My Mailboxes Runneth Over

E-mail is colorful. Direct mail is not.
And that's a shame. There's a lot of competition in my in-box for attention, but there's even more in my mailbox. Your mailing can easily get lost amongst the catalogs, newsprint advertising, bills and magazines. Of the 12 pieces of mail sitting on my desk right now, all from nonprofits I donate to, only three are colorful. One is a gift catalog, so it's oversized as well. The other two make good use of the entire envelope, not just the front with the address. The one has a great photo on the back (billboard) side; the teaser under it is a bit of a disconnect, but other than that ... . It also has a QR code printed on the front (this nonprofit has been doing that for quite a while). Clearly it is reaching for a younger demographic without alienating its older, faithful supporters. I hope it's working, because I think the organization is making smart decisions.