How Mailings Won 650% ROI for Data Backup Firm

Even high-tech firms can sometimes get bigger results from traditional direct mail than their usual digital efforts. Intronis, a 12-year-old cloud-based data protection service, is a case in point, as recently reported by Advertising Age. Intronis, which serves 50,000 small-business customers and sells through a network of 2,000 managed IT service providers, wanted to reach larger IT service providers. But e-mail and calling weren't getting the desired attention. So the company launched a two-part mailing campaign: Based on the demographics of the IT audience, the first piece hooked attention by including a "retro cool" Atari game player with the promise that if users spent 30 minutes on the phone with an Intronis salesperson, they would get a free gaming platform, with a choice of XBox, Wii or Sony Playstation. The company started small, sending out 50 Ataris and won meetings with 25 recipients, a 50% conversion. After 20 more waves, allowing for testing of messaging, packaging, timing and mail volume, the campaign had garnered an average 35% conversion rate (meetings) and an ROI of 650%, based on the value of deals generated divided by all campaign costs. Among the lessons learned per Ad Age reporting: With high-end premiums, send out relatively small numbers in each mail wave to reduce fulfillment costs. Put a lot of thought into the mail creative in terms of messaging and packaging; for example, the mailing worked best with a box that opened in one direction and with the brand message and cover letter on top and visible before the enclosed Atari. For the complete article, see http://adage.com/article/btob/data-backup-company-650-roi-atari-campaign/298195/