Windowed or not windowed envelopes?

[Working First Aid]

Evening all,

When it comes to direct mail campaigns, what type of envelopes do you think get the highest open rate?

- Standard DL size plain envelope with a window for the address?

- Standard DL size plain envelope with the address printed on the envelope itself?

- Standard DL size envelope with something printed on it (image, branding etc)

- A variation of the above?

 

[Pixel Egg]

Evening all,

When it comes to direct mail campaigns, what type of envelopes do you think get the highest open rate?

- Standard DL size plain envelope with a window for the address?

- Standard DL size plain envelope with the address printed on the envelope itself?

- Standard DL size envelope with something printed on it (image, branding etc)

- A variation of the above?

If it helps, I have never had a bill in a non windowed envelope

 

[Working First Aid]

If it helps, I have never had a bill in a non windowed envelope

That was exactly my thinking. Windowed seems easier, but just scream BILL to me.

Thanks

 

[Pixel Egg]

That was exactly my thinking. Windowed seems easier, but just scream BILL to me.

Thanks

On the flip side, Non windowed could scream out spam! Hmmmm. Could be an interesting debate this. Well as interesting as envelopes can get.

Create a font using your own handwriting and apply that to the address' I always open hand written mail!

 

[roydmoorian]

If it helps, I have never had a bill in a non windowed envelope

It certainly saves the embarrasment caused by sending an invoice to the wrong customer and exposing differing rates :redface:

 

[amich]

That was exactly my thinking. Windowed seems easier, but just scream BILL to me.

Thanks

Is it a bad thing if it looks like a bill? Do you want to retain the customer that sees a potential bill and chucks it in the bin, or the customer that opens and pays his bills?

 

[Pixel Egg]

Is it a bad thing if it looks like a bill? Do you want to retain the customer that sees a potential bill and chucks it in the bin, or the customer that opens and pays his bills?

You have a good point amich, but you have to look at the emotions too. As everyone knows, times are hard and a potential bill will bring that person down before he/she even opens the envelope. I'm possibly just spouting off a load of nonsense now but I really think a persons mood affects the ability to take in information and more importantly can affect if a person empties their pockets!

Something in it or just a load of waffle?

 

[MozzComm]

use bright red envelopes with 'FINAL REMINDER' guarenteed to be opened lol

 

[amich]

You have a good point amich, but you have to look at the emotions too. As everyone knows, times are hard and a potential bill will bring that person down before he/she even opens the envelope. I'm possibly just spouting off a load of nonsense now but I really think a persons mood affects the ability to take in information and more importantly can affect if a person empties their pockets!

Something in it or just a load of waffle?

So the recipient is down before he even opens the envelope....but think how up he will be when he opens it to see that it not a bill but some fine, well crafted marketing material.

For a definitive answer, Working First Aid should do a well randomised split test and then report back his results! *nudge*

 

[amich]

use bright red envelopes with 'FINAL REMINDER' guarenteed to be opened lol

Nahh. They'll just think they're from the Reader's Digest and chuck them.

 

[MozzComm]

or put....DO NOT OPEN or FREE SEX INSIDE

 

[PragmatIT]

I suppose it all depends if the mailshot is personalised with name etc rather than Job title. If personalised it makes sense to use windowed envelopes so as to eliminate the risk of Mrs Jones being on the envelope and Mrs Smith on the letter. You could do a trial run with a 50/50 split and track the response rate of each.
Interestingly I once did some work for a collections company who had a trial with their printing company to print envelopes with a handwriting style font. The response was good but the cost was prohibitive

 

[Working First Aid]

Some great replies, cheers.

We have just taken delivery of 1000 non-window envelopes (we had this very discussion last week before ordering).

Will be hand writing every address to try and improve open rates, plus give them a more personal feel.

Of course, it is going to take some time/sore wrists - but spread out over a few evenings the results should make up for it.

Next time I'll try a split test with windowed/non-windowed/graphics to see what works best.

 

[Pixel Egg]

Some great replies, cheers.

We have just taken delivery of 1000 non-window envelopes (we had this very discussion last week before ordering).

Will be hand writing every address to try and improve open rates, plus give them a more personal feel.

Of course, it is going to take some time/sore wrists - but spread out over a few evenings the results should make up for it.

Next time I'll try a split test with windowed/non-windowed/graphics to see what works best.

Blimey, hand written, good luck with that! Also a stamp would be good, rather than a franking mark.

 

[Ding Dang Doo]

Some great replies, cheers.

We have just taken delivery of 1000 non-window envelopes (we had this very discussion last week before ordering).

Will be hand writing every address to try and improve open rates, plus give them a more personal feel.

Of course, it is going to take some time/sore wrists - but spread out over a few evenings the results should make up for it.

Next time I'll try a split test with windowed/non-windowed/graphics to see what works best.

There are some great fonts that look close to handwriting... Surely this would be easier, especially if you have the addresses on a spreadsheet.
Couple this with, as the reply above says, a proper stamp and I reckon that would be your best bet.

If not, best of luck with the handwritten ones... Rather you than me!

Pete

 

[christian_d]

There are some great fonts that look close to handwriting... Surely this would be easier, especially if you have the addresses on a spreadsheet.
Couple this with, as the reply above says, a proper stamp and I reckon that would be your best bet.

If not, best of luck with the handwritten ones... Rather you than me!

Pete

I've just had a wicked business idea if anyone cares to read and act. I wonder if theres a machine out there that can be programmed to copy a humans handwriting exactly and write the addresses on the envelope with whatever pen you feed it? If there's not someone needs to make one fast. If there is, then brilliant as I really couldn't be bothered to 'google' it before shooting from the hip.

 

[Pixel Egg]

I've just had a wicked business idea if anyone cares to read and act. I wonder if theres a machine out there that can be programmed to copy a humans handwriting exactly and write the addresses on the envelope with whatever pen you feed it? If there's not someone needs to make one fast. If there is, then brilliant as I really couldn't be bothered to 'google' it before shooting from the hip.

It's called a computer, you can quite easily create your own font using your own handwriting

 

[Mixture]

I've just had a wicked business idea if anyone cares to read and act. I wonder if theres a machine out there that can be programmed to copy a humans handwriting exactly and write the addresses on the envelope with whatever pen you feed it? If there's not someone needs to make one fast. If there is, then brilliant as I really couldn't be bothered to 'google' it before shooting from the hip.

You mean an autopen?

 

[christian_d]

It's called a computer, you can quite easily create your own font using your own handwriting

I presume you meant using a handwriting font. If you did, you missed my point.

 

[christian_d]

You mean an autopen?

Not sure, but if it can write individual addresses on envelopes and sign signatures with a real pen, exactly like a human and without the effect of a printer then yes.

 

[Mixture]

Not sure, but if it can write individual addresses on envelopes and sign signatures with a real pen, exactly like a human and without the effect of a printer then yes.

They can. Search autopen and you will get the idea.

 

[christian_d]

They can. Search autopen and you will get the idea.

Wow cool, I hope he spent his/her millions well.