| We certainly like our mailman who faithfully delivers our | | | | unprecedented declines in mail volumes that began in |
| mail, or to be politically correct perhaps we should say | | | | 2008." |
| mail person or postal worker. Yet on most days, we | | | | - "The Postal Service projects debt outstanding at |
| should simply say why is he coming at all? Though we | | | | year-end to increase over the September 30, 2009 |
| do receive physical checks each week, these could be | | | | balance by the maximum allowable $3 billion, to $13.2 |
| delivered twice a week, or we could simply ask clients | | | | billion. The $15 billion debt ceiling will become insufficient |
| to pay via PayPal or online transfer, something we are | | | | in 2011." |
| currently discussing. On occasion we receive a letter | | | | Though taxpayers don't fund the loss directly, the |
| from family or a friend, but 99% of the time, our | | | | USPS borrows from the treasury to pay for the |
| communications are delivered via email or social | | | | deficits. The net result is dollars out of taxpayer |
| networking. My children's grandparents, as they near | | | | pockets. Recently, it was proposed that six day a |
| 80 years old, have now moved to email as their | | | | week mail service should end in favor of five day a |
| primary method of communication. | | | | week delivery. This is a ridiculous interim step. |
| Last Tuesday, our diligent and timely mail person | | | | Discussions should revolve around reducing deliveries |
| delivered 11 mail items to our house which is also a | | | | to three days a week, and we should increase the |
| home based office. All of them were solicitations of | | | | fees to direct mail marketers to encourage companies |
| one type or another including: Asian Food, Pool | | | | to utilize more electronic marketing and communication. |
| Supplies, Electronics, Cosmetics, Replacement | | | | Insurance Agencies which still use direct mail marketing |
| Windows, Credit Card Offer, Window & Gutter | | | | should take this initial proposal for a reduction in snail |
| Cleaning, University Fund Raising, Household Items, | | | | mail service as an ominous omen, and embrace a |
| Religious Fund Raising and a Technical School | | | | more digital means of marketing and communication. |
| Brochure. If there was an insurance agency marketing | | | | After all, there are now many choices available that |
| brochure which comprised the 12th mail item, it would | | | | are more efficient and environmentally friendly than |
| have joined all of the others as they were casually | | | | direct mail: eMail, Social Media Marketing, Search |
| discarded into the recycling bucket. I'm not sure why | | | | Engine Optimization (SEO), Pay Per Click (PPC) |
| agencies and other companies continue to send snail | | | | Advertising and Web Seminar Marketing to mention |
| mail, it's expensive, slow, difficult to track and measure | | | | just a few. Television and radio offer more |
| and environmentally unfriendly. I suppose some | | | | environmentally friendly opportunities than old fashioned |
| companies still find this type of marketing worthwhile, | | | | direct mail, though these alternatives can be more |
| or at least familiar. However, there are far better | | | | costly and difficult to target than eMarketing, Web |
| ways to invest insurance agency marketing dollars. | | | | Seminar Marketing and PPC Advertising for insurance |
| After all, direct mail, now known as snail mail, is an | | | | agencies. |
| anachronism, a phonograph type solution in an iPod | | | | Regardless, all of these non paper based options are |
| age. | | | | less oil consumptive and labor intensive than the |
| Don't get me wrong, I respect the right of these | | | | "596,000 workers and over 218,000 vehicles" the post |
| companies to market their products and services, I | | | | office uses to deliver mail according to Wikipedia. |
| simply think they should do it electronically, and we | | | | That's a lot of brick and mortar infrastructure to deliver |
| shouldn't have to subsidize it, or expend time, money | | | | 11 pieces of direct marketing junk mail (or 12 if your |
| and gas to deliver it. I say we, because it is really our | | | | agency brochure was included), and I doubt we want |
| tax dollars that subsidize the vast wasteland of direct | | | | to run a $6 Billion annual deficit to accomplish this. Will |
| junk mail. The post office, which has been running | | | | snail mail slowly slither along to a slow and silent |
| losses of roughly $1.5 Billion per quarter, recently | | | | death? Ultimately, some day in the foreseeable future, I |
| offered the following statements in their 10-Q quarterly | | | | think so. But for now, my credo for insurance agency |
| report. | | | | marketing remains the same, "Don't go postal, go |
| - "The recent losses are primarily attributable to | | | | virtual. |