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Direct Mail Enters a New Era with Innovative Measurement Pilot

By |2024-11-18T10:44:32+00:00November 18th, 2024|

JICMAIL and Origin, ISBA’s cross-media measurement programme, are joining forces in an exciting mail measurement pilot study, set to take place in Q4 2024. This initiative aims to test how mail exposure can be effectively integrated into Origin's sophisticated cross-media measurement capabilities. This collaboration marks a new era for direct mail, as it positions the channel as a fully measurable, data-driven medium alongside digital and TV advertising. By integrating JICMAIL’s expertise in mail measurement with Origin's cross-media insights, the advertising industry could revolutionise how it evaluates the role of direct mail within broader campaigns. The initiative has the potential to provide advertisers, agencies, and other stakeholders with new insights into how mail campaigns contribute to overall media effectiveness. The pilot [...]

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Data Governance Update: New Data Bill Aims to Shape the Future of the UK Data Landscape

By |2024-10-29T11:02:35+00:00October 29th, 2024|

It’s been a while since we’ve provided an update on data governance and the long awaited DPDI, because since the election there has been little in the way of news. However, last week it was announced that under the new government, DPDI has morphed into the Data Use and Access Bill. Unveiled by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, this bill is positioned to integrate technology and data protection into the economy’s core, fostering economic growth, streamlining public services, and enriching lives. With an expected £10 billion economic boost projected over a decade, the Bill is set to transform how data is used across sectors. The DMA has actively participated in discussions around the Bill, advocating for provisions that [...]

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Effective audience targeting and direct mail

By |2024-09-01T08:47:56+00:00September 1st, 2024|

According to the 2024 Direct Mail Benchmarking Report, effective audience targeting is now the top advantage of direct mail, a significant leap from its fourth-place ranking in 2023. The study suggests that this change highlights the increasing reliance on direct mail by both B2B and B2C marketers for prospecting and reaching potential customers. Direct mail's ability to utilise offline data is proving invaluable in delivering high-potential audiences. By leveraging high-quality permission data sources, marketers can build predictive models that target prospects resembling their best customers. This precision allows for the creation of hyper-targeted campaigns that often yield higher returns on investment compared to many digital channels. Moreover, direct mail's audience reach isn't confined to the physical world. By integrating offline [...]

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Ensuring Data Accuracy in the Age of AI: A Lesson from AI-Generated Mistakes from across the Pond

By |2024-08-07T09:55:32+00:00August 7th, 2024|

In recent months, significant incidents have highlighted the pitfalls of AI when it comes to maintaining data accuracy in public records. These events serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of data hygiene, particularly for organisations that rely on precise data processing. The Incident: Pregnant Woman Wrongly Accused One notable incident involved a pregnant woman in Detroit who was falsely arrested based on AI-generated evidence. Porcha Woodruff, eight months pregnant at the time, was wrongly identified by an AI system as a suspect in a carjacking case. This led to her wrongful arrest and detention for 11 hours, causing her significant emotional distress and physical complications leading to hospitalisation. This case is part of a broader pattern, with several [...]

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Great News for the Direct Mail Industry: Time to Capitalise on the Boom!

By |2024-07-30T14:56:00+00:00July 30th, 2024|

The UK has witnessed its most significant upward revision to marketing budgets in a decade, with companies' financial prospects at their most positive in nearly three years, according to the latest IPA Bellwether Report. This positive trend presents an opportunity for the direct mail industry, which has emerged as a major beneficiary of this increased spending. Direct Mail: A Rising Star The report reveals that direct mail was the second-biggest growth area, trailing only behind events. Budgets for direct mail have been increasing for six successive quarters. The report found that almost a fifth (19.3%) of surveyed companies have increased their direct mail budgets for the next period, aligning with their preparations for Christmas 2024 activities. Capitalising on the Boom [...]

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Top 10 sectors that fail to report data breaches revealed

By |2024-05-24T11:34:57+00:00May 24th, 2024|

As we ‘celebrate’ the 6th birthday of GDPR a new study finds that over half of all data breaches in the UK in 2023 were not reported within the required 72-hour window. The report from Hayes Connor revealed the sectors with the worst track record. These were: Local Government: 51.32% General Business: 49.16% Marketing: 47.50% Justice: 47.06% Regulators: 46.81% Membership Associations: 46.67% Online Technology and Telecoms: 45.37% Media: 45.16% Central Government: 44.57% Retail and Manufacture: 43.94% Failing to report a breach within this timeframe can result in significant fines of up to £17.5 million or 4% of global turnover, whichever is higher. However, in practice, most firms receive minimal penalties. A key finding of the research is that in the [...]

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Think direct mail is too expensive? Think again

By |2024-05-15T05:31:13+00:00May 14th, 2024|

At the recent Ultimate Direct Mail workshop Lauren Mason, marketing director of Live Unlimited and Ro & Zo showcased the power of direct mail and smashed the perception held by some marketers that it is too expensive to add into the marketing mix. Talking about her first experiences of direct mail this year, Mason found that acquiring customers through direct mail was more affordable than digital methods. She was surprised to discover that not only did it drive higher retention rates but that it also boosted LTV (lifetime value) and AOV (average order value). This indicates that Live Unlimited and Ro & Zo customers acquired via direct mail are likely to stay longer and spend more, providing a solid and [...]

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We are Leading with Innovation: Shaping the Future of Data Hygiene

By |2024-05-03T07:45:54+00:00May 3rd, 2024|

The winds of change are blowing a gale around data regulation. We’ve potentially got two key pieces of incoming legislation that will make a difference to how businesses source, store and use their data. The first is the EU AI Act (which although not directly applicable to the UK is likely to form the framework for a UK specific act) , and the second is the UK GDPR - Data Protection, Digital Information (DPDI) Act. Adapting to New Regulations You can find out more about both acts here: https://www.thesoftwarebureau.com/eu-passes-ai-act/ and here: https://www.thesoftwarebureau.com/whats-going-on-everything-you-need-to-know-about-dpdi-in-the-medium-term/. When these new regulations come into force, businesses face the dual challenge of compliance and optimisation. The EU AI Act is set to impose stringent requirements on AI [...]

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Direct mail set to grow… again

By |2024-04-24T08:55:10+00:00April 24th, 2024|

According to the latest IPA Bellwether Report, the UK's marketing landscape is witnessing a notable increase in direct marketing budgets – the 8th consecutive period of growth. This uplift is part of a broader positive adjustment in overall marketing spend, indicative of an improving economic backdrop and a proactive approach to recession recovery. However, as one of only two channels that posted significant uplifts the inference is that confidence in direct marketing, particularly direct mail, continues to flourish. Tangibility and Trust Direct mail possesses a unique attribute that many modern advertising channels lack: tangibility. This physical nature of direct mail creates a sensory experience for the recipient. It’s something you can touch and feel, often encouraging a more memorable connection [...]

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