Charity sector sees drops in direct mail for first time

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.brandrepublic.com/News/89148 ... irst-time/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

LONDON - The number of direct mail items sent by charities declined last year for the first time, according to Royal Mail statistics.

Since it began collecting statistics in 2004, the volume of mailings has grown steadily from 340m in 2004 to 412m in 2007 but the number of mailings dropped by 0.7% to 409m in 2008.


The increasing popularity of digital communications for charities is one likely factor behind the fall but but one observer attributed these figures to a decrease in volume from big cold recruiters, who were failing due to a lack of targeting. He advises charities to spend more on retaining existing donors.

Royal Mail said that there had been a decline in overall direct mailing since a peak in 2005.

Last week the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds said that it was switching from direct mail campaigns to online fundraising appeals following requests from supporters for e-communications.

The charity said that it had previously sent out appeals as direct mail but is now keen to develop its digital communications strategy and explore more cost-effective fundraising ideas.

More than half of charities (52%) admitted that they were feeling the effects of the recession in February, according to the Charities Commission's latest survey, compared with 38% when the survey was carried out in September.

About a third of charities admitted they were suffering a decline in income as a result of the financial crisis.

[Tman]

That's a shame.
Clearly the charities concerned are not part of the "we don't believe RM's volumes figures are accurate 'cos in our office our bags are heavier than ever" camp, then?

[dvbuk55]

How about the DFS stuff tman - has it been machined and boxed by us or just dumped on our delivery staff?

[POSTMAN]

That's a shame.
Clearly the charities concerned are not part of the "we don't believe RM's volumes figures are accurate 'cos in our office our bags are heavier than ever" camp, then?

You've actually agreed with us that the weight has not dropped!!

[Tman]

You've actually agreed with us that the weight has not dropped!!

I don't ever recall not agreeing.

My point was only ever about the amount of processed mail dropping, not how heavy your bags may be, and that's a point I've reiterated several times.

[dvbuk55]

Yes Yes - no good back tracking now..........................

But about the DFS mail, came in brown boxes - was it processed or not?

[k979aaa]

charities that go down the E route are making a huge mistake! We as computer users just delete all those cr*p emails without reading or even better get em filtered so we dont even see em in the first place but those charities target senior citizens cause they know that some have a spair bit of cash that they are happy to spend on the Donkey, Dogs, Cats, Birds, or whatever and dont even have a computer and if they do dont know how to work the Email let alone do online banking ect ect! Its about as stupid an idea as RM talking about falling mail volumes and like RM someone is getting a load of cash to come up with these crap ideas!

Not only that most PCs have spam filters and as such will go straight into the delete items folder and be deleted without thought but that is their problem.