Does it matter what size envelope you use in your direct mail campaign? Yes, it absolutely does.
Remember, the envelope is the first thing your prospects see when they receive your direct mail piece. So it is important to choose carefully.
The purpose of the envelope is to:
- Hold the contents.
- Provoke and motivate your prospect to tear open the envelope to discover what is inside.
Size matters
The #10 envelope is a well-tested, response-producing envelope. However, so are several others...
I recently used a #14 envelope in a campaign I created for my client, The Motley Fool. I did this because I really needed the piece to stand out from the highly competitive mailbox clutter of #10s and magalogs. The successful response proved that a #14 does its job to stand out from the crowd.
Is using an unusual envelope worth the added expense?
While a 6x9 envelope will usually give you a slightly higher response, the extra cost associated with postage for an envelope of this size is usually not justified.
The 9x12 envelope will also give you a slightly higher response than a #10, but usually will not produce a better cost-per-sale because of the added cost in postage.
Something else to consider...
These are not the exceptions. The key is to test your envelopes. And make sure that you don't fall into a rut.
If your competition is using a #10 and so are you, it is time to make a change.
If your audience is used to you always sending out the same size envelope, it is time to switch formats.
You can use the same contents and the same copy on the outside of the envelope, but changing the envelope size could rejuvenate your prospects' response toward your piece.
If you would like more tips on how to have a successful and profitable campaign please contact me at 310-212-5727 or at inquire@cdmginc.com. Also, feel free to tell me what you think about this article, was it helpful? Would you like to see more information about this topic?