As a plumbing business owner or operator, it's important to advertise your services to attract new customers and keep your business top of mind for existing ones. While digital advertising has become increasingly popular in recent years, it's important not to overlook the power of traditional advertising methods like direct mail. In fact, direct mail has been shown to be highly effective for small businesses like plumbing companies. In this post, we'll discuss the benefits of using personalized direct mail, in particular, to grow your plumbing business, and provide tips and case studies to help you get started.
Benefits of Personalized Direct Mail
First, let's talk about the effectiveness of direct mail in. According to the Direct Marketing Association, direct mail has a response rate of 4.4%, compared to 0.12% for email. This means that for every 1,000 pieces of direct mail you send out, you can expect 44 people to respond. And that's just the average response rate – with a well-crafted message and strong call to action, it's possible to see even higher response rates.
Why Handwritten Mail vs Printed or Digital Alternatives
So why choose handwritten direct mail over other forms of direct mail? For one, handwritten mail stands out in a crowded mailbox. With so much of our communication happening digitally these days, receiving a handwritten note feels special and personal. It shows that you took the time to sit down and write a message just for the recipient, rather than sending a mass-produced mailing.
Higher Response Rates
Handwritten direct mail also has the potential to increase response rates. In a study by the National Pen Company, handwritten envelopes had a 529% higher response rate compared to typed envelopes. And in a survey by MarketingSherpa, 81% of respondents said they were more likely to open a handwritten envelope compared to a typed one.
How to Leverage Handwritten Direct Mail
Now that we've established the benefits of handwritten direct mail, how can you incorporate it into your plumber advertising strategy? Here are some steps to get started:
Gone are the days of handwriting hundreds of notes for clients when marketing companies like LettrLabs have developed their own robotic automation system to create handwritten mail using a real pen. This technology allows companies to send personalized, handwritten messages at scale. They've developed 60 handwriting styles to choose from and allow for total customization, ensuring your branding guidelines are met.
Plan your Campaign
Decide on your target audience and what you want to achieve with your campaign. Do you want to attract new customers, or remind existing ones to schedule their annual plumbing maintenance? Once you have a clear goal in mind, you can create a list of recipients and craft a message that speaks to their needs and interests.
Write your Message
Your message should be personalized and focused on the needs of the recipient. Mention their name, and if possible, reference something specific about them or their home to show that you took the time to get to know them. Keep your message brief and to the point, and be sure to include a strong call to action, such as offering a special discount or scheduling a consultation.
Source your Data
If you have lists of past clients and addresses or need help sourcing your data LettrLabs can help you target the right prospect at the right time. With our in house data experts at hand we can help you gather lists of contacts simply and affordably.
Handwritten Direct Mail Case Studies
To help you get a better idea of how handwritten direct mail can work for your plumbing business, let's look at a few case studies:
Increased Revenue: Case study 1
A plumbing company in Phoenix, Arizona wanted to increase their customer base and remind existing customers to schedule their annual maintenance appointments. They created a handwritten direct mail campaign that offered a $50 discount on their first service call to new customers and a $25 discount to existing customers who scheduled their annual maintenance within the next 30 days. They targeted homeowners in their service area and mailed out 500 handwritten envelopes. As a result of the campaign, they received 50 new customer inquiries and 75 existing customers scheduled their annual maintenance, resulting in a 20% increase in revenue for that month.
Brand Awareness Case study
A plumbing business in Denver, Colorado wanted to increase their brand awareness and attract new customers. They created a handwritten direct mail campaign that included a personalized letter and a small gift, such as a magnet with their logo or a packet of seeds. They targeted homeowners in their service area and mailed out 1,000 envelopes. As a result of the campaign, they received 50 new customer inquiries and saw a 10% increase in overall revenue for the following quarter.
By looking at these case studies, we can see that handwritten direct mail can be a powerful tool for plumbing businesses to attract new customers and increase revenue. LettrLabs can help you can scale your business with personalized direct mail and still maintain that personal touch through handwriting.
Handwritten direct mail can be a highly effective way to advertise your plumbing business and stand out in a crowded digital space. By personalizing your message and including a strong call to action, you can increase response rates and see a positive impact on your bottom line. If you're interested in trying handwritten direct mail for your business, contact LettrLabs to learn more about how they can help you scale your efforts with their patented handwriting robots.