If your organization is new to fundraising, direct mail may sound overwhelming. There are so many steps to doing it effectively, not to mention the cost of printing and mailing. This blog series will break down the large topic of direct mail over five posts and give you the information you need to make a case for direct mail within your organization as well as the action steps for a successful appeal.
Why spend the money on direct mail in an increasingly digital age?
Direct mail is a tangible way to connect with donors and share the work and need of your organization. Emails, social media ads, and unanswered text messages get lost in the bombardment of messages we receive every day. Marketing firm Yankelovich, Inc. estimates that the average person sees 5,000 messages a day. While digital marketing should be part of an overall strategy, it is easier to scroll mindlessly past messages than ignore mail you physically touch, at least the distance from the mailbox to the trash can. Even these people spend four times longer with your content than scrolling past a post.
You may be wondering how it is more effective to design a campaign, write a fundraising letter, create the mailing list, pay for postage, and send an ask to people’s mailboxes than schedule a free post on social media. In a 2018 study, We Are Social found that organic reach on Facebook is 6.4% of page likes. Meaning, for every 1,000 people who like your page, only 64 see that free post.
One way to increase your engagement and extend the reach of that organic post is through paid Facebook ads. These are a helpful part of a cohesive, multi-channel fundraising campaign. Studies show that the average cost per click (CPC) on Facebook ads is $1.72, and users spend about 2.5 seconds on what you created. The paid ads will increase your viewers, but how does $1.72 compare to direct mail?
The cost for the printing and postage of a four piece mailing—letter, insert card, remit envelope and outer envelope, all in full color is $0.84. Even the people who spend ten seconds walking your beautifully designed appeal directly from the mailbox to the trash can engage with your piece enough to get an impression of your organization. Most people will spend about 30 seconds looking at your appeal, especially taking in the photos, captions, bold print and quotes.
Minimum four to twelve times more engagement for less than half the price? Sounds like a no brainer to me.
Studies show that the average return on investment (ROI) of a direct mail solicitation is between 29-37% and can be increased to up to 67% if combined with multiple channels, including email and social media. Remember the statistic that people see about 5,000 messages a day? One side effect of this deluge of messaging is that donors need to hear the same message between 7 and 21 times before taking action. Spreading the ask over multiple channels where you are already engaging with donors will significantly increase the success of your campaign.
The short answer for the why here is it takes money to make money. Investing in a direct mail campaign will increase the return on your campaign more than a stand-alone organic or paid social media ad.
Fundraising, especially direct mail, is a science. Make sure to follow best practices for fundraising strategy to get the best bang for your buck. Remember, just because there is a science to this does not mean it’s impersonal. You are sharing your story and the need with people who care about your organization. Sharing it effectively with the best chance for a high ROI means you are stewarding the donor’s dollar and your time the best way you can. Donors like that. A high ROI means more time and money spent on the actual mission and less on overhead. Donors LOVE that.
Now that we have built a case for why you need direct mail, stay tuned for the rest of the series to learn how to launch a successful direct mail campaign.
Need some extra help? Schedule a free 20 minute coaching call to assess your organization’s needs for direct mail.
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Read more on direct mail:
Social Media Statistics
Internet Growth Accelerates But Facebook Ad Engagement Tumbles
The Fundraising Authority
Online Giving Statistics
How Often Should You Mail Nonprofit Donors?
Fundraising Letter Audiences
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