How to Design Business Envelopes That Get Opened

Business envelopes can serve in several capacities: they can package simple communications between companies, they can deliver announcements and checks to employees, and they can serve as marketing tools for direct mail campaigns. When business envelopes are employed as marketing tools, you should take advantage of proven design techniques to ensure your customers open your envelopes and read your pitch inside. The following lists several strategies for designing business envelopes that get opened.

Business envelopes that command attention

The first job of any good business envelope is to get noticed. You want your business envelopes to stand out from the other envelopes when your customers open their mailboxes. Consider all other mail to be your competition, even if sent by non-competing industries.

One excellent technique for making your business envelopes stand out is to color it in bright or contrasting colors. This doesn't mean your envelope has to be hot pink (though it works), but a bright, inviting design encourages opens. You can also contrast colors, such as yellow text on black, for a formidable presentation.

Another great way to stand out from the rest of the mail vying for your customers' eyes is to print a photo or paint a scene on your business envelopes. There's absolutely nothing wrong with portraying your product or service in a positive light on your business envelopes – it can kick-start your marketing at first sight.

Business envelopes as sales tools

Getting attention is the first step in the process, but your business envelopes also have to excite customers and intrigue them as to the contents to escalate open rates. One way to do this is to start your pitch on the outside of your business envelopes. If you have a special sale, design your envelopes with a big, bold discount claim (30% off until Dec. 1!) front and center, for example. Having a “free gift” inside is another great way to get business envelopes opened.

Exclusivity is another great way to get your business envelopes open. For example, you might extend an invitation for your recipients to join your VIP club, or get special access to sales rates or a special event. Start your pitch right on the front of your business envelopes.

A mystery also helps generate business envelope opens. Ask an intriguing question on your business envelopes, one that is relevant to your customer base and your service, and give the answer inside.

Business envelopes that look official

You can design your business envelopes to look like “official” or otherwise “important” communications, using those terms and similar terms, and by incorporating colors and graphics to that end. A brown envelope can make customers worried that they'll miss something if they don't open your business envelopes. Red, white, and blue envelopes with “official seals” or an eagle graphic can also encourage opens. You can also try printing window envelopes.

Premium, ‘stuffed’ business envelopes

It's important to print premium business envelopes that showcase your company in a positive light. If you have cheap, flimsy, poorly-textured, and otherwise ratty business envelopes, your customers will not trust your message and will toss them away. On the other hand, if you print premium quality business envelopes, your customers will feel your message is important and will want to open them.

Finally, you can increase business envelope open rates by stuffing them with sales materials – brochures, flyers, sales sheets, booklets and more. When it seems that more is inside, your customers will want to open them – your business envelopes feel more like gifts than simple sales pitches.