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Direct mail response rate benchmarks

Direct mail response rate benchmarks

From: Tully's Letters

I received a direct mailing today from a company that wants me to buy better paper for the direct mail campaigns I produce. Inside are a few interesting statistics, which I am sharing here in case you aren't on their mailing list:

  1. In stores, scents can increase sales by up to 350%. Combining aromas with textures and sounds increases customer loyalty by 110%. (In direct mail, I think they're suggesting scratch & sniff) Source: James Murphy, "Concerns grow over marketing's full sensory assault." Medica, June 17, 2005.
  2. Catalog and retail stores are among the most successful direct mail marketers, with response rates averaging over 7%. Source: The Direct Marketing Association, The DMA 2005 Response Rate Report.
  3. Dimensional direct mail posts an overall response rate of 3.67%, compared to 2.77% for flat mail. Source: The Direct Marketing Association, The DMA 2005 Response Rate Report.
  4. Recipients of catalogs and other direct mail have a combined online purchase rate of 28%. Source: USPS, The Multi-Channel Catalog Study, 2004.
  5. 73% of wired households prefer to get information on new products and promotions via direct mail. Source: ICR Research Group, "Connected Households Still Prefer Regular Mail," icrsurvey.com, 2001.
  6. Online shoppers who interact with brands using multiple media spend 30% more than those using a single medium. Source: USPS, Mail and the Internet, 2006.