Direct Mail Copywriting for Social Responsibility, Environmental Protection and Natural Living

Direct Mail

Meredith Simonds
Freelance Writer
Meredith@MeredithSimonds.com

Specializing in creative copywriting for people and organizations committed to social responsibilty, environmental protection and natural living.

*8 Years Experience
*Competitive Rates
*Free Proposals
*Free Consultations

See your vision in writing. Contact Me for more information today.

My Portfolio: Direct Mail

You do need Adobe Reader to view these samples. If you do not have Adobe Reader, click here to download this safe, free software.

Business Direct Mail Copywriting

Real Estate Prospecting Letter

Retail Prospecting Letter

Non-Profit Direct Mail Copywriting

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix
March 2006 Donor Direct Mail Appeal
Headline: "Congratulations Chantel Sanchez, Youth of the Year"
Excerpt: "'The Club is a family - my family.' Though Chantel said it, her words ring true for thousands of other boys and girls who need the support of their Club family today."

Habitat for Humanity Tucson
Fall 2006 Donor/Prospecting Direct Mail Appeal
Headline: "YIMBY Habitat 'Yes, In My Back Yard!'"
Excerpt: "Whether the closest Habitat home to you is five miles away or just down the street, it's time to replace grumblings of "Not In My Back Yard" with affirmations of "Yes, In My Back Yard."

St. Mary's/Westside Food Bank Alliance
2006 Patriotic Prospecting Direct Mail Appeal
Headline: Freedom From Hunger - Will you help protect the freedom on which all our lives depend?
Excerpt: "Celebrating our country's freedom on Independence Day will mean even more when we've done all we can to ensure freedom from hunger among our neighbors in need."

My Top 5 Copywriting Essentials for Successful Direct Mail Letters

1) Write 1 to 4 pages of conversational copy that tells your story, proves your expertise, sets you apart from the competition and shares success stories.

2) Write different versions of the direct mail letter for different target audiences.

3) Create compelling copy/graphics for the direct mail carrier envelope that will give people a reason not to throw it away.

4) Create a sense of urgency that sets a deadline for response to the direct mail piece (i.e., a limited time or limited availability offer).

5) Tell readers what you want them to do several times throughout the direct mail letter.

Click the following links to view samples of my web content copywriting, promotional copywriting, articles and scripts. Click the following link to return to my copywriting home page.

"...if one has anything to say, it drops from him simply and directly, as a stone falls to the ground."

~ Henry David Thoreau

Dear Friend

I started watching for the mail when I was 9 years old. I'd just moved away from my third-grade best friend and we wrote each other swapping stories all the time.

Since my family moved just about every year, my childhood was filled with pen pal friends, all of whose letters are still rubber banded together in a box on the floor in my closet. And even if I never read them again, I know I'll never throw them away.

Though I haven't had a pen pal in years, I still love the anticipation of looking through the mail. If it's my birthday or a holiday, of course I'm looking for cards. Most days though I don't know what I'm looking for - just something to open I guess.

On good mail days, there's mail from someone I know ... there's mail about something I need to know... or there's mail that just tells a good story about something I want to have or support.

On bad mail days, all I get is a credit card offer. But even if I know I'm going to throw it away, I'll still open it up before I do - that's how strong the urge is for me to open mail every day.

Most importantly to you, I'm not alone. We all want good mail days. And if you do it right, your current and potential customers or clients want mail from you.

I Learned From the Best

Though I'm sure I learned something valuable reading and writing letters to friends as a kid, I have someone else to thank for my direct mail copywriting success - Dorothy Valcarcel, President and Owner of West Coast Direct Response, an ad agency with 25 years of experience specializing in direct mail fundraising programs for non-profit organizations.

Through West Coast Direct Response, I've written copy for hundreds of successful direct mail campaigns for dozens of clients, including:

   * Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan
      Phoenix
   * Care & Share Food Bank
   * Caregiver Resource Institute
     (formerly Volunteers for Hospice)
   * Chrysalis (domestic violence shelter)
   * Habitat for Humanity Tucson
   * Hillsides (home for abused children)
   * Los Angeles Regional Foodbank
   * Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
   * Phoenix Art Museum
   * Pima Council On Aging
   * Sedona Arts Center
   * Sojourner Center
     (domestic violence shelter)
   * St. Mary's Food Bank
   * UMOM New Day Centers
      (homeless shelter for families)
   * United Blood Services
   * United Way
   * Volunteers of America
   * YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles

Sincerely Yours

Give them what they want - a good mail day through my direct mail copywriting services for your:

   * One-, two- and four-page direct mail
      letters
   * Carrier envelopes and reply devices
   * Lift notes
   * Brochures
   * Newsletters
   * Thank you letters
   * Announcements
   * Invitations
   * Postcards

If you also need a graphic designer or printer, I can provide or coordinate these services for you as well.

See your vision in writing. Contact Me for more information today.