When Avios, the global travel rewards currency for British Airways Visa Signature® cards, wanted to increase their overall acquisition rates, they turned to Visa and Media Logic to develop new direct mail approaches.
Knowing the international travel rewards card prospect skews mid- to high-affluent, Media Logic developed two upscale direct mail approaches, one letter package and one self-mailer, that capitalized on the aspirational look, tone and feel of British Airways. Also, the packages were developed to address an ongoing challenge of co-brand cards: the need to expand usage beyond the brand into world spend.
The result was two direct mail approaches that appealed to affluent prospects, improved acquisition rates, and ultimately increased world spend. Both approaches were put before research for refinement, and ultimately both were mailed to determine which format was most effective.
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The resurgence of direct mail in financial services marketing has brought renewed challenges — and an evolution of tried-and-true tactics. As marketers seek to stand out in a crowded mailbox, incorporating tangible elements that engage the senses has become a key strategy. Here is a quick look at some emerging trends in direct mail that include many tried-and-true tactile engagement techniques.
Think of agentic commerce as having a super-smart personal shopper that never sleeps. These AI agents can learn a user's needs, preferences, budget, past purchase history, and then go out and do all the heavy lifting. This ranges from searching across various online marketplaces, evaluating products, reading reviews, comparing specifications, and even negotiating with sellers to secure the best possible price.
Financial service marketers - brace yourself - there has been a shift in how consumers discover, evaluate, and act on financial advice. FinTok, TikTok's thriving financial education community, has emerged as a primary source of financial guidance, with Sprout social reporting 71% of Gen Z and 68% of Millennials reporting that social media positively impacts their financial decisions. This isn't just another social media trend; it's a democratization of financial advice that's reshaping how entire generations approach money management, creating both unprecedented opportunities and challenges for banks, credit unions, and financial technology companies.
