People love getting bulky materials in the mail. Once received, there's an irresistible urge to rip open the package and see what's inside. One of the most cost-effective things that you can do to increase your response rate (and business) is to send a CD or DVD in the mail as a promotional direct mail piece. There are many different things you can include for your clients. Plus, getting bulk CDs and DVDs produced is much easier than it used to be even a few years ago. Following is a list of ideas on what to include and some quick tips on getting your CDs and DVDs produced.
Seminars
If you've recently negotiated a seminar that you'd like people to request on your website or that you want to share with your current prospect list, sending a CD is a great way to do that.
Programs Overview / Previews
This is a great way to get people to buy into your next program. Create an information-packed audio that also previews your next program. You can have an offer on the CD specifically for the program that is also for a limited time.
Tips
If you're in a service-based business, some quick tips or helpful how-to's could be included on a CD or DVD.
Video or Audio Message
This is a way of really personalizing your connection with your client base. They like to know that they are doing business with real people. A message from the president or a spokesperson of a company can go a long way. This is great for universities that want to communicate a message to prospects, alumni, or donors.
Video Tour
Have a state-of-the-art facility that should be shown off? Create a video tour and put it on the CD or DVD. This is another great one for colleges. A campus tour could have been included with interviews from current students.
Jingle
Some companies have a company jingle or a university may have a popular fight song. These are great to include on CD.
Mascot Flash or Video
If you have a mascot for your organization, including a creative, fun flash or video with your messaging is a fabulous and entertaining way to connect with your prospects.
Checklists, Worksheets, Calendars
Handy sheets that will help people get tasks done are always great. For example, if you're in the mind care business, have a checklist of all the different types of things that you should apply to your lawn. You can also include a calendar with the times of the year they are to be applied. If there are certain issues with the lawn, a worksheet to determine what might be the root cause is also handy. A school could have a back-to-school checklist and calendar and any financial worksheets.
Product Demonstrations / Photos
A video of a product in use is always a good idea so the recipient can get a feel for how your product will fit in his or her life. Service-based businesses can include photos or videos of the team at work. For example, if you're in the photography business, you could have samples of your different photo examples on the CD. You could also include a video of yourself interacting with clients and deciding what shots need to be taken.
Technical Drawings
Drawings are a great way to help people understand something complex in a visual way. For example, if you're in the medical field and have a device that's innovative, send a CD to other professionals in the medical field to show them how it works.
Annual Report
In lieu of sending out a great big bulk annual report (and in the spirit of being green), annual reports could be put on a CD instead. This could have led to the participation of a corporation or alumni in a college or university.
Options and Sizes
With CDs you have several different options and sizes. There are multiple different shaped CDs. You can always use regular sized round CDs. Mini CDs that are the size of a business card are popular and easily mailed. How much information you want to include on the CD can also determine the size and shape of the CD.
There are also a lot of different packaging options that you can have with CDs and DVDs. It ranges from a simple cardboard envelope to a booklet or special die cut piece that holds the CD or DVD along with other information. There are several options to fit any size budget.
Production
Now that you've decided to have a CD or DVD, what do you do? There are a few production options. You can produce these in-house if you have the proper software and printer. Make sure that you have the right equipment that will give you a professional finish. Most of the time, it is actually less expensive to use an outside resource. There are CD and DVD production companies such as E Media Ink ( http://www.emediaink.com ) that handle production from small runs to tens of thousands to millions. If you want to use a fulfillment company that can tie directly to your online shopping cart system, there are several options for that, such as Vervante ( http://www.vervante.com ).
Follow these ideas and guidelines for using CDs and DVDs in your direct mail to increase your business and your response rate.