Direct-Mail Primer: How to Get Your Envelope Opened

Pique their curiosity with your envelope. As a direct-mail writer, you’re in the business of competing for the reader's attention. Color and size are the most basic ways to get it. Here are some ideas that will liven up your carrier.

Mix up your standard carrier
If you’ve used a No. 10 in the past, try using a 6-inch-by-9-inch, 6-inch-by-10-inch or even a 9-inch-by-12-inch. I’ve found that 9-inch-by-12-inch envelopes are getting opened and responded to much better than the standard envelope. Why? They stand out from the crowd. They do what the other pieces of mail in your mailbox don’t do.