMART 843-248-2574 www.duplicatesink.com

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5 Key Factors for Planning a Profitable Direct Mail Piece by Duplicates INK - marketSMART

5 Key Factors for Planning a Profitable Direct Mail Piece by Duplicates INK - marketSMART

Hey there! Are you considering using direct mail as a marketing strategy to promote your company? Well, you’re in luck! I’ve got some tips on how to create engaging direct mail without breaking the bank.

At Duplicates INK - marketSMART, our Expert Team can assist you in making your next direct mail project profitable. Here are five budget-friendly tips to help you craft an effective direct mail piece:

1. Use Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®)

Purchasing a mailing list can be quite expensive, but with EDDM®, you can send your direct mail to one specific mail route or multiple routes without investing in a mailing list. This method saves your company money, and it’s more profitable regarding production costs and postage. Immediate Pricing for EDDM projects including postage HERE

2. Go Bold With Colors

Don’t be afraid to use lots of colors! If your company’s printing supplier does their printing digitally, this won’t increase the cost of printing, but it WILL catch your customers’ attention and boost your reply rates. In fact, 85% of consumers share that color and visual appearance are the most critical factor when considering whether or not to buy a product, compared to text, which only has 6% influence.

3. Try a 2-Way Match Concept

Instead of designing multiple components for your direct mail piece, such as a letter, reply card, and envelope, consider creating a single component with multiple pieces. You could use a perforated line to create a tear-off reply section, which will then be processed as a 2-way match of the letter and its envelope. This will cut down the manufacturing cost of printing your direct mail.

4. Keep it Light

Keeping your mail’s weight in mind will serve your company’s budget well. There are many options for flat items that you can include without raising the cost of postage or requiring unique packaging, such as coupon cards and discount codes, decals or stickers, magnets, bookmarks, and other small goodies.

5. Choose Paper and Envelopes Wisely

Getting creative with your direct mail designs is an excellent idea, but don’t underestimate the importance of the basics. Using text paper, cover stock, and neutral-colored papers can save you time and money. When choosing envelopes, standard-sized envelopes with standard windows will likely be the most available and, therefore, the most cost-effective option.

No matter the size of your budget, Duplicates INK - marketSMART is here to help make your next print marketing campaign successful. Contact us today to learn more about how our Expert Team can assist with making your next direct mail project profitable.

Duplicates INK

843-248-2574

info@duplicatesink.com

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5 Main Differences Between Print and Online Graphic Design

Omni Channel Marketing is a niche that our team at Duplicates INK - marketSMART has mastered.  We realized many years ago that our clients deserved a partner who was well versed in marketing on other channels outside of print.

Graphic design is critical in making marketing effective.

But, unfortunately, you can't just take one well-designed piece and transfer it to another form of advertising. It just doesn't work that way.

Graphic designers are trained to know how to design for the two forms. Here's a glimpse of what they know…just in case you want to try it yourself. 

5 Main Differences Between Print and Online Graphic Design

1. Print is tactile

When you think of print, you think of a more tactile experience, such as texture, smell, and shape.

This lends itself to a different experience than online. When printing materials, you might try letterpress, embossing, or debossing, which reaches out to one's senses in another way than online. 

2. Web is flexible

For print, all information must be presented within the constraints of the printing surface, whereas designers have almost unlimited flexibility to organize, arrange, and filter information for the web.

However, using different browsers can change the web designer's original layout, requiring testing with various browsers and operating systems.

3. Color differences

Color is another way that print and web design differ.

There are different color spaces for attaining the correct color in print versus on the web. You either use CMYK for print or RGB for the web and knowing the difference will make your images and design shine.

You'll need to know how to use Pantone colors to create the colors from print that you want online. 

4. Font variances

Desktop fonts and web fonts are different.

Besides the basic rules, anything goes in print. For example, you want to avoid clashing styles and give plenty of space between letters and lines. Also, cut down on dangling text fragments and focus on creating a clean alignment.

But in web design, you must make sure it is legible online by using sans-serif or an unembellished serif. Designers have less control over how fonts display across various devices, so enhancing readability (as much as possible) is vital. 

5. File modifications

Deciding on a file type is essential in design.

However, before deciding on a file type, you should first consider the destination of your piece. For example, the TIFF file extension is a good choice if you're designing for print because it can be compressed without sacrificing quality.

If you are designing for the web, two file formats will only work: GIF and SVG. GIF offers the ability to use transparency and animation. But it's worth noting that this format isn't ideal for high-resolution photographs due to its limited color capabilities. In that case, the SVG format works best to preserve quality regardless of how it's scaled.

This is the tip of the iceberg in web and print design differences.

Let our expert team at Duplicates INK - marketSMART provide insight on graphic design for your next print project, reach out to us! We would love to help you create the right image for your business.

Duplicates INK - marketSMART 843-248-2574  or  info@duplicatesink.com

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What 7 Special Day-Themed Direct Mail Campaign Ideas for Winter and Spring are you using to promote your business?

Our team at Duplicates INK - marketSMART is constantly creating ways to make your direct mail marketing campaigns more relevant, engaging and effective.  Here are the latest ideas to help you.

Research shows customers are more likely to buy when you get creative with ‘special’ day-themed promotions.

Winter and spring are full of international and national holidays, like the seven detailed below, providing plenty of room and creativity for direct mail campaigns. 

7 Special Day-Themed Direct Mail Campaign Ideas for Winter and Spring

1. Black History Month: February 

Black History Month is intended to celebrate the achievements of African Americans in the history of the United States. 

Do some research to find influential Black figures who shaped your business. Share their hard work and contributions in a flier or brochure. 

2. Valentine’s Day: February 14

A day meant for romance, with romantic partners sharing their appreciation for each other with gifts.

Many also use this day to share their love and appreciation for their friends. 

Remind your customers about the upcoming holiday and suggest gifts to make a partner’s day. Recipients will be grateful you reminded them and provided them with a quick, easy gift idea.  

3. Pi Day: March 14

3.14 are the first digits of Pi, which is why it is celebrated on March 14. 

A day for both mathematicians and pie lovers, Pi Day is the time for mathematicians to recite the endless digits of Pi, which is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter.

Show your business’s appreciation for Pi and pie by sending direct mail to customers on this special day. If your company sells pie, even better. If not, perhaps share products or services your business provides that could make Pi Day all the more special. 

4. Saint Patrick’s Day:  March 17

This day originally commemorated St. Patrick with religious services and feasts; today, it is mainly a secular holiday meant to celebrate all things Irish. 

Get ready to send out lots of green: green paper that advertises everything you sell that is green. If your business has any Irish roots, now’s the time to share that information. 

5. Easter: April 9

Easter was initially meant for Christians to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus.

Today, many traditions surround the holiday, and religious and non-religious people celebrate it. 

Try sending out mail with easter eggs and bunny imagery. On the back of easter egg-shaped cutouts, provide coupons or vouchers for free samples. If you have easter themed products, be sure to advertise them. 

6. Star Wars Day: May 4

Star Wars lovers can be pretty enthusiastic. The day comes from a play on words: “May the fourth be with you.” 

Celebrate Star Wars Day with your customers by sending Star Wars-themed direct mail and sharing any Star Wars-related products or services. 

7. Mother’s Day: May 14

Mother’s day is a lovely holiday meant to celebrate and show appreciation for mothers. 

Have your business show its appreciation for mothers by sending out a mother’s day card with free samples and coupons. Help make mothers feel special. 

With hundreds of holidays, some more well-known than others, your business has plenty of opportunities to create special day-themed direct mail.

Check out a more exhaustive list of holidays to find one that would be the perfect fit for your business. Contact us today to get started on your next spring or winter campaign!

Duplicates INK - marketSMART where marketing doesn't cost it pays!

Duplicates INK - marketSMART - 843-248-2574. or  info@duplicatesink.com

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