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How To Add Direct Mail To Your Customer Retention Strategy

Written by Fraser Manning | Apr 15, 2025 1:30:10 PM

Customer retention is more important than ever. As acquisition costs increase and digital channels become more crowded, building lasting loyalty can make or break your business. If you depend solely on email and digital ads to engage your customers, you may be overlooking a powerful channel...direct mail marketing! 

At Stannp.com, we help businesses use personalised, automated direct mail to retain customer loyalty. Here's how you can integrate direct mail into your customer retention strategy - without complicating your workflow. 

Why is direct mail effective for customer retention? 

Retention isn't just about pushing for the next sale. It's about showing your customers that they are valued. Direct mail stands out for various reasons including:

  • It feels personal: Receiving a printed postcard or letter feels more intentional than just another email
  • It cuts through the noise: As digital fatigue increases, mailboxes have become less competitive 
  • It has longevity: A well-designed mail piece can live on a fridge or desk far longer than a fleeting notification 

Identify key retention moments 

Map your customer journey to identify opportunities where direct mail can make the greatest impact. For example:

  • Welcome new customers: Surprise them with a thank you postcard or exclusive discount following their first purchase 
  • Celebrate milestones: Send a postcard for a customer's anniversary with your brand
  • Win back lapsed customers: Trigger a targeted mail piece when an individual hasn't engaged within a specific time period 
  • Reward loyalty: Surprise your most loyal customers with an exclusive offer or an invitation to a VIP event 

Stannp's API and automation tools simplify the process of sending these campaigns at the right time, without adding extra manual effort and time. 

Personalise every touchpoint 

Retention is built on relevance. Use the data you already have - purchase history, name, location, or preferences to personalise each mail piece. 

With Stannp, you can customise your direct mail at scale. Whether it's a personalised discount code, a product recommendation based on past purchases, or a message referencing a previous interaction, personalisation enhances engagement and ROI.

Test, measure, optimise...

Direct mail isn't just for brand awareness - it can (and should) be measurable. Use unique promo codes, personalised URLs, or QR codes to track responses. Then test and refine. Experiment with different formats, such as postcards, letters, or self-mailers. Test timing, promotions, and creative approaches to understand what resonates with your audience.

Stannp offers tracking and campaign insights, helping you make data-driven decisions and improve results over time. 

Make it seamless via automation

When direct mail is automated, it integrates seamlessly into your retention funnel. Through Stannp's integrations and user-friendly API, you can trigger mail pieces from your CRM, eCommerce platform, or customer journey tools in real-time. 

Imagine sending;

  • A customer newsletter with tips and advice using an A3 to A5 folded letter
  • A loyalty reward postcard triggered by reaching a spend threshold 
  • A re-engagement postcard two months after a customer's last login or purchase 

No more printing, licking or stamping - just smart, automated mail. 

Keep it on-brand and on-point 

Every interaction shapes your brand image. Direct mail provides a creative, physical method to strengthen your identity. Maintain consistency in your colours, tone of voice, and design elements. Whether you're quirky and fun or premium and elegant, your mail should reflect your brand's identity. Need help to get started? Our account managers are here to support you with templates and best practices to ensure your mail stands out.  

Start strengthening customer relationships today

Customer retention is more important than ever, and direct mail is an effective tool to help you do it right. Using Stannp, you can send timely, personalised, and automated campaigns that engage your customers and drive loyalty. Whether you're starting small or looking to scale, we're here to make the process easy. 

Let's keep your customers coming back for more! 

Ready to get started? Register now and send your first campaign today