5 Eye-Catching (and Affordable) Direct-Mail Techniques

This month’s DM Deconstructed is on how some simple — or complex — features of affordable, attention-grabbing commercial direct-mail pieces might be an inspiration to direct-mail fundraisers with the goal of getting donors to open those envelopes.

1. Texture
The first example is a rather simple format. A letter-sized envelope, the color is used sparingly, and although the official markings are definitely eye-catching, the real attention getter is the bumpy texture (look closely for the embossed bubble effect). This special envelope can be machine-inserted, unlike the bubble-padded mailer it mimics. It’s also available as smaller No. 10 with a more standard window and with no additional die costs.