This post is a short one.

We love charts and graphs, especially ones about direct mail.

There was a study done recently by Pitney Bowes Group 1 Software and Mailing Systems Technology called Marketers’ Average Annual Direct Mail Activity.

Here are the results — where do you stand?

Big News: we’re going to be introducing video to this blog very soon. It’s just a test. If the videos are well-received, we’ll make them a regular thing.

We plan on posting the first one this Friday, May 2nd.

Keep in mind our specialty is direct mail production, NOT video production.

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This quick post piggy backs off our previous post titled “Survey Says Direct Mail Spending to Increase in 2008“.

A couple of graphs in a recent issue of DM News’ Data Bank section gave a visual representation of:

1. The predicted direct mail spending figures through 2009.
2. Survey results for direct mail formats to be tested in 2008.

This is sort of a shameless plug because the second graph was taken from our 2008 Direct Mail Format Report.

That being said, if you’re reading this right now, you probably find these two graphs interesting.

It’s always helpful to read about what other Marketers are spending their marketing dollars on…and what they’re mailing.

That’s why we always pay careful attention to what we receive in our mailbox — for ideas.

Good news for Direct Marketers… 

An article today on UnionLeader.com announced:

“A bill that would create a do-not-mail list to let people block direct mail ran into a major defeat Thursday. The House Commerce committee voted 14-1 to recommend that the full House kill the bill.”

The 14 that voted against the bill said the state doesn’t need to get involved because consumers already have the option of being removed from mailings lists by contacting individual merchants and Direct Marketing Associations.

More good news for Direct Marketers:

An article on Forbes.com about the slumping economy outlined industries that are expected to slump and industries that are expected to hold up.

Direct Marketing was chosen as one expected to hold up.

The reasoning:

Direct mail — and other direct response advertising – yields results more easily trackable than traditional, mass-media ad purchases. And as advertising budgets shrink, Marketers will be under greater pressure to show positive ROI.

This prediction goes hand-in-hand with our post about B-to-B Magazine’s Outlook 2008 Survey.

Please feel free to share your thoughts by commenting below.