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Managed IT Services Managed services December 6, 2022

Direct Mail for Non-Profits: Building Effective Campaigns

Writen by Taeyaar Team

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Non-Profits are always looking to expand their outreach and donor base, but they’re also limited in their budget. One affordable way to do this is through direct mail campaigns to market a Non-Profit, which allows you to reach potential donors without spending too much money or too many resources. To create an effective direct mail campaign, you must follow some simple steps given below.

Define your goals

The goal of any direct mail campaign for marketing a Non-Profit is to get the recipient to take some kind of action, whether it’s a donation, volunteering, or signing up for more information. But what type of letter should you send?. How can you write a compelling call to action?. And how much should you spend on postage?. We’ll explore each one in turn.

What are your goals?. What do you want your readers to do once they’ve read your letter?. It could be anything from donating money to attending an event. Once you know what you want them to do, it will be easier to plan out your message and find images that will entice them.

Research your audience

Direct mail is a great way to reach people who might not otherwise be willing to listen, and it’s a much more effective strategy than email marketing. It’s also an excellent medium for Non-Profits because it helps you raise funds while staying on top of your donors’ interests. When you’re considering how best to use this medium, keep these seven steps in mind:

  • Find the Right Supplier
  • Consider the Target Audience
  • Choose the Right Message
  • Design the Envelope
  • Write Clear Copy
  • Add Graphics
  • Determine How Much You Can Spend One of the first things you need to do when creating a direct mail campaign is determine how much money you have at your disposal.

There are many costs associated with running an effective direct mail campaign, but it’s always better to spend less and have a successful campaign than spend more and have nothing happen.

Develop your offer

The third step in starting a direct mail campaign marketing a Non-Profit is developing your offer. What is the purpose of your campaign? What do you hope to achieve with this campaign? How will the result of this campaign be different than if you did not send out the mail? These critical questions need to be answered to develop your offer.

Once you have decided what it is you want, then it’s time to create some copy or content around it. For example, you can create a brochure, newsletter, flyer, or any other marketing material that goes along with your campaign. Keep this in mind when writing copy or content for your direct mail campaigns. Think about who your audience is and how they will react to the information on the page.

Create your list

The fourth step is creating a list. You can create a list of things that need to be done or the donors you need to reach. For Instance:

  • Pick your audience.
  • Decide on a call to action. e.g., donate, sign up for the newsletter, buy tickets, volunteer.
  • Brainstorm the benefits of that call to action regarding their life or their world (e.g., make their clothes).
  • What is your goal? Increase donations? Sign people up for your email list? Get people to volunteer?

The answer will help you determine what needs to be emphasized in the campaign and how much money you need to spend on it.

Write your copy

If you’re looking for a way to help marketing a Non-Profit reach more people, then it’s time to consider direct mail. This marketing strategy is one of the most cost-effective ways to get your message out and ensure that people see it. You should write your copy so that it is concise, clear, and compelling.

Be as specific as possible in your message; tailor this to your audience. Include a call-to-action at the end, so they know what to do next. Design: With both words and design, you want to create something beautiful but also clear so everyone can understand what they are being asked or told.

Design your piece

Design your piece with a clear call to action. If you are asking people to donate, make it the most prominent part of the design. If you are looking for volunteers, make it easy for them to contact you. The overall goal is that there is no ambiguity about what action the reader should take next.

Also include pertinent information such as when and where the event is happening or if you’re having a fundraiser. How much money they need to raise in order to qualify for prize money. Provide any necessary information upfront. So readers know precisely what they need to do before they finish reading your letter.

Test and measure

The best way to measure the effectiveness of your campaign is by conducting a test mailing. When you send out your direct mail campaign. Create two versions of the mailing: one with a return card and another without a return card. Compare how many people responded (those who returned the card) between the two versions. If there was no significant difference between how many people responded, then it means that including or not including a return card in your campaign doesn’t make much of a difference.

However, if there was a big difference in how many people responded, then it would be better to include a return card on future campaigns. Because you will increase the likelihood of getting donations. There are some organizations that use bait-and-switch tactics. Where they advertise products at a very low price and then switch them for higher priced products when customers come into their store. So you don’t want to do that in your case of fundraising.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, here are the seven steps you can take to build a successful direct mail campaign. We encourage you to take these steps. And then adjust them as needed based on the specifics of your Non-Profit, your mission, and your target audience.

The more that you tailor your direct mail efforts to your specific needs, the more effective they will be. It’s important not to put all of your eggs in one basket regarding marketing strategies. And this is just another way to branch out from tried and true methods.