Design Distributors Insights

The Process of Developing a Direct Mail Campaign With Design Distributors

Written by Design Distributors | Jul 7, 2021 12:15:00 PM

Creating a successful direct mail campaign is a multistep process that requires research, planning, attention to detail, and technical expertise. The experts at Design Distributors (DDI) are here to help you optimize your mailing and maximize your budget. By combining flexibility, innovation, and expertise, our one-stop data work, printing, imaging, and mailing shop gets the job done on time, every time

Maintain a Database

Database management is a continual process essential to an effective direct mail campaign. DDI’s data processing services manage your mailing lists and provide key analytics to influence your decisions. Not only can our team create a custom database management system and data processing solution for your business, but we’ll help clean up duplicate entries and undeliverable addresses from your list to ensure your direct marketing budget is well spent. 

Design & Printing

Exceptional design and printing can be the difference between a mailing that catches the recipient’s eye and one that ends up straight in the recycling bin. DDI can help you design stunning material and execute your vision with high-quality, full-color printing. 

We have graphic artists on staff to provide digital and electronic proofing, dynamic graphics, image retouching, and other services to ensure your mailings are picture-perfect. Thanks to our combination of web presses, sheetfed presses, digital printing presses, envelope presses, electronic presses, and other equipment, we have the technology, expertise, and capacity to produce virtually anything your team dreams up. 

Fulfillment & Mailing

Getting your mailings to recipients on time and on budget is critical. That’s why DDI keeps every aspect of the fulfillment and mailing process in-house. 

We offer spot gluing, padding, folding, binding, shrink wrapping, card and post-it affixing, and other services to get your mailing ready to go out.

Our experts will also consult with you to find the most cost-effective mailing solution by carefully selecting a carrier, mailing method, and postage rate. We also use our computer-verified, match-mailing capabilities to ensure that each letter is paired with the correct envelope so that personalized mailings reach their intended recipients.

Machine inserting, automatic stamping, inkjet addressing, water sealing, and other technologically advanced innovations expedite the mailing process, but we also provide hand assembly and custom-crafting, as needed. Our in-house U.S. Postal Service (USPS) post office and United Parcel Service (UPS) and FedEx manifest shipping systems then enable us to get material in mailboxes as quickly as possible.

The Standard Process

Since DDI works directly with clients, we cater the process to match their needs and preferences. However, in general, we follow the following course of action:

  1. Establishing Goals
  2. Determining the Audience
  3. Compiling a Mailing List
  4. Developing a Call to Action
  5. Choosing a Format
  6. Designing the Mailing
  7. Testing Options
  8. Setting the Plan
  9. Printing Materials
  10. Fulfilling & Delivering the Mailing
  11. Tracking Results
  12. Managing Customer Responses
  13. Assessing the Results


The customer comes first at DDI, and a dedicated professional will guide you through every step in the process. Contact us today to discuss your next project and get a free quote.