direct mail

Meaning

Physical promotional material, such as letters, brochures, or postcards, sent directly to prospective customers' homes or offices through the postal service. While older than digital marketing, it remains a highly targeted way to reach specific demographics.

Examples

• Despite the rise of email marketing, direct mail still has a high response rate for our target demographic.

  Despite the rise of email marketing, direct mail still has a high response rate for our target demographic.

• We are designing a new postcard for our upcoming direct mail campaign.

  We are designing a new postcard for our upcoming direct mail campaign.

• Our direct mail database needs to be updated to avoid sending letters to wrong addresses.

  Our direct mail database needs to be updated to avoid sending letters to wrong addresses.

• She handles all the printing and distribution logistics for our direct mail.

  She handles all the printing and distribution logistics for our direct mail.

• Many local businesses rely on direct mail to attract customers in the neighborhood.

  Many local businesses rely on direct mail to attract customers in the neighborhood.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I received a direct mail in my postbox today.

  ✓ I received some direct mail in my mailbox today.

  'Mail' is an uncountable noun. You cannot say 'a direct mail'; instead, use 'some direct mail' or 'a piece of direct mail'.

• ✗ We sent direct mails to all local residents.

  ✓ We sent direct mail to all local residents.

  'Mail' is uncountable and does not have a plural form 'mails' in this context.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Our business still gets great results from sending flyers via ___.

  💡 Physical marketing sent to home addresses.

  Show answer

  direct mail

• We are putting together a ___ campaign targeting homeowners in the area.

  💡 Physical letters or brochures sent through the post.

  Show answer

  direct mail