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Jan 29 2019

Direct Mail and Its Place in Non-Profit Campaigns

There is little doubt that the digital era has taken a firm hold on society regarding interaction and communication. This is most likely due to a combination of circumstances, including technological advancements and the millennial population’s propensity for taking advantage of that.

This is not particularly surprising. What is somewhat surprising, however, is that more traditional methods of communicating tend to fall by the wayside. Letter writing and phone calls have increasingly given way to emails and text messages. The use of direct mail, especially, has diminished, increasingly supplanted by social media and the far more common email blast.  In terms of delivery, both constitute a fast and efficient way to reach a target audience…but is that the best way to convey a message when you’re a non-profit?

Studies suggest that a large percentage of Americans feel that mail is more personal to them than what they read online. Well, when it comes to the communications objectives of non-profits, that more personal flavor is exactly what you want.

Having said that, your message should be personalized, and it should evoke an emotional response. People who are contacted for donations are more likely to donate when they experience a visceral response to the non-profit cause. Just think of the emotional response that you experience when you see those ASPCA animal neglect commercials on TV.  You may well have contributed, based upon the feelings that arise within you when you see such ads.

Clearly, then, employing direct mail represents a highly effective means of reaching and impacting the target audience, but even here the use of one message for various segments of your house list will most likely fall short of your objectives. Your message should be tailored to each segment; previous donors shouldn’t be getting the same message as potential new donors, just as current members should not be approached in the same way potential volunteers will be.

Following these guidelines can go along way in the achievement of the non-profit’s objectives. For more than 20 years East Coast Media has worked with non-profits to help communicate their cause in a variety of cost-effective ways. By providing all the services needed under one roof, East Coast Media is the ideal resource for tying all methods together. East Coast Media’s on-site staff can cross coordinate the website, the direct mail, and the email, so the all-important message of your campaign can be delivered across multiple media platforms. Maximize your message and your marketing dollars with the help of East Coast Media.

Jan 17 2019

How To Save on Direct Mail Marketing After the Jan 27th Postal Rate Increase.

USPS 2019 Mailing Promotions Calendar: postalpro.usps.com

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will implement new postage rates for most mailing postage on January 27, 2019 and unsurprisingly, they’re going up.

Now the good news…the USPS is offering 2019 promotions to encourage marketers to utilize new technology and print techniques that enhance the traditional benefits of a physical mail piece. The Mailing Promotions are designed to increase response rates and increase the mailer’s ROI.

For Marketers, “The Emerging & Technology”, “Informed Delivery”, “Tactile, Sensory & Interactive” and “Engagement and Mobile Shopping” programs are applicable for Marketing Mail with a little help. For more information go to the PostalPro website, or contact an East Coast Media Mailing Specialist.

Which 2019 USPS promotion is the easiest & most helpful for direct mail marketers?

The “Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Promotion” is easy for any Direct Mailer to take advantage of, in-fact many of East Coast Media’s clients are already using these techniques on their printed materials. The “2019 Mobile Shopping Promotion” is a good middle ground for marketers looking to connect direct mail with relatively recent mobile technologies. The promotion incentives mailers to to use Quick Response (QR ) Codes, Snap Tags, and Watermarks to connect with shoppers during the 2019 holiday season.

Full list of promotions

  • 2019 Tactile, Sensory & Interactive Promotion. Promotion Period: February 1 – July 31, 2019
  • 2019 Emerging and Advanced Technology Promotion. Promotion Period: March 1 – August 31, 2019
  • 2019 Earned Value Promotion. Promotion Period: April 1 – June 30, 2019
  • 2019 Personalized Color Transpromo Promotion. Promotion Period: July 1 – December 31, 2019
  • 2019 Mobile Shopping Promotion. Promotion Period: August 1 – December 31, 2019
  • 2019 Informed Delivery Promotion. Promotion Period: September 1 – November 30, 2019

How can I take advantage of the 2019 USPS promotions?

For over 20 years, East Coast Media has helped marketers identify the best technologies for cost-effectively communicating their message. These programs are laid out in detail on the USPS Website’s Promotions Page.
If you want to be brought up to speed quickly on how you can increase your response rates with USPS promotions contact the mailing experts at East Coast Media.

Jan 15 2019

Diversify Your Marketing with Direct Mail


Why is Direct Mail Marketing so effective?

It captures attention!

With direct mail, your message is delivered in a way that can’t be automatically filtered out – so while your email may or may not reach your target, you can be assured your direct mail piece will. You will have the attention of your potential customers for at least a few seconds, which may not seem like much, but with an attractive design this is plenty of time to compel your recipient to read and respond.

With direct mail, your options are endless. You can create a piece that is functional or colorful, that folds out or tears off to grab your customers attention.

It is a call to action!

Direct mail is a personal, in-hand invitation to your customer. Not only is an incentive like a sample, discount or coupon more likely to get a response, but direct mail provides you with marketing that lasts! While a customer may not immediately take you up on your invitation, a printed mail piece offers the benefit of longevity and an opportunity for business down the road.

Of users surveyed by Paper Because, “75% have made a purchase as a result of direct mail”.

It’s sustainable!

Paper is one of the most recycled materials on the planet – more than metal, glass or plastic. It can be recycled many times, keeping it in use and out of landfills. At East Coast Media, we have a huge selection of recycled papers and materials to choose from, so if the environment is a concern in your marketing, we can help – and not only with paper. We also have recycled or sustainable options for poster boards, retractable hardware and pride ourselves on using eco-solvent inks.

Jan 4 2019

Stop throwing out your meeting or event signs.


Try our new View Thru RE-USABLE sign boards.

View thru signs are similar to traditional signs, but we add a magnetically sealed pouch where you simply ‘pull and place’ your message. Each sign pouch conveniently holds 10 pages so if you have several guests, meeting or events in a single day you can change your sign easily.

Because we print and mount your graphics here, we can make your sign as complex or simple as you’d like. We can mount your sign to any of five materials for extra durability or cost savings.

Re-use your board, Not your message with our Peel & Replace Header

East Coast Media’s re-usable boards can be designed with a customizable header! This header area, along with the magnetic pouch give you two areas to display, promote and customize your signage making it more effective. To add this additional custom area, you just simply peel and apply the laminated full color decal to your designated area.

Other areas can be created for an truly customized long term sign solution. Call us at 1800-ECM-1965 and our customer service team will help you choose the re-usable sign board that is right for you.

Why choose View Thru Signs?

– Durable

Your board can be constructed from a number of materials, each with their own benefits.

– Cost Savings

Save yourself the time and expense of printing new signs for every meeting, or several signs for a timed event. Just slip in a new sheet of paper and you’re done!

– Vibrant Color

Our signs are printed using a digital state of the art 8 COLOR solvent printer. They are scratch and fade resistant to hold up, and will stay brighter longer.

– Eco-Friendly

Re-using boards means less non-recyclable materials being dumped. Our View Thru signs have long lasting color and durable boards so you can use them again and again.

Jul 22 2015

Driving Traffic and Selling Cars with Direct Mail


East Coast Media recently partnered with Ryan Ciasulli & the Marketing Team at Springfield Acura in Springfield, NJ on a Postcard Mailing for the Memorial Day Weekend Holiday. The purpose of this Mailer was to try & drive some traffic to their dealership and increase their auto sales. Our creative team offered a few design options that would entice local prospects to “Start Their Summer Right” by seeking their guidance for a New or Certified Pre-owned Vehicle. Ryan provided a mailing list and ECM’s mail team timed the mailing to hit those homes 3 days before the holiday weekend.
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Dec 8 2014

Another Satisfied EDDM Customer

EDDM postcard

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Oct 15 2014

East Coast Media Staying Local

venn

At East Coast Media, we know firsthand the value that local businesses can provide. As longtime members of the Somerset Business Partnership, we build relationships with local businesses that can enhance what we do.

Recently we partnered with an area photographer, Frank Peluso on a new web design project for Mid-State Lumber.

After developing the site architecture we worked with our customer to get their “wish list” of photographs. Mid-State has a large offering of building materials, a generous fleet of trucks, and three far-apart locations making this shoot a challenge – planning was critical. Read More >>

Jun 19 2014

One Design, Many Applications

complete-design-print

Since our early years, East Coast Media has used the term ‘One Design, Many Applications’ to describe our services. We pride ourselves on being a full-service source for our clients to help market themselves. Our diverse staff and range of services allows our designers to take your logo and design elements from one piece and use it across multiple digital mediums – including print, web, mailing and promotional items, and because our designers work so closely together, this can be done more quickly and cost-effectively than using a marketing agency or multiple vendors for your marketing needs. Read More >>

May 21 2014

Bulk Mail 101

Processed Bulk Mailing

Companies across the country use direct mail to communicate with their clients. To save money on postage, businesses can use a qualified mailer to prepare their mailing lists, address their envelopes/printed pieces, and deliver it to the post office. This is often called Bulk Mail. At ECM, we do this for our clients every day!

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Apr 24 2014

USB Drives Take Promotion and Meetings Digital

Custom USB Drive for Trade Show

East Coast Media serves as a Trusted Local Resource for your Printing and Graphic needs, but we also act as a Digital Partner Business in the tri-state area. We recently completed a Project for Custom Imprinted USB Flash Drives for Infinite Conferencing, one of the leading providers of Conferencing and Virtual Events in North America. These storage drives will be distributed to Industry Prospects at their upcoming June Trade Show in Maryland to inform of their core services which include Audio Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webcasting and related Virtual Event Services.

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