Direct mail marketing is an effective way to bring awareness to your dealership and more customers through the doors. With the right marketing tactics, your next direct mail campaign can be extremely beneficial to your dealership’s success.

If you’re wondering what I should use on my direct mail to bring in customers, Epsilon Automotive has the expertise to help. For ideas on what to include in your direct mail to bring in customers, the team at Epsilon Individual Automotive shares some tips below.

Why Direct Mail Still Works

Direct mail continues to shine as an effective way to reach customers and bring them into your dealership. A well-designed postcard or flyer can sit on a coffee table, kitchen counter, or fridge. If that fridge or kitchen counter belongs to your targeted audience and the message speaks to them, it will keep your dealership’s message in sight and give potential customers more time to consider your offers.

By addressing specific needs, you boost engagement and strengthen your dealership’s local presence. With response rates reaching up to 9% for house lists, a creative and well-executed direct mail campaign can be a powerful tool for driving customer action.*

Create an Eye-Catching Design

Compared to digital advertisements, such as email, direct mail has the advantage of being distraction-free. Around 73% of American consumers prefer direct mail marketing because they can read through it on their own schedule. That being said, an eye-catching design can capture the attention of your audience immediately.

Oversized envelopes, for example, stand out in a pile of mail and are more likely to be opened. Using color psychology is another great way to find a text and color that best matches your brand. Bright, happy colors might stand out more than something bland.

At Epsilon Individual Automotive, we handle each part of your direct mail campaign, including design, so we can work together to craft a design that makes your mail stand out.

Use Personalized Automotive Data

Consumers are more likely to interact with advertisements that offer them a solution. That’s when automotive data comes handy in understanding individual preferences when shopping for vehicles and creating more personalized content, which encourages action.

We offer several data solutions that provide us with demographics about your audience:

• Lifestyle: Interests, daily routines, and brand affinities
• Shopping Habits: Past purchases, browsing behavior, and spending patterns
• Household Income: Financial profiles to match the right offers
• Family Size: Vehicle needs based on household composition
• Vehicle History: Past ownership, lease expirations, and upgrade potential

This way, we can create direct advertisements to individuals who are more likely to engage with your dealership.

Interactive Marketing is an Ally

Including interactive content on your personalized mail can encourage individuals to engage with your business. One way you can do this is with QR codes and personal URLs (PURLs). QR codes and PURLs act as a bridge between your mail and your website—they can take your customers directly to the inventory page or promotion that they read about.

Another way to make your direct mail more interactive is through contests. Including a link to a submission can motivate customers to take action and participate. Plus, you’ll be raising brand awareness with these kinds of incentives.

Include Monthly Specials

Including your monthly specials in your direct mail campaign is an excellent way to bring clients in. You can raise awareness about specific specials or discounts through your direct mail campaign. This can be about parts and accessories offers or holiday sales.

Monthly specials can help drive new business into the dealership as well as loyal customers who will keep coming back. Our in-house production studio works hard to get your mail delivered in just around 72 hours, so your customers have plenty of time to learn about this month’s special.

Additional Tips to Boost Your Campaign’s Impact

By including the tips above, your direct mail will have more impact and stay top of mind with drivers. However, here are some extra tips to enhance your direct mail campaign:

• Use a Clear Call-to-Action: Every piece of direct mail should include a strong call-to-action since a clear next step encourages engagement. This can be “Contact us,” “Schedule a consultation,” or “Request an appointment.”
• Keep Your Branding Consistent: Make sure that every mail you send reflects your dealership’s overall brand identity. Be consistent with the fonts, colors, and imagery to help reinforce brand recognition.
• Test and Learn: Run some A/B tests to experiment with different designs, messages, and offers to see which one is more effective. Analyze the response rates and fine-tune your approach for even better results in future campaigns.
• Implement Follow-Up Strategies: Use follow-up strategies, such as email reminders or personalized phone calls, to nurture the relationships you’re building with your audience.

These small tips can help you stay on your customer’s top of mind and even bring them into your showroom.

2025 Direct Mail Trends for Automotive

In 2025, direct mail marketing is getting smarter, more personal, and more interactive. With new technology like QR codes, personalized URLs (PURLs), and even augmented reality (AR), your mailers can do more than just sit on a counter, they can connect customers directly to your website, promotions, and inventory.

For dealerships, these innovations are game changers. Imagine sending a mailer that highlights a specific vehicle your customer is likely to love or offering a special deal tailored to their needs. By combining direct mail with digital marketing, you create a seamless experience that grabs attention, builds engagement, and drives real sales.

Bringing It All Together

Now, it’s time to create a direct mail campaign! A great way to keep creativity flowing and take advantage of these strategies is by looking at successful past campaigns, industry trends, and customer preferences to refine your approach.

With the right mix of eye-catching design, personalized data, interactive marketing, and timely offers, your direct mail campaigns can significantly boost customer engagement and drive foot traffic.

Learn More About Bringing in Customers with Direct Mail

As you plan your next direct mail marketing campaign, the team at Epsilon Individual Automotive can help you create captivating designs and content. To learn more about what to use on your direct mail to bring in customers, contact us today!

* https://www.smallbizgenius.net/by-the-numbers/direct-mail-statistics