What Is the Best Day of the Week to Send a Direct Mail Campaign?
The best days to send a direct mail campaign are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, because recipients are well into the workweek flow and will likely be going home that night to read their post. The days to avoid are Monday, when your mail competes with the bulk of the week’s household post, and Friday to Sunday, when most households are in weekend mode. When investing in a direct mail campaign, the one thing you want is to get noticed – and if your campaign performs well, direct mail can be one of the most effective and profitable ways to market your business, product or service. This article explains which delivery days maximise your chance of a response.
| Day | Should You Send? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Avoid | The day most household post is received, so your campaign fights for attention |
| Tuesday | Best | Recipients are settled into the workweek flow |
| Wednesday | Best | Midweek delivery with recipients home that evening |
| Thursday | Best | Still in the workweek routine before weekend distractions begin |
| Friday | Avoid | Households are entering weekend mode |
| Saturday | Avoid | Many households are away or distracted for the weekend |
| Sunday | Avoid | Post received around weekends away is often thrown out on return |
Why Does Timing Matter for Direct Mail?
When you start planning your direct mail campaigns, it is important to think about your audience: consider what they will be doing on the day your mail lands, and whether your offer is something they would want to take action on at that moment. Cleansing and segmenting your data properly means you can put a solution in front of your audience at just the right time. Once you have planned your campaign and checked whether you need consent to send direct mail, you need to decide when you want the mail to arrive on recipients’ doormats and agree the lead time with your service provider. Getting the delivery day right is one of the simplest ways to increase your direct mail response rates.
Which Days Are Best for Sending Direct Mail Campaigns?
The best days to send your direct mail campaign are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Delivering your campaign between Tuesday and Thursday is the most favourable time frame because recipients are well into the workweek flow and will likely be going home that night, where your mail is waiting for them with less competition on the doormat.
Which Days Should You Avoid Sending Direct Mail Campaigns?
You can send your direct mail campaigns whenever you want, but some days of the week are less favourable because the recipient is unlikely to open the mail:
- Monday – This is the day most household post is received, so your direct mail campaign risks fighting for the recipient’s attention. Following key tips for increasing response rates means avoiding this pile-up.
- Friday – Most households are moving into “weekend mode” and post gets set aside.
- Saturday and Sunday – Some households are away for the weekend, and post that has built up is often thrown away unread when they return.
About The Direct Mail Company
The Direct Mail Company is a professional mailing house offering clients a wide range of direct mail fulfilment services in and around the UK, alongside leaflet distribution. Our main aim is to provide an outstanding printing and mail solution for your business at the best possible price. We also offer great bulk postage rates guaranteed to be cheaper than stamps and franking, and we use leading delivery companies Whistl, UKMail, Citipost and Royal Mail to deliver your direct mail campaigns on time. Please call us on 0333 038 3797 or email sales@thedirectmailcompany.co.uk if you have any questions.
Best Day to Send Direct Mail: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best day to send a direct mail campaign?
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are the best days for direct mail to arrive, because recipients are in their workweek routine and will likely be home that evening to read their post.
What is the worst day for direct mail to arrive?
Monday is the worst weekday, because it is when most household post is received and your campaign has to fight for attention. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are also unfavourable because households are in weekend mode.
Should I send direct mail at the weekend?
It is best avoided. Some households are away for the weekend and often throw away the direct mail that has accumulated when they return.
How do I control which day my campaign lands?
Agree the lead time with your mailing provider when you plan your campaign, so your mail arrives on recipients’ doormats on your chosen day.
Does the delivery day really affect response rates?
Yes. Landing between Tuesday and Thursday gives your mail less competition on the doormat and a recipient who is more likely to engage, which supports the rest of your response-rate strategy.
Who can help me plan my direct mail campaign?
The Direct Mail Company is a professional UK mailing house handling print, fulfilment, postage and delivery timing. Call 0333 038 3797 or email sales@thedirectmailcompany.co.uk
