Direct mail has stood the test of time as a top-tier marketing strategy, offering a personalized, tangible experience that cuts through the digital clutter. Despite the rise of social media and digital marketing, direct mail remains unmatched in public engagement, with 71% of people reading their mail. However, escalating costs and uncertainty around USPS delivery standards have prompted organizations to seek more cost-effective and efficient alternatives.

Enter Shared Mail. It became popular again a few years ago. This innovative approach allows businesses to share the cost of direct mail campaigns by collaborating with like-minded organizations. Shared Mail is a bit like carpooling for your direct mail. Instead of sending out your mailer all by yourself — an approach that can get pretty pricey — you team up with other organizations to share the ride. You all chip in to send out one big mailer that features everyone’s messages, offers, and promotions. This way, you’re splitting the cost, but still reaching a wide audience. This innovative approach offers numerous advantages, including lower costs, increased exposure to new markets and access to previously untapped audiences.

But what if you could have all the upsides of Shared Mail without any of the downsides? That’s where CDP’s Cooperative Fundraising Model comes in.

While Shared Mail is an excellent solution for reducing costs and expanding reach, it often lacks the full-service support that organizations need to truly optimize their direct mail efforts. Shared Mail requires a lot of internal organizational management to participate in the program. CDP’s Member Service Bureau (MSB) Cooperative fundraising model takes this concept a step further by offering a comprehensive, hands-on approach that ensures your campaign is not just cost-effective but also highly strategic and results driven.

Here’s how our model compares:

• Cost Savings: Like Shared Mail, our cooperative model allows you to share costs with other organizations. However, we go a step further by securing volume-based discounts through our partnerships with topnotch vendors.

• Strategic Optimization: Our model doesn’t just stop at sharing costs. We provide access to proven successful marketing strategies through our robust marketing calendar, ensuring your message reaches your audience multiple times.

• Full-Service Management: Unlike traditional Shared Mail, which may require significant internal effort to manage, CDP handles everything for you — from developing the direct mail content to managing the entire campaign.

• Actionable Insights: With our MSB Cooperative you gain access to insights and trends that inform future strategies, driving greater returns on investment. This is something that basic Shared Mail programs often lack.

In summary, while Shared Mail offers a collaborative approach to traditional direct mail challenges, CDP’s MSB Cooperative enhances this concept by providing cost savings, expanded reach and actionable insights — all with the support of a full-service team dedicated to your success. With CDP, organizations can maximize the impact of their direct mail campaigns and achieve greater success in reaching their target audience.