So, What Exactly Is Retention Mail?
Retention mail is basically your business’ way of saying, “Hey, remember me?” to past customers. Instead of spamming their inbox, you’re showing up in their actual mailbox…the one that sits outside, next to the Amazon packages and the pizza coupons.
And, guess what? Direct mail gets significantly more attention than email. It can reach up to 90% more customers and score open rates that email marketers dream about.
Why It Works Better Than Email
Think about it: when was the last time you opened every single email in your inbox? Emails are easy to ignore. But, a real piece of mail? You almost always look at it, even just to determine if it’s to keep or for the recycle bin. That tiny moment of attention is all it takes for your message to stick.
How Autoflow Makes It Easy
Autoflow has a tool called the CRM Marketing Module (basically the control center for your mail magic). If you’re using Tekmetric, Omnique, Protractor, or NAPA TRACS, you can plug right in.
Here’s where it gets creative:
- You get to choose between postcards or letters. Postcards are like the friendly wave across the street; letters are more like, “Sit down, let’s talk.”
- You can dress them up in different envelope styles—single-window, double-window, full-window. Think of it like choosing outfits for your message.
- Every piece gets its own QR code, like a little “scan me” button. Customers scan it with their phone, and you get to see who’s paying attention.
Proof It’s Not Just Hype
Let’s talk results and potential ROI:
- Specialty Auto Shop: Sent 3,500 postcards, pulled in 40 solid leads, and made about $8,000 in sales. That’s a 470% ROI. Not bad for some fancy postcards.
- Quality Auto in New Jersey: Mailed 24,000 postcards, welcomed 480 customers, and raked in $103,200. That’s a 486% ROI—which means those postcards basically paid for themselves five times over.
The Magic of QR Codes
Sure, QR codes seemed somewhat mystical back in 2012. But now? They’re everywhere. Autoflow bakes them right into your retention mail so you can see real results, like how many people scanned and then booked an appointment. No more guessing if your marketing worked—it’s trackable, like internet ads, but on paper.
Getting Started Without the Headache
Retention mail isn’t just old-school marketing—it’s the classic that never went out of style. It’s like vinyl records or dad jokes: timeless, a little retro, but still highly effective.
Autoflow makes setup simple; you won’t need a pot of coffee and a tech support hotline. If you already have the CRM Marketing Module, you can launch campaigns in less than a day.
