It's easy to show your customers that they're appreciated when you're face-to-face with them. When they're not around, connecting with them can be a little more difficult. In today's digital world, emails and social media blasts are a dime a dozen, and direct email advertising can really help your company stand out from the competition. At the same time, direct mail marketing can quickly turn into junk mail if you're not careful. Here are some strategies to help you use snail mail to get your customers excited about your business that can naturally increase customer loyalty and boost sales.

Provide Value to the Customer with a Coupon Code

Your goal is to send out mailers that people are actually excited to receive. That means you don't want to send boring ad flyers that are just going to end up being immediately tossed out. Instead, you can send mailers that your customers actually want to save and use, such as attractive promotional postcards with coupon codes included. The postcard can immediately grab the receiver's attention, and the coupon code can also incentivize them to either visit your brick-and-mortar location or do some shopping online. If possible, you can provide handwritten postcards to give them that extra personal touch.

Include a Loyalty Punch Card to Encourage In-Person Visits

One of the easiest and most effective customer loyalty programs you can implement is a customer loyalty program using punch cards. All you need are some loyalty cards and a hole puncher, and you're good to go. Simply punch the card every time the customer purchases your product or service, then you can offer a freebie when the card is filled. This is a win-win for both you and the customer. You're going to see an increase in short- and long-term sales by customers who are motivated to get that free gift time and time again, and the customer wins because they get genuinely excited to earn the reward. It only takes one or two punches to hook customers and help to keep them coming back for more.

Invite Customers to an Event

There's something special and timeless about receiving an event invitation in the mail. The beauty of an invitation is that it doesn't feel as much like an advertisement, and even if the customer decides not to attend, just being invited strengthens the customer relationship. Of course, if you're going to send an invitation, you have to make the event worthwhile. It can be something as simple as a sale, but ensure the sale is worth your customers' time. Better yet, hold an actual customer appreciation event where you give out prizes, provide entertainment, hold a raffle and just have an all-around fun time. it draws in new customers and increases customer retention. You can even partner with a local charity to really connect with your community.

Show Appreciation with a Gift

Sometimes all it takes to get your customers excited about your company is a friendly bribe. If you want to go above and beyond with your direct mail marketing, consider sending out promotional gifts. Small, lightweight items such as custom magnets, key chains, and calendars or planners are perfect for keeping shipping costs down while keeping customer loyalty up. If you have a large customer base, you may want to prioritize your mailing strategy. For example, you can send gifts to customers who placed recent orders as a showing of gratitude, or send gifts to customers who you haven't heard from in a while to revitalize interest. It really depends on whether your goal is customer retention or acquisition. Everyone loves a freebie, and the relatively low upfront cost is a sound investment in long-term growth.

Your goal is to make customers feel like they're not just another number and that their patronage genuinely matters to your business. A customer loyalty program makes shopping for products or using a service fun, rather than a necessity. It gives your customers something to look forward to when they visit your physical or online store. If you go the extra mile to show appreciation for your customers, they're going to show it right back. Be creative with your direct mail advertising, and always keep track of your mailing list so you don't accidentally send multiple pieces of mail to the same person. Customer loyalty should be fun for everyone, so make an ongoing effort to keep your customer base smiling. That's the number one priority.