--- title: The Direct Mail Checklist for Success description: September 26, 2018 - Direct mail is a great way to help both front-end and back-end operations. Before you send off your next direct mail campaign, you want to make sure it is fully optimized for conversions. Check out GSM's checklist for direct mail success to help your campaign performance. image: https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20DM_ChecklistHeader-08.jpg --- [![GSM_Logo_No Tagline](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/GSM_Logo_No%20Tagline.png) ![GSM_Lockup_Vertical_White-01](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/Logos/GSM_Lockup_Vertical_White-01.png) ![GSM_Logo_No Tagline](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/GSM_Logo_No%20Tagline.png) ](https://www.gsmarketing.com) [![Contact Us](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4009182/5d8e5119-2b88-45b2-8a83-c34cb991a098.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4009182/5d8e5119-2b88-45b2-8a83-c34cb991a098) #### Digital #### Direct #### Data ### Resources With over 30 years of industry experience, we want to share effective marketing practices and actionable insights for your business. #### Case Studies Read our case studies to see how we have helped our partners. 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[![Watch Our Videos](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4009182/a6bf7b2a-24b6-4602-93c2-53411f62e13b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4009182/a6bf7b2a-24b6-4602-93c2-53411f62e13b) #### Company #### Partnership #### Careers ## Blog ###### 4 min read # [The Direct Mail Checklist for Success](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/the-direct-mail-checklist-for-success) 9/26/18 1:33 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Before you send off your next direct mail campaign, consider the following tips below. This checklist includes big-picture strategies that you can use in all of your direct mail campaigns to maximize your success. **Direct Mail Checklist for Success** [![Download Checklist as PDF](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/4009182/55022aba-d852-4ab8-89ca-ea2682675e0a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/4009182/55022aba-d852-4ab8-89ca-ea2682675e0a)   ![Database_Database 1-4](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Database_Database%201-4.jpg?width=395&name=Database_Database%201-4.jpg)**DATA-FIRST APPROACH** Your direct mail is only as accurate as your data. Make sure your data set is up-to-date and accurate to reach the right customers with the right offer at the right time. Don’t let your database cripple your marketing efforts or weaken your sales intelligence. Nearly 1/4th of your database is inaccurate by year’s end1.   ![Repetition_Repetition](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Repetition_Repetition.jpg?width=395&name=Repetition_Repetition.jpg) **CONSISTENCY IS KEY** Create a direct mail calendar. Sending out direct mail on a consistent basis helps with top-of-mind awareness and also reinforces messaging.     ![ContentRelevancy_Content Relevancy](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ContentRelevancy_Content%20Relevancy.jpg?width=395&name=ContentRelevancy_Content%20Relevancy.jpg) **BEHAVIORAL TARGETING**  Where is the consumer in the automotive customer journey? What are their unique needs during this time? Target customers based on their loyalty to your service department or their vehicle’s current needs. Lack of content relevancy generates 83% lower response rates in the average marketing campaign2.   ![Personalization_Personalization](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Personalization_Personalization.jpg?width=395&name=Personalization_Personalization.jpg) **PERSONALIZATION** Calling anyone out by their name is sure to get their attention! Make the customer experience a personal one; show them you know who they are and you have what they need. Personalization reduces acquisition costs as much as 50%, lifts revenues by 5-15%, and increases the efficiency of marketing spend by 10-30%3.   **![CustomerValue_Icon_Customer Value](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CustomerValue_Icon_Customer%20Value.jpg?width=395&name=CustomerValue_Icon_Customer%20Value.jpg)CUSTOMER BENEFIT** Facts or features aren’t why customers buy something; benefits are. How does your vehicle, service, or part provide what the customer needs? Consider benefits such as reliability, cost savings, or safety.      **![CTA-Icon_Checklist_CTAs](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CTA-Icon_Checklist_CTAs.jpg?width=396&name=CTA-Icon_Checklist_CTAs.jpg)EASY AND DIRECT CALL TO ACTION (CTA)** Your CTA needs to be in plain sight and easy to understand. The consumer should instantly know what to do after reading your CTA: call to schedule a service appointment, book a test drive online, visit your service specials page etc. For even higher returns, consider personalizing your Calls To Action. Personalized CTAs convert 42% better than generic CTAs that appear the same for every visitor4.   ![OmniStrat_OmniStrategy](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/OmniStrat_OmniStrategy.jpg?width=395&name=OmniStrat_OmniStrategy.jpg)**INTEGRATION** Combine direct mail with your other marketing channels – it should not stand alone. An omnichannel, automotive customer journey helps with response rates, top-of-mind awareness, and conversions. Businesses that adopt omnichannel strategies achieve 91% greater year-over-year customer retention rates compared to business that don’t5.     Click [here ](https://www.gsmarketing.com/direct-mail)to learn more about all of our direct mail solutions.       1 Marketing Sherpas, N.D. 2 Constellation Research, 2017 3 McKinsey & Company, 2015 4 HubSpot, 2018 5 Forbes, June 2016 Topics: [Best Practices](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/topic/best-practices) [Direct Mail](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/topic/direct-mail) ![GSM](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GSMG-2-01.png?width=100&height=100&name=GSMG-2-01.png) ##### Written by [GSM](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/author/gsm) ###### [** Previous Post](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/growing-sales-with-front-end-mail) [![](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20FE_Mail_CarSales-01.jpg) ](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/growing-sales-with-front-end-mail) ###### [Growing Sales with Front-End Mail](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/growing-sales-with-front-end-mail) ###### [Next Post **](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/traditional-media-is-still-tried-and-true) [![](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/Blog%20-%20TraditionalChannels_Header-02.jpg) ](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/traditional-media-is-still-tried-and-true) ###### [Traditional Media is Still Tried-and-True](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/traditional-media-is-still-tried-and-true) ### Post a Comment ### Posts by Tag - [Best Practices (51)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/best-practices) - [Conquest (18)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/conquest) - [Data (5)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/data) - [Data Security (2)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/data-security) - [Digital (39)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/digital) - [Direct Mail (7)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/direct-mail) - [Direct Marketing (9)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/direct-marketing) - [Display Advertising (1)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/display-advertising) - [Email (5)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/email) - [Fixed-Ops Marketing (6)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/fixed-ops-marketing) - [Front-End Marketing (6)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/front-end-marketing) - [GSM Culture (16)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/gsm-culture) - [Lifecycle Marketing (11)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/lifecycle-marketing) - [Mobile (4)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/mobile) - [Omnichannel (6)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/omnichannel) - [Paid Search (11)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/paid-search) - [Recalls (1)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/recalls) - [Retargeting (5)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/retargeting) - [Retention (17)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/retention) - [SEO (2)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/seo) - [Social (8)](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/blog/tag/social) ### Featured ### Sign up for updates ![](https://blog.gsmarketing.com/hubfs/Logos/WhiteLogo-04.png) We’re an automotive marketing company that helps our clients win with data-driven strategy, technology, and creative—backed by three decades of working with the best brands in the automotive industry. 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