Frequently Asked Questions

How can your marketing postcards break the "are you talking to me" barrier?
Have you ever been able to discard – without looking – at a full-color, jumbo-sized postcard delivered to your home? That first, easily accessible, glance is the magic of postcard mailing. Then if that first glance picks up your name - you know it is really for you. If the card also has a theme of interest to you – focused on the community where you live – with information about events and activates you enjoy – you will keep the card – perhaps put it on your refrigerator door – with appreciation for the person who sent it to you.
Research has shown that a personal salutation increases response. We all enjoy seeing our names. But the same research shows that getting a person’s name wrong actually decreases response. So we have optional personal salutations – where you’re not sure of the name we substitute “Compliments of:” for the salutation.
You can also add a targeted marketing or informational message for each of your “mailing groups" -- with as many groups as you'd like - down to one-to-one marketing. This allows you the greatest flexibility to craft a message most appropriate for your recipient.
All of these features combine to create your best resource for effectively generating leads and referrals!

How do you support your 'more than twice as effective' claim?

The United States Postal Service web site reports that personalizing direct mail can improve response rates from 150-200%. The best study we've seen -- sponsored by the Digital Printing Council -- reported the following:

Conclusion 4: "Adding name only and full color increased response rates by 135% over the Program 1 static, black-and-white mailing. Personalization and color appear to be a double whammy and produce a significant increase in response."

The study did not include the additional impacts of:

Local content

Jumbo size postcards

Highly-targeted marketing messages

Additional exposures (refrigerator door effect)

all of which are available with Vital Marketing's monthly variable-data postcard mailings.

(Click here to read the report -- the conclusions are at the end of the research.)

Why ‘local-interest’ postcards?
Building on shared values and concerns is one of the best ways of establishing trust. People are interested in their community – its activities and facilities. Community-interest themes provide something of value to your prospect and focus on shared interests.

How can I personalize my postcards?
In addition to using personal salutations and highly-targeted marketing messages (see below for more information) for your recipients you have the option, with most postcard designs, use the left half of the address side for any additional marketing information you'd like. This can include your mini-newsletter, photographs and information about your just-listed or just-sold properties or anything else.... If you don't choose to use this space it will contain additional themed content.

What do you mean by ‘exclusively yours’ geographic areas?
When you elect to mail monthly to every homeowner within a geographic area we will reserve that area exclusively for you. That does not preclude another professional from mailing from a personal list to someone within your selected area. We will attempt to let you know about any such ‘duplicate mailings’ so you can decide if you wish to continue mailing to that address.

How do ‘mailing groups’ and highly-targeted marketing message work?
You can set your mailing up as one or more ‘mailing groups’. Each ‘mailing group’ can have a different marketing or informational message that appears below your picture and contact information. You can target your marketing message for each 'mailing group' -- as many as you like -- right down to one-to-one marketing.

Why and when should I use personal salutations?
People are attracted to seeing the names in print – if the name is ‘correct’ (as they perceive it). Personalized salutations increase the response rate significantly. We recommend using the individual(s) name – if you’re confident that it is correct – and having it appear right above your photograph with a salutation. When we’re not sure (such as with the neighborhood postcards) we recommend having “Compliments of:” above your photograph rather than a possible ‘incorrect’ salutation.

Do you have an enrollment fee?
No, but we do have a $29 graphics set-up fee that includes the scanning of your photo and company logo and setting up your personal information to appear on your postcards.

How many months am I committed to continue mailings?
We don't ask for any continuing commitment from you. We are confident that you will enjoy and continue to use our services. We do ask that you read and agree that Vital Marketing’s Service Agreement (click here to read) will guide our relationship.

Can I send you my photo and company logo?
Yes. We are happy to scan your photograph and company logo and you can mail or email any graphics you wish to us. If you decide to email a file to us please check our Graphic File Specifications.

How often should neighborhood mailing lists be updated?
We will update your neighborhood addresses as often as you'd like but we recommend every three months unless you're using the USPS Address Change Service described below.

Can I use my own mailing list?
Yes. If you have your own mailing list, you can send it to us via email or fax and we will make any subsequent changes to your lists for free.

What size are the jumbo cards?
Our postcards are 8½ inches by 5½ inches. Big cards make a big impression!

Can I order cards to mail or hand out myself?
You can order cards to be delivered to you without addressing or mailing indicia. However we can usually mail for you more economically than you can mail for yourself. We are required to charge sales tax on non-mailed postcards plus you have to pay the cost of delivery (to you). Please see our price list for cost and terms.

What type of paper are the postcards printed on?
The postcards are printed on high-quality 13-point (about 30% heavier than typical postcard stock) Printkote C2S (Coated both sides) Cover Stock with a UV coating on the front of the postcard

When can I use one of the alternate postcard designs?

Any month you like - just let us know which design you'd like to mail.

What is the USPS Address 'Change Service'?

Vital Marketing has enrolled in a USPS electronic address correction notification program. Under this approach a postcard sent to an address where a “Change of Address” has been filed will be forwarded to your recipient’s new address and Vital Marketing will receive an electronic notice. We’ll update your addresses, send you a revised mailing list and add $0.25 to your next invoice for each address correction.

Effective November 23, 2008 each address and the associated recipient name used on individual pieces in a standard postage rate mailing must have been checked against the USPS National Change of Address database using a USPS-approved method less than 95 days prior to the mailing date.

Vital Marketing uses the USPS address ‘Change Service’ which is one of the approved updating methods so recurring mailings made within the 95 day window meet the new requirement. New addresses that have been given to the list owner (you) by the recipient within 95 days of mailing also meet the new requirement.

Names and addresses provided by third parties (such as title companies or mailing list vendors) or other lists not otherwise qualified within 95 days of mailing have to be compared to the NCOA database by a licensed USPS service.

Do you offer volume discounts?
Because of our high volume and integrated printing system, all of our customers benefit from efficiencies of scale. Orders of all different sizes enter our production stream and are processed together. This is how we are able to offer the same low price, whether you want to send 20 cards or 2,000.

Does Vital Marketing Ltd honor the 'Do Not Mail' notations on public records?
Yes.

Additional questions or comments?