Tag Archives: Direct Mail

From the President

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Ron Bi-LineWe are already at the start of the second quarter of 2013…that is hard to believe.  January has brought our semi-annual BEB Summit meeting where the executives of BEB meet to plan a strategy for the future.  We examine where the marketplace is going five-years out, review technology changes that impact our business and conduct a client review to determined how we can better serve our existing clients and where to find new business.  Our plan to add a second digital press in the first quarter has already come to pass.  Other items for the coming year include expansion and upgrade of our 15,000 square ft facility, Postal Reform and the enhancement to direct mail with online interaction.

2013-SummitThis year’s summit was very informative and we look forward to the coming year as we find better ways to serve our clients by planning for the future.  Our first ever BEB Calendar has been a big hit with customers and vendors alike!  Don’t forget, in addition to the beautiful photos (featuring our great state), we highlighted events unique to Texas and added a QR Code for each month.  The QR Code will take you to a landing page that has fun videos or photos specific to the month.  We hope you enjoy the interactive experience throughout the year.2013-03 Bureau POSTAL 101 COLLATERAL
January and February brought appointments with our clients as we were invited to conduct our POSTAL 101 class several times.  The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and we’ve managed to keep the presentation down to 30-minutes!  We cover the new postal regulations surrounding the FSM (Folded Sel-Mailer), review the new rates and want to expect in Washing with  Postal Reform.  We’ve created several classes with content geared specifically toward individual companies and provided “cheat sheets” branded with their logos that will allow our customers to distribute the reference materials as their own.  Business Extension Bureau “hit the road” in February too.  Joy Zehrbach, our VP of Marketing traveled to Florida for the  annual AMSP (Association of Marketing Service Providers) Mid-Winter Conference.  She participated on a panel discussion covering the emergence of cross media marketing, conducted a round-table on self-promotion and even though she is a newly elected Director on the nation Board, was invited to join the Government Affairs Committee.  Our sister company, BEBdata (one of the largest bankruptcy data compilers in the nation) was in Florida last month attending the National Automobile Dealers Association’s annual conference.  We mixed and mingled with several of our valued clients and got a chance to meet some new ones too!  We are always looking for ways to connect with you clients in a face-to-face manner and we managed close a deal with a new client just a few days after the show.  It was a great success and we look forward to participating again next year!

Ron Royall

Opposites Attract

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BUREAU 1 - TWITTER PICTURE 3 OF 5We are often asked, “Do newsletters really work?”.   We’re also often asked, “What relevance does social media have on your business”.  The two venues seem to appeal to opposite audiences, however, we’ve found they are a match made in heaven.  Below are some surprising results.

NEWSLETTER RESULTS:
Since the creation of our bi-monthly newsletter last September, it has generated 10.5% of our new business revenue in 2012. 14% was from reactivated accounts, clients that have done business with us in the past, but not for more than one calendar year.  Afer each mailing, our website landing activity increased on average by 16.3%.

TWITTER RESULTS:

  • 51% of our active client base has a presence on Twitter.
  • 100% of new clients acquired since creating our own presence on Twitter in September, are active on Twitter.

We conducted an in-depth analysis of one of our 8 Twitter accounts (@BEB_BOB) and rendered the following results.
1.  Today there are 432 following @BEB_BOB.
2.  16% of the followers are relevant to our business today and are made up of the following categories:

  • 38.8% Industry Education Accounts
  • 20.9% Prospective Clients we are actively pursuing
  • 10.4% Active Clients, representing 12% of our annual revenue
  • 9% Employees
  • 9% Vendors
  • 6% Competitors
  • 6% Industry Associations
    Real and relevant results from perceived opposite platforms.  Direct mail and social media are an excellent and revenue generating combination.

 

 

US PMG Says “Get Your Game On”

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Basket Ball Player on White - Slam DunkThe 2013 National Postal Forum wrapped up last week in San Francisco, CA.  The primary focus of the conference was on the positive changes occurring within our industry and the technology driving those changes.  US Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe said that the industry needs a “Game On Attitude.”
The growth of the industry is driven by change and those that embrace this dynamic will be around to service the next generation of users.  Users that define the EXPERIENCE of direct mail.  Donahoe highlighted the power of interaction from a printed piece, held in the hands of your audience within the comfort and convenience of their own home.  He said; “We own that experience.”
As we embrace this unique experience and ride the power to drive consumers to the ever developing mobile world, we will shape the future of direct mail and its unchallenged return on investment.

Houston Zoo Partners Summit

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2013-03-04 ZOO PARTNER SUMMIT BREAKFAST RO & ELEPHANT BESTBEB-Business Extension Bureau is a very proud partner with our awesome Houston Zoo and we were honored to participate in the 2013 Houston Zoo Partner Summit.  Our Ro Royall (Executive VP) was there along with Brian Varnadoe of the Houston Texans to hear and see all of the new and exciting things happening at our zoo!
Attendance and membership are up and there are so many exciting new things happening there!  Earth Day, Zoobilee and Pollinator Palooza in June!  Our thanks to the Houston Zoo!
Check out the video of Baby Tupelo on our YouTube Channel:

http://youtu.be/BUrnRmsU-xE

5-Day Delivery A Threat?

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Super MailFive-day delivery is not a threat to the direct mail marketing industry.  The real hazard is an unhealthy, money losing and restricted US Postal Service.
Online services continue to permeate our day-to-day activities and are responsible for new trends.  Over the past two years, letter mail delivery continues to decline while package delivery has increased by 14%.  A huge contributor to the decline of letter mail is due to online bill payment while the package delivery increase is predominantly due to online merchandise purchases.
integrated online service is a chief contributor to the resurgence of direct mail marketing.  Highly targeted and interactive mail is topping the charts for customer acquisition, client interaction and retention with high returns.
The 5-day delivery plan will result in a projected savings of $2 Billion.  That savings coupled with the bold move last year to default on payments to subsidize the future retiree fund (mandated solely on the USPS by Washington) would bring the entity very close to operating in the black or at least at a break even.
Post Offices will remain open, box mail will be available and packages will continue to deliver on Saturday.
The decision to end Saturday delivery could still be stopped by Congress.  However, the announcement moves postal reform to the forefront.  removing the restrictions surrounding our USPS and returning it to a healthy and profitable state are the only ways we can retain the power direct mail contains to drive online traffic and revenue in the future.
As submitted upon request by Mail Magazine – February 2013

PIGC Women In Print Lunch

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WOMEN IN PRINT LUNCH 2013 2Some of the ladies of BEB will attend the upcoming Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast (also known as the PIGC) 2013 Women in Print Luncheon on March 5th at the Tasting Room.

We will join other women in the graphics, creative and marketing industry for a luncheon to meet, greet and get to know others in the Houston graphics community.  Highlighted topics are emerging markets within the printing and mailing industry.

Houston Rodeo BBQ Team

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RODEO BLOGWe are (and have been for over 4-years) a proud sponsor of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo cook-off team, The Trail Riders!
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has committed more than $330 million to scholarships, research, endowments, and other educational youth programs since 1932!

2-13-12 Government Affairs Committee Meeting

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2012-02-14Will Congress move on postal reform now that US PMG Pat Donahoe has announced 5-day delivery?  After seeing yesterday’s hearing on solutions to the crisis facing the Postal Service, we’re not so sure.  Rural delivery and legality of reduced delivery schedule were hot topics in Washington DC yesterday morning.

USPS Announces 5-Day Delivery

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uspmg

 

 

 

 

 

US Post Master General, Pat Donahoe
Pat Donahoe (US Postmaster General) announced that a 5-day delivery mail schedule would begin in August, saving approximately $2 billion a year.  Packages will continue to deliver 6-days a week and post offices will continue to be open on Saturdays.  Other countries such as Canada, Sweden and Australia have reduced their Saturday services with positive impact.
The bold move raised immediate legal questions in Washington as some lawmakers claim that Congressional approval is required.  Earlier attempts to change the current law have been met with objections and delays from Congress driving the USPS to make the change on their own.
Washington’s mandate, imposed solely on the USPS, to pay over $5 billion a year for health benefits to future retirees remains a central point of contention and a driving factor to make radical change.
USPMG Donahoe continues to push his long-term plan to return the US Postal Service to profitability.  The plan calls for closing some of the small, rural post offices and the reconstruction of the postal logistical network by reducing the number of its regional processing plants to gain greater efficiency.
The USPS has conducted studies surrounding the reduction of delivery days and has received surprisingly positive response.  The USPS is a reliable and intricate part of our economy and direct mail marketing continues to be successfully drive sales to businesses in an affordable and measurable way.
The decision to end Saturday delivery may ultimately be blocked by an act of Congress, however, the announcement moves postal overhaul legislation to the forefront.
We’ll keep you posted on the latest as it happens.