Casino and gaming success is built on numbers, and the numbers show that in 2023 the commercial gaming revenue in the U.S. hit an annual record of $66.5 billion, and the online gaming and betting market is estimated to grow to an astounding $144.4 billion by 2028.
According to the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Commercial Gaming Revenue Tracker, the U.S. commercial gaming revenue hit an annual record of $66.5 billion in 2023. And as of February 2024, commercial gaming revenue totaled $11.46 billion — almost 7% greater than at the same time last year.
A recent study found that 80% of print material like direct mailers are engaged with by consumers, and the same study found that 79% of consumers act on direct mail marketing immediately. These two insights about the effectiveness of print sales and marketing collateral make direct mail marketing a potentially powerful method of outreach as nonprofits look for ways to increase the response rate and ROI of their fundraising campaigns.
A recent report found that 73% of consumers still prefer direct mail over digital ads because of the tangibility of print. But even with this high level of consumer interest or preference, some marketers still shy away from using print sales and marketing communications like direct mail for fear that this type of outreach is less sustainable than the digital marketing channel.
Long before QR codes, digital carts, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) had an acronym, consumers would spend hours not on their phones, but flipping through store catalogs, painstakingly circling items to add to their purchasing wish lists. Today shoppers can order anything from cookies to couches in a matter of seconds, with DTC e-commerce sales predicted to reach $213 billion in 2024.
Technology allows us to use our phones to watch movies, order everything from couches to cookies, and even work with people all over the world, which might lead you to believe that direct mail is being left in the dust with the dinosaurs.
Direct mail is not dead — in fact, this print marketing communication form is very much alive and well. A recent United States Postal Service report found that 75% of respondents said receiving personalized direct mail makes them feel special, and today’s consumers still put more trust in the print communication channel compared to the digital channel.
The USPS® Promotions and Incentive Programs are designed to help businesses and brands save on the cost of direct mail postage, but the programs also encourage companies to think outside the box and incorporate existing new digital technology to help make their direct mail campaigns more interactive and engaging.
Even with the growth of paperless or digital banking services, print communications still have a large part to play in how financial service providers engage with current customers and attract new customers. In fact, more than 50% of banks and credit unions expect their print volumes to remain the same in the near future.
Print automation for direct mail marketing helps companies execute strategic, highly-targeted campaigns that leverage the power of print to engage and drive customers to act. But print automation also makes it easier for marketers to understand the ROI of their direct mail campaigns in order to better allocate print marketing dollars and resources.
