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Bi-fold & Tri-Fold: Is there a difference?

     One of the most effective ways to promote your business is through folded automotive direct mail. They provide more space than postcards while remaining portable. Self mailers expound on your business’ products and services while providing space for highlights and headlines, and for visual elements such as images and symbols.
     An important advantage of custom printed self mailers over other marketing media is the folding options available, improving portability and the capability to better organize your mailers text. We have 2 popular options for your automotive direct mail needs. The custom tri-fold self mailer configuration is chosen by many businesses because it offers six panels when complete, which is enough real estate to lay out your text and images without the end result looking crowded or busy. With custom tri-fold mailers, you can emphasize certain areas of your mailer and also use to your full advantage the sequence in which your readers will open your custom printed mailer. With this folding design, you can arrange your panel headlines from most important to least in the same sequence your reader will be opening your automotive direct mail. It is important for your automotive direct mail to create a professional custom mail piece. The tri-folding of the mailer is done in a way that is set up to be very cost effective. The tri-fold design fits within the “letter class” of mailing which is one of the cheapest classes of mail possible. This type of automotive direct mail is typically trucked to the SCF (sectional center facility). We sort the mail down to carrier route walk sequence, allowing for quick delivery and extra postage discounts.
     Another option for your direct mail campaign is the Bi-fold mailer. Also called a half fold or 4- pager, these mailers are good option when you want your automotive direct mail to stand out a bit from the other mail in your customer’s hand. They are folded to 8.5 x 11 which is considered a regulation “flat size” mailer. They are an effective and convenient style of print that is sure to please. We have found great success in shipping these mailers directly to the DDU’s (Destination delivery unit). With this option, the mail is going directly to you local post offices. No waiting for processing before mail delivery. Because of the additional processing and flat postage cost, this option is a bit more expensive, but perfect for someone who is looking to see delivery faster and more direct.
    

     Whichever option you choose, there are distinct advantages to choosing either option. Let Print Auto Mail create an impacting campaign for all your automotive direct mail needs.

21st Century Slave Trade?

Social responsibility is something that seems to keep coming up in many various conversations and reading material that we have seen lately. Social responsibility defined is “an ethical ideology or theory that an entity, be it an organization or individual, has an obligation to act to benefit society at large.” One of the nation’s largest retail stores has put together many programs to help out neighboring communities, such as giving a percentage of sales to local schools and sponsoring a free museum entrance on the first Sunday of the month. So, when I came across an article that CNN.com had on their homepage Wednesday regarding global slavery and what we can do about it, I felt compelled to pass it along to you.

The article is part of the ongoing “Freedom Project- Ending Modern Day Slavery” from CNN. The article starts by addressing sheer numbers that have captured my attention. Estimates range anywhere from, ten to thirty two million people that are caught up in some sort of slavery today. That’s right ten to thirty-two MILLION! Experts in the field say there are two main reasons for this discrepancy. The first reason is that the people they are counting are, by definition, a hidden population. There is often shame, fear, and embarrassment associated with this issue and those that are caught up in it keep to themselves. “The second problem is more of a theoretical one where the definitions are not specifically in place. We don’t have a common definition as to what slavery is.” I think the most encompassing definition comes from Roger Plant, who formerly worked at the ILO, when he said, “when you get into work or service without the freedom of choice and you can’t get out of it without punishment or the threat of punishment.” The biggest consequence of incorrect data is not knowing the full scope of the problem or where it’s concentrated. This can lead to poor decisions on where to focus resources and how best to solve the problem.

That leads us back to the beginning. What is our responsibility in all of this? What can we do and will our small part really make a difference? We, at PrintAutoMail, know the importance of stopping the cycle of slavery. We contribute and volunteer with those companies that have that in mind. Another initiative that seems to be gaining ground in combating slavery is the fair trade movement, which seeks to govern work conditions and wages. I think when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you educate yourself and resolve to DO SOMETHING!

What about you? What are you doing to promote the general welfare of humanity at large? Leave a post and let us know your thoughts and concerns. Let’s stand together to get the awareness out and DO SOMETHING!!

The Potential of PURLS

The more you can communicate to your customers in multiple channels the better. PURL’s often allow you to capture information via the internet that can be used to help you understand your clients. A PURL is one of the best ways to increase the response rate on your Automotive Direct Mail. PURL stands for “Personal url.” A “url” is a Uniform Resource Locator, or in layman’s terms, a personalized website.

Who is the personal in PURL?
Anyone you send an Automotive Direct Mail piece to will have their own personalized website. This is a great way to capitalize on our narcissistic tendencies as consumers. Because face it, we all love to see our own name in lights. We put on the mail something along the lines of “Attention John, check out your website below for added offers & discounts: “www.BuyACar.com/JohnSample” Every mailer will have a different website with the person’s name included in the URL.

What is the experience like for the PURL user?
•Automotive Direct Mail customer logs on to their PURL
•Fill out quick form of questions & info
•Customer receives a thank you email from dealership immediately
•They receive follow up email correspondence or email from an actual person at the dealership within the next couple of hours

Why would YOU put a PURL on YOUR direct mail campaign?
1. Reach untouched market. The people that respond to mail by walking in the door or picking up the phone are different from the people willing to go online to check things out. It is just one more avenue designed to get you sales.
2. Respondents are in the market to buy. Unlike some typical prize seekers, a great percentage of our people say they are in the market to buy in the next 6 months.
3. Boost traffic to your Website. After the potential customers log on to their personalized website we can set up a link to drive them back to your website letting them look at inventory or pre-qualifying them for an auto loan
4. Genuine Leads mean more automotive SALES. These leads are real and can be tracked in real time. You get an email stating they are looking at their PURL and that gives you the chance to follow up while they are still in the mindset of looking at cars.

This is a great internet marketing tool to use in conjunction with your Automotive Direct Mail that is greatly under utilized. You get a live interested buyer and your customer gets that personalized customer service they are looking for. Contact PrintAutoMail today at 951-461-1400 and ask us to give a boost to your Automotive Advertising Campaign.

Defusing Problems before they Explode

While reading an article interviewing the new chairman of NADA, I came across an interesting statement. Stephen Wade said that one of the biggest complaints that dealers were having is that the NADA was doing too much. It sounded like the proverbial too many cooks in the kitchen problem. In a time where dealerships were being pitted against each other, Wade said one of the things that suffered the most was dealer relations and that one of his biggest goals of this year was to increase factory relations and to see dealers become more profitable. Not a bad goal, right? As Automotive Direct Mail suppliers it is a goal that we share and would definitely like to see.
Our working relationships are so important when it comes to how we do business and what we can accomplish. It made me realize we are all on a thin line between being productive and being inefficacious. Respect is at the heart of building business relationships. It is the glue that holds together the functioning of teams, partnerships and managing relationships. We understand this dynamic and have worked to foster mutually respectful relationships with all of our Automotive Direct Mail clients. Identifying and understanding differences allows people to shift their position to one of compromise and negotiation. If you know what you are looking for it is easier to defuse problems before they start. Below is a list of some of the main differences we see in the business world today.

1. Communication Styles- Not everyone communicates in the same way. It can be difficult at first, but once you have taken the time to figure out how each other communicates there will be fewer arguments and more done.

2. Non-Verbal Communication- Non-verbal communication can include body language, facial expressions, and tone. With this additional understanding of what is really being communicated more effective collaboration is possible.

3. Learning Styles- People learn in different ways. When we understand and utilize a person’s unique learning style it can make communication and understanding easier for all involved.

4. Differing Values- While if communicated and understood, these can usually be resolved. However, there are times when conflicting values can be so different that they cannot coexist on the same team.

5. Company Culture- Different companies have different cultures. It is important to realize this and give new employees time to learn and integrate into their new systems.

6. Individual vs. Team- Taking the time to identify and then address both individual and team dynamics are an important balancing act.

We have implemented these into our Automotive Direct Mail teams and have seen success when we identify the issue and take a minute to see it from the other side. I hope these help you in all your business needs and if we can do anything to help in your Automotive Advertising please feel free to email or call us at 951-461-1400.

We look forward to building a Team Relationship with YOU!

Get More Product for Less Price

It is not very often that we hear this phrase, especially in the Automotive Direct Mail world, but that is exactly what Volkswagen announced this week with its new Passat. The company will start making these cars in their new Chattanooga, TN plant early in the second quarter and that has allowed them to drop their price tag by almost $7,000. Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America said, “The Passat will become our second-best-selling car behind the Jetta sedan. In addition to the price difference between the German made and American made Passat, there will be a few design differences specifically for American buyers. The American made Passat will have a longer wheel base, which in turn gives more leg room in the back seat. There will be various trim and equipment levels along with 3 different engines to choose from.

We too often fool ourselves into thinking that in order to get more, we have to pay more. In this day with technology being what it is, we at Print•Auto•Mail utilize our many years of experience in the Automotive Direct Mail industry to better further the response rates of your Direct Mail Campaigns. Our proven methods bypass the often “search for best priced” mentality that comes with organic marketing. Using our Automotive Internet Marketing Campaigns our automotive dealers are seeing a higher gross per vehicle sold than most of your generic advertising methods. We have found a way for you to do more and pay less!

Contact Print•Auto•Mail today to get started on your Next Campaign @ 951-461-1400

Are you in Danger of Being Fined?

Is your dealership FTC compliant with the new laws taking effect?

As an Automotive Direct Mail Company, we are all too familiar with the rules and regulations put in place to insure safe business practices. Whether it is insurance regulations, credit score reporting, or postal parameters- our goal is to make your Automotive Direct Mail campaign run smoothly without headaches and with full compliance. As businesses get more adept at trying to fool the customer, the FTC is getting stricter on retailers. January 1st brought the official start of some of the biggest regulation updates aimed to protect the consumer. Although some of these laws have been in effect since 2008, the Federal Trade Commission is entering the enforcement phase.

1. Red Flag Rule: Intends to prevent identity theft by demanding business to set up policies that will “red flag” indicators of identity theft and then put together procedures in response.

2. Risk-based pricing Rule: Intends to help people with lower credit scores to get the best financing possible by requiring companies to give out a notice with credit pulls to explain special issues.

3. Model Privacy Notice: This aims to universalize the paperwork that explains how businesses collect and share customer information.

While no flat number can be given as to the costs of implementing these new rules, it is certainly taking up dealerships time and resources. Non-compliance could be much more costly, with fines of up to $2500 along with state lawsuits. Compliance sweeps are expected but only the FTC knows when and how through they will turn out to be. There also are a few regulations that are still out for discussion that could be put into practice as early as 2011. With all the what-ifs, you should feel confident that your Automotive Direct Mail company is working hard for you. Let PrintAutoMail earn your trust and loyalty this year so you have one less thing to worry about.

What about you? Are you finding the compliance of these three rules already easily implemented, working out the kinks, or still struggling to completely catch up to be where you need to be? Let us know what you think.

Why your online marketing campaign may not be as successful as you would like

It seems like every time I turn around I hear someone say. “There’s an app for that!” I would be hard pressed to find 5 other words that so acutely articulate the trend of advertising and marketing today. People are in motion, they are latching on to social media websites like there is no tomorrow. All of these statistics are out there and you can no longer ignore the fact that there is a new way to be advertising and integrating your marketing. The question you need to be asking yourself is “How do I turn this trend into increasing my ROI (return on investment) for my dealership?”
You have probably heard something about Multi Channel Marketing. It is simple stated as, “the ability to drive marketing through more than one channel”. This is something most marketers have certainly achieved. The next level in your Automotive Internet Marketing plan should be to include Cross Channel Marketing. It is used by driving a single campaign with a consistent message that is coordinated across all forms of marketing channels. It is no longer sufficient to say that you have used email marketing and Automotive Direct Mail. To optimize your customer’s experience, there is a huge benefit in hitting them with consistent communication. It is time to delve into the world of Cross Channel Marketing or fear losing your potential clients to the guy next door who is.
Even if you are using various forms of Automotive Internet Marketing, there are often problems that are cause by lack of coordination. Using multiple vendors or sites make if difficult to track interactions within your promotion. Each different channel has specific and unique goals and attributes that must be taken into consideration when producing your Automotive Internet Marketing Campaign. We can no longer afford to treat each form independently but rather use a centrally designed driver and synchronize all the channels. Companies like PrintAutoMail have been able to catch on to this vision and are successfully integrating traditional forms of Automotive Direct Mail Advertising with the emerging Cross Channel Marketing.
A Cross Channel Marketing platform greatly simplifies the execution of cross-channel campaigns, enabling marketers to essentially create single campaigns that are duplicated across a variety of means of expressions. Content, graphics, and offers remain homogeneous. Campaigns are coordinated across the channels. The move to Cross Channel Marketing is becoming more vital to a businesses success and their ability to reach their customers who are increasingly on the move and turning to these forms of communication it their work, play and everything in between. In the New Year it is as important as ever to make sure you are doing everything you can to reach every customer possible. Explore all the options that Cross Channel Marketing allows for you.
Contact PrintAutoMail Today @800-340-5885.

Easy Proven Steps for Success in 2011

Revamp your Business Plan
Researchers say we are technically out of the recession and the economy is growing. Albeit it is not nearly as fast as anyone would like, but we still must acknowledge that fact. To stay still is to die a slow death. Now is the time to rework your business plan and take the steps to move to the next level. Find the best ways for you to find new business and take the time to evaluate and re-examine often-keeping what is working and leaving the rest behind. Growth requires change and moving forward.

Find New Ways to Excite Employees and Customers
A well thought out bonus program can help focus your staff’s attention on key metrics such as sales, profits, productivity, and customer satisfaction. Find ways to get people excited to come to work- have a contest, play a game- there are many ways to energize your employees that are just out of the realm of what is normal but enough to shake things up and get the juices flowing.

Explore New Channels
When the market down turned a few years ago, business understandably went after the cheapest available options for advertising. Now, with the uphill shift we can see the change in the market. Successful companies are letting go of single path marketing and jumping feet first to all forms of marketing. That is where companies like Print Auto Mail excel by taking away the fear of the unknown and set you up with a budget incorpomulti channel marketing rating many conduits for your marketing program.

Diversify your Marketing Spending
A recent study shows that 80 percent of consumers rely on more than one channel when making a purchase decision. It is not just about recurrence. A potential client needs to see you in different aspects. We need to make sure your marketing budget includes all forms of advertising from automotive direct mail, SEM, radio, point of sale visuals. We need to remember that people generally have one type of learning style- either by seeing, hearing, or doing. They will most likely be enticed to buy that same way. Are you covering all 3 ways when you advertise to potential customers?

Free Million Dollar Roll

FREE Shipping, FREE Nights Stay, Buy one Get one FREE. Admit it; we all love to get things for free. We wait in long lines, shop at specific times and stores, and sometimes even fill out forms and rebates to insure that we are getting our free gift. Imagine being able to tell your customer that they not only get a FREE trip to Las Vegas, but during that trip have a chance to win $1,000,000. That is exactly what you can do with our new premium giveaway called the new Million Dollar Roll. Our new promotion hits the very heart of each of souls. It combines the desire for instant win, free travel, and a second chance. Know what type of Automotive Direct Mail you are doing, your customers are wanting a free gift and a chance to win a ton of cash! It appeals to all of our senses. It is sure to drive in customers!
How it works:
• 25K Cash- Chance for customers to instantly win. Each card has the possibility to be a winner.
• Trip to Las Vegas- enter pin on our secure website to see if you win the trip to try for 1 Million Dollars
• FREE Gift- customers can choose one of 7 hard premiums that will be shipped to their door-free of cost.
• Second chance- Drawing for the trip to Vegas- customers are automatically entered when they choose their gift

This is a package that is sure to enhance any Automotive Direct Mail you are doing. It goes beyond the same old business automotive promotional gifts that everyone is doing and takes it to the next level. Call us for more info on how this promotion can start working for you and a chance to demo the program.

Print Auto Mail
800-340-5885

Move Foward or Get Left Behind

While auto makers are in no way forgoing traditional car making, there is a definite shift towards making newer, more effective electric and hybrid cars. As evidenced in an article by Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield, Mitsubishi can now claim the top spot in sales for the world’s best selling EV with the i-Miev electric car. Rolling out 5000 units from its Japanese factory alone and surpassing previous record holder Think City’s 2500 units, they have not even begun to start selling the European or American markets. Mitsubishi will make a few body design changes and ensure it is better equipped before selling it to the American marketplace. Nissan is following suit with its new 2011 Leaf.
With this new push to get in the electric vehicle market, I can’t help to think about how not that long ago electric cars, hand held computers, and wireless telecommunications were things of science fiction and fantasy. But with the emergence of these brings forth a change in how we all do business. It is either adapt and move forward into the future or get left behind.
There is definitely a similar trend moving people away from tradition marketing to more digital and technology driven forms of advertising. Just as large auto makers would be called crazy if they suddenly stopped making gas driven cars, trucks and SUV’s, and focused solely on the production of EV’s, it seems that is what some companies have done as far as advertising. Completely abandoning old, reliable forms of advertising, they test the waters with this new digital means. What a waste; there is no reason we can not have the best of both worlds. There is room for growth and forward motion while still utilizing the great print world of the past. We have found the perfect balance of integrating print and direct mail with the emerging Automotive Internet Markets. It’s a fine line between staying rooted in the past and moving out beyond the crowd into a new world.