When it comes to fundraising, direct mail (sending appeals for donations through the post) has been a traditional, reliable method. However, one of the first steps to getting a return from this type of campaign is convincing your supporters to open your appeal.

A cheap and effective way to increase your open rate is through email.

We always advise our clients to send their supporters an email as their direct mail campaign is shipped out. The email should be simple and clear: let your supporters know what your campaign is about and encourage them to check their mailbox in the coming days. You can even include a photo of the envelope or your team putting the appeal together, like this one.

The email helps build excitement around your mailing and people will be on the lookout for it, reducing the chance that it gets ignored or lost among their junk mail.

Want to learn more online and offline direct mail techniques? Sign up for our upcoming online fundraising workshop.