Direct mail is any promotional item that gets mailed directly to your prospects or customers. It can range from a postcard to a letter in an envelope. It can be a catalog or brochure. It can even be a promotional gift in a box. Direct mail is a very effective form of marketing because it gives you a chance to get your message in front of your target. Literally. Your audience holds your message in their hands, and for a few seconds, you have their attention.

Direct mail is good for prospects who don’t know your name and would be very likely to delete your promotion if sent via email. However, your costs are a little higher with direct mail because of the design, printing, stock and postage involved with mailing the piece out to your intended targets. It also costs money to obtain the names and addresses of all the people you want to mail to. That being said, it can still be very effective, if you get a good response from your prospects and/or customers.